I recently had to replace an ancient (25 year old) mattress, and I've been in Mattress Buying Hell ever since (the old mattress was getting tired and lumpy, for sure, but I found it perfectly comfortable.  My boyfriend, however, hated it.  Hence the ensuing drama...).

I've done a ton of research and a ton of shopping.  Bottom line, I am now convinced that the right mattress for me no longer exists.  Because the new mattresses seem fraught with problems that never existed before.

In short: we needed a soft-ish mattress that is not too high and that sleeps cool.  Memory Foam was out, of course.  After practically breaking up in the mattress store, and coming to a complete impasse, my boyfriend and I finally settled on a (pricey) Stearns and Foster Pillow Top -- the one with Latex.

Since the mattress got delivered, I've been completely traumatized.  First, the thing is SO DAMN HIGH, it's a joke. We are now trying to adjust it -- we're replacing the box springs (more $$) and may eventually have to get a non pillow top (we can't put the mattress on the floor or a lower frame, or we would).

So there's the height issue. Can't believe the manufacturer's don't make a thinner coil mattress.

But the bigger issue is the HEAT problem.  I am absolutely convinced that this mattress is much warmer than my previous, boxspring mattress.  It warms up the minute I lie down and stays warm.

With the old mattress, as long as I had the right bedding, heat was NEVER even an issue.  With this mattress, it sleeps very warm, even on a chilly night.  That is not good.

I know there are all kinds of correctional steps I can take; cooling mattress pads (do they really work?), cooling sheets, etc.  I am willing to try any and all of those.

BUT...I would rather start with a mattress that doesn't heat up!!  Isn't that possible?  I've just paid a small fortune for a mattress -- why do I now have to try to "fix" it??

I only have one chance to return or exchange this mattress, and now I am really concerned that there is NO good Plan B.  We can't get Memory Foam.  We can't get a really firm mattress.  And now, the so-called "cool" Latex mattresses seem too hot, too (I was going to originally get a Sealy Posturpedic...but it has Memory Foam).

I know that some new, "micro-gel cooling" mattresses are coming on the market soon.  But they are basically Memory Foam with a gel top -- sounds iffy.

Comfort-wise, my boyfriend loves the new mattress.  But I am not yet sure I like it.  And the temperature problem is the key issue.

So at long last, here's my question: IS THERE A TRADITIONAL, NON-LATEX, NON-MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS OUT THERE THAT IS NOT TOO WARM AND DOESN'T REQUIRE A BUNCH OF COOLING ACCESSORIES?

(I don't want to order online -- need to try the bed out.  And also can't afford a 4-$5K plus bed).

Please respond if you know of any solutions -- thank you!!

 

A mattress with less pluff and is closer to the springs should be cooler.  Seems a lot of the high end beds will sleep warm with all thats in them.

 "I've just paid a small fortune for a mattress -- why do I now have to try to "fix" it??"

That seems to be the question of the day here, and it's what drove me in desperation to find this forum. All of us who haven't mattress shopped in many years certainly were in for some shocks. I too was seduced by a Stearns & Foster pillowtop, but soon realized it had to go.

I also did not want memory foam due to the heat complaints I read, and didn't want to order a latex topper without having the chance to try it out beforehand. I got my answer on this forum and that was to buy a firm, non-pillowtop mattress and soften it with toppers. I had to try a few combinations but finally got a bed I now adore. Yes, I was kind of outraged that after spending so much on a new bed I had to spend yet more to make it comfortable, but it really seems to be par for the course now.

1)  Original poster - are you using a comforter as a top layer?   If so, shelve it.  Go get a thin quilt instead.  Quilts are typically about a 1/4" thick or so.  They work well and are much cooler.

2) Not sure why you guys just don't want memory foam.   Sleeping too warm is a complete non-issue on my 60 day old TP Cloud.  In September, there were a bunch of nights where room was 80 F.  It was a little warm, but I did ok.  If the room is 65 F to high 70's, it's still great.  They have single or dual air flow 'systems' which seem to work fine for me.   TP Cloud is best mattress for me in 5 mattresses I had in house this year (Select Sleep, Stearns and Foster, iComfort, SleepEZ and now TP).

 "It was a little warm, but I did ok." 

Try having a few (hundred) hot flashes, and you'll know why for some people even "a little warm" is TOO warm!

A few suggestions that will make a bigger difference than changing your mattress:

1. Linen Sheets (real linen from flax fibre).

2. Natural fibre filled duvet (ultra light weight down, or a light weight animal fibre filling like wool or camel hair)

3. Machine washable wool mattress protector (search St. Dormeir on these forums)

Regarding the mattress, I can pretty much guarantee it is not the latex that is causing the heat issues, its the polyurethane foam and polyester fibres that are being used.  But in any event, the bedding makes a bigger difference than the mattress when it comes to heat issues.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my original posting (sorry, I didn't see the comments until now...was expecting some type of email alert).

I appreciate all the helpful tips.  Believe me, I'm already careful about bedding, comforters, etc.  That's a given...which is why I rarely sleep with more than a sheet and thin blanket.

Have not yet tried a "cooling" mattress cover, but that is next.  However, I have read mixed reviews on those.

I'm into Week #2 with the new Stearns and Foster bed, and I still intensely dislike it.  I don't find it particularly comfortable and the heat issue is significant.

(Today, I had smaller box springs delivered, with lowered the height of the bed slightly).

The most disturbing thing is that there doesn't seem to be a "regular" mattress even available anymore these days.  By that, I mean NO Memory Foam, NO Latex. Just the old fashioned kind with fabric and coils.  Why are these no longer made?

It's a Brave New World of Mattresses and I am one unhappy (and tired) sleeper!