Performasleep

[phoenix]

Hi Manimal,

I was previously told the FRB is rayon… will defer to Jonathan on the other questions.

Thanks Manimal. My guess would be an inherent rayon/silica barrier, but I’m curious if it is a FR “sock” or other application. Hopefully we’ll get a reply.

It’s also probably worth noting that latex in most densities (even lower than 4 pcf) is going to be a more durable material in general than 4 pcf poly/memory foam due to it’s unique properties… so all due respect to Jonathan and PerformaSleep but I wouldn’t necessarily consider the use of 4lb foams in the comfort layers “unique”, although still better than “acceptable” quality which is more that can be said for a lot of these new startups that are really about marketing with very little understanding (or information) about foam density/quality.

Yes, it is a little of apples to oranges comparison, as latex is a different material than the polyfoam/memory foam referenced. To be fair and keep things consistent, the 4 lb. Enersorb is one of the newer generation of high-performance polyfoams and is a higher quality material. The 4 lb. memory foam layer would be the minimum I would recommend.

Personally, I hope that more manufacturers will consider using higher density base layers in the future… 1.8 pcf is normally adequate for those up to around 275 lbs. but 2.2-2.4 pcf (or higher) would be even better.

I’d provide a caution for those 275 lb. using 1.8 lb polyfoam in a base layer, and advise 2.0 lb. or higher.

Most companies are using 1.8 pcf to keep costs and shipping weights as low as reasonably possible while leaving wider potential profit margins… it seems this is usually done at the advice of the manufacturer as well since they warranty the core along with any other foams supplied (assuming the foams above the core come from the same manufacturer).

It would be nice if “most” companies were using at least 1.8 lb. polyfoam for their cores, but 1.5-1.8 lb. is still the range I see in the industry for the majority of polyfoam cores. I agree it would be nice to see more manufacturers use higher density and more durable cores. There are many decisions involved when a manufacturer creates their design, and certainly profit margin is one of them, but this would be along with how all of the layers work together to achieve the comfort they are desiring. Weight of the product (for shipping) would be further down the list and more of a by-product, with increased focus being made on reducing package size and making the best use of the cubes being shipped.

I think there’s opportunity out there for someone to create an all foam mattress with a higher density core, using Talalay latex in the comfort layers, while keeping the price significantly lower than an all-Talalay mattress. The BME is close but I’m talking about even higher than 2 pcf for the core along with other potential design/spec improvements… I’d be willing to pay more for it and will take my chances with lugging a few extra pounds up the stairs.

The BME does use good quality materials that would be suitable for all but the most extreme weight ranges. With new products coming on the market every week, maybe you’ll find one pre-made meeting your requirements. There does come a point from a raw materials perspective where the pricing difference between a very high density polyfoam core and a latex core make it a better choice to go all-latex for the manufacturer. Of course, one can always order componentry separately and create their own DIY configuration using those higher-density specifications!

Phoenix