Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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Greetings.. I'm in the market for a new mattress and have been wading through all the thoughtful commentary on this board.. There's a lot of technical info within and a lot of folks with a far stronger need/desire to spend the time customizing and re-customizing their mattress for that perfect fit.. With that said, I'm wondering if anyone would take a moment to help answer a few basic questions: 1 - If possible, I'd prefer *not* to go the kit route. If I can walk into a store (in NYC) and buy a quality latex mattress, I'd be thrilled. I've seen the Serta (Vera Wang), Spring Free (Sealy) and Nature's Rest at Sleepy's. (I think I liked the Vera Wang best thus far). I know I can check out the Stearns & Foster and at least a few Englanders and Naturas locally. Given these options, does one brand/line stand out from the others in some meaningful way (e.g. quality of latex or other structural components, lack of PU, etc)? Does one brand/line provide a better standard configuration of latex cores? Or, should I just go with what feels best? 2 - I read somewhere that natural latex could possibly have more of an odor than synthetic. Is this a legitimate concern? 3 - (I posted this seperately too) - I've read it's best to get a firm mattress and put on a topper. Do toppers have a tendency to slide around since they are not sewn to the mattress? I've been told this is the case.. Any help appreciated! |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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wildintheory wrote: I was wondering about this. I've been trying to decide between Sleep-Ez and Flobeds. After a lot of reading, it seems like the Flobeds are, out of the box, softer because of the convoluted topper, even if you order a medium/firm/extra firm combo. I'm leaning towards Sleep-Ez, for purely cost reasons, but I'm a little worried that my choice of medium/firm/extra firm will be a little to firm for us. I really love the idea of a bed kit but I can understand people's hesitation because there is a lot to consider/ choice. Initially I was going to go with SleepEZ also due to cost. I am so, so glad I didn't though as this was our first venture into latex and we are already on our 2nd core exchange and to be quite honest, we ar enot even sure we are going to keep it at all (it depends on how the Super Firm blended foray goes). Based on the research I have done on both companies, they are both reputable companies with mostly positive feedback from their customers. Each has 1 big benefit to call their own - SleepEZ's is price and Flobeds' is their exchange/return policy. However you do get 1 exchange with SleepEZ so you're not totally stuck if the 1st time doesn't work out. I'm not sure if that 1 exchange is 1 core or 1 exchange of unlimited cores ..? On the other point ... We initially got a Medium-Firm-Firm and it was very, very soft in our opinion. I am 6'1" and 170 lbs btw and I will avoid posting my wife's height/weight again because a man can only get away with these things once in a great while. ;-) As a comparison, before we arrived at latex we tried a Simmons World Class Plush-Firm (900 coils or so w/ a "Plush-Firm" Euro Top) and a Tempurpedic Rhapsody. At my height/weight (and the wife's) both of those supported us better than our initial latex configuration (read: no hammocking vs. severe hammocking w/ the latex config we initially selected). |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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I don't know if people should be comparing the "soft" of Flobeds to the "soft" of SleepEZ Really you should be talking in ILD ratings. Flobeds lists their ILD ratings on this page of their site: http://www.flobeds.com/mattspec.htm I can't find the same information at the SleepEZ site. From what I understand, Flobeds sources all of their latex from Latex International, while SleepEZ uses many different manufacturers: http://www.sleepez.com/suppliers.htm So just make sure you are comparing apples to apples when talking about firmness and stuff from site to site. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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MequonJim wrote: I don't know if people should be comparing the "soft" of Flobeds to the "soft" of SleepEZ Really you should be talking in ILD ratings. Flobeds lists their ILD ratings on this page of their site: http://www.flobeds.com/mattspec.htm I can't find the same information at the SleepEZ site. From what I understand, Flobeds sources all of their latex from Latex International, while SleepEZ uses many different manufacturers: http://www.sleepez.com/suppliers.htm So just make sure you are comparing apples to apples when talking about firmness and stuff from site to site. You are so right. I did find the ILD rating for SleepEz but they don't correspond with Flobeds. Thanks for pointing that out. http://sleepez.com/latex-mattress-10000.htm |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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* deleted because I'm sick of all the errors for non-existent files on my web server * This message was modified Jan 18, 2010 by D3Fi
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Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
| Is the mattress casing what they refer to as their Euro Knit cotton and wool cover? I'm still trying to understand the difference in the covers, and when one would be preferred to the other. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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Thanks so much for the photos.. Very helpful.. So, just so I understand.. The topper goes on top of the cores, but still in the mattress case, correct? For those people who have said they don't use the topper, does the mattress casing fit less snugly when you zipper it up? I'm trying to figure out if doing it this way feels differently than a pillowtop mattress that you'd find in a store.. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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D3Fi wrote: On the other point ... We initially got a Medium-Firm-Firm and it was very, very soft in our opinion. I am 6'1" and 170 lbs btw and I will avoid posting my wife's height/weight again because a man can only get away with these things once in a great while. ;-) As a comparison, before we arrived at latex we tried a Simmons World Class Plush-Firm (900 coils or so w/ a "Plush-Firm" Euro Top) and a Tempurpedic Rhapsody. At my height/weight (and the wife's) both of those supported us better than our initial latex configuration (read: no hammocking vs. severe hammocking w/ the latex config we initially selected). If you had it to do over again, would you go with one of the other mattresses? |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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* deleted because I'm sick of all the errors for non-existent files on my web server * This message was modified Jan 18, 2010 by D3Fi
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Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
| I'm interested to hear how you will sleep on 8.4" of 44 ILD talatech. Are you planning to use the convulated topper over it? Otherwise I think it will be way too firm. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
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D3Fi, Count me among those who anxiously await how you like 44-44-44. That's extreme. I have 3 layers of 38 laying on the floor of my living room. I haven't actually tried sleeping on it yet, but the impression I get is that of my butt sinking in but the latex feeling extremely firm under my shoulders. My current innerspring, in contrast, seems to support my butt but let my shoulder blades sink in. Maybe it's just because that's what I'm used to that the innerspring feels more "supportive" and more comfortable? I'm thinking I need to do a zoned layer to firm up the hips and soften up the shoulders. Can you describe the stretch knit cover and give me your impression of it? How thick is the quilted layer? Does it strike you as being of good quality - something that will hold up for 20 years? |