Hey there pomodoropasta,
Thank you for your question and welcome to the Mattress UnderGround. I am going to see this from a different perspective here. I am sort of glad you ruled out Purple, BR, S&F and TP, they are not convincing enough to be long term plays, as compare to those with all natural comfort, particularly with the little one and potentially more. My feeling about prices is if you are comfortable paying for what you are getting and it meets all of your criteria and objectives, then the price you pay is worth the cost. Clearly if you are looking in this territory, you want quality, durability and longevity. Which is exactly where you want to be.
So my approach for you is little different and take price mostly out of the equation. If you’re comfortable spending up to $6K to $7K, I’d be looking at construction, durability, longevity and especially serviceability.
Given your 170 lb side sleeping and your wife’s 120 lb back sleeping, plus both of you being hot sleepers and already knowing you like latex, I think a conversation with @OrganicBedroom and their Williams Co is worth a very serious conversation.
I’d put the Williams Bristol 2.0 at the top of the list if the goal is a mattress you can realistically keep for a long time. The construction is substantial, with 3" of latex over two coil layers, and the zippered design gives you some ability to get inside the mattress and address things down the road. That’s something I would put a lot of weight on when spending this kind of money. It is not much different than the Camellia, but both offer great quality for the price.
I’d also add the Williams York 2.0 to the mix. It’s a much simpler construction, 3" of latex over an 8" pocket coil unit. I don’t necessarily see that simplicity as a negative. In fact, from a durability and longevity standpoint, I like the idea of fewer components and a straightforward construction, sometimes the “less is more” approach can be worthwhile. If you like the feel of latex over coils, the York is definitely worth considering.
Still, try the Camellia, but I wouldn’t assume that spending $7K automatically gets you a better long term mattress. The microcoil layer may give it a different feel that you prefer, but my priority at this price point would be what happens 8 or 10 years from now if something needs attention.
I’d also be less inclined toward the Nature Escape if the firmness is already giving you pause as a side sleeper. Although, I will say, that many folks have reported that the Natural Escape does soften up a bit in the first month or two. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest to save money by compromising on pressure relief, but since most report is does soften a bit, it is a great value option and may just settle in fine, and at that price, it is a worthwhile investment. Also, it can become a guest room option if it did not provide everything that you are ultimately looking for.
The other thing I’d seriously reconsider is the IKEA foundation. You are potentially spending $5K to $7K on a mattress, I would not put it on 2" slats with 2.5" gaps without getting the mattress manufacturer to confirm in writing that the setup is acceptable for the warranty. I’d rather spend the money on a proper support system and remove that variable entirely. You may be able to keep the IKEA frame and just replace the slatted support, or use it in the future for a guest room with a mattress not as critical about the foundation specs.
And since you have a little one and hopefully more in the future, I’d use a thin, breathable waterproof protector. I wouldn’t put a thick padded protector over a latex mattress. It can change the feel and add heat. NaturePedic, Birch, Avocado, and sleep & beyond have some nice organic two sided cotton with a thin PU layer for waterproofing the mattress.
One question I’d ask @OrganicBedroom regarding Williams before making the decision is what can actually be replaced independently five or ten years down the road. If the latex, cover or coil components can be replaced rather than having to replace the entire mattress, that’s a big deal and a money saver overall.
If it was about durability and longevity, and approaching from that standpoint I’d be looking hardest at the Bristol and York. While comparing it to the Camillia, which is on par with the Bristol if you want to go the more luxury route.
I know this is not a pick this or that answer, but it is a birds eye view of what you are considering. I would not try to build this as a DIY, there is a lot more to it than most realize and you dont need that stress. Yeah, it may cost a little more, but you will be getting something designed especially for you, without much second guessing.
Maverick
