We decided to get a new mattress a month or so ago, and like most people got thoroughly confused by all of the mattress hype. We got onto the latex idea, and instead of getting a pure latex mattress, ended up buying a JCPenney's Simmons new hope danny seo pillowtop mattress. At first we thought wow, this is great, but after a few weeks I started to have a lower back ache (where I never had one in the past). So I knew it was the bed. Its too soft for me. I am a stomach sleeper (150lbs) and my wife (140lbs) is a side sleeper who actually seems to like this bed. I can tell you that this bed is pure hype and only has two inches of Talalay latex way down under about fourteen layers of something else. In other words what is really doing the work is the top layer. We had a 30 day trial and are going to see if they will give us a credit for this bed for some other furniture, I think they will do this. It was about $2000. They must be making a lot of money on this product. It looks nice, but that is all. I do like the latex idea and see such a wild range of prices it is confusing. What I am thinking about is letting the foambymail company make me a 9" mattress with 6" of firm (33-38ILD) and then topped with either 2" or 3" of half soft latex topper for my wife (side sleeper) and half medium latex topper for me. This looks like just under a thousand bucks and I would have to get a foundation somewhere, which I could probably find locally. Is this a reasonable scenario that would work for a stomach and side sleeper? What are other combos that might be as good. I do see that foambymail is mentioned as being a reliable company by most of the people that have actually bought something from them. Any help or other foam sources would be appreciated. Bill in Oregon This message was modified Oct 25, 2008 by BillB
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Hey Chase, Good for you. When did you order your mattress? What are you doing for a foundation? This is another issue that is coming up for me that is of prime importance, especially since I already have a bedframe. It seems the best way to really do this process is to choose the mattress first and then work with the foundation and bedframe but who would even think about those kinds of things ahead of time unless.... I keep going back to that same config that you ordered after all I've seen and felt. Medium core and soft topper. I do not like a rock hard bed, I just don't want one that is way too soft. There is a foam store, A-1 Foam, which BTW is the only one I could find in Portland, way out on Stark that had a nice piece of 6" 29 ILD Talalay that we tried out and it felt more than firm enough for both of us. They also had a 2" topper and together they felt good. But of course this was just a 10 minute try out in the store. Then the mattress guy, Mulligan Mattress had what he called a 6" medium Dunlop core with a 2" topper and this felt about the same and also did not seem too hard or too soft. Again, this was just a 10 to 15 minute try out and not the full 6 to 8 hours that you would get by sleeping on it. We went to JCP yesterday and picked out the replacement furniture that equalled the original bed's cost and it will come the day after Thanksgiving, then this current bed will be picked up, so I need to make a decision soon or we'll be sleeping on air mattresses..... I will have to say after all is said and done, JCP is not a bad place for furniture. My latest thinking is: 2 - XL Twin 6" cores of medium Latex from FBM, topped with 1 - 2" soft latex topper. I will stuff this into one of their terrycloth covers, I would think the 78" width on this would fit in the cover OK. This will be a touch more money but will have two added advantages; it will be easier to move around, and will allow me to exchange one or both if they are not firm enough. Foundation - I need 5 1/2" - 6" of something not solid, but firm and supportive, to get the mattress level up to the sides of the bedrails that I have, then the mattress will be able to hang over just a touch on each side (1/2") and be OK. I think I can get one of these from a local mattress store which are selling the short foundations for the extremely tall mattresses we see in every store now. I don't think sheets will be a problem with a finished product of 78" X 80". It's funny, the more I read on here, the more unsure I am of the config I should need. But I have to learn to read between the lines also and know that we don't really have a major sleep problem and that there are in reality probably many combinations of springs, foams, foundations, etc that would work for us. Bill This message was modified Nov 17, 2008 by BillB
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Bill, you're driving yourself crazy and I understand completely, cause I've done it myself! Since you don't have any back problems that you are aware of, just go ahead and order what felt best to you. If you have any lingering doubts go back to one of the stores and take a longer lie down. Nothing is quite like actually spending a whole night on a mattress but after lying there for a half hour or so you start to feel any lack of support that might exist for you. A good rule of thumb is the fidget factor. If you find yourself moving around a lot trying to get comfortable it's the wrong mattress for you. If you lie down and feel like you could just fall asleep right then and there, that means you body is relaxed and comfortable. You can usually find foundations in 2,4, 6 and 8" heights depending on how high you need to elevate the mattress. Discount mattress stores are your best bet for price and availability. Basically they are all pretty much boxes with fabric covered cardboard over the top. Why spend any more than you have to? I bought my foundation this way and the sales guy took me back into the warehouse and let me pick out the one I wanted. Then they delivered it to my house within two hours. The price was $89 for a full. The one that matched my mattress would have been $200. And since both pieces would never see the light of day after they were covered with mattress pads, sheets and bed skirts, the fact that they don't exactly match is really irrelevant. Don't make yourself insane. You've obviously thought about it enought. Just do it! |
I know, I know I know..... but this is just who I am. I usually process by trying to keep my mind as open as possible and try out all the possibilities.... and then finally make the decision based on what I see as best at the time. Now this one is just a little different. But I did make a decision and went back to my original gut feelings. I ordered on Monday: 1 King 6" Medium ILD Latex core - Foambymail - $580 1 King 2" Soft ILD Latex topper - Foambymail - $185 1 King terry cloth mattress cover from Foambymail - $20 upcharge 1 KIng all-cotton (heavy) mattress cover from ShopSatin.com (spare cover) - $23 2 XL twin Englander 7" foundation pieces (very nice for the price, from a local store) - $190 Grand total for 8" King sized latex, with foundation and extra cover - $998 - WOW! Now - I wait. And keep my fingers crossed. At the worst, I'll have a nice bed to sell on Craigslist! No, I think it will work or it may need a slight adjustment in the form of a mattress pad topper, or maybe even another piece of HD foam underneath. But we'll see. It might be perfect as it is. Thank you and to all the folks that I've read on here. I appreciate your postings. I have learned alot and just wish I'd of had this earlier, I could have saved myself some time and money. But its OK the way it is. I want to hear how Chase's setup went. Chase if you could email me, look at my profile in the next day or two for my address. Bill |
Bill, This is my first post, but I've been reading yours with great interest because I've also been researching latex mattresses and I think I'm as crazy as you ... totally obsessed!! The configuration you just purchased from foambymail is similar to what I was thinking of. However, I'm several months off from actually making a purchase. Please follow up and tell us how everything turns out. Thanks to you and everyone else on this forum. It's a great site. Ilene |
Bill, I look forward to seeing your post regarding your arrival and set up of your new bed. I am almost ready to purchase similarly and might buy a core from a local retailer/manufacturer in the Greater Toronto Area at www.foamite.com. But I am going to consider purchasing my Latex from www.foambymail.com Your post has given me an idea that I thought was missing. Thanks. Jazz. |