TOPIC:

Thanks for all the help here! I finally pulled the trigger on a new mattress. It's a BB aloe alexis. After talking with Phoenix here and Mario with BB I felt that the thicker mattress would suit my size better. I didn't want to spend the money but I figured I'd rather spend it once than buy another mattress that I can't sleep on for more than 6 months. I talked with Mario a bit and after test driving some mattresses locally I seemed to prefer a firmer mattress. I went with a 5 hoping it wouldn't be too firm.

I received the mattress quickly enough, actually a couple days earlier than I thought I would. Lugging those boxes was a bit of pain though! I found it easier to pull the rolled up mattress and topper out of the boxes they came it and just bear hug them and walk them where I needed them. lol. They sat for a week since I've been super busy and hadn't picked up my bed frame yet. I bought a cheap platform bed since I thought it looked nicer than just getting the metal high rise frame. Its a frame basically with imitation leather and a slatted bed base. Upon assembly it could probably use a few more slats. I'll work on that, in the meantime it should suffice.

I finally set it all up yesterday and I couldn't be happier so far. I actually think I could have gone firmer as the foams for the level 5 still seem pretty plush. I like how easily customizable this bed is if I need to change something. And the split upper levels make it easy to custom tailor the firmness for each side of the bed (I bought a king size) I only got to put it all together and went to sleep hopefully for the last time on the awful cheap full size bed I've been making due on since I moved back out of my parents house and bought my own house. Very nice quality materials, didn't smell too bad and the free pillows are very nice as well. I got the high profile since I tend to sleep on my side but maybe should have done the low profile as on my back they are too high for me. Maybe I can pull some foam out. Nice pillows though. And I shouldn't have to fluff them all the time.

First impressions after fully assembling it are I really like the darn thing! I left it to air out and come to full height, though it looked pretty much fully expanded right after unwrapping. Looks great! When I get off work today it will have had about 22 hours to air out and expand. Probably throw my new king sheets on it and try sleeping on it today.

I will report back once I've actually slept on the dern thing! lol So far though I'm very happy with the whole buying experience from Brooklyn Bedding, the free pillows and discount were a bonus. If this thing sleeps anywhere near as good as I hope it will, its a bargain.

I'll update once I've spent a couple nights on it

-Mike

Congratulations Mike,
I felt better after only one night on my Aloe Alexis but it took about 3 weeks to really get acquainted. I've had it for almost a month and like it more each day. I choose level 3 firmness. It is really firm but I like it.
Let us know how things go...hopefully you will be pleased.
Jeff

I like it kinda firm myself ... and was debating between the 3 and 5 ... Chuck at BB said there really wasn't a '4' - or else I would've gotten that. So I went with the '5' because '3' seemed like it might be too firm. I'm 185 lbs, so not too big, but not too small - so we'll see if that plays into it. Still waiting to get it, so we'll see how it goes. I got the Bamboo Bliss, so I don't know if there will be minor differences there too.

I believe the main difference is BB has one 3" comfort layer and AA has two 3" layers. The more minor difference is bamboo vs. aloe. Being that you are not real heavy it may not make that much of a difference to you.

I hope you like it but please post your findings either way... I'm interested in the BB for my son.

Jeff, You replied a few times to my posts. Thanks. I am now considering the Aloe A. from B.B. I was thinking about going with an all natural 6" core (talalay) an 2" topper from Arizona M. I read posts here that scared me, saying that the medium core, which is what was recommended to me, was way too soft. I do prefer a rather firm mattress so I thought I'd ask you about your Aloe A. You stated that you have a level 3... do you know the ILD's for the layers? I think I would like a 3 or a 5 level of firmness. Also, did the mattress have any odors? Not sure about the HD core and what it is exactly. Do you know if this core is also hypoallergenic like a latex layer?
How is the quality of the cover?

Thanks,
Diane

Hello Diane,
I can answer some of your questions...
My Level 3 has a bottom comfort layer at 36 ILD while the top is 32ILD.
The level 5 has a bottom comfort layer at 32 ILD while the top is 28 ILD.
I did not detect much odor from the mattress (Maybe very faint but that is all). The shredded latex pillows are a different story - I could smell those for two weeks. I slept on one of them anyway because it was very comfortable - easy to fluff or flatten a little.
I cannot answer about the core...I don't know the answer.
The cover feels really good and appears to be of the highest quality.

Overall - I am very pleased to have picked the Aloe Alexis. It was good on day one and I continue to sleep a little better as the days pass.
You should talk on the phone with one of the BB guys to get their answer about the core.

Hi Mykvr6,,

Thanks for all the help here! I finally pulled the trigger on a new mattress. It's a BB aloe alexis. After talking with Phoenix here and Mario with BB I felt that the thicker mattress would suit my size better. I didn't want to spend the money but I figured I'd rather spend it once than buy another mattress that I can't sleep on for more than 6 months. I talked with Mario a bit and after test driving some mattresses locally I seemed to prefer a firmer mattress. I went with a 5 hoping it wouldn't be too firm.

I think you made a great quality/value choice and with two exchangeable latex layers the Alexis is also more flexible in terms of design and exchanging layers than some of their other choices. Thanks for your feedback and congratulations on your new mattress . I'm looking forward to any updates you have the chance to share with the forum.


@ Diane37,

I was thinking about going with an all natural 6" core (talalay) an 2" topper from Arizona M. I read posts here that scared me, saying that the medium core, which is what was recommended to me, was way too soft.

Just as food for thought ... I would keep in mind that softness and firmness is relative to each person and their body type, sleeping style, individual preferences and perceptions, and the specific design of the mattress. What is too soft for one person can be too firm for the next even with similar body types and sleeping styles. Outside of personal testing on a mattress ... the most effective way to make a comfort choice is with a more detailed conversation with a manufacturer or retailer who knows more about their mattresses than anyone and is in the best position to match their customers to the options that have the best odds of working well based on their experience with thousands of people and the "averages" of their customers who may be similar to you.

You stated that you have a level 3... do you know the ILD's for the layers?

If you go to the Aloe Alexis page and click on the "construction" tab you will see the details of the construction for each firmness level. I would also keep in mind that every difference in the thickness of layers, the softness of layers, or the type of materials in a base layer or quilting layer will have just as big an effect as ILD on how your mattress feels and performs. A 3" layer of a certain ILD with different materials above and below it and a different cover will be very different from a 2" latex layer of the same ILD with different materials above and below it and a different cover so I would aboid making comparisons based on any spec including ILD by itself without taking into account the effect of every other layer and component in the mattress.

Not sure about the HD core and what it is exactly. Do you know if this core is also hypoallergenic like a latex layer?
How is the quality of the cover?

The best answers to these types of questions will usually come from the manufacturers themselves. Their base layer is HD polyfoam (2.17 lbs) which is CertiPur certified. "Hypoallergenic" is relative to each person and there are people who are allergic or sensitive to latex and others who are allergic or sensitive to polyfoam (or any other material). Neither is an issue for the large majority of people.

I would also keep in mind that the quality of a material usually has little to do with how it feels. In general ... higher quality materials will last longer not necessarily feel better.

Phoenix

okay so I got to sleep on it for a whole 4 hous BUT I slept great. The pillows are too tall, i tired flattening them out but no luck. I should have went with the low profile ones, and may get a couple anyway. Or maybe I'll pull some foam and then try. They are comfy though. I used my normal pillow and crashed. When I got up there where no achy shoulders or back. I tend to sleep on my side and my arm/should is usually killing me after a couple hours and tends to wake me up. None of that with this mattress. Its does feel a bit plush but I sink a little then I feel that I'm not sinking after that. Probably just through the top layer, and from just my short stint on it yesterday it seems to be very comfortable. I'll put some more hours on it and see how it does. The 5 may end up being the perfect blend of support and softness.

Sounds like money well spent!
Congratulation.

absolutely! now I just need to work a bit less so I can spend more time in it! And of course a proper break in! lol