My girlfriend and I are shopping for a new mattress that suits us both. I’m 5’11" 180lbs and she’s 5’3" 135lbs. We both mostly sleep on our stomach or side, although I’ll occasionally sleep on my back.
I currently have a SleepOnLatex mattress that’s about 8 years old. It’s been okay, but the medium firmness was a bit hard, and I ended up adding a topper. The mattress has also sagged a lot in the middle, and there’s a big depression. I’ve had to put some towels under the middle of the mattress to prop it up so we don’t roll into the middle.
My girlfriend has a TempurPedic mattress that’s probably 15 years old. It’s holding up surprisingly well, but definitely nearing end of life. She likes it quite a bit, but I don’t like the memory foam during the summer as it makes me overheat. I also tend to wake up with a sore back in her bed.
She likes my current mattress more than I like hers, so we’re looking at latex or latex hybrid mattresses. I think we’ll want to go for something more plush than the SleepOnLatex, and probably something higher quality that won’t start to sink after a couple years. Side note: I also have a couple SleepOnLatex pillows. One of them in starting to get hard and crusty, and pieces of it are flaking off. Is that normal for latex?
Our budget is about $3,000 for a king size mattress. We don’t have many places nearby we can try out mattresses other than the typical mass produced options.
So far we think the Avocado medium mattress might be a good choice, but our concern is it might be a bit too firm. We’d like to avoid adding a topper if possible, as we’d like to enjoy the ticking on top of the mattress.
Something like the Mattress Makers Soledad Medium is also around our budget, and might be slightly softer than the Avocado options? The number of choices is a bit overwhelming. Last time I bought a mattress it felt like there were fewer options to choose from.
Latex hybrids like the Avocado Medium and the Mattress Makers Soledad Medium are both durable, well-built options, but they offer slightly different comfort profiles. Avocado’s medium firmness is known for strong support and a somewhat firmer, more buoyant feel that works well for stomach and back alignment while still offering moderate pressure relief. The Soledad Medium shifts a bit toward deeper surface cushioning, which can feel more forgiving for side sleepers while still keeping the spine supported. Both use quality coil systems and dense latex that hold up well over time, so the decision really comes down to whether you prefer a more supportive or a more plush initial feel rather than concerns about durability.
It is also worth expanding on how beneficial a topper can be in a latex system. A good latex topper absorbs the majority of daily compression before it reaches the mattress itself, which can greatly extend the lifespan of the comfort layers and help the mattress maintain its feel for many more years. Because toppers cost a fraction of a full mattress, they make long-term ownership much more cost effective by letting you refresh only the layer that wears the fastest. They also give you the flexibility to adjust firmness if one partner wants more pressure relief or if your bodies and preferences evolve over time. Even a topper with the same ILD as the mattress comfort layer can improve durability, reduce body impressions, maintain a more consistent sleep surface, and create a modular system that keeps the base mattress in good condition while giving you the option to replace only the part that actually experiences the most wear.
I’ve tried a 3" Talalay Latex topper with an ILD that matches the comfort layer of my firm mattress, and it’s been working out very well. I like to test things firsthand so I can better speak to them, and over the past three years I’ve gone through four or five different toppers with this mattress. The main point is this: don’t discount or dismiss the potential value of a topper.
Either can be an excellent choice for your base mattress, but as a topper enthusiast and believer, don’t discount the possibility of utilizing a topper to your advantage.
Hope this helps and hopefully, @SDMattressMakers and @yawnder for Avocado have the opportunity to speak with you since you are not local to them, but both are excellent at shipping nationwide with great customer service.
I would be happy to walk you through the pros and cons of the Avocado mattress lineup and any other latex hybrid, I have tested all of them. We also have the Avocado, Birch and our own Yawnder branded latex hybrid in our store.
Hi Epos7, thanks for the details. That helps a lot!
Based on what you’re describing, I’d lean toward a hybrid. The coils do a great job handling your body weight so you get pressure relief without losing that deep down support you need. They also breathe better than an all-latex setup and definitely better than memory foam, which should help with your heat concerns.
The real question is the firmness of the top layer.
It sounds like you both prefer something on the medium to slightly softer side. I’d hesitate to go too soft since you both sleep on your stomach at times. For you, I’d lean toward a medium. For your girlfriend, with her lighter weight, a medium or a soft could work depending on how sensitive her hips and shoulders are.
You might also consider our Cardiff mattress. It uses the same support system and latex but has a more plush, quilted top for people who want a little extra pressure relief and a more traditional surface feel.
Nothing against Avocado. They use good materials. But there are a few key differences between their build and the Soledad:
• We offer a 10-year Love Your Mattress Guarantee. The Soledad has a zippered removable top, so if you need to adjust firmness later, it’s something we can actually do instead of you being stuck with the wrong feel.
• We can make it a dual firmness mattress. If you need something a bit firmer and your girlfriend needs something a bit softer, we can accommodate that.
• We use Talalay latex. It tends to be a little softer, more pressure relieving, and more breathable than Dunlop.
• We use the Texas Pocket Coil. In my opinion it’s one of the best support units available and holds up extremely well over time.
If you’d like help narrowing this down, I’m happy to walk you through it. You can call the store anytime, or you can set up a call with me or my brother Gabe through the link below.
I love my Mattress Makers Soledad. One year in. I had the medium but found it a little too soft. Got the firm but found it a little too firm. I put a 2 inch Talalay topper on it and it’s perfection. The most comfortable bed ever. Firm enough with the comfort of the topper. Good luck.
Thanks for all the replies! We have been really busy this week, but are setting some time aside this weekend to read through the info provided and figure out what we want to do next.
We really like the Texas Pocket Coils. I watched your YouTube video showing one of your older mattresses where the parallel rows of coils had broken off near the edge. The Texas coils seems like a big improvement.
We also like the zippered compartments to allow for easy replacement of layers. Do you find the latex tends to wear out before the pocket coils? Just curious as a previous reply mentioned the benefits of a topper for extended the life of the mattress. With the zippered mattress, would replacing the latex layer essentially offer the same benefits?
Our only concern with the Soledad would be if 3" of latex would be enough for us. I think it probably would, but I’m used to having a full latex mattress so I’m not quite sure what to expect.
Here are the full layer details for the Yawnder mattress and what all of it means for feel and quality:
Tencel cover with natural wool fire barrier
The surface is a breathable Tencel fabric that stays cool to the touch. Underneath, the natural wool fire barrier adds temperature regulation and acts as a moisture-wicking buffer. The entire top is hand tufted to keep layers locked in place for long-term durability and a more premium, tailored feel.
Comfort Quilt – 3 inches total
• 1 inch convoluted foam
• 1 inch hypersoft memory foam
• 1 inch convoluted foam
This creates instant pressure relief with built in airflow right at the surface.
1 inch Talalay latex
Responsive, buoyant support so you don’t feel stuck.
Half inch transition foam
Smooths the shift from the comfort layers into the support layers.
1 inch micro coils
Adds lift, airflow, and a more refined contouring feel.
Half inch transition foam
Extra stabilizing layer.
9 inch nested pocketed coil system
Tempered steel coils with foam-encased edges for stability and support.
Coil counts by size: Twin 549, Full 763, Queen 930, King 1153.
Half inch base foam
Bottom stabilizing layer.
The specs tell part of the story, but the real difference is how it feels when you’re on it.
This model is built for balanced support, pressure relief, and long-term durability. The mix of latex, micro coils, and a high-count coil system gives it that “just right” feel — supportive without going stiff, comfortable without dipping into soft, and engineered to hold its feel over time.
After speaking to Pablo at Mattress Makers on the phone, we decided to order a Soledad in medium. We really like the Texas pocket coil system for its durability, and the zippered design for ease of adjustment was appealing. We also appreciate that we can buy a new latex layer if needed in 10 years to extend the life of the coils. The fact the king size uses separate comfort layers for each side, allowing individual customization, is also a plus.
Just wanted to add an update now that we’ve had the Soledad for a month. We both love it. The first night, my girlfriend thought it was a bit too firm, but she adjusted pretty quickly and now she thinks it’s perfect.
I love hearing updates like this. Congratulations on your mattress. I am especially happy that your girlfriend remained calm, cool,and collected (hopefully she actually did lol ,) and allowed some time to adjust to the new mattress. Too many people jump right to “it’s to this or that” and don’t give the mattress a chance.
All the best and continue to use it in good health.
,) and allowed some time to adjust to the new mattress. Too many people jump right to “it’s to this or that” and don’t give the mattress a chance.