Firstly, thank you for the wonderful resource! There is a lot of information here and I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface.
I am just realizing that I should be in the market for a new mattress. I bought my first mattress when I was in college, and it’s now 9.5 years old. The mattress is a Sealy Posturepedic Reserve BeeBee Ultra Plush. It wasn’t cheap, especially for a college student - I think I paid about $1000 for a full size. I believe it is a latex mattress.
I loved that mattress for the first 3-4 years, and became somewhat ambivalent for the next 3-4. Over the last couple of years I’ve begun to notice an indent forming in the middle of the mattress, and for the last few months I’ve been dealing with a lot of back pain. I think it’s time for a new mattress.
I put a 6’ straight edge over the mattress top, and the indent in the middle is in the range of 1.5" to 2" deep. This surprised me, as I’m not large person at 5’10" 165 pounds. I believe that due to the size of the indent, the mattress would likely qualify for warranty replacement. The problem is that I bought the mattress when I lived in a different city, and returning the mattress to that city and that store isn’t very feasible.
I’m likely to move again within the next ten years, so buying a mattress locally could actually be more of an inconvenience should I have to deal with warranty issues. For this reason I’d prefer to make my next mattress purchase online. I don’t feel like I got very good value out of my store-bought mattress, as it really only provided good comfort for the first 4-5 years. They also sold me on a $100 Gore-Tex mattress cover which fell apart in the washing machine after several years. They told me I needed to buy it because if there were any stains on the mattress at all they wouldn’t be able to honor the warranty. Looking back the experience of buying a mattress in a store isn’t one I’d like to repeat.
I’d like my second mattress to provide better longevity than my current one. I realize that expecting a mattress to last over ten years is asking a lot, but I feel that my current mattress began to deteriorate after 4-5 years, and I’d like something that lasts longer than that.
My budget is around $1000 or less for a queen sized mattress. Of the online options, which brands are likely to offer the best longevity? I’ve learned reading this site that I should look for higher densities, but this is somewhat confusing as not all brands tell you what density they are using, and others have recently increased the density of their products, making previous information outdated.
The Reserve Series tended to be coil mattresses, but I don’t have complete records of all of the offerings from 10 years ago.
Unfortunately, you’re describing a common timeframe of mattress life from many of the larger brands, even 10 years ago. You’re absolutely correct, you’ve needed a new mattress for some time now.
Over 1.5" is deemed a warranty defect by Sealy.
Sealy doesn’t necessarily require you to return the product to the store where it was purchased. While transportation costs are the responsibility of the customer who has a warranty claim approved, brands will often work through an accommodating local dealer of their products to assist you with this process. It certainly would be worth investigating.
Yes, unfortunately the comfort life of 4-5 years is common when using lower-density foams.
While it is true that stains do void a mattress warranty, it doesn’t mean that you need to purchase a mattress protector that costs $100. You just need to make sure that you are using some sort of mattress pad or protector that assists in keeping your mattress clean, and promotes a healthier sleep environment.
An expectation of 10-years for a mattress using higher-quality materials is reasonable, with anything beyond that being what I consider “bonus time.” It certainly is achievable, but unlikely if you were to purchase something like you did in the past.
While I can certainly help with “how” to choose … It’s not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more reliable than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
I know you’ve been doing some reading already on the site, but just in case you haven’t read it yet … the first place to start your research is 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 more 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”, firmness, and PPP 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 he will sleep), durability (how long he 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 (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for).
I would always make sure that you find out information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here 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. You are correct that finding out the quality of the materials is key in your mattress shopping process, and unfortunately many manufacturers are not completely forthcoming with that information. If you can’t find this information out, then I wouldn’t consider that particular mattress. Mattress construction is constantly evolving, and you should always defer to the information provided by the retailer or manufacturer, as some of the threads here are over five years old, and while I work very hard to update specifications of products, it’s not something that I’m able to keep track of on a daily basis. If there are any specifications that you’ve found that are conflicting or confusing, feel free to provide me specific links or examples and I’ll do my best to be helpful with those.
For online purchase, a good place to start is to use the experience and expertise of the members listed in post #21 here who are all very experienced and knowledgeable and specialize in providing the type of help and guidance on the phone that can help you make good choices. There are a wide range of latex and memory foam and other options included in the choices there and I believe that all of them compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, and transparency.
Their detailed knowledge of their mattresses and how they fit with different body types and sleeping positions along with your feedback from local testing, a customer base of many people that they can use as reference points, and any exchange, return, or any options they have available to customize a mattress after a purchase can help lower the risk of an online purchase. These online retailers or manufacturers can also be a good “value reference” for local purchases to make sure that if you are paying a “premium” for a local purchase (in exchange for the kind of “in person” guidance, service, and value that comes with dealing with a local retailer that can help you make more “accurate” choices that you have tested in person) is not too high.
Posts #1 and #2 in this topic also includes more information about the new "breed’ of “simplified choice” mattresses (aka “one choice fits all” or “universal comfort” or “bed in a box” or “disruptor” or “millennial” mattresses) that are available online as well that are typically in a budget range of between $600 and $1000 (queen size).
There is a bit of reading here, but I think this will help put you on the right track. I’ll be interested in learning about your progress!
Thank you for taking the time to respond! I may try contacting Sealy about the warranty on my existing mattress, IF I still have the receipt somewhere. If they can arrange a local replacement that would be great. I may still choose to upgrade to a better quality queen size mattress, but at the very least I could donate the replacement Sealy to someone in need.
Beyond that it looks like I have a lot of reading to do. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of where to start. I have also been reading the thread on the Arctic Dreams mattress here, and I have to admit the pricetag is compelling. Even if it doesn’t have quite the longevity of other mattresses, those more expensive mattresses would have to last 3-4 times as long to reach the same annual cost as the Arctic Dream. Something to consider at least!
Usually the first two things they will request of you is the original receipt and the laws tags still attached to the mattress. And they will usually require that you return the mattress in order to receive a warranty replacement. That’s pretty standard procedure with the major brands, but as you said, it certainly is worth investigating, as the clock is ticking…
With everything I’ve discovered during my research, I think I have narrowed my choices for a new queen sized mattress down to two - Brooklyn Bedding and SleepOnLatex.
Brooklyn Bedding’s price is very competitive. Their holiday sale for 5% off includes two pillows and a set of sheets for $712.50. Their mattress seems to be well made and I like the 2lb density for the polyfoam used in the core.
SleepOnLatex is more costly, coming in at $1099 and does not include any free pillows or sheets. I’m not sure how to receive the 5% discount from your membership list, but that would bring the price down to $1045. edit - I was able to figure out using the search function that I just need to send them an email and tell them I’m a member here, which I’ve done. I like that it is all latex. SleepOnLatex uses natural latex, and Brooklyn Bedding claims that synthetic latex lasts longer, but I haven’t seen that claim repeated elsewhere. I especially like the wool quilted into the 1" thick mattress cover, as I’m a big fan of wool products. I’m curious if a wool cover would be expected to have any benefits over the cotton cover found on the Brooklyn Bedding mattress.
Both brands offer free shipping and returns, with a 100 day period for SleepOnLatex and a 120 day period for Brooklyn Bedding. Both mattresses appear to be good choices. I like some of the features offered by the SleepOnLatex mattress over the Brooklyn Bedding mattress, but the price and free/pillows sheets included with the BestMattressEver are also pretty compelling.
The Brooklyn Bedding Best Mattress Ever (BME) does use good quality materials for the latex (blended Talalay 2" in the top layer and 2" of synthetic Dunlop in the transition layer over the 6" 2 lb. polyfoam core). Brooklyn Bedding is a member here, which means that I think highly of them.
Sleep on Latex uses an all-latex construction of a 6" natural Dunlop latex over a 2" natural Dunlop latex piece, with a 1" cover with wool quilted into it. This mattress uses all high-quality materials and Sleep on Latex is also a member here and I think highly of them as well.
Both the BME and the Sleep on Latex are available in three different comforts (soft, medium and firm).
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find on the Brooklyn Bedding web site where they make that particular claim, but there is some truth to it, although I would state that the choice here is between “good and good” types of latex, and it is unlikely that you would notice much of a difference in performance between these materials.
In general … NR (Natural Rubber) latex is superior to SBR rubber in most areas with a few exceptions. To some degree this depends on the type of SBR that it is compared to and on the additives that are used in compounding both. The exceptions are heat aging and wear resistance where SBR can have advantages. NR also tends to soften more with oxidative aging while SBR tends to harden with oxidative aging because the oxidative processes affect their polymer structure differently. Both will end up hard and brittle when fully oxidized (which if the latex is protected will take a very long time). With Dunlop synthetic latex may lose height (develop impressions) more than 100% natural, while natural rubber may become softer over time more than synthetic rubber.
These differences in practical terms really amount to a bit of “splitting hairs” as far as practical durability goes, and the difference in these two mattresses would really come down to the different comforts that each product provides, one using Talalay over Dunlop, with the other using Dunlop alone, and the cores being used - polyfoam versus latex. And this ends up being more of a personal comfort preference as part of your own personal PPP.
As you mentioned, it would certainly be part of your own personal preference. Sleep on Latex uses the wool to pass the FR regulations, while Brooklyn Bedding uses the more common silica/rayon barrier. Wool does have good temperature and moisture regulating properties, and does has its own unique feel and will firm up a bit as time goes on.
In this case, you’re certainly comparing two high quality products, but they are a bit different (one being all latex and the other being latex with a polyfoam core), so that of course might come into your personal PPP if it is important to you to have a product that is completely latex or not, and if you like the feel of all latex versus latex on top of a polyfoam core. There certainly is a price savings using a polyfoam core instead of latex in the BME, but it will have a different feel. Both items have a great return policy, so in the unfortunate circumstance that your purchase doesn’t turn out as well as you had hoped, you’ll be able to return it.
It may be a little out of date, as they say all the latex they use is either natural or blended, yet I think the Dunlop layer in their mattress is 100% synthetic. Otherwise what they have to say mirrors what you posted regarding the qualities of synthetic and natural latex.
I still haven’t made up my mind, but am leaning toward the SleepOnLatex mattress as I like the 100% latex construction. While the 2lb polyfoam used in the core of the BestMattressEver is a good product, it does seem the latex core in the Pure Green mattress would possibly offer better longevity.
Thanks for the link – I see the post from their blog. Yes, they’re simply making some general statements about latex, the production processes and the blends. If you want a bit of a simplified post describing some of the differences between these types of latex, you can look at post #2 here. As I mentioned earlier, regarding the different types of latex, it really isn’t a “better/worse” comparison, but more of a “good/good” situation. You are correct that the BME uses blended Talalay in the upper 2" layer and the synthetic Dunlop in the middle 2" transition layer (sorry, I’m missing again in the post you referenced where they stated using a different material, but what I listed her and previously in my other reply is correct).
Yes, a latex core will generally have better longevity than a polyfoam core.
I think I have all but decided to order the SleepOnLatex 9" mattress. It’s the only all-latex mattress that fits my budget, and as a bonus it offers a lot of features I appreciate like natural latex and a wool cover. My only concern is whether a single 2" comfort layer will be sufficient. If not I can always purchase a mattress topper to add an additional comfort layer, although it seems like I would miss out on the wool cover were I to go that route. I’m just waiting to hear back from SleepOnLatex regarding the Mattress Underground discount. I’m sure they’re enjoying some time relaxing during the holidays and will reply when they’re back in the office, which is no problem. I may give one of their latex pillows a try as well.
As the Pure Green mattress comes in three different firmnesses, make sure you confirm in a phone conversation with Sleep On Latex which model they think will offer you the best chance at success. You are correct that their topper uses an 80/20 organic cotton/polyester cover (no need for wool to pass FR regulations for a topper and keeping wool out of the cover helps to keep the cost down), but if you end up getting a topper and desire that feel of wool you could always procure a wool mattress pad or protector.
Yes, I know quite a few businesses are closed today as it’s a legal holiday with Christmas falling on a Sunday. You should be able to receive your 5% The Mattress Underground discount with no problem.
Their pillows come in low (stomach sleeper) or high (back/side sleeper) lofts, with a lightweight organic cotton covering or a luxury 80/20 organic cotton/polyester covering.
I look forward to learning about your ultimate decision.
I ended up ordering the 9" Pure Green mattress from SleepOnLatex in medium firmness. It will hopefully ship this week, so I might get it by the following week.
I also ordered a latex pillow from SleepOnLatex to try, as I realized my memory foam pillow is just as worn out as my mattress. I chose the queen high loft size for the pillow.
I purchased Malouf Encase Omniphase mattress and pillow encasements, and a set of percale sheets from Brooklinen. Other than the queen size boxspring I already own, it will be a whole new bed, and I’m looking forward to trying it out!
In your quest for wool, have you considered a wool comforter?
I’m new to wool, but am enjoying my comforter of 2 weeks. Matching it with the right sheets played a role in proper temperature regulation as well(no more layering blankets and kicking half of them off during the night). I rather like the “clean barnyard” smell of wool that permeates the room throughout the day(you’re probably not going to people oft making that comment).
Yeah I have! Great to get some feedback on one as there isn’t a ton of info out there. I don’t have one in the cards right away as I’ve run up against my bedding budget limit for the time being, but a wool comforter is on my list of things to consider down the road. I do have several wool blankets I use on my bed and they are great, but nothing beats the loft of a comforter.
My SleepOnLatex pillow arrived yesterday, and my initial impressions are good. It’s softer and has more loft that I expected, which is great. I slept on it last night, and felt that my head may have been sinking in a little too far, but I think that’s most likely due to my current sleeping situation. I’be been sleeping on the floor for the past couple of weeks on a 2" air mattress with a yoga mat on top. It’s not the most comfortable situation in the world, but has actually done wonders for my back compared to sleeping on my old worn out mattress. Sleeping on my side, I don’t think my shoulder is sinking in nearly as much as it would on a mattress, which is making it feel like my head is sinking too far. Once I am back on a mattress I expect the pillow to work better.
My SleepOnLatex mattress is shipping today, so I should have it by the middle of next week
Quick question about mattress foundations - my current box spring (if that’s the right name for it) is queen sized like my new mattress. It seems to be some sort of frame with a thick cardboard type material on top. It seems relatively firm, but I wouldn’t want to step on it for fear I might fall through. It’s made by Englander and its label reads “QE PROPER POISE LAUREN MAUVE”. It was produced in 2000. Will this be adequate for my new mattress? I build furniture in my spare time and will eventually make a new bed frame with a slatted base, but that might not happen for a year or two.
I’m glad your pillow arrived already. You are correct that the performance of the pillow will certainly vary with the mattress with which it is paired. Your results should be better once you’re sing it upon your new mattress, as your shoulder will sink in more, effectively making your pillow feel “thicker”.
What you have is properly termed a foundation.
More than likely it looks something like the photo attached to this post, with 9 or so wooden slats with a cardboard deck on top. This certainly would not be an advised foundation for any latex mattress, but for a short period of time it should be fine. Just keep an eye on it to make sure that it does not sag quickly. As you’re a skilled furniture builder, it certainly will be easy for you to create something that works well for your latex mattress. Let me know if you have any questions when you come to that point and I’ll be happy to provide recommendations based upon the design you choose as to proper support structures.
I’m excited to learn about your new mattress once you’ve had a chance to sleep on it for a while.
Yup! I have a feeling that’s almost exactly what it looks like under the cover. I will plan to use it for a year or so, at which point I should have a frame with a better base ready for it. I will let you know when I inevitably have some questions about how to design that.
That would be my guess as well. Just keep an eye on it and make sure that the center support in the frame you are using is providing adequate support so the foundation is not allowed to sag in the middle.
I’ll look forward to your ideas when you decide to craft your own foundation, and hopefully you can post some photos of the completed item here once it’s done.
I received my Malouf Encase Omniphase pillow covers earlier this week. Per the instructions, I washed them before using. They don’t have a crinkly feeling, which is good. They don’t allow for much air movement, which changes the way the pillow feels. When you lie down on the pillow, the air is slowly forced out of the pillow encasement, making the pillow compress a lot slower than without it. When you release pressure from the pillow, the encasement slowly sucks air back in, so the pillow expands a lot slower than it would otherwise. I’m not sure if I like this, but I might be able to get used to it. They’re also huge. I ordered the queen size and they’re much larger than my queen size pillow, and I have to roll the ends up to fit them inside a pillowcase.
I’m still waiting on my mattress. FedEx tracking indicated it was scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, so I stayed home all day and waited for it, but it never showed up. About 4pm on Wednesday the scheduled delivery date changed from Wednesday to “pending” which it has been ever since. I called FedEx yesterday to see if they could tell me when it would be delivered, so they ran a trace and called me back. They think it may still be in Chicago (where it was shipped from), but they’re not sure. They think it will start moving again today, but since they don’t know where it is, they’re not sure. They think they might have been having some weather delays, but they’re not sure why the tracking information didn’t indicate any delays, and they’re not sure why FedEx | System Down has been saying for the last week that everything is running normally. If I click on “help” on the tracking page, the page that shows up is “page not found”. The tracking information hasn’t been updated since it left Chicago eight days ago.
Needless to say, I’m not very impressed with FedEx. The same thing happened a week earlier waiting for my pillow (also FedEx). It eventually showed up three days later, so I’m hoping the same will be true of my mattress. Waiting for a delivery for days on end without a scheduled delivery date when the courier has no idea where it is is can be a frustrating experience.
I just received an email from SleepOnLatex that they are going to send out a new mattress on Monday. They have been in contact with FedEx, and it sounds like FedEx has completely lost my original mattress and told SleepOnLatex that it will be 5-7 business days before they have any new information.
SleepOnLatex has been very helpful, and they are going to send the second mattress via UPS to avoid any further issues with FedEx. In my experience UPS is much better at both not losing packages, and keeping the customer up to date with any delivery delays.
