S-cape mattress decisions

[phoenix]

Hi KMcollies,

I’m in Pittsburgh, so any local connections or suggestions are welcome. I don’t see any nearby retailers or manufacturers on the Membership list.

The better options or possibilities I’m aware of in the Pittsburgh area are listed in post #2 here.

The Personal Value Equation post will be especially useful in helping me be thorough in assessment, and not overlooking various criteria. I’m a little worried because the OMF S-cape on display does NOT have a latex with it, so I will be testing that on a different foundation. Is there any way to ‘adjust?’ I am assuming from what I’ve read elsewhere, that the mattress may feel more comfortable/broken in under these circumstances. I might try visiting other adjustable bed retailers just to test the feel of the latex mattress on them – if I can find that combo. It seems to be less ‘available.’

I would completely separate the purchase of a mattress from the purchase of an adjustable bed. A latex mattress will feel the same on any flat, solid, non flexing surface (whether it is an adjustable bed, a foundation, or a platform bed) as it will on an adjustable bed in the flat position and the different positions for an adjustable bed would have the same benefits for any mattress regardless of whether it’s latex. I would test for the suitability of a mattress in the flat position and wouldn’t buy a mattress based on how it feels on an adjustable bed that is elevated. If the Serenity at the OMF store you visit is on their box spring then they should be able to switch it to a solid surface such as their adjustable bed so you can feel the difference.

I currently have my mattress inside an allergy barrier, and covered with a 100% cotton mattress pad which is laundered weekly. Will I need to/be able to cover the latex mattress with an allergy barrier? I assume if it is all latex that might not be necessary, except if the cloth covering is an issue and can’t easily be removed for regular laundering.

You can cover any mattress with an allergy barrier but it would be less necessary with a latex mattress (see post #2 here for more about dust mite allergies and post #2 here for more about mattress encasements). For most people a regular mattress protector would be fine (see post #89 here for more about the different types) but an encasement would still be a preference for those that are more sensitive or have more significant allergies to dust mites.

I am interpreting the bold statement to mean this version will have more of the feel of a memory foam in that the body will ‘sink in’ more?

You will sink in more to softer latex (or any material) than you will with firmer latex but either way latex and memory foam would be very different from each other. There is more about how they compare in post #2 here but these types of comparisons can also be very subjective so the best way to know how they feel and compare to you would be based on your own experience and perceptions.

Phoenix