WOW and OMG- Now what?

Mattress Talk General Mattresses Questions
,
1

I have spent most of this Sunday afternoon reading blogs, reviews and ratings and my head is starting to hurt! It is either the Brown’s losing- once again, the upcoming election or mattress shopping!
It is amazing to see what people, myself included, go through for a good night’s sleep.
I am a 70+ yo female with severe spinal stenosis, sciatica and scoliosis; I am 5’8" tall and weigh just over 200lbs. I had injections a couple months ago and figured I should probably replace my 13 yr old Simmons Beauty Rest to remove that from the equation. I am a very restless sleeper, starting out on my side, but usually ending up on stomach. I would like to train myself to be a back sleeper, because my back hurts less in that position, but I have not been successful; so I am still all over the place in terms of position. Fortunately, I have the bed to myself, so one less thing to consider.

I spent a couple days visiting local showrooms, laying on newer Beauty Rests, Stearns and Foster, and DreamCloud, among others. I thought I had found a good fit in the S&F Estate Ultra Firm, until I found out it had been discontinued due to complaints about neck and shoulder pain (true?). The furniture store was willing to sell the floor model, as-is with no return or exchange option - but I was not sure that was the best way to go.
Long story short - I ended up ordering a Saatva Classic Firm, 11.5". I felt comfortable going with them because of the 365 day return, lifetime warranty and highly lauded customer service. I received it (plus foundation) on 9.11.24 and within a couple days began to question my decision.
The one thing I was sure of was that I did not want memory foam. I do not like the feeling of sinking in and the description of this model was that it had a ‘floating on top’ feel to it. Well, I disagree. It has a 3" Euro pillow top, which should have been a clue that I would ‘sink in’…? I wrote a review related to the softness of the feel (titled ‘Disappointed’) and Saatva Customer service called to discuss my experience and expectations. After a detailed description/discussion, they issued me a one time credit and sent me a foam topper to try.
Well, adding foam to an already too soft surface did not help and now I am researching latex as a possibility, of which I am seeing there are MANY options.
I am glad I stumbled on this site; I was looking for unbiased reviews and honest opinions. Thanks for that.
So my question is - do I take the easy way out and exchange for the Saatva Latex Hybrid OR go down the ‘build your own’ route?
The good thing is that if I exchange, I will have a full year to return or exchange, while I try to make a decision.

1 Like
2

Hi Kathie16,

Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround.

I am so very sorry to read about your situation. A short story which can related to your situation before I go into an explanation and suggestion.
My mother in law is a 86yo sleeper with a artificial hips and knee. Also a diagnosis of breast cancer of the the spine. About 2 plus years ago, she bought a BR mattress(without my consultation) from a major furniture retailer. In less than a year and a half, the mattress developed a huge pothole under where her hip rests as a side sleeper. Rather than go through the warranty process, dealing with emails, pictures and mattress inspectors that would takes weeks if not months, I bought her a DLX premier hybrid.

DLX split the internal comfort on a queen (not very common) firm/medium, since she could not try it first, I chose it on specs. Long story short it has been close to 10 months or so and she has not experienced any of the paid she did with the BR, and now any discomfort she describes as old age stuff, as she needs a walker and the reality is she is 86. Having tested this mattress and tested the $6500 BR Black, the $5k S&F Ultra Firm Lux Estate, as I tried them when I was looking for a new mattress several years ago. The DLX had the same type of feel, albeit without any viscoelastic memory foam, that almost all Tempur-Sealy products new use, including S&F.

I tested the Saatva Classic, it was ok, but it seemed a bit complicated. What I like about companies such as @DLX , they can create a firm mattress, in either HD foam or latex, all the way up to ultra firm and @BackScience, which is designed by a Chiropractor aimed at helping folks with back ailments as well as healthy sleepers. Since they manufacture their own mattresses, they have the ability to make additional modifications if necessary.

The DLX LatexLux along with the BackScience Series 2 as compared to the Saatva Classic, there are still several reasons why the former options might be more suitable for your needs. The DLX LatexLux is designed to provide excellent support and spinal alignment, which is particularly beneficial for conditions like spinal stenosis and scoliosis. Its latex construction typically offers a firmer feel, allowing for better pressure relief without the sinking sensation often associated with softer mattress tops. On the other hand, the BackScience Series 2 focuses on ergonomic support, often incorporating advanced materials to promote proper alignment and reduce discomfort. While the Saatva Classic features a coil system and a pillow top, it may lead to more sinking and a less targeted support experience, especially if you prefer a firmer feel. Additionally, the DLX LatexLux’s breathability can help regulate temperature, while both alternatives tend to be more durable over time compared to traditional foam mattresses. If support, pressure relief, and temperature regulation are your top priorities, the DLX LatexLux or BackScience Series 2 could be better aligned with your specific requirements than the Saatva Classic.

Although I focused on these two mattresses, there are many options available to choose from. As primarily a stomach sleeper, and even if you try to transition to back sleeping, having a supportive mattress is essential. Back sleepers should avoid sinking too much, as this can create a hammock effect on their back, while stomach sleepers may experience hyperlordosis if their stomach sinks excessively, leading to a reverse arch of the back, that create and increases pain. It is generally recommended to have a firm flat sleep surface rather than one that causes sinking, which is common in many viscoelastic incorporated mattresses.

I would tend to agree with the suggestion that most folks should stick with what they have been comfortable with. Unfortunately, the legacy brand mattresses after y2k made a very distinctive change in design and material construction of their mattresses. Single sided mattresses, utilizing more memory foam layers for pressure relief and contouring, rather than focusing on natural fibers, foams and materials, or higher end more resilient synthetic foams with ways to expel heat through creative designs. While it doesn’t make all legacy mattress brands bad, it does offer pause to look at brands and designs that are taking lessons and designs from the past and continue on with quality materials and still prioritize quality over corporate profits that have become more evident within the mattress industry.

Hopefully, some others will chime in, but I wanted to offer some perspective and and anecdotal situation, from personal experience that might be helpful on your search.

All the best,

Maverick

2 Likes
3

Thank you so much for your reply and input. It is comforting to know I have options, so I will continue to research latex and check in with the ‘experts’ before deciding. Thanks again, Kathie16

2 Likes
4

I’ve been the S & F and Plushbeds route in the last couple of years. Our S & F Estate Extra Firm is in the second bedroom with 2" of latex on it. The other one went to the women’s shelter. I am finally happy with DIY latex to get just what I needed. The experts at LMF and SleepEZ can help you with firmness levels specific to your build and sleeping habits. Having slept on Tempurpedic for 18 years and moving to latex, I can tell you that you can get the pressure relief you need from latex without that quicksand feeling. As a former stomach sleeper needing to sleep on my back (hip and shoulder problems), an adjustable base is what has worked for me. If interested, I just posted “Adjustable Base 101” in the “Beyond Mattresses” section. Good luck!

1 Like
5

Thanks for sharing your experience. It emphasizes the fact that even when Doing it Yourself, collaborating with latex experts is still advisable. The simply definition of DIY, does not just comprise the fact that individual layers, covers, fabrics, fibers and possible springs are being ordered to create a mattress, getting that expert help from those who do this multiple times a day with folks of all different shapes and sizes can help one nail down a comfortable combination much more quickly that doing it solo.

I agree with your adjustable base usage too. I bought my MiLaw an adjustable base with solid wood decking and she is one happy sleeper. Of course getting her out of that disaster of a BeautyRest and into a DLX premier hybrid, also helped quite a bit too.

Glad to see your mattress is working out for you.

Maverick