Hi smoneil,
There is more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists (based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you).
[quote]The 13" EcoGel2 mattress features:
2" layer of HourGlass Gel Topper on Gel Memory Foam
2" layer of 3# Gel Visco Layer Flat-Top Convoluted Foam
2" Comfort Layer of 1.8# Density Foam
7"-1.8# Density Foam
Dyna Flow Cooling Fabric with a sleek stretch fabric cover[/quote]
You can see the quality/durability guidelines I would suggest in post #4 here. The density of the top layer is missing so I can’t really make any meaningful comments about the durability of all the materials or the mattress as a whole. Assuming that you are in more average weight ranges this mattress has 2" of 3 lb convoluted memory foam in the top layers which is a lower density memory foam than I would be comfortable with and once you reach about 2" or more of lower quality/density materials it could be a potential weak link in the mattress in terms of durability. If the top 2" layer is also a lower density memory foam then it would be an even bigger issue in terms of durability.
[quote]The 11" EcoGel2 mattress features:
2" layer of HourGlass Gel Topper on Gel Memory Foam
1" layer of Visco 3# Density Foam
2" Comfort Layer of 1.8# Density Foam
6"-1.8# Density Foam
Dyna Flow Cooling Fabric with a sleek stretch fabric cover[/quote]
The 1" 3 lb memory foam layer by itself would be inside the guidelines I would suggest (no more than about an inch or so of lower quality/density or unknown materials) but once again if the top layer is also a lower density material then the two together would be more than I would suggest and I would consider it to be a weak link in the mattress.
[quote]The 9" EcoGel2 mattress features:
1" layer of HourGlass Gel Topper on Gel Memory Foam
3" Comfort Layer of 1.8# Density Foam
5"-1.8 Density Foam
Dyna Flow Cooling Fabric with a sleek stretch fabric cover[/quote]
With only one inch of memory foam in this mattress it would have more the more resilient “feel” of the polyfoam underneath it but since it only has 1" of lower quality or “unknown” materials this mattress would also be inside the guidelines I would suggest.
If you are in higher weight ranges (more than the lower 200’s or so) then I would look for polyfoam in the 2 lb range or higher or memory foam in the 5 lb range or higher and reduce or minimize the use of 1.8 lb polyfoam or 4 lb memory foam.
Phoenix