Looking to buy new, low priced mattress - Any Ideas?

[sager66]

For clarification . . the product description states:
"ECO latex twin mattress is made from 2-inches of natural latex on 6-inches of high density foam"
If you have actually read several hundred forum postings, seems like you would already be familiar with opinions on bases for latex.

 

[archik100]

After reading up at least a few hundred pages on this forum, I cannot bring myself to buy a "S" mattress. However I still can't bring myself to spend $1k+ on my mattress.

What what I read on the forum it seems that latex would be the best way to go. What do you guys/gals this of the following mattress from overstock, which is the lowest price I've seen for a latex mattress.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/E.C.O.-8-inch-Latex-Twin-size-Mattress/3227638/product.html?cid=123620&fp=F&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11340482

Also, if I do buy this one, should I buy a boxspring to go underneath it, or is this fine on a wooden baseboard?

Many thanks!,

Ben

 

[cloud9]

This is basically a PU foam mattress with a 2" latex topper. They don't tell you what the ILD of the latex is-- or even what the ILD of the foam base is. They don't even mention if there's a warranty on it. What worries me the most is that you can't return it once you pop the vacuum packing and let it expand to its actual size. If you find it's too soft or too hard or it winds up giving you a backache your stuck with it.
Check out foambymail.com. You can buy an all latex twin mattress for about $300 or you can build one with a 6" HR base and a 2" topper with your choice of ILDs for less money than the Overstock mattress. Plus you have the option of returning or exchanging it.
Lastly, never mind Sager. He hates it when people ask questions. If you already have a boxspring you could try it, but foam mattresses general work better on slats (no greater than 3 or 4" between) or a solid surface foundation. Wood would be fine unless you live in a very humid climate. If so I'd go with slats to allow air to circulate and avoid mold.

 

[Kait]

If you are looking for a twin mattress, it should be well under 1K no matter what you buy. I had a custom double(full)mattress for my daughter, same company, for right at $600. Flippable mattress and foundation.
I'd shop around, lay on mattresses and find what is comfortable to you before I'd buy anything sight unseen. Latex is great...but I personally don't like it. It sleeps hot and isn't supportive for my body type(lots of curves.
Kait

 

[archik100]

@Sager, Whoops, I didn't notice the foam part.

cloud9 wrote:
>Check out foambymail.com. You can buy an all latex twin mattress for about $300 or you can build one with a 6" HR base and a 2" topper with your choice of ILDs for less money than the Overstock mattress. Plus you have the option of returning or exchanging it.

I did look around FBM but I'm quite confused on what combination I should take. Can you help me with any possible combination ideas?

Also, does buying off craigslist seem like a good idea? or not?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Sabra]

Hi Ben,

I bought my Sealy latex mattress off Craig's list about 6 months ago; I happened to see the very one I wanted to purchase new but didn't have the bucks (2 boys in college right now). It had been used a year and too hard for the young couple who bought it. It was in great condition and cost 1/5 of the retail price. Some people can't handle the thought of a used mattress, for a number of reasons. Because it was clean and in perfect condition, I considered mine a heavenly gift!

I got it home and it indeed was too hard, even through the one I was replacing was even harder. Once I added a couple toppers it's been fine. Most folks are selling mattresses because they are not supportive enough due to the cheap PU foam layers that have created indentions which end up hurting your back by morning. I'd guess 90% or more used, surplus or outlet mattresses fall in this category. You must do the hard work of educating yourself and knowing exactly what you need and who makes it and what a good deal is, once you know you don't mind buying used.

Knowing about Foam by Mail is a huge blessing. Their products can make a hard mattress work for you, but not the other way around. Best of luck.

 

[archik100]

@Sabra,

I need quite a few mattressess for my kids right now, so I'm feeling some liberty in choosing as I'm sure one of then is probably going to like it. I just purchased a Latex Firm twin sized mattress from FBM for $315. The price does seem to be too good to be true. The other reviews seem to be fine here though.

Only this: http://forums.avguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=584

I'll let you all know how this goes with me and will then consult with you all for the other ones. (I think I'll need a total of at least 5.)

Ben

 

[jenny]

as an owner of a manufactor, i could get you a good deal and definatly under 1 k , and believe me its brand new and duarable. im located in los angeles . where are you located?

 

[archik100]

I'm in New York. Shipping should not be a problem. If you can roll it up well, you can ship it on my account with UPS. As a business owner myself, I ship a fairly large number of packages with UPS, so I get pretty good rates. Please do contact me at my username here at gmail.com.

Ben

 

[archik100]

cloud9 wrote:
This is basically a PU foam mattress with a 2" latex topper. They don't tell you what the ILD of the latex is-- or even what the ILD of the foam base is. They don't even mention if there's a warranty on it. What worries me the most is that you can't return it once you pop the vacuum packing and let it expand to its actual size. If you find it's too soft or too hard or it winds up giving you a backache your stuck with it.
Check out foambymail.com. You can buy an all latex twin mattress for about $300 or you can build one with a 6" HR base and a 2" topper with your choice of ILDs for less money than the Overstock mattress. Plus you have the option of returning or exchanging it.
Lastly, never mind Sager. He hates it when people ask questions. If you already have a boxspring you could try it, but foam mattresses general work better on slats (no greater than 3 or 4" between) or a solid surface foundation. Wood would be fine unless you live in a very humid climate. If so I'd go with slats to allow air to circulate and avoid mold.

What indeed would be the difference between a 6" HR base + 2" topper and an all Latex mattress?

 

[cloud9]

Latex and HR foam have a distinctly different feel to them. Latex, especially Talalay, is very springy and bouncy. HR has a deader feeling to it with less motion transfer. As a base layer you may not notice too much difference, since it's primarily there for support. Good HR foam will last a long time without compressing or degrading. Nearly as long as latex, and it costs pretty much the same. Some people who are sensitive to fumes would want to avoid HR since it outgasses. Latex doesn't.

 

[dietcola]

hay there, indeed for around 1K you should be seeing some great posibilities for your mattress... have you considered memeory faom mattresses? i have had one now for aorund a year and it is lush! it helped with my back ache and has given me some great nights sleep. I looked into the latex mattresses when purchasing my memory foam one... they were more expensive and alot heavier... apparently they dont retain as much body heat as the memory foam mattress and they hold there shape better... my memory foam mattress has devloped dents, infact after about 1month there was a definate indentation where i sleep and a smaller one on the wifes side...
the choice is yours... id go memory foam all the way!

 

[cloud9]

dietcola wrote:
hay there, indeed for around 1K you should be seeing some great posibilities for your mattress... have you considered memeory faom mattresses? i have had one now for aorund a year and it is lush! it helped with my back ache and has given me some great nights sleep. I looked into the latex mattresses when purchasing my memory foam one... they were more expensive and alot heavier... apparently they dont retain as much body heat as the memory foam mattress and they hold there shape better... my memory foam mattress has devloped dents, infact after about 1month there was a definate indentation where i sleep and a smaller one on the wifes side...
the choice is yours... id go memory foam all the way!

If you already had body impressions in your mattress after just ONE month, why would you recommend it? I do like memory foam but only as a topper on a conventional innerspring mattress--not as a mattress in itself.
Archik--you should read BillB's post on his foambymail latex mattress. He put together a king size latex mattress for under $1K.

 

[jimsocal]

cloud9 wrote:
Latex and HR foam have a distinctly different feel to them. Latex, especially Talalay, is very springy and bouncy. HR has a deader feeling to it with less motion transfer. As a base layer you may not notice too much difference, since it's primarily there for support. Good HR foam will last a long time without compressing or degrading. Nearly as long as latex, and it costs pretty much the same. Some people who are sensitive to fumes would want to avoid HR since it outgasses. Latex doesn't.

Your statement that latex costs about the same as latex depends on where you buy it.
Where I buy my HR foam, it is like 1/3 the price of latex!
I get it from a foam warehouse which mostly sells to manufacturers. This is in Los Angeles. If I were in a different city I would look in the business-to-business yellow pages and regular yellow pages for a foam distributor or foam supplier, not a foam retail store.

 

[jimsocal]

dietcola wrote:
hay there, indeed for around 1K you should be seeing some great posibilities for your mattress... have you considered memeory faom mattresses? i have had one now for aorund a year and it is lush! it helped with my back ache and has given me some great nights sleep. I looked into the latex mattresses when purchasing my memory foam one... they were more expensive and alot heavier... apparently they dont retain as much body heat as the memory foam mattress and they hold there shape better... my memory foam mattress has devloped dents, infact after about 1month there was a definate indentation where i sleep and a smaller one on the wifes side...
the choice is yours... id go memory foam all the way!

I'd just like to add that this is a highly personal matter which is very subjective.
Memory foam isn't good for all backs.
I have tried several different types of memory foam, including Tempurpedic and various ild's of memory foam, and it has always been awful for my back.
So as with any mattress, you just have to try it and hope for the best. Just make sure you get a sleep guarantee that will allow you to trade for other types of foam or other types of non-foam mattresses.