ThermoBalance Elite Firm

If you did ok with Leesa that long, why not another? The same company (3Z’s) who makes Leesa also makes Brooklyn Bedding (my favorite), Helix (also great but pricey), Nolah (best value and still quite good), Bear, and some others. I liked the Leesa Legend Chill, but really disliked their other beds. It felt cheaper than other lines they make. The Brooklyn Bedding Thermo Balance Elite was my favorite bed I tried, and what I bought. I’m extremely happy with it. Helix Midnight Elite was my second favorite, but pricier. Saatva RX was quite good, but even more expensive than Helix. Nolah Evolution was the best quality low cost option I tried ($1450 for a king), but I was willing to pay more for their highest quality offerings. Casper was ok for all foam, and exceeded my expectations at a solid price point. I hated nectar, because I could feel springs on the side and any partner movement. Purple will either be loved or hated, but feels weird to me. Simmons Beauty Rest had a lot of great options, but was pricey, though I preferred this to newer and in some cases more expensive Sealy models under the same umbrella. Tempurpedic was what I had before Brooklyn Bedding, and I think they are excellent, but they’re very expensive and not necessarily better at double the price.

I respectfully disagree. Loved the RX bed, but you can feel every move of a partner. Felt slightly warmer to me, but no real gripes besides movement/spring more than I like. If it moved slightly less, or was slightly less expensive all would have been forgiven. I love Tempurpedic, and had a cloud breeeze for 9 years as my main bed, but that price for a cooling mattress around $5k was too high. Helix Elite was excellent IMO. 3Z’s make BB too, and I wanted that feel without microcoils - thus I purchased Thermo Balance Elite.

Yeah, Stearns 100% isn’t worth that kind of money anymore if you’re trying to get 10+ years out of a mattress. Check out King Koil Intimate, Diamond Black Diamond quilted, or Brooklyn Bedding Thermobalance Elite, all of those will have models of a similar feel and equal/better quality/warranty at a lower price.

I was over 250 when I bought my mattress, now 220. A Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe, I am 6' wife is 5'4 135, we lover the firmer side. The mattress still looks like the day we got it over 3 years ago. We have had great luck with it. We have a Titan Plus Elite in the guestroom, a ThermoBalance Elite Firm in the other guest room and a GlacierSleep Apex in the other room. Coincidentally, all of the Brooklyn Beddings use their 13.5 gauge support coil system, although the Plank Luxe is 6" while the TitanPlus Eite and the ThermoBalance Elite Firm are 8", I really like the Helix Plus Elite too, it was a great feel and comfortable mattress.

I am 6' 220 (formerly 250+). Currently sleep on the Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe firmer side. Have a Titan Plus Elite in our guestroom, A Brooklyn Bedding ThermoBalance Elite in another guest room. A GlacierSleep Apex, in yet another room, and have tested the Helix Plus Elite among a host of other "plus" sized mattresses. I have had several herniated and bulging discs, and I had a month last April where I was unable to walk as a result of my back. So there are some things you need to consider. Foundation! If you do not purchase a robust foundation, you are asking for a short lived mattress, regardless of how great a mattress you purchase. I would even follow more strict guidelines than 3z suggests in their FAQ's. Big Fig's foundation is an example of a very good foundation. The titan plus elite is a great choice for side sleepers and back sleepers who like a medium-firm mattress with a great support system, the helix plus Elite, is a bit firmer as is the ThermoBalance Elite Firm. Big Fig makes a decent mattress and now has several versions, but most of the complaints on the original Fig was that it was too hard feeling for side sleepers. Many folks comment that the Wink starts out great initially, but tends to fall flat about a year into it. When it comes to traditional legacy mattresses, also know as the S brands, like BR, S&F, Sealy and Serta, they tend to pile too much foam over their fairly robust spring support systems, which then starts to fail 14-18 months into it. They exact situation happened to my MiL. Bought a BR from a local furniture store abut 4 years or so ago, and like clockwork, the mattress developed a sizable sag in the mattress like a pothole. I ended up buying her a DLX Premier Hybrid which she used for the final couple years of her life, and the mattress not only performed flawlessly, but the foams showed no signs of wear, even in the spot where her artificial hip rested in the mattress. You can also work with most local manufacturers who can craft an old fashioned innerspring mattress that would easily handle both of you. If this route is not convenient, then back to the Helix Plus Elite, ThermoBalance Elite Firm or Helix Plus elite are great choices. The DLX premier hybrid or Latexlux is another great choice. The BackScience2, is another customizable mattress that offers a lumbar-flex option that offers great support and multi position sleep position accommodations.

[Purple Mattress](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw9dWHScKhE) this is one of many videos you can find on youtube regarding the purple grid. The bottom line is it is just not durable. You are better off with materials that are known to last. The grid was originally designed to relieve pressure and reduce bed sores for hospital and burn patients, used in wheel chairs and other medical devices. Most of the tear downs of the mattress you see is from repeated heavy loads are applied. Although this hyper elastic polymer is said to be fairly strong and resistant. Unfortunately, the complaints seem to outweigh the praise. Now, we all know people will complain more when something goes south, rather than compliment when a product performs well. None the less it is reason to be extremely cautious, particularly with what purple is getting for their mattresses, the rejuvinate can hit close to 10k for a king, for a material that is not the most reliable. Sure, every material has it vulnerabilities, but in today's mattress environment, there are products the are more predicable and reliable. If you tried the purple and love it, more power to you, but the question was a choice between the Restore (about a 3k mattress) and the S&F also about 3k. While there are better choices than both, the likelihood of which of these two choices being more durable and longer lasting, the S&F wins this match. Comfort as we all know is subjective and cannot be overlooked, so if you find the grid more comfortable, that may be your answer, but keep in mind the longevity issue.

One of the bigger issues is what’s actually inside the mattress. S&F uses memory foam in the comfort layers, and not necessarily higher density foams. There have been plenty of complaints about those layers softening or breaking down earlier than expected. Same story with the polyfoams. They’re generally not high density, and that’s likely a big reason you don’t see detailed specs disclosed publicly. When brands are proud of their materials, they usually tell you exactly what you’re getting. There are a lot of alternatives out there that compete in that same general price range and, in my opinion, do a better job with support and longevity. Brands like Millbrook, Shifman, Charles P Rogers, Shovlin, Custom Comfort, and other smaller or independent manufacturers tend to focus more on build quality. In the bed in a box space, Helix Elite, Brooklyn Bedding’s ThermoBalance line, DLX Premier Hybrid, Engineered Sleep, GlacierSleep and Diamond have all been solid options that stack up well against S&F. Once you start getting into the higher end, you’ve got companies like Shifman, Vispring, Hypnos and others, but that’s really a different tier altogether. At the end of the day, the question isn’t just what is “better” than S&F. It’s a fine mattress for some people, just like an Aireloom can be great for the right person. What matters more is how it fits you. Your height, weight, sleeping position, what kind of pressure relief you need, and what actually keeps your spine in good alignment. The best mattress on paper doesn’t mean much if it’s not comfortable for you. What I always tell people to look at is the stuff you don’t see in the showroom. Foam densities matter because they directly impact how long the mattress will last. Materials matter too. Latex, cotton, wool, those tend to hold up better over time than lower quality synthetics. And how everything is layered and constructed plays a huge role in how the mattress performs long term. And just as important, your foundation matters a lot more than people think. You can spend 3 to 10k on a mattress and then throw it on a cheap metal grid frame and end up with sagging or breakdown way earlier than expected. Even a well built mattress can’t perform properly if it’s sitting on a poor base. If you have not taken some time to further investigate materials and mattress construction, a few hours of sifting though the tutorials at the mattress underground, or here on r/mattress might offer you a more informed perspective. Or you can just wing it with whatever you found comfortable on a 10 minute showroom experience. Look at the trial periods and return policies. If the return is under $200 if the mattress is not right, that is fair, it became a low cost rental for the period you have it. Just beware of free giveaways. They become not so free if you return the mattress. Sorry for the long write up, but it is not something that can be explained in one paragraph.

If you have a chance to try the Brooklyn Bedding ThermoBalance Elite, do so. At your weights, you would likely prefer the medium. Although my wife (5'4 135) loves the TBE Firm in our guest room. When she cant sleep (anxiety) she always is able to fall asleep on the TBE in there. It will feel like the S&F foster initially, but I believe it is better designed, constructed and with better quality foams. It also has a zippered swappable comfort layer.

At 6'6” 230, you might actually be better served looking at the Saatva HD over the RX and the Helix Twilight over the Midnight. Not saying the Midnight won’t work, but you’re right on that line where a slightly more robust support system will hold up better over time. Not a big Tempur-Pedic fan for bigger guys, not because they’re bad, but I’ve just seen and read too many cases/reviews where the foam starts to give and you lose support. They feel great in store, but that doesn’t always translate a year or two in. They are another company that has changed their foam formula, and most would say not for the better, although the attempt is to reduce the heat retention of their formerly more dense foam. So the choice was to reduce density to cool the mattress down in exchange for less longevity of the mattress. If you like a softer feel for side sleeping, then the Helix Plus Elite is probably the best balanced mattress of the bunch. It gives you that pressure relief without giving up the kind of support you’re going to need at your size. In the Plus series from helix, they do have that microcoil layer which is good for cooling and airflow, but the Plus uses a more robust spring support layer. I actually have the Brooklyn Bedding Thermobalance Elite in my guest room and it’s a very solid mattress, but the firm definitely leans firm. My other guest room has the Titan Plus Elite, and that thing is built. Very robust support layer, similar to the Helix Plus and Thermobalance Elite, but with a slightly softer comfort layer and great airflow from the microcoil setup. At your height and weight, the biggest issue isn’t how the mattress feels on day one, it’s what happens over time. You’re going to put more stress into the comfort layers, so if the support system underneath isn’t strong enough, that’s when you start seeing sagging and body impressions. The better-built mattresses don’t eliminate impressions completely, but they rebound instead of collapsing with you due to a more robust spring support layer. Also, don’t overlook your foundation. People spend all this time picking a mattress and then throw it on something that can’t support it. A solid foundation like the Big Fig HD or Mattress Foundations Terra makes a real difference, especially for bigger framed sleepers, and heavier total weight on top of the foundation.

Yeah, it happens. Not every mattress or firmness is for everyone. But your trial allowed you to recognize what to look for and what your body can handle, which is very valuable. We sleep on a very firm mattress 9-9.5 /10 at 6' 220, I am very comfortable with firm, particularly with my back issues. My wife is 5'4 135 ish and complains when we sleep on med-firm hotel mattresses as they are not firm enough. She cant wait to get home to our Plank Luxe. The new ThermoBalance Elite Firm is reasonable firm and when she wakes up in the middle of the night and hops onto that mattress in the guest room, she loves it. Firm but a quilted layer that does not make it feel like the floor. You’re correct that a firm mattress can be made softer with a topper, while a soft mattress can’t easily be made firmer. However, the underlying mattress and foundation must be properly engineered so the entire system works together effectively.

My wife absolutely loves our guestroom thermobalance Elite firm. When she is all anxiety out and can't fall asleep, she will go in the guest room and says she falls asleep in a minute of hitting the pillow on that bed.

Do not swap anything yet. 1 week is not enough time to evaluate firmness. It will soften. Call them and ask them to send you a free topper, temporarily, while you adjust. I am very familiar with the Midnight Elite and I own a ThermoBalance Elite (firm) for our guest room, it is a great comfortable mattress. Depending on your height and weight, that will determine how long it will take to adjust to. It’s important to remember that new mattresses often go through a break-in period. The firmness you feel in the first week is usually not indicative of how it will feel once it has settled; most mattresses soften slightly as the materials adjust to your body. Replacing it too soon with a softer mattress/comfort layer can create bigger problems later, like hammocking in the middle or relying on a topper that won’t adequately fix the support issues when a mattress is too soft. Give it a few weeks to fully settle before making any decisions, what feels too firm now may become perfectly comfortable once it has had time to adjust. I have posted about this previously. My daughter tested a Twighlight Luxe and Midnight luxe in a showroom. The Midnight felt firmer because it was new to the showroom floor and the Twilight had been there for almost a nine months. She is \~5'3 135, He is \~5'6 165. I ended up buying them the Twilight Luxe, knowing it would be firm for her. For him the Twilight was great right after expansion, it too her about 3 weeks to adjust (coming off an old mattress that had lost all support- that matters too). Now they both love it. I know everyone wants to feel great right out of the gate, and with some natural fibers that might happen, but synthetics are a bit different. Hang in there. I know it is easy for an outsider to say it, but you will be happier in the long run. Let the trial run 3/4's of it's course, then decide. You can always get a softer insert, but ask them for a topper it should help.

We like a firm mattress. We sleep on the Plank Luxe. I 6' 220 and my wife is 5'4 135. So were are on different sides of the weight spectrum. Having experienced the Helix Plus Elite and the Thermobalance Elite, although they both have heavy duty spring support systems, they are both in the medium-firm 7/10 level. Many folks automatically equate Plus sized mattress with super firm mattresses and that is not the case. I have to say the Thermobalance Elite and Helix Plus Elite feel quite similar. Whereas the Titan Plus Elite (our other guest room mattress) feels more luxury plush before you get to the support layer. Between the Helix Elite and TB Elite, they feel very similar to me. I like them both. Compared to my Plank Luxe, the Helix and TB are much more cushioned. Luxury Firm. Remember the Helix Elite line (except the plus) has ergoalign layer that adds lumbar support in the comfort area and in the spring support layer. This may be adding to the firmness you feel. I would not place much stock in the cooling ribbons. There is certainly science behind the concept, but when you dress the bed up, it is questionable that any of these types of cooling mechanisms as a solution for a hot sleeping bed. You are very light, so it ***will*** take longer for you to break the Midnight in. The gently crawling around on the bed might be a good idea to speed up the softening, but it will take longer at your weight.

Look, the S brands aren’t horrible, but they’re not as good as they once were. They still outsell most other brands, largely because their marketing is very good and they do an excellent job positioning their products. They capture a lot of buyers that way. That said, there’s still a pretty common theme when it comes to complaints. Good spring support, too much foam above them. More foam ends up having more sinkage. Personally, I’m not a big fan of Beautyrest or Sealy and most of the S brand lineup, even as a former owner of Sealy and Serta, but that goes back to 1980's until early 2000's, but not any more, hard pass. My previous mattress was a Sealy Posturepedic, and before that Serta Perfect Sleeper so I do have firsthand experience with them. My mother-in-law had a Beautyrest Black several years ago and the mattress only lasted about 14 months before it developed a pothole in the hip area. She bought it without asking me first. A painful disaster. After that, I ordered her a DLX Mattress Premier Hybrid. I went with a split-internal queen, firm on one side and medium on the other. She ended up loving the firm side. Unfortunately she only got about a year and a half on it before she passed away in November. But the mattress itself was still in perfect shape, no dips, no sagging, no soft spots, nothing. Still like new. That’s one reason I think it’s a great option. Being able to split the internal comfort layer is really useful, and they’re a great company to work with. I also like the GlacierSleep Apex. It has a nice 2" cushion top and sits around a medium firmness. Another one I think you might actually like is the Titan Plus Elite from Brooklyn Bedding. If you want to go outside BiB, there are some other solid companies worth looking at. BackScience makes a really good mattress and will customize each side, which can be a big plus for couples. Charles P. Rogers also makes a very nice mattress, and their Lifetime 8 is a mostly natural option. Then there is the latex lineup. Companies like European Sleep Works, Diamond Mattress with their Ethos Hybrid line, SleepEZ, Natural Dreams, and Arizona Premium Mattress all offer good latex options. Winndom is another brand worth mentioning. Their Azalea isn’t an all-natural mattress, but it’s still a solid product. There are honestly a lot of good options out there. When it comes to latex, though, you really have to try it first. Even if for a half hour in a showroom. It can be a bit tricky. Latex is extremely durable and offers great longevity, but it feels very different from traditional foams. You get a lot more pushback, even in softer to medium feels. Whatever you choose, take a close look at the construction. That matters more than the marketing. The mattress should be using quality foams, such as at least 1.8 lb high-density polyfoam in the comfort layers. If memory foam is used, I usually like to see a minimum of 4 lb density, and it’s important to know where they are using it in the mattress. Viscoelastic memory foam used as the comfort layer will usually sleep a bit warmer unless the mattress is designed with airflow or heat-dispelling channels. You may also get that stuck in quicksand hot lava feel. Some manufacturers place memory foam deeper in the mattress so it only engages during deeper compression, which can help with durability and temperature. I am a big fan of Shifman Mattresses, ViSpring, and I love the oh so expensive Hastens, cant say enough about the Hastens 2000T. If you want a mattress that you feel nothing, like floating on a cloud, keeping your body in alignment without feeling any pressure, for a mere $82k, this Hastens is the one you want.

Some brands really do make a noticeable difference. A firm Brooklyn Bedding, Glacier Sleep, Engineered Sleep, or DLX mattress can feel completely different from a firm Amazon, Nectar, DreamCloud, or other imported models, especially those that use lower-quality or lower-density foams. This is where a bit of research and education pays off. It’s not just about how a mattress feels during the first month; it’s about how it performs over time. Mattress build and construction, material quality, foam density, and overall design all influence long-term comfort and support. So, while trying mattresses in-store or taking advantage of trial periods is helpful, understanding what’s inside the mattress can save you from disappointment later. A mattress that maintains its firmness and support over years is worth a little extra attention upfront. Of course to address your question of balancing budget, firmness and comfort may depend on what you consider "budget." Once a budget range is established, age, height and weight along with sleep position, that is when you can move on to an educated way to select your mattress.

This is my 3rd mattress and think we are keeping it. Helix Elite Sunset. It's the softest but not too soft. It is specifically for side sleepers although we sleep on back most of the time. We tried the Midnight version (middle of the road) and too hard. I also tried Brooklyn Bedding Thermobalance Elite in soft which I liked and Puffy which was too hard. It's alittle pricey but I like that the inside is replaceable so I figured I could buy a new inside and keep the mattress when it's time

I finally got the Thermobalance Elite yesterday - ordered 3/16 - atleast they gave me $200 off. I got it in Soft (which I probably wouldn't have automatically picked that bc I thought it was "plush") but we slept on it 1 night. My back didn't hurt like the Midnight Elite so we will see. It's $400 cheaper than Midnight so I will either keep this one or exchange the Helix for a softer

Brooklyn Bedding. I’ve had mine for a year with no regrets. I bought the firm with a cooling top. I was leaning towards the medium but based on other reviews I chose the firm. Fortunately it is not a hard, it does have good support and bounce. I sleep on my side and back and any hip or back pain I had disappeared. Im 5’10, 170. I rotate it every month or two.

Brooklyn bedding hybrid, I'm now a big fan of hybrid foam/spring mattresses for support and longevity (our previous memory foam mattress from Ikea now definitely has a person shaped hollow in it)

If you run hot, I’d check out Brooklyn Bedding or Plank before grabbing straight memory foam. BB hybrids move air way better so you’re not waking up sweaty. Plank helps too since you stay on top of the mattress instead of melting into it. Makes a big difference at like 3 AM when everything feels warm. I’d test a medium-firm hybrid at home and see if it keeps you dry.

For that budget Brooklyn Bedding or RV Mattress are better value than Nectar. Factory direct so you're not paying markup. Both have home trials. About the FB Marketplace ones, prob overstock but you're gambling w/ no warranty. Buying direct is safer.