Help considering DIY setup.
Mar 10, 2009 1:32 PM
Joined: Mar 10, 2009
Points: 7
We have the typical 8 year S brand bed that has had divots for at least 7 years, its so bad we don't even bother to flip it anymore.  We went to a store and I told the salesman I didn't want a bed that was going to get divots, so he showed me select comfort and vera wang.  The airbeds still felt like camping air mattress.  And the wife and I liked the vera wang.  My wife loved the latex pillow.  My wife likes the soft beds I like the firm beds.  But we both felt pretty comfortable with the firmest vera wang they had.  She prefers soft when she tests a bed but thinks a harder bed would be better for her since she never really sleeps very well.  I am 6'2 195 lbs she is 5'6 150 lbs.  So I have a few Qs  As a side note neither of us liked the memory foam bed.

1. Could I really expect to get 20 divot free years out of an S brand latex mattress, like the salesman claims?

2. how many years should I expect out of a foam by mail mattress?

3. How does this combo sound?  All from foam by mail.  King size:  6 inch talay latex firm mattress, 1 inch soft latex topper, 1inch medium latex topper, and a costco cuddlebed.  About $843  How would this feel compared to the firm vera wang?  I like with this setup I can cut the two toppers and give my wife the two softs and me the two mediums if it was too firm for her.

4.  What about this combo?  FBM again.  lux-r firm convential foam 5 inches, 2 1inch latex medium toppers, 1 soft latex topper, and a cuddle bed.  total cost around $500  I like this option because the cost is lower, since I am a little concerned about how a diy mail order matteress is going to work out, so I could minimize losses if its a bust.  And I could order another 1 inch soft topper for even more adjustability.  She could have 3 softs 1 medium, and I could have 3 mediums, 1 soft etc.  Once again how would this compare to the vera wang?

Re: Help considering DIY setup.
Reply #13 Jun 4, 2009 11:06 PM
Location: Yosemite area
Joined: Sep 10, 2008
Points: 249
Before selecting a Vera Wang bed, you should research to find out what is inside it exactly.  Chances are, it is springs with lots of layers of foam on top.  You don't even get down to the springs in these beds when you lay on them...all you feel is the foam.  Foam breaks down faster than springs do. 
It is so difficult to order a bed sight unseen, never touched, on suggestion alone.  Have you tried finding a bedmaker in a town near you to see what they have to offer?  If you liked the Vera Wang, maybe they could make something with better foam and less of it that you both would like.  Plus, they can make a bed with a zip-open top so you can play with your own foam if you want to.  These beds often are less expensive than the major manufacturers because they have no middlemen.
Personally, I like offset coil springs topped with burlap, then cotton batting, then minimal foam...latex is a good choice because it wears longer than P/U.
Good luck,
Kait
Re: Help considering DIY setup.
Reply #14 Mar 15, 2012 7:55 PM
Joined: Mar 10, 2009
Points: 7
ok I am back, 3 years later, we finally ditched the old foam pillow top portion from our 11 year old S brand bed.  So I am looking to add some more soft latex, however our foam by mail pillows are starting to crumble pretty bad and the FBM latex looks like it is getting ready to crumble.  Is this normal?  I was thinking the latex would last longer....  Please advise?  the 11 year old s brand latex layers we scavenged from the old matters still look like they are in good shape.