Hi Kevin,
Unfortunately it really isn’t possible for someone else to know which mattress may feel like one of the iComfort lineup (which has a range of very different mattresses) for you because each person interacts with and perceives each mattress very differently depending on the many variations of height, weight, body shape, and sleeping positions and which of the mattress layers contribute the most to what you are feeling. The only way to know for sure is through your own personal testing. Even then though it is usually better to test for what I call PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment, and Preferences) rather than trying to exactly duplicate another mattress from memory. If a mattress provides you with the pressure relief and alignment you need and you like the way it feels and responds and it has good value, then that would be my choice.
The easiest way to find the mattress that is best for you is to first find the local outlets which are most likely to have the best value and the knowledge to help you make the best selection inside your budget. These are usually factory direct outlets which make their own mattresses or local sleep shops that carry smaller local or alternative brands. If you let me know the city you live in I’d be happy to take a look to see if I know of any that may be within a reasonable distance.
If there are no local outlets with the value or choices that work for you, … then it would probably be worth the risk of looking at online outlets. The best way to do this is to use your local testing on mattresses with known layering as a guideline for your purchase. If you can describe the layering of the local mattress you prefer and the specifics of how it felt to you in terms of PPP, and if you choose an online outlet that is good at matching your needs and preferences and testing results to one of the mattresses they make, then your odds of online success go up dramatically. Without dealing with someone who has this knowledge and will give you accurate information about the materials in the mattresses they make … an online purchase can be quite risky in terms of long term satisfaction.
I would also not set up an expectation that a very low budget mattress will duplicate the quality or feel or durability of a better quality mattress except perhaps for a very short time. Low quality materials can make a very comfortable mattress initially or in a showroom … they just don’t usually stay that way for very long. I see dozens if not hundreds of online outlets trying to compare their low budget and clearly lower quality mattresses to Tempurpedic for example and trying to convince people how much they will save for the “same” mattress when this is just not the case. While it’s certainly possible to buy a mattress that has similar quality to Tempurpedic at lower prices … these are not found in a budget range of a few hundred dollars.
Some better value online choices for memory foam mattresses are in post #12 here.
The other option is to choose a mattress that seems suitable for you from a big box store such as WalMart, Costco, or Sams Club that has a great return policy. This way you can return it if you don’t like it and try another option without any risk (with many low cost mattresses … the cost of shipping it back for a refund if you don’t like it can be almost as much as the mattress itself and is often prohibitive.
Overall though … the best odds of success are with a high quality local manufacturer or sleep shop if there is one close by. A foam shop that sells polyfoam and memory foam and will put together the layers you prefer and put a mattress cover around it can also be a good lower budget choice with good value.
Phoenix