Need a new mattress in South Georgia!

Hello everyone!

My wife and I have fought a collapsed spring mattress for about 3 years now and it has been miserable. Both side walls are so bad that the kids can use it as a slide…

Before I discovered this forum I almost ordered a DreamFoam from Amazon. We were looking at the 12 inch and 13 inch models. But I read a substantial amount of reviews on Amazon saying that after about a year the caves become too deep. This seemed to be the biggest complaint by far. One reviewer said that the “mountain” between him and his wife make it impossible to even kiss each other goodnight.

I have been reading on here for a few days now trying to learn as much as possible before I make a purchase. We have narrowed it down to memory foam or latex.

I have read a few of the guides here and have a better understanding of foam density and Comfort vs Support layers. I am loaded with tons of questions for unsuspecting sales people. :stuck_out_tongue:

The reason I have posted this is for these questions:

1- Is the DreamFoam a good quality mattress?
2- Is the excessive compression over time of the DreamFoam mattress a common problem for them or memory foam in general?

3- How can I find mattresses in my area to try out? (South Georgia) (The only memory foam I can find locally is the Serta iComfort.)

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi Tomcat,

Dreamfoam is a manufacturer (not a mattress) and like all manufacturers they make a wide range of mattresses in different budget ranges that use lower or higher quality materials relative to each other. They are a member here which means that I believe they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of quality, value, and service and they are certainly one of the manufacturers I would recommend yes. Of course there are many factors involved in a mattress purchase so which of their mattresses would be most suitable or would have the best “value” for you would depend on the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.

There are many factors that affect the durability of a mattress and this would have more to do with the suitability of a specific mattress and the materials inside it than with memory foam in general. All materials have more and less durable versions. Lower density memory foam (such as 4 lbs) can be a preference for many people because they can sometimes be softer, faster responding, or more breathable than higher density memory foams but they also won’t be as durable as higher density memory foams so for some that are in a higher weight range a higher density may be a better choice. The suitability of the materials in a specific mattress in terms of PPP and durability relative to the circumstances or preferences of a specific person is always more important than who makes the mattress and a mattress that is durable for one person may not be as durable for another. There is more about the factors that can affect the durability and the useful life of a mattress relative to each person in post #4 here and there is more about the differences between different types of memory foam and why some people would prefer one type over another in post #9 here and post #8 here.

If someone who is in a higher weight range is sleeping on thick layers of 4 lb or lower memory foam or there are weak links in a mattress relative to their specific circumstances then in many cases it could lead to issues that affect the useful life of a mattress (regardless of the manufacturer).

South Georgia is a little to big an area to look but if you can give me your city or zip code I’d be happy to link you to the forum list that is closest to you and includes the better options I’m aware of in your area.

Phoenix

Thanks for the info.

I was specificy referring to this one: Amazon.com
It states “Three Layer construction: 3” of 4lb gel memory foam, 2" of 5lb memory foam, 8" base of premium base foam"

Is this going to be supportive enough for my frame and weight?

I guess I should have included my specifics to begin with.
I am 6’ 2" and about 220 lbs.
I am most concerned with durability and support.

From reading on here I believe I am looking for:
1- A med-firm or firm mattress.
2- Higher density support layer
3- On a budget of ~$1200 (including foundation)

My zip code is 31535

Thanks for the help.

Hi Tomcat,

The support of a mattress is relative to the firmness of the base foam and the thickness and softness of the comfort layers, your body type and sleeping positions, your weight distribution, how evenly you sink into a mattress, and whether a specific mattress maintains good spinal alignment in all your sleeping positions (allows some parts of your body to sink in more deeply and “stops” other parts of your body from sinking in too far). It is not related to the quality/density or durability of the material.

The best way to assess the support/alignment or the comfort/pressure relief of a mattress would be based on either your own personal experience on the mattress (or a very similar mattress) or based on more detailed conversations with a manufacturer or retailer (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). This has to do with the suitability of a mattress design not the quality of the materials. In this case … they compare this mattress to the Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe in terms of it’s softness (they have said that it’s just a bit firmer) so you could use your personal testing on the Cloud Luxe along with more detailed conversations with Dreamfoam to decide whether this mattress would be a good “match” for you in terms of PPP. There is also more about how one mattress can “match” another one in post #9 here that you can use as reference in your conversations.

The quality/density of the materials and the useful life of a mattress on the other hand is a very different issue than support/alignment or comfort/pressure relief.

You are on the border of the weight range where I would begin to be more cautious with the use of 4 lb memory foam in the top layer of a mattress or lower density base foams (regardless of the manufacturer) because it will be less durable than higher density memory foam and will soften more quickly than higher density memory foams even though it may “feel” more comfortable initially because of the softness of the materials. Because of the overall softness of the mattress it may also be more risky for higher weight ranges in terms of providing good alignment in all your sleeping positions because higher weight ranges may need firmer comfort and support layers than the “average” (their heavier parts will sink into the mattress more deeply).

I would make sure that you have done some careful and objective testing on the Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe (which has a similar design with 2.75" of 4 lb memory foam over 2" of 5.3 lb memory foam and a 1.5 lb base layer) to make sure that it’s a good “match” for you in terms of PPP and then you can talk with them and decide if the mattress is a good match for you and is “worth” the tradeoff compared to a mattress that uses higher density materials but may be more costly.

It’s certainly a great quality/value choice in it’s budget range but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it would be the most suitable choice for you so I would use your local testing on a similar mattress and your more detailed conversations with them as the basis for your decision.

Phoenix

So how dense do you recommend? Will 5lb throughout the mattress make that much of a difference or do I need to look at some of the 6 or even 7 lb foam I have seen like this SelectFoam mattress: http://www.selectfoam.com/cat-grandis.html

My #1 priority is to have a long lasting durable mattress.
Does density = durability in a general sense?
I “think” I want the highest density mattress I can afford.

I have read and understand PPP, Personal Value Equation, and my wife and I are ready to go try out some mattresses.
I just want a “floor” as far as technical specs go, for a heavier person like me. So that I know where to draw the line.

For instance if I found a mattress that fit all my criteria and we both loved it, but it was 2.5 - 3 lb throughout I know that I should avoid it.

And you say that 4-5 lb is on the border. So what is “safe” is a better term I think.
I want to err on the side of more dense.

Sidenote: Also how do you find the “factory direct manufacturer outlets or smaller sleep shops who carry alternative brands” that you mention in your guides? What do I search for online? I don’t mind looking for it, but all i can ever find is stores that carry the Big Brands.

[quote]
My #1 priority is to have a long lasting durable mattress.
Does density = durability in a general sense?
[/quote] Yep

You would want at least a 5lb density for highest quality.

Hi Tomcat,

It’s not quite so simple as recommending or choosing a mattress based only on the density of the materials and I don’t give specific recommendations because there is much more involved in a mattress choice and even the durability of a mattress than just density alone and this could lead to some very poor choices for those who took this information too literally. There is more about the factors that can affect durability and the useful life of a mattress relative to each person in post #4 here but there is no way to quantify this relative to a specific mattress design or for each person outside of using “guidelines” and comparisons between mattresses.

Generally yes, the density of a material is the single biggest factor in its durability but only up to a point and it also depends on the position of the material and on the other factors involved in the previous link.

In the case of polyfoam and memory foam … the polymer density of the material is important (the density before any fillers are added) and in the case of HD polyfoam higher densities up to about 2.2 lbs or so will be more durable after which higher densities are usually reached with the use of fillers. With HR polyfoam (which uses a different combination of chemicals) the polymer densities can be higher.

In the case of memory foam … higher polymer (unfilled) density will improve durability up to about 6 lbs or so after which the benefits of increased density are diminished. Memory foam that is in a 5 lb or higher range would be a very durable material.

If you are using lower density foams then the layers above it and it’s thickness will also make a difference in the durability of the material and how much of an effect foam softening will have. An inch of medium density memory foam in the top layer for example will have little effect on the overall effect of foam softening or the durability of a mattress while a thicker layer of medium density material in the top layer will have a bigger effect (there would be more medium density material exposed to the compression forces). The same thicker layer of 4 lb memory foam that could be an issue in the top layer may not be an issue underneath a higher density material that absorbs most of the compression forces and will be more durable.

The base layer of a mattress is not usually the weak link of a mattress unless there are thinner layers of foam over it or with higher weights in which case the base layer will be compressed more and could also become a bigger factor in terms of durability. Dreamfoam’s sister company for example uses 2.17 lb base foam in most of their mattresses but they are also in a higher budget range than most of the Dreamfoam mattresses. The top 5" or 6" of a mattress or so are the most important in terms of the durability of a mattress and the “best” place to lower foam density for the sake of cost and budget with the least risk to durability would be underneath this. Density also has nothing to do with firmness so a lower density material can be just as firm and “supportive” as a higher density material … it just won’t maintain its properties for as long.

4 lb memory foam is in a medium density/durability range and would be fine for most people. 5 lb memory foam is in a high density/durability range.

In general it’s best to look for a “weak link” in a mattress or to identify any “cautions” that are on a borderline using “best judgement” rather than try and guess how long any specific mattress will last for any specific person which may not be possible to quantify with all the many variables involved (including the suitability of a mattress choice and how much “room” you have for foam softening before a mattress loses it’s comfort and support to the degree that it would become unsuitable for you to sleep on).

I would also keep in mind that using durability alone as the most important factor can result in choosing a mattress that is very durable and would last for an exceptionally long time but may not be a good match for you in terms of PPP in which case the durability of the mattress would have little value to you. The opposite is also true and a mattress that is “perfect” in terms of PPP but is on the edge or being too soft for you or uses lower quality materials that can soften or break down more quickly would also have little value if it loses comfort and/or support too quickly and you are looking for another mattress in only a year or two. All of these and the other parts of a mattress purchase (including cost) that are important to you all need to be factored in when you are deciding which mattress is “best” for you.

All you have to do is let me know your city or zip code and I’ll be happy to link you to the nearest list on the forum that would include the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.

It has taken me many hundreds (or closer to thousands) of hours of google searching, following links, other sources, and phone conversations to put the lists together that are on the forum although there will always be some that I miss and retailers also change what they carry on a regular basis so it’s always an ongoing process that is constantly being updated as new information (including from the discoveries of the members here) come to light.

Phoenix

Thanks so much Phoenix. I think I have a much better understanding of densities now.

I put my zip code in a few posts ago. But here it is again: 31535.

Thanks for all your help so far!

Hi Tomcat,

Sorry … I missed it the first time.

The closest forum lists to you are in the Claxton area here, in the Savannah/Hilton Head Island area here, in the Tallahassee area here, in the Jacksonville area here, and in the Macon / Atlanta area here but unfortunately none of these are particularly close to you and there are no factory direct manufacturers that I’m aware of that are close to you.

For now I would follow the guidelines in step 3 of the tutorial post to help you identify the better options in your area and over the course of the next few days as time permits I’ll take a look around the Douglas area to see if there are any options I can see that may be worth including in your research.

Phoenix

Hi Tomcat,

I did some preliminary research in the area (within about 60 miles or so of Douglas and Waycross) and out of over 20 stores I looked at that sell mattresses in the area this list includes the better options and possibilities I came up with. I would keep in mind to look at these on a “mattress by mattress” basis and as always make sure that you are able to find out what is inside any mattress you are seriously considering (see this article) so you can identify any weak links in a mattress and make meaningful comparisons with other mattresses.

Store Locations | Farmers Home Furniture Douglas, Alma, Homerville, Hazlehurst, Fitzgerald, GA. Talked with the manager Chuck and he isn’t very familiar with different materials but they carry Paramount (5 models) and Sterling & Thomas which may be better than average quality/value if you are able to find out what is inside them.

Mattress Outlet 319 Peterson Ave S, Douglas, GA 31533 - superpages.com Douglas, GA. Carries Therapedic innersprings (incl 2 sided), and Bed Boss (memory foam).

http://falesfurniturestore.com/ Hazlehurst, GA. Talked with Cole here and he is “good people”. Caries Symbol and Restmaster including two sided innersprings. Said he would call the factory to find out any specs he could. More knowledgeable than most others in the area and has been in business for a long time.

http://www.lottsfurniture.com/ContactUs.inc Waycross, GA. CArries 3 models of Pure Latex Bliss Talalay latex mattresses.

farrsfinefurniture.com Blackshear, GA. Jamison, Englander.

http://www.turnersbudgetfurniture.com/ Tifton, GA. Jamison

Hope this helps :slight_smile:

Phoenix

Thanks for all the recommendations.

We went to a few of the places you mentioned and a few others over the past few weeks.
We quickly decided that Memory Foam or Latex is what we want.

Out of all the brands and styles, we both liked the Tempurpedic Rhapsody, Tempurpedic Contour Signature, and one of the Pure Latex Bliss models (It was a 12 inch with the softest top layer of all the PLB models we tried.) All three of these range from $3500 - $4500 at the stores we tried them.

We both leaned towards the Rhapsody as our favorite.

I have read on this forum multiple members praise the SelectFoam Regalis HD as just as high quality and very similar to the feel of the Tempurpedics. And with their current free foundation with any mattress promotion it would be half the cost. (For the King)

What do you think? Is this worth taking a shot on? Or should I just pay the premium for the Tempurpedic?
Also how is the reputation of Selectfoam? And Return Policy? What if i get it and hate it?

Sorry for so many questions. Just feel like we have finally found a solution to our terrible sleep. I don’t want to miss a great value, but also don’t want to short myself to save some money.

Hi Tomcat,

Most of your “should I” questions are more about preferences and when you are down to final choices between good and good then which mattress is best for you would really depend on the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you and your own “educated best judgement”.

Based on your post … it seems that you are leaning towards memory foam over latex which can certainly help narrow down your choices. As you probably know from your testing … they are very different materials.

These are decisions that only you can make based on your own criteria, your local testing, and your more detailed phone conversations with each online manufacturer you are considering. There is more in post #9 here about the different ways that one mattress can “match” another one. I think it would be fair to say that the quality of the materials and the comfort/pressure relief and the support/alignment of the Select Foam Regalis would be very similar but that the “feel” which is more subjective would be a little different because of the differences in the type of memory foams they use. This would be fairly typical for some of the other online memory foam choices that compare one of their mattresses the Rhapsody as well. A forum search on Select Foam Regalis (you can just click this) will bring up more information and feedback from other forum members.

Select Foam itself is a member of this site which means that I think highly of them and they are happy to compete with the best in the industry. Like the other members of the site, they have great quality, value, and service but in their case they have also had a few issues from time to time when there were some delays or issues after a sale that weren’t dealt with as quickly as I would have liked to see but these are more exceptions than the rule. You can see a couple of recent examples of after sales service issues that are taking longer than they should in post #69 here and this thread.

Like some of the other online manufacturers or retailers that are in the online memory foam list … they have a very good return policy that pays for shipping both ways (original shipping and the return) which certainly lowers the risk of an online purchase. You can see their return policy here. As with any online mattress purchase … I would make sure you talk with them in more detail on the phone as well because they will be the most reliable source of any specific information you need about their mattresses.

I also wouldn’t worry too much about their “sale” or let it create any false sense of urgency because their sales are ongoing although they do rotate between different combinations of similar benefits.

Phoenix