My wife and I are agonizing over a choice between the two above beds. Testing out both beds we have found the Airloom to be slightly more “comfortable,” but we are just not sure whether it worth the additional cost (we are purchasing two full size beds, and the difference in cost is likely to be at $2000 total, if not more). Of course, we realize that a big factor in the cost is construction and materials.
Note that we have actually already paid for the Airloom, but that was two days ago and we are second guessing ourselves and wondering if we should try to cancel the order. What we know about the beds is as follows:
Airloom Hathaway (exclusive to Mattress Warehouse)
Coils: 8 inch height, 830 coil (15 gauge), barrel shaped wrapped coils. Saleswoman says Metal is high carbon steel. This information is not included in the Spec card, and we have not been able to confirm this
Edge is 1.7 density foam encasement, 84 steel flex (boarder wire)
Silk and wool fibers
5 lbs of “Airegelle”
Two layers of Talaly latex. Saleswoman says the 2 layers are 1 inch each. This information is not included in the Spec card, and we have not been able to confirm this.
Cool Visco (we don’t know how much).
Hand tufted, in english style oeko/tex
European standard ticking (covering)
Premium Bio blended foams with natural wool
Sustainable forest lumber.
GS Stearns Firm Euro Pillow Top (Exclusive to Sleepys)
Foam Encased Edge System provided substantial yet comfortable sitting and sleeping edge
Individually Wrapped Titanium Ally IntelliCoil iD features a unique coil in coil design. The inner coil gives your body essential deep down support, while outer coil conforms to and cradles your body
Soft knit cover with silk and wool fiber provides natural insulation, breathability and sumptuous comfort
Exclusive Indulge Quilt features a combination of deluxe fibers and tension-relieving foams that envelop your body in indulgent comfort
3.5" layer of High Density Foam precompressed for consistent and long-lasting comfort
1" layer of ClimaSense Gel Memory Foam know for its sumptuous mix of contouring comfort and is designed to promote a cool sleeping environment
Foundation - Our exclusive LTD Foundation supports and extends the comfort life of your mattress
The first place I would start your research is the tutorial post here which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best quality/value choices … and avoid the worst ones.
Unfortunately neither of the mattresses you mentioned include the specific information you would need about the quality/density of all the layers in the mattress and I would tend to avoid both of them.
At the very least I would want to know the thickness and density of all the polyfoam (which includes "biofoam) or memory foam layers and the type and blend of any latex in both mattresses. Without this information you would be making a blind purchase and would have no way to identify any weak links in either mattress or make meaningful comparisons to other mattresses.
It’s usually very difficult (if not impossible) to get the information you would need from both of these manufacturers to make an informed purchase (see this article) which is among the reasons I would tend to avoid both of them.
So far you have accounted for 8" of the mattress but I suspect that the mattress is thicker than 8" so I would want to know the rest of the layers as well.
Out of what you have listed though …
1 inch 19 pound Talalay latex: This is a good quality material … probably blended Talalay latex. It would be 19 ILD (not 19 lb density). ILD is a “comfort” spec not a quality spec. 1 inch 5 lb carbon infused Gel: This is also a good quality material (5 lb and higher memory foam or gel memory foam is good quality). 1 inch 33 pound Talalay latex: This is also a good quality material. It could be either blended Talalay or 100% natural Talalay and again it would be 33 ILD not 33 lb density. Again … ILD is a “comfort spec” and not a quality spec 1 inch areous visco: This is probably Aerus memory foam and I would want to know the density (Aerus comes in several densities but is most often 4 lb). Coils: 8 inch height, 830 coil (15 gauge), barrel shaped wrapped coils: The coils are not normally the weak link of a mattress so this would have more of an effect on PPP than it would on durability. Edge is 1.7 density foam encasement: This would be a little on the low side for a foam encasement (I generally would suggest a minimum of 1.8 lb density) but it’s reasonably close.
I think though that there are some layers missing that could be a weak link in the mattress … particularly any polyfoam layers (or biofoam which is also a type of polyfoam) that aren’t listed. I would make sure that the thickness of all the layers and components add up to the thickness of the mattress to make sure you have the information you need about all the layers in the mattress not just some of them.
Although there is some information missing … these are not the best specs for a mattress that sells for over $4000 (queen) and are closer to what I would look for at half the price or perhaps even less. The price would be difficult to justify IMO.
I have a couple of follow up questions, but first some additional information below:
It seems that the pillow layer is comprised of 1 1/2 " of Pillow Flex over 1 1/2" Convoluted Foam backed with Tricot.
I am not sure if that covers everything, but I have been led to believe that it does.
My questions are:
(1) You point out that a bed is only as good as its weakest link. I assume the Pillow Flex and Convoluted Foam are the weakest link. In light of this, will we benefit from the Latex layers, or will their benefit be diminished by use of the Pillow Flex and Convoluted Foam?
(2) Will the tufting and Latex contribute to an enhanced comfort life for this mattress, or will it likely not last any longer than the S&F mattress which has neither of these features?
You’re correct that the Pillow Flex and the Convoluted foam would be the weakest link and I wouldn’t consider a mattress that had more than about an inch or so of either unknown quality or low quality polyfoam in the top layers because the risk of premature loss of comfort or support and impressions would be too high. Thicker layers of material above the latex would reduce the amount you feel the latex yes. The thicker the layers above the latex are the more you would feel the properties of the upper layers and the less the feel of the latex would “come through” and contribute to what you feel.
Yes … tufting the layer would increase the durability and the effect of foam softening and impressions in the top layer but I would still want to know the specifics of each layer and tufted or not if there was more than about an inch or so of “questionable” material in the top layers I wouldn’t buy it. I personally wouldn’t consider it at anything close to the listed prices anyway.
We definitely hear where you are coming from. We wish we could find a trustworthy local dealer like we have found online, but in our area, the only choices we know of are the national retailers.
I think the question we need to address is whether, given the choices that we have, it makes sense to spend additional money on the Airloom over the SF. I wish we had more time to investigate, but I am concerned that if we don’t act today, we won’t be able to cancel the Airloom purchase.
We would be paying 2,500 per mattress (including boxspring and heavy duty frames) with Airloom, while we expect that we could get the S&F down to 1,500 per mattress (including boxspring and frames). In light of what we know about the Airloom, and what little we know about the S&F, is it advisable to spend the extra money for the Airloom? We don’t mind paying more provided we are getting something in return.
Here is what we know about the S&F mattress:
2.5" Foam encased edge system.
3.5" layer of precompressed High Density Foam
1" layer of ClimaSense Gel Memory Foam
One other point about the Airloom is that they use a patented fill chamber design that is supposed to eliminate the “drum effect.” Not sure if this is of significance but in case it is, I wanted to include it.