I was able to go out to Fox yesterday to try in person. They really are great to work with! Very informed and attentive to what I was looking for, but did not rush us as we tested. Their showroom is big! They had approx 60 different models available for testing! I got overwhelmed before I tested as many as I’d like, but thanks to Trina’s guidance, I think we tested the ones that were most inline with our goals. It is great that they are so willing to educate you on what they have!
Some of the things I learned were:
- A doctor’s note provided to them will allow them to omit the fire barrier. They use boric acid, and I really do not want that in my mattress. So if I make my purchase there, I will absolutely go to my doctor and get a note.
- I really like the feel of a small amount of polyfoam in the quilting layer over the latex. They use 1 1/2" in the quilting layer. I still feel the latex has good spring and conforms well, but it smooths out the bouncyness just enough to eliminate that “bouncy castle” sort of feel so that motion transfer isn’t as noticeable.
- The quilting pattern is important to me. Hadn’t realized that before. But as I’m a stomach sleeper, I realized that since I use a very thin, or no pillow, I don’t want a quilting pattern that will place one of the quilting low spots right under my face.
We selected an innerspring model and a latex model we liked best. I would give the edge to the latex model, but my husband would give the edge to the innerspring. There is a 2K price difference between them, so it will be important for us to think carefully about it.
The two we liked were
100% Natural latex model
- Quilting layer with 1.5" polyfoam
- 2" 24 ILD, 4lb Talalay comfort layer
- 6" 38-41 ILD, 4.8lb Talalay core
Innerpring model
2" soy based foam
1 1/2" latex (I think the 24 ILD, but this was the last bed we tried and I was on overload)
Fabric encased Pocket coils with a polyfoam border on the edges of the bed (like on their website video)
I think the one thing I was bit disappointed about with my visit is that they had no 3 layer latex models, and there were not any options to customize the level of softness of the latex in the all latex model. That is the only configuration it comes in. I was really hoping to learn a bit more about my preferences for different latex firmness options and how they interact.
For me, I think I might have preferred the comfort layer to be just a bit softer so I sink in just a little more, but this was very close, and I got good support. For my husband, he said he was comfortable on his side but looking at his alignment, I think his spine would be better aligned if it sank in another inch (as it was on various polyfoam pillowtop models we tried that were far to soft for me, but which he preferred). I wonder if on the all latex he might have been bottoming out on the comfort layer and hitting the firm support layer with his shoulder similar to what Halifax (who sounds of similar build) was experiencing in post #11.
He said that the pocket-coil mattress felt softer to him, and looking at his alignment on his side, I think his shoulder sank in a bit better than on the all latex model. So although the pocket coil model had the same thickness of comfort layer, maybe he was able to “borrow” comfort from the support layer a bit better. Does that seem reasonable?
So brings me back to the opening question of this thread on progressive models. I would love to have tested an all latex 3 layer model that had soft/med/firm layers to see if that configuration is better for his shoulder.
I’m also interested in your assessment of why Fox uses a 2" comfort layer instead of a 3" layer? I know that cost would be one reason, but it seems like offering a 3" comfort layer option would be nice. I suspect that if the model we tried had a 3" comfort layer, my husband would have liked it more. When I asked about customization, Trina indicated the only thing they could customize on the latex model was omission of the fire barrier, and selection of the quilting pattern. This is disappointing, as part of what attracts me to a local manufacturer is what I had hoped would be the ability to slightly tweak a model that is “almost” until it is “perfect” for the individual. I’m very hesitant to go with the pocket coil mattress, as I don’t want that much polyfoam (that outer surround) and the pocket coil fabric gives dust mites an additional place to live. But I would hate to pay so much for the all latex version, only to find out the comfort layer is too thin, or too firm. While adding an additional latex topper could help either of those issues, a lot of what I like about this model is the quilting layer on top of the latex, which would no longer be on the surface if I added a topper. So close…but not perfect, so the price tag makes me quite hesitant. If I decide this is my top choice, I will definitely go back and lay on it for 15-20 minutes again before I decide for sure.
Doing a bit more reading of others posts here, I learned today that there is a Savvy Rest dealer in Winter Park that is only a few miles from me. I think my next step will be to go there so I can experience a 3 layer latex model and spend some time figuring out what combination I like best, then compare that to the latex model that Fox offers.
Thanks again for all the wonderful knowledge this site brings together to help people on their individual journeys!