Mattress Forum

• Foam is all about bubbles (called foam cells) when they are new mattreses, there wil always be a "conditioning" or break-in process... give yourselves anywhere from 3-6 weeks regardless of latex or memory foam.
• Latex, while still derived from the sap of a rubber tree (unless it is a blend which is chemically the same thing, just manufactured, not natural)
• When lying on your side, you typically have a hip and shoulder depression that will sink farther than your waist, head and knees
• If your body "sinks" in all the right places to make your spine rest in a relatively "straight" line (assuming your pillow is the proper pillow for that mattress)
• I have been teaching people for over 5 years that the spine is about 80% on the bed and about 20% on a pillow.... the right combination is crucial
• Also, if you are buying because someone "told" you this bed or that bed was good, you are doing yourself a disservice
• Ultimately if you are buying a reputable brand (do the research on the brand), it feels comfortable when you first get in (Initial Comfort), it feels good after about 12-15 minutes (long enough to let your back muscles recognize support), you have no mental fears or concerns and it is in the price range you are able to work with.... YOU FOUND THE PERFECT BED!
• If one of those four areas is falling short somehow, see if you can find a bed with similar physical repsonses but at a better price point (for example) then you can still find the right bed for you... price does not determine comfort, but you do get what you pay for (up to  point... after that, you are just payihg for luxury/excess items or features)

Now, the next part is Latex has been used in Europe for over 200 years so it is not "new"  when it comes to beds. What is new is how we Americans like "bigger, softer, better and typically expect higher prices without actually getting a better product.

Latex is derived from the sap of a rubber plant, (but memory foam is derived from petroleum) both need to have their bubbles (foam cells) conditioned in order to feel they way they were designed to feel. If, when you test the bed, it feels too firm... DON'T buy it! If it feels too soft... DON'T buy it! You need to feel comfortable when you test your bed and you need to be comfortable for the entire 12-15 minutes you try it with either your favorite pillow or the one the consultant has helped you find to be the best for your sleep position... if they can't do this... FIND another sleep center.

DO NOT LET SOMEONE TELL YOU WHAT IS COMFORTABLE... let your back (the one who yells at you when you wake up feeling like crap) tell you when it is comfortable.

I hope this has helped and that you Sleep Well "joed"!

Go to the next biggest retailer, Manicini's, they carry Englander latex.  I haven't been impressed or convinced lying on them.

Sears, Penneys and Macys, our major department stores virtually carry no latex models.  Yes, Sears has a Laura Ashley they carry, but it is a convolution of a bit of latex and a bunch of other suspect foams.

btw, the Vera Wangs latex never felt all that good to me in the $1600 price range.  Felt too firm and lot of pushback.

So, I bought a Tempurpedic Cloud at $1450 twin XL set.  Am I taking a risk with it being petroleum based and having a slight odor for quite some time?  Yes I am.  But I needed a mattress I can sleep on both sides on including a shoulder that will never be quite the same.  And this Tempurpedic is all around better than 4 other brand new mattress tried in home this year.  I won't be returning it and I see it lasting for quite a few years.  That's my testimony to Tempurpedic.