The Serta iComfort mattress ... what's the buzz

[phoenix]

Hi mikey,

One thing I must ask is this: do mattress manufacturers intentionally make mattress shopping very difficult? I’m the type of person that likes to get his head wrapped around things and all these different options/materials/latex/foam/inner springs is making my head spin haha!

In the case of the larger manufacturers yes … and they do this in some very specific ways with the intent of making comparison shopping difficult to impossible. Their methods include replacing meaningful information about materials with marketing stories, lowering the specs on their mattress and using a “benefits” story to encourage customers to think that they are actually better, naming conventions that has dozens of names for the same mattresses or in some cases with only minor differences so that the same mattress in different stores is more difficult to identify, and working closely with their largest customers (the larger outlets and chain stores) to make sure that their marketing methods are used instead of real information. this is only part of the story and methods that they use. Don’t forget that the product they are selling to their largest customers is not mattresses but profit margin. Their is an unbelievable amount of “collusion” in this industry among the upper tier manufacturers and outlets.

So I think I’m finally getting the hang of this. For myself, I need something with a higher density memory foam and probably latex because it is more durable. Which out of those two options from the Rocky Mountain Mattress Company, I should probably pick the Cloudcroft if I indeed go with this manufacturer.

In the case of Rocky Mountain … I know them well enough to know that their guidance … based on the feedback you provide and the feedback from their customers will help you make the best possible choice (within the limits of the mattresses you are considering and your budget). This doesn’t mean that they or you will never make mistakes … but that your testing, questions and feedback with their guidance and help will tilt the odds much more in your favor.

Between the two … the Cloudcroft would clearly be my choice as to its suitability for your circumstances in spite of its higher price. It would be a more durable mattress and there is less “soft stuff” on top although the comfort layer is still a little on the thick side for ongoing stomach sleeping. Fairly thick layers of memory foam and stomach sleeping is not always the best match and can lead to hammocking although this would IMO be better than the Tamarack alternative. I would make sure in your testing that you tested specifically for alignment in all your sleeping positions.

Today in my mattress quest (I feel like the knight from The Holy Grail), I stopped by at the Denver Mattress Company and they had two latex mattresses which quite honestly felt about the same to me. Here are the links:

404 | Furniture Row Aspen 1499$

404 | Furniture Row Snowmass 1699$

The major differences between the two is that the Aspen has 4" of Talalay Latex, while the Snowmass has 6". Btw the ILD for that section is 32. From what I understand, the higher the ILD, the firmer it is. Each of the mattresses have 2" of 24 ILD Tatalaly latex on top as well, I guess for comfort?

I have mentioned Denver Mattress and these two models in particular in the forum many times as being good quality and value for a “mostly latex” mattress. This thread in particular would likely have some useful information and answer your questions about the differences between them that may help. Both of these of course are much different from a memory foam mattress and latex is a faster reacting and more “movement friendly” foam that is more durable and supportive than latex. They would be well worth including in your testing and Rocky mountain also has some good choices in all latex mattresses (with latex rather than memory foam in the comfort layers).

Hope this helps but keep the questions coming if you have more

Phoenix