Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
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)
|
In all honesty, the main reason I was hoping to avoid the component mattress is laziness (and the fear of putting the thing together; not to mention my girlfriend's fear of my putting it together!). I like the idea of the mattress coming assembled. I also like the ability to walk into a store and know -for the most part - what I'm signing up for.. (and my girlfriend, who thinks putting together your own bed is insane, want sto have a say in the decision too). From a cost perspective, I imagine could probably get a set from Sleepy's cheaper than from FloBeds as well. Most of the threads on this board dismiss these store-bought mattress without much explanation of why.. If the ability to continually tweak your bed is not a huge factor and neither are allergies or severe back pain/problems, I'm trying to figure out why I shouldn't just walk into a store.. That said, I've never had a latex mattress and I'm trying to avoid an expensive mistake by asking questions... Thanks for your response.. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
| I read some absolutely horrible things about Sleepy's. As for walking into a store with readymade mattresses and "knowing what you're getting"....well, that's almost a joke. Unless you can physically open the mattress you want, you might be surprised it's not what you thought it was after taking it home and sleeping on it for awhile. Especially a pillowtop with a lot of foam. I think there's a tremendous advantage to customizing your layers as you see fit. And, honestly, after the plush mattress cover is zippered on, you can't tell the difference between that and a "readymade" mattress. Or do like I did and find a LOCAL shop who configures mattresses much the same way. He also gives customers the option to have a coil spring system in addition to the latex layers. That's what I have. Or he'll build you one in all latex. He also has a small selection of NON "S" brand mattresses to choose from. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
Forgive us Blaupunk, but many of us here have been so "traumatized" by our mattress store experiences that we're looking for an alternative. There is a bias here toward knowing what's inside the ticking. Latex is good. Quality latex will maintain it's shape longer than any other bedding material. High Density or High Resilience polyurethane is next best. PU foam in the 2.2 to 2.6 lb range should prove to be very durable. On the order of 12 years or so vs. 7 for regular poly foam. Low density polyurethane foam is what pretty much everyone here is concerned about with the big name-brand mattresses. Such foam can lose a good portion of it's height and resilience within a couple of years. But there certainly are exceptions. I have a 13 year old S* mattress that still looks almost new. It's not a pillowtop, but probably the top-of-the-line non-pillowtop they carried at the time. It's a "two-sided" mattress, so right there I get twice the life out of it as I would a one-sided pillowtop. By the way, assembling a component mattress is no big deal. Lay out the casing, lay the foam inside one layer at a time (total of 3 or 4), zip the cover on, and baddabing, a mattress. This message was modified Sep 11, 2007 by haysdb
|
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
1- Personally I don't think Serta/Sealy/Spring Air/S7F/Simmons are even in the same league as the 'green' brands. Anyway, I can't help there as I am biased towards any of the chemical-laden beds. As haysdb said, 'assembling' the bed is really easy and doesn't take long at all. The hardest part honestly is getting the latex out of the bag as they are really stuffed in there. I will say that I have not found natural talalay to be as supportive as I'd like. If you go with that, expect a very soft mattress no matter which firmness you choose. 2- Natural latex does have a very strong odor but it's not what you're thinking. I'm very sensitive to all sorts of chemical odors and this is not one of those smells. It smells like some sort of dessert - seriously. My wife and I love the smell of it and hope it never goes away. lol |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
I just want to say, mostly in response to haysdb, that I'm in no way suggesting that the ability to customize your mattress is unnecessary or a waste of time for many or that those that have gone that route wasted their time. I understand the need to get a good night sleep and I can empathize with those with allergies or back pain.. I just wasn't sure it was what I needed, and my girlfriend was fairly insistent that she be able to try the mattress before we bought it (although, she may be changing her tune). |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
blaupunk wrote: With respect to the odor (that D3Fi seems to enjoy :) someone told us that they had to return their mattress because "it smelled like cheese". I wouldn't hear the end of it if brought home a mattress that smelled like cheese! cheese lol someone's olfactory senses are defective. ;) I can't really put a finger on the smell but it definitely smells sweet. I guess to each his/her own though. The smell of flame-retardant chemicals for example obviously doesn't bother a lot of people (or bother them much) or else traditional innerspring mattresses wouldn't sell. To others like myself though, it's like sleeping in the gas chamber. By the way blaupunk, SleepEZ, Flobeds and The Natural Bed Store will all quite readily end you samples if you call them and ask. This way you can make sure your girlfriend doesn't hand you your head if the smell bothers her. It only takes about a week to receive them and you can specifically request natural, synethetic or both and probably in varying ILDs also. The Natural Bed Store's samples are only natural though and I believe they are 20 ILD. |
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
Many of these brands get their latex from the same place, Latex International. Here's a link to their website that lists the mattress lines and pillows that use it, along with some other information which is really interesting. It does contain natural talalay latex, but not 100%. http://www.latexfoam.com/consumer/editable_files/consumer_find.htm We tried some Sealy Spring Free and the pillowtops were comfortable. The best prices I've found on this type of mattress are at Costco.com, the Stearns & Foster Kirkland Series, and Samsclub.com, who has a model by Serta with latex and memory foam called Grand Villa with a cashmere top. We live in a pretty small town, so don't have much to choose from locally and the prices are usually higher. We're looking for one that has memory foam with a latex core and a natural cover. Not in a kit, preferably a pillowtop. If it should smash down, and there is no saying it will, we'll put something else on top or remove it. I'm not adverse to 100% pure, but I don't mind a blend and I don't want to order something totally different than what I tried online or mess around with customizing. I didn't find any odor in the Sealys we laid on, either. We're used to sleeping on a waterbed with no pressure points and both are side sleepers with aches and pains. That's why the addition of memory or some other foam is appealing. Latex seems a little too hard for me without something else, but the support is good. If you want to compare some Sealys, Simmons and Vera Wang latex mattresses online, you can look at us-mattress.com's website. They have some interesting comfort and durability scales I found helpful, in general. This message was modified Sep 13, 2007 by obxgal
|
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
We're also considering innersprings with latex and memory foam pillowtops. If you want to put on your own, you could try sewing velcro on a mattress cover and the back of your topper to keep them from slipping around. You'd have to have a cover on the topper, too. Overstock.com sells down and down alternative covers for foam toppers up to 4" thick that look comfy. This message was modified Sep 13, 2007 by obxgal
|
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
obxgal wrote: Many of these brands get their latex from the same place, Latex International. Here's a link to their website that lists the mattress lines and pillows that use it, along with some other information which is really interesting. It does contain natural talalay latex, but not 100%. http://www.latexfoam.com/consumer/editable_files/consumer_find.htm We tried some Sealy Spring Free and the pillowtops were comfortable. The best prices I've found on this type of mattress are at Costco.com, the Stearns & Foster Kirkland Series, and Samsclub.com, who has a model by Serta with latex and memory foam called Grand Villa with a cashmere top. We live in a pretty small town, so don't have much to choose from locally and the prices are usually higher. We're looking for one that has memory foam with a latex core and a natural cover. Not in a kit, preferably a pillowtop. If it should smash down, and there is no saying it will, we'll put something else on top or remove it. I'm not adverse to 100% pure, but I don't mind a blend and I don't want to order something totally different than what I tried online or mess around with customizing. I didn't find any odor in the Sealys we laid on, either. We're used to sleeping on a waterbed with no pressure points and both are side sleepers with aches and pains. That's why the addition of memory or some other foam is appealing. Latex seems a little too hard for me without something else, but the support is good. If you want to compare some Sealys, Simmons and Vera Wang latex mattresses online, you can look at us-mattress.com's website. They have some interesting comfort and durability scales I found helpful, in general. LI has natural and blended, not just blended. Sealy is supplied by LI but it is not Talalay - it is Sapsa which doesn't feel even remotely the same. I'm not saying 1 is better than the other, just that they are a completely different feel. My wife comments that the Sealy 'smelled like a giant condom.' :x Support is not good with natural Talalay for most people, as I think as been established here. Of course I think that has a lot to do with one's weight and body type though as a smaller person would more easily be supported obviously. I don't believe any of the Vera Wangs or Simmons are completely latex at all, at least based on us-mattress' website and the comments of someone here who purchased one. They seem to all be stuffed with more of that darn cheap, low-quality PU foam. Again, to each his own, but comparing any of these to a 100% latex mattress is comparing apples and oranges. Everything says that the pillowtop will mash down if its PU foam. As you noted though, you're not bothered by that so np. :) This message was modified Sep 13, 2007 by D3Fi
|
Re: Wading through the latex info... (and avoiding a kit)
|
>>Everything says that the pillowtop will mash down if its PU foam. As you noted though, you're not bothered by that so np. :)<< Thanks for explaining the Sealy Foam. Pillowtops can be made of different things, including quilted latex and memory foam. I may not have to replace it and we haven't chosen, yet. Some of them felt fine to us so we're trying to shop around for the right one. We never tried Serta latex, just the memory foam. Comfortable. Can't say much else about it. (I just want add that I have foam cushions in furniture and pillows that have never broken down and some of it is15 years old and used every day extensively, including our sofa ( which we often sleep on) some chairs, a loveseat and pillows. I am sure it has to do with the quality of the foam manufacturers use and I know it can vary, as can the makeup of pillowtops on a mattress. We have to replace our sofa and loveseat, because the fabric is stained and the wood underneath fell apart on one, but not the cushions! Funny, isn't it? :) This message was modified Sep 14, 2007 by obxgal
|