Gel Memory Foam...What is it?

1. All the benefits of traditional memory foam: Just like the memory foam products you've heard about for years -- and maybe even use -- gel memory foam is durable and comfortable. It also resists motion transfer, so when your bed partner moves around or gets in and out of bed, it won't disturb your slumber.
   
2. Increased air circulation: Gel memory foam is made of gel beads that are infused into memory foam, and this creates an open cell structure that promotes air movement. The heat from your body dissipates instead of collecting in your mattress, topper, or pillow. This helps you maintain a cool, comfortable temperature all night.
   
3. Balanced support: Gel memory foam provides a firm yet comfortable sleep surface. It fits to your body without letting you sink in too deeply, a concern that some users of traditional memory foam products have. Gel memory foam products are designed with extra support where you need it, so you'll have just the right amount of contact.
   
4. Pressure relief: Side sleepers often have issues with pressure on their hips and shoulders while they sleep. The pressure on these points causes the tossing and turning that can keep you from getting good, continuous sleep. Gel memory foam gently cradles your body, so painful pressure points are eliminated, relieving pressure points that traditional mattresses may aggravate.
   
5. Spinal alignment: When your body is cradled correctly and the pressure has been taken off your shoulders and hips, your spine is encouraged to align. When your back feels good in the morning, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated from your night's sleep.
   
   Full Disclosure...I now personally own a gel infused memory foam mattress and have to say it absolutely works for me.  The model I chose was the Serta iComfort Sevant, it used to be called the Revolution. It has done all of the above things for me that are stated above.  I haven't got hot, I don;t feel my wife turn or get in/out of bed, I don't experience any pressure and man does it have support. The Sevant is one of the softer ones out there and yet you don't sacrifice support at all.   
   

Let's Talk Latex!

Q. Why all the buzz?

Well, latex mattresses have grown tremendously popular in Europe already.

I would like to first say I really believe Latex to be a terrific product. It is very dense (typically 4 lb/cubic foot density) and a quality mattress core of latex will last virtually forever. Latex mattress cores (this is the industry term for the piece of latex used to make the mattress and they tend to be 5" or 6" thick) are always made with holes in them (called pincore holes) - these holes soften the latex and make it comfortable. The larger the holes, the softer the latex core will feel. Most latex mattresses just have one size of holes through the whole mattress so the mattress has a uniform feel throughout. Some cores, though, are made with different sections of latex with different sized holes. This allows the bed to have different zones - softer under the shoulders and feet and firmer under the hips. Finally, many latex beds layer other materials (whether softer latex or memory foam, etc) on top of the latex core to give the bed a softer or more yielding feel. Latex mattresses have a nice bouncy feel and they are very supportive. I think that latex makes a great core and is a big improvement over inner springs and denser and more substantial than foam cores.

What is latex, though? Originally it was just natural rubber that was made of the sap of actual rubber trees. And latex is still made this way today. But during WWII, scientists also learned how to create synthetic latex. I don't claim to understand the chemistry behind all this, but manufacturer's tell me that synthetic latex has the same properties as natural.

Today, most latex mattresses tend to be either made of synthetic latex or more typically a combination of synthetic and natural latex. The manufacturer's of these combination latex mattresses that I talked with claim that a combination makes the whole latex core more resilient. Of course, the all natural latex manufacturers said this was rubbish - that an all natural product is just as resilient and is actually made of natural rubber (as opposed to petrochemical synthetic latex). To a degree I think that it is just a matter of costs - synthetic latex may be cheaper and so more cost effective to use in a mattress. Are there advantages to going natural latex over the synthetic? I can't say that the quality of the mattress will differ, but I just have a personal preference to the natural rubber from a tree as opposed to a synthetic. This may just be my aesthetic taste, but I just lean toward a natural product over a synthetic copy all things being equal. But be warned - you may pay more for the natural latex mattress and also find that finding an all natural latex mattress is difficult. Although this may be changing since one of the big manufacturers, Latex International, is coming out with an all natural Talalay mattress in the near future.

This raises the second way latex mattresses can be different - the manner in which the cores are made. There are two ways they are manufactured: 1) The original method, called the Dunlop method, involves first whipping the latex liquid with air to make a foam, then pouring the latex liquid into a mold and heating it till it vulcanizes, and 2) the Talalay method, which is a bit more involved. In the Talalay method, the latex foam a vacuum is placed on the mold and other processes are involved that some claim produces a foam that has a more consistent cell structure. The foam, in either process, once made is then washed a number of times to get rid or excess soaps and proteins that can make the foam degrade early and also reduces the rubbery smell of latex.

So, in addition to having two different kinds of latex to choose from (natural or synthetic), you also must determine which method of production (Dunlop method or Talalay method) to choose from as well. Which is best? From my experience at trade shows and in discussions with manufacturers and seasoned latex bed owners, it depended on who you talked with. Manufacturers who used the Talalay method, described their product as being less dense, having more air dispersed in the product due to the flash freeze step used in the process, and claimed that it had a more uniform cell structure. Those who used the more straightforward vulcanization technique in the Dunlop method liked the more elastic, springier feeling it creates, and had strong opinions about using all natural materials. My take: I think they are both good products, but I leaned toward the Dunlop mindset since the technique was developed using all natural latex without synthetic ingredients, and it offered I think a more stable product with some solid history behind it. It turns out Sears sold an all natural Dunlop method latex mattress back in the 50's called the "Harvest House" bed, and many are still in homes even to this day. I have spoken to people who have found these mattresses to be in pristine condition, even after 40-50 years. The Talalay method is promising, both with synthetic and even all natural ingredients, but the technique has not been used as long to really evaluate the longevity of the product when made this way.

So after looking at all the flavors, I tended toward natural, using the Dunlop method because it seemed more straightforward and simplistic in its recipe, able to stand the test of time, something more difficult to find these days, and I felt it had a livelier, more responsive feel than the other latex varieties, including all synthetic and synthetic and natural blends.

In fact:

• Talalay latex provides up to 33% more pressure relief than conventional foam and fiber cushioning materials.
• Exceptional Durability – Latex is the most naturally durable cushioning material available. Derived from the tropical rubber tree, latex is highly resilient.
• Talalay latex is 3x more durable than Dunlop process
• Breathable – It is 4x more breathable than polyurethane, memory foam or Dunlop process latex.
• Uniquely Healthy – Talalay latex is ideal for allergy sufferers! It is naturally hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant and antimicrobial, inhibiting the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. No artificial or synthetic materials have been added to provide these benefits.

Buy now!
Steel prices have gone through the roof and most foam is petroleum based. With that being said mattress manufactures are fighting to keep cost down, and if the economy keeps slowing down then manufactures will have to raise prices even further as well as your local dealer. To explain further, both manufactures and retailers have certain fixed costs (i.e. rent, utilities, payroll, etc.) that don't change when times are slow. If they continue for any period then they have to increase the amount they charge to cover overhead since less beds are sold. So if you have been thinking about buying a mattress set I would buy ASAP.

Do All Mattresses Produce Body Impressions

Today's top-quality mattresses use technologically advanced foams and fibers that are designed to be softer and more comfortable while ensuring your body has proper support. These materials are designed to relieve pressure points yet still give proper support for your back. Today's mattresses are certainly much more comfortable and better at allowing people to sleep better then mattresses of old, however the risk of developing some amount of body impressions has increased. Do not be too concerned though! Most body impressions form in the first few months of the mattresses life. This mainly occurs because the mattress has yet to be fully slept in. What I mean by this is there are certain areas of the mattress that has not been slept on and therefore the foam and/or coils have not been released and settled therefore these areas feel firmer. Over time, these areas usually break in as well and the bed becomes equalized. To help prevent this, attempt to sleep throughout the mattress for the first few months. If a couple is on the mattress the middle sometimes crowns which can be prevented if naps are taken in the middle, or even by walking-out the mattress, which mean literally taking of your shoes and walking up and down the center of the mattress for a few minutes a day for about a week to help release the foam and/or coils. One thing important to remember is that most mattresses have 10 year warranties and therefore if you start experiencing problems, do not rush to make a warranty claim. What often occurs is the same thing happening again with the replacement mattress, or worse, the mattress is swapped out for a firmer mattress that is less comfortable yet safer from experiencing impressions.

Another symtom of sagging or body impressions is lack of support in the coil system. Be very careful when choosing a mattress that you don't buy a mattress that has too few and/or too weak a coil system. Make sure to ask lots of questions, if you are still confused and frustrated the safest decision you can make is to go with the big name brands (Serta, Sealy, Simmons, Stearns and Foster or Spring Air). They became the Big-S's by producing a premium product at a fair price. Even then be careful, it is usually safe not to go with the entry level collection (ie. Sertapedic, Sealy Back Saver, Sealy Posture Premere, etc) of these unless it is being used for teenagers and under or for guest rooms.

The third potential problem that occationally occurs is box spring or foundation break down. Most people assume what they feel is always the mattress, however, statictics show a large percent of the time the lack of support for the foundations or foundation failure often is the case.

Top Mattress Brands

1. Tempur-pedic...........Swedish Memory Foam manufacturer
2. Sealy...........................Back Saver, Back Care, Posterpedic,
3. Serta...........................Sertapedic, Perfect Sleeper, Vera Wang, Perfect Day
4. Simmons....................Black Label, Beautyrest, Natural Care, ComforPedic
5. Spring Air...................Comfortflex, Posture Comfort, Four Seasons, Infinity
6. Kingsdown..................Body System, Partner Perfect, Plush Sense
7. Select Comfort............Sleep Number Beds
8. Englander....................Synergy, Nature's Finest, Tension Ease
9. Stearns And Foster....Premium Innerspring and Latex Sleep Sets
10. Duxiana......................The Dux 8888, The Duxmotion, The Dux 12:12, The Dux 1001

SAME MATTRESS DIFFERENT NAMES

Have you noticed that you can never find the same mattress at different stores. The reason is because mattress manufactures put different names on the same bed so that retailers don't have to directly compete and therefore both can equally sell their mattresses. The manufacture and retailer win, the customer loses. There are some websites out there that are true mattress discounters, they are not afraid to allow the customer to compare there mattress to there competitors. For example, justbeddingonline.com who sells Serta mattresses gives their shoppers other names of the same bed to help them shop. There Perfect Day Exuberance SSPT can also be found as being called the Unsurpassable SSPT, Exploration SSPT, Sensational SSPT, Holiday SSPT. Another Site I found is mattresssite.com which gives comparative names for Stearns and Foster mattresses.

Which coil systems are best

Every manufacture has a different coil design and calls it the best. All have certain benefits and weaknesses. For example Simmons Beautyrest uses individual pocketed coils. The advantage of this coil system is that the has very little motion transfer from one side to the other. The negative however is that they cannot temper the steal when producing the pocketed coil as well as the coil gauge is then. This increases the risk of having coil fatigue in the lower back area sooner then most mattresses. 810-850 coils in queen 15 1/2 gauge.

Serta Perfect Sleeper on the other hand uses want is called the continuous coil system. The advantages of this system is that there is one wire that goes the length of the bed creating each coil, the unit is also tempered. This make the system all one unit preventing the unit from sagging. The only negative might be that these mattresses might be a little firmer per comparable model of another manufacture, so you might have to get a little softer topper if you like a soft bed. 542 coils in queen 13 gauge.

Sealy Posturpedic on the other hand has another design. They do more coils than Serta but not as much as Simmons. They are tempered, but they are not continious, they also use a thicker wire than Simmons but not as thick a Serta. This is a good all around system, it tends to break down a little quicker than the Serta but should last a little longer than the Simmons. 710-782 in queen at 14 guage