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My current mattress is about 10 years old and is probably due for repalcedment. I have a hard time sleeping sometimes, and don't always wake up refreshed. So I visited a mattress store yesterday and spent about an hour trying just about every bed in the joint. The one I liked the best was the low end Stearns & Foster in a plush. Unfortunately, it was out of my price range. The salesman brought down the price about 25% by using a "clearance" box spring, but I didn't give in. I probably would have had he thrown in free delivery. Decided to "sleep on it." I had read a little bit before going to the store, and was trying to look for stuff like the number of coils and gauge of steel. They didn't have much of that info. I tried the Tempurpedic bed and thought it was nice, but out of my price range. They had a few latex floor models for 50% off. There was one that I liked that seemed a little firmer than the rest, and I think I could have been happy with it. I liked the individual coils the best, but maybe I'm not used to latex or foam? Anyways, I got home and started researching and found that the three-S's are frowned upon and basically scratched them off! I've read through here and found recommendations to search for local mattress companies. I found a few: http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/crown.htm http://indianamattresscompany.com/default.aspx http://www.holdermattress.com/ http://www.holderbedding.net/index.html I can get to the places that carry those beds.. Should I try to find the firmest matress I can and buy toppers? My initial thinking is a firm mattress from a local shop and getting the 2.5" memory foam topper from Sam's club - staying local in case I'm unhappy. Find the lowest gauge steel? Bonnell springs, or open? I've read about the DIY mattress.. like FBM stuff. That's not entirely unappealing. Doing surgery is unappealing though, because I'm a litle clumsy ;) I'd run in to the problem of a foundation (I have a headboard, footboard, and side rails I'd like to keep) with the DIY stuff. It's kinda scary for me to go this route since I can't try the foam or latex before I buy. I don't want to be completely stuck. I'm 6'4" and about 240.. so a big guy. I sleep on my back and side. Anyone care to poke me in a certain direction for further researching? I'm (more than) a little confused right now. |
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:) It's always a good feeling when you have found something you would be happy with and any other looking is "bonus" ... not necessity. I'm assuming that the top was latex over springs? I had a feeling they would have good value. Did you happen to ask the guy if he had mailed me my information? I would also err on the side of firm for the very reasons you gave. Phoenix |
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No, it's foam over the springs. I didn't get the exact specs though. There was one with a few inches of latex over the springs, and aside from the cost, I thought it was too soft for me. Did you call the Anderson store? He gave me a small brochure that he said is several years old. It's more of a "how to pick a good mattress" type thing than a "this is our product" thing. He didn't really have anything that described their product line. He did said that he wants to update the brochure, so maybe you'll get it whenever he gets around to it ;) |
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Oops ... if it's foam over the springs then the value I thought was there isn't ..... although this would depend to some degree on what the foam was. There are better and worse polyfoams with High Resiliency foams being the best. Some of the HR foams are designed to mimic the feel and durability of latex but the jury is still out how close they come on either count. While their latex may have been too soft, there are many different firmnesses of latex which would be similar to whatever was on this mattress. The springs sound very strong though. You could get a Talalay latex over spring mattress or a Talalay latex over HR foam mattress or even a Dunlop all latex mattress or maybe even a Talalay over Dunlop latex mattress for about the same price or at least not much more. That doesn't mean that all latex is the way to go for you ... just that I would tend to avoid polyfoam in the top of a mattress. It would be worth taking a little longer in the search (IMO) than getting something that may not last as long or keep its qualities for as long as you may like. I would at least ask them specifically what the foam was in the top. The other good part of course is that it included a boxspring which an all latex or all foam mattress wouldn't need but an innerspring mattress does (at least to make it perform at optimal levels). The number I phoned was the Anderson store 765-642-1256 and he was sending me specific information on a 2 sided all latex mattress with a 6" core and 1.5" - 2" latex quilting on both sides. I have no idea of the price as he said he would include all that in the mail. Typically a mattress like this could be either firm or soft or anything in between depending on the customer's choice. Phoenix This message was modified Oct 15, 2010 by Phoenix
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More about Indiana Mattress ... I looked on their website and none of American Pedic models have any latex (according to the descriptions there anyway).
The general information about the Classic collection says it uses latex but none of the individual desctiptions mentions any. The Europa collection has models with differing degrees of latex The Miralux collection says it has latex but there are no individual models listed The Origins collection has Latex cores and at least some latex above that. The Charleston in their Hospitality collection had of all things 2 layers of QUILTING FOAM close to the springs. I have no idea why they did this. Other layers of Poly as well.
I looked through my database and found the specs for all of them and discovered that every one of them that has Latex also has at least 2" and usually 3" or more of Polyfoam in them in either the comfort layers or in the quilting. Enough Polyfoam that I would rule all of them out ... the entire IBC line except for the Venus. Interestingly enough, The Venus model has an inch of 8 lb Venus memory foam in it above 3" of 5 lb (probably Sensus) memory foam and the smooth top is the only one in the line that doesn't have any poly above it. I'm mentioning this not because you would be interested but for reference sake because there might be some curiousity about beds with a higher density of memory foam in them. It's also interesting that their Talalay latex uses "telescoping" pins which alters the way that latex compresses and makes the Talalay layer firmer on one side than the other. Too bad that such interesting materials are "spoiled" (again IMO) with such liberal use of Polyfoam. If IBC is the only line they carry, I would rule them out unless you are ok with a lot of polyfoam in a mattress. Phoenix This message was modified Oct 16, 2010 by Phoenix
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BTW ... Beloit mattress company http://www.beloitmattress.com/location.html is in Beloit WI which is close to Rockford WI near the Illinois border. If you work near Fisher, then it is a little more than 5 hours away. That's not much further than the 3.5 hours I drove to lay on the sawgrass mattress at Parklane mattress. It was well worth it for me to see what they had there (latex and otherwise) and I suspect that if you feel like driving that far, that they have quite a selection of different mattresses at Beloit as well. It may be worth calling them and talking to them about what they have and what you are looking for and then deciding if it is worth the drive. Phoenix |
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Thanks for the additional info. I wouldn't be willing to go driving for hours to try a mattress. I think I can find something suitable locally or the DIY route. I went to Walls Mattress, which only sells the Bowles line. I actually bought my current mattress from a different Walls location (the guy said his parents own the other shop, and he probably delivered my current mattress 9+ years ago!), and now that I look, it's actually a Bowles. I hadn't looked until just now, didn't want to be persuaded in my shopping. Too bad I don't still have the receipt or I'd make a warranty claim against the collapsed pillow top ;) The three I liked were: Chantilly - "11" plush top mattress, Visco lumbar support with 522 lura-flex coil unit and high density foam encasement rails." http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/millionaire.htm Kodiak - "11" Plush top mattress, 3/4" Visco elastic foam with dupont cool max fabric and 704 zoned pocketed coil unit. High density foam encasement rails." http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/elite.htm Spectra - "12" plush top mattress, all foam construction with 1" of premium talalay latex." It had a 5 7/8" base layer of firm foam, then a 2" layer of super soft, and then 1" of Later Internationl Talatech. None of the three are more than $900 w/ delivery and haul away, IIRC. None were double sided - he said he doesn't feel the double sided mattresses are necessarily better. I tried a couple that were and I didn't like them. They use foundations, not box springs. He offered a 30 day comfort guarantee if I buy a mattress cover from him and use it. I think I liked the feel of the Spectra the best, the foam one with latex on top. The Kodiak and Chantilly pretty much had the same soft top, just different coils - the pocket coil felt a little better. I couldn't much tell the difference between them. There was the Sapphire http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/backmaster.htm which felt too firm, but I think it had less foam. It may be fine with my own latex topper? Its coil unit was different style than the Chantilly and Kodiak. It looks like I have to go up to a higher end ($$$) line to get latex over coils or all latex. We didn't look at those. This message was modified Oct 16, 2010 by perryw
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| Oh, and he gave me a pillow to carry around and try the different mattresses with, instead of the decorative "pillow" things. It was a latex pillow and I fell in love with it. Bought one on the spot! Latex Green Ergo Soft.. Most I've ever spent on a pillow at $59, but, wow.. felt great! |
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"It looks like I have to go up to a higher end ($$$) line to get latex over coils or all latex. We didn't look at those." I wouldn't pay $900 for any of the choices you mentioned. I think the least of them had close to 3" of polyfoam in it (most of it supersoft), and any of the better layers (visco and/or latex) were very thin and surrounded by "lesser stuff". You are a big guy and while your weight is probably evenly spread out, I can't help but think that you would be heading for problems with any of them. I would tend to use your experience at Bowles as something that you are gaining experience in what you like rather than approaching it as trying to decide what to buy from them. I would certainly try the higher end mattresses to get a sense of the better mattress constructions that fit you. This may be the most important thing you do there. Armed with this, you will be in a much better position to decide on a direction. I would also pay particular attention to your spinal alignment as it seems you are being drawn to some pretty soft configurations. An inch or so of some of the newer HR super soft poly in the quilting may not be so bad as they are pretty resilient and durable (if they are the best foams) but if you add that to more layers of soft or even firmer but lower quality poly foam in the comfort layers, you may be heading for some "issues". If you do decide to go with a mattress with more than 1" of poly foam in it, I personally would make darn sure I knew the details of exactly what they were (density, ild, type etc) ... and I do mean specifically rather than "salesman mattress talk" generally. Phoenix This message was modified Oct 16, 2010 by Phoenix
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Since these are both mentioned here http://www.furnituretoday.com/blog/Bedding_Today/22556-Consumer_Reports_ratings_shake_things_up.php And are rated quite highly, it is worth including them as a reference point to help you compare what you are looking at to other similar (or better) mattresses. They both have specs and prices on their site so it will be easier to compare apples to apples. http://www.originalmattress.com/product-and-pricing http://www.furniturerow.com/DenverMattressCo/ In my opinion they both have models with great value. Unfortunately the "original mattress company" only ships in the East. That and the fact that they had already been mentioned a fair bit before was the only reason I didn't include them on my previous list. Phoenix This message was modified Oct 16, 2010 by Phoenix
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Well, that's certainly discouraging! I've stayed away from all the pillowtops and eurotops, am I really looking at things that are that soft? There was a mattress there with 3" of latex on the top, a step up from the Spectra, and it felt too soft to me. I was a little off on the specs of the Spectra - http://www.bowlesmattress.com/html/latex-foam.html and it was the Mystique next to it. I now understand that neither are very desirable.. at least I think I do. What I "need" to be looking for is something with just springs and latex? It shouldn't mention any other kind of foam, right? I guess I've gotten a little lost again.
The mention of OMF and Denver came while I was typing.. Which at OMF is "acceptable"? They have a store that is "only" 2.5 hours away.. This message was modified Oct 16, 2010 by perryw
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