Looking for feedback on replacement

Mattress Talk
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Hi all,

I’ve been shopping for a replacement mattress for I don’t even know how long. I feel like I can’t let another sale weekend pass me by so after seeing this place talked about so much I thought I’d check in on the collective wisdom here.

I am 5’ 10" 165lb, my wife is 5’ 1" 105lb. We’ve had a mattress we got at Macy’s about 10 years ago that we have been pretty comfortable on but the top layer has gotten thin and I’m starting to feel pressure on my shoulder and hip (likewise for my wife).

I would honestly like something that feels pretty similar because it’s the one we managed to agree to after a long process then. Not sure if there are any experts that know what this would equate to now, it was a Sealy:

DESCRIPTION: EAST KING, PLUSH EPT, GRANT LTD

I have no idea what it was on the softness scale which is what makes this so much more difficult. It’s on low profile box springs. We’ve gone to mattress stores and she really liked softer ones (e.g. tempurpedic) but that was way too soft for my taste and we both sleep hot so that’s all well and good for 15 minutes but 8 hours is another story. I’m okay with most anything so long as I’m not getting shoulder pain, I travel a lot and sleep well on most hotel mattresses - only standouts I can remember are Park MGM in Vegas and a Hampton Inn.

We stayed at a rental that had a DreamCloud but when we tried it again at a (now closed) store in LA we both were overheating and not that comfortable. We also tried a Winkbed there that was okay but seemed hot.

I’m open to online ordering, but we live in a 4th floor apartment and have to carry it up so the whole if you don’t like it send it back thing is quite an ordeal to think about. I’ve seen many recommendations online for Helix Midnight which I think might be at a local retailer here. I’ve also seen good opinions on DLX Hybrid over on Reddit. But without really knowing what our starting point was with softness I’m kind of lost.

Budget is probably up to about 4k. Will need a new box spring or foundation too.

Open to any and all feedback or questions!

@DLX
@HelixSleep

2 Likes
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Dlx is a good bed. The helix midnight luxe is as well.

Another one to look at is nest and wild hybrid. Its really soft with a heavy cooling cover and open cell foam on the top, but has a texas pocket springs base for support so it holds alignment well.

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Older plush hybrids usually had a thinner comfort stack and transitioned into support much sooner than most modern plush models, which tend to hold you in foam for longer.

That difference alone can explain both the warmth and the shoulder pressure you’re trying to avoid now. Hotels often land closer to that simpler coil-dominant feel, which is why they can seem cooler and more neutral compared to newer retail models. At this point, are you mainly trying to recreate that older feel, or are you open to something that feels similar but with a slightly more modern comfort profile?

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Definitely not opposed to something with the newer advancements, just not sure what it was on the softness scale. It was definitely pretty plush but I wasn’t drowning in it like I seem to with some of the plush models I’ve tried. The pillow top layer on the current one is definitely pretty worn out, and there are pretty deep compressions where we sleep. We tried rotating it once to switch and try and even it out but where our pressure points were vs. each other made it pretty uncomfortable so we switched it back.

I think some of our challenge is the 50+lb weight differential plus the height plus our sleep positions (I stretch out more and she curls up more). Models that I sink more than I like into seem to be fine for her and models that I don’t are too firm for her on the hips. We both fall asleep on our sides but end up on our backs 90% of the time by wake up.

I’ve been considering some sort of split, whether it’s two singles or just split top layers. Though I have some concerns about the middle gap.

Mattress shopping is so exhausting :rofl:. I’ve looked at every holiday sale for probably the last year and never pulled the trigger so I came here!

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Thanks for considering DLX.

If the information we found on the Sealy Grant Euro Top Plush from around 2015 is accurate, it used a pocketed coil support system and was approximately 13.75" tall with the following comfort layers:

  • FlameGuard™ fiber
  • 0.5" Hypersoft® foam
  • 1.5" convoluted Hypersoft® foam
  • 1.5" Supersoft foam
  • Versare inner panel
  • 2" high-performance polyester
  • 0.5" gel memory foam in the center third

If that’s the case, I think our Premier Hybrid 14" in Medium would be a fairly similar feel. Both use pocketed coils for support, have a similar overall height, and have a comparable amount of cushioning above the coils. It won’t be an exact match, but it’s in the same general category.

One difference is that Sealy tended to use lower-density foams, and the convoluted quilting foam may have allowed a little more airflow that may have helped it sleep a little cooler. We don’t use memory foam in the Premier.

The one thing that gives me pause is WinkBed slept hot for you. Those aren’t typically mattresses we hear a lot of complaints about in terms of heat given your current mattress type isn’t sleeping hot, so it may be worth taking a look at the entire sleep system. Sheets, mattress protectors, comforters, and blankets can all have a surprisingly large impact on sleeping temperature.

Based on your heights, weights, and sleeping positions, I’d say most couples like you do very well on the Premier Hybrid 14" Medium.

One advantage of the Premier that you may not be aware of is that it has a zippered cover. During the first 120 nights, you can access the 3" comfort layer and swap it for a softer or firmer version if needed. We offer several different comfort options, so if your first choice isn’t quite right, you aren’t stuck with it.

Since you’re planning on replacing the box spring, I think that’s a good idea. It’s not a gimmick to sell more products. Most Sealy foundations from that era used a wire grid over some form of modular spring system. Those can flex and lose support over time, even if they don’t appear broken.

Unfortunately, a lot of what’s sold today isn’t built especially well either, even products advertised as supporting 2,500 pounds. Two foundations we’ve consistently heard good feedback about from customers are Ironwood or Mattress Foundations.

Also keep in mind that the bed frame itself plays an important role. Everything between the mattress and the floor affects how supportive the mattress feels and how long it lasts. A typical heavy-duty king frame consists of two steel cross rails with a center support running between them and at least three legs touching the floor, similar to this.

If you’re unsure about your setup, feel free to post pictures or email them to us. There are several configurations that work well, and we’re happy to take a look.

As for getting the mattress up four flights of stairs, I completely understand that concern. We ship via FedEx, and the mattress arrives compressed in a box, so it’s much easier to carry than a full-size mattress. FedEx will typically leave it wherever they normally leave larger packages.

We don’t offer setup and removal directly, but we do work with a third-party company called LoadUp. They can usually come out a few days after delivery to bring the mattress inside, set it up, and remove your old mattress and foundation. You’d just need to keep the boxed mattress aside until they arrive.

LoadUp isn’t available everywhere, but if you send us your ZIP code, we can check availability and pricing. We’d also need to know what you’d like removed for example, just the mattress, a mattress and box spring, a bed frame, an adjustable base, or something else.

Hope this helps and gives you a better starting point. I know mattress shopping can get overwhelming especially when you’re trying to replace something you’ve been happy with for 10 years.

If you have any questions or want to compare other mattresses you’re considering, feel free to ask. We’re always happy to help.

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Thank you for that detailed response DLX!

Our bed frame is all wood with 4 legs supporting the center rail and 3/4" thick, 3" wide slats spaced about 2.75" apart. The 2 low profile box springs are about 5" thick and match your description of the grid. The mattress right now is about 11.5-12" high so I think that might match up with 10 years of compressing it. I’ll take a look at those foundations, I have always replaced with just a box spring but if there’s better options I’m happy to do it!

I’m going to go over some of the items brought up here with my wife this evening and give it a bit of a think and will pop in more questions and edits.

Also just to call out the Winkbed feeling hot, it was in a store that showed online order mattresses but wasn’t a great setup. The sink in plus the material the top cover was made of felt hot but haven’t tried it with our sheets, etc. We have pretty cool percale sheets and also keep our bedroom cool.

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Thank you everyone who responded here and DMd me.

It was a tough choice with a lot of discussion but we agreed to go for the DLX. My wife made a good point on the ability to change the layers + get a split if we completely disagree on firmness :rofl:. Hope it doesn’t come to that but looking forward to not having a spring digging into my shoulder regardless. And a new split king foundation is also on the way.

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What layers did you go with?

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Going with a medium all around to start with, we both think we get our best sleep in that firmness zone. If we have a split decision on the firmness, we can split it quite literally.

But we will give it a few weeks and see how we feel. Transitions to a new mattress are a shock to the system as is.

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I think youll be satisfied with it for sure. I once messaged DLX and they told me the type of foam that they used in the medium. I dont remember exactly but it was special.

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The medium starting point makes sense. A lot of people forget how different a new mattress can feel compared with one they’ve slept on for years, especially when the old materials have gradually softened over time. The advantage of a modular design is that you don’t have to get everything perfect on day one. Small layer changes can make a surprisingly big difference.

I’d be curious how the medium feels after the adjustment period, especially compared with your old Sealy. Sometimes the biggest change isn’t firmness itself, but how the mattress transitions from comfort into support. How long are you planning to give the original setup before deciding if any adjustments are needed?

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With a $4,000 budget and both sleepers running hot, natural latex with organic wool quilting would be high on the list. Latex promotes airflow through its open-cell structure, while wool naturally wicks moisture and helps regulate temperature throughout the night. If moving the mattress upstairs is a concern, a latex hybrid can also be easier to handle than a solid latex core.

At that budget, there are some excellent choices including Hypnos, Whitney Natural, and Berkeley Ergonomics. All use breathable natural materials and come in a range of comfort levels depending on your preferences.

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I think with the initial medium I’ll try it for a month to see if there are any issues? Maybe a little longer.

That may change ii it seems egregiously uncomfortable or creating severe pressure for either of us. But I think that our existing mattress is so old and creating harsh pressure points that anything will feel better initially.

We unfortunately don’t have anywhere we can unwrap it and let it sit out for a day or two to stabilize before use. I’ll open it in the morning so it will only get about 12 hours.

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So I think we’re a little past the two week mark now, maybe a little more, so I thought I’d give a little update on the DLX Hybrid in case anyone out there is shopping and was in the same situation I was.

So far so good. My biggest concern was whether my wife would be comfortable enough and so far she thinks that it’s the best mattress she’s ever slept on. Not sure if that will change as time goes on but a pretty promising start. She also has had no problems with heat.

For myself, I’m pretty comfortable and think that maybe the next step for me is a new pillow. I think it’s slightly warmer than our previous mattress but not so much that it’s bothering me. Plus we’re also in a heatwave so not sure how it will be come December.

If I had to complain about something I think it would be that it’s got a bit more motion transfer than the old one.

But overall pretty good. Putting the new foundation together was straightforward and the mattress puffed up pretty quick. I’ll put in another update in the future.

And thank you to DLX Hybrid!

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Hey there brokenspring,

Congratulations on your new DLX Hybrid, and thanks for coming back with an update! I’m not surprised you’re happy with it. It’s great to hear that both you and your wife are sleeping comfortably, especially since comfort was your biggest concern. I’ve had several family members and friends get a DLX Premier or LatexLux mattress, including a Classic Hybrid I purchased for my daughters guest room (well there was an ulterior motive, we wanted a comfort bed to sleep in when we visit florida) , and they’ve had very similar experiences. Wishing you many years of great sleep, and I’ll look forward to your next update!

Use it in good health,

Maverick

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