My goodness I love your site on mattress reviews.
I am from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and I am extremely frustrated because I have absolutely no choice when it comes to purchasing a mattress that is latex and toxic free.
My only option was Essentia, however we have no store in Winnipeg which means I have to purchase it, then try it…a little scary when I’m spending 4 thousand dollars. If it doesn’t work I have to pay to return it.
THat all being said I was willing to take that chance, however when I read Essentia’s review on your site ‘the mattress underground’. I changed my mind…
Would you happen to have any recommendations!? I have found a few mattresses that have low voc, and no springs, but they don’t don’t ship to Winnipeg! HELP!
Thanks,
Laura
Hi laura,
The only reliable way to to assess the “safety” of different materials in more general terms is based on lab tests and the certifications they have for harmful substances and VOCs so that you have some assurance than the VOCs are below the testing limits for the certification (see post #2 here for more information about some of the more reliable “safety” certifications). If the materials in a mattress or the mattress itself has a reliable “safety” certification then for most people they would certainly be “safe enough” … regardless of the type of material or the name of the manufacturer on the label.
While all the latex you are likely to encounter (either Dunlop or Talalay that is made with either natural or synthetic rubber or a blend of both) will have a reliable certification such as Oeko-Tex, Eco-Institut, Greenguard Gold or C2C and based on actual testing I would consider any type or blend of latex to be a very “safe” material in terms of harmful substances and VOC’s (offgassing) … it’s certainly not the only “safe” material.
[quote]My only option was Essentia, however we have no store in Winnipeg which means I have to purchase it, then try it…a little scary when I’m spending 4 thousand dollars. If it doesn’t work I have to pay to return it.
THat all being said I was willing to take that chance, however when I read Essentia’s review on your site ‘the mattress underground’. I changed my mind…[/quote]
It sounds like you’ve read at least some of this already but there are some comments about Essentia and some of the misleading claims they make and some forum discussions with them (as well as some of the FTC issues they have had about their claims) in this thread and this thread and posts #3 and #4 here). Some of the discussion in this topic may be helpful as well. I certainly wouldn’t treat the information on their website (or on some of the other websites I’ve seen that write about them either) as a reliable source of “fact based” information and I would also make some very careful “value” comparisons before considering any Essentia mattress because they do tend to be in a higher budget range than other mattresses that use similar materials.
Outside of the misleading information on their website … the biggest issue with Essentia mattresses isn’t “safety” or durability but that their mattresses are in significantly higher price ranges than other mattresses that use similar types of materials that would also be “safe enough” based on their certifications for harmful substances and VOC’s…
While I can certainly help with “how” to choose … it’s not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, or PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) or how a mattress will “feel” or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more reliable than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
I’m not sure what you’ve read since you found the site but just in case you haven’t read it yet … the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure you’ve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well he will sleep), durability (how long he will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for).
I’m not sure why you are focusing on mattresses with no springs but assuming that the materials in a mattress you are considering are durable enough for your body type and meet the durability guidelines here relative to your weight range … the choice between different types and combinations of materials and components or different types of mattresses are more of a preference and a budget choice than a “better/worse” choice (see this article). The best way to know which types of materials or mattresses you tend to prefer in general terms will be based on your own local testing or your own personal experience.
There are probably more options available to you than you are aware of in Winnipeg. Subject to first confirming that any retailer or manufacturer on the list you wish to deal with is completely transparent (see this article) and to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets your specific criteria and the quality/value guidelines here … the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in and around the Winnipeg, MB area are listed in post #2 here.
Outside of any local options that may be available to you that you can test in person before a purchase … if you are also looking online then some of the better online options or possibilities I’m aware of that ship across Canada are listed in post #21 here.
Phoenix
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Your detailed response was greatly appreciated and extremely informative. I will start the research on my bed ASAP! Hopefully, I will find the bed I’m looking for right here in Winnipeg, Canada! Excellent site. Thanks again.
Hi laura,
Good luck in your search and I’m looking forward to finding out what you end up deciding … and to any other comments or questions you may have that I can help with.
Phoenix