Got a little update. Did another trip to try the McRoskeys and we changed our mind and ended up preferring the Sunset. Having never had a plush mattress like the Gentle Cole Valley, it seems safer to go with the firmer Sunset and add a topper if need be in 6 months to a year. I can get a sore back on some plush mattresses and don’t want to risk it.
The Sunset also had a little less motion transfer and we were able lie closer to one another without it feeling like our combined body weights were making a dip – which seems like just a natural effect of any kind of plusher mattress so it’s not a knock on the Cole Valley, which seems great.
We’re visiting family in the LA area for Thanksgiving and so we visited Custom Comfort, which was also really high quality. We liked the Rutherford and Calistoga, which both have pocket coils and were shown with their 4" topper – but they were also nice without the topper, the Rutherford in particular being a little more plush and a more viable option without the topper.
ViSpring was close by so we popped back in there. They have a great promotion right now of 20 percent off plus a free topper. The Coronet with a topper was nice but I think the Rutherford may have slightly edged it out. Both were definitely very comfortable. Even with the sale, though, I’d really like to spend closer to $5k than $10k if I can avoid it.
That puts the Sunset as comparable comfort and a lower price. One question on my mind is how the Sunset will hold up over time. It looks like it’s mostly cotton with one layer of wool as a fire protection layer. I’m told that cotton will compress and become firmer over time. If anyone has any experience with the Sunset long-term that would be great. I like how quiet (non-bouncy) it feels and looking at a cross-section cut out, it seems similar to mattresses that are $3-4k more.
I will say that stores in New York could learn something from stores in LA: here they give you a pillow in a fresh pillowcase to take around with you. In New York, you often get a square of a paper-towel-like thing that doesn’t even cover the full pillow! Nothing says “luxury mattress experience” like a scratchy sanitary strip that’s covering only half your face…
Hey owl_burrito,
Congratulatons on your choice for new mattress. It was hard to really see what that mattress is made of as they dont really list the components and specs. Just for sanity purposes, just check the mico coils and their height and position in the mattress. After seeing the Beautyrest get opened up, I am paranoid about gratuitous use of MC’s. From what I understand, McRoskeys has a good reputation. Remember they have a similar maintenance schedule, much like Shifman (General 6 — McRoskey).
I would definitely follow that schedule.
Also, being an East Coaster from the Garden State, I have no particular loyalty to NY, but if it were me, I would be taking my own pillow, particularly the one, I plan on using when I sleep on my new mattress. Just throw on a cheap pillow case for the ride! I am a pillow fanatic, and I strongly believe a great pillow completes the sleep system. So why not test the mattress with the pillow you will be using!
Good luck with it all, you must be exhausted by now!
Norm
Hey Norm, I just got off the phone with someone here in California who seemed quite knowledgeable who echoed your concerns about the composition of the McRoskeys and thought that some of the materials they use to wrap their coils are not as natural as one would hope. Feeling like I’m back to square one lol.
My concern is not so much the natural nature of the material used to wrap the coils, but the micro coils themselves. If for example they are using something like quality Hickory Springs MC’s that are 1-1/2" or some other quality micro coil to replace a memory foam layer that would otherwise generate a lot of heat when sleeping, then from my perspective, that would be fine. I would just hate to see .25 or .50" gratuitously added MC’s just to build the coil count of the mattress. If those MC’s are used to replace heat packing memory foam layers, I think that would be ok, as long as you are comfortable on the mattress. I have not done enough research on the covering used being natural vs synthetic. Of course, natural fibers are generally the better more breathable choice, but perhaps another TM can chime in on the material issue. Clearly using a cotton based coil cover would be more expensive, but the only thing I can think of aside from the fact one is natural and the other is synthetic, is the ability to allow air to flow.
I would not give up on it just yet, until you get all the answers.
Norm
***BTW What was the cost of the CH Beckley Bristol vs the Mcroskey’s Sunset and Cole Valley. If you feel comfortable revealing.
The Bristol sounds like an awesome mattress.
Wait a sec, I think I read your post incorrectly. I thought you settled on the Cole Valley, which has the mico coils, but you said you settled on the Sunset, which is a different construction. So, the micro coil concern may be a moot point.
You settled or were leaning toward the firmer Sunset rather than the less firm Cole Valley, correct? My error is so. But, I still stand by my, “bring your own pillow!”
Haha well introducing a pillow to the subway brings along its own set of considerations .
Yep was leaning toward the Sunset for its better price point, less motion transfer and the fact that I am more used to that level of tension.
I ended up emailing McRoskey, asking about concerns about their cotton compressing and becoming firmer over time. They said they have seen some compression and recommended the Hayes Valley as an alternative that “does not have the cotton.” A bit of a confusing answer since all of their models list cotton on their website…
That other mattress is an interesting option norm but definitely trying to avoid something that is too firm.
That Hayes Valley retails for close to 11k in a king. It uses microcoils, so you need to ask those questions again. Everyone judges comfort differently. I wouldn’t be too quick to judge that clean bedroom mattress. It is a trusted member #the clean bedroom’s propriatary brand. I would send Brian from Profile - TheCleanBedroom - Mattress Underground and ask him about firmness options. It seems to check a lot of boxes.
Hey, it’s just a suggestion. Just wishing you the best!
Here’s a handy chart for folks looking to understand more of the layers on the different McRoskey models. There’s more wool in the Sunset than I thought. The coils are wrapped in polypropylene which they said is the only synthetic component. Maybe this answers some of your questions around heat Norm but curious to hear your thoughts.
@Norm I missed your question on the price on the Bristol vs Sunset and Cole. These prices are from memory so take them as ballbpark for a queen size… The Bristol (mattress + active box spring with legs) came to around $5,500 with an optional topper for around $1,200 depending on wool vs goosedown. The Bristol really is a good value.
The Sunset with an active box spring is around $6,500 IIRC and the Cole Valley was around $13,500, also including active box spring.
So they basically all use the 15g 6" coil unit. The hayes valley looks like it would be your comfort level, but what gets me is how they choose to tell you the specs on some things and not others. In the pacific heights they tell you the nano coil is 1" but dont say in the Hayes. I will assume the layers are the same in each (a fairly big assumption) but they still dont tell you how thick each layer is.
But based on the diagram, the hayes looks like it is your speed.
Not sure why they need the nano coil in the mattress, even if it is 1" coils, as the talalay will offer some pressure relief, albeit only 1". My guess is they use the Alpaca as an outer layer, because alpaca wicks moisture, but does not absorb it, plus it is a stronger higher tensile strength fiber as compared to wool.
As I mentioned, I am not as concerned about the coil wrapping material, although natural fibers do breath well so you get more air circulation. Plus on an expensive mattress, I guess you just expect natural fibers. At least some of the mattresses are in the 5k range as apposed to the Cole Valley at 13500. That was why I pointed towards that CleanBedroom one as it had good components and it the price range.
I dont remember you mentioning the Hayes Valley and I dont know where that falls on the $$$ scale.
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