Hi Janax,
Bear in mind that most toppers usually do have a warranty but like mattresses, this is connected to impressions not softening and softening is the biggest reason that most toppers (and mattresses) will need to be replaced. The variables in durability have as much to do with the mattress they are on and the person using them as they do with the topper itself. Better materials like latex will soften and break down much more slowly than other less durable materials. “Real life” durability depends on how much any softening affects your support and alignment on the mattress and the softening of a thinner topper will have less effect here than a thicker one. The “best” choice of a topper is “just enough” thickness and softness and this will also be the most durable. Better materials like latex will tend to keep you inside the “range” of your support and alignment needs longer than other materials because they will retain more of their resiliency and original properties for longer but “how long” will depend on where in the range you were when the topper was new and how much “room for softening” you have. All toppers though will not last as long as the same materials inside a mattress cover. Because a latex topper may need to be replaced because of softening well before it has actually “worn out” and because there are so many other variables, I tend towards more conservative estimates.
Midwest mattress has stores in Des Moines, Ames, Urbandale, and Ankeny, IA and does carry “mostly latex” mattresses (they use a polyfoam stabilization layer on the bottom) and because they deal directly with their factory … they can also make some custom adjustments to a degree. They are good quality and good value and of course like all the members here I think very highly of them. I would avoid the Serta mattresses that they also carry.
Other factory direct outlets or retail “possibilities” (on a mattress by mattress basis and always depending on the materials in each mattress you are considering) that are closer to Cedar Rapids (closer than Des Moines) that I’m aware of are …
http://www.lebeda.com/locations.html Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, (and other locations in IA.).Regional factory direct outlet that produces a range of mattresses including latex, memory foam (incl gel) and innersprings.
http://www.lwbeddingqca.com/ Moline, IL and Bettendorf, IA. They make two sided innersprings, latex innerspring hybrids, and an all latex two sided Talalay latex mattress.
Furniture Row® Store Locations - Store Hours & Addresses Waterloo, Davenport, IA, Madison, WI, Rockford, IL. Regional manufacturer that has a wide range of mattresses including a mostly latex mattress, a memory foam latex hybrid, and innerspring mattresses. I would avoid the mainstream mattresses they also carry.
http://dubuquemattress.net/ Dubuque, IA. Talked with Doug and they are a sister company to Comfort King and make the same mattresses (except the 3000 coil german innerspring). They make innerspring hybrid mattresses with latex, 1.8 lb polyfoam, memory foam and gel memory foam.
Directory of Verlo Mattress Locations. Find a Verlo Mattress store in your town. Dubuque. Regional manufacturer that also makes a wide range of memory foam, latex, and innerspring mattresses.
http://www.theorganiccompany.com/ Fairfield, IA. I taked with them and they are good people. They sell 6" organic Dunlop latex cores and 2" and 3" Dunlop latex toppers as mattress components in various firmness levels. They also sell fabric and have a local connection which can sew them into mattress covers. The cores are available for local testing for those who want to test different firmness levels. They also sell wool toppers.
http://www.mcgregorsfurniture.com/ Retailer in Waterloo, Ottumwa, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Coralville, Mason City, West Burlington, IA. They carry Restonic latex hybrids and gel (no all latex).
http://www.simpsonfurniture.com/ Cedar Falls, Coralville, IA. Restonic (including some Healthrest).
http://www.factorydirectmattressstores.com/#/home Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Coralville, Davenport, IA. Englander and Spring Air and Easy Rest again on a “mattress by mattress” basis (has spring air Latex hybrids and gel memory foam).
It’s not at all uncommon that websites are not up to date so I would strongly suggest a phone call first to get a clearer sense of what to expect at each store and what they have available, especially if it involves a significant drive.
A big part of the “feel” of a mattress is the upper comfort layers but every layer will affect both the performance and feel of a mattress so if you compare a mattress that has an innerspring with polyfoam comfort layers to another one that that uses a similar innerspring with latex comfort layers or a similar innerspring with memory foam comfort layers you will get a very general sense of the difference between the materials. Keep in mind though that all materials have a wide range of softness/firmness levels and performance in different layerings so make sure you avoid the tendency to think that a particular material is either “softer” or “firmer” and focus on the general qualities and “feel” of the material rather than the specifics of how well it meets your pressure relief and alignment needs (which has more to do with the layering of the mattress and how all the components and layers interact together).
Of course fast response materials like latex and polyfoam will have a much different feel than slow response materials like memory foam and will be more similar in their “feel” … even though having latex in the comfort layers will make for a more expensive and also much more durable mattress. The closer to the top the latex is (either less or no polyfoam on top of the latex) … the more you will be able to feel the material itself without the modification that will come from other layers above it. So comparing the Reve with another similar mattress that uses polyfoam instead of latex will give you a sense of the difference in how they feel. Post #2 here has some general specs of the 3 latex or latex hybrids that they make.
They may also carry latex toppers as well which you could test on various “firm” mattresses to give you a sense of which may work best for you but they are not listed on their website so I don’t know if they do.
Phoenix