Research question: bed in a box durability?

Mattress Talk Materials, Specifications & Designs
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Hello, I have a research question for you folks. I’ve seen a lot of mattress salespeople make the claim that “bed in a box” mattresses are inherently less durable than mattresses that have never been compressed and vacuum sealed. The argument usually boils down to two primary factors:

  1. In order to compress and seal the mattress, the manufacturers must use lower density foams – which means they are less durable.

  2. The act of compressing and sealing the mattress causes damage to the mattress and thus impacts the long-term durability.

I’ve never seen any evidence of either claim, but I also haven’t seen any evidence to the contrary. Does anyone have more information about these claims and their veracity (or lack thereof)?

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Hey LResearch,

Welcome to TMU’s forum :slight_smile: ! Thanks for your question.

[quote]Hello, I have a research question for you folks. I’ve seen a lot of mattress salespeople make the claim that “bed in a box” mattresses are inherently less durable than mattresses that have never been compressed and vacuum sealed. The argument usually boils down to two primary factors:

  1. In order to compress and seal the mattress, the manufacturers must use lower density foams – which means they are less durable.[/quote]

This generalized statement is not fact; actually, far from fact in most cases. The earlier iterations of these mattresses were quite simple in design and were largely of polyfoam or memory foam, of a “one size fits most” firmness, and of a competitive price point. Today, mattresses in this category use combinations of Dunlop latex or Talalay latex, two of the most highly durable foams available, along with either pocket coil support units or a variety of HR/ HD foams. Many of these roll-packed/ compressed mattresses come with 10-25 year warranties. That’s not to say that there aren’t lower quality foam mattresses on the market, just as there are also lower quality traditional innerspring mattresses available. Keep in mind the possibility that the mattress salespeople will be more apt to promote their showroom models and less to support an online purchase outside of their store. Fun Fact: many of these BIB brands are moving into the traditional retail space, making it easier for consumers to make the choice themselves (Casper, Helix, Purple, etc.).

As with any mattress purchase, durabilityis a multi-faceted concept that applies not only to a foam’s density, but also to the type of foams used, how they are deployed in the mattress’s construction, the other materials used in the support layers, not to mention the body profile, BMI, and sleep habits of the user involved.

[quote]2. The act of compressing and sealing the mattress causes damage to the mattress and thus impacts the long-term durability.
[/quote]

Also not a true statement; our understanding of these type mattresses is that they perform and function quite well over time. Most of the return issues have to deal with consumer preference rather than problems with the mattress itself. The higher the quality of materials that are used, the longer the mattress will last, regardless of whether it is shipped in a compressed state or not.

I understand your question, LResearch and it is a good one. To my knowledge, there is no research study either supporting these claims or disputing them. Certainly the manufacturers offering roll-packed bed-in-a-box mattresses have the confidence in the longevity of this delivery method or they wouldn’t risk the investment in its use. For consumers whose preference is to shop on line but avoid BIB mattresses, there are other models that ship flat-packed (most heavier mattresses are delivered this way). I will, however, keep my eyes open for any documentation reporting consumer findings in this area and make it available on TMU should it present itself.

Just curious: are you considering a purchase of a BIB and have concerns or merely polling the forum?

Sensei

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I’m neither actively on the hunt nor looking to do a poll. More like hoping to hear some thoughts from industry experts about the actual manufacturing process and the impact of vacuum sealing on a the foams. The only sources of information on this I can find are either from bed in a box retailers who obviously claim there is no problem at all whatsoever — or brick and mortar retailers who obviously claim the opposite. I’d be very interested in seeing more empirical research/data if it should ever exist.

I think your answer lines up perfectly with my preconceived notions about the veracity of these claims. So for the time being I will assume this is gospel.

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You might also find it of interest that the pocketed coil systems which are used in hybrid mattresses sold by BIAB companies are designed to be fully compressed and rolled after manufacturing, and are actually shipped and delivered in that manner to mattress builders from the spring manufacturers like Leggett & Platt. If doing so would compromise the integrity or durability of their product they would avoid doing so since it could impact their warranty claims.

Hope that helps,

  • Bill