Foam mattress search in Ottawa, Canada

[phoenix]

Hi allanweinman,

Hardy recommended a 5" 2.7lb foam base (They said velva foam otherwise known as neocore). I could not find any info on these names. Have you heard of them?

The specific names of the foam don’t really matter and it’s the density that is the most important spec and this sounds like a very high quality HR polyfoam.

They then use 3" memory foam, HD polyurethane, 5.7lbs.

5.7 lb memory foam (it’s not actually what is normally referred to as polyurethane foam although memory foam is a type of polyurethane) is also a very high quality material (5 lbs and up is “good quality” memory foam).

I still haven’t visited Obasan or Dauphin but kind of am looking for direction.

It sounds to me like you are already heading in a very good direction. You have identified most of the better options in the Ottawa list and you are making sure you find out the specifics in each mattress you test and testing to find out your preferences of material. You are currently at step 3 in the tutorial post here and I would narrow down your finalist at each one (step 4) and then make your final choice (step 5) based on your personal value equation. In other words … I would continue doing exactly what you are doing. I added Obasan to the Ottawa list in this thread because for some reason I had neglected to list them even though I have talked with them on several occasions and they are knowledgeable and transparent and are certainly a high quality option (although as you mention they are also in a more premium price range). Your post was a good reminder to update the list.

Before I continue on to other stores . . Does what Hardy’s recommend make sense? A 5" 2.7lb foam base under a 3" memory foam 5.7lb top, then just wrapped in coolmax. No quilt on top. Should there be a quilt? Does the foam sound high quality or do I really need to get the brand names or sources he buys from?

No you don’t need the brand names or his sources (which they would be unlikely so disclose anyway for competitive reasons) just the density (for polyfoam and memory foam) or the type and blend of any latex if there is latex in your mattress. Memory foam typically doesn’t use a quilting layer in most (but not all) cases because a thinner cover allows your body heat to reach the memory foam more effectively and memory foam is a heat sensitive slow response material. These are all high quality materials with no “weak links” but your own personal testing following the testing guidelines in the tutorial post is the best way to know which mattress is the best match for you in terms of PPP.

Some of the things I am worried about are heat from memory foam. The owner at Hardy’s said not to worry. He slept on latex for over 10 years and then switched to memory foam and never went back to latex. And does not feel any more heat on memory foam then latex.

While memory foam as a category tends to sleep warmer than latex (depending also on the other factors that can affect sleeping temperature that are discussed in post #2 here) and more people would have temperature issues with memory foam than with latex … most people don’t generally have an issue with either. One person’s experience doesn’t necessarily mean that others will have the same experience so his personal experiences or preferences may not be the same as any of his customers.

Can I worry less with the 5.7lb memory foam version that Hardy’s sells? Maybe it deals better with heat. Also the smell of memory foam. None of the mattresses at the store smelled. But new in my bedroom. Does the better stuff smell? Is there something I can ask him to get a better idea of this?

If the memory foam or polyfoam is manufactured in North America and is CertiPur certified then it would be “safe enough” for most people in terms of harmful substances or VOC’s but most new mattresses will have some smell for a few days or sometimes up to a few weeks depending on the specifics of the foam. The smell is a side effect of the formulation of the foam but density is the most important factor in the quality of the foam.

1 thing he did tell me is that he does NOT compress the foam to pack it up and deliver it to me. He makes it seem like it is not compressed at all before it get’s to me. So when he delivers it I could use it immediately.

Most new mattresses can be used the same night you receive them although compressing a mattress for storage or shipping over a longer period of time can often lead to the smells accumulating inside the wrapping in which case it can be a good idea to air them out for a day or two.

He also said that I could use my box spring IF it was not sagging.

Most memory foam mattresses do best on a rigid non flexing foundation so the flexing and compression comes from the mattress itself not the box spring (uwhich is the design of most memory foam mattresses). A flexible box spring can affect the feel and performance of the mattress in terms of PPP compared to a rigid foundation but it shouldn’t be harmful to the mattress itself (as long as the foundation or box spring you use doesn’t have any sagging or soft spots as he mentioned).

Thanks for any info and as I continue my journey in Ottawa I will be sure to update this thread. Thanks for the website.

Again … It sounds to me like you are following the steps in the one by one which is exactly what I would suggest.

I’m looking forward to hearing more of your feedback and finding out what you end up deciding.

Phoenix