Latex vs Aireloom M1

Desperately need help choosing a mattress. My wife and I are both 5’11 and approx 170 lb side sleepers, though we occasionally sleep on our backs. I have pointy shoulders and tend to get a lot of shoulder pain when sleeping on my side on most mattresses. We’ve had horrible experiences with all memory foam mattresses so want to avoid those.

After a couple mattress-hunting trips, I’ve narrowed it down to the following:

  • Aireloom Streamline M1 Plush
  • Shovlin Nirvana ultra plush latex on foam hybrid

The Aireloom felt very comfortable but I’m concerned about support & longevity. The Nirvana also felt comfortable from what I could tell, but I felt a tiny hint of pressure on my shoulder when on my side, and I’m also concerned about back support since it’s ultra plush.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated!!

Hi SeemoSeemo,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround Forum.

Both mattresses are excellent mattresses. With outstanding reputations. Although I have read some reviews of individuals who have not had the success with Aireloom as folks had praised as much in their past. These could be outliers or valid. Aireloom, although hand crafted, they do have some production line added in.

To this end, Aireloom still uses a combination of machine-driven processes (like the manufacturing of coils and foam layers) alongside the handcrafting elements. At the end of the day it remains a high-quality mattress that blends both modern innovation and traditional craftsmanship. One issue that may be of concern for some is their use of perimeter edge foam encasement. Developed to offer a neater finished mattress and offer firmer edge support for those who like to sit on the edge of the mattress and put their shoes and socks on in the morning, the issues that arise is the when that edge foam begins to wear down. Here is an excellent video on the different type of edge supports and you can ponder it yourself.

The Aireloom Streamline M1 Plush as with other Aireloom mattresses are known for its luxurious feel, combining innerspring systems with softer comfort layers. While this plush mattress might feel comfortable at first, it may not provide sufficient support for your shoulder, particularly given your “pointy” shoulders and tendency to experience pain while side sleeping.

The plush top might initially feel soft, but over time, this softness could result in a lack of deep contouring, leaving your shoulder unsupported and exacerbating discomfort. Additionally, the concern about longevity is valid plush mattresses can wear out faster ( a catch 22 for the type of feel you are seeking), leading to sagging and reduced spinal support, particularly if the support structure isn’t strong enough.

The Shovlin Nirvana Ultra Plush Latex on Foam Hybrid offers a more durable and supportive design. Latex is generally a better choice than memory foam for side sleepers, as it provides a balance of support and pressure relief without the sinking, hot quicksand lava feeling that memory foam can create.

The latex layer is resilient and cool, and the hybrid construction adds extra support. However, the ultra plush feel could be a little soft for your back support needs, especially when you sleep on your back as most back sleepers prefer a slightly firmer mattress system. The slight shoulder pressure you felt is also a concern—while latex offers better pressure relief than foam, with an ultra plush mattress choice may you need to evaluate if you will get enough support. If you found it comfortable overall, a medium-plush version of this mattress could offer better support while still giving you the softness you need for side sleeping. Since @ShovlinMattress builds their mattresses right there in their factory, you have the advantage of trying a couple of levels of their firmness mattresses and I am quite certain they would tweak a mattress to any level of feel you can imagine. This is a distinct advantage of working with an independent manufacturer like Shovlin.

A coworker of mine needed a specific mattress and size to fit her new home and meet both her and her husband’s needs. Shovlin was able to handle this request without any issues. They really focus on getting the job done right and ensuring the mattress is exactly what you want.

Hopefully, this will give you a general idea of what to look for and what to expect on your next mattress choice.

Good luck on your selection and have a great Thanksgiving.

Maverick

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Thank Maverick. I really appreciate the timely and thorough response!

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Go with Aireloom Plush. The shoulder pressure with latex will not get better.

Does Aireloom last? Probably……even if it lasts 7 years. Go with it!

I play tennis. Shoe A was very comfortable but lasted 1 year. Shoe B felt ok….but lasted 2 years. Go with Shoe A because it makes tennis a joy! Aireloom is shoe A. Why do you want a durable shoe that sucks?

Aireloom is shoe A even though I have zero evidence of poor durability.

John

Good morning Seemo,

Just remember, Ultra Plush is just a name and a gives a starting guide, and firmness is subjective. We could build something custom for you with an even softer Latex in the upper third of the mattress to take even more pressure of your shoulder, and a firmer latex in the center third to give you a specific support you are looking for.

James
Shovlin Mattress

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