Need help finding local sources for new mattress

[phoenix]

Hi BaggerZ,

We’ve got one memory foam model that we’re interested in, and one latex as well. We’re both side-sleepers and average weight (on the low side of average if anything), so we’re looking for a comfort layer that will let our shoulders and hips sink in a bit and give us that alignment we want. My wife initially didn’t like any of the latex mattresses we tried, since she didn’t like the springiness of the latex and usually found them too firm as well.

Your own testing in the store for what I call PPP (Pressure relief, posture and alignment, and Personal preferences) is the most accurate way to know which mattress is “best” for you. Your own body … hopefully with the help of a good salesperson … will tell you much more than I could without actually seeing you lying on the mattress.

After trying the Latex Bliss Entice, with a 3" latex topper, she was surprised that she liked it a lot.

The layers in the entice are …

3" ActiveFUSION Slow Natural Talalay
2" Natural Talalay Latex
8" Bonded Foam/Latex

She probably likes this because the Active Fusion slow recovery latex is slow recovery and similar to memory foam instead of the fast response of “regular” Talalay latex. I would be very cautions about adding the 3" PLB topper to this though because it could be fairly risky for alignment with such a thick and soft comfort layer/topper combination … although I do understand that it may feel very comfortable in a showroom. I would make sure that you tested this as objectively as possible for support/alignment along the lines of the guidelines in the first post I linked.

We’re also interested in the Latex Bliss Progression model as a somewhat firmer base along with the same topper, but didn’t get to try that one since they didn’t have one in the showroom. We did try the topper on a firmer memory foam mattress, and found it to be too firm for us.

The layering of the Progression is …

1" ActiveFUSION Slow Natural Talalay
2" ActiveFUSION Fast Natural Talalay
6" Bonded Foam/Latex

this has a muc thinner layer of the slow response latex and would be less risky although I still have very mmixed feelings about using a latex topper that is such a low ILD (softness) unless someone was very light because it will be less durable and because of potential support/alignment issues. I would also make sure you had the chance to test this (or any local mattress) in person before buying it.

Since we’re looking at getting an adjustable base as well, I’m somewhat concerned about the topper moving around or bunching up. Is that generally an issue? Do they play nice with adjustable bases?

It generally isn’t an issue no, especially when it is under your mattress protector and sheets. Latex toppers tend to stay in place very well and we have tested several toppers on our mattress with the adjustable base and there have been no issues at all.

The memory foam mattress we’re considering is from Cantwell. Their 12" Air Cloud mattress was comfortable for both of us as well. It consists of 1 inch of 5.3 lb open cell memory foam, 4 inches of the same foam, then 7" of 2.3 lb poly HR foam.

These are all high quality materials and if the mattress is suitable for you in terms of PPP then I would have no issues with the quality of the materials themselves which are all good and the mattress has no obvious weak links.

With either, we’ll get the Leggett & Platt S-Cape adjustable base. I’ve talked with the owners of each company, and they are both quite knowledgeable about their products and answered all of my questions. Both seem very willing to stand behind their product and support it after purchase.

yes … this is one of the advantages of dealing with better retailers or manufacturers who actually know and can talk about the quality of the materials that are in the mattresses they sell. There is also some information about several of the more common adjustable beds in the adjustable bed thread here which you can use to help you with feature and value comparisons.

So, I’m wondering if you have any advice for me on the comparative quality of the mattresses, or any other issues or criteria I should consider in choosing between the two. The memory foam mattress is the more expensive one, but still within the range we’re willing to pay. I don’t want to pay more than we have to though. Any thoughts?

Other than the cautions I’ve already mentioned I think you are doing well. You are testing mattresses that use better quality materials and working with more knowledgeable people that are in a much better position to help you make good choices. You also know the layering of every mattress you are considering so you can make meaningful quality and value comparisons with other mattresses if you wish. When you have eliminated the worst choices and you are comparing better ones … then the choices will boil down to your testing on the mattress and what I call your “personal value equation” which includes all the objective, subjective, and intangible benefits of the mattress as well as the merchant you are dealing with that are most important and most “valuable” to you.

Phoenix