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Congrats on a robust, informative site. Thereās almost too much to absorb, but with so much marketing BS being propagated by the big guys and now even some of the new players, itās worth sifting through all the detail youāve offered. Thanks.
Hiya! I have a long history of chronic illness, and I suffer from what some of us call āthe princess and the pea syndrome.ā What that means is that even just a wrinkle in the sheet under a knee will have me limping half the day or longer. So Iām really sensitive to things like buttons on a mattress, etc. It has continued to worsen as I get older (though I am taking pretty good care of myself, all things considered), and my old S bed has broken down so badly that I can feel the insides. I bought a new queen bed not long ago (april), and I suffered pretty badly through the break-in period of about 3 or 4 days, but then it wasā¦ok. But just ok, and ended up with a topper on top.
Fast forward a few months and weāre in a new house, and weāve claimed our territories, and I get to have a king bed in my life again! Hooray. So now the research begins.
Iāve been researching for a couple of months, watching reviews, reading what I can, and trying to discover what would be the best bed for me. Thank you for this site, itās super informative, and I love the nuance in all of your descriptions and responses. <3
I know I need/want soft. My best sleeping experience ever was an S bed with a down pillowtop. Iām a side sleeper. Iām 5ā8" and around 175-ish (which honestly could change up or down and could put me in different weight categories easily, so I am keeping my eye on the warnings about beds that might not be so awesome for heavier sleepers).
I know I need/want cool sleeping. One word: menopause lol.
I decided I wanted to try what the Brooklyn Bedding had to offer, since they had a soft option, and I like the materials, but this is killing me. I think today is my last day before I can ask for a return, and Iām asking for a return. I am just not sure how the bed I got is classified as soft in any way at all. Maybe I havenāt broken it in well enough yet? I definitely love the coolness of the bed, if nothing else. Iām just kind of frozen, though, because itās likely that whatever other bed I get will cause me pain during its break-in period.
My plan b was to try a cheaper option and add a down topper, myself. I looked at the Arctic Bed and some of the UD beds, but, tbh, Iām not real happy about my experience w/ BB and, from what I understand, itās the same company behind AD/UD, soā¦not really sure I want to try to deal with them again. (My issues with them lie in their customer service, ie, trying to find out what material the microfiber sheets were made of. āmicrofiber.ā yes, yesā¦anyway, had several experiences with them like this and am not happy (the answer is polyester, btw) I have 2 emails that I sent to them that were never answered. And the attitude I got from chat was to basically suck it up, which, I get, but it seems like if someoneās in a trial period, you might want to reassure them that others have had the same issues and itās gotten better, or that maybe I should try something else, , just anything besides the canned āthere is a break-in periodā (i knoww)).
Other beds Iāve been interested in are the Helix and the Novosbed, since they haft soft options. (though Iāve seen a lot of people say that the novosbedās soft isnāt so soft, and well, Iām doing that movie right now, and am in agony and unable to leave my house).
Maybe a Helix, with a pillowtop in an order basket at the ready just in case.
Very interested in hearing from others who have RA, CFS/ME, Fibro and neck injuries about what materials may have helped. I know my body is different, even if all other things are equal, but I thought Iād ask this specifically. Thanks.
Oh, I remember a question I had: I have read that talalay blends are the softest out of all natural and synthetic and blends, but I havenāt been able to locate info about which beds might have this blend. Anyone know of any?
Hi downlover,
Welcome to the Mattress Forum! 
Iām sorry to hear that you have these health issues and are so sensitive to different comforts. I know that can be difficult.
Iām glad you like the information presented here. With such a specific health issue, I would advise you to test out items in person for the best results of āwhat is best for meā, as descriptors of products, while well intentioned, are generalizations and there are no overall ācomfort scalesā that are definitive, nor would it even be possible for such a scale to exist, as there are far too many individual variables involved (as you yourself already know with your specific health issues) to predict an overall level of comfort that would be applicable to everyone.
While I donāt generally recommend purchasing a new product and topper together unless there is a specific reason (as youāre mixing two variables at the same time), in your case, because of the specifics involved, it certainly may be that whatever you choose, you will respond best to a down layer on top of the item. When you suffer from chronic illnesses, if you find some sort of an application that works best for you, it is often the best that you stick with it. But you should always attempt to first find a product that best sits your needs without the use of a topper.
If youāve kept the product for the entire 120-night trial, then it would have already experienced quite a bit of ābreaking inā and loss of āfalse firmnessā. While all foams soften over time and lose a percentage of their resilience and support factor, the most dramatic change is normally within the first 6 months. As far as labelling this bed as āsoftā you can refer back to my earlier comments about generic terms for rating mattresses in overall categories of comfort. This product would certainly be called āsoftā by most people, but because of your unique situation, for you that may not be the case. But just because it isnāt āsoft enoughā for you doesnāt mean that it isnāt for the majority of people, which is what mattress companies need to consider when they create different levels of comfort. Which is another reason that your own personal careful testing will be the most accurate indicator of your happiness. Did you try this mattress with your down comforter?
The latex used on top of this product is very breathable.
Without testing out a product in person you wonāt know for sure, as the initial level of comfort will be different for every completed mattress. All foams, even latex, will soften a bit as they are used. This is another reason I would suggest for you to try and test out mattress as much as possible in person.
Iām not sure that going to a more basic foam mattress and adding a topper would be your best course of action, as again youāre mixing two variables and expecting the comfort to be achieved by their combination, as opposed to trying to find the best solution in a mattress alone. The Arctic Dreams is offered in three comfort designations, and the āsoftestā of these isnāt as plush as the soft option of the Best Mattress Ever (BME), so picking a mattress that you already know wonāt be soft enough for you and then relying upon the unknown variable of how it will potentially work with the down topper is not a course that I normally recommend. You should try and find a product that is āclose enoughā to what you need by itself, so that in case any tweaks need to be applied, they can be done quite easily with something like a more simple change in mattress pad or the addition of a topper. But I wouldnāt consider purchasing something that you know right off the bat will need a topper to make it comfortable for you.
As far as the construction of the sheets you mentioned, itās stated on the page for their sheets in the first sentence that theyāre made out of Rayon. They use bamboo for the viscose dope, which results in a āsofter handā in the feel of the sheets. Microfiber just refers to the size of the fiber being smaller than a silk strand (one denier).
I always recommend that you place a phone call to any manufacturer when you have specific questions about a product, as itās the best way to get detailed and specific answers, and to place follow up questions, especially when you have a specific situation such as yours. While some responses may seem ācannedā when you chat online with companies, it doesnāt make them any less true (there certainly is a break-in time with any product). But with a phone call a representative can get a much better feel for your situation and you can each relate in āreal-timeā (and not have to interpret or attempt to infer anything from a typed response) and also get a better feel for the accuracy and applicability of the information youāre being provided to your specific request. Even if a company has thousands of instances where people successfully adjust to an item over time (Brooklyn Bedding certainly does), there would be no way to āreassureā you that this would indeed be the result for you. This is one of the myriad of reasons that other peopleās reviews are one of the least reliable methods for choosing a mattress. It is of course your own personal experience and situation that is the most important thing.
Almost every brand will have a āsoftā option in their lineup. The Novosbed is more of a traditional āmemory foam styleā of mattress, and their soft option uses a dense polyfoam on top of a memory foam layer and then a polyfoam core. This would have a different feel than the BME ā perhaps a bit more "deadā and sinking in just a bit more. Again, this is hard to qualify for each individual. The Helix uses an algorithm to help predict the different types of polyfoam and microcoils used to create the plushness you might desire. If youāre considering either company, I would first have a detailed phone conversation with them, letting them know what youāve previously tried and what has or hasnāt worked, as that can serve as a good reference point for them. You should also ask at that time for confirmation of any exchange/return policies that each company offers (Novosbed offers a 120 night trial and Helix offers a 100-night sleep trial)
While the comments of others in a similar situation might be useful so that you may see the process that they have gone through, Iād be very cautious about using anyone elseās suggestions, experiences or reviews on a specific mattress (either positive or negative) or review sites in general as a reliable source of information or guidance about how you will feel on the same mattress or how suitable or how durable a mattress may be for you. Reviews or other peopleās experiences in general wonāt tell you much if anything about the suitability, quality, durability, or āvalueā of a mattress for any particular person (see post #13 here).
You may have run across some of the more detailed technical information Iāve previously presented on the site, which in your situation wouldnāt have too much applicability. While it is true that in general 100% NR Talalay can have a bit more ābuoyantā feel than SBR, and SBR can feel a little softer and allow you to āsink inā a bit more. In the same thicknesses in the same ILD range, it would be very difficult for most people to notice a difference. The more important thing for you to consider would be for you to be sure that youāre looking at softer (lower ILD) foams in the upper layers of the products youāre considering.
As you stated you canāt leave your house right now, so the better options Iāve aware of that use latex in their mattresses would be the members listed in post #21 here who are all very experienced and knowledgeable and specialize in providing the type of help and guidance on the phone that can help you make good choices. There are a wide range of latex options included in the choices there and I believe that all of them compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, and transparency.
Good luck in your process of selecting a new mattress, and keep us updated with your progress. And even though Iāve mentioned it previously, please consider phoning any company youāre considering doing business with before making a purchase, as opposed to emailing or using the chat feature. Youāll get much better information in that manner.
Phoenix
Thanks for your detailed response and the time it took to help me. Very informational and helpful. Iāll give Helix a call. I was kind of trying to shy away from coils, because it seems like I can feel the support layer in the traditional (?) style of beds, but, after reading more on this site, I donāt think there is any comparison to old beds that thatās happened to me with and these coils (or really any coils; the deficiency was probably in the comfort layers) should probably be just fine. But I should probably find out more about their ādynamic foam.ā (Iāll use your search here to see if I can find it, thatās been super helpful to me so far!)
Iāve only had the BME for a couple of weeks. Their time that they have you wait for a break-in time is only 2 weeks. I had my husband try it last night, and he said he thought what was going on was that the top 2" was fine, but itās kind of a hard āhitā hitting that second comfort layer. So I think what is causing me the most problems is that dunlop underneath the talalay. Thatās one of the ways that pain can complicate matters: I have to find out if this is more pain, my regular pain, more pain because of weather, or is this just a harder surface than I can handle? He helps a lot in that way.
I agree that I donāt need to be dealing with 2 different products at once, adding complication to the matter. Thanks for reinforcing that in my head. I do think I will have a topper on hand, though, just in case itās as rough as this has been. I donāt have one at this time, because I had 2 before I moved, but only found one of them, then gave it to a friend who was trying to sleep on a cheap walmart futon, right after Iād gotten the last new bed I got (DOH!). But it would be brilliant if I could get everything I need in one bed.
I read more on your site last nite, and I realize that I had confused myself about the blended talalay, about the softness. What I had read was just what you said, but you also say somewhere on here that the blended is more durable than all synthetic, so thatās why I think it stuck in my head that thatās what I want.
Of course, thatās not what the Helix has, which is where I think Iām going to end up next.
I totally understand about reviews and the unreliability of them, but I still find myself wishing that there were video reviews of them, done by people with chronic pain issues. Just another point of view. I know that so many of us buy super expensive stuff that we could get better deals on, because weāre so desperate for sleep. Seems like everyone I know has figured out how to get a tempurpedic, but only maybe half of us are happy with it. 
I guess what I was looking for that I wasnāt really able to find are really reminders that I already know, myself, like try a bed on a ābad dayā not a āgood dayā and things like that.
Iāll call Helix and see what they say. Any idea how their dynamic foam compares to talalay foam? Iāll definitely ask them this myself.
Anyway, thanks again for your help, and Iāll let you know how it goes.
Hi downlover,
Youāre very welcome!
This is just a trade name for the polyfoam that they use in their upper layer, which is a totally different type of foam from latex. When you phone them they will be able to describe it more fully to you and perhaps provide some comparisons.
Brooklyn Bedding wants you to try the mattress for at least two weeks (a small amount of time for you to begin to adjust to the product), but the mattress will still go through a break-in for a longer period of time than that. I term this as a āperiod of retrogressionā (much like when you start a new exercise program and youāre sore for a while) where you adjust to the new mattress and the mattress āadjustsā to you.
While itās difficult to discern, the transition from the Talalay to the Dunlop would usually be less noticeable than the transition to the polyfoam core, but it is of course different for each person. Regardless of the reason, it sounds as if youāre desiring what I describe as a bit more of a āprogressiveā design where the transition from the upper comfort layers to the deeper support layers is more gradual.
Even if someone performed such a review in an educated and objective manner (incredibly rare in this industry), it wouldnāt have much meaning for anyone except that individual, especially when youāre dealing with āchronic pain issuesā, which are completely individual and can arise from an incredible number of complex circumstances and interactions. Instead, youād want to focus on what you personally know and what is or isnāt working for you when you contact different mattress companies. And in your case, you currently (at least after two weeks) donāt like the feel of the transition from a softer Talalay latex layer to a Dunlop latex layer to a polyfoam core, so it could be the case that you might respond better to a more gradual progressive transition on top. This could be latex with memory foam underneath, two layers of Talalay latex, an ultra plush high density poly foam with memory foam underneathā¦there really are an incredible number of possibilities. Keeping track of what youāve tried and providing that information to online retailers will best serve you, and then making sure that any components in any mattress you consider meet the mattress durability guidelines here.
Sounds good!
Phoenix
Quick update. I noticed that someone else who had the same bed was able to get a topper to see if that helped, so I requested one from them, and they are shipping it to me in a few days.
It was really nice to receive awesome customer service from BB. They also are resetting my sleep trial time, which is a double bonus, and they said I can keep the topper even if I decide to return the bed.
It seems like itās slightly better. I feel like I got hit by a bike the past couple of days, instead of a truck. In more plain terms, it seems like my shoulders are not having as hard a time with the second comfort layer as they were before, and my neck is not all flared and angry. That is a huge boon for me, and a sign that this bed might work out after all.
But I injured my hip somehow last night/this morning, so Iāll be pretty unreliable to gauge anything for a while (itās a re-occurring injury, no worries, just pain and time).
Iām playing phone tag with Helix and may still be interested in that, eventually, if this one doesnāt work out, but Iām also continuing to read about other options. Iām super super glad to be dealing with an internet bed with a long sleep trial, thatās for sure! I was thinking about this whole thing last night, and decided that the pain of breaking in a bed can compare to the pain of physical therapy, because the hope is that there will be less pain overall after some time. Weāll see!
Thanks again. TTYS.
Hi downlover,
Thank you for the update!
Iām glad to hear that Brooklyn Bedding was accommodating to your request and are sending out the topper and resetting your trial period. Itās nice when a company has your best interests at heart.
Maybe you can work your way down to a tricycle, then a small remote controlled car, and then nothing! :lol:
Iām hoping that the product will continue to adjust more for you as time goes on, as youāre still in the first weeks of trying out the mattress. The addition of the toper might also be a nice bonus for you.
Iām sorry to hear that. I hope it gets better quickly.
As with most physical therapy, the more painful work is done earlier, but the sooner it is done and the more you can tolerate, the faster youāll eventually recover. Iām hoping this is the case for you and the worst is behind you.
Keep us updated!
Phoenix
We did the friend thing that he mentioned when I talked to him that i forgot about. Itās an extra $50 back through paypal once the shipping date expires, and then youāll get $50 which makes sense for not cheating the system.
I got her the soft twin mattress which Iām going to setup today when the flat comes. I laid on it a few times the past week and man, Iām kind of wishing I got the soft over the medium but thatās not a proper test. Since sheās swapping beds I got her 2 inch Serta memory foam for my full sized. Iāll give that a full week and then Iāll know if I should have gotten the soft, but itās a win either way if I like it as it will prolong the life of the bed. Itāll be my first experience with a topper too which is going for $120 at Amazon but I got it at overstock on labor day I think for $60ā¦
I have been reading your comments on the Mattress Underground as well as other sites and Sleep EZ appears to be well thought of as a quality and professional mattress company ā¦
So ā¦ I am reaching out, like many others for your assistance.
My wife and I are researching a new mattress and all I can say is ā¦ Whew!
With all the sales pitches, pricing, quality and product variables itās quite a mess to sort thru in making a decision. So, we are reaching out to you, as a professional with a reputable company for assistance.
I am 73, 5ā10" @ 165 lbs and my wife is 65, 5ā3" @ 118 lbsā¦
Both in excellent shape, for our age and the only issue is with my back surgery in 2010 ā¦ I have problems with pressure points and my legs go numb when I lie on my sides. Otherwise we are both side and back sleepers. We both tend to get warm and pillow tops donāt work.
We have been sleeping on both a Sealy Correct Comfort Impeccable on a platform and a Sealy Posturepedic Equisite Royal Ultra Plush on box springs.
Both have been great beds for many years but as a result of our moving from Ca to Fl, our beds have both been screwed up and now there are dips due to the way they bent the mattresses to squeeze them into boxes.
From my research itās a toss between a Hybrid (which appears to be better for side sleepers) or just go with a Latex. We are not hard on products and take care of them ā¦ so they last a long time.
My readings have indicated that anything from an Ikea, which some rave about, to way higher priced options itās all a matter of individual fine tuning. We have not been able to locate a shop as of yet to bounce on a bed or two. So ā¦
Your input and advice would be greatly appreciated ā¦ Maybe there is a local shop here in the area that you could recommend where we could do our bounce time.
Thank you in advance,
Rick & Francine Mackinzie
Temple Terrace, Fl
Hi napamac777,
Welcome to the Mattress Forum!
You are correct that SleepEZ is a member of this site which means that I think very highly of them and that I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency. They are extremely knowledgeable about latex and different configurations, and I would not hesitate to recommend them for your consideration.
Regarding temperature regulation, and in very general terms, the materials, layers, and components of a sleeping system that are closer to your skin will have a bigger effect on airflow, moisture transport, and temperature regulation than materials, layers, and components that are further away from your skin and softer mattresses or foam toppers will tend to be more āinsulatingā and for some people can sleep warmer than firmer versions of the same material. If you are interested, there is more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here that can help you choose the types of materials and components that are most likely to keep you in a comfortable temperature range.
If youāre considering latex, Talalay latex and Dunlop latex are extremely breathable materials, and they would tend to be good choices for someone who is temperature sensitive. Regarding a pillowtop, that is a tailoring/assembly process and in and of itself wonāt have much of an impact upon sleeping temperature, as that is mostly determined by the foams contained within the pillowtop and the items linked to in post #2 previously.
A hybrid, which technically would be some sort of a pocketed spring unit with (in this case) latex layers on top, or an all-latex mattress, can both be made to appropriate for side, back or stomach sleepers. It would simply involve selecting the componentry in the firmnesses (ILDs) and arrangements that would be appropriate for your own personal PPP.
Subject to first confirming that any retailer or manufacturer on the list that you wish to visit is completely transparent ( see this article ) and to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here ā¦ the better options or possibilities Iām aware of in and around Orlando are listed here . The Tampa/ Clearwater/St Petersburg areas are listed in post #143 here . The Sarasota/Brandenton list is here . This surrounds your area in Temple Terrence.
Iām not sure what youāve read since you found the site but just in case you havenāt read it yet ā¦ the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice ā¦ and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure youāve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best āmatchā for you in terms of ācomfortā, firmness, and PPP that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesnāt turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the āvalueā of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well he will sleep), durability (how long he 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 (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesnāt turn out as well as you hoped for).
While nobody can speak to how any specific mattress will āfeelā for someone else or whether it will be a good āmatchā in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances and you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress ā¦ outside of PPP (which is the most important part of āvalueā), the next most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you canāt see or āfeelā and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new so I would always make sure that you find out the information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.
In its simplest form ā¦ choosing the ābest possibleā mattress for any particular person really comes down to FIRST finding a few knowledgeable and transparent retailers and/or manufacturers (either locally or online) that sell the types of mattresses that you are most interested in that are in a budget range you are comfortable with and that you have confirmed will provide you with the all the information you need about the materials and components inside the mattresses they sell so you will be able to make informed choices and meaningful comparisons between mattresses and then ā¦
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Careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in the tutorial) to make sure that a mattress is a good match for you in terms of ācomfortā, firmness, and PPP ā¦ and/or that you are comfortable with the options you have available to return, exchange, or āfine tuneā the mattress and any costs involved if you canāt test a mattress in person or arenāt confident that your mattress is a suitable choice.
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Checking to make sure that there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress you are considering relative to your weight range that could compromise the durability and useful life of the mattress.
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Comparing your finalists for āvalueā based on #1 and #2 and all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.
If you do decide to eventually look online (as you mentioned SleepEZ), I would start by using the experience and expertise of the members listed in post #21 here who are all very experienced and knowledgeable and specialize in providing the type of help and guidance on the phone that can help you make good choices. There are a wide range of latex and other options included in the choices there and I believe that all of them compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, and transparency.
Iāll look forward to your comments as you start your buying process and of course do my best to assist with any new questions that you may have.
Phoenix