Help choosing a mattress

Talk To The Experts
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We have a 10+ year Stearns & Foster Plaza Ambassador with an attached topper (total 14" H) that is now extremely soft and uncomfortable. My husband is 5’11" and weighs 185 lbs. and has back problems (herniated disks) and experiences hip pain. I am 5’ tall and weigh 120 lbs. We are both back and side sleepers and prefer a firm mattress. And we in our 70’s.

Your articles suggest that we would need different amounts of firmness based on our weight. I am also confused about densities and the two types of latex. As well as weather coils or springs of some sort are advisable. Please make some recommendations. While we have only known traditional type mattresses. We are now open to latex. And would like a mattress that is at least 13" H)

For additional context, we recently stayed at my son’s and slept on a Plank mattress that was too firm and terribly uncomfortable for both of us. Last week we moved into our guest room where we have a latex mattress we purchased 1year ago. The latex mattress is comfortable “enough”. It is from Latex for Less, their entry model. I believe it is Dunlop latex 85/75 density and it can be flipped for a firmer/softer feel. We have found we prefer the firm side better although perhaps it could be a bit firmer. We also like that it feels cooler. We do not like that when sitting on the edge it slopes/compresses a bit. Motion does not seem to be a problem. We also do not like the weight. It would be impossible for us to set up a mattress from a company that does not deliver and set up.

Any help is deeply appreciated.
Daisy

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Unfortunately you have excluded us with the delivery and setup needs unless you are in the Phoenix area. We ship nationwide with FedEx but assembly is required. Most of the White Glove delivery services went out of business during Covid. You need to look local for your needs

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which side of the plank did you try and was it a plank or plank luxe? And did you try adding a topper?

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Hi daisyrios and welcome to the Mattress Underground :slight_smile:

Sorry to hear your S&F mattress is no longer providing enough support for your husband. Like many of the ‘big brand’ foam mattresses, the durability does not hold up over time, and it’s common to have them prematurely wear, as these mattresses often have an excess of insufficiently dense foam or inexpensive ‘fillers’, and if they break down this can cause muscle aches, pains and even alignment issues.

It seems like you have been doing your research here! As you know, any mattress you choose will be based on both of your Stats (height, BMI, sleeping position(s) and any underlying health conditions) - thanks for providing those! - and your PPP (Posture & alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences).

You likely have also seen the Mattress Specifications You Need To Know and compared this to the Mattress Durability Guidelines; latex is indeed one of the most durable materials you can have in a mattress.

For latex, Talalay and Dunlop have very different ‘feels’; Talalay is considered ’springier’ than Dunlop - like the difference between angel food cake and pound cake; you probably would like a firm or medium firm comfort layer…but no one can tell you what will work best for you except you! If you do go with a foam mattress, we suggest any foam in a potential mattress has no more than an inch or so of lower grade foams (for memory foam no lower than 4 lbs/cuft for normal range weights, and 5lbs/cuft for higher range weights) and if polyfoam is used, with at least 1.8 lbs/cuft density, just to ensure you have proper support.

Pocket coils and innersprings can provide additional support for the sleeper, but again, it’s m a personal choice; not everyone enjoys the feel; also you don’t say if your husbands’ more preferred firmness is comfortable for you of not…a ‘split king’ mattress would allow you each to customize the comfort levels to your own liking.

As @Arizona_Premium said, though many of the Trusted Members of the site ship nationwide, if you need the mattress set up when it arrives, you should look into local manufacturers/retailers. If you haven’t already. You might want to take a look at our Mattress Shopping Tutorial to see how to identify a good mattress seller. This will also allow you to try different types and firmnesses of mattress to see how they feel for you both.

If you do find something you are interested in, you can let us know in the forum - we can possibly comment on the suitability and durability for your sleep profiles.

Don’t get frustrated and don’t let any sales pitch ‘push’ you towards a mattress you have not already decided on! A little consideration and testing, and you can both have years of great sleep on a comfortable and supportive new mattress!

~ Basilio

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Thanks for your prompt response.

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We tried the Plank Luxe on the extra firm side with a latex topper. The topper helped a bit. My son told me that he tried the firm side and did not notice much of a difference.

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Sorry to hear that! My wife and I love the luxe, but it demonstrates how different people’s preferences are.

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Basilio,
I think we will feel more comfortable with Dunlop -“pound cake”:slight_smile: I like your suggestion of a split, although a king size bed will not fit in our space. I will check to see if available in a queen. I am not sure what my husband’s preferred comfort level is - other than not soft or rock hard. We are in southern New Jersey and do not have many good options to test mattresses, other than the big brands. After checking out the mattress shopping tutorial guidelines I found 2 mattress companies in northern New Jersey @ more than 2 hours driving distance. I will continue to search and will consider the possibility of finding someone local who can do the heavy lifting of setting up a mattress and hauling the old one away.
Thanks!

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Hi Daisyrios,
how far south, in New Jersey. Growing up in Margate, to people from the Paramus area, they think Point Pleasant is south jersey. They have no idea what nice beach sand is all about, LOL, There are manufacturers’ in North Brunswick, Clark and Fanwood, to start.

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Ha Ha. We may have been neighbors at one point. We are in Ventnor.

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So the mattress factory in williamstown carries Hemingway mattresses which are manufactured by (Bedding Industries of America) which has a location in North Brunswick, NJ. They make a variety of mattresses for different labels (https://beddingindustriesofamerica.com/) Since mattress factory carries hemingway, they may have access to some of the other brands, such as millbrook, natural dreams and others. Perhaps they may have something you could try and do well with. Just a thought.

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Thank you! Very helpful. I will check them out.

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Good luck, keep us up to date! Say hi to lucy :elephant:

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Thanks @Maverick for the NJ suggestions! As we don’t have specific geographic listings here on the Mattress Underground, any recommendations for forum members of manufacturers or retailers where they live are not only helpful here, but now any future NJ members can find this via the search function. @daisyrios. Wishing you success on your mattress buying journey, feel free to drop in and let us know your experience with whichever mattress you choose once you’ve had some time with it!

~Basilio

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Daisy,
I was doing some research on another issue and found this mattress guy in AC. They advertise they have been there since 1954. I literally went grade school on the next corner (Massachusetts ave) and religious school on Congress Ave, about 75 feet from this store and less than a half mile from my house until I was 9.
(https://melsfurnitureac.com)
Anyway he carries 3 lines from Bedding Industries of America. My guess is he can get any mattress from them. I dont know anything about the place, but it is right in your back yard. They seem to have some quality mattresses there, at least 3 or 4 brands that they advertise. Maybe there is something there for you!

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We have been on the same wavelength. I also found Mel’s through the Bedding Industries of America site. I visited Mel’s yesterday morning to check out the Velika mattress. Since I have been interested in a latex mattress, I was intrigued by the offering. Both my husband and I like the mattress. Of course it is so hard to make a decision after a 15 min or so test period.

The pluses: The mattress is hand tufted and two sided. It has what they call a duvet which is simply a two sided topper composed to Talalay latex. I assume the topper has a lower IDL since it feels plush. The mattress also has layers of Talalay latex. I do not know the IDL. They claim to use all sustainable materials- latex, cotton, wool. Also The store is 15 mins away from our home, they will deliver and remove my old mattress at no cost.

The concerns: I had set my mind on all latex and this mattress has what they call quantum and steel coils. I do not know how to assess this - benefits/down sides. Some help in this area would be helpful. And I do not know what the Talalay latex IDL is, although I plan to ask for more info. I also do not know if what I was quoted is a fair price. I have only found a suggested retail price on Velika’s website of $6500. including a frame, which I do not need. I suspect this price is really inflated.

Any further advice is really appreciated.

BTW. I don’t know how long it has been since you visited AC. Wow how it has changed.There are few old buildings left. I wonder if your old school building is still there. But Mel’s building and the business have been around for more than 70+years. It is not a fancy store, but they have good products.

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I am glad you found Mel’s too. I went on google maps, Massachusetts Ave Elementary is no longer there, as my old house at Oriental and the Boardwalk is no longer there. What a waste. In the early 1960’s it was a good neighborhood.

The Velika’s look like they are made very well. Of course looks are not everything, but it is clear they use quality materials. The Natural Dreams Talalay looks like it is a well made latex mattress too from BIA. You know for that price, Bob at trusted member Custom Sleep Technology could make something up that will match your body profile for each side of your mattress. Have you taken his body profile matching application? (Talalay Latex Mattresses) Obviously you can not try it first, but he is pretty darn good at getting it as close to the hole in one as possible. Just a thought.
I am sure Mel’s will “work” with you a bit too, especially on a mattress in that price range. I am glad you only had to drive 15 minutes to test the mattress though. What else did you test there? His website shows a few nice brands. I am not an all foam guy, but you have to go with your gut instinct. You know what is best for you and you dont want to be second guessing your choice, it will haunt you. But you dont have to pull the trigger fast. He is 15 minutes away, so you can go, and try a couple of other mattresses, this way he knows you are serious and may just make you an offer on the Velika, if you really like it. In the end you want a quality mattress that will last you a good 10+ years minimum, that meets all your preferences and comfort requirements. Good luck, you instincts and knowledge will guide you.
Last time I was in AC was 2018, I think, my 40 year ACHS reunion, on steel pier. It was nice to see everyone, but the place has really lost its luster of yesteryear. No longer the “world’s playground” as it was so aptly named back in its heyday!

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Good morning,
Thanks for quick response.
Yes, it is sad to see what has happed to AC. I came into the area in the 70’s, before casinos, and have seen so many changes. My daughter was in the last graduating class of ACHS. The building was demolished and the land became a parking lot until Stockton University built a mini campus on the site.

I went in on to CST’s website and completed their questionnaire. Am awaiting a response, however, their prices I think will be somewhat higher. The $6500. I mentioned is just a suggested price on Velika’s website, not what Mel’s would sell their unit for. Yet so many questions remain unanswered: the pros and cons of coils (hybrid) and is the Talalay all natural rubber or a blend…I asked for the IDL on the Talalay this morning and am awaiting a response. However, I learned that the Talalay layers are 2" only as opposed to other hybrids that generally have 3".

I did check out other mattresses - the Wilshire, Chittenden & Eastman and the Glacier and Wellness, Eclipse. We did not find them comfortable. Unfortunately Mel’s did not have the Natural Dreams on the floor.

I fear now that I have gone too far down a rabbit hole as I learn more and more about the industry. And trying to build it ourselves may be too much for us.

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I wouldnt worry too much about the 2" vs 3" issue. The 3 inch will be a bit more plush or softer as compared to the same ILD at 2". If it is too firm, you can always add a topper. I am not sure what the Velika is going to end up. I think CST is about half of that. But I guess it gets down to the final price.
I am a fan of either hybrid’s or innerspring. But that is just me as I like the support they give. I am also 6’ 220. I did not consider an all foam of any type. But, Bob at CST says that you can get the support that is necessary from all latex.

Yeah, AC is a shame. They could have made it a great family place to vacation, but the Casino’s never gave back what they took. Growing up, the shops on the Boards, were like shopping at high end mall. And not just one or two blocks, a whole stretch. Imagine that.
Well, dont give up hope on the mattress. You are going to find the perfect model that will check all the boxes.
All the best,
Norm

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Thank you. It is helpful to know that 2" vs 3" will not make much of a difference. I am going back to Mels in the morning.

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