Hi DHC,
[quote]
I’m wondering what you think about the specs for the beds given my specs and about the prices. I’m looking at some Obasan beds and the 8" ones are more expensive than the 11" Dormio I linked to. In fact, to get a Obasan that’s comparable in price, around $2500-2600 to the 2700 Dormio mattress, I’d have to go with a 6", which if the guy I spoke to today is right, is far too little support for me/my weight - he said I’d just sink to the core… I suppose I don’t know why the Obasan is so much more expensive for comparable thickness.
I would always keep in mind that the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to 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” or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate 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).
Comfort and PPP is always the most important part of the “value” of any mattress purchase because no matter what the quality of the materials or how durable a mattress may be … if you don’t sleep well on it then it would have little value to you regardless of the price.
I can’t speak to how any mattress will “feel” for someone else because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances … outside of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) the most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you can’t “feel” and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label (or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new).
Since all of the mattresses you linked are “all latex” mattresses … they would be closely comparable in terms of durability but they are all different designs so you would likely find that one of them will be a better “match” for you in terms of comfort and PPP than the others.
While the thickness of a mattress is only one of many factors in a mattress design that can make a difference in whether a mattress is a good “match for any particular person … there is more about the effect of thickness in post #14 here. While there are always exceptions … I would agree that based on “averages” a 6” latex mattress probably wouldn’t be a good “match” for most people in your weight range (although once again your own personal testing or experience is the only way to know for sure).
The name of their suppliers isn’t particularly relevant since a mattress is only as good as its design and the materials and components inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label and not all retailers are comfortable sharing the name of their suppliers for competitive reasons but if you ask them they will certainly be happy to provide you with any information that they are comfortable sharing.
Phoenix