Kluft Latex
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I am considering purchasing a Kluft Latex mattress from Bloomingdales - the Raphael model. Does anyone have any experience with the new Kluft lines? I am torn between the Sealy Spring-free line and the Kluft Latex. Kluft also has an Aireloom latex line at Bloomies that is nice, but they have a polyfoam core and memory foam, which I am trying to avoid for durability concerns. I'm trying to avoid having major body impressions after a year or two. My current 5 year old innerspring pillowtop is nearly flatened. I'd really like to get at least 10+ years out of a new mattress. The Kluft is very expensive, but seems to be more comfortable and better made than the others. They are all perfectly comfortable and I'm sure I'd be happy with any of them, but the Kluft Raphael is the only mattress that gives the "I'm in heaven" feeling. It is a 13.5" mattress made with natural latex core (3" Talalay, 3" Dunlop) plus a 2" Celsion Talalay topper - which is supposed to better moderate temperature. Do the different types of latex (natural/synthetic, talalay/dunlop, Celsion) really make a noticeable difference in feel and durability of the mattess? I weigh 150lbs, back/side sleeper, and had surgery for a slipped disc in my lower back a few years ago. My significant other is 210lbs, back/side sleeper. And an 80lb dog that likes to take up the majority of the bed. ;o) I've read mixed comments on whether foam is good for back problems, but I've had it with innersprings. I'm not interested in buying online and spending weeks swapping out layers to get the right fit. Any thoughts/insight would be appreciated! Thanks! |
Re: Kluft Latex
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I just had to look up the Kluft mattress you're considering and, wow!, does that ever look comfy. I don't have personal experience with latex, but from perusing the threads here I've gathered that the last thing you want is a ready-made mattress with a poly foam core or layer over the latex, due to its propensity for breaking down in a relatively short time and causing hammocking and body depression issues. I think that as long as your mattress is 100% latex, you should be fine. The advantage to purchasing the Flobed type of mattress is that you can change out the layers as they degrade over time, or you can customize the firmness on any given day by switching things around. I don't blame you for not wanting to fuss with various layers...that's pretty much how I feel about latex mattress shopping. I only wish I had the funds to purchase one already configured to suit my needs. The Kluft model seems to be your preeminent choice and I'm kind of in love with just the description. It seems like it would be a good investment :-) If I were in your position, I would want to know who manufactured the latex layers, and are they made of 100% natural latex, or are they synthetic blends? The blended latex is supposed to be more durable, but I don't know if that's marketing hype or if it's been confirmed by independent scientific testing. The Celsion thing is gimmicky...latex doesn't retain body heat. As far as I'm aware, Dunlop should be longer-lived than Talalay because it's a denser material, though I have seen marketing claims to the contrary (again, has it been tested by an independent source?). It's kind of hard to say for certain which has better longevity because Dunlop latex has been around a lot longer; Talalay is a relatively new manufacturing process. It would be interesting to know what the ILDs of the latex layers are. Well, I'm just a newcomer here, so I'm sure someone else will have more/better answers for you! Best of luck in acquiring your perfect mattress :-) |
Re: Kluft Latex
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Okay, I found out the support layers of latex are 44 ILD. The mattress also has a 2" thick Talalay Celsion tri-zone topper with a 21/27/21 ILD. Does that sound like a good combo? It feels good in the store, but I read somewhere on this board to avoid ILD's under 30?? Will the 21/27/21 topper still be supportive enough? Thanks! This message was modified Jun 12, 2009 by JEdwards
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Re: Kluft Latex
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Hi J...I am a fan of Mr. Kluft. I have had 3 of his Chattam & Wells coil mattresses over the last 15 years or so. He sold the company a few years ago to one of the "S" Mfgs, can't remember which one just now. I can't vouch for the new Chattam line but the old line he had was very good. I currently have his euro luxe Vll which was the top of the line at the time. Stupendous mattress, got that Ahhh feeling of heaven. However, it developed the cursed body impressions and bugged the heck out of me so with the guidance of fellow posters here, I opted for mattress surgery. I posted a cutaway but it has fallen off the board. I will have to get around to reposting it as well as some surgery shots. I basically cut the top cover and thin layer of cotton batting and about 1 1/4 in. of PU foam off the top. I replaced it with a 2 in. latex/mem foam topper, which isn't perfect size wise but it is very comfortable. My point in telling you all this is that while Mr. Kluft makes great mattresses at great, read expensive, prices, they still get the dreaded body impressions. It is amazing how 1 1/2 inches of PU foam quilted into the cover can feel soooo fab when it is new and bug the crap out of you when it permanently depresses. I looked up the Rafael on Bloomies site and I was surprised that they didn't have a cutaway photo of his latex models. The description is for 13.5 inch mattress yet they only tell you about the 8 inches of latex...WHAT IS THE OTHER 5.5 in. made up with????? Some wonderful PU foam maybe? If so, you will need to conduct mattress surgery just like me in a few years. I noticed that they have cutaways of all of his coil/latex models, which look wonderful. How come no latex cutaways? If I were you I would call Bloomies and get a photo of a cutaway or better yet go in and see it for yourself. I would want a picture as well for future reference. Also, if I were you, my goal, if I knew that I wanted a pure latex mattress would be to make sure that is what I was getting. And that any stuff on top would be separate and replaceable. Also, fyi take a look at the great mattress morgue shots with this link. Exhibit A of why you need to see what's inside... http://www.savvyrest.com/mattress-industry-today/mattress-morgue JoJo This message was modified Jun 12, 2009 by JoJo
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Re: Kluft Latex
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I am severely disappointed with the Klufts mattress I purchased. The salesperson at Mancini's Sleepworld heralded the 20 year mattress warranty as the best in the industry. Just a year later the mattress started to develop "ruts" in it. My wife, who was pregnant at the time, could not get a decent night's sleep no matter how hard she tried. She eventually had to sleep in the guest bedroom, which has a "cheap" old mattress on it. We called Mancini's to use the warranty. Klufts sent someone out to inspect the mattress to confirm the mulitple inch ruts. Klufts came back and voided the warranty because the inspector noted sweat stains on the mattress. Really? That is like voiding a warranty on a car's drivetrain because there is a dent on the front fender. After spending over $7,000 on a mattress, one expects greater customer support. |
Re: Kluft Latex
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Hi.. just thought I would put my two cents in here.. I did so much research about 3 years ago for the latex mattresses.. ended up with the Sealy Springfree.. loved it for the 1st year..then it seemed like the latex was getting strange.. the upper part of the mattress was so beautiful to lay on and conformed to every part of your body but I was un aware of what it was doing to me when I slept on it.. In the second year it began to bow across the middle and cause so much body pain it wasn't even funny..plus after much reading on latex I have learned that the latex is a powerful material.. as you lay on it the latex it continues to press on your body because it naturally wants to stay up, thus as your body sinks in it is pushing back.. the hip pain and back pain and then leg pain happened.. finally I was able to show due cause for it to be a defective mattress.. I was so glad the day they took this bed out of my house it was beating me up. I do think this is why so many people now have gone to memory foam it is more gentle on the body and gives support in another way. I will never be talked into a latex bed again. If it helps I am still looking for that perfect mattress if it exists.. I am now sleeping on an I Comfort from Serta.. I hated it at first but am coming around and have found much of my pains have gone away.. Good luck and be a smart shopper because the mattress industry has about 3 or 4 good ones out there and the rest are just candy waiting to be eaten by the consumer.. Good luck..!!! |