The Mattress Expert

Healthy Foundations, King Koil Laura Ashley mattress

Pete of Syracuse NY, writes:
We are in the market for a new mattress and have been looking at memory foam...specifically one from Healthy foundations. Any knowledge of whether their memory foam would be any different than the name brands out there particularly as it relates to being too hot. Also, looking at King Koil...Laura Ashley pillow top. Any insights into their quality/construction will be appreciated

Hi Pete. I've never heard of Healthy Foundations, so I went to their website and read all the same hype that's on everyone else's websites, concerning memory foam. The King Koil Laura Ashley Aurora pillowtop is an ordinary coil with a few inches of poly foam. There's nothing special about them. A person, arbitrarily out shopping for a mattress, wouldn't go asking for them. A salesman has to "sell" it to you. Ask to see the specs on the mattresses your looking at and base your decision on that.

www.ccmattress.com

Dream Collection mattress

Jerry of Madison Heights Va., writes:
I have trouble sleeping (only on my left side) and I am thinking about a foam mattress.I am looking at the Dream Collection at Badcock & more. I would like to have any help you can offer.

Ya know Jerry, at first glance I thought, "Oh good, a short, quick question". Then I went hunting for your mattress.The Badcock website in unaccessible. The Dream Collection website reads like an Alta Vista Babelfish translation of Chinese. It looks likes we're talking about a memory foam mattress. Memory foam is a love it or hate it kind of product, but mostly hate it. The biggest problem with it is the heat it generates. It's a temperature sensitive material that softens as it warms from your body's heat and then reflects that heat back to you. It has other problems, but that's the biggest.

www.ccmattress.com

Kingsdown Emerald Crown mattress

Donna of CHAPPAQUA, writes:
I'm interested in a full Kingsdown Emerald Crown full mattress and boxspring. It felt so luxurious to me, much better than my mattress. Salesman claims it's normally $1,000 but on sale for $600 plus $80 delivery and tax. Is that a good price? Is it a good mattress? appropriate for a child (I do want her to use it until she goes to college, though)?. Is it too soft for her?I'm reading so much about sealy posturpedic level 3, but I'm finding that they cost $900+??thanks so much,Donna

Hi Donna. There are lots of complaint about Kingsdown, on this forum alone. Considering that you're shopping in one of the most expensive places to buy a mattress, it's hard for me to tell you if you got a good deal. A level 3 Posturepedic should sell for $699 in full...with free delivery. It's called Gentle Tide at that store. You can get one of the new Posturepedics with the higher coil count  for the same price. Go to www.sealy.com and enter your zip code. All the Sealy Dealers will come up. Call around and ask for the Reserve level 5 ultra plush without a pillowtop. See how you like that one before you decide.

www.ccmattress.com

a Kluft mattress

Alyssa of New York , writes:
My husband and I have gone through two mattresses so far.First the Stearns and Foster Saba Wind Latex Mattress, which was way too soft (though it is their med firm choice) and then the island magic, which is very very firm but both my husband and I have been waking with sore backs and general discomfort. We like a firm mattress and are considering the new line by Kluft that is a lot lower priced than their typical $10-$20K models. We are considering the firm model. It feels really wonderful in the showroom but so did our Stearns and Foster Latex before we started sleeping on it. Is the Kluft mattress really as great as everyone says? Is it a better quality product than some of the other models out there, say Kingsdown or Shiffman? And, what if we put the firm Kluft on a platform bed? Will it alter the way the mattress feels as opposed to in the showroom when its on a spring box spring? Thank you

Hello Alyssa. By everyone, do you mean those who are trying to sell it to you? How much lower than $10 - $20K? $5000 would be a lot lower, but still too much money to spend on a mattress.
The difference in feel of the mattress on the platform would depend on the feel of the boxspring. Some boxsprings are very firm and some are very soft. The mattress would feel differently according to that. It doesn't always feel firmer on the platform.
Some platforms are very rigid, while others have some give.
Look at the Posturepedics before you decide.

www.ccmattress.com

Replacing a Denver pillowtop mattress

Carrie of Brooklyn, writes:
Hi. I'm 120 pounds and suffer from fibromyalgia as well as old shoulder and hip sports injuries. I used to have a very firm Stearns & Foster but found it too painful to sleep on once the fibromyalgia worsened. I replaced it about 18 months ago with an off-brand (Denver Mattress) pillow top but it now sags in the middle of the bed and is unbearable. I'm usually a side sleeper, but might wind up on my back or stomach from time to time. What would you recommend I try? I'm a teacher, so my budget is not extravagant.

Hi Carrie. Stay within your budget. Try the "Reserve" series Sealy Posturepedics. Find out what's in the Denver boxspring. If strong enough, you may not need to replace it. Stay away from the pillowtops. If it turns out that a plush tight top isn't soft enough, add a latex topper to that. You'll end up with a well made mattress that will keep its shape. You'll have the support and comfort you need and it won't cost all that much.

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King Koil Enticement mattress

Patricia of Naples, writes:
Hi Peter-
We went to a local mattress store and fell in love with a King Koil "Enticement" bed.  Its made from latex, memory foam, and bamboo.  However, we can't find any information on it in terms of reviews.  We want to know what we are getting for our $2K++.  Do you anything about this?  Will it last?  Is it really "orgainic"?  What about support?

Hello Patricia. Off brands are pushed for their higher profit margins, not because they are better products. They also boast a longer warranty, which would lead you to believe they will last longer. They don't.
Organic is of value when you're injesting food. Even then, much of it is a scam. A chicken farmer only needs to leave the gate open for a short time, to be able to call them "free range". Even foods that claim to be organically grown, only need to be partly so, to bear that label. If a mattress is relying on buzz words to get your attention. If it sounds like so many bells and whistles, then you're getting more sizzle than steak. Know what's in it before you buy it.
There's nothing on the KingKoil website about it.

www.ccmattress.com

KK Comfort Solutions and Natural Response mattresses

Mike of Clifton, writes:
Hi-
We are considering a KK Comfort Solutions Lux Queen and were looking for an opinion on how the latex is used for construction verses the Natural Response.
Thank -you

Hello Mike. There are a number of models in each line. The Comfort Solutions is an individually pocketed coil with various layers of padding, including latex. The Natural Response is an all foam line...some with a latex core and some with a poly core.
The question is generic enough that the salesman at the store would have been able to tell you this much off the top of his head. He will also be able to look up specific information about the individual models if you ask.

www.ccmattress.com

An all poly foam mattress?

Larry of Houston, writes:
Hi Pete,
I read your reply about getting 6"-8" of polyurethane for a good cheap bed. Were you serious? I'm convinced, but my wife is not. The reason I agree with you is because after spending thousands on an air mattress, I wake up with all kinds of pain. When I sleep on our couch, with it's polyurethane foam cushion, no pain whatsoever. My wife has agreed to do what you say, so my sleep is at your mercy:) Larry

Hi Larry. No joke. It's not a long lasting option, but  a good night's sleep for a couple of years. Most of what you sleep on when you stay at a Marriott is nothing more than 6" of poly foam....and a very comfortable night's sleep it is.
As long as you don't expect too much out of it, you won't be disappointed with the short term results.

www.ccmattress.com

A $300 Englander mattress

Margaret of Portland, writes:
Hi,
I am needing to get a new bed desperately.  The one I have I bought used, I think it was about 2-3 years old, and have owned it myself for 8 years.  I suffer from fibromyalgia and have severe shoulder pain and I usually wake up with hip and leg pain as well as lower back pain.  I am also at this time carrying around a bit of extra weight that I have gained just from the inactivity brought on by the pain and am at around 200 pounds.
I was looking on a classified list as my budget is pretty limited and someone is selling an Englander memory foam mattress, 9 inches thick, brand new.  I have been trying to look up info on Englander memory foam mattresses and cant find much, so i have no idea if it is latex or not. 
The other option I was considering that made me start dreaming of a new bed in the first place was a factory irregular at a Sears outlet of a Serta Perfect Sleeper Kennesaw model.  I laid down on it and it was like lying on a cloud- I can't stop thinking about how comfy that was.  Now from reading your blog I am concerned that i may end up with an impression in the bed after a short time of use. 
The Serta was going for 600 for the set (full size) and the Englander is going for 300.  Do either of these sound like they will be at all helpful for me or is there something else you would recommend?  I can't afford to buy something that is not going to work, although anything almost has to be better than what i am sleeping on right now- there is just no support left in it. 
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
Sincerely, Margaret

Hi Margaret. Your original mind set, which caused you to buy the used mattress that has you in your current condition, needs to change. A cheap mattress under a two hundred pound person isn't going to work for long. The problem comes more in living with that choice far longer than you should. In other words, it's ok to buy a cheap mattress if you replace it when you should...but you won't do that. You'll keep it well after the support and comfort is gone.
Memory foam is not latex. And going for the "cloud" feel is a mistake.
For everyone, and especially someone of your size and in your condition, this is too important a purchase to take so lightly.
Pare back on other expenses for a while and devote the necessary resources to a quality mattress. But before you can do that effectively, you'll have to change the way you're thinking about this.

www.ccmattress.com

Kingsdown mattress, too soft

Christine of Beaverton, writes:
Hi, We bought Kingdown but it's so uncomforable we exchanged two times already so we decided to go different brand the saleman talked us into buying four seasons contessa/premier mattress(last exchange)I think I like tempur-pedic delux because I have RA.  What do you recommend? Thank you, Christine

Hi Christine. You hit on a key phrase when you said, "The salesman talked us into buying...". \
I wouldn't recommend any of the ones you've been talked into considering.
You think you want a Tempurpedic because the advertising has talked you into it.
I have a friend with RA. He rfavorite is the Sealy SpringFree River Crest.

www.ccmattress.com