Which type of firm mattress won't sleep "hot"?

We made the mistake of buying a Laura Ashley pillow top tempurpedic mattress two years ago from sears. Not 6 months later we complained the memory foam had no memory. An hour after getting out of bed one can see where we sleep. It’s like sleeping in a hammock at night. Try to roll over is impossible! We had our previous foam mattress for 20 years and it was great. It was an extra firm and my husband didn’t sweat at night, like he does with this one. We paid 1800.00 for this mattress that has a 17 year warranty. But Laura Ashley warranties are worthless. What type of foam mattress can we get that does not make one burn up at night and is firm? I feel like I’m sleeping on a marshmallow ! What type of foam did they use twenty years ago? I want to go back to a good extra firm mattress!! Stay away from sears, that’s where we purchased this Laura Ashley .they just sell the mattresses they are of no help when there is a problem. We live in the Florida panhandle, but will travel to find a good mattress. My husband weighs 190 and I weigh 150.

Hi Choctaw32578,

There are several factors that work together that determine how well a mattress regulates temperature but one of these is the foam used in the comfort layers closest to your body and of the three main categories of foam (polyfoam, memory foam, latex foam) memory foam tends to be the warmest and the most insulating although some of the newer generation memory foams are cooler and have more airflow than a few years ago. You can read a little more about temperature regulation in post #2 here.

There are also different types of memory foam and some of them respond more quickly or slowly than others but all of them are a slow response material and are very different from faster response types of foam. Lower density polyfoam and memory foam is also not nearly as durable as higher density versions of the same material so it’s always important to know the density of any polyfoam or memory foam in your mattress so you can avoid lower quality materials that soften or impress too quickly.

You can also read more about mattress warranties in post #174 here. Mattress warranties are mostly about marketing and have little to do with how long a mattress will last in actual use because the loss of comfort and support that goes with foam softening isn’t covered by any warranty unless the actual unweighted impressions are deeper than the warranty exclusion (which doesn’t usually happen). The biggest issue with most mainstream mattresses today is the use of lower quality/density polyfoam or memory foam in the upper layers of the mattress and the foam softening that this normally leads to.

Just in case you haven’t read it already … post #1 here is always the best place to start with any mattress research and has the basic information, steps, and guidelines you will find most helpful.

I’m not sure where you are in the Florida panhandle but the better options and possibilities I’m aware of in the Pensacola area are in post #365 here.

There isn’t a list for the Tallahassee area so just in case you are close to there (and because the forum needs a Tallahassee list anyway) I did some preliminary research around the area and some of the better options and possibilities (subject to calling them and confirming that they will disclose the materials in their mattress along the lines of this article) and the brands I would consider at each one (out of close to two dozen stores or chains in the area) include …

http://www.thomasvillebedding.com/contact.html Thomasville, GA. Factory direct manufacturer that makes innerspring and latex mattresses that have some good value.

http://www.thesleepgallery.biz/ Tallahassee, FL. Southerland and Pure Latex Bliss.

http://www.goodmorningtallahassee.com/ Tallahassee, FL. Jamison.

http://www.newmattresstallahassee.com/ (Asher mattress Outlet) Tallahassee, FL. Englander, Easy Rest, Golden

Quality Furniture & Mattress Store | Turner's Fine Furniture | Turner's Fine Furniture and http://www.turnersbudgetfurniture.com/ Thomasville, Valdosa, Tifton, Leesburg, GA. Jamison

If you are somewhere else let me know your city or zip code and I’d be happy to let you know of any better options I’m aware of or find that are closer to you.

Phoenix