The Mattress Expert

A Mattress that compares to the Sealy Posturepedic Irresistible Cushion Firm.

Anne writes:

 

Hi Pete. 

I spent a few hours on your site today, lots of great information.

I currently sleep on a Sealy Posturepedic Irresistible Cushion Firm mattress that I purchased in 2012. 

I love this mattress!

But I need to buy a new mattress and box springs for a guest bedroom I’m setting up. 

I thought I would take the new mattress & box springs and put the Sealy in the guest room, even though there is nothing wrong with it. 

I had no idea the mattress industry had changed so much since 2012!  

I can’t seem to find anything that compares to the Sealy Irresistible. 

I want to match it as closely as possible.

 

I do not want ANY memory foam and want no pillow top. 

I do want firm support, motion reduction and fabrics that breath because I’m a hot sleeper.

I did review the Sealy Hospitality mattresses but without any way to see the mattresses and a no return policy, it’s too big a risk.

I’m interested in your opinion when you have a chance.

Thanks, Anne

 

Hi Anne,

I’m afraid that everything we carry has the same disadvantage...nowhere to try it before buying and no returns...unless damaged, of course.

 

You’re on the right track, though,...nothing with memory foam in it and no pillowtop.

All of the name brands that you could once trust to make a quality mattress have all been sold and gone bad...all now upholstered with memory foam.

 

If trying before buying is something that’s important to you, you’ll have a difficult time finding a good mattress.

All that comfort guarantee nonsense started when memory foam was introduced.

It’s the kind of “hook” one needs to sell poor quality products.

 

You might want to consider keeping your Sealy in the master bedroom.

Perhaps get a latex topper for it, which will retard further wear.

Then just get something inexpensive for the guest bedroom.

 

For a guest bedroom, we carry an old fashioned two sided mattress that comes in a choice of comfort.

The Duo Comfort, (Firm on one side and Plush on the other side), is particularly versatile for accommodating guests with differing ideas of comfort.

There isn’t a matching box spring available. 

However, you can get a box spring and frame at a very price at Costco, Sam’s Club and Big Lots.

 

Here is a link to the Wolf Two Sided mattress.

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/two-sided-mattresses/

It’s well made and has no memory foam in it.

UPS shipping is free and there’s no sales tax.

 

Also, here is a link to the Suite Sleep Organic Latex Toppers.

https://themattressexpert.com/latex-toppers/suite-sleep-toppers/

2” is all you need to preserve your mattress.

2” of soft latex adds a nice degree of extra comfort to an old mattress, without negating the underlying firm support.

 

Again, UPS shipping is free and there’s no sales tax.

 

Thanks, Pete

 

***********************************************

Thanks Pete, 

All good advice!

I have a second guest room with a Queen and I saw and liked the Wolf two sided for that.

Tell me about your Natura of Canada Greenspring Pocketed Coil and Latex Mattresses. 

Is this going to feel like the Sealy I have now, which is an innerspring, I believe?  

Which model would come the closest?

Many thanks for your time!

Anne

 

Hi Anne,

The coils in your Sealy mattress are linked together....a coil unit that’s impossible to find anymore. Sealy holds the patent on it, and even they don’t use it anymore.

The Natura of Canada Greenspring mattresses use an individually pocketed coil unit, which everybody uses these days.

The coils move independently, which provides contouring support that maintains the natural alignment of the spine...and all but eliminates motion transfer.

The steel is heavy and double tempered for strength and durability.

The latex upholstery is the most resilient of all the foams.

Coupled with that coil unit, all of the mattresses are firmer than their firmness designations make them sound.

 

The Ultra Plush model is the most comfortable of the four choices.

That’s the mattress my wife and I sleep on at home.

We had to add a Suite Sleep 3” soft Vita Talalay Latex Topper to that for my wife’s sensitive hip.

It’s our biggest selling mattress.

Most people like it just the way it is. Some add a topper.

No one finds it to be too soft.

https://themattressexpert.com/liberty-ultra-plush/

 

This mattress comes with white glove delivery, which includes set up in your bedroom and removal of all packaging materials.

Delivery is free and there’s no sales tax.

 

Thanks, Pete

 

**************************************************

Hi Pete,

The coils sound great. Especially the no motion transfer. 

And it will provide comparable support to the linked coil unit, correct?

 

My only concern is how much latex there is on top. 

I really don't like the feel of foam, so a topper would not work for me. 

I rented an Air B&B several years ago and had to remove the topper at check in, 

it was so soft and squishy.

 

So, on my Sealy, there is "2" of Sealy Foam" covered with a rayon cover. 

I can tell the foam is in there but the cover is tight so it feels really firm, which I like.

Anything described as plush is probably going to feel too soft to me. I like a firm feel. 

No sinking into the top 😟

What about the other Natura models?

 

Thanks, Anne

 

Hi Anne,

You’re lumping all the foams together.

Your Sealy has polyurethane foam.

That B&B used memory foam, if you sank into it....and most commonly used today.

Latex is the oldest and best of all the foams...the only one that is natural.

 

Latex was discovered in the 1880s and introduced as a mattress in the 1920s.

Latex is and has been the best upholstery material for the last 100 years.

Polyurethane was invented in the late 1960s and was the primary foam used from the early 1970s, until about 10 years ago.

Memory foam made its debut about 20 years and has proven to be the worst upholstery material ever invented.

 

You don’t sink into latex. It cushions you and holds you up.

The best way to describe the feel, is one of floating...very comfortable.

 

Thanks, Pete

 

************************************************

Hi Pete,

Are there any mattresses with no foam?

Thanks, Anne

 

Hi Anne,

Prior to the invention of polyurethane foam, (that which is in your current Sealy mattress), mattresses were upholstered with cotton batting....a great place for dust mites to live and breed.

All of the foams are a hostile environment for dust mites, so that's no longer a problem.

It's rare to find such a mattress today. If you do happen upon one, it'll cost a small fortune.

And then you'll have a dust mite problem.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Pete

 

VERY IMPORTANT:

Keeping your mattress clean and dry will increase its longevity.

We recommend our Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector. 

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/sleepbeyond/sleep-beyond-bedding/sleep-beyond-mattress-protector/

 

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 

Free Delivery...Factory Direct.

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Serving The US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Wolf Duo Comfort Mattress and Waterproof Protector

Hope writes:

 

Hello Peter,

It looks as though the Wolf Duo-Comfort queen mattress at about 11" will probably do the trick for us.

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/two-sided-mattresses/

Wolf Double Sided Flippable Mattresses | The Mattress Expert Introducing the Duo-Comfort mattress, providing your customer with comfort options in one single mattress. The Duo-Comfort is a 11″ double-sided mattress that has a firm side and a plush side. themattressexpert.com

Could you tell me the weight of the Wolf mattress? 

And is it necessary to get a waterproof cover?

If so, can you provide me a link where I can order one?  

I plan to order two mattresses in December, after our beds arrive in the apartment we'll be moving into.  

I've been researching the beds and mattresses for the past few months, and you've been a tremendous help.

Thanks, Hope

Hi Hope,

I don’t know the exact weight of the mattresses, but it isn't very heavy...light enough to ship UPS.

The coil count isn’t as high, but the steel used to make the coils is tempered.

The steel used to make the coils in the Beautyrest mattresses is not tempered.

Also, you don’t have the memory foam in the Wolf mattress, which is a plus.

 

Every mattress should have a waterproof mattress protector.

This prevents perspiration from seeping into the mattress.

Keeping your mattress clean and dry will prevent the premature wear caused by the upholstery 

materials breaking down due to moisture.

The one we carry, we use at home. It’s made of organic cotton.

Here is a link to those.

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/protectors/

Protectors | The Mattress Expert Our fitted sheet style mattress protector is designed to be undetectable under your fitted sheet. First, we started with an incredibly soft 100% GOTS certified organic cotton jersey sleeping surface. themattressexpert.com

Thanks, Pete

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

 

Questions?

Email: [email protected]

 

Speak with The Expert

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 

(Please include your time zone with your message)

Free Delivery...Factory Direct.

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Serving The US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

 

 

Natura of Canada Greenspring Mattress for Relief of Back Pain from Herniated Discs and Scoliosis.

Kathy writes;

 

Hey Pete!

I had been in contact with you before about a mattress and I'm back again, unfortunately.  

My fiance disregarded your advice and I bought the Serta iComfort mattress, a few months ago.  

It sags really badly in the areas we sleep in, which is causing us back pain again.  

We had a custom, platform storage bed build to hold the mattress.  

This frame doesn't move at all and is very sturdy!  My fiance weighs 300 lbs and I weigh around 165 lbs.  

He has a herniated discs in his lower back and I have minor scoliosis in my middle back.  

He is mostly a side sleeper, sometimes on back and stomach and I am a side sleeper, predominantly.  

I am finished with memory foam because of the sagging feature and the heat problems.  My fiance is a very hot sleeper!  

We've tried an interlocked coil bed and the motion transfer was horrible; every time my fiance would roll over I would go flying.  

So given all this information, what mattress would you recommend that is strong enough to hold the weight, will reduce motion transfer.

I'm ready to buy my last mattress, at least for the next 10 years.  And he is willing to listen to reason, this time around.

Thank you for your time, again!

Kathy

 

Hi Kathy,

I remember you. It wasn't all that long ago.

The recommendation, today, is the same as it was a few months ago.

One of the Natura of Canada Greenspring mattresses will solve your problems.

The individually pocketed coils will greatly reduce motion transfer.

The double tempered steel used to make those coils will hold a man his size, long term.

The Natural Talalay Latex won't sag and sleeps cool. 

Here is a link to that line of mattresses:

https://themattressexpert.com/natura-greenspring-pocketed-coil-mattresses/

Natura of Canada Greenspring Pocketed Coil and Latex Mattresses | The Mattress Expert The Liberta Firm Mattress delivers improved well being and scrumptious comfort with eco-friendly flair. A layer of NaturaWool™ maintains temperature control and gently buffers pressure points to diminish nighttime tossing and turning. themattressexpert.com

 

 

White Glove Delivery is Free and there's NO Sales Tax.

Delivery includes removal of your old mattress.

 

 

Thanks, Pete

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Protect and maximize your mattress investment. Use a waterproof mattress protector.

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/protectors/

Protectors | The Mattress Expert Soft and comfortable enough to be used as a sheet. 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton jersey, that feels just like your favorite t-shirt! themattressexpert.com

Simmons Beautyrest Hotel Mattress vs Natura of Canada Greenspring.

Carl writes:

 

Hi Pete,

After sleeping on a Beautyrest at the La Quinta hotel, I decided to buy one.

As I was searching for one, I came across the direct sales for the bed.  I also found your website. 

You seem to recommend the Gibson Grove combined with the 3" latex topper to recreate the experience

I also see that you say the Natura of Canada Greenspring is a superior mattress.  Does this one also require a topper, or do your recommend it by itself?  

How many more coils are in the greenspring vs the beautyrest?  Sounds like that is where the majority of the long term comfort comes from.

I can't exactly say what I like in a mattress other than I know it when I feel it, and I experienced it on the La Quinta Bed, which would make me want to buy it direct, but the memory foam would reduce its durability, which would make me sad. 

One of the posts from Nov 2018 indicate that they are making mattresses for hospitality without memory foam.  

Is that the mattress being offered for sale directly. 

Hopefully, I've given you enough info to make a recommendation. Looking to make a purchase for Christmas. 

Thanks, Carl

 

Hi Carl,

Supposedly, the Simmons mattresses made for hotels have no memory foam.

It would be important for you to get a list of specifications for the La Quinta mattress before you buy...just to be sure there's no memory foam.

Simmons mattresses made for retail stores is all memory foam.

The Coil Density of the Simmons Beautyrest is 1000 for a Platinum model.

Coil density is not the same as coil count. The actual coil count is 900.

(Coil density is the number of coils that will fit, if not for the space taken up by the foam edge support)

Coil density and coil count quotes are based on Queen Size. There is proportionately more in the king and proportionately less in the smaller sizes.

The coil count for a queen size Natura of Canada Greenspring mattress is 1020.

 

What's more, the steel in the Greenspring mattresses is twice tempered.

The steel in the Simmons Beautyrest is raw steel...not tempered, at all.

 

The upholstery in the Simmons Beautyrest is memory foam, which is why we recommend a 2" Soft Talalay Latex Topper to go on it.

The latex is extremely resilient...absorbing most to all of your body weight. The mattress lasts a whole lot longer with the latex topper.

The Greenspring mattresses are upholstered with Talalay Latex...containing NO Memory Foam.

The most comfortable of their 4 models is the Ultra Plush.

The purchase of a separate latex topper is not needed for the sake of longevity.

 

There's no question as to which is the better mattress...and by far.

 https://themattressexpert.com/natura-greenspring-pocketed-coil-mattresses/

Natura of Canada Greenspring Pocketed Coil and Latex ... themattressexpert.com The Liberta Firm Mattress delivers improved well being and scrumptious comfort with eco-friendly flair. A layer of NaturaWool™ maintains temperature control and gently buffers pressure points to diminish nighttime tossing and turning.

White glove delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

White glove delivery includes removal of the old mattress.

 

Thanks, Pete

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

Mattress coil counts. What matters for quality and longevity?

John writes:

 

Hi Pete,

Concerning coil counts, is this important and what is a satisfactory amount for a queen size? 

Tempered coils or not? Do they really help with sagging? And when you talk levels what does that mean? 

Thanks, John

 

Hi John,

It's important to understand that a mattress is a pressure sensitive item. 

How well a mattress wears depends on the weight that is being placed upon it, in conjunction with the quality of the components, from which it's made.

A mattress made of poor quality components will wear quickly. 

 

Take Simmons Beautyrest, for example. 

This has been one of the most popular brands since they introduced the individually pocketed coil system, back in the 1920s.

If you look at reviews for Beautyrest mattresses, they are horrible.

These mattresses have a good coil count, but the steel from which the coils are made, is not tempered.

THAT, along with the memory foam upholstery, is why reviews are so bad. Memory foam is the lowest quality upholstery material.

 

In fact, all of the name brands are upholstering their mattresses with memory foam.

They have sacrificed quality and longevity for profit...selling more mattresses, more frequently, to the same people.

Memory foam is THEE thing to avoid.

You could have a very high coil count. And, even if those coils were made of tempered steel, it wouldn't wear well because of the memory foam.

 

What makes memory foam so bad, is that it is not only pressure sensitive, it's also temperature sensitive.

It's the only upholstery material made, that is temperature sensitive.

As is warms from the body heat you emit, memory foam softens and allows you to sink into it.

Memory foam isn't very resilient to begin with. After is warms and softens night after night, it begins to lose the little resiliency it had, within weeks.

 

Coil count is only a small part of all this.

So, let me recommend a mattress using the highest quality components:

• 1020 coil count in queen...more that in any Simmons Beautyrest.
• Pre-compressed Individually pocketed coils, like the ones used by Simmons, but made with double tempered steel.
• NO Memory Foam
• Upholstered with Natural Talalay Latex....latex being thee best upholstery material for the last 100 years. 

The mattress is made by Natura of Canada....The Greenspring line.

Of the 5 available models, the Plush Eurotop is the most comfortable.

Shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/natura-greenspring-pocketed-coil-mattresses/

Natura Greenspring Pocketed Coil Mattresses | The Mattress ... themattressexpert.com Greenspring Liberty Plush Euro Top. Experience deeper, more restorative sleep with the Liberty Plush Euro Mattress. Lush helpings of natural ingredients come together ...

We sleep on one of these mattresses at home. It's, by far, the best mattress we've home tested...out of many, over the years.

 

Many mattress manufacturers use a leveling system for their mattresses. These are levels of expense.

It has nothing to do with quality or if it's right for you.

Many people are of the mind that the more money you spend, the better the quality.

If you're such a person, then get that piece of total nonsense out of your head.

In NO WAY, does it apply to the mattress industry...as a whole.

 

Another thing to keep in mind, is that all of the, so called, "Name Brands", have betrayed the trust they had spent decades building with the consumer.

With each and every one of them producing mattresses loaded with memory foam, they are now, nothing more than junk mattresses.

They are specifically designed to fail quickly.

 

 

Delivery is Free and there's NO SALES TAX

Protect your mattress from perspiration and other stains that will void the warranty of your new mattress.

Danican Waterproof Mattress Protectors Sleep Cool and Won't Shrink washed in hot water...fits up to 18"

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

Thanks, Pete

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

Information About Mattresses Made Like, but Better than the Simmons Beautryrest.

Julie writes:

Hi Pete,

Thank you for taking so much time with me, over the phone.

I tried to take notes about the mattresses you recommend that are supportive, comfortable, long lasting and have no chemicals to worry about.

However, I'd be appreciative if you could send me the links to those.

It'll make it easier for me to find, so that I can show my husband, when he gets home from work.

Thanks, Julie

 

Hi Julie,

Here are the links I told you about.

The first is for Natura of Canada Greenspring, with the Plush EuroTop model being the most comfortable of the 5 models.

These are made of all natural materials and come with White Glove Delivery.

My wife and I have one of these, and they are the best we've found and home tested.

https://themattressexpert.com/natura-greenspring-pocketed-coil-mattresses/

Natura Greenspring Pocketed Coil Mattresses | The Mattress ... themattressexpert.com Greenspring Liberty Plush Euro Top. Experience deeper, more restorative sleep with the Liberty Plush Euro Mattress. Lush helpings of natural ingredients come together ...

The second is similarly made, but less elaborate and ship via FedEx...rolled and boxed.

Both mattresses on this page are the same...with the Adara model being made of all natural materials.

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/wolf-mattresses/wolf-hybrid-mattress/

Wolf Latex Hybrid Mattress | The Mattress Expert themattressexpert.com All Natural Cotton Cover. All Natural Wool backing as a natural fire retardant. Upholstered with All Natural Latex. All Natural Wool insulator pad for support.

Both brands use a pocketed coil unit, like the Simmons Beautyrest.

It was the pocketed coils that made your hotel stay so comfy.

The upholstery is natural latex, which has been thee best upholstery material since the 1920s.

(BEST, being most comfortable and longest lasting).

And, there's No Memory Foam in any of them.

 

 

Natura takes 3-4 weeks to get.

Wolf takes about a week to arrive.

 

Delivery is Free and there's NO SALES TAX

 

Protect your mattress from perspiration and other stains that will void the warranty of your new mattress.

Danican Waterproof Mattress Protectors Sleep Cool and Won't Shrink washed in hot water...fits up to 18"

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Thanks, Pete

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

Wolf coil latex hybrid mattress.

Prashant writes:

Hello Peter,

I'm looking for a firmer piece of latex for the Wold Hybrid mattress.  

Can you swap in a piece of firm latex with an ILD in the 28-30 range?

Regards, Prashant

 

Hi Prashant,

The latex in the Wolf Latex hybrid mattress cannot be changed.

If you go with the Adrian model, the support will be firmer.

The latex used is more "medium". While comfortable, you won't have to worry about it being too soft.

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/wolf-mattresses/wolf-hybrid-mattress/

Wolf Latex Hybrid Mattress | The Mattress Expert themattressexpert.com Questions, Comments, Concerns? Please Check out One of our Blogs Listed below Or Ask us on Facebook or Twitter. You can Also Call or Email Us!

However, you can always add a firm latex topper to it, if a stiffer surface feel is what you want.

If that is your desire, I would go with the Ever-Eden 2" Firm Vytex Dunlop Latex.

Shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/mattress-toppers-latex-more/

Mattress Toppers Latex & More | The Mattress Expert themattressexpert.com Ever-Eden …100% Pure, All Natural Latex Mattress Toppers…(No Fillers, No Chemicals, No Synthetics)

In both cases, delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

Thanks, Pete

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Natura Greenspring Pocketed Coil/Latex Mattress for Sciatica.

Melanie writes:

Hi Pete,

I suffer a big sciatic problem on my back and I would like to know what type of mattress is suitable for me.

My height is 60 inches and weight 120 pounds.

Thank you, Melanie 

Hi Melanie,

A pocketed coil unit will contour to the shape of your body and maintain the natural alignment of your spine. This will be the best type of support to relieve sciatica.

Most of today's mattresses are using memory foam, which loses its shape quickly and also sleeps hot.

You can counter that with a latex topper. Latex is all natural, sleeps cool and takes many years to show the beginning signs of wear.

You can go with a Simmons Beautyrest and a latex topper, or with Natura Greenspring, which is already upholstered with all natural latex and has no memory foam.

For you size, I would recommend the Liberty Plush model...shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/natura-greenspring-pocketed-coil-mattresses/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

 

 

Replacement for the Simmons HealthSmart Mattress.

Ken writes:

Hi Pete,

I am interested in purchasing a replacement HealthSmart mattress.   

Are these available?   
Thank you.
Regards, Ken 

 

Hi Ken,

Simmons no longer makes that series of mattresses.

It used an interlocked bonnell coil unit...as opposed to the individually pocketed coils of the Beautyrest series'.

We have two sided mattresses that use a bonnell coil, from the Wolf Company.

They are a single facility, family owned operation since 1872.

Here is a link to those, if interested.

 

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/two-sided-mattresses/

 

Thanks, Pete

Important Note:

Moisture will cause mattresses to wear out faster.

Protect your mattress from accidents, spills & perspiration with our all natural silver infused cotton waterproof mattress & pillow protectors. They sleep cool and won't shrink when washed in hot water.

 

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Website: www.themattressexpert.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 856-874-6894

 

 

Replacing a 15 year old Stearns & Foster Hampton King mattress.

Dear Pete,
My wife and I are thinking we may need a new mattress. Currently we have a 15 year old Stearns & Foster Hampton King which has served us well. It shows no sag or visible signs of wear. Only issue is that sometimes my movement in bed disturbs my wife. Recently she has been experiencing back & shoulder pain which was relieved when she slept on another bed while on a recent trip. She is 57 years old, 5’ 2” tall, 130 lbs. and a side sleeper. I am 59 years old, 5’ 10” tall, 180 lbs. with occasional lower back and upper neck issues adequately managed with regular visits to the chiropractor. I sleep mostly on my side as I snore too much when sleeping on my back. Both of us toss & turn frequently through the night.

Today we went mattress shopping (Nebraska Furniture Mart in KC, KS). My wife was most impressed with a Serta King Prodigy Everfeel. I found an Omaha Bedding King Warren Firm foam mattress that had a 1” latex top layer to be as comfortable at a considerable lower cost. They did not have all latex mattresses for us to try. My wife is more pressure point sensitive than I and we would like a bed that could help alleviate her back/shoulder pain. We do like the adjustable base as it appears to provide more comfort when watching TV in bed, which we do often. 

We’ve been impressed reading about latex mattresses and/or mattresses that utilize latex. We have concerns about the long term effectiveness, durability & safety of memory foam, especially when considering the high costs. In addition, we worry that memory foam will be too warm. It is difficult to judge how any bed will perform night after night based on a few minutes “test” in a store environment or by reading on-line reviews. Our priorities are having a quality, cost effective mattress that provides healthy, long term comfort & support.

Questions are: Should we consider getting just the topper for the time-being or is our mattress past its life expectancy? If we get a topper, would our current bed linens still fit? If a new mattress is purchased, which ones would you recommend for us? Which mattresses help minimize adjoining movement? Is getting an adjustable base a bad idea? Are there mattresses better suited for an adjustable base? Based on reading your blog, you often recommend getting a Beautyrest Luxury Firm w/a 2” Talalay latex topper. What is the difference between the Firm, Luxury firm & Ultimate Firm models? Would a Therapedic one or two sided mattress be a better choice? Which of the latex mattresses would you currently recommend as a good value? Do any of the mattresses you recommend require box springs? Any other factors we should consider? 

Thank you in advance for your assistance. Michael

Hi Michael,

What you have, the H grade Plush S&F, was one of the last great mattresses made. I truly miss those days. It was a legitimate business back then.

20 years ago, memory foam was just being introduced...mainly on the home shopping shows. 

I remember the very first time I saw the TV commercial for it...where they press a hand into the foam, hold it there for a couple of seconds, then remove the hand.

The result was a hand print that remained in the foam. I remember thinking, "Who, in their right mind, is going to thing that's a good idea?!".

 

Memory foam is made from a chemical soup, with some of those chemicals being toxic and carcinogenic. The bad smell it has when it's delivered is the off gassing of those harmful chemicals.

Complaints range from sinus headache to bleeding sinuses, as a result of the off-gassing. Fact is, it's bad for your health and the health of every living being in your home.

Recent developments have seen produced, by some, a plant based, all natural memory foam. That solved that problem.

I didn't know about the chemical make up when I first saw it advertised. The health factor is a good reason to avoid memory foam, but, its not the only reason.    

What I saw on the commercials, is a foam with zero support.

Support is the part of the mattress that pushes against you...the part that holds you up.

The support system in your mattress had been the work horse of the industry since first introduced in the 1920s...and used by every innerspring mattress manufacturer, until the early 80s, when the industry started seeing some significant changes....mostly about marketing, looking for greater market share.

It was at this time that Serta introduced their continuous coil system. It wasn't nearly as strong as the coil system in your mattress, The Bonnell Coil, but that didn't stop them from advertising that it being better. From that day to this, Serta makes a third rate product....in my humble opinion. They rank highly by Consumer Reports...who, a couple of years ago, published a mattress issue, where the stated honestly, "The mattress industry is far too complex for us to understand", and offered no recommendations.

 

Which brings us back to memory foam.

Memory foam, plant based or chemical filled, is a temperature sensitive material. Polyurethane foam, the parent of memory foam, is not. It, like all natural latex foam rubber, are pressure sensitive materials. Also introduced in the 1920s, Latex Foam Rubber has been thee most comfortable and most durable upholstery material on the planet from then to this day.

But, I'll get to the virtues of latex foam, later in this response.

When you lay on memory foam in the showroom, it's a love it or hate it experience. If you are among the lucky ones to hate it right off, congratulations, you've dodged a bullet.

The "Love It" people are seduced by a deceiver. It feels the way you love it when it's new. If you are young and fit and without physical damage, you could continue to enjoy it for several years...

...if you've gotten past the initial odor...and don't mind sleeping a little warm.

If you happen to be more like the majority of people in this country....NOT young and fit and without physical damage...well, there's just no other way to put it, "You're screwed".

That nice new feel is gone before you can say, "What the hell just happened and where did my $3000 go?!"

This temperature sensitive material softens as it warms from the body heat you give off. The pressure from the weight of your body presses into it and you sink....the heaviest parts of your body first.

At first, it held you up some. After a matter of months, you'll feel that support go away. Now, your sleeping with your spine out of its proper alignment and,"BINGO", all your physical aliments come back...and worse than before. And, I dare say, if you have no problems and sleep on memory foam long enough, it will give you problems.

Let's not forget that it is a temperature sensitive product. Since memory foam hit the streets, the major complaint was that it slept hot. It absorbs your body heat and the pressure from your body squeezes that heat back out to you, as you sink in.

 

As you shop, you'll note that memory foam is now made with a cooling gel...either mixed in, or as an outer layer. This is the same gel that's used in Dr. Scholl's Insoles, that you see sold in pharmacies. It works to keep you cool. It would nice if it worked for a full 8 hours. Well, it doesn't. How quickly it takes for it to become saturated by the warmth around it, will depend on how hot of a sleeper you are. People can be very different in this regard. In their later years, my mom and dad had separate bedrooms. One slept hot and one slept cold.

A cold sleeper would have little affect on the gel, and possibly get through an entire night. . A hot sleeper can knock out the benefits of that gel in a couple/few hours...then it's back in the oven.

 

It's very easy to spend thousands of dollars on a memory foam mattress.

Memory foam is not an expensively made product. It's actually pretty cheap to make. The expense is to cover the enormous advertising budget. 

Soon after your mattress was made, the rest of the mattress industry started to take notice of the market share they were losing to this newcomer. 

What they were learning from the market share they lost was, you don't have to make a high quality product. In fact, if you make a low quality product, and spend more in advertising where you continually tell people how great it is, you'll sell more mattresses more frequently to the same people...rather than the old way of making a quality product where you take that customer out of the market for the next 10, 15 or 20 years. Now, that customer is back every 5 years, on average, with many people seeing only a year or two.

In an economy where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing, I find it unconscionable to take the path of corporate greed and take advantage of people in this way.

So now, mattresses are one-sided and not flippable...and, for the most part, are using a lot of memory foam.

S&F used to be among my favorite mattresses to recommend. There were models that I could turn to with no memory foam in them. Some, even had latex.

But, all good things come to an end. In 2013, Tempurpedic purchased the Sealy/S&F company...and in January of 2014, the new S&F line was introduced...using lots of memory foam in each and every model. 

 

As bad as memory foam is, that's not all of it. 

When you have a memory foam mattress or an innerspring with a lot of memory foam in it...like the S&F and Consumer Reports fav...the Serta iSeries & iComfort....and know that your mattress has failed....you're sinking in too far which is causing a myriad of aches and pains...you're just screwed. You call your retailer to register your complaint. They send someone out to measure the sustained impression in your mattress.

Here comes the diabolical part. When you get out of that crater you've been sleeping in, slowly the memory foam begins to recover. And before long, it's back to its original shape...or close enough to it that a sustained impression of an inch and a half is not measurable, (the industry standard since forever.....needed to obtain authorization to exchange).

 

You should hear them in Linked-In and everywhere you go among the retailers and manufacturers. Memory foam is the cause of an industry boon, that has never been seen at anytime in the past. They are selling more and more mattresses to the same people, and without having to exchange them as the did in the past.

And now, a generation has past since memory foam was introduced. Many of today's younger buyers will never experience the kind of quality that you have with your old S&F.

They will accept this as the way of it without complaint. And as time goes by, those who remember what a quality mattress was, will die off.

The mattress industry used to make mattress that were solely pressure sensitive...and not temperature sensitive. They had machines that they made to test mattresses and would use these machines to simulate 15 years of use....back when they cared about quality.

Consumer Reports acquired these machines and are using them to test today's mattresses.

However, today's mattresses are also temperature sensitive. CR's admitted lack of knowledge, allows them to be fooled by the results they're getting from the antiquated machines they're using to test them. But, memory foam will perform well, if you don't heat it. THIS, is why such crappy mattresses are rating so highly with Consumer Reports.

 

Latex foam rubber IS expensively made...starting with the sap from the rubber trees that grow in more tropical climates.

It has been the best you can buy all this time. It does absolutely everything that memory foam claims it will do....do them better, and much longer....and, with none of the negative side effects that memory foam produces. While just as expensive as some memory foam mattresses, it's much less expensive to use....given the many years that they last. 

Latex is also available in thinner sheets than as a whole mattress. So, for hundreds instead of thousands, you can add a 2" latex topper to a reasonably firm innerspring mattress and get everything your body requires for a good night's sleep...and, at a reasonable price.

 

A latex topper will insulate you from the underlying mattress. It will soften the surface without sacrificing the underlying firm support. You don't sink through it, just into it a little. It holds you up. You feel suspended by it. Zero Gravity is a good way to describe the unique feel of latex foam. As you move, it moves with you...with no climbing out of a hole. Latex foam sleeps much cooler than any other type of foam. Latex is more resilient than any other type of foam. It is so resilient as to absorb your body weight, leaving much less work for the mattress and extending the life of that mattress far beyond what the manufacturer was hoping for.

 

All that said, Michael. And, I suppose I could have just said so...but, your particular question provoked a rant in me.

Add a 2" soft All-Natural Talalay Latex Foam Mattress Topper to what you have, while you figure out what you want to do.

It will not be a wasted purchase. You'll need it to top the mattress you do end up buying.

Take a look around our website. We are dedicated to providing high quality. 

http://themattressexpert.com/

 

Here is a link to our latex toppers.

http://themattressexpert.com/talalay-dunlop-latextoppers/

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.