Hi LLee,
The first suggestion I would have is a complete “reset” in “how” you are looking for a mattress and I would start with the mattress shopping tutorial here which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines you will need to make the best possible choices … and know how and why to avoid the worst ones (which would include all the major brands you have been considering and will hopefully keep you out of the major chain stores as well).
There is also more information in post #3 here and the posts it links to about choosing a mattress if you are in a higher weight range because the durability of the upper layers of a mattress (which is the “weak link” of most mattresses) will become an even more significant issue in higher weight ranges.
[quote]We first purchased a Beautyrest Black Evie Plush - and in the store it was comfortable, but when it arrived it was significantly softer than the store model - which was strange to us. I was immediately hammocking when on my side and went to sleep in the guest room. Hubby didn’t like how hot it was, but said it was comfortable for his side and pseudo stomach sleeping. Sent it back after 5 days and decided to try a Tempurpedic Cloud Supreme Breeze.
We are now going to send the TCSB back. We gave it a full 30 days thinking we just weren’t used to sleeping without coils. It has been awful. He hurts, I hurt - no one wakes up in a good mood - if we are able to get to sleep on it. It is still incredibly hot - the coolness feels great for about 10-15 minutes and then basically the bed absorbs our body heat which makes us hot and the bed hot.[/quote]
There is more information about the many variables that can affect sleeping temperature in post #2 here but memory foam will generally sleep warmer than other materials and softer memory foam mattresses will tend to sleep warmer yet. Gel memory foam can have some initial or temporary effect on temperature but as you mentioned this will often only last until temperatures equalize and then the insulating properties of memory foam can “take over” again (see post #2 here for more about gel memory foams).
The S&F Lux Estate Emelia Rose Plush and the Pillowtop both only have about 3/4" of “mostly synthetic” latex in the mattress which is more about “label copy” than anything else and neither one could even reasonably be called a latex hybrid mattress. There isn’t enough latex in either one to make a significant difference and there is over 2" of “other materials” over the latex so you would be feeling much more of the other materials and components in the mattress than the latex. These would both be very risky choices. Even the S&F luxury latex mattresses that are “mostly latex” use relatively thick layers of polyfoam over the latex which is a weak link in these mattresses as well and there are many forum members that have needed to replace them after only a very few years with no warranty coverage (see post #174 here for more about mattress warranties) and with your husband’s higher weight this could happen even more quickly than the norm.
I would use careful and objective testing using the testing guidelines in the tutorial to find a mattress that is a suitable match for both of you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) along with the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you and I certainly wouldn’t use a Stearns & Foster mattress as any kind of reference point for quality or durability because there are so many other options available to you that would be just as suitable in terms of PPP and would make a much more durable choice in a lower budget range as well.
Once you reach step 3 in the tutorial if you let me know your city or zip code I’d be happy to let you know about any of the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.
Phoenix