Mattress Forum

This whole Obusforme thing is one big joke however, Obusforme does actually make some of their own products but nothing really mattress related.  They simply license their name to whoever wants to use it, in this case Spring Air.  This particular model is basically the same materials they use in other beds rebranded as "obus" foam, the reason it is more expensive is likely the licensing fee for using their name and/or increased profit margin for the manufacturer/retailer.  Even the coil system is labelled as "obus" product however Spring Air has been using that same pocket coil for quite some time in many different beds over the years.

Perhaps some others can chime in on their thoughts. 

Can you tell us what your ultimate goal is in buying a new mattress, and what is important to you?

that i think could be because of my sleeping habits. Im just looking for a good sleep :)

The challenge with these thicker pillowtop mattresses is that they will probably give you an improved nights sleep, although just temporarily.  The more cheap polyurethane foam in a mattress the quicker it is going to break down and you essentially have a worn out mattress again, every layer in this mattress other than the latex falls under this category. 

You may want to see if there is a good natural bedding/mattress store located near you.  I am not going to say cart blanche that they will be the best option for you, however one of the few studied ways of helping people sleep better by using different materials is natural fibres.  Wool in particular actually can help some people sleep deeper as it can help to steady your heart rate by keeping moisture away from your body.  If you dont go this route I would suggest looking at a more basic non pillowtop model with a similar innerspring as it will last longer.

Quality wise as mentioned, on par with other mainstream manufacturers.

Just make sure, you paid the right price for it.

Particularly this part

"The challenge with these thicker pillowtop mattresses is that they will probably give you an improved nights sleep, although just temporarily.  The more cheap polyurethane foam in a mattress the quicker it is going to break down and you essentially have a worn out mattress again, every layer in this mattress other than the latex falls under this category. "

"Challenge" is a very nice way of putting it (smiling). Cheap mattresses are not always so cheap if you measure them in any terms besides the initial price you pay.

There are options in "inexpensive" mattresses that have much better value IMO.

Phoenix

PS: None of those "better options" come from a major (or big 3) company whose name starts with an "S"

I, too, was alarmed after reading the reviews of Spring Air mattresses on line. (I read them AFTER buying mine). However, my sense it that there are many, many different models offered by Spring Air and this particular one hasn't been on the market for long; hence, the complaints we've read to date refer to older models. I also found this info, which might help clear up matters with respect to Spring Air's relationship with Obus Forme (note the final sentence):

"TORONTO (06 April 2010) - Canadian bedding producer Spring Air Sommex (SASC) has acquired the North American rights to produce and market the Obus Forme branded lines of mattresses and is now making them available to retailers in this country. We've acquired the brand exclusively," SASC chief marketing officer Valerie Stranix said in an interview. Headquartered in Toronto, Obus Forme produces a wide range of products that are "engineered for the body" and is perhaps most famous for its line of back supports for office chairs. Among its other well known offerings is a line of ergonomically-designed pillows for both sleeping and travel as well as mattress pads and back packs, among others.Like other Obus Forme products, Stranix said the mattresses were developed and designed in consultation with chiropractors and the line is endorsed by the Canadian Chiropractic College."

The layers it has outlined (even though what is on the website is not the actual order of the layers) explain why it feels good. It's a "whole bunch" of soft polyfoam. The kind that feels great in a store and perhaps for a while after that.

The real problem with mattresses like this though is that they usually don't feel so good in the long term. This is partly because over several nights some people may notice that what felt good for "comfort" didn't feel so good for "alignment" and they end up with a sore back and partly because this type of foam (all except the VERY thin layer of latex) will break down very quickly and lose the qualities that made it feel comfortable at the beginning ... even if your alignment on it was good.

A "chiropractors association" endorsement is dime a dozen stuff and is really nothing more than an excuse to charge more for the mattress. Any mattress with a "zoned" innerspring could probably pay for such an endorsement. The problem here is that zoning or mattress construction is so individual that in many cases "chiropractor endorsed" mattresses cause more back issues than they solve. It is all about marketing and "extracting money" from a consumer's wallet.

In the "old days" mattresses like this were made 2 sided so they could be flipped which somewhat relieved the issues involved in foam breakdown (to some extent anyway), but now you mostly can't even do this.

It's a "good thing" that you like your mattress and I truly hope that you are the exception. I would suggest though that you pay very close attention to alignment issues in the beginning (not thinking "oh I'll get used to it" or "it must be just me because a chiropractor's association endorsed it so how could it cause a back issue") so that if it becomes necessary that you are able to do an exchange within the time frame they allow for a mattress with less polyfoam. The springwall they sell is such a mattress (though it still has too much) even though it is less in price. It would be easier to "fix" and "customize"  with a quality topper than the spring air. Other options may be better yet.

I should also add that "Budgy" has had many years of practical "hands on" experience with what happens a few months or years down the road with mattresses like this and is very knowledgeable about the "insider" parts of the mattress industry ... including "chiropractor and "obus" connections and endorsements. I don't believe that he even carries any "S" brands or anything like them anymore.

Phoenix

PS: I'm very much with you on your "darkness" suggestion and on the other side certain types of "light" (such as full spectrum) can help as well.

Budgy:

Is that true?  I read that at the website someone mentioned for wool futons.  I can see that being true if you are not in pain too.  That is why I am trying so hard to make the Dormia work, because I do sleep cooler, but the hip pain may stop me from succeeding.  If I can't compensate with something different underneath.

I certainly agree about the cheap poly foam breaking down in record breaking time (my words and opinion from past experience).

The naturaworld site links to 2 studies (one by a wool manufacturer)

and this is one about wool and fibromyalgia http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2008.0456?prevSearch=allfield%253A%2528sleep%2529&searchHistoryKey=

Maybe the "secret" to your pressure issues is to just sleep in thick wool pyjamas on top of your Dormier and forget completely about mattress construction (smiling)

Phoenix

I was actually on my way to check out a Keetsa mattress when I noticed the SALE sign at the Brick Mattress store. Driven by emotion (I couldn't stand the idea that my IKEA mattress might be causing me pain) not to mention an excellent sales pitch and hefty discount, I made a snap decision to buy the Spring Air. This is the first time I've even made a major purchase without doing research BEFORE I sealed the deal.

I have to say that I find it so very difficult to make sense of online reviews. For every glowing endorsement, there's a red-hot rant. Even the so-called unbiased consumer report sites contradict one another. 

You said that there might be some better options...could you please specify? I'm 5'7'', 117 pounds and, as I mentioned in my original post, have recently been experiencing hip and buttocks pain (and outer thigh sometimes). Looking for something supportive yet comfy for the bony parts. Also, I don't mind spending more on quality. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. On another note, my sister, whose the same size as me, swears by her new Tempurpedic bed on which she apparently no longer tosses or turns all night long. Personally, I'm weary of the brand because I've read that the honeymoon doesn't last, something I've experienced with my Tempurpedic pillow...plus there's the whole issue of heat retention).