So, after Church and lunch today, I took my wife and 3-yr-old over to Bowles. My wife was really happy with both the Gold Series Box Top and the Gold Series Euro Style. Due to their comfort layer construction, they both feel quite similar for us - maybe itās because of our low weights (129 and 158). I guess if you think about it, both mattresses have the same top 3 layers (1-1/2" of quilted foam, 1" Talalay Latex, 2-1/2" Micro Coil).
I guess the only thing that concerns me is the 1" Firm Foam under the MicroCoil on the Euro Style. He said itās high-density (over 1.8 lbs, at least). The Euro Style costs $1488 compared to the $1688 Box Top.
Both feel great on my shoulders - I think the MicroCoil is good fit for me - and my wife likes the edge support of an HD foam-sided mattress. She didnāt like the all-foam latex/poly mattresses we tried.
So what do you think. Will the Euro hold up as well as the Box Top for us?
Both of you are lighter weight so the differences in the construction of these two mattresses which are more in the deeper layers of the mattress may not be as noticeable to you.
In the Box top ā¦ the layers under the microcoil are 2" of latex and then a pocket coil innerspring (which is more conforming and probably a little softer). The separate box top would also tend to make the top layers a little softer because it is built as a separate section on the top of the mattress.
In the Euro style, there is 1" of HD polyfoam and then a Luraflex (offset) innerspring which would likely be a little more supportive and a little less conforming.
While polyfoam is not as durable as latex ā¦ the 1" under the microcoil is deeper in the mattress (not as subject to mechanical compression as it would be on the top) and also a high enough density and thin enough that durability would not be an issue IMO. I āworryā more when there are thicker layers and lower density in the top layers of a mattress.
The foam under the microcoils in both mattresses are used as an insulator layer between the comfort layers and the innerspring.
So overall ā¦ if there is little difference for both of you and pressure relief and alignment is good on both ā¦ then it would make sense to me to go with the lower price in a choice between the two of them.
Spent some more time laying on the Gold Series Box Top and Euro-Style today after work. Iām torn, but Iām starting to like the Box Top a little more. āI thinkā I can can feel the contouring of the Box Top distributing pressure to the rest of my body better than the Euro-Style. But itās hard to notice in the store. I spent about 15 minutes on each mattress, and I was just barely able to notice a difference.
Also, I took my hand and pushed down firmly on both mattresses. On the Euro-Style, I can hear springs making a somewhat audible noise. But on the Box Top, it felt and sounded like 100% foam. Does this mean anything? Maybe itās just the difference in the pocketed coils vs the offset coil. Or maybe itās the extra inch of foam in the layer under the micro-coil.
Anyway, Iām still deciding - but ready to buy one or the other!
This would likely be a combination of the thicker more flexible and elastic latex underneath the microcoils and also the fact that the offset coils are joined together with helicals on the top and bottom (see the small spiral ājoiningā coils in the luraflex link in the last post) while the pocket coils act more independently (with no steel rubbing on steel) and are joined together by their individual fabric pockets. If you were to ābounceā a bit on both or sort of āflopā around on each you would probably notice the difference between them more.
Iāve decided to go with the Gold Series Box Top, and I think Iāll go ahead and get it ordered tomorrow. It just feels a bit more conforming to my body when I lay on it at the store. The only worry I have would be that it could be too soft, and maybe not provide enough support?! I wouldnāt know for sure until I slept on it for an entire night. Maybe you can put my mind at ease on this issue.
Iāll probably also get online and order the St. Dormeir Mattress Protector as well. It seems to be the overwhelming favorite mattress protector by everyone on the web. I just hope itās not too thick.
I also want to order a new set of sheets to make my bed feel like new! What would be considered some of the best quality, breathable bed sheets? Bamboo? Egyptian Cotton? And who should I order from?
Thatās very difficult for me to say because of course ātheory at a distanceā can never be as accurate as actual testing and knowing specs can only go so far in āpredictingā how well a mattress may work for any individual.
I can say though that more conforming can also be more supportive and that while you may be a little deeper in the box top mattress overall, the extra latex will adjust well to any heavier parts because it gets firmer faster than other foams so it can be both more conforming and supportive. Being able to sink in a little deeper with your more āpointyā parts can also result in the gaps in your profile being filled in with a little more firmness which also helps to support them better as well (such as the small of the back).
If you tested the mattress carefully while you are very relaxed and your muscles had ālet goā and you were in good alignment and didnāt feel any tension or pain in your back or a tendency to hold up parts of your body ā¦ then the odds are very good that it will work well for you.
To re-assure yourself though ā¦ itās always a good idea to ask what their adjustment policy is if it turns out that even the best of testing doesnāt quite get it right. While this is not likely ā¦ itās always good to know for peace of mind.
The Dormeir is without a doubt one of the best choices in mattress protectors available. It is quite thin and stretchy so it has a very good combination of breathability, water resistance, and doesnāt affect the feel of the mattress as much as many other alternatives ā¦ particularly wool ones.
Most of the research for the site goes into mattress materials and sources so I donāt have a list of the best buying sources for sheets or bedding as itās not my area of expertise. There are some very good sources of information about different types of sheets and what to watch out for. This can also be more complex than many would think because misleading or inaccurate labeling is also very common in bedding.
The HD series mentioned in this thread uses the coil that was the standard coil for many years for Stearns and Fosterā¦the 368 Double Offset coil. 368 12.5ā¦is a monster coilā¦ They have since gone to a coil that sounds betterā¦I canāt remember exactlyā¦512 or something, buit the gauge is nothing like 12.5.
Unfortunately the S&F beds have taken a quality beating in the last decade or soā¦too badā¦they used to be great bedsā¦
So I went ahead and ordered the Lady Americana Gold Series Box Top! $1688 plus tax/delivery. I got with Sandra over at Cuddledown.com and we discusses mattress protectors and bed sheets. Since the mattress is so deep, (16" including the quiliting), we decided that the 24" pocket on the St. Dormeir was the way to go - so I placed an order for it on Monday.
As for the sheets, I donāt think Sandra was able to come up with anything that would be deep enough to fit the mattress. Most of the pockets are 17", which is just not going to be enough. Iāve been trying to find some really good quality sheets at some of the stores here in Louisville, and Iām simply not having much luck. I tried Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, JC Penneys, Kohls, etcā¦
And then I went to Macyās. I love their Hotel Collection. I picked up the 600 threadcount egyptian cotton flat sheet and pillowcases, and I had to special order the extra-deep fitted sheet for the new mattress. These received the best reviews anywhere online, and Iām looking forward to trying them myself. They also sell an 800 threadcount, but they cost significantly more, and feel about the same.
Anyway, once everything arrives, Iām looking forward to some bedtime bliss. Thanks again for everyoneās input!
They have since gone to a coil that sounds betterā¦I canāt remember exactlyā¦512 or something, buit the gauge is nothing like 12.5.