Hi lpearson72,
This post has a step by step guideline that will help you find your “best” mattress. In general … the best quality and value is with local or independent manufacturers that sell eithr factory direct or through better sleep shops. These are the ones with the knowledge and integrity to help you make your best choices and will educate you about the different material choices and options available rather than “sell” you on the latest story without regard to the quality of materials or the value of the mattresses they sell.
The Sealy Embody is a “latex hybrid” mattress that uses various layers of Smart Latex comfort layers over a polyfoam support core. Smart latex is a mostly synthetic Dunlop latex blend which is a good quality material but it is also the least costly and lowest quality of the different latex options available (such as blended or 100% natural Talalay or 100% natural Dunlop). Even a blended Dunlop that uses a higher percentage of natural latex is a higher quality version of latex. Natural rubber is very durable and elastic and synthetic rubber is not as durable or elastic and is “stiffer”.
Having said that … I’m not sure which of the Embody models you are looking at but even the Insightful (which is the lowest price in the lineup and which has 3" of Smart Latex over polyfoam) is generally more than the price you are looking at. If you are buying it from a reputable dealer (that is an authorized Sealy dealer) and it is not from a liquidation outlet, “scratch and dent”, floor model, or comfort exchange etc … then the price and value to me seems good compared to the normal price of a King size Embody although there may be better value available if you are looking at online sources.
The most important part of a mattress purchase like this is that your first priority is PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment, and Personal preferences) and not price because no matter what the price or quality of a mattress … if it doesn’t fit your own unique needs and preferences … then it is money wasted.
As you may know from reading the post I linked earlier, some initial research (scanning the overviews in the mattresses section of the site) and choosing a good manufacturer or retailer can be more important first steps than choosing a mattress. A brand recommendation has little meaning at all because it’s always the quality of the materials in a mattress that determines its quality and value rather than the label on the mattress regardless of who makes it. The better retailers and manufacturers have the knowledge and experience and will spend the time with you that can lead to the best recommendations about which type of mattress or material combinations will work best for you and your other half.
So the bottom line is that if the Embody provides all your needs and preferences, has no warning signs attached to the purchase, and is a better value than all the other options you have available (either locally or online depending on which you are comfortable with), then it would be well worth considering. The material quality is good although not the best.
If you want to look further … then if you let me know the city or zip where you live I’d be happy to point you in the direction of any better outlets I’m aware of in your area. Some of the best online choices in the country are listed in post #21 here if that’s a direction you are comfortable with.
Phoenix