Quality comparison ?

[phoenix]

Hi Slumpy,

This included driving around and laying on all the one sided beds in our area (I did call around and no one has a double sided in the state of CO)

I’m not sure where you live in Colorado but if you let me know your city or zip code I’d be happy to let you know about the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area … and some of them may have some two sided mattresses (I believe Verlo for example still makes some two sided mattresses). There is also more about the pros and cons of one sided and two sided mattresses in post #3 here but I wouldn’t necessarily assume that a two sided mattress is “better” than a one sided mattress because it would depend on the specifics of the materials and components in the two mattresses you are comparing.

A year and a half ago, we bought a brand-y new, no flip, great for your back and green for the environment memory foam mattress in firm. Yay, until 6 months went by, and it is horrible. We are in worse pain now than before. We have decided to go back to innerspring, as we both need the support. We have been careful to try a lot of mattresses at our local suppliers. (all one sided) Invariably we always like the ones on the firm side, but not hard, with a bit of pressure relief. We both have and need lumbar support. Hip pain is an issue. Anything listed as “plush, pillow top, feather soft” was too soft for us. But, I want a double sided; seriously not sold on this one sided it doesn’t last and you can’t ever flip “new” mattress.

I’m assuming that you’ve read the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and perhaps most importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.

Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure you’ve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists (based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you).

I would also keep in mind that as long as the materials in a mattress you are considering are durable enough for your body type and meet the quality/durability guidelines here … the choice between different types and combinations of materials and components or different types of mattresses (see this article) are more of a preference and a budget choice than a “better/worse” choice.

While I can’t speak to how any mattress will “feel” for someone else because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances … outside of PPP the most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you can’t see or “feel” and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label (or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new) so I would always make sure that you find out information listed here so you can compare the materials and components to the quality/durability guidelines I linked to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.

FLEXUS COMFORT POSTURE SENSE MATTRESS: 10" BODY PRINT TRI ZONE POCKET COILS, 15 gauge, 810 count 1.5 LB CERTIPURE EDGE, SAME CUSIONING 2" FOAM, 1" BAMBOO QUILT, CENTER 3RD LUMBAR SUPPORT $675.00 – Pro- looks like good quality. Con- no return policy, shipping around 225.00.

As you probably know … Flexus is one of the members of this site which means I think highly of them and I believe they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency and would certainly be well worth considering. The materials and components in this mattress meet the quality/durability guidelines I would suggest and are no lower quality materials or weak links in this mattress that would compromise the durability or useful life of the mattress.

CORSICANA SLEEP INC 270 TRADITIONS FIRM : 12" MATTRESS 3/4 " FOAM, FIBER PAD, 2" EXTRA FIRM FOAM, OFFSET COILS 14.5 GAUGE KING 1015 COUNT $776.00 FREE DLIVERY, 100 DAY TRIAL. Listed as “hard” Pro- free delivery and 100 day trial allowed. Con- not sure if this is a decent quality mattress, is “hard” so I may need to play the topper game.

If you can find out the information here and post it on the forum I’d be happy to let you know if I can see any lower quality materials or weak links in the mattress that would be a cause for concern but without this information it isn’t possible to make any meaningful comments about a mattress. Corsicana tends to use lower quality/density materials in their mattresses and you may have some difficulty finding out all the information you would need about the materials and components inside their mattresses that you would need to make an informed choice (see this article) and I would avoid any mattress that uses lower quality/density materials or where you can’t find out the quality/density of the materials and components inside it.

Serta Perfect Sleeper Hotel Bronze Suite Supreme Double Sided Plush King Size Mattress- $776.00 Quilt - Top of Mattress Temperature Control Pillo-Fill Fiber FireBlocker 1/2" Serta PillowSoft Foam Comfort - Padding Layers 1" Serta PillowSoft Foam Serta Insulator Pad Coil System: High Profile Continuous Support System Coil Gauge: 13.25 Count King 664 Foam Encased Edge Support - Pro- states that it is listed as plush but is actually more firm Cons- not sure if the materials are quality, is a Big-S company

Again … most of the most of the major brands (such as Sealy/Stearns & Foster, Simmons, and Serta) tend to use lower quality materials in their mattresses than most of their smaller competitors that will tend to soften or break down prematurely relative to the price you pay and I would generally suggest avoiding all of them completely (and the major retailers that focus on them) along with any mattress where you aren’t able to find out the type and quality/durability of the materials inside it (see the guidelines here along with post #3 here and post #12 here and post #404 here).

Restonic Comfort Care Andover Firm Double Sided King Size Mattress - $549 Quilt - Top of Mattress 2" Quilted Cover with Marvelous Middle Features Outlast Technology Comfort - Padding Layers 1" High Density Firm Foam 1/2" Memory Foam SystemHeavy Duty Insulator Pad Bonnell Innerspring System Border Rod Gauge: 6 Coil Gauge: 12.75 KING 520Metal Edge Support – Pro, its cheap Con- it’s cheap

You may have a little more success in finding out the quality/density of the materials in a Restonic mattress (and again if you can post the specifics on the forum I’d be happy to make some comments) but this will depend on the ability and/or willingness of the retailer you are working with to find out all the information you would need from the factory. Many if not most retailers have little idea about the quality or durability of the materials in their mattresses and as sad as it is most of the members here that have spent a few hours on the forum will know more about mattress materials and components than most of the salespeople that sell them in the mainstream industry.

Wolf Gemini Flippable King-size Innerspring Mattress/ 336 high profile mattress - $609.99; Mattress Top: Plush Top, Quilted, Tight, Density: 1.5 Pound, Product Features: Double-sided, Thickness: 10 Inch, Mattress Type: Foam, Innerspring, Support: Plush Firm
Pro- other sites have them as a good company with good quality beds, shipping is free, price is nice. Con- I couldn’t get any more information on exactly what this beds specs are, such as type of coil and gauge.

Again I would need more specific information to make any meaningful comments about this mattress.

The Corsicana uses an offset coil and the Serta uses a continuous coil and both the Restonic and the Wolf use a Bonnell coil which are all “linked coils” so I would make sure you are comfortable with the potential for motion transfer if that’s important to you.

There is more information about the different types of innersprings in this article and in post #10 here.

When you can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart and who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and “feel” of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) and the options they have available that may be the best “match” for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs and any firmness level options they have to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.

In its simplest form … choosing the “best possible” mattress for any particular person really comes down to first finding a few knowledgeable and transparent retailers and/or manufacturers that sell the types of mattresses that you are most interested in (either locally or online) and that you have confirmed can provide you with all the information you need to know to make an informed choice and make meaningful comparisons between mattresses and then …

1. Careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in the tutorial) to make sure that a mattress is a good match for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP … and/or that you are comfortable with the options you have available to return, exchange, or “fine tune” the mattress and any costs involved if you can’t test a mattress in person or aren’t confident that your mattress is a suitable choice.

2. Checking to make sure that there are no lower quality materials or weak links in the mattress that could compromise the durability and useful life of the mattress.

3. Comparing your finalists for “value” based on #1 and #2 and all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.

Phoenix