Hi trancemark,
Welcome to the Mattress Forum! :)! I am impressed that you are “excited to try mattresses” after reading the site…well done on your part and thank you for the kind words.
In early 2018 we decided to discontinue the provision of listings of potential retailers in various geographic regions (unless they are already approved site members), because of the difficulty in maintaining such lists in a retail landscape that is constantly changing, and most importantly the confusion it was created with the consumer members who incorrectly assumed that these businesses had indeed gone through the strict qualification process and were approved as members of The Mattress Underground. Such an assumption is unfair to both the consumers seeking assistance, as well as the very businesses and manufacturers who meet the criteria to become Trusted Members of The Mattress Underground.
Regarding the retailers, I am so glad you did receive transparent specifications about the materials in the bed. Obviously, there are a lot of quality materials listed.
While I can certainly help with “how” to choose … It’s not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, or PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more reliable than your own careful testing.
Regarding the Martinique model, the top 2" inches of soft polyfoam is in the quilt, which is done by many manufacturers and it has better durability than polyester filler material, but most likely at high BMI, you will see body impressions relatively quickly, also there is no density listed for this 2" quilt layer.
If you have not read the durability guidelines, please give it a quick read. These are our guidelines, but it doesn’t mean the Martinique is the wrong choice, only information for you to be knowledgeable about. Here is the part I am referring to in the durability article:
[indent]If your BMI is 30 or higher:
Higher BMI ranges will need more durable materials and components in a mattress and in a BMI range of 30 or higher I would include any 1.8 lb polyfoam or 4 lb memory foam as a “lower quality/density” material (relative to a higher BMI only) and minimize their use to a total of “about an inch or so or less” in the mattress.
Polyurethane foam: If your mattress is one sided then I would look for 2.0 lb per cubic foot density or higher. If the mattress is two sided then I would use a minimum density of 1.8 lbs per cubic foot or higher.[/indent]
Regarding the $60.00 mattress pad, there are a couple of things to think about. I believe that a mattress protector is always a good idea to protect the mattress from stains and the normal moisture, body oils, and shedding skin that can lead to less hygienic conditions including the dust mite population in your mattress (not to mention protecting it from accidents). Mattress protectors are much easier to wash and keep clean than a mattress cover.
There are different types of protectors available depending on which of the tradeoffs are most important to you, some of the different types and their pros and cons are discussed in post #89 here.
First off, warranties, in general, are not nearly as important as knowing the materials because the reason most people need to replace a mattress is not a manufacturing defect but the loss of comfort and/or support which is not covered by a warranty. Knowing the materials in a mattress will tell you how long the original qualities of a mattress will last relative to other types of materials. Buying from local manufacturers is always better than the national players, but you can read about all this in this post #174.
It’s always better to get more information about any materials, but getting the 3 Talalay latex layers is certainly helpful and allows you to ask more questions if you have them.
You have to make the decision about if it is worth it. Clearly, you have read already that the all-latex mattress will certainly be more durable than the poly foam base core mattress. Also, you can always call any of the trusted members and discuss similar mattresses as the Monaco.
Good luck and keep up the diligent work, I look forward to hearing what decide, please let us know!!
Phoenix