I'm buying a mattress with my wife. We weigh 175lbs and 120lbs. We are seeking a medium-soft mattress, memory foam, ideally cooling, that is very durable. We can spend up to C$3,000 but would prefer to go much lower if we can still get adequate quality.

The consensus seems to be that Serta and Sealy mattresses are generally way overpriced and many argue that you should avoid the online box brands too. Apparently they are not durable and build / material quality is lacking for the price. Not sure what that leaves us with in terms of options locally (Montreal, Canada).

We went to a Dormez-Vous store and tried a bunch of mattresses from Sealy, Serta, Casper, Purple and Tempur-Pedic. The best one for us was the Serta iComfort TempActiv III (we actually loved it and I fell asleep on it in-store) and a close second was the Sealy Posturpedic Optimum Chill Trio Vivid. They were priced near our price limit with taxes.

What are some great soft memory foam mattresses that are durable?

Any help much appreciated. Thanky you.

Hello TMU,
Thank you for creating this website which I find very informative and helpful. I'm in the process of getting a mattress for me and my partner. We had a medium spring coil mattress from costco but eventually returned it because it felt too soft after we spent two weeks on it. The turning point for us was that 1) it gave us this restless feeling sometimes, it's like our upper part of body was sunk in while the lower part - hips and legs - were raised high uncomfortably. 2) it sometimes got really hot
For reason 1), we now prefer a firm mattress, and for reason 2) we want to avoid memory foam mattress, (although we heard it's been greatly improved with new technologies nowadays but we don't know how well it works)

My mother got a latex mattress recently and we were under the impression that she's very happy with it, so now we are tempted to get a firm one too. Since we've never slept on a latex before and I see a review mentioning latex having this push-back feelings, so we would really like to find a place where we can actually lay down on one physically before making the decision, but we haven't found any store with all latex constructions in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

We also looked at some members' websites of this forum, but unfortunately lots of them don't have a return policy. We'd really like to lay down on one in person before throwing $3000 at a mattress with some fancy pictures and texts but also might make us reluctant to go to bed every night.

So I'll ask the real question, where can I find a place to actually lay down on a latex mattress in the Ottawa-Gatineau area? I'm going to visit Montreal next week so I'm also ok if there's one available over there.


Some background: 41 Male 5’6 78kg back sleeper, 39 female 5’2 52kg side-sleeper

Hi JMD5.

. Both of us really like the feel of springs with a good comfort layer to conform to curves/relieve pressure. My husband just wants to buy The Fairmont Bed (sold by Fairmont Hotels, made by Sealy), but I'm not convinced it will last long and even when I asked for specific info on material, it wasn't enough detail.

Your intuition serves you well. “Hotel mattresses” tend to be lower quality and value than the consumer mattresses made by the same manufacturer in the same price range and more basic versions of the retail products that many mattress companies offer (which isn’t a good thing). One of the "secrets" to many hotel mattresses is that they usually use a bedding package that includes a mattress pad or topper that is a big part of how the mattress feels and can also add to the durability of the mattress (replacing a mattress pad or topper can be less costly than replacing a whole mattress because a mattress or sleeping system will usually soften or break down from the top-down). In many cases, the more subjective short-term experience of sleeping at a hotel is an improvement over the mattress that people sleep on regularly and this often "translates" into the perception that hotel mattresses are better than they are. They are a frequent source of buyer's remorse. They tend to be firmer products using softer “top-of-bed” materials to create extra plushness. There’s more good information about hotel mattresses in post #3 here .

. I was considering trying the Ghostbed Flex (what they recommended as well), but I know the foam is 4lb, and what I've read here is >5lb is recommended for our size.

I agree that for your BMI I would not consider any mattress with more than one inch or so of lower than 5lbs/cuft density.

. I've also considered trying to find a good solid innerspring and get a separate topper that we can change out as needed... But I haven't seen just an innerspring anywhere (they all seem to have pillowtop) and I'm not sure about which manufactures would have strong coils for extra weight. Any recommendations there?
Then of course we'd need to find a topper we like...

This sounds like a good plan but I’d recommend doing this under the guidance of a knowledgeable and experienced manufacturer or retailer.

Below is a listing of Canadian and US manufacturers/retailers who are trusted member manufacturers/ retailers of the TMU that offer DIY mattresses and ship across Canada who you may wish to consider. They are very seasoned in providing good guidance over the phone and fitting their customers with a suitable product in terms of comfort/support needs. You may want to consider giving a call to expert trusted member MFC , I know that @Mario would be happy to help with any questions you may have of their products.
Arizona Premium Mattress : Phoenix AZ-based manufacturer offers hybrid and latex mattresses, latex mattress toppers, via standard UPS ground shipping to Canada including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and more.
CBH Wood Furniture: Canadian manufacturer of All-Natural beds. Would be a good lead if you are considering an all-latex bed.
Dormio : Canadian Manufacturer specializing in organic/natural latex mattresses with options that fit all budget ranges.
MFC : Canadian online retailer with a very good selection of latex mattresses and hybrids
You can also browse our TMU Trusted Members as there are some US-based companies that provide products to the Canadian market but you'd need to call and check
While not a member you may want to try SnugSleep : which has a factory and showroom in North Vancouver, Canada carrying natural latex mattress products.

. Neither of us have tried latex, but I think we need to. I'll have to figure out if there are any retailers locally that have a showroom with latex options. It looks like Costco has a Sealy Posturpedic mattress with latex - I know, stay away from Sealy... But Costco is also quite tempting because the customer service is so fabulous.

While customer service and easy returns are quite “tempting” this 14” mattress is an all-foam combo with only a 2” maximum of latex. The remainder of 12” foams within the mattress will have an effect on how the mattress will feel to you and the durability of the mattress and how long you’ll sleep well on it. Additionally, all of the layers of foam work together in a completed mattress and it would be difficult to tell how “latex” will feel to you. Latex is a good and durable material but you’d still need to find the mattress specifications you need to know to compare them to the mattress durability guidelines here for your specific BMIs.

I came across a few references including this one which shows Brighthaven which is almost identical to Oak
(13 ¾ “) Sealy Posturepedic Natural Origins Oak Crest ~ Foam Combo (Tight Top)
Support ~ 8” Polyurethane (1.45 lbs/cuft)
Comfort ~ “Targeted ComfortSense Memory Foam - 2.5 LB + 2" BioGel Latex - 3.75 LB + 3 1/2" Gel HDM - 1.35 LB” according to National Mattress as shown in the screenshot below.
Cover ~ Bamboo infused organic cotton ¬+ Silk & Wool fiber


Even with Costco’s easy returns, the best you’ll probably accomplish is to buy yourself more time while searching for a quality mattress that meets your needs and preferences.

Hopefully, you find some of these resources useful.
Phoenix

Hi FloBeds people,

I'm hoping you can help with suggestions on your VZone components.

I purchased a talalay latex mattress from a local manufacturer (Montreal) in Dec. It's killing me.

Here's what I currently have:
QUEEN
2" 19 ILD (Talalay)
2"19 ILD "
3" Med (Dunlop from Sleep on Latex, topper that I already had)
4" 36 ILD (Talalay)

I've tried various configurations with no luck. I'm in a lot of pain. I have an old upper back injury and usually prefer a firm mattress, BUT I have recently developed "frozen shoulder", so need softer there.

I'm female, 5'2", 125 lbs, petite.

It's too late to exchange or return my mattress. So, wondering about keeping those layers as the core and adding the VZone's on top, and what your recommendations are. I think the option with Plush might be good for me.

Can I order the two components that I see on your website (head, etc.) and (torso, legs, etc) zones and place them inside of the customizable mattress cover that I currently have? How thick are they, I cannot find that information? I have a Queen size mattress/frame.

I see you also have a convoluted topper, in talalay which I do not find offered elsewhere. Wondering if this might also make a difference.

I live in Canada. I do not find any manufacturer's in Canada that offer Zoned mattresses.

Do you exchange out Zones if I buy only the components and not the whole mattress?

THANK YOU!

I'm from Montreal area, that's why I also check shipping fees.

Foamite claims 60% less petrochemicals in their KN foams. It's not clear but I believe that means 40% plant based ingredients while MFC uses 30% plant based ingredients in their HR foams. Claiming that their customers are big corporations and marketing the KN foams with a "60% less petrochemicals, 100% more natural!" slogan is not enough to explain why their foams are so different and why their prices are 150 to 300% more expensive than the competitors. Especially when they also claim to "sell the least expensive custom mattress at a great factory direct price".

I check with Eversoft and I get a 365$ price for my example. Again, it's almost half the Foamite price.

Thanks.

I just purchased a 4" 34 ILD, 2 " 19 ILD Queen Talalay Latex mattress from Matelas Princesse in Montreal. Fantastic customer service.

I've only had it a few days and will call them this week to see what they recommend but also wanted to inquire here.

I bought a latex pillow along with the mattress (they gave me a great deal) to replace my lumpy old down filled one.

After the first night I could barely get out of bed or move. I was in terrible pain. Now, I have an old back injury (fracture upper vertebrae), previous neck injury, and chronic shoulder pain. I sometimes have spasms that leave me in severe pain for days. I was afraid I was on my way to a terrible spasm morning, but managed ok.

I had slept with the new pillow as well. I'm not sure if it was the pillow and/or bed. I think the pillow was ok but I'm not used to it so think I need to ease into it.

The second night I replaced the pillow with the old lumpy one. And added the 3" medium Talalay topper I had purchased last year from Sleep on Latex to put on my spring mattress that was sagging.
I still woke up with pain but not as bad as the first night.

I know latex has a breaking in period but I cannot afford to be in agony for weeks.

I'm 5'3", 125 lbs and a side sleeper.

So now what? I'm very disappointed as i had such high hopes that this new latex would help alleviate my pain from my old mattress. Yes, I have arthritis in my back but have slept on hotel beds that were more comfortable and didn't cause me pain.

I started to research softer toppers. I don't want to go with a cheap memory foam or something that will compress quickly or that I have to air out and fluff up frequently as I've read about wool toppers and feather beds. I saw the noodle latex topper that looks interesting.

I'm in Montreal, Canada so looking for a Canadian company preferably.

Hi there,

What did you end up getting?

I'm in similar situation. In Montreal, visited one manufacturer who tried to convince me to purchase the absolute most expensive option available. Not impressed and now back to square one.

I'd like to find a local manufacturer where I can choose different layers of latex so I can use the 3" latex topper I already have.

Coming back on here to report that I went with a Med. 3" Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress topper from SleepOnLatex.

Welp, that helped for about a month or two. Too hard and yet not enough support. I realize it wasn't going to fix the underlying mattress problem.

Now, I'm considering just purchasing a latex bed.

Went to visit a local manufacturer but cannot afford almost $4K for a 9' in Sri Lanka natural organic latex mattress. Ideal, but outrageous price. Top layer is soft (28)ILD , then med (36), hard (44 ILD( at the bottom layer. All layers 3'. Density 5.7 lbs. Cotten/wool cover. FELT HEAVENLY for the 10 mins I layed on it.

But I spent $380 CAD for the topper already.

SO...when I visited Matelas Selection here in Montreal, since the $4k is too much, suggested maybe I go with their 6' , same as above. And use my topper.

They didn't seem to want to spend time with me to discuss that option however.

I'm researching this as an option though. I did like that Mateles Selection makes separate layers that you can change out to suit your preference. Having my own topper complicates this and they weren't sure how it might affect the warranty.

Their 6' wasn't as comfortable at trial. They couldn't tell me the IDL of this one. It's one block of Sri Lanka latex for $2659.

I'm unlikely to pursue that company. Have to buy a $75 - 109 regular mattress cover from them to get the warranty, even though I have one of my own that covers the entire matress, not. just the top.

Anyhoo, now I have to figure out if I should chuck my almost $400 full size latex topper that I"ve had for a year and get a whole new bed OR try to build my own using that topper as a middle med layer and try to match the $4k mattress I liked. If so, where to get the other layers (Sleep on Latex), cover? Warranty? Changing out layers if needed?

TL;DR: Wife prefers 6" ILD 36 Latex without any comfort layer. The next option with a 2" additional latex layer was a tad bit soft for me. What should I do? Search for a mattress that has a 1" comfort layer or buy a 1" mattress topper?

Went mattress shopping today to Literie Provinciale (Montreal) after seeing shop suggestions over here. We are set on replacing our second-hand IKEA spring mattress where we can almost feel the hard springs each time we move. We tried the hybrid spring options but decided based on PPP that we liked the all Latex better. The Latex here is 100% Latex Talalay. 6" ILD 36. From what I'm seeing, it's a trusted store.

However, while ILD 36 works for my wife like a charm. For myself, I do like a bit of a softness to my sleep. They did not have the option to add a 1" Talalay to the bed - this would have been ideal for me, less for my wife.

Are there solutions on the market where I can add a 1" Latex layer to add softness? Or is that the wrong direction?

Edit: I did notice the comment about 1" topper in the topic below. If topper is the way to go, I'm looking for a topper and not necessarily to add it to the set-up, I.e., I don't think there's enough give in the fabric to add an inch encased.
www.themattressunderground.com/mattress-forum/index/23855-is-anyone-reputable-selling-one-inch-talalay-toppers-right-now

It would be for half of a Queen-sized bed (30"*40") if possible - I prefer my wife has her ideal: ILD 36.

Hey kitwit,

Welcome to The Mattress Underground ! Thanks for your question.

Anyone has any review for the noa mattress? seems like they are headquartered in Montreal. Doesn't say much about the materials specs.

www.noahome.com/ca-en/product/the-luxe-mattress/

Thanks for including the product link, kitwit . I checked out NOA's site, and to your point, only a listing of the Luxe's proprietary materials were given: gel memory foam, latex, and microcoils in the upper comfort layers, over a transitional layer and 5-zoned pocket coil support core. It is available in a single firmness that is ranked 7/10, and compares its value along with other hybrid mattresses of higher pricing. NOA does offer a 100 night trial period, as well as a 15 year warranty. The site also features an online email form for submitting questions, you may want to check in and ask details regarding the mattress components' specs, this question check list provides pointers on what questions to ask. In the meantime, perhaps we'll hear from Canada-based TMU subscribers who may be familiar with NOA models. Good luck with your research and let us know what you find.

Thanks,
Sensei

Hi,

Anyone has any review for the noa mattress? seems like they are headquartered in Montreal. Doesn't say much about the materials specs.

www.noahome.com/ca-en/product/the-luxe-mattress/

Hi Michael66.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum.

You are not the first or last to run into analysis by paralysis. I'm happy to do my best to help you through it.

To first address your question regarding the price...(and to quote Phoenix here...)

As for “worth”, while price is certainly important of course .. the "value" of a particular purchase is what is most important and price is just one of many factors that can affect the "value" of a mattress purchase. There isn't a "formula" that can be used to assess or "calculate" the value of a mattress because there are so many different variables and criteria involved that can affect the price of a mattress that can each be more or less important to some people and not to others who may have completely different criteria or definitions of "value" and only you can decide this based on your personal value equation and all parts that are most important to you (including the price of course, adjustability, and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn't turn out as well as you hoped for).

A different forum subscriber in the Montreal area shared their recent findings/retailers .

Without being familiar with the area, I would recommend reading this article on how to spot a quality retailer over a shady one.

Also, as you mentioned you are both side sleepers ...

Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position and because it has a more "curvy" profile than the other two positions, pressure relief becomes an important part of the choice here so you don't end up sleeping on your more pointy or bony parts or to use a technical term ... your bony prominences. These are of course your hips and your shoulders. There are deeper gaps to "fill in" to spread your weight out on the mattress when you are sleeping on your side so side sleepers need a deeper cradle to relieve pressure so the gaps are filled in and help spread the weight over the mattress. In other words they need to "sink IN" to the comfort layers more. This means that the comfort layers generally need to be a little softer and/or thicker than the other 2 positions. In general a good starting point for a good comfort layer for a side sleeper is 3" and then depending on weight, body shape, preferences, and the firmness of the support layers, to go up or down from there. Most side sleepers will fall in the range of from 2" -4". Without an appropriate comfort layer, a side sleeper will end up with pressure points during the course of the night and could have symptoms of numbness, soreness, localized redness, or end up tossing and turning all night as your body tries to relieve the pressure.

If you come across any other mattresses that you want us to take a look at, or have additional questions, please let us know!

NikkiTMU

Hello!

I'm new to all this and tried to get a better understanding but I'm getting lost to be honest..

I'm looking to buy a king mattress and I'm not looking to cheap out. I'm in Montréal Québec.

My wife weighs 100lbs and is 5'1".I'm 190 lbs 5'10".

Is the mattress in the image attached a good price at 3300$ tax in? Where should I go and any suggestions? We're both side sleepers.

I'm open to driving outside Montreal for a good place.

The info you provided helped me narrow it down to two local manufacturers:

- a craftswoman in Sainte-Eulalie working with wool from sheep farmers in Quebec,

- and two brothers from Montreal working with recycled European white duvet.

I think I would go with wool if the craftswoman can make me an afordable custom light summer-like duvet for the hot sleeper that I am.

Do you have a material recommendation for a wool duvet cover, lyocell-latex-poly-coils mattress fitted sheet and gel pillowcase?

I’m a very hot sleeper that tends to sweat, so breathability and moisture resistance are important. And I recently had body oil stains issues on Brooklinen Classic Percale Sheets (100% long staple cotton) that I had to throw away.

I have been looking into linen, but could not find any black color option, only charcoal. If I absolutely want my bedding to be black, my research so far seems to indicate that non-viscose bamboo and performance polyester would be the next best breathable and moisture-wicking materials available.

Any thoughts? Thank you very much for your help. This forum has been a great resource.

Very wise. I agree.

I just talked to a Montreal manufacturer and I have an apointment with him next Tuesday. It’s a long standing family business I’d be fully confident to have my mattress made there.

I also sent an email to another manufacturer who got the best customer reviews in an article from a trusted ressource here in Quebec (Protegez-vous magazine).

I will go with quality and peace of mind.

Thank you very much!!