Frustrated shopper! Hoping for advice on mattress selection

[PaxALot]

Hi all -

I need a new mattress and the options are dizzying plus it’s a firehose of marketing - so I was happy when I found this forum!! Can anyone please help me get on the right track? My situation is:

• I am 6 feet, 215 pounds and my wife 5 ft 7 and 135 pounds
• We are both side sleepers. My wife occasionally is on her back. I literally can’t sleep unless I’m on my side
• Our current mattress feels way too soft, but it’s kinda old so maybe just worn.
• I have tried foam mattresses and I don’t love the feeling of sinking way in then feeling enveloped. I like to be a bit more ‘on top’ of the mattress. I’ve also tried some with foam toppers where you sink in, but just a bit - and those were fantastic.
• No budget constraints, just trying not waste money.

Special considerations:

• my wife LOVES when there isn’t much motion transfer. I guess I flop around a lot
• I get hot very easily, so a mattress that doesn’t make it even hotter while sleeping would be best
• I have been getting serious pain in my shoulders from my mattress, and it’s clear that it’s from the mattress because if I forget to switch sides it’s much worse + on a hotel mattress it’s usually magically pain-free. But I have an injury in one shoulder and arthritis in both, plus im a big guy so this is a major consideration. I have learned that a few inches of foam over a layer of springs is a good answer to shoulder pain, or at least that’s what read!

I sleep in a lot of hotels and the good quality hotel room mattress almost always feel good to me. They feel firmer than mine, and I sleep well.

We are not up for a DIY, it’s a busy time and I hope to.buy something that will work for us. I have had 3 people recommend the Saatva Classic, but I hear mixed reviews. I’d be really interested in any opinions, or questons.

thank you!! David

[mossy]

Maybe DLX Premier Hybrid?

[PapaMike]

@PaxALot

Welcome!

@DLX is a trusted member at TMU. Our recent mattress purchase was a DLX Premier Hybrid. It’s been an amazingly comfortable transition from all latex to Hybrid. DLX offers split comfort zones too! That may be the best option for you and your wife. Motion transfer is minimal to none for us.
I strongly suggest a look at the DLX Hybrid website. There’s an option to set up a phone consultation with an owner of the company.
Premier Hybrid

[TheCleanBedroom]

Welcome, PaxALot! Glad you found your way here.

It sounds like you’ve already identified foam over springs is a good option for you. Perhaps a topper over an innerspring mattress would work also.

Latex has very little motion transfer, but from what you have said, perhaps an individually pocketed spring mattress would be an option to think about. It would support you where needed, give where needed, and individual springs reduce motion transfer. They also sleep cool.

Any mattress or bedding that is made of natural materials will usually help you to sleep cooler, since natural materials are breathable.

Take a peek at a Naturepedic EOS (latex over springs; you can choose your firmness level and can customize by side), or if price is not a factor, a Vispring may be something to consider. Again, customizable firmness and individually pocketed springs for less motion transfer.
I invite you to give us a call at the number in the upper left of our home page site - one of our experienced staff can help. We have a wide variety of products and with decades of experience, they have gotten good at helping people narrow down their options.
Best of luck to you!

[PaxALot]

Thanks for the input. I am still unsure of which direction to go, but am learning a lot on this forum. I have now tried mattresses in hotels + a couple of showrooms and it’s just so hard to compare. Even laying for 10+ minutes at a store, I keep asking myself ‘will my shoulder feel OK in the morning? do I like this mattress’ and analysis paralysis hits

A friend recommended I look at a 2 inch latex topper, which would be way cheaper so I guess I could consider that. To start, I looked up what my current mattress is, exactly, and I found this on the tag:

512468 pp sedgebrook cf 7699 0039
Date 2016

POLYURETHANE Foam 89%
LATEX FOAM 6 %
BLENDED RAYON/ POLYESTER FIBER BATTING 5%

I remember it felt firm when we got it, but it feels softer now. My guess is that this old mattress has seen it’s best days and should be replaced, but a cheaper fix is certainly attractive

Does anyone know if there is a way to find out the firmness/softness of this mattress by model?

[PaxALot]

Update on this: According to Sealy, it’s a Posturepedic Plus Spring tight top firm feel

The Sealy chat agent recommended this as a fix: https://www.tempurpedic.com/other-products/tempur-adapt-topper2/v/3813/

[Maverick]

It’s no surprise they’d recommend a Tempurpedic viscoelastic memory foam, given their ownership ( hense the name Tempur-Sealy).

However, it seems they overlooked your concern about sleeping hot. While Tempurpedic toppers excel in motion isolation, they can also envelop you like sinking into hot quicksand, trapping heat as you go deeper. Despite their conforming nature, akin to a snug straight-jacket, my firsthand experience with a 3" Tempurpedic topper left my wife complaining daily about its stifling heat and not being able to move or get out of bed. Even when added to my Sealy Posturepedic UltraFirm Pillow top, it didn’t mesh well.

Ultimately, we opted for a new mattress, favoring an ultra-firm feel without the sensation of sinking in. While firmer mattresses may transmit more motion compared to viscoelastic memory foam, options like the DLX hybrid recommended by @PapaMike or those suggested by @TheCleanBedroom offer superior quality and performance, surpassing the proposed Tempur-Sealy solution.

This may not be the ultimate answer to your situation and solution to the existing conditions, but some food for thought!

Maverick

[PaxALot]

I was immediately suspect of their recommendation, so this validates that
I guess the toughest part of all of this is my shoulder pain - i really like the feeling of a super firm mattress BUT I am now understanding that maybe 2 inches of foam would allow some real pressure relief on the shoulders while still keeping things generally firm. At least, that’s the current theory

[Maverick]

Remember to consider what @PapaMike and @TheCleanBedroom suggested, and equally as important, keep in mind the significance of the pillow, which contributes to about 40-45% of your overall sleep comfort. Selecting the right pillow isn’t a simple task. I recently shared my pillow journey where I discovered its importance.

Often, finding the perfect pillow combination, considering factors like mattress firmness, sleep position, and posture, can significantly enhance your sleep quality.

Maverick

[Lauffer]

Try Shovlin Nirvana , 6 “ of Taladay latex over 6” of firm foam, comes in all comfort from firm to ultra plush, also a 2” comfort pad, we tried extensively all brands in chains and independents, this is truly the best, they are in NY, we drove there and they delivered to us , we’ve had it a month it’s the best bed ever , great warranty CUSTOM made in their factory in NY , we also got an adjustable base

[TheCleanBedroom]

Hello again, I’ve been offline for a few days, hence the late response. What you mention here is often true - keeping things firm allows for support and durability, with some cushioning on the top layer for shoulders and hips. Look for a good quality foam - the length of the warranty should give you a clue as to how long the manufacturer expects it to last

[Danielle]

Hi there! I only found this site a couple weeks ago and spent some time lurking, reading the recommendations. I went through 5 mattresses in about 7 years. I replaced my flippable spring mattress and it went down hill from there. Spring, different foams, hybrid. Thousands of dollars on mattresses — too many! I read on this site about Shovlin mattress in NJ. I live at least 2 hours away on a no traffic day and there was no way I was getting hubby to take 5 hours to go lay on a mattress (I tried!). So I did what is not recommended here (perhaps even a golden rule) and ordered a split king latex mattress along with that thing that raises head and feet, without trying it out first. I was warned it takes weeks to break in latex so I anticipated uncomfortable nights. Right off the bat it fell supportive but soft, like support without any pressure points. I’ve been dealing with a painful shoulder since sleeping on a ridiculously hard mattress at an air bnb last year, so sleep has been an issue. Also, I get up too many times to go potty and the motion transfer and noise wakes hubby. There was not any of that with the latex. He only woke up after I turned on the light to discover what I had stepped in was puppy poop . I also normally wake up with the covers off because I run hot. Again, there was none of that. I almost canceled the order before it got here. This was the most expensive bed I’d ever bought and spending that much without having tried it out first could have been a very pricey mistake. I’d say I either got very lucky or the recommendations here are right on the money. I would strongly suggest trying out a latex mattress. Forget any foam, I don’t think there’s a foam mattress out there that holds up to the hype, and definitely not for long. The mattress I bought before the latex is an orthopedic innerspring from Original Mattress Factory, only 8 months ago. I’m sure it’s well made but it was too soft for the first couple weeks then it needed a mattress topper, and it’s ok but still can have pressure points and I wake up hot. I can’t tell you I’ve had a lengthy experience with this mattress but everything I’ve heard and read is it improves over time and I’m already very happy with it, so much so that I’m going to get one for my ungrateful offspring who has trouble sleeping.

[Maverick]

Hi Danielle,

Welcome as new MUGster by joining the Mattress UnderGround, we are happy to have you.

It sounds like you’ve had quite the journey with mattresses, but it’s wonderful to hear that you’ve finally found one that works well for you!

Your experience with the latex mattress, despite not trying it out beforehand, speaks volumes about its quality and comfort. It’s great that it’s providing the support you need without creating pressure points, especially considering your previous struggles with shoulder pain.

The lack of motion transfer and noise is a significant plus, especially for ensuring a restful night’s sleep for both you and your husband. And it’s a relief to hear that you’re not experiencing overheating issues anymore either.

It’s valuable feedback for others who may be in a similar situation, trying to find the right mattress after multiple disappointments. It seems like the investment was well worth it for you, and considering your satisfaction, it might indeed be worth considering for others as well.

If it is any positive reinforcement to your story, I purchased our mattress sight unseen. I bought it solely on specs and gut instinct. I was down to a 14k vs a 1400 mattress. I chose the 1400 mattress and it has been the most comfortable choice for us. We tend to like a very firm, but not hard mattress and we found one that worked great.

It’s fantastic to hear about your gut instinct leading to success with your mattress choice! Should you decide to share your experience with your specific brand and model mattress, please don’t hesitate.

At The Mattress Underground, we always appreciate hearing success stories, regardless of whether they come from a Trusted Member or not.

We take pride in offering educational tools to aid mattress seekers in finding their ideal mattress. Even if it feels like a stroke of luck, as in your case, our goal remains to guide individuals towards a comfortable sleep solution. The journey to a good night’s rest isn’t always straightforward, but your experience underscores the importance of the education provided here at TMU.

Thank you for sharing your story, and if there’s anything else we can assist you with, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!

Maverick

[PaxALot]

Thanks for your post. I checked their site and there are no prices and they seem to discourage online orders. So, not sure what to make of it

[PaxALot]

UPDATE: I was able to pop into a mattress store here in the Bay Area and try out some latex mattresses (all of which were $4k+), and I also went to regular mattress store and tried some of the well known brand’s different products.

I learned:

1. There is always the advice to go and try mattresses rather than just buying online, and this seems like good advice to me. My problem is, most of them feel pretty good when I lay down on them The ones that are very soft feel too soft, and the super firm ones don’t feel great but most of the ones in the middle felt very nice. My problem is that it’s always in the morning when I have shoulder pain and am umcomfortable - it takes a few hours to build. So, trying mattresses in the store was interesting but I guess I need to just try something out.

2. I definitely don’t like the memory foam feeling, and I don’t love the super bouncy all-spring kind of feeling. So, I did learn that the latex over springs continues to get my attention.

After laying on 3 or mattresses, it gets hard to really know which is best. I’d love to be able to just spend the night at the mattress store, a different mattress every night

I have seen at least one manufacturer that says that even their hybrid mattress allows for replacement of the latex foam piece on top, which appeals to me because if it’s not comfortable maybe we could dial it in.

Given my experience at the stores, I am inclined to just order a mattress online from a place with a reasonable return policy and hope for the best! The SleepEZ Latex Hybrid is looking good. Still researching, though

[Danielle]

By “Bay Area” I’m assuming you’re on the west coast?
I had to call shovlin, the sales person I spoke with spent almost an hour on the phone answering my questions. One of the things I learned is some latex mattresses are made from layers of latex, which are glued together. It’s cheaper than a solid latex block but this weakens the integrity and therefore the life of the mattress. I almost changed my order to hybrid latex/innerspring. It was about $500 cheaper but it only had a 10 year warranty, as opposed to the 20 year of the latex. The latex has a 6 month return policy and they had finished making it so I decided to go with it. I remember reading about latex mattresses years ago but they were so cost prohibitive, around $10k, which I thought was the most ridiculous thing. As I got older and achier, innerspring wasn’t doing it for me anymore. The single king mattress at Shovlin would have been about $4500. I bought a split king with that head/foot raising thing, which raised the price. I also bought two 2” toppers, as apparently that’s what you should get with a new latex mattress. I’m guessing it’s kind of necessary during the break in period? With all the descriptions of solid and block, I imagined it would feel like cotton covered wood (like the mattress at the Airbnb ) but it was surprisingly supportive and comfortable. Honestly, it would have been easy to talk myself out of buying it. I’d never spent more than maybe $1500 on a mattress, and it was kind of painful giving away several thousand in mattresses over the past couple years, but I now consider this to be a worthwhile long term investment. And like I said, I plan on replacing my insomniac daughters saatva mattress with one of these. So if you do decide to go with a latex or latex hybrid, ask questions about what kind of latex they use and if it’s solid.
Good luck!

[Danielle]

Hi Maverick,
Thank you! I’m really curious to know what kind of mattress you bought for $1400? I imagine with your indepth mattress knowledge, it was more than a lucky gut decision! I bought the tally (forget the name but that’s fairly close) latex, split king. It added a bit to the price, along with two toppers and two head/foot raising things instead of one but it made a difference already. I’m told I snore, not that I’ve ever heard it​:wink:, and it couldn’t be anything as bad as the fog horn coming from the nasal passage of the guy next to me but I apparently slept soundlessly with my head elevated. I also noticed it was easier to breathe through my sometimes clogged nose (I refuse to get rid of the dog, fur be damned). Since it came with remotes for each side, I may sneak his remote and elevate his side next time the ship comes in.

[Maverick]

We’ve always preferred a firm mattress. Our old Sealy Posturepedic ultra-firm pillowtop, bought back in 2011, lasted us a good 11 years. But by around 2020, it was showing signs of wear.

Enter the world of mattress shopping in the 2020s, where direct-to-consumer brands like Saatva and Tempurpedic dominated the market with enticing ads. I found myself intrigued, especially by Tempurpedic, given my positive experiences with their pillows.

I tried the TP mattresses, literally, every single one in the store, was there for hours. 15 minutes, rotate, next mattress, repeat. As firm as they started out, I was sinking like quicksand in 20 minutes. So much for the mattresses, but the pillows are great.

I explored other brands like Beautyrest, Stearns & Foster, Aireloom, and Shifman, along with some familiar names like Serta and Sealy, King Koil and others. However, I steered clear of anything with a perimeter support foam encasement, which ruled out quite a few options.

The S&F, Aireloom and Shifman initially had a similar feel. But the Aireloom was foam encased. I was reading some not so flattering reviews of the modern S&F and did not like the Tempur VE Foam being used.

So, it looked like the 14k Shifman, it was on sale so it wasn’t that bad. I then googled firmest mattress on the market, once again. Again, this mattress called the Plank kept surfacing. It was all foam. So, goodby, not doing it. No, but wait, there was a hybrid they sneaked in there. Simple design, a 13.5g support layer, a 2" layer of HD foam, 1.8lbs, 36ILD, and a .75" of 50ILD quilted cover. Flippable, with the other side adding 1 additional inch of transition layer foam and the cover was 1.5" of 50ILD quilted foam.

Ok, I am curious. I started to rationalize. I could by 10 Plank Luxe’s for the price of one Shifman. So even if the Plank Luxe worked for a year or two, if it was firm and comfortable, I could just throw it away and buy a new one every couple of years.

The $1400 price tag wasn’t going to be life-changing if the mattress turned out to be a disappointment. Besides, they offered hassle-free return options, including donation. After some research, I found a brick-and-mortar store in San Diego (3000 miles away) selling it for $150 less—a deal too good to pass up, right?

I ended up contacting the seller so many times that we’ve become good friends since. He assured me that while the mattress was firm, it was exceptionally well-constructed compared to most bed-in-a-box options.

Firm for the win Alex (actually his name is Ben, but Alex sounds more dramatic)! So, I took the plunge and ordered the Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe. At 6" over 250 pounds(now 220), I needed something substantial.

It took a couple of days to fully expand, but the moment I laid on it, I was hooked. It took my wife, who’s 5’4 and 135lbs, a couple of weeks to adjust, but now, over a year and a half later, we can’t wait to get back to our mattress, regardless of where we’ve been staying on vacation. It’s made a noticeable difference in our posture and alignment, alleviating any pain we used to experience. And all of this for bargain basement price $1250, thanks to the extra discount!

So, that’s my story—a happy one and true, but I won’t be turning it into a Dion song anytime soon. LOL.

Sorry for the long explanation, I guess I could have just gone with, the answer to your question is the “Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe” but that would have been boring.

I heard a rumor that Trusted Member @DLX is rolling out a new option for their premier hybrid mattress, offering various latex comfort levels, even an extra firm Oh boy, stay tuned…

*****Edit No longer a Rumor @DLX!!!

[DLX]

It’s official – we’re introducing a range of new inserts/comfort levels for the Premier Hybrid. With all the necessary materials on hand, we’re set to roll them out very soon. Keep an eye on our website over the next 7-10 days for their debut.

If you’re eager to get your hands on them before anyone else, shoot us an email for early access details. We’ll make sure you receive a special link to make your purchase.

For those interested in the specifics, it’s the same mattress as the Premier Hybrid, but with a twist – we’re offering an alternative to the 3" 2.5 pound performance poly insert. You’ll now have the choice of a 3" 4-pound gel memory foam or four different firmness levels of 3" Dunlop latex (soft, medium, firm, and extra firm). Exciting times ahead!

[Danielle]

Good story, love all the research you did, even though you ultimately bought one sight unseen.