My wife and I tried out some mattresses at Mattress Makers in San Diego. (They were great.)
We’re 165lb/115lb side sleepers, and our favorite mattress was the ‘Presidio Medium’, which is a 3-layer talalay mattress that they said has layers that are firm, firm, and medium from bottom to top. I’m not sure about the ILDs (they didn’t know off hand.) It also has a wool layer on top, as do many in this category, apparently.
The Presidio is $2564 after the mattress underground discount (and I think we’d pay sales tax.)
After looking around at other suppliers and talking to a few of them, it turns out that we can get a very comparable mattress from Latex Mattress Factory for $1351 (with a dunlop bottom layer – otherwise the same specs.)
Both deals come with free pillows. The Mattress Makers mattress has a more generous swap/return policy, but not by all that much.
I’d really love to support Mattress Makers, because they’re local and because we used their showroom to learn about latex, and I’d be willing to spend extra money to do that. But not $1200 extra!
Is there anything that I’m missing about the difference in quality between these two options? Or is it mostly down to each sellers’ business models?
It might be worth having conversations with both companies to explore any additional factors that could influence your decision. While it’s true that Talalay typically costs more than Dunlop, it’s essential to assess whether that price difference reflects a significant increase in value. You should compare layer by layer, including the cover and other components like the wool layer you mentioned.
If you feel that the Talalay experience is crucial for your comfort, that might justify the higher price. However, the Latex Mattress Factory option remains a strong contender, potentially offering the comfort you’re looking for at a better price point.
Since both options are Trusted Members of TMU, you can rest assured that they’ve been thoroughly vetted. Ultimately, it will come down to the specific construction details, any ancillary components, and your gut feeling about whether to support a local business or opt for an online purchase. If having the ability to “drop in” to the local store for support is important to you, that might sway your choice. Otherwise, both avenues have their merits.
I think you’re right that I should get the input of both manufacturers. I haven’t heard back from Mattress Makers yet but will follow up and make sure to get their thoughts.
(To clarify, that price from Latex Mattress Factory is for two Talalay layers with a single dunlop layer on the bottom. It would only be $1044 for their all dunlop model.)
One thing to consider is the cover for each model. The Mattress Maker model uses a cotton stretch knit cover while the LMF uses a cotton cover quilted to wool. Not to say one option is better than the other, just that the feel will be significantly different between the 2.
I just built a DIY three- layer using components from LMF. I used 3" firm Dunlop, 3" medium Dunlop and 2" soft Dunlop (already had the two" soft, also LMF) in an 8" cover (on an adjustable base). I may still add 2" Talalay as a topper, but as-is I am quite comfortable (I am a forced back-sleeper, 133 lbs.). As side sleepers, especially at 115 lbs, Talalay as the top layer definitely makes sense. Don’t hesitate to build your own to get exactly what you want. You can split layers if you each want something different.