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Hello Hong -

Congrats on starting medical school! I can certainly understand your desire to have a comfortable mattress to optimize your sleep and minimize discomfort particularly with all of the desk time you spend studying. At least you have a good start on the process by having identified your preference for a firm mattress which seems to best address your specific needs.

I think you're on the right track to start by checking out a firm latex mattress. There are many TMU trusted members who sell such models but I did a preliminary check and don't see any closer to Roanoke than about a three hour drive in Richmond which would be Richmond Bedding . So assuming you'd be closer to the Rug Mattress and Furniture Store you identified you could certainly start there by checking out their firm latex mattress. That would at least give you the opportunity to try out a latex model to see how it feels as well as to assess its relative level of firmness as to whether it's sufficient for you.

There are several TMU trusted members would be able to provide you with latex mattresses that could be configured specifically for your needs and ship to you, as well as providing personalized recommendations based on their many years of experience.

Latex is generally agreed upon as sleeping much cooler than memory foam mattresses like those that you mentioned, in particular since it's an open cell foam that breathes well to maintain temperature neutrality. MF is generally a closed cell design that inherently sleeps hot since you sink into it and end up surrounded by dense foam which builds up heat. Most MF mattresses try to address the issue by using foam additives to try to draw heat away from the body, but the natural breathability of latex is a better solution to sleeping cool. Another negative to MF is that it's known for softening and losing its support over time... just look at their warranties and any softening of the material is universally excluded and considered normal. That would be an issue for you given your need for firm support which latex is able to maintain more consistently over a much longer period of time.

Hope this helps, since I know that Sensei and Phoenix are currently having much of their time consumed implementing website improvements.

- Bill

If I understood correctly, I should post my question here ... since other mechanisms are currently disabled. If not, my apologies.

I have some questions about using adjustable beds with latex mattresses. In the past, we used a three-layer latex mattress (pure Talalay) on a solid platform bed, and liked it very much. More recently, we used the same type of mattress on adjustable bed (LP iEscape) bed, and ran into two problems: (1) the adjustable bed does not appear to provide the same support as we are used to with a platform bed, and (2) the adjustable platform is actually 2 inches narrower than the state size (58'' vs 60'' on queen). As the result our mattress feel very soft and sloping down on the sides. Very disappointing experience.

Hence my question: are these two problems generic with all adjustable beds, or did we just made a porr choice? If we do stick with adjustable bed, should we choose firmer layers of latex in order to get what we are accustomed to on a solid platform bed? Any other advice?

Thank you very much in advance.

Hi Vadim,

Welcome to our Mattress Forum!

More recently, we used the same type of mattress on adjustable bed (LP iEscape) bed, and ran into two problems: (1) the adjustable bed does not appear to provide the same support as we are used to with a platform bed, and (2) the adjustable platform is actually 2 inches narrower than the state size (58'' vs 60'' on queen). As the result our mattress feel very soft and sloping down on the sides. Very disappointing experience.
Hence my question: are these two problems generic with all adjustable beds, or did we just made a porr choice?

A quality latex mattress is generally a great fit for an adjustable bed as latex can be moved, folded, and adjusted in any direction one desires. Latex is highly flexible and follows the contour of what is set on. You are mentioning that you are using “the same type of mattress” so I am not clear if you are using the same mattress, if it is a different mattress then it is likely that this is another contributing factor.

I have no experience with the iEscape and I was not able to find out if the decking is solid or slatted but assuming that you are sleeping on the same mattress, in a flat position and that the decking on the steel frame is solid then it should perform similarly to the latex sitting on a platform bed or on the floor. The 1” edge support missing on each side of the mattress should not impact the support you are experiencing when sleeping upon it but I do see how this would cause a “slopping down on the sides” as it would be missing some of the edge support you are used to.
I was able to find that some retailers listed slightly smaller dimensions for this model but I do understand it is disappointing when specs are not exact.

If we do stick with adjustable bed, should we choose firmer layers of latex in order to get what we are accustomed to on a solid platform bed? Any other advice?

To check all your bases, I would make sure to inspect the underside of the unit with a flashlight when the unit is under heavy load (mattress and person) to determine if there are any loose parts or bending of decking.

I’d suggest that you take a look at the first post in this thread titled “The Best Foundations or Base for a Latex or All Foam Mattress” which may give you more insights. Post #2 in this thread discusses the other features of an adjustable bed that may be important to consider and post #6 here has comparisons between popular adjustable bed bases. that may be of interest.


Phoenix

Hi Vadim,

Welcome to our Mattress Forum!

More recently, we used the same type of mattress on adjustable bed (LP iEscape) bed, and ran into two problems: (1) the adjustable bed does not appear to provide the same support as we are used to with a platform bed, and (2) the adjustable platform is actually 2 inches narrower than the state size (58'' vs 60'' on queen). As the result our mattress feel very soft and sloping down on the sides. Very disappointing experience.
Hence my question: are these two problems generic with all adjustable beds, or did we just made a porr choice?

A quality latex mattress is generally a great fit for an adjustable bed as latex can be moved, folded, and adjusted in any direction one desires. Latex is highly flexible and follows the contour of what is set on. You are mentioning that you are using “the same type of mattress” so I am not clear if you are using the same mattress, if it is a different mattress then it is likely that this is another contributing factor.

I have no experience with the iEscape and I was not able to find out if the decking is solid or slatted but assuming that you are sleeping on the same mattress, in a flat position and that the decking on the steel frame is solid then it should perform similarly to the latex sitting on a platform bed or on the floor. The 1” edge support missing on each side of the mattress should not impact the support you are experiencing when sleeping upon it but I do see how this would cause a “slopping down on the sides” as it would be missing some of the edge support you are used to.
I was able to find that some retailers listed slightly smaller dimensions for this model but I do understand it is disappointing when specs are not exact.

If we do stick with adjustable bed, should we choose firmer layers of latex in order to get what we are accustomed to on a solid platform bed? Any other advice?

To check all your bases, I would make sure to inspect the underside of the unit with a flashlight when the unit is under heavy load (mattress and person) to determine if there are any loose parts or bending of decking.

I’d suggest that you take a look at the first post in this thread titled “The Best Foundations or Base for a Latex or All Foam Mattress” which may give you more insights. Post #2 in this thread discusses the other features of an adjustable bed that may be important to consider and post #6 here has comparisons between popular adjustable bed bases. that may be of interest.


Phoenix

Hi Hong.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum

I've heard good things about TMU from Reddit and have done a bit of research on what I want in a mattress. I would greatly appreciate your input and some help in finding a reliable mattress that can last 4 years.

You are in the right place for guidance when it comes to navigating the mattress buying process.

To give you some context, I will be moving to Roanoke VA for medical school and I would really prefer to have a bed that is comfortable. I have tight hip flexors which often results in lower back pain and even sciatica. This is 100% due to sitting and studying for extended periods of time for most of my life (I'm 26). For the last two years, I've been using a supposedly "firm" Live & Sleep Ultra; this has mostly aggravated the pain over time. Of course, I am doing Physical Therapy and have been trying to reduce the time I sit, but sleep is still a big factor in how much pain I feel every day. I know it's not due to my health because I exercise regularly (I'm 6'4'', 200lb and in good shape).

Thank you for sharing the context and I am sorry to hear about the lower back pain which is aggravated by your current mattress. I am glad that you are already doing physical therapy, but you’re right, people spend one-third of the 24 hours cycle on the mattress and rarely think about the quality of their sleep until some symptoms start to become “visible”

The only mattress I have found that was suitable for me was a Beautyrest Platinum Haven Pines Extra Firm mattress. I laid on it and instantly felt 110% at ease. I hesitate on this because I see in multiple posts that it is wise to avoid name brands.

While we do tend to recommend people stay away from the larger name brands for durability reasons and because of the sleep quality diminishing with foam breaking over time …ultimately only you can feel what you feel on a mattress and it doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t work for some people. In your case, it is not so much a matter of mattress longevity as you are seeking to get only 4 years of useful life, but depending on the foam density used in this particular model you may start to experience the effects of foam breakdown much before the 4 years mark given your tight hip flexors. Misalignment may trigger muscle tightness resulting in pain so I would make sure to use a mattress that would not develop soft spots (virtual impressions) or sagging (visible impressions) over time.

Generally speaking, there are much too many variables, unknowns, and individual preferences to use a formula or "theory at a distance" to predict how well any mattress will match your specific needs and preferences in terms of PPP (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here ) and each manufacturer comfort scale is of internal use as there is no yardstick for comparing comfort (there is no "comfort standard" in the industry).


The information listed on their site for the layers in the (14”) Beautyrest Platinum Haven Pines XFirm don’t disclose the foam densities which would allow you to make any meaningful comparisons and assess the quality of the product. The innerspring support layer is rarely a weak link in a mattress but the comfort layers are subject to more mechanical stress and a low-density foam would be a red flag in terms of durability and sleep quality. Without knowing a more complete set of specs of the foams in this mattress, it is impossible to make any meaningful comments.

Lastly, I've scoured TMU for past posts about shops in Roanoke. Most of the links are out of date and the posts more than 5 years old. The ones that work for me are [url=Virginia Furniture Market and Allen's Furniture and they both only sell name brands like Temper pedic, Sealy, etc. The Rug Mattress and Furniture StoreThe Rug and has a latex mattress but only in firm, and I don't know how firm that actually is.
In summary, I am looking for advice on either finding a local mattress store in the Roanoke VA area that have extra firm mattresses that can last 4 years or a brand you would recommend that I look for in stores near Roanoke.

We stopped making recommendations for stores unless they are a vetted TMU member here of our website as It is quite difficult to maintain and keep up to date records and listings of retailer/manufacturers across the country in an ever-changing landscape of the mattress industry. As we come across new information we revisit and edit the old listings to add/remove any relevant information. There are two Trusted Members who, while not in Roanoke, may be of interest to you. One is CozyPure located in Norfolk, and the other is Richmond Bedding , in Richmond. They may be worth checking them out. They are both experts on our site and would be glad to help with any specific questions you may have.

Aside from that, and subject to first confirming that any retailer or manufacturer on the list that you wish to visit is completely transparent about the mattress specs you need to know to make an informed mattress purchase and to make sure that any mattress you are considering meets the mattress quality/value guidelines here.

I would also make sure you review our article on choosing a great mattress outlet, which explains why it is important to narrow down the options in your local area when looking to text a mattress.

I hope this helps

Phoenix

Phoenix,

Thanks very much for your comments (and for this website!). I believe that iScape is simply rebranded L&P S-Cape 2.0 model. I found specs on it and indeed it shows width of 59''. Vistually all adjustable bed manufacturers promise that their beds fit inside most bed frames. This suggests that ALL adjustable beds are undersized and will cause the overhang and sloping issues with latex mattresses. I am surprised that this is not discussed more, though I did find a number of customers complaining about the "wrong size" beds.

You are correct that I am not using the same mattress, but only the "same type" mattress, and this could be the explanation for difference in support. Thanks for the suggestion of looking at the underside. Not sure that I can see mu because the bed is upholstered, but I will check it out.

Thank you again for your help.

-Vadim

Hi Sweet Dreams and Phoenix,

Thank you so much for the response and detailed info.

So here's my conundrum. Before I buy the mattress, I want to test it out. (Before actually going, I'll go through the mattress shopping guidelines on TMU.) The two places you recommended, CozyPure and Richmond Bedding, are incredibly far away for a mattress test. The two way drive is almost 12 hours or more. With school almost starting, I don't think that's a feasible trip to just test out a mattress.

Having said that, out of the three name brand mattress lines I listed before (TEMPUR-breeze, Serta iComfort, Beautyrest Platinum) are available at outlets in the Roanoke area. Which one in your experience would more likely serve me best for at least 4 years? Like Phoenix said, " it is not so much a matter of mattress longevity as you are seeking to get only 4 years of useful life, but depending on the foam density used in this particular model you may start to experience the effects of foam breakdown much before the 4 years mark given your tight hip flexors." I know it's hard to compare, given that there aren't any spring densities on them. But you mentioned that these brands could work for some people. Given your vast experience in recommending mattresses for people and I'm sure listening to other people's experiences/stories, which would you estimate to less likely experience sagging?

Tomorrow, I will call some outlets with these name brands and see if they have any spec sheets that have comfort layer foam density information on them.

Best,
Hong

Hong,

The three brands you mentioned have a wide range of products with very different feels and levels of support. I wouldn't feel confident in recommending any of them for your specific needs without you first trying them out to see which you find comfortable. If you do that and come back with some additional details on their construction I'd feel better about making a recommendation for you. What about the Rug Mattress and Furniture Store you previously identified near Roanoke, could you make it there to check out their firm latex mattress to get a feel for it?

Good luck with your search!

- Bill

Hi Bill,
That's a good point, I'll try out the firm latex mattress at the Rug and Mattress Furniture Store to get a feel for it.

So out of the three mattresses I mentioned, I thought they were specific mattresses, not entire lines. I've slept on a Beautyrest Platinum Haven Pines Extra Firm mattress. I laid on it and instantly felt 110% at ease. I'm not sure about the other two (Tempur-breeze, and Serta iComfort).

I have never tried a firm latex mattress before, but in the event I don't like the feel, I was hoping you or Phoenix had a suggestion as to which mattress has had more positive feedback on TMU. Phoenix, please feel free to chime in as well if you have any thoughts!

Thank you both for everything!

Best,
Hong

Hong,

I believe that both the TP and Serta iComfort would have a more typical memory foam feel than the Beautyrest Platinum that you tried and liked. That means they'd both have more of that molding and sinking in type feel where you sleep deeper into the mattress rather than on top of it. They'd likely sleep hotter as well since when you sink into a mattress further you're more surrounded by the memory foam with less air flow around your body for cooling. It will be interesting to see what your thoughts are on the feel of the firm latex mattress once you try it since you could likely get something similar from several Trusted Members of TMU.

Good luck on your continued mission,

- Bill