I've tried doing my own research but I need help

Mattress Talk 1) Mattress Selection Process
1

I’ve followed Mattress Underground since 2015. We purchased a hybrid coil and memory foam mattress with a pillowtop after finding a small business here in Indiana, Long’s, where we could actually go to a store and try out the mattress. This was 2018. I’m sad to say that only 6 years later, this mattress has developed deep sags in it. We put it on the floor to make sure it wasn’t our slatted box bases (two twins on a metal base, I’d say the slats are about 10 inches apart) and no, it still sagged.

It has been causing both my husband and I pain for the last year or more and we have to replace it. I don’t want to spend $1500-$3000 or more on a new mattress and have it sag so quickly as this one did. I don’t necessarily blame Longs, It might be that we just didn’t choose a mattress supportive enough for my husband (230lbs, 6’1") and myself (175lbs, 5’4"). I have cervical instability and paint in my hips and my husband has knee pain he has had for about five years. We are only 46. But we need a very supportive mattress, but soft enough for my shoulders and my hips. Our current mattress support has given out and my neck, shoulders and hips hurt every morning. My husband experiences a whole body soreness upon waking. We did try a sleeponlatex 3 inch soft topper, but after about 4 mos, we broke it in and unfortunately it became too soft. Plus, it was simply sinking into the sags in the mattress. So we took it off as we seemed more sore with it than without it. But we were past the 90 day return/exchange window.

I’ve tried to research myself, but It is all getting mixed up in my brain. I have this chronic pain as well as adhd (medicated thank goodness) and both hurt/curb my research abilities. As well, we are both suspect of my previous research as it led to buying the Long’s matress as well as the too soft and very pricey sleeponlatex topper ($400).

I need some direction. I like the idea of latex for it support and longevity. But the topper was a pretty expensive disappointment which has left my husband disillusioned with latex’s benefits. As well, my husband wants a bed we can try out or one we have slept in on vacation that worked well for us (a week on the Sealy Gaffney hotel bed was great), but that bed is from a big brand, just as expensive as the smaller more quality brands online and will probably break down after 3-5 years. So I want one we can order that is good quality. But I need someone besides myself explaining why this bed or that would be a good bet.

I’ve looked at Saatva (honestly, so expensive!), Beloit (seemed good??), Sleeponlatex (their customer service is really wonderful, they seem like good people), Wink (also kinda pricey), Eos (really too pricey). Nothing I’ve found has a showroom in Indianapolis or around there (we are in the west suburbs).

I just don’t even know what to look for anymore. I know my husband likely needs a firmer option and my side should be a bit softer, but I could only find a split option on SleepEz and since it is a good deal of latex, not sure my husband will go for it.

HELP, please. I’m really tired and really sore. I am in PT for neck pain and this current bed is just making it worse.

Sincerely,

Laura Evans
just outside Indianapolis

1 Like
2

Laura,

I hear you! I used to be your husbands weight. Im 212 pounds now, 5 11 height.

I used to be a huge Tempurpedic fan. The problem is that it sinks. Only TP I would get is Luxe Adapt Firm and it feels like a medium firm.

I got the Back Science 2. This mattress is amazing plus it can be modified in any way by talking to Dr Rick (owner). Talk to him about whether BS2 or 3 would be better for you. I did not modify mine. My wife loves it too and she is 120 pounds. There is no sag and the mattress feel luxurious. I would have zero qualms about ordering sight unseen. I did try BS3 and it was so luxurious and plush, but I felt my alignment was better on BS2. I felt I sank down a bit too much on BS3 as a back sleeper.

A few years ago, Casper had a TV ad that stated that there is one firmness for everyone. That claim isnt true, but I feel that BS2 and BS3 come real close. In my mind, BS2 for back sleeper and BS3 for side sleepers. Im sure a few back sleepers might like BS3. The wife and I just got back from Las Vegas on a bad mattress….we really looked forward to the BS mattress at home!

I have heard a lot about DLX Premiere. It can be adjusted per side. I never bought one and never tried it. From what I have read….it is really great.

I think Back Science would make you so happy. When I first laid down on it…the first word that popped into my head was “healthy”! The key to BS is …..”no sag”. You are floating on it….in luxury.

John

1 Like
3

Hello Glancyevans!

Thanks for lurking :wink: and finally posting in the forum!

Six years to deep sagging in a pillowtop hybrid is unfortunately not unusual, especially when there’s softer foam doing most of the work. That doesn’t mean you made a bad choice at the time, and it doesn’t mean Long’s is a bad company. It does, however, strongly suggest that the comfort layers gave out long before the support system did. Putting the mattress on the floor and still feeling the sag was a really important clue - you did the right troubleshooting.

The latex topper experience is also worth reframing a bit. What you ran into there wasn’t really a latex failure so much as a “no topper can fix a broken mattress” problem. Once a mattress has body impressions, anything softer on top will just follow those dips. That would have happened with memory foam too. I completely understand why that left a bad taste, especially at that price point, but it doesn’t automatically mean latex can’t work for you in the right context.

What I’m hearing is that you need three things at once: real, durable support for both of you, enough pressure relief for your shoulders and hips, and a setup that doesn’t require gambling thousands of dollars with no safety net. Your husband’s instinct to want something you can try or at least trust is very reasonable, especially after this experience.

One thing I would gently steer you away from right now is thick pillowtops and anything that relies heavily on softer foams up top. They feel great initially, but they’re often the weak link long term. I’d also be cautious with big brands like the Sealy you slept well on in a hotel - hotels turn mattresses frequently, and those same models at home often don’t age the same way.

If you want a concrete place to start that balances quality, durability, and adjustability without going all-in on “latex everything,” I’d suggest looking more closely at a well-built hybrid from a smaller manufacturer that’s transparent about materials and offers comfort exchanges. Beloit is actually a solid example here, especially some of their firmer hybrids paired with a modest comfort layer. They tend to prioritize support first, which is what both of you really need right now, and then fine-tune comfort without overdoing it. DLX is another worth a look for similar reasons. Neither requires committing to a thick latex build, and both give you a better chance of dialing things in without starting over.

I also want to say this gently: it’s okay if your husband needs to hear some of this from someone other than you. That happens a lot, especially when there’s been disappointment already. You’re not wrong to want a mattress that lasts and supports your bodies properly - you’re just understandably tired of being the one carrying all the research weight.

NikkiTMU

1 Like
7

John,

Sorry for the late response. The Back Science beds look ah-mazing but last j just can’t shell out over 3k for a bed. I was looking to keep it under 2k or 2.5k if possible. I’m leaning toward my green mattress natural escape or the latex mattress factory luxerion. Beloit sounded good too but shipping was kinda expensive.

Thank you so much for your thoughts on back science.

Sincerely,

Laura