Hi sleepygirl,
As an option … it may be worth considering a mattress lifter something like this. Even an innerspring with layers of latex (or even memory foam) on top can be fairly heavy.
I’d be happy to let you know of any better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area if you let me know your city or zip (searching a whole state is a little too time consuming). I don’t keep a record of particular mattress types so much as a list of better manufacturers or retailers in each area (or online) but these would normally carry most of the different types of mattresses that you may prefer including an innerspring/latex hybrid.
One of our members that sells online also makes an innerspring/latex hybrid (using pocket coils) that has great quality and value but of course this wouldn’t be a local purchase and local testing is always a good idea.
Bear in mind that none of the manufacturers or retailers in the various lists on the forum are recommendations (unless they are a member here) but possibilities that usually need some further research to be compared with other mattresses that use similar components and materials. Each of them may also offer different policies and benefits that may be more or less important in terms of each person’s “value equation” (see post #46 here). Every mattress … no matter where it is purchased … should be compared to other similar mattresses in terms of the quality and value of the materials that are in it as well of course in terms of PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment, and Personal preferences).
Some local retailers have an exchange policy which adds to the cost of all the mattresses they sell so for those where this is important it may be worth a higher cost. Other retailers or manufacturers don’t offer this so they don’t have to build the cost or exchanges into their mattresses. Some manufacturers offer a layer adjustments or exchanges so they can make adjustments down the road if necessary at a nominal cost. Careful testing can give you the confidence to make a purchase where there is no exchange … particularly if you err on the side of firmness that can be “fixed” with a topper if necessary … but if this feels too risky for you then a retailer or manufacturer that has an exchange or even a refund policy may justify the higher costs for these types of services. All of this is personal preference and involves trading one benefit for another.
Better retailers and manufacturers will usually do exactly what they promise (and if you have any doubts just make sure they write it down on your receipt). I would also make sure that you go through all the details “step by step” about the procedure and costs of any exchange or refund policy they have so you know exactly how it works.
I would first spend some time at home calling the options (retailers and manufacturers) that are available to you and making sure they carried an innerspring/latex hybrid which has no more than an inch of polyfoam in the comfort layers. I would also make sure that they are able and willing to tell you the details of all the layers and components in their mattresses so you can make “apples to apples” comparisons between them. Once you have identified the manufacturers or retailers that carry the types of mattresses you want to test … I would visit the ones that were the most promising to you based on your conversations and then choose the “best” mattress available (based on your needs and preferences) at each place. I would then narrow these final choices down based on the results of your local testing (which is most suitable for your body type and sleeping positions), on the relative value of each (by comparing the materials and components that were in them) and on all the other objective, subjective, and intangible benefits and tradeoffs that are the most important parts of your “value equation”.
Phoenix