Mattress Forum

As I understand it from this forum, the major properties of latex seem to be that it is more antimicrobial (hypoallergenic?), does not wear out as fast as coil or foam mattresses, and has more "spring" to it than memory foam or Tempur-pedic. The longevity isn't as important a factor as whether I like the feel of something, and thus far, I haven't ever *seen* any latex mattresses. None of the salespeople in the mattress stores have even mentioned them, although they were happy to show us a range of traditional and Tempur-pedic. The closest I have come is a 3" square of latex on a Tempur-pedic display used for comparison. I do like the Tempur-pedic/MF "sinking feeling," like melting into a bed and being comfortable enough not to want to move. I don't know if latex has that same feel.

Bottom line, we need to buy something ASAP. We already have our new bedroom all set up, minus a mattress, and have been sleeping in our guest room since August. It's time to pull the trigger on something and I kind of had it narrowed down to "something like what we have" and "something like a softer Tempur-pedic." :-)

It sounds like others have found the Costco Ara too soft - which was my ONLY concern with that one myself. I will do as you suggest, call Costco and find out the foam density on the Sleep Science 10". If it weren't for Costco's return policy, there is no way I would purchase something I've never actually lain on. My indecisiveness between the Cloud and Cloud Supreme is a perfect example of that... they feel different and I could never tell that from any description.

In my own limited hands-on, or more like whole-body-on, experience, the way I would explain the difference between the two types of foams is that Latex feels like sleeping on cotton and memory foam like sleeping on sand. You sort of float around on the latex, but sink in and are ensconced by the memory foam.

Of course, those are generalizations based on the one latex mattress I had (which was only latex on the upper 50%) which I slept on for two weeks,  and the one TP mattress I've slept on for one week. (and that one has a layer of latex in the middle!). So, YMMV.

I did notice in all of my shopping that the TP brand of MF does feel different from all of the generic stuff out there. It definitely has a higher quality feel to it. More of the "slow resiliency" effect. Denser. Heavier.

Also, Talalay processed Latex has more of the soft, cushy feel you may desire vs. the dunlop process which is akin to whale blubber. (Some refer to Dunlop as marshmallowey. But, their local supermarkets must sell some pretty old, dense marshmallows.)

I promise to report back once we purchase the mattress and foundation, and let you know how it's panning out! Sounds like assembling the foundation for the Emma can be a challenge.

...the Tempur-Pedic Cloud!

Not the Supreme ... I definitely thought that would be too soft. Just the regular. We got free delivery, two free Tempur-pedic pillows, and a free thin waterproof mattress topper, and they took away an old mattress. With tax, the total came to just over $1900.

I know the Cloud isn't for everyone but it's the one I kept returning to in the stores. Just felt right.

As promised, I will update and review.

Gaddygirl: If you don't mind and please tell me from which place di dyou but the cloud?

what size is it? King size?

did you also buy the foundation too?

what method did you us eto pay them? Check?

good luck

Thanks.

http://www.factorymattressusa.com/

Not sure why you want to know how we paid, but if you must know, it was by credit card.

And, did you have to sign a little piece of paper, or did they have one of those touchscreens?

What were the delivery guys wearing?

Good questions. thanks gary.

Also what were the ladies wearing? Lipstick color? haha...

Right after we bought it, we were at the beach for three nights on a springy older coil mattress. Last year on this same mattress, I had a hard time. This year, I brought along the Tempur-Pedic pillow that came with our new mattress, and my sleep was MUCH better. I don't think I will leave the house without this pillow again!

OK, so we're back home, and have spent three nights on the new mattress. The name "Cloud" is a misnomer - to me, it feels more like sleeping on Play-Doh. I have been waking up a little stiff; but on the plus side, my vertebrae don't need to "pop" in the morning as with other mattresses. Also, I don't toss and turn as much. But I do not LOVE my new queen mattress... in fact I am having thoughts of sneaking back into the guest bedroom and cheating with the Sealy Posturepedic double mattress that we do both love.

The problem I'm having right now is that my husband seems to really hate the new bed but is too nice to come out and say it. This morning he reported that his lower back (small of his back) hurt. This man NEVER has back trouble, so that concerns me. He has mentioned several times that the bed "seems kind of hard" and "I guess I'll get used to it after twenty years."

Unless something happens in the next 10 days and we both adapt, I gotta try something different.

If we return the mattress, we will get zapped with about a $200 restocking fee, plus buying the pillows (expensive but I'll do it!) and waterproof mattress cover (which is fine with me but again, expensive, maybe $50+) We paid $1800 so I will guess we will have about $1400 in store credit. That would buy another Sealy Posturepedic Plush (the aforementioned "devil we know") that is very comfortable to us.

The first thing I am willing to try is putting a thin layer of something softer on top. Don't know what... and don't know if that would completely negate any positive effects of having a Tempur-pedic. I guess I will check out Sleeplikeabear. I know a lot of people put latex toppers on, but I'm not sure what the best "softening" layer would be to try on a Tempur-pedic. Memory foam from Overstock or Costco?

This is the second mattress I have bought within a year that is turning out too firm for comfort.