Narrowing Down The Finalists

Mattress Talk 1) Mattress Selection Process
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I’m narrowing down my list of final candidates for my next mattress purchase, and I’m hoping that the wise minds here can help me finalize the decision.

First, the basics. I’m 51M, 5’10", 220 lbs, roughly 50/50 side and back sleeper. My wife is 50F, 5’3", 180, almost exclusively side sleeper. Our current bed is a DIY queen hybrid consisting of the following:

  • Coils rescued from prior bed (not pocket coils - older coil system, continuous maybe?)
  • 2" medium dunlop latex
  • 2" Serene foam
  • 10" Cover from TPS

We both love this bed, but we’re moving and want to upgrade to a king size. This mattress will be moved to a guest room. I’ve swapped the Serene and latex layers with each other a couple of times. My wife prefers the slight sinking in and softer feel of the Serene layer on top, while I prefer the more resilient and supportive feel of the latex on top, but we’ve both been happy with either arrangement. I highly recommend these two layers in combo for DIY if anybody is thinking about it!

The plan for the new bed is to upgrade to a split king with adjustable bases. Based on our preferences, much in-store testing, and experimenting, I’ve narrowed the search down to the choices below. Each of these are hybrids and will be one Twin XL with the latex comfort layer option (for me) and one with the polyfoam option for my wife.

Bowles Mattress Latex Hybrid / Serene Hybrid - Bowles is a local regional manufacturer, and I really like a few of their mattress options. I’ve been in their showrooms a few times, and the last time I lay on the latex hybrid for at least 30 minutes - it was a slow day and I talked to the lady working there quite a bit. I think these two mattresses would be good choices, but I have a few concerns:

  • No in-home sleep trial - the only return or exchange option would be for a warranty claim. We both definitely liked these beds in the store, but we all know there’s no substitute for really sleeping on the mattress for a while to really know if it works for you.
  • Requirement to buy their ($100 x 2) mattress protector at the same time to activate the warranty. I understand their reasoning and plan to use a protector anyway, but I’d probably choose a wool or cotton option for breathability over their synthetic one.
  • At $1500 for each TwinXL ($3000 total) plus $200 for protectors and $100 for delivery, these are pricey. Bowles doesn’t do sales, so the price is the price.

DLX LatexLux Hybrid / Premier Hybrid - I’m intrigued by these mattresses. By all accounts on here, they are high quality and can be expected to last. I love the ability to swap out firmnesses or even types of the comfort layer that the zipper top provides. I’m a tinkerer, so this would allow me to scratch my DIY itch a bit without a full DIY build.

  • @DLX How would one describe the “FusionBalance” foam in the Premier Hybrid? I’ve slept on Serene and latex, and have also tried Energex and memory foam in various beds I’ve tested. Where would FusionBalance fall on the spectrum between the sleep-on-top/pushback feel of latex and the full sink-in feeling of memory foam?

Nest Bedding Owl / Sparrow - These seem to have similar construction and prices to the DLX options mentioned above, and they also have the zipper top to swap comfort layers. For me, I like that the Owl uses wool and cotton rather than synthetics in the quilted top, and also that it uses Talalay latex. For my wife, even if there’s nothing magical about the Sparrow’s cooling claims, she has liked the initial cool-to-the-touch feel that the phase change cover material provides on other beds we’ve tried.

Does anyone have other thoughts or things to consider that would help differentiate between these choices? I’ve enjoyed the research and have found the topic of mattress construction way more fascinating than I ever expected. The move is coming soon, though, so it’s time to bring this decision to a close!

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Thanks for the breakdown. It’s very helpful and sounds like you’ve done your homework and know what you’re looking for.

To answer your question about our FusionBalance foam: it’s a 2.4 lb high-performance polyfoam with a traditional foam feel. Definitely not memory foam and not slow-recovery like Serene either. To us, it feels like a high-quality foam. It is a “neutral” feeling in our mind. Maybe @maverick can chime in with some real-world experience?

Since you love your current setup, have you considered recreating that build in a king size? It’s a proven success and why risk something that might not work?

Our top choice would be Bowles. Please note that we’re not affiliated with them and can’t speak to their quality or service firsthand, but we always love seeing folks support local independent manufacturers like Bowles. There are fewer and fewer of us out there. We always recommend supporting your local independent mattress maker when possible. That said, we understand your concerns about the warranty and trial policies. It’s a tough call when there’s no safety net. Some local makers do offer comfort adjustments for an additional fee where they come out and pick up the mattress and make the necessary adjustments and bring it back though you might be without the mattress for a few nights. If you haven’t already, it’s worth asking Bowles if they offer that option.

Let us know if we can help answer any other questions about DLX. Sounds like whichever way you go, you’re on the right track.

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Thank you for the thoughtful reply. I appreciate your insight on this.

So… This was definitely my first choice. However, the boss lady has declared that even though she loves our current mattress, we’ll be buying a “real” mattress for the new house. :face_with_monocle:

I truly appreciate this sentiment. Supporting local business is important to me, and Bowles has a reputation in the community as a quality company who makes a quality product.

I’ll check into this; I’ve never considered that something like this may be an option!

In the same vein, another concern that I had was in the build of the latex hybrid mattress. They use 2” of soft latex, but I think medium would likely be better given my weight. Since their mattresses are built to order, I’ll ask if it would be possible to build it with medium instead.

Thanks again for sharing your perspective and giving me some additional things to think about.

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I looked more into the Bowles website, and it appears that they do offer a comfort modification option, should that need arise. Customer pays for pick-up and delivery to and from the factory, along with materials and labor for the modification, so definitely not an inexpensive option (probably works out to about half the original cost of the mattress). Awesome to know that the service exists if I absolutely couldn’t deal with the mattress, though hopefully that would never be a necessity. Honestly, if it came to that I’d probably just buy a new case and do a rehab/layer-swap myself.

While I was on their site, I found another mattress that I did not try when I was previously in the showroom. The Springhouse mattress has these layers:

  • 2" 7-Zone 3.3 Density Soft Latex
  • 1" 2.5 Density Serene® Foam
  • .75" 1.5 oz. fiber comfort support layer
  • ELS-Enhanced Lumbar Support
  • 768 8" TPS Tri-Zone Quad Coil
  • 1" 1.8 Firm Foam Base Layer

Seems like this comfort layer would feel very close to my current DIY build, but with TPS quad coils, rather than my older spring system. I’m going to try to get into the showroom this weekend and test this one out!

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SleepEZ - Three Months In
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Did you purchase this Mattress? If so how is it working out for you.
I live in Louisville and looking at the same Mattress but not sure I understand what a 3 zone quad coil is.
As a 5’3” petite person I was advised to avoid a zoned Mattress.. Bowles seems to use this in a good majority of their mattresses.
Did they explain what type latex they use in their mattresses?

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Given everything you’ve shared, I think the DLX hybrids fit your situation especially well. Since you already enjoy tweaking layers and you both have slightly different comfort preferences, the zipper top and swappable comfort layers give you the flexibility you’re used to without going full DIY again. The LatexLux on your side should deliver the responsive, buoyant feel you like from latex, while the Premier Hybrid seems like a natural match for your wife since it offers contour and softness without the deep, slow sink of memory foam. It also helps that DLX uses solid components and tends to deliver very good durability for the price.

Of course, having family members who own DLX mattresses does introduce a bit of bias. Bias aside, DLX genuinely crafts mattresses that feel comparable to non–bed-in-a-box models. My mother-in-law used the Premier Hybrid for nearly two years and loved it, especially after her BeautyRest failed in less than 14 months. Our close friends have had the firm version for 10 months now and prefer it over the S&F Cassatt that failed after just four years. Even their daughter and son-in-law opted for the firm LatexLux.

If natural fibers or a more luxurious, quilted feel are high on your list, the Nest Owl and Sparrow remain solid contenders. The Owl fits well with your interest in latex, and the Sparrow’s cool-to-the-touch cover sounds like something your wife might genuinely appreciate. The main reason I’d still lean toward DLX, though, is that its modular design gives you far more flexibility to fine-tune each side once you’ve actually slept on it.

Everything I’ve learned about Bowles has been positive, and we even invited them to become a Trusted Member here at TMU. They are transparent and build mattresses with an old-world craftsmanship paired with thoughtful modern touches. Bowles clearly made a strong impression when you tried them in person, but without a trial period, it does become the riskiest option, especially with a split setup where both sides need to be dialed in just right. That said, they’re known for being approachable and knowledgeable, which certainly helps. Personally, I am not as concerned about the trial period with them, as they have been around for a while and have a clear grasp on what they are doing, not different than buying a mattress 30-40 years ago. Just be certain they go through all the steps with you when they craft your mattress if you go that way. I am quite certain they could take the mattress and modify it down the road if needed.

All things considered, DLX still seems to offer the best mix of customization, comfort, and long-term value for what you’re trying to achieve.

Hopefully, this offers another perspective on your choices. I know it is hard to choose when you have 3 or 4 excellent options.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Maverick

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I made multiple visits to a couple of different Bowles showrooms, and enjoyed talking to the sales folks there a lot. They don’t work on commission, aren’t about pressuring you, and are very friendly. They are happy to let you try as many mattresses as you like, and will answer as many questions as you have. They won’t even wake you if you happen to drift off to sleep for a while, lol.

The quad coils that they use are from Texas Pocket Springs, but are a zoned version with firmer coils in the middle and at the edges. I didn’t feel a huge difference in firmness between the middle-third and the rest of the mattress. The latex they use is also zoned - I think it is from Mountain Top Foam. I’d definitely recommend visiting them and trying it out, the zoning is pretty wide and may work just fine for you. If not, they have a variety of well-built mattresses, and will probably have another that you will like.

I ultimately did not buy from Bowles though, as I fell in love with all-latex after having a chance to try it at a store near Nashville. I bought a split king setup from SleepEZ. I’d still recommend checking out Bowles - it’s a different experience from other mattress stores, they make quality products, and will likely have something that suits your need.

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Thanks Maverick - all great points. Although I ultimately went with SleepEZ for this purchase, I love the idea of Bowles being a trusted manufacturer on here. The previous mattress I had from them lasted 17 years, and I’m still actually using the springs from it as the base for the DIY build in my guest bedroom. They make a quality product, are transparent about their offerings, and some of their builds are pretty innovative. Seems like TMU would be a great way for them to reach a broader customer base.

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How do you like your Sleepez. When I was in Arizona, I dropped by and tested every mattress in the showroom. I found a couple that were super comfortable. I was pleasantly surprised with their all latex designs as well as their hybrids. I am glad you found something. I realized after I responded, that it was an older post. Happy you found something that works for you.

What pillow are you using and how do you like it.

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I absolutely love my SleepEZ. We went with a split king setup with Dunlop f/m/m and their soft Talalay wool and latex topper. I switched the Dunlop on my side to m/f/m to make the support feel a little firmer, and we switched the top soft and medium layers on my wife’s side to get a little more pressure relief for her hips and shoulders. With those tweaks, we both sleep like babies. It might be a little too comfortable - we have trouble getting motivated to leave it most mornings.

Pillows are a mixed bag right now - we got adjustable bases with the new bed and I’ve been sleeping more on my back in zero g with that. Was previously almost exclusively a side sleeper so most of my pillows are a bit too lofty now. I have a Bedgear Storm 2.0 that I can take half of the cushion out of and it works fairly well for now.

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