The bed has arrived! The box was pretty beat up, but the bed is in pristine condition. Dragged it into the bedroom, unboxed it, cut off the first layer of plastic keeping it rolled up, moved it onto the bed, and finally cut off the plastic sealing the mattress. Itās now decompressing and I will sleep on it tonight. So far so good, and will let you know how it sleeps! There is a slight odor but itās hardly noticeable; probably more a new materials smell than off-gassing?
Hi scoaste,
Thanks for the pictures ā¦ I appreciate it 
All foam materials will have some initial smell (which is the same thing as offgassing) but the materials are CertiPUR certified so they arenāt harmful and will dissipate quickly to levels where they wonāt be noticeable.
Even fruits and vegetables have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be smelled which are a form of āoffgassingā.
Phoenix
Yes, I was referring to the casing more than the foam; but I donāt really know for sure the source. Iām just glad itās minimal (as advertised :-)). That was one factor in choosing this one over the DreamFoamā¦
Hi scoaste,
Just for reference and for the sake of others that read this ā¦ any memory foam or polyfoam in both Nest Bedding and Dreamfoam are CertiPUR certified and neither of them would have any significant smell that would be an issue for most people.
Phoenix
Perhaps, but not according to many reviews I read.
Hi scoaste,
Just as a point of reference ā¦ there are 632 reviews of the DreamFoam Ultimate Dreams 13-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress on Amazon which has more memory foam in it than any of their other mattresses (so they would presumably have the most smell because memory foam is the most common foam material that people complain about smell). I searched for the word āsmellā in every one of the review pages. There were 129 reviews that mentioned āsmellā and out of these about 108 of them noticed either no smell at all or a minor smell that dissipated quickly, 17 of them noticed a slightly stronger smell or a smell which took a little longer to dissipate (a week or two) but wasnāt an issue for them, and only 4 mentioned a smell that was an issue that bothered them or that lasted for a longer period of time (and one of these still rated the mattress 5 stars so it clearly didnāt make a big difference for them).
I also counted 43 out of 289 reviews with the word āsmellā for the Ultimate Dreams Supreme Gel Memory Foam Mattress (which has 4" of memory foam vs 5) and the āsmell ratioā was even better with 39 that had little to no smell or a smell that dissipated very quickly, 4 that had a little stronger smell or that took a little longer to dissipate, and none where smell was an issue that bothered them and/or that lasted for a long period of time.
I think that these are a large enough sample size that they would be very representative of a mattress where smell wasnāt an issue for the very large majority of people and would also reflect that a small minority of people can be more sensitive to smell than the larger majority with any material or any mattress.
Phoenix
Scoaste, I am waiting for your thoughts on your new Alexander Hybrid with bated breath! I think I have decided on this mattress, but I really wish there were more objective reviews out there. I REALLY wish Nest as a company would post more balanced reviews on their website, but since they donāt, Iām having to rely on other outlets, like this fabulous website.
If the Alexander Hybrid offered a latex option instead of the memory foam, I probably wouldāve bought it already. Anyway, I am super interested to know how you like it, how soft you find it to be, how the edge support is, whether it sleeps cool, etc.
Please let us know how you like it soon! I know you only received it a few days ago, but initial impressions would be so, so helpful. Hope youāre loving it! (Phoenix, please donāt fuss at me for seeking out other peopleās impressions. I need all the help I can get! Thank you for this invaluable website; I think Iām now a mattress expert because of it.)
Melanie
Hi Melanie_KE,
While other peopleās comments about the knowledge and service of a particular business can certainly be very helpful, I would always keep in mind that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and I would be cautious about about using anyone elseās suggestions, experiences or reviews on a specific mattress (either positive or negative) or review sites in general as a reliable source of information or guidance about how you will feel on the same mattress or how suitable or how durable a mattress may be for you and in many if not most cases they can be more misleading than helpful because a mattress that would be a perfect choice for one person or even a larger group of people may be completely unsuitable for someone else to sleep on (even if they are in a similar weight range). In other words ā¦ reviews in general wonāt tell you much if anything about the suitability, quality, durability, or āvalueā of a mattress for any particular person (see post #13 here).
There is more about the 3 most important parts of the āvalueā of a mattress purchase in post #13 here which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on suitability, durability, and all the other 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 doesnāt turn out as well as you hoped for).
While nobody can speak to how any specific mattress will āfeelā for someone else because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances and you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress ā¦ outside of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) which is the most important part of āvalueā, the next most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you canāt see or āfeelā and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label (or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new) so I would always make sure that you find out information listed here so you can compare the materials and components to the quality/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.
The materials and components in the The Alexander Hybrid Signature Select are all good quality materials and there are certainly no lower quality materials or weak links in the mattress that would be any cause for concern in terms of durability for anyone that was in more āaverageā weight ranges (the lower 200ās or so or less).
They do have a great trial period and return policy so you can test the mattress in your bedroom instead of a showroom without any risk to find out whether the mattress is a good āmatchā for you in terms of ācomfortā, firmness, and PPP (regardless of whether it would be a good match for someone else).
As you probably know Nest Bedding is also a member of this site which means that I think highly of them and that I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency.
When you canāt test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed phone conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart and who can help ātalk you throughā the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and āfeelā of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) and the options they have available that may be the best āmatchā for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the āaveragesā of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about āmatchingā their specific mattress designs and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.
They do carry a pocket coil/latex hybrid here.
Phoenix
Hi Phoenix, thanks for all the info!
I have considered the Honest Bed latex version, but I fear that it may be too firm for me. I also donāt care for the two different firmness levels on either side. That feature may be good for some people, but it is simply not a selling point for me (or it would be if there were a softer two-sided version, like medium/soft). I know I donāt want a very firm mattress, so the firm side is useless to me. It is also almost twice the price! I do like that it is made with natural materials, but the price is a real obstacle. I know Iām looking for something with a plush feel that also offers support, and I worry that I would need a topper on the Honest bed to achieve that. The price really makes that impractical.
I would LOVE to go to a Nest showroom to test them for myself, but Iām in faraway New Orleans. My only hesitation about the Alexander Hybrid is my husband. He seems to think he would prefer a more firm bed (though I suspect he is just guessing about that). He has also said I should just choose whatever I want because I am the one who is uncomfortable on our current bed (nice of him, right?! Haha.) I worry that it will be too soft for him and perfect for me, and then HE will be the uncomfortable one!
I know Nestās return policy makes that easily dealt with, but I would really like to get it right the first time. Anyway, thanks for all your help! In the meantime, Iām still keeping my eyes peeled for more reviews of the A. Hybrid or the Honest Bed. And if anyone has a suggestion for a latex foam/pocketed coil hybrid with a plush feel, natural materials, under $1500 shipped with a great return policy, PLEASE hook a girl up!
Melanie
(Oooooh, my very own thread?! Sorry, didnāt mean to hijack the other thread. Thanks, Phoenix!)
Hi Melanie_KE,
I switched your last post to a new topic of its own so that our conversation doesnāt hijack another members topic.
Itās a higher price because the materials and components inside it are more costly. Since you canāt test this mattress in person I would make sure that you talk to Nest Bedding on the phone and if after your conversation you believe that the mattress would have a reasonable chance of success in terms of ācomfortā, firmness, or PPP then beyond that the only way to know for certain would be your own personal experience. This would be the case with any online purchase.
There are many people who prefer latex/innerspring hybrids (see post #13 here) and some of the better innerspring/latex options Iām aware of are listed in post #2 here and the post it links to but if you wish to test any of them in person you would need to check their websites or call them to see if any of them have a dealer close to you.
Subject to confirming that any retailer or manufacturer on the list is completely transparent (see this article) and to making sure that any mattress you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here ā¦ the better options or possibilities Iām aware of in and around the New Orleans area are listed in post #2 here.
There are also several factory direct manufacturers in Baton Rouge, LA that are listed in post #191 here and a trip there to visit them may also be well worthwhile.
Again ā¦ no matter how much you may hope it was otherwise ā¦ the only way to know whether a mattress will be a suitable choice for you with any certainty will be based on your own careful testing or your own personal experience.
Phoenix
Hi,
I donāt think I have a ton of insight for you but we just went to the Nest store this past Saturday and tried out all their mattresses - we decided to go for the regular Alexander, not the hybrid, because dh and I are both motion transfer sensitive - we donāt want to be woken up when the other comes to bed late or tosses and turns. We both found the hybrid relatively bouncier, possibly due to the coils.
I donāt think we tried the Honest Coil with Latex - the one we tried was the one with memory foam.
I actually thought I really wanted to have a mattress with Latex, but IRL that wasnāt my thing at all. I also thought I wanted relatively soft because our current, worn out mattress is like a pillow top on steroids, but nope - we were clearly in the medium heading toward somewhat firm camp for all their mattresses (the shop assistant who helped us also pointed out that relatively few people go for the soft mattresses, at least in the store we were (Albany, CA). So - sometimes what we think we like is totally not what we like IRL, unfortunatelyā¦
You probably already know that, but Nest bedding has a little chart on their website listing all their mattresses in terms of soft to firm, and I think for the most part, this was spot on.
Also, their FB site has reviews on it as well and you may find more mixed reviews there, or by checking out the local yelp sites for their stores - those may also be more unbiased.
Lastly, I believe the sleep Sherpa site is a good place to find out how the Nest mattresses may compare to big brand name mattresses which you could try out in a store somewhere near you for more insight - if itās not on the sleep Sherpaās site, I believe you could email her/him (?) and ask if thereās a big brand comparison.
Good luck!
I totally understand what youāre saying, and Iāve read many a post where you say the same thing to others. I suppose my response to that is that I canāt even rely on trying out a bed in a showroom. I chose my current bed based on what it felt like at the store, and 4 years later, it beats me up every night! That was before I knew how to research materials, etc. as you have thoroughly explained here, and I wonāt be making that mistake again. But even trying a bed out in the showroom and lying on it for a couple minutes doesnāt do much to inform you of what it will feel like to sleep on it for a whole night, much less every night for months or years.
My approach this time around has been to thoroughly research materials, read all the reviews I can find, and test it out if possible (not usually possible). Even then, I know that I can only know if the mattress is right for me after using it consistently for a few weeks. Since in most cases, I canāt try out my options in person, I have to try to rely on other information, and thatās why I look for other peopleās reviews. I take them with a grain of salt always, but it is helpful to get a full picture, since the in-person testing is not really possible.
Anyway, I look forward to reading anything that anyone might want to share here about any of the Nest beds, really. As far as Iām concerned, any information is helpful. Thanks again!
Melanie
Hi elke,
I certainly agree with you here.
On this point I couldnāt disagree with you more. Most of the āso calledā review sites such as Sleep Sherpa (and many others) are just revenue sites that will say or repeat anything that they need to in order to earn referral fees. They know very little about mattress materials or mattresses in general and much of the information and guidance on their sites is very misleading (and often incorrect). You can read more about this in post #11 here and in post #1 here (and the video it links to) in the simplified choice mattress topic.
There is more information in post #9 here about the different ways that one mattress can āmatchā or āapproximateā another one. Every layer and component in a mattress (including the cover and any quilting materials) will affect the feel and performance of every other layer and component and the mattress āas a wholeā so unless you are able to find another mattress that uses exactly the same type of materials, components, cover, layer thicknesses, layer firmnesses, and overall design (which would be very unlikely) then there really isnāt a reliable way to match one mattress to another one in terms of ācomfortā, firmness, and PPP based on the specifications of the mattresses (even assuming that you can find out all the specifications you would need for both mattresses you are comparing in the first place).
Mattress manufacturers generally try to differentiate their mattress from the mattresses made by other manufacturers and donāt normally try to āmatchā another mattress that is made by a different manufacturer so unless a manufacturer specifically says in their description of a mattress that one of their mattresses in the same general category is specifically designed to āmatchā or āapproximateā another one in terms of firmness or āfeelā and PPP and/or they are very familiar with both mattresses and can provide reliable guidance about how they compare based on the āaveragesā of a larger group of people that have compared them (different people may have very different opinions about how two mattresses compare) ā¦ the only reliable way to know for certain how two mattresses would compare for you in terms of how they āfeelā or in terms of firmness or PPP (regardless of anyone elseās opinions of how they compare which may be different from your own) would be based on your own careful testing or actual sleeping experience on both of them.
There are also no āstandardā definitions or consensus of opinions for firmness ratings and different manufacturers can rate their mattresses very differently than others so a mattress that one manufacturer rates as being a specific firmness could be rated very differently by another manufacturer. Different people can also have very different perceptions of firmness and softness compared to others as well and a mattress that feels firm for one person can feel like āmediumā for someone else or even āsoftā for someone else (or vice versa) depending on their body type, sleeping style, physiology, their frame of reference based on what they are used to, and their individual sensitivity and perceptions. There are also different types of firmness and softness that different people may be sensitive to that can affect how they ārateā a mattress as well (see post #15 here) so different people can also have very different opinions on how two mattresses compare in terms of firmness and some people may rate one mattress as being firmer than another and someone else may rate them the other way around. This is all relative and very subjective and is as much an art as a science.
In other words ā¦ if two mattresses have different designs and materials then your own careful testing or personal experience is the only reliable way to compare two mattresses in terms of ācomfortā firmness, and PPP.
Comparing two mattresses in terms of durability is much more simple and more objective once you know the specifications of all the materials and layers in two mattresses you are comparing (see this article) because making durability comparisons is just a matter of comparing the quality and durability of the materials and components inside it and making sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in the mattress that would be a reason for concern. If for any reason a retailer or manufacturer you are dealing with either isnāt willing or able to provide you with the specifics of the materials and components in their mattresses then I would avoid it completely. Again though I would always keep in mind that the quality and durability of the materials has little to nothing to do with how a mattress will feel or compare to any other mattress in terms of comfort, firmness, or PPP.
Phoenix
Thanks, elke! Iām so jealous you were able to go to the store in person! I had to laugh at your description of thinking you like one thing and finding that youāre wrong. That is exactly what I fear I would do! I have also considered the medium version of the Alexander Sig. Select, but when Nest came out with the hybrid, I thought it might be cooler-sleeping (because of the coils). My husband is actually a HUGE toss-and-turn sleeper, and Iāve been assuming that pocketed coils would mean at least a decent decrease in motion transfer (not as good as all foam, I know), but maybe Iām wrong?
Thanks for the tip about the Facebook page; I actually discovered it earlier today and read a bunch of the posts. Also, thanks for the sleepsherpa tip! Iām not totally sure Iāve looked at that site yet, so Iāll check it out. I would love to hear about your experience with the Alexander Signature Select after you receive it! Thanks so much for all your input! I really want to make the right choice this time.
Melanie
Hi Melanie_KE,
Your best chance of making the best possible choice is to follow all the steps in the mattress shopping tutorial here one at a time which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice ā¦ 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 youāve 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 āmatchā for you in terms of ācomfortā and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesnāt turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the āvalueā of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you 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.
Phoenix
Hi Hi Melanie_KE,
I was writing my own reply when you posted this comment so I didnāt reply to it in my last post.
With a local purchase for the majority of people ā¦ careful testing using the guidelines in the tutorial rather than just testing for the more subjective ācomfortā of a mattress (which often wonāt predict how well you will sleep on a mattress or how it will āfeelā when you sleep on it at home) and some good guidance from a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer will usually result in a mattress choice that is well inside a suitable comfort/support range and will generally be āclose enoughā so that if any fine tuning is necessary it would be relatively minor and involve different mattress pads, sheets, mattress protectors, or perhaps even a topper if a mattress is too firm (see post #4 here and post #10 here).
Of course if you canāt test a mattress in person or if for any reason you arenāt confident that a mattress you are considering would be a suitable choice then the options you have after a purchase including the the exchange/return policy (and any costs involved) would be a more important part of the āvalueā of an online purchase just in case (and in spite of the ābest judgementā of everyone involved) the choice you make doesnāt turn out as well as you hoped for.
At the end of the day you will either need to rely on your own careful and more āobjectiveā testing or a more detailed conversation with a knowledgeable retailer in combination with a good trial period and exchange/return policy. Anything else would lower your chance of success.
Phoenix
I bot the Alexander Hybrid and the Easy Breather Pillow in Jan 2016. I did my research and thought this would be an incremental upgrade from my previous mattress. I could not find any critical reviews of Nest, the Alexander series or any sites that did not recommend them for any reason. This was sort of a flag to me, but I decided to go through with it.
It has been a rough 2 months. I am really trying to make this purchase work, but I have not had a good nights sleep on the hybrid so far. I am still testing it out, but I believe this could be due to the memory foam pillow not being a fit for my normal sleeping position. I have shoulder pain, wake up lethargic and generally feel tired all day. I feel better not using the pillow and just sleeping on the mattress with a ānormalā pillow. I tried sleeping on the floor, couch and old mattress and I have felt better the next day.
Can someone suggest what my possible options are in this situation? I am considering either getting a mattress topper to make the Alexander Hybrid firmer and then testing it for another week or so.
Additionally, I can return the product and consider alternative brands. Any ideas there (tufts and needle, brooklyn bedding, spindle)? I am torn as I realize the internet is almost all marketing/advertising and it is difficult to make an informed decision.
Help.
[quote=āMelanie_KEā post=61986]Scoaste, I am waiting for your thoughts on your new Alexander Hybrid with bated breath! I think I have decided on this mattress, but I really wish there were more objective reviews out there. I REALLY wish Nest as a company would post more balanced reviews on their website, but since they donāt, Iām having to rely on other outlets, like this fabulous website.
If the Alexander Hybrid offered a latex option instead of the memory foam, I probably wouldāve bought it already. Anyway, I am super interested to know how you like it, how soft you find it to be, how the edge support is, whether it sleeps cool, etc.
Please let us know how you like it soon! I know you only received it a few days ago, but initial impressions would be so, so helpful. Hope youāre loving it! (Phoenix, please donāt fuss at me for seeking out other peopleās impressions. I need all the help I can get! Thank you for this invaluable website; I think Iām now a mattress expert because of it.)
Melanie[/quote]
If it helps I own the Alexander Hybrid myself although I am likely going to return it as itās simply too soft for my tastes. The Hybrid may have memory foam in it but doesnāt feel anything like a memory foam mattress to me. It feels like a traditional soft pillowtop mattress. Now a lot of people might be looking for something like this and if you are and donāt mind something a bit softer then this a great mattress for you. It doesnāt sleep hot and has great edge support which are my two favorites things about the mattress. I was unfortunately hoping for something more like the Tempurpedic Flex line and this is nothing like those. Anyway hope this helps.
I am in the same camp - likely going to return the Alexander Hybrid.
If you can suggest any medium firm mattresses under $1500 for a queen, please let me know. I am also going to try to return the pillow I got from them as well.
Any ones you think of that can narrow down the searchā¦ Might just buy a tempur pedic and call it a day.