Need advice on mattress selection

Hi Phoenix and forum members—First, let me say that I have found your mattress forum to be the most comprehensive and helpful source of information on mattresses that I could possibly imagine. I have been browsing for over a week, and each time I begin reading, I learn even more information. Of course, the downside of that is my “top picks” keep changing! I do think I am rounding the home stretch with a decision, and I would be very grateful for your input on the top 4. I am listing these below with a few comments after each re what I perceive as the pros and cons for my situation. First, however, some brief background:

We have decided on a memory foam mattress due primarily to the pressure relief characteristics. I have had 4 joint replacements (hips and knees) and have arthritis throughout my body due to a genetic defect in my collagen—suffice it to say I have a lot of aches and pains. I am 5 ft. tall and weigh 100 lbs.; my husband is 6 ft. and weighs 175 lbs., so there is a substantial weight difference. We both like the feel of the TempurPedic Cloud Luxe mattress, and feel it would work well for the pressure point issues, but I do have some concern about the softer mattress being appropriate for my husband. He is extremely flexible in what he finds acceptable, but I want to be sure any selection we make would provide adequate support for him. While we do not know if the “warmth” factor would bother us, we would like to err on the side of caution and go with a mattress with some sort of cooling technology. Re our overall priorities, number one is pressure relief, followed by high quality and durability along with a highly regarded company with good customer service and warranty. With that as background, below are the mattresses we are considering:

–Brooklyn Bedding Pure Cool Luxe—The foam specifications appear to be high quality, but there is virtually no information available on the web re their patented cooling technology and very few reviews of this mattress.

–Selectfoam Cirrus Luxe—The specifications on this mattress appear to mimic the TempurPedic Cloud Luxe, so that is encouraging. I am, however, a little concerned about the soy gel foam, since the longevity has not yet been proven, and we have potential concerns about the warmth factor. It appears they have also had a spotty customer relations history, although I understand this has improved over the past few years.

–SelectABed Tri-Pedic Diamond—The specifications on the foam appear to be high quality, although I have not been able to find the density and ILD factors of the 6" foam core. This is also the shortest core of the models I have been considering. I know this is not necessarily a problem depending on the specifications on the core, so hopefully this will not be an issue. I have e-mailed the company for additional information. I was encouraged by your support of their cooling technology, which does seem to make sense. I also like the fact that the mattress is only 11 inches high, assuming the 6" core is not a problem. The shorter height would work better on our bedframe, which is the type that has the attached nightstands and headboard with hinges for storage. It was purchased many years ago when the average heights of mattresses was not so high.

–TempFlow Celestia or Eros—I am currently awaiting pricing information on these mattresses as well as specifications on the 6" foam core and a better description of differences in these two models. I would also like to understand better the differences in this mattress line and the SelectABed. These appear to be sister companies, and other that the use of Biogreen foam in the TempFlow, the specifications seem somewhat similar. Do you have any information about differences that would be important in making a decision?

I know this is a long message, but I wanted to be sure I provided the relevant facts for you to render an opinion. Your feedback (and that of other forum members) on these mattresses would be most welcome, and if there are others you think we should consider given our background information, we would very much appreciate hearing about them. Again, thank you so much for the considerable time and effort that you obviously devote to maintaining this wonderful forum.

EDIT I forgot to mention that both of us are primarily side sleepers, and occasional back sleepers.

Hi Bedbug5450,

You are certainly looking at some good options :slight_smile:

Unfortunately there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved to be able to predict whether any specific mattress is a good match for someone else in terms of PPP based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” and the only reliable way to know for certain is his personal testing on a similar mattress or his actual sleeping experience. When you can’t test a specific mattress in person … then the “next best” way to decide on whether a mattress is likely to be a suitable choice would be based on a more detailed conversation with an online manufacturer or retailer who will know more about their mattresses and how well they are likely to “match” different body types and sleeping positions based on the “averages” of their customers than anyone else (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). With an online purchase as well … I would make sure you are comfortable with the specifics of the exchange or return policy and the costs involved since this may also be a more important part of your personal value equation if in spite of the “best efforts” of everyone … your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for.

There are also different ways that one mattress can “match” another one and there is more information about this in post #9 here that you can use as a reference point in your discussions when you talk to each of them.

I would be very cautious about using reviews to assess how a mattress will feel for you because each person’s experience is unique and other people’s experience on a mattress may be very different from your own. If a mattress “feels” the same as another mattress or “feels” perfect for one person or even a group of people in terms of PPP certainly doesn’t mean that it will be the same for you (see post #13 here and the post it links to about reviews).

There is more about cooling down memory foam in post #6 here, and more about the many variables that can affect temperature regulation in general (outside of just the type of memory foam used) in post #2 here. The

Purecool memory foam incorporates thermal conductive materials, phase changing materials, and is also more breathable than many other memory foams so it would be more likely to sleep cooler than other types of memory foam that don’t have cooling technologies that affect sleeping temperature to the same degree for those that are closer to the “oven” side of the “oven to iceberg” range. There is more about the Purecoolmemoryfoamhere.Sleepingtemperatureandthehttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/5https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/6https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/7https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/8https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/925002/Peterson-PacificUrethanesTechnologyDevelopment2013.pdf]Purecool0(andrelativetotheothervariablesthathttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/5https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/6https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/7https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/8https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/9orscientificcomparisonsavailablethatcomparethehttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/5https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/6https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/7https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/8thosefewthataremorelikelytohttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/5https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/6https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/7thosefewthatmaystillsleephothttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/5https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/6technologiesthenitisreallyamatterhttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/5beconfirmedwithyourownsleepingexperiencehttps://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/0https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/1https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/2https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/3https://uploads.mattressunderground.com/outside/4policywouldbecomemoreimportant).

You can read more about so called “soy foams” or polyfoam or memory foam that uses plant based polyols as part of their formulation in post #2 here but they would be closely comparable in terms of durability to “regular” polyfoam or memory foam of the same density that doesn’t replace a relatively small percentage of the petrochemical polyols with a plant based alternative. As you mentioned … they use memory foams that are closely comparable to Tempurpedic in terms of their density.

There are some comments about Select Foam’s customer service that may affect the relatively small percentage of people who have some issues that need to be resolved after a purchase in post #4 here.

I don’t remember the density of the polyfoam they use in their mattresses except to say that it is in the higher quality/density range but they are very transparent and will provide them to you when you talk with them. There is more about the different lines of mattresses they make in post #9 here but the Tempflow line uses a more costly and lower VOC memory foam that uses MDI while the Tri-Pedic line uses more traditional TDI memory foam. There is more about MDI vs TDI in post #2 here and more about their Biogreen memory foam on their page here.

The Tripedic line uses “regular” 4 and 5 lb memory foams and the Diamond uses the Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe as a comparable reference point. The Tempflow line uses their Biogreen MDI memory foam and they use 5 lb memory foam that is made in a softer formulation instead of using 4 lb memory foam in their softer mattresses. The Celestia also uses the softer Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe as a comparable reference point and is softer than the Eros which uses an inch less of the softer 5 lb memory foam and uses the Tempurpedic Allura/Grandbed as a comparable reference point for firmness.

The list of the better online memory foam options I’m aware of that may also be worth considering is linked in the tutorial post (in the optional online step). In addition to the ones you mentioned … off the top of my head I know that both Dreamfoam (which is a sister company to Brooklyn Bedding) and Christeli also make mattresses that use the Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe as a comparable reference point and some of the others that don’t use other mattresses as a reference point may also be able to tell you which of their mattresses are closest to the Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe when you talk with them on the phone.

Phoenix

Thank you so much for this information–it is extremely helpful. I may be back in touch as I narrow the search.

Hi, I would like to suggest you that think twice before buying a hard or firm mattress, as research has shown that the best mattress for low back pain is a medium firm mattress rather than a firm mattress. There is a difference between firm support and firm feel. You want firm support with a comfortable feel. Comfort will be determined by our personal preference. Recently, I have visited a store in Edmonton’s name was Luxurious Bed and Linens for buy some mattress for my home. They have different type of mattress at good quality and price also affordable for me. They also give good advices for choosing the right mattress .

Hi jessicaalderson7614,

Have you read the study that you are referring to? I would be very cautious before you provide this type of advice because it’s based on a study that was very limited and there aren’t really any valid conclusions you can draw from it except perhaps to say that a firmer mattress isn’t always best for back pain. The study only included two innerspring mattresses out of all the thousands of mattresses that are available in the industry and didn’t take into account the differences between different body types and sleeping positions so to say that a “medium firm” mattress (or any mattress for that matter) is best for any individual’s back pain is very misleading. You can see my comments about it in post #3 here which also links to the study if you would like to read it.

There is much more relevant information available that indicates that the mattress which is best for anyone (including those with back pain) depends on which mattress keeps them in best alignment in all their sleeping positions over the course of the night and this depends on the body type, sleeping positions, and weight distribution of the person. This topic from earlier today has some examples of some more relevant research than the study you referred to.

I would be very cautious here as well. I would avoid any of their Serta Mattresses completely (see the guidelines here) and I would only consider any of their other mattresses if they can provide the information listed in this article about the quality of the materials inside them so you can make sure that there are no weak links in the mattress and make more meaningful comparisons to other mattresses. There is also more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here but the only mattresses I would consider to be a “possibility” there would be the Sova mattresses they sell and only if they can provide the information you need to make an informed choice.

Phoenix

Hi Phoenix—It appears another topic may have inadvertently been inserted into my original thread, so I will quickly refresh your memory about my situation. I am a severe arthritis sufferer (4 joint replacements), and pressure relief is probably the strongest of my Ps along with a personal preference on the part of both me and hubby for a very soft mattress similar in feel to the Cloud Luxe. Following an exhaustive search, I had narrowed my search to TempFlow based on perceived quality of materials and lower VOCs. When I called TempFlow to discuss the Celestia mattress (their softest option) and obtain more specific density and ILD ratings, the person I spoke to strongly recommended the Flexia mattress over the Celestia. The primary reason he gave for this was the fact that I weigh 100 pounds, and according to him would not receive sufficient back support from the Celestia, because I would not be heavy enough to sink down to the underlying support layers. FYI, here are the technical specs he provided for both mattresses:

Celestia – 11" mattress
3" 5 lb superior density ultra pressure sensitive foam (ILD 7.5—this is what he said, but I have never come across anything with such a low ILD—have you?)
2" 5 lb high resilient comfort flex layer (ILD 22)
2" medium firm HR support layer with channeled airflow (part of the base layer)
4" 2.1 lb HR base layer (ILD 35)

Flexia – 9" mattress

2" 5 lb superior density ultra pressure sensitive foam (ILD 7.5)
3" 1.8 lb ultra resilient hybrid support layer (ILD 28)
4" 2.1 lb HR base layer (ILD 33-35)

The Flexia mattress is described on the TempFlow website as having a medium-firm feel, without causing pressure points, a very contouring, yet more springy feel, and for back or all-position sleepers. I mentioned that we both were primarily side and occasional back sleepers and that I was concerned the Flexia would be too firm, since we both preferred a softer mattress. His response was that if the mattress was too firm, an additional inch of softer memory foam could be added to the top, since the cover was stretchy enough to accommodate. He also mentioned that the Flexia was similar in feel to the Tempur Weightless Supreme.

Last night we went to test out the Weightless Supreme, and neither of us felt it was as soft as we wanted, and we were not overly enamored with the springy feel. Before going back to the drawing board with an entirely different company, I wanted to get your opinion about these two mattresses and ask if you would have concerns about a lighter weight person on a softer mattress. Obviously, I understand the sales representative would have the best knowledge about their products, but in reviewing comments on this site and others, it seems there is generally more concern about a heavier weight person on a softer mattress than a lighter weight person. Given that shipping is not free with this company and they do not compress their mattresses for shipping, a potential return would clearly be a huge hassle, thus I am now reluctant to order either mattress but would still very much appreciate your input. BTW, while testing the Tempur mattresses at the Healthy Back Store, we did like the feel of the “house” brand memory foam mattress called Embrace Relaxation, but found the price of $1,700 on the high side given the specifications (2" 4lb ventilated foam; 2.5" 5lb memory foam; 8.5" 1.5lb foam base). Still, there is something to be said for dealing with a local company with excellent customer service.

I know posture and alignment are extremely important in a mattress, and I don’t want to make a big mistake with purchasing a mattress that will not provide adequate support. While we both have a strong preference for a soft mattress, we have never actually slept on anything as cushy as the Tempur Cloud Luxe, so I certainly respect the judgment of the “experts.” In truth, I found the posture and alignment to be the most difficult “P” to judge, even with your helpful guidance under selecting the correct mattress. I also enjoyed reading the article indicating very little correlation to the mattress a person liked when testing vs. the mattress that would actually provide the best sleep experience—so color me thoroughly frustrated. Needless to say, all of this perseverating has most definitely had a negative impact on my sleep!!

Hi BedBug5450,

I switched the other post (and my reply) to a new topic since it was bordering on spam anyway and was certainly off topic at best. I should have done that initially.

Their advice makes sense to me because lighter body weights will tend to need thinner/softer comfort layers than those that are in higher weight ranges because they don’t sink into the mattress as deeply.

I would have the same concerns with comfort layers that are too thick/soft for lighter weights as I would for higher weights but what is “too thick/soft” will be different for each person. It’s generally safer to err on the side of being a little too firm because as they mentioned you can always soften up a mattress that is too firm by adding a topper but it’s much more difficult to firm up a mattress that is too soft because you would need to replace the layers that were too thick/soft instead of adding to them.

Memory foam can also be “tricky” because it can become softer in response to heat, humidity, and the length of time that it is continuously compressed so if the memory foam layers are too thick and you are too far away from the firmer support layers that don’t get softer with time, heat, or humidity (only with compression) then you can start the night off in good alignment but then as the memory foam softens over the course of the night you can wake up in the morning out of alignment.

I’m not sure all the specs are correct here. The description on their site here indicates that the 2" layer that is directly underneath the memory foam layer on top is polyfoam and it’s not likely that it is 5 lb density. Having said that … they do use good quality materials in their mattresses so this wouldn’t be a concern. The ILD of memory foam also isn’t particularly relevant because it changes in response to exterior conditions (heat, humidity, and time it is compressed) and the ILD of memory foam isn’t comparable to the ILD of other types of foam anyway so knowing the ILD of memory foam isn’t nearly as important as how all the layers interact with each other and how the mattress as a whole matches your specific needs and preferences in terms of PPP based on your actual experience.

When you are considering a mattress that you can’t test in person and it is different from what you have slept on in the past then I would certainly give significant weight to the guidance that you receive on the phone but this is also based on the “averages” of others that are similar to you and since each person is unique and some people are “outside the averages” … your own sleeping experience will be the only reliable way to know for certain whether any mattress is a suitable choice for you in terms of PPP. This is why the options you have available after a purchase to make adjustments to a mattress or to exchange or return it (and the costs involved) are really the only way to make up for the higher risk and uncertainty that can be part of an online purchase and for most people would be a significant part of the “value” of an online purchase when you are making comparisons and a final choice between your finalists.

Phoenix

Hi Phoenix—Thank you so much for weighing in on these issues. I am always a little skeptical in judging what I hear from salespeople, although in this case, the mattress he was recommending was actually less costly than the one I thought I wanted. It is reassuring to know that you agree the alignment/support issue could be a valid concern. That being the case, it does seem to make sense to start with the thinner layer of memory foam. FYI, I did inquire again about the specifications of the comfort layer that would be below the memory foam. It is indeed 5 lb., and the material is apparently a “proprietary” polyfoam/memory foam hybrid with an ILD of 22. He said it was as supportive as latex but not as firm and somewhat more conforming like memory foam. So, for the model that is being recommended, there is a 2" 5 lb. ultra-sensitive memory foam top layer, followed by a 3" 5 lb flex-support layer, on top of a 4" 2.1 lb.HR poly base layer (again a proprietary formula). In my research, this is the “shortest” base layer I have come across, but I was assured the material is very high quality and that 4" was more than enough. Would you have any concerns about these specifications? I did clarify that if the mattress was too firm, an additional 1" of the 5lb memory foam layer could be added without a problem. I also wanted to ask you about the TempFlow company. You have mentioned them on numerous posts, and it seems you believe they make a very high-quality product; however, I noticed that they do not appear on your membership list. Is this simply because they have not chosen to join, or do you have any concerns about this company?

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank you again for your amazing responsiveness to my questions (and to those of every member). I am somewhat in awe of the breadth of your knowledge on the topic of mattresses, but even more impressive is your ability to gently steer readers in the right direction without ever telling anyone what to do—it’s a fine line to walk, and you seem to do it effortlessly.

Hi BedBug5450,

Thanks for the clarification. There are several ultra high density polyfoams available in density ranges up to 4 and 5 lbs that have some of the properties of latex (or in some cases some of the slower recovery of memory foam) and they are high quality and durable materials (see post #2 here for a few examples). I didn’t realize that they were using them.

No … these are all high quality and durable materials and I would have no concerns about any of them.

No I have no concerns about the company or the quality of any of the materials they use and I do think highly of them and Rick the owner (see post #9 here). The the only issue I have with them is that they don’t list their prices which is a side effect of their dual distribution channels and dual pricing structure because they sell their mattresses both factory direct and through retailers and their prices can vary depending on whether there is a retailer in your area (which they don’t want to compete with) or whether you are ordering from an area where there are no retailers that sell them.

I should also mention that I wouldn’t read anything into whether a manufacturer or retailer is a member here or not because while I do think highly of all the members here … I also point to “value” wherever I see it and there are also many manufacturers or retailers around the country that aren’t members here … at least yet … that I think highly of as well. You can see a few examples in post #2 here and post #4 here and post #2 here and two of these weren’t a member at the time of my reply but have since become members now that the timing or circumstances were right for various reasons.

Thank you for the kind words … I appreciate them :slight_smile:

Phoenix

Hi Phoenix—Just a quick note to let you know I went ahead and ordered the TempFlow Flexia mattress, which was the model recommended by the company. My anxiety over this decision is totally out of proportion to the cost of the mattress, but I can see this is not uncommon from reading other posts on the forum. You have been enormously helpful, and I am very grateful for the information and guidance you provided. I will report back when the mattress arrives sometime in mid-November. Until then, I must stop reading the posts on your mattress forum for fear I will see something that causes me to start second-guessing my decision!! I also found the Pay Pal link, and am very glad there is another means to express my gratitude and help keep this unique resource going!

Hi BedBug5450,

I agree that it’s probably a good time to relax and wait for your mattress to arrive now that you’ve made your decision!

You certainly made a high quality choice and I’m looking forward to your comments and feedback when you receive it.

Congratulations on your new mattress :slight_smile:

Thanks for the kind words … and for the donation as well … I appreciate them.

Phoenix

If you are buying a mattress with a pillow top, it’s important to match them fitted sheets deep enough to fit over the extra thickness of the mattress. Many people think that buying a larger size will do the trick, but they’re just longer and wider and end up not fitting. Deep fitted sheets run anywhere from 13 inches to 22 inches depending on how thick your newmattress is. If you own some wonderful sheets that you want to continue using, just buy “suspenders” for the fitted sheet or chop the extra part of, which will keep it from popping off.

Hi Phoenix—I think it is finally time to weigh in on our experience with the TempFlow Flexia mattress. This response continues our thread from earlier in the fall. This is a hard review to write, because I still have very mixed feelings about the mattress. It arrived the day before Thanksgiving, which was a few weeks later than originally scheduled, but that was not a big deal for us. As you may recall, I had originally wanted a relatively soft mattress, given my history of arthritis, but the Flexia had been recommended by the TempFlow sales person, as there was concern about a lighter weight person not sinking down far enough on a soft mattress to reach the support layers.

Well, the day it arrived we found the Flexia hard as a brick, and even my husband, who is extremely flexible about such matters, found the mattress much too firm for his comfort as well. I was devastated having waited so long for delivery as well as having to pay the shipping cost from California to the East coast—and back again if we decided to return the mattress. We did not think there was any way we would be able to live with the mattress but decided to give it a few weeks trial period as recommended by the company and by you on this forum. After a few days it did seem to soften up somewhat, but was still too firm for our liking. We had previously purchased a thick cushioning mattress cover for our previous bed, so after three nights we put that on top of the new mattress. This helped considerably, and now after more than 6 weeks we have decided to keep it. While I can honestly say I would never have purchased this mattress if trying it out first in a store, we do seem to sleep well on it, which I guess is the real bottom line.

Still, I have a lingering sense of disappointment in the whole process. I definitely feel I should have been more assertive about my desire for a softer mattress. I may have been less annoyed and felt better about having to pay the return shipping costs if I had gotten something closer to what I originally asked for versus what someone else thought would be appropriate for me. I also must say the cost and logistics of potentially returning the mattress loomed much larger in actuality than I thought it would at the time of the purchase. It’s easy to reassure yourself that you can always return the mattress, but in the final analysis I was left with three options: (1) return the mattress and exchange it for another model that is softer—this of course would mean being out a total of $500 in shipping costs and having no way to know if we would actually be any happier with the second mattress; (2) send the mattress back and begin the search all over again—this meant still being out the $500 in shipping costs AND going back to square one in the mattress search—something I simply could not face; or (3) keep the mattress as is. We obviously chose option 3. I should also mention, there was an offer on the table to send an additional inch of softer foam to insert on top of the mattress, but this would have involved removing the cover, which did not appear to be as trivial as it sounds, as well as paying for the additional foam, which may or may not have been helpful. As a “lessons learned” comment for your readers, I would definitely recommend against buying a mattress on-line without first being able to test it out, or at the very least, not buy one on-line unless it can be returned for free. While we could have absorbed the shipping costs, there is much more of a psychological factor in eating those costs than I had anticipated. Furthermore, even if the mattress could have been returned for free, there is a real hassle factor at the thought of dealing with this, coupled with not knowing how a substitute mattress would feel, which should not be underestimated. Bottom line—while we are reasonably satisfied with the mattress, I would not buy it again.

I want to thank you once more for all your advice and assistance. For better or worse, I am glad to have this process behind me, and I hope my experience might be helpful to others out there struggling with a decision about whether to purchase a mattress on-line.

Hi BedBug5450,

Thanks for taking the time to share your comments and feedback in such detail.

Your comments are very interesting because it sounds like your mattress (at least with the mattress pad on top) is a good match for you in terms of the first two P’s of PPP (Posture and alignment and Pressure relief) which are the most important part of a mattress purchase and you are sleeping well on the mattress yet it doesn’t seem to “match” as well for the final “P” (your Personal preferences) which is the least important part of a suitable mattress purchase.

It’s also possible that your thick mattress pad is interfering with the feel and response of the memory foam comfort layers underneath it and possibly extending the length of time that it may take for the materials to break in as well.

It may also be worth considering a thin topper of a different type instead of your thicker mattress pad so you can fine tune the “feel” of your mattress so it’s closer to your preferences without affecting your posture and alignment on the mattress.

What is the “thick cushioning mattress cover” you are using?

Phoenix

Hi Again–Here is the weblink for the mattress pad. It is made by exceptional sheets and also sold by Amazon–it’s called the double-thick mattress topper pad:
https://www.amazon.com/Extra-Double-Fitted-Mattress-Topper/dp/B00FX0QMLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421353398&sr=8-1&keywords=mattress+pad+double+thick

It has definitely occurred to me that the mattress pad may be interfering with the response of the memory foam, and we also find that the bed is sleeping warm, so it may be interfering with the tempflow technology as well; but since it’s winter here, the warmth is actually welcome at the moment. I may still opt for the additional inch of foam at some point to see if that softens the bed enough to do away with the mattress pad, but since the current configuration is working, I’m not sure if we want to go there. Finally, while I intellectually agree with the “preference” P being the least important, I just can’t seem to shake my disappointment in the firmness of the mattress–it’s REALLY firm. Perhaps if I actually had a softer mattress and did not sleep well on it I would surrender. At this point I guess I am not going to find out for many more years, and since we are sleeping well on the mattress, I am letting it go. If, however, we were local to the manufacturer, we would definitely have tried exchanging it, hence my warning to readers about on-line purchases. Thanks again for your interest and support!

Hi BedBug,

Thanks for the link.

The “down alternative” mattress pad you are using can certainly affect the “surface feel” of the mattress but it can also reduce the amount of heat that reaches the memory foam which can affect the firmness of the memory foam underneath it as well as it’s ability to contour to your sleeping profile (both of which will affect the sensation of “softness”) so this type of topper on a memory foam mattress can create a “feeling” that is both softer (the surface "feel) and firmer and less pressure relieving (from the memory foam layers underneath) at the same time.

If you like the “feel” of sleeping directly on memory foam and it’s ability to contour and “shape” itself to your body profile and need a little more “comfort” or pressure relief then a thin memory foam topper may make a better choice. A thinner mattress pad may also allow more heat to reach the memory foam.

As I mentioned your mattress appears to be a good match for you in terms of PP (Posture and alignment and Pressure relief) and it certainly uses high quality and durable materials but you may need a little more memory foam so that the “surface feel” is closer to your preferences. There are also some suggestions in post #2 here about a new memory foam mattress that is too firm that may also be helpful.

Phoenix