Hi asverlov,
As you know both SleepEZ and Flexus Comfort are members of this site which means that I think very highly of both of them and that I believe that they both compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and experience. They would both make great choices.
While they both make component latex mattresses that have very similar designs … there are a few differences between them in terms of the specific materials and components that they each have available.
The SleepEZ Natural Select line allows you to choose between 100% natural Dunlop or blended Talalay latex in each of the layers and has a natural cotton cover quilted with natural wool.
Their Organic Select line allows you to choose between 100% natural Dunlop (the same as their Natural Select line) or 100% natural Talalay in each of the layers. It also has an organic cotton cover quilted to organic wool. Since the 100% natural Dunlop option is the same in both mattresses … this line would generally be more attractive to those who are looking for 100% natural Talalay in all of the layers and/or that prefer organic cotton and wool. Since using 100% natural Talalay in all the layers would be more costly than a mattress that only uses a single layer of 100% natural Talalay and because organic fabrics are generally more costly than natural fabrics … the higher pricing for their Organic Select line reflects this.
The Flexus Natural Comfort 7" mattress uses two layers of 100% natural Dunlop but their thicker mattresses use 100% natural Dunlop in the bottom layers and 100% natural Talalay latex in the top layer so there is one layer of 100% natural Talalay rather than multiple layers. Their covers also use organic cotton quilted to natural wool. In other words … the Natural Comfort line includes some of the options of the SleepEZ Natural Select line (100% natural Dunlop and natural wool) and some of the options of the SleepEZ Organic Select line (100% natural Talalay and organic cotton).
Both manufacturers have several firmness options for each of the layers and have the option for different firmness options on each side of the mattress for their larger sizes (queen and king).
When you can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed phone conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart and who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and “feel” of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) and the options they have available that may be the best “match” for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.
Unless there are any identifying stickers or markings on the layers that would identify the materials (which may or may not be the case) you would be dependent on trusting the reputation, integrity, and knowledge of the manufacturer or retailer you purchased it from. The same would be true about any type of mattress and the materials inside it because if a manufacturer or retailer really wanted to deceive their customers about what is inside their mattresses they certainly could since most consumers wouldn’t have the knowledge or experience to be able to identify the specifics of the materials inside any mattress they purchase.
While knowingly deceiving their customers would end up working against the self interest of any reputable manufacturer as soon as consumers became aware that they weren’t providing the same materials that were in their descriptions and it certainly wouldn’t be worth the risk to their business and reputation … in the end there is no way to avoid trusting someone when you are purchasing a mattress. This is why I have often mentioned that the knowledge, experience, and integrity of the retailer or manufacturer you are purchasing from can be one of the most important parts of a successful mattress purchase.
Once you have narrowed down your options to a list of finalists that are all choices between “good and good” (which you have) and none of them have any lower quality materials or “weak links” in their design (which they don’t) and if at this point there are no clear winners between them (which is usually a good indication that you have done some good research) then you are in the fortunate position that any of them would likely be a suitable choice and post #2 herepersonal value equation can help you make a final choice based on your own local testing and/or your more detailed phone conversations about each of them, the firmness and suitability of each one, their prices, your preferences for different types of materials and components, designs, or types and blends of latex, the options you have after a purchase to fine tune the mattress or exchange or return the mattress or individual layers and any costs involved, any additional extras that are part of each purchase, and on “informed best judgement” based on all the other objective, subjective, and intangible parts of your that are most important to you.
Phoenix