Hi Mr_Gondola,
Thank you for providing your profile and preference details. It seems you’re well-versed in mattress shopping, so we can skip the standard discussion on PPP, materials, product engineering, and specifications, and delve straight into searching for and selecting the right mattress for you.
Just a few years back, I bid farewell to my 2011 Sealy Posturepedic ultra firm king mattress due to indentations and dipping, echoing your own experience. It’s highly doubtful I’ll venture into another S brand mattress unless they undergo a miraculous transformation in terms of quality and transparency.
Considering your “recon” section, let’s delve into some of those options. Since your wife prefers purchasing in-store, we’ll focus on what’s available there. It’s worth noting that no matter where you buy, truly gauging long-term comfort is challenging. Even testing a mattress in a showroom versus purchasing online based on specifications doesn’t guarantee mid or long-term satisfaction. I like to think of these short-term tests as the “mattress eliminator.” Mattresses tend to soften, compress, and wear over time. The softening is usually front-loading these changes in the first few months of use. If a mattress feels too soft initially, it’s likely not a good fit. Conversely, firm mattresses in the showroom might not reveal how much they’ll soften during the break-in period or over time. This period doesn’t just refer to the mattress taking shape; it’s also the sleeper adjusting to the new environment.
The key factor for some predictability lies in the quality of materials used in its construction, which becomes apparent only when a company is transparent about their materials.
I would urge to have an open mind about selecting a mattress online, although it is not necessary to go that route. I happened to take that plunge, based solely on “specs” and it has worked as an excellent choice for us.
We can digress back to the “recon” section. So the EOS and Avocado are nice selections, the EOS is known for its ability to offer split comfort and swappable comfort options. Avocado falls into a larger group of similar mattress, @My_Green_Mattress, Harvest, EcoSleep, Birch all make claims to that same category.
Saatva was on my list for a New York minute, but the overall independent reviews did not match the marketing hype so for me, it became a flash in the past, very quickly. Helix and Brooklyn Bedding make some of the best online mattresses in this catergory, as a matter of fact, I chose the BB Plank Luxe and almost two years in, it is performing as if it was brand new and both of us, despite dissimilar body weights (me 6’ 220-formerly 250+, and my wife 5’4 135) and we are just loving the mattress.
Natural materials, such as foams and fibers, often exhibit greater durability, reliability, and longevity compared to their synthetic counterparts. This is particularly true when the natural products are created using high-quality, consistent methods, which also applies, to some extent, to the synthetic ones.
It’s important not to be misled by terminology. For instance, Brooklyn Bedding labels their Plank Luxe mattress as using “memory foam,” but in reality, it’s High Density Polyurethane foam, not viscoelastic memory foam. Despite this, they often refer to it as “memory foam” in their literature. When questioned about this discrepancy, their customer service have described it as memory foam without memory.
When it comes to paying extra for “green” products, there are various approaches. For instance, in the case of Dunlop vs Talalay processed latex, only Dunlop can be certified as organic. Talalay, due to its use of certain limited chemicals, doesn’t meet the standard for organic certification. Consequently, you may end up paying more for something that isn’t “certified as organic” due to the more involved process.
Personally, I like to evaluate whether the overall product is worth the added expense for me. This could involve considering factors like the product being “greener,” perhaps offering better customer service, or faster delivery time. Ultimately, it’s about determining what’s important to the buyer in the context of the additional cost.
I’m a big advocate for mattress toppers as well. I believe that, assuming the products being used are of good quality to start with, mattress toppers can enhance both the comfort and longevity of a mattress. They can provide additional contouring and pressure relief for sleepers who desire it, or maintain the feel of the mattress while adding the necessary contouring for those who find their mattress too firm and flat.
Moreover, the extra few inches added to the top of the mattress can bear the initial weight impact, potentially prolonging the life of the comfort layer of the mattress. For instance, opting for a high-quality 3" wool topper could potentially outlast the lifespan of your mattress, offering both comfort and durability.
Finally, since you are in the city, take a look at what Charles Beckley Mattress has to offer, since you have already experienced @TheCleanBedroom. They are a company that takes you back in time, like shovlin, or orange mattress (in new jersey) when mattresses were made to last with high quality materials, construction and attention to detail.
Hopefully this will give you some insight on your mattress search.
Maverick