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Hi, I'm new around here! Sorry for the long post.. I'm currently using a 10-15(not sure exactly, I've used it for 7) year old innerspring mattress, and it has started to sag a bit in the middle. Also, it's rather...noisey. I'm thinking about getting a latex mattress, but I'm not sure what to buy. My budget is about $1,000 for a queen sized, preferably all latex. My initial thought was the ikea sultan erfjord, but I'm not sure about it's quality (seeing how it's from ikea). I also haven't been able to find much in the way of reviews by people who have owned it for a long period of time. I also checked out various mattress stores, but either I'm not sure if I'm getting a good mattress (yeah, sleepys, give me a 50% discount on everything...) or it was way out of my price range (2,000-5,000 for a queen) I'm not opposed to a DIY solution from FBM or other company, but I'm not sure what all I'd need. I'd guess I'd need to grab a core and a topper of some sort, which from FBM would run me about $900, but I'm not really in the market for major customization, I don't need different softness on different sides, or anything complex. Just a little on the firm side thank you. I'm also not opposed to an online mattress if it's in the price range and has a 'money-back' return policy (instead of just an 'exchange' one). I was thinking something from http://latexmattressshop.com/ would work, since they have a 60 day refund policy, I'm not sure a warranty after the first month really matters (since they're mostly pro-rated or won't cover the problem anyway) In non-latex mattresses, I've tried out the keetsa cloud mattress in their store, and it was fairly comfortable, but I couldn't seem to find any long-term reviews on how it holds up (and since it's memory foam I have my doubts). I tend to be a little warmer than average sleeping, which is another negative to memory foam (for me). Lots of people on yelp seem to love keetsa, however. Any suggestions/help would be welcome. |
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These two threads have DIY mattress experience with the foam factory / FBM: http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/advice-needed-my-diy-all-latex-project/19004-1-1.html and http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/love-our-new-talalay-latex-mattress-foam-factory/18970-0-1.html . Keetsa is made in China and has a 20% restocking fee if you return it. FBM seems to have a 30 day return policy. A 6" chunk of high density core and a topper with an enclosure and you are done. |
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Thanks. I read those threads and did some other reading and I think I've narrowed it down to two options: FBM: 2" soft top + 6" medium base + included cover for ~$770. I'm not sure if the soft top is going to be too soft for me; I tend to like slightly firmer, but I also tend to sleep on my side.
latexmattresshop.com: http://latexmattressshop.com/index.php/comfort-level/bliss-latex-smooth for ~$850.
Anyone have anything + or - to say about either company? Am I forgetting anything (mattress pad? fire resistant something-or-other?)? |
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Hi Soliq, I'm on a similar mission looking for a relatively simple latex mattress and am not opposed to rolling my own. You list the medium 6" base [26 to 32 ILD] from FBM but say you prefer a firm mattress. Why not get the firm 6" base [33-38 ILD] under that same soft topper [20 ILD]? If I had to go either/or on your two options I'd choose the FBM setup because I think the support and chance of a proper cradle is better for a side sleeper on 2 inches of latex than on 2 inches of wool/latex "quilt" over a zoned dunlop base as pictured on the 8" Bliss Smooth. Just as an option here's the same thing in a 3" topper over at APM. We just ordered a 3" soft topper [20 ILD] over the 5" HD36-R conventional foam [ILD 36] with a standard cover from FBM for our RV (about $426.) You haven't experienced the world's cheapest mattress until you sleep on what they put in an RV -- you can feel individual springs. We debated getting the latex base instead of the HR foam but figure its fine for the RV and it will help us decide how to do our main mattress later this year. |
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The only reason I was thinking that I'd want the medium is that I tested a 'firm' mattress in a sleepy's store that was more like a rock than a mattress. Seriously, I felt that if I fell/collapsed onto the mattress it'd knock the wind out of me. I don't really want *that* experience. It was supposedly 2" 20 ILD dunlop top with 6" 40ILD base. That said, it was 40 ILD base foam, not latex, so that may have skewed things.
I'd think a cot is more comfortable than a typical RV mattress, heh. |
| That's why you put the layers of soft talalay on top. Then when you plop down on the mattress you get the soft top and then the thud from the support underneath. The softness of the top makes a difference. I'm mostly a side sleeper and when I tried a 3 x 3" mattress, the Firm/Firm/Soft was WAY more comfortable than the Firm/Firm/Medium. You need a bit of give for the shoulder, elbow and hips to sink into. But that still is a personal preference for each individual. |
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Does the number of layers make a real difference, or just the total height? I assume # of layers means you can exhange it as things wear out, but is there a noticeable difference between 3x3" layers and 1x6" 1x3"?
Anyway, my new plan is to do 6" firm core, 2" soft top for evaluation, and if I decide that it's too hard/soft I'll get a 2" medium top to put under/over the soft one.
In a related question: Any suggestions on platform bed frames? Something that isn't going to creak/fall apart (I've read ikea frames have a horrible time with the slats falling out) but still stays in the $300-500 price range? (a little higher is fine, since I'm spending less on the mattress than I had budgeted) |
| The Bliss from the latexmattressshop would make a nice base, seeing as it's dunlop. Definitely go for the soft option though. I bought the Allure with the medium option and I felt it was too firm. I've since added toppers to suit to taste. I don't feel their soft option would be too soft and I understand that's their default and most popular choice. You should probably call to find out what the ild's of the different options are, though the numbers won't correspond to the numbers you typically see on this forum for talalay. |
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soliq wrote: Does the number of layers make a real difference, or just the total height? I assume # of layers means you can exhange it as things wear out, but is there a noticeable difference between 3x3" layers and 1x6" 1x3"? |
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Ah, ok, thanks. To add another question: Is there somewhere other than FBM to buy relatively cheap cores? I noticed FBM only offers Talalay and doesn't really tell you where it comes from. |
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Sleep EZ (www.sleepez.com/catalog for individual piece of foam) and Arizona Premium Mattress Company sell 6" Dunlop cores. Sleep EZ may be willing to put together a complete custom mattress for you. This message was modified Jun 7, 2011 by sleepswithcats
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Is the quality difference between sleepez and FBM really big?
Sleepez is ~$400-500 more, but they offer dunlop core instead of all talalay. I guess they also offer 100% natural latex (if that makes a big difference?) |
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My personal experience test driving latex was that I tried Savvy Rest Firm Firm Medium in both Talalay and Dunlop and I couldn't tell any difference. Don't quote me here, but I think the same ILD for Talalay and Dunlop do not feel the same, with Talalay feeling softer. Either you can search for the data or possibly someone like Phoenix or Budgy will know what the corresponding ILDs are in Talalay and Dunlop for the different firm, soft, etc. Talalay is usually more expensive. I don't know the source of FBM latex. Perhaps someone with experience with FBM knows. Or you could call and ask where they get their latex. |
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soliq wrote: In a related question: Any suggestions on platform bed frames? Something that isn't going to creak/fall apart (I've read ikea frames have a horrible time with the slats falling out) but still stays in the $300-500 price range? (a little higher is fine, since I'm spending less on the mattress than I had budgeted)
Take a look at the Nomad, with a headboard it's called the Charleston, it seems simple but sturdy. I would add a 4 x 8 sheet of pegboard to make it perfectly smooth but still allow air to circulate. The Home Depot or similar can rip it the long way when you buy it. There are matching nightstands and under bed storage drawers if you want to accessorize. The firm/medium question is 100% subjective, if you could try both products side by side at FBM under a 2" soft topper you could probably decide fairly quickly what you like and not have to buy that extra 2" layer. From what I've read elsewhere on this forum FBM claims people would have a tough time telling the two apart; might be worth giving them a call. Talalay latex is arguably higher quality than Dunlop process latex, probably indistinguishable in the base layer with the caveat it may "feel" approximately 5-10 ILD firmer than the Talalay product. Unfortunately, the APM 6" Dunlop core is $70-$80 more than the 6" FBM Talalay core. |
| Take a look at this SleepEZ sale http://sleepez.com/latex-mattress-sale.htm I'm considering this mattress with the 2" talalay topper. Seems like a good value. I started another thread asking for opinions on this but no response yet. |
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From what I've been able to determine FBM sources their latex from "Europe" and will not give a more specific answer than that. I looked at the sleepez one, but that would be $300-400 more than FBM, I'm wondering if it's worth the extra money, or if they're pretty much the same and I'm just paying for a brand name/green manufacturing/whatever. Or am I forgetting anything in my cost calculation for FBM? I have the included cover (terrycloth), 6" foam, 2" foam. Do I need to add a mattress pad/fire retardant/anything that'd bring the prices closer?
Thanks for the suggestion on the nomad bed frame...I'll have to think about getting it and staining it a darker color (so it doesn't look quite so unfinished) |
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You can probably get an inexpensive cover for the wooden frame. Take a look at the <a href="http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/my-foambymail-diy-mattress-report-pictures/19412-0-1.html">DIY with pictures thread</a>. Perhaps someone here has ordered from both SleepEZ and FBM and can make some comments on the latex. Only you can decide if you want the brand X latex or a brand name latex. I have not read anything on this forum that would indicate which one is better or which will last longer. The recent purchased of FBM seem to be happy with their pieces of latex: not ripped, dirty, stinky, etc. APM Dunlop latex seems to be made by Latex Green, which is one of the major sellers. APM has a 30 day money back guarantee. I think I read that someone had called them and they offered to put together a custom mattress. Also, I am not sure that Talalay is more durable than Dunlop. I think that topic is hotly debated. I expect that there are lots of other factors that can influence latex quality than simply what process is used. I think the only definitive thing I have read is that soft Talalay can be made softer than Dunlop, but that really soft Talalay won't last as long. This message was modified Jun 9, 2011 by a moderator
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Doh! Hit a link and lost my reply before I posted it :-( I know you put the smiley in there but.... A mattress is an investment and it's a lot of money. I commend people for doing a lot of reading and research and asking questions. I spent a month doing leg work including reading about a years worth of this forum, googling and reading the online mattress store info. It takes time to digest the information and try to figure out who to believe (don't believe me; I'm dumb enough to share my bed with three cats who take up more room than I do!). The latex mattress industry is still a niche market and the best options and deals are to be had by purchasing site unseen online. This web site is truly one of a kind and has a wealth of information with personal experience with mattresses and some of the more popular online vendors. Hopefully it will prevent people from being penny wise and pound foolish. No one wants to purchase a mattress and then have to spend a great deal more $$ to make it usable. Even if you want to go the online route, it is worth the effort to try to find a local vendor and try out various latex beds. Best advice: Buy a mattress from a vendor who provides a 30/60/90 day full refund (less shipping) if you are not fully satisfied. This message was modified Jun 8, 2011 by a moderator
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| Another low cost option is this ebay seller. Has factory seconds from sleepEZ and other etailers, covers, and frames: |
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I've actually gone to about 6 or 7 different mattress stores and tried out various mattresses. In terms of comfort in the store, latex and foam were the best, but I'm fairly sure that foam will only be comfortable for 6-9 months for, basically, the same price as latex. I'm thinking that I'll do the FBM setup, since it comes in well under sleepez, people here have had success with them, and I'm not convinced whatever quality difference there is is worth $400.
Do I need to buy any kind of fire retardant mattress cover for FBM, or does the terrycloth one that comes with the mattress work? |
| Every latex mattress I have seen for sale online comes with some type of "fire retardent"ness. The altex mattresses generally come with a cotton cover that also has wool quilted into it. Some have wool just on the top, but I've seen others that have wool on the sides as well. A latex bed is heavy and has a high fuel load. With DIY mattress, there are no such rules. You could invest in a wool moisture barrier/puddle pad that may provide some protection. I haven't really seen any pad marketed just for it's fire protection. |
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sleepswithcats wrote: My personal experience test driving latex was that I tried Savvy Rest Firm Firm Medium in both Talalay and Dunlop and I couldn't tell any difference. Don't quote me here, but I think the same ILD for Talalay and Dunlop do not feel the same, with Talalay feeling softer. Either you can search for the data or possibly someone like Phoenix or Budgy will know what the corresponding ILDs are in Talalay and Dunlop for the different firm, soft, etc. Talalay is usually more expensive. I don't know the source of FBM latex. Perhaps someone with experience with FBM knows. Or you could call and ask where they get their latex. http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/post.php?p=14558&q=1 |