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First off, let me apologize up front for jumping the gun by posting this request for help right away. I've read through random posts over the last 6 pages of this forum, but being as tired as I am its hard to make much sense of it and to go on reading more. I was pretty close to making an uninformed purchase yesterday or today. I was gonna go with either a $700 Serta Trump Home mattress (this was what I considered the high end of my price range) or just go really cheap for now with a lower end $400 Serta mattress. Then I found this forum with the general consensus being that S-brands are crap and now I don't know what to do. The problem is it seems, from what I've read, to get a decent mattress you have to spend $1000+ to get even a decent mattress. That's a little out of my price range, I'm 26, single, and fresh out of college and don't really have that sort of money to spend on a mattress right now. I just need something cheaper that will be nice and comfortable for a good 5-6 years. Anything will be better than my current situation, a $100 8-inch futon mattress that I've had since September. I haven't had a good nights sleep in weeks, I wake up every hour or 2 because its so uncomfortable and I have to to readjust. I took the mattress off the frame the other week because the bars were poking through, but now I just feel the floor through the mattress. For the six years before that, I slept on another $100 futon mattress, but it had springs and was at least comfortable for about a year. Before that I slept on a twin mattress my parents bought me from the age of 3 to the age of 19. So in my 26 years of life, I've had a pretty crappy sleep history. Sorry for going off-topic there, just wanted to share how desperate I am for a good nights sleep. Here are the qualities I'm looking for in a mattress: - Firm to med-firm core (I'm a stomach sleeper) - Reasonably soft upper layers, but don't want to sink into them too far. - Something that doesn't get too hot. I live in Phoenix and I had a girlfriend with a memory foam mattress and couldn't stand it, it got way too hot. Right now I'm leaning towards the cheap $400 mattress, I mean it will last me a couple years at least right? I really don't think I can make it through another week of research, I am just too damn tired. I realize this is my fault for waiting to the last minute. Anyways thanks in advance for any input. |
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I would probably tend towards the latex poly combinations since there are so many unknown variables with memory foam ... particularly what they use as the top memory foam layer and how long it will last. Boyd also tends towards what they call "engineered latex" in their mattresses and many retailers sell them as "latex" when they are not. They are often sold at prices higher than what I believe they are worth even though they seem to have good value on a quick look. I don't know this specific mattress so I can't comment on it specifically though. Memory foam in general is a risky business unless the retailer you are buying it from has a "no questions asked" return policy like costco, sams club etc or unless you know exactly what type of memory foam is being used. The less expensive ones often lose their qualities very quickly. I'm surprised none of them showed you any of their lower end spring mattresses (what I call "throwaways") which can sometimes provide good value (they won't last for a long long time but the price you pay reflects that) however I believe that a poly latex combination would likely be better anyway. I would also ask them the thickness and the ILD of the upper latex layer (to help determine the value you are getting) as well as the thickness and what kind of poly is being used as a support core (the density and type of poly) as this will make a difference in how long it will last. Phoenix PS: If you look at some of the Sealy Embody mattresses, you will find latex poly combinations selling for well over $2000 and even the lowest end insightful mattress only over $1500 "on sale" This message was modified Dec 9, 2010 by Phoenix
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| I went ahead and bought the poly/memory foam from Bed Phoenix. I found it too comfortable to pass up on for the price he was asking. Also R&S had sold the poly/laytex combo I was looking at there. I think ithe one I bought will work out well but it did come with a 60-day comfort return policy if I run into any problems. I'll report back in a few days after I've had a chance to adjust to it. |
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If this is the mattress you purchased (it doesn't say on this site but it's the responda-flex 512) which I suspect it is since Responda-flex is a line that Boyd makes that best fits your description, then I think you did well. The latex is "engineered latex" (resilitex polyfoam which "feels like" latex) but the memory foam is Sensus (not sure what density). If you paid less than $600 for this then you did indeed do well especially with a comfort guarantee. Congratulations! Phoenix PS: as an interesting side note for others who may read this, Foamex no longer lists Sensus as one of it's products on it's website. It appears that Energia has replaced Resilitex and Aerus has replaced Sensus ... at least outside of custom orders. This message was modified Dec 9, 2010 by Phoenix
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FYI, I have the IKEA Malm bed frame, queen size, with the Sultan Lade slats, as was linked in an earlier post. I've done a lot of woodworking as well as furniture design and construction. I would like to build a beautiful bed frame from wood, but this past February my time and money budget was restricted and a friend alerted me that the IKEA frame was on sale ($120) so I went ahead and bought it, planning to use it for a few years. I'm glad I did. It's a very solid and sturdy frame, very efficiently designed. The Sultan Lade slats are non-adjustable and work very well, although an upgrade to the more expensive adjustable slats may offer some additional zoning options. Several months after buying the frame I did some mattress demoing and bought a Stearns and Foster mattress, a luxury firm. It was a huge step up in comfort from my previous mattress but it was just a little too soft when I got it home. I figured it would only get softer and that would be problematic for me as I have a lot of lower back pain. I returned the mattress to Sears and was fortunate to get a full refund. LIke many others on the forum, I too was frustrated with the mattress industry. Then I discovered this forum. At present I do not have the time to do mattress demoing, but for the past many months I have been reading the forum religiously and have learned a great deal. Hopefully in the next few months I will resume my mattress demoing (with the great advice Pheonix has outlined) and make a decision on either a manufactured or DIY mattress.
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Update: I am going to be returning the mattress I bought soon :( Ive had some lower back issues for the past couple weeks. I dont usually have back problems and when I do they never last this long. I've quit sleeping on the mattress already. Don't get me wrong I think the mattress is great and I still love the way it feels, I just don't think it is firm enough for me. I will most likely try the Brooklyn Hannah mattress from R&S next. Btw, the link Phoenix last posted is not the mattress I purchased. My mattress has the word bamboo all over it and does not have the "pillow top". I will try to post a pic if I get a chance. |
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If it wasn't the version I linked ... then this is the only 512 model it could be http://www.boydspecialtysleep.com/assets/Specs/5121-Specs.pdf I think this version of it looks more like what you are describing. Phoenix |
| Thats the one. Its a shame I have to return it because I do find it really comfortable. My back just doesn't seem to like it. |
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My back just doesn't seem to like it. That's not too surprising for a stomach sleeper. I'd probably stick with something that can support you a little more (not memory foam). Probably for the best anyway since the respondaflex 512 (pillowtop version which usually costs the same as the version you have) is available at Sams Club for $498. In some places it's even less but you don't get the return privileges. Costco and Sams club and Walmart have some good value mattresses with latex over poly that could work well for you but of course you wouldn't get to try them first. This one from Walmart for example has 3" of real talalay latex over high quality polyfoam for $699. If you are buying from a local factory direct outlet, it's probably better value to get something that is more unique to them. Much of the value and benefit of buying from a factory direct outlet is lost if you are purchasing a "branded" mattress that is widely available elsewhere. Phoenix This message was modified Jan 4, 2011 by Phoenix
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| Thanks for the last recommendation. If the Brooklyn Hannah from R&S doesn't work out I might go the Walmart route instead. |
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Somewhere along the way I got my mattresses confused, or the salesman was confused. Apparently the Brooklyn Hannah is not a polyfoam core; its laytex on top of a coil spring core. Ive had no luck tracking down one at the various R&S stores so I finally called the factory directly and got this info:
Brooklyn Hannah Core = 13 guage indiviually pocketed coils, with firm polyfoam encasing on the sides, the coil count is ~700 but he was not exactly sure On top of the Core: 1.25 or 1.8 density non-laytex foam to protect the laytex from the coils Top Lyaer: 2" of ~28ILD Laytext. He described this as med feel but said I could custom order one with a higher ILD if necessary Italian Knit Cover Price = $550
Should I give this a try? I think I would have to custom order it, which means I'd have to figure out what ILD I want for the laytex, which I don't really know how to do. Or should I just go with the Walmart bed? It seems decent, but I read some of the reviewss and it seems some people got a good mattress and others got lemons that would never fully expand from the compressed way they were shipped. |