it did basically nothing the package said it would do

* package said it would be supportive - I sank so far into that 2.5" gel foam topper, it was ridiculous.  Granted it was on top of a latex bed, but I sank far into the foam too.

* Package said it wouldn't sleep hot - I was cooking hot that night.  Where is the air supposed to go anyway?  Was there any airflow channel? No

* Pack said it would have great pressure relief - oh nooo it didn't

So, the Sleep Innovations topper got returned the next day.

Is it plush when it's warm and ultra firm when it's cool? 

Are you using a mattress pad on the mattress? 

Not supposed to use any kind of fiber filled mattress pad on memory foam mattresses. 

Just use a super thin Protect a Bed type of mattress pad.

Then you are  left with buying crap that will need to be thrown away way before two years.

NovaForm Gel redux.

I have seen many complaints about TP,about 15% of customers, but don't recall one saying that they bought direct from TP or a major retailer and refused to honor the 90 try it /return it if you don't like it guarantee.

I think the minimum is IComfort or $1200 or so on a DIY/generic latex bed or $1000 or so on a DIY memory foam bed.

$500 buys a POS mattress in 2011.

 

OK, this is not a topper, it is a 12" mattress as stated above. Kind of hard to compare the two.

No, there is very little give at all times, it just gets like a rock in cooler weather. Basically, it goes from firm to extra firm. Not exactly how it is described or was designed as far as I am concerned.

When I lay in it, I barely sink, even after several minutes, and I am 185lbs.

We just have a protect a bed. NO mattress pad.

As I said, there is no major retailer anywhere near me, much less a TP factory store. I might have to take the 2 hr ride (each way) to a major city and find a TP factory store or reputable chain type store. I will be calling Tempurpedic directly tomorrow and getting straight facts about their return policy. There is no way I am laying out $2500-3000 just to "try" a bed for <90 days and then when it doesn't work out, and we have to return it, we lose 10% + tax. I can't afford to just throw away $400 to try out a bed.

As for the iComfort, you do realize it is made by Sleep Innovations, the same company that makes the Novaform, right? And BTW, if you can find an iComfort Revolution or whatever they call it for $1200 in a King size, please let me know, as I will buy it just to try it out. A King size is WELL into the $2K range without an adjustable base.

DIY foam is not going to happen. Why would I take the chance on an unknown feel if we are having trouble with a known memory feel? That makes zero sense.

Sooooooo, I decided to check out Tempurpedics "warranty" and guess what? Just as suspected.

Here is why, copied right from their website. Highlights I found in bold.

90 Day Tryout

Here’s how it works:

• Buy a Tempur-Pedic® mattress from us, on our website or by phone.
• We'll deliver your mattress and set it up in your home.
• Sleep on our new mattress for 30 nights to get used to the amazing comfort and support it offers.
• If you're not happy in the first 90 days after your purchase, call us. Our Customer Service staff will work with you to answer your questions and resolve your concerns.
• If we can't find a way to make you happy, we'll take the mattress back and reimburse your purchase price, less the initial shipping costs.

This tells me that you have to buy directly from them and if you don't like it, call them and their staff will try and convince you to keep the mattress. If you refuse, they will take it back as long as you pay them the "shipping and handling" fees. You lose the tax, no matter what.

So, in further reading, there is this..........

90 Night Tryout details

• Our 90 Night Tryout is exclusive to Tempur-Pedic, and covers mattresses purchased direct from us, on our website or by phone. Tempur-Pedic mattresses purchased from retail stores are not covered by the Tempur-Pedic 90 Night Tryout.
• The 90 Night Tryout covers the mattress plus foundation. Ergo adjustable bases, bed frames, pillows, cushions, linens and accessories do not qualify.
• Return shipping fees may apply if you took advantage of a free shipping offer. Shipping fees are based on mattress weight, and generally range from $200 to $325.

Pretty cut and dry. If you buy from ANY retail store, there is NO 90 day trial, period. No matter how much BS a store tells you. If a store "offers" it they are full of sh!t and you are at their mercy to honor what they tell you.

If you buy it from TP directly, you can return it for a cost "generally" in the $200-$325 range. King size of course is more, probably much more. Oh, and if you purchased an adjustable foundation, or pillows, etc, you are stuck with them, period. NO returns.
 

I had a feeling it was all hype and obviously, their 90 day trial is just that. Unless of course you want to pay full retail (without all the extra stuff a store would throw in) AND you want to throw away upwards of $400 if you don't like it before the trial period ends. And be stuck with an adjustable base (if you bought one) that is now useless without a foam bed.

I know that, I'm just saying I had a real good sampling of the touted Sleep Innovation gel memory foam in the form of a topper.  I'm assuming the latex was doing its job acting as  a core foam.

I would think in your 12" mattress, the gel memory foam is at the surface and is about 2" or so thick.

But, yeah, there not identical.  Costco does not make a twin XL, so I never considered them.
 

Here's a description of the Costco deluxe 12" Novaform mattress -

'The top layer is our 2.5" premium memory foam, for a balanced combination of cradling comfort and gentle support – with the revolutionary addition of NutraFresh™ treatment, for lasting freshness and no "new foam smell."  The 2.5" middle layer is made of deeply sculpted premium foam, for dramatically improved air circulation and firm support. And the 7"  bottom layer is made of premium base foam which adds stability and therapeutic support.'

Ok, so there's only 2.5" of memory foam, total in the mattress.  That's not much.  And it's Sleep Innovations memory foam which is NOT Tempurpedic memory foam.

Then there's a 2.5" layer of regular foam that provides 'firm support'.  I think that's the problem.  Just a bit of memory foam, then a firm support layer just underneath.  Sounds like an iComfort genius which always felt too firm to me in the store.   Don't think I'd like this Novaform mattress either.

I have no experience with that mattress (or with memory foam), but before buying a different mattress, would you want to try adding either a soft topper -- soft latex, soft memory foam, featherbed, or polyfill (like the Cuddlebed) -- or an electric heated mattress pad? (Or both?) 

Costco offers a variety of toppers, and I see on their Web site that they have a heated mattress pad on sale now.

Some sort of wool topper or pad might also help you retain heat.