Mattress for bed suggestions?

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mattwnz

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#258685 15-Oct-2019 21:27

Currently looking at new mattress options to go onto an existing fixed slat bed base. I saw a banner ad here for Ecosa beds, which is a bed that they post to you in a box and when you unpack it, it expands and fills with air. Anyone purchased one of these? I am looking for something healthy, perhaps latex, although unsure if the NZ one is natural latex or not. The natural latex ones seem to go hard and powdery after a period of time. It looks like the one they sell in Oz is natural latex, but not the one they sell in NZ. Are they good value, as they still seem a bit pricey? Anyone have any other options? Wellington beds are the other company I would look. In some ways I would prefer one with pocket springs. Currently my bed is a Sealy Posturepedic cushion top which is quite firm.

bendud

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#2337807 15-Oct-2019 22:15

I'm typing this as I lie on an Ecosa....

Reasonably priced, delivery a couple of days. Easy to move in the box. Some off-gassing (VOCs) but tbh I'm vegetarian so it's a drop in the ocean :-) mattress had no detectable odour after a day.

It is *really* firm. The firm side is like a board. The "medium" side is marginally less firm. After a month we both found we were struggling with the firmness, and we actually prefer a firmer mattress and have never really had anything soft... it was still too firm for us (Mrs B is about 65kg and I'm 75kg on a good day so we aren't huge). I wanted to like it - it's still an expensive purchase - but just too firm for comfort. I was concerned about edge roll (unsprung so tendency to 'roll off' e.g. if sat on edge of the bed but in reality this hasn't been an issue.

In the end we got the reduced cost topper, and it's just so much more comfortable. Warmer too - we have a slatted Ikea bed and the change in mattress made far more change to warmth - no longer needing to use an electric blanket has been a big plus. Oddly though it hasn't been too warm either, although that might just be Dunedin weather!

So unless you like sleeping on a sheet of board, factor in the topper cost. You can return the main mattress (they don't make it easy though) - however the topper is non-returnable. We now really love the mattress plus topper and would definitely buy another. We've had it for 6 months or so. It's still at the firmer end of the spectrum.

Don't pay full price under any circumstance - there's always a sale available. Currently looks to be $200 off.

Hope that helps

From the Antarctic Riviera

mattwnz

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#2337823 15-Oct-2019 23:37

Thanks for the detailed reply. I had read in the reviews that some people find them too firm, and it was suggested by the company to try out a topper. The topper actually maybe a good option to improve for my current bed, as it is also very firm. So I may try out the topper first.

timmmay

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#2337888 16-Oct-2019 07:27

Memory foam toppers can be good, but can also make beds quite warm as you sink into it, which isn't so good in summer. I've had memory foam beds for a decade and like them. Got the last one from Wellington Beds, I wasn't very impressed with their service. Memory foam beds and toppers all start out firm but over the first year they get softer and softer, still supportive enough, but definitely softer. Sales people all say they don't, but they do.

sidefx

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#2337955 16-Oct-2019 09:33

bendud:

You can return the main mattress (they don't make it easy though)

Care to elaborate on your experience with the return process? Their website makes it sound dead easy before you buy of course.

I currently have an Ecosa, still in the trial period. I'm OK with it, but it is very firm even with "medium" setup and my partner is not so keen on it. I've been considering returning and trying one of the other mattress in a box companies - some appear to be slightly less firm.

I know people rave about Ecosa with the topper, but it's a significant extra cost, and as you say non-returnable so trying another company seems slightly more sensible. I also tend to get too hot in bed so not so keen on something that makes me even warmer.

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#2337994 16-Oct-2019 10:15

i'd go for pocket springs with or without a topper. if you find the correct firmness it's heavenly. if not it's still very good.

bendud

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#2338410 16-Oct-2019 20:23

To be fair we didn't try to return ours, so I have no direct experience.

However after much investigation what they do in Australia is ask the Salvation Army to come and collect it as a gift for them... a process that can take some months depending on the Salvation Army van availability and volunteer status. I'm not sure how it works in NZ especially in the provinces. But collection is devolved to the charitable sector, which seems to be a bit off.

In the meantime the mattress hangs about getting in the way indefinitely.

So from our point of view it seemed a better idea to get the reduced price topper, thereby falling into their trap. But it worked well for us.

From the Antarctic Riviera

dafman

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#2338428 16-Oct-2019 20:50

We've purchased two pocket spring king beds from Wellington beds in the last five years. Very happy with both.

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mattwnz

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#2338538 16-Oct-2019 23:17

timmmay:

Memory foam toppers can be good, but can also make beds quite warm as you sink into it, which isn't so good in summer. I've had memory foam beds for a decade and like them. Got the last one from Wellington Beds, I wasn't very impressed with their service. Memory foam beds and toppers all start out firm but over the first year they get softer and softer, still supportive enough, but definitely softer. Sales people all say they don't, but they do.

That is a good point. In winter it would be nice, but in summer it could be very uncomfortable.

Hammerer

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#2338543 16-Oct-2019 23:38

We have changed all our mattresses to full latex on slats (mainly sprung slats but also fixed slats). This has been more expensive than innersprung but it is worth having mattresses you look forward to sleeping on. They are warmer in cooler weather which means two thirds of the year. Better than foam in summer although still warm.

Latex has a longer initial softening period when you first use it.

Latex is heavy so they are not as easy to move around.

We haven't noticed any drying out or hardening with mattresses that over ten years old but we don't have any of cheap latex mattresses nor any of the mixed-material latex nor mattresses exposed to direct sunlight. Top organic latex is reported as staying soft for 20 years.

driller2000

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#2338544 16-Oct-2019 23:52

Have had an Ecosa for just under a year and it has been great.

It is firm - but the lower back pain i was getting with the previous mattress has gone - and was gone within 2 sleeps.

The previous mattress was a $3k pocket spring mattress, so it wasn't cheap - but it had sagged enough within 6 or so years to lead to lower back pain.

I miss the Ecosa when I stay away from home and highly recommend it - especially seeing as it cost $1,150 (incl $200 discount) for our Superking vs. the $3k of the previous mattress.

It is also a risk free purchase given you can try it for 100 days and "return" it for free if you don't like it - Sallies pick up I think? - and we only kept our old mattress for 5 days before deciding to offload it

So I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

timmmay

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#2338560 17-Oct-2019 07:13

mattwnz:

That is a good point. In winter it would be nice, but in summer it could be very uncomfortable.

I find them fine in summer. You sink in a bit more is all, so you have insulation around you. I guess I'm used to it. We've been using the air conditioner a lot more the past year or two, though that's probably unrelated.