Hi arod33,
Assuming that at least one of you is in the mid 200’s weight range or higher … my comments and suggestions in my reply in post #2 here from earlier today to a different member would be similar to the suggestions I would make for you as well and would be well worth reading (except for the comments about the specific mattresses they were considering).
I’m not sure why a coil mattress would be out of the question for you. While I can’t speak to how any mattress will “feel” for someone else because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances … outside of PPP the most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability and assuming that the materials in a mattress you are considering are durable enough for your body type and meet the quality/durability guidelines here … the choice between different types and combinations of materials and components or different types of mattresses (including innersprings) are more of a preference and a budget choice than a “better/worse” choice (see this article). I certainly wouldn’t assume that innerspring mattresses that use high quality and durable materials and that don’t have any “weak links” (in the comfort layers especially) are any less durable than any other type of mattress.
You can see my comments about Leesa in post #2 here in the simplified choice mattress topic and a forum search on Leesa (you can just click the link) will bring up more comments and feedback about it as well. While it’s not particularly surprising that it’s too soft for you given your weight … it also contains some lower quality/density materials that would be a weak link in the mattress relative to your weight range as well which for me would be reason enough to avoid it.
Both of these use higher quality/density materials that would be a suitable choice in terms of durability relative to your weight range but of course your own testing or personal experience are the only way to know whether either of them are a good match for you in terms of PPP.
The better options and possibilities I’m aware of in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area (subject to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here) are listed in post #6 here.
There are certainly good quality/value options available for under $2000.
I would also be concerned with any mattress where you aren’t able to find out the type and quality/density of the materials inside it … especially in your weight range. There are also more comments about the Loom & Leaf in the simplified choice topic I linked earlier and a forum search on Loom Leaf (you can just click the link) will bring up more comments and feedback about it as well. As you can see it also contains some lower quality and less durable materials that I would consider to be a weak link in the mattress relative to your weight range as well and I would avoid it.
I would also consider a mattress that contains more than “about an inch or so” of 4 lb memory foam in the upper layers of the mattress to have a weak link relative to your weight range as well.
This mattress uses the highest quality/density materials out of any of the options you listed and they are equivalent or better to the Tempurpedic Rhapsody Luxe as well so there are no lower quality materials or weak links in this mattress relative to your weight range. They certainly have some good quality/value mattresses but some of the members here have experienced some very frustrating customer service issues and delays after a purchase (including delays in refunds) and I would make sure you read the caution that is included in their description in the online memory foam list here so you can take the possibility of these types of issues happening to you into account before you make any purchase from them.
NOTE ADDED: Because of their ongoing customer service issues and delays their membership has now been terminated and I would also read the warning here before considering them.
Their Aria is an approximation of the Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme and may be worth considering (if you have tested the Cloud Supreme and it’s a good match for you in terms of PPP) since it uses 2 layers of 5 lb memory foam and a 1.8 lb base layer which would be much closer to the quality/durability range I would look for (even though the 1.8 lb base layer would be slightly lower density than I would look for if either of you are in the mid 200’s or higher this would be a relatively minor issue compared to using lower quality density materials in the upper layers). Again I would avoid a mattress that contains more than “about an inch or so” of 4 lb memory foam.
NOTE ADDED JAN, 2016: They have now introduced their new simplified choice mattress which has replaced their previous models and have also become a member of this site.
You can see their exchange policy here. They have a 50 night trial and you can return the mattress anytime between the 40th and the 50th day. If you have any questions about their return policy that aren’t clear to you then you can also call them to clarify it.
ADMIN NOTE:Removed 404 page link | Archived Footprint: christeli.com/sleep-trial
Their Danieli is an an approximation of the Tempurpedic Rhapsody Breeze and the Astoria is an approximation of the Tempurpedic Contour Elite. Both mattresses use 5.3 lb memory foam on top of a 2 lb polyfoam base layer and there are no lower quality materials or weak links relative to your weight range in either mattress.
I would always keep in mind that the three most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase are 1. suitability and PPP … 2. durability … and 3. all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you. There would be little value in purchasing a mattress that isn’t suitable for you and that you don’t sleep well on but there is also little value in purchasing a mattress that is a good match for you in terms of PPP but uses lower quality materials that will soften and break down and lose the comfort and support which is the reason you purchased it much too quickly relative to the price you paid.
Phoenix