kkaz-
I don’t know if this helps, but my husband is about 165 and I’m about 130. We have a Tuft and Needle since mid-December. The only time I feel like I’m getting sucked into his side of the mattress, is if we are really close- like maybe 2 inches away close. Otherwise, if we stay on our sides of the bed, I feel no effect from his weight.
Sheep123, I’m very unhappy with how the Novosbed classic ‘sinks in’ when I’m on it. Can you expound a bit on what you wrote above? In what way does the Casper feel completely different than the Tuft & Needle?
Watson4321,
Very hard to explain in words the differences I felt between the Casper and the Tuft and Needle.
On the Casper, I felt like I was more “cradled” in the mattress. The mattress top is a little springy. I also felt a familiar latex feel- latex, on my body, seems to have a “pushback” feel on my muscles, although not everyone seems to feel this like I do. My lower back really liked the Casper, but my shoulders got pressure point pain after about 15 minutes when I was on my side. My friend and her husband ended up returning the Casper. Casper was great though, after they reported they felt the mattress was not to their liking (she was getting lower back pain, he was getting shoulder pain), Casper sent them a free topper to try. My friends were getting better sleep, but weren’t in “love” with the mattress, and after they found a mattress locally that they liked more, they returned the Casper. Casper arranged pickup of the mattress, and donated it to a local charity.
The Tuft and Needle feels like I’m “floating” on the surface of the mattress, more than sinking in, even though if I run my hands along my body, I can feel that I am “sunk” into the foam. I actually didn’t like the sensation in the beginning, but after a couple of weeks, got used to the feeling and don’t feel that anymore. The surface is not lively- in that respect, if’s probably more like memory foam, although it is not memory foam- as memory foam continues to warm, some people feel they sink deeper and deeper in at night- the TN does not do that since it’s not temperature sensitive. The TN does not make body impressions like memory foam- as soon as you roll over, the foam pops back into shape. When my husband gets out of bed, I don’t feel motion transfer. For me, personally, the Tuft and Needle is pretty much perfect in terms of what Pheonix talks about “PPP”. This is the first mattress I’ve been able to sleep on my back without a pillow behind my knees. I have no pressure point pain at all on my hips nor shoulders like many mattresses. And for the first time in years, I’m not waking up with any pain at all. However, take this information with a grain of salt, all of us have different requirements for a mattress, and our bodies experience a mattress differently.
Both Casper and Tuft and Needle are on the firm end of the spectrum, but both feel different than a firm innerspring, which many of us are used to. Both have great return policies, so trying either one comes with no risk of getting stuck with a mattress you don’t like.
In either case though, it can take a few weeks to adjust to the new mattress. Although I wasn’t getting pressure point pain and was sleeping okay from the beginning, I wasn’t in love with the TN the first 3 weeks or so. But now I absolutely love it. I think it took a few weeks for the foam to break in, and my body to adjust to a completely different feel after sleeping on innerspring mattresses for decades.
Good luck!
Sheep123, the information and descriptions you gave were very helpful. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to my question! Now to pass this along to my spouse and make a decision…
Hi kkaz,
After 8 years the odds are high that your Stearns & Foster is close to the end of its useful life and there are many people replace them much sooner than that because they tend to use lower quality materials in the comfort layers that can soften or sag prematurely which is most likely the reason for your discomfort.
While the only way to know for sure whether any mattress would be a good match for both of you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) is based on your actual testing or sleeping experience … there is little risk in trying it because they have a great return policy. The Tuft & Needle also uses higher quality materials in the comfort layers and unlike your Stearns & Foster … there aren’t any lower quality materials or “weak links” in the design.
If you do decide to pull the trigger then I’m looking forward to your comments and feedback once you’ve received it and have had the chance to sleep on it for a bit.
Phoenix
Hi Watson4321,
The Tuft & Needle mattress uses high quality materials and there certainly aren’t any lower quality materials or weak links that would be subject to premature foam softening or sagging in their design.
You can read a little more about their new design in posts #2 and #6 here.
You can also read a little more about how Casper, Tuft & Needle, and Leesa compare in post #3 here and the rest of the same topic.
Phoenix
Thanks, Phoenix, for the additional information and for the links. I’ve been reading for days, ok weeks, and think it’s time for me to try out some mattresses IRL. As I’ve seen you write many times, PPP is different for every person. I happen to prefer a firmer mattress, but what I consider firm, someone else may think is soft. At this point, I know I don’t want a mattress an inner-spring mattress or one with memory foam in the top comfort layer, but otherwise, I’m still stuck. I’m still interested in the Tuft & Needle 10 in, the Casper and the Leesa, but I’m going to hold off ordering another mattress. I know all three companies have great return policies, but I’d rather not purchase and then return any more mattresses. Again, thanks.
Hi Watson4321,
I would be cautious with the Leesa because of the 2" of 3 lb memory foam which is a lower quality and less durable material which would be a potential weak link in the mattress.
The Casper and the Tuft & Needle don’t have any obvious weak links in their design.
Phoenix
Very interesting comment about the Leesa Phoenix. I am expecting arrival of my T&N 10 in two days, but my second choice was the Leesa over the Casper.
Why do you suppose the Leesa sells at a premium to the other two if they are using a lower quality and less durable component?
Hi dwzemens,
The Leesa has 4" of material above the support core which would be more costly than using 3" of the same materials (and more lower quality/density materials would increase the risk of premature foam softening and breakdown even though it would add to the cost of the mattress) but there are many other variables that factor in to how each manufacturer prices their mattresses but this type of information is proprietary and isn’t available to consumers. You can read more about this in post #14 here.
There are also more detailed comments about Leesa in post #2 here and the rest of the topic.
At the moment all of the “one firmness fits all” mattresses don’t manufacture their own mattresses so they are really “resellers” that purchase the mattress from the manufacturer (which is often a foam fabricator) and then resell it to consumers so they would usually have some additional margins or “middlemen” built in to the cost of their mattresses compared to true “factory direct manufacturers” which purchase the raw materials and then manufacture their own mattresses at their own factory.
Phoenix
My Tuft & Needle arrived right on schedule. Boxed nicely and in good shape when received. Took about two minutes to cut the outer wrapping off, get situated on the bed, and another two minutes to get the inner wrapping off. In about 30 seconds the mattress was expanded to what appears to be it’s full potential. It’s beautiful, with a great cover and very upscale “Tuft & Needle” embroidery on the cover. Very, very nice. No off gas smell at all. Testing it for the first time (ten minutes after expansion) I immediately notice how firm - but supportive - this mattress is. I am expecting great sleep ahead after a period of adjustment!
Hi dwzemens,
Thanks for the update … and I’m looking forward to any comments you have the chance to share once you’ve slept on it for a bit.
Phoenix
DH and I just ordered a king today.
Best of luck with your mattress. I suspect you are going to love it!
Hi Nynygirl77,
Congratulations on your new mattress 
I’m looking forward to your comments and feedback when you receive it and have had the chance to sleep on it for a bit.
Phoenix
Thanks look forward to posting our report. My parents are going to showroom sometime soon. They live 30 miles outside of Phoenix.
Reading different threads on this forum I found that I am not the only one who reads and gleans tons of information and is still left wondering, “what’s the best choice?” So I went to a local mattress store to actually lie on some mattresses. I thought I preferred firm mattresses, but since my current inner-spring mattress is so back (I can feel the springs through the “comfort” layer), but I wanted to be sure. I was pleased to discover that I, indeed, prefer firm mattresses. I tried inner-spring, foam mattresses and hybrids. Of the Tempurpedic mattresses, the Contour Elite and Contour Supreme were the only one’s I liked. I also liked the firm hybrids and even the firm inner-spring mattresses. I did not like the hybrid mattresses with a latex comfort layer.
All of this was very helpful! It makes sense that I don’t like the Novosbed Classic mattress that I purchased in January. It sinks way too much. Unfortunately Novosbed requires that purchasers must keep their mattress 60 days before returning it. It hurt my back and neck so much that I am no longer sleeping on it, but on my 10 year old inner-spring. I’m sure it works for some people, but as soon as my 60 days ends, it’s being returned!
Trying out mattresses at a store helped me realize that what sheep123 explains above explains my preference. I want to on the mattress (with the appropriate support) not in the mattress. But I also, want/need the mattress to be supportive and not create pressure points.
So… With this new information (and knowledge about myself ), I ordered a 10 in Tuft and Needle mattress on Monday! My order has been confirmed, but I don’t have an arrival date yet. Crossing my fingers that it will ship and arrive quickly!
Mine T&N 10 just arrived yesterday. They shipped it on the second day after I placed my order. It comes FedEx ground from Carson, California so it takes a while once it’s on the way if you live far from there.
Hi Watson4321,
I think your experience with reading a lot of information and then still wondering “what’s the best choice” would be more of the norm than the exception and I think you did the only thing that can resolve this type of uncertainty which is actually spending some time testing mattresses to to get a better sense of the types of mattresses and materials that work well for you … and that don’t.
Congratulations on your new mattress
I think you made a good choice and I’m looking forward to your comments and feedback when you receive it and have had a chance to sleep on it.
Phoenix
I have one night under my belt on the new Tuft & Needle 10 that arrived yesterday. Here’s my quick punch list of my thoughts on only one nights sleep:
Virtually no odor from the mattress at all. We put a mattress pad (thin polyester, really just a protector) and a sheet on the mattress and if I put my nose directly against the sheet I can smell just a tiny bit of odor. I expect in a day or so it will be gone entirely.
I didn’t notice any heat generation from the mattress at all. I am a large man who is sensitive to heat and humidity, and I noticed no heat coming from the mattress last night.
The mattress slept firm but very supportive. I am a side sleeper and am worried that it might be too firm, and it seemed very firm but I did not awake with any feeling of pressure point stress or soreness.
The mattress makes no noise at all when I turn or roll. None. Motion transfer is almost nonexistent.
The dimensions specified are exact…this bet fits tight inside my frame, making me realize that our past mattresses were probably a bit undersized …
Tuft & Needle has followed up with me twice about the new mattress and has already read and commented on a review I placed over at Amazon. They are staying on top of their brand, that’s for certain.
More info will follow as I use the mattress for a longer period of time. If you have any questions that I can answer as a new owner please ask.