sorry, I'm just going to do a talk-to-text dump:
there's lots of advantages to latex, however it's ultimately a feel thing. if you're looking at saatva, then you're looking at latex. and some people really like the latex feel and some people don't. so you need to try it.
I personally always gravitated towards the latex mattresses. I tried in stores. then sensation is more like floating on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it. it's bouncy. latex is rubber. I feel it's so supportive and comfy. again: you just got to try it.
benefits wise: it breathes more because it's natural material. so you're going to sleep cooler. it's more durable because it's rubber and it's going to break down more slowly than foam over time. it's less likely to form a divot or sag from use, again because of the rubber.
I'm 6'1 and also a side sleeper. after 6 months of hell on Earth research about mattresses, and almost being at the brink of doing a DIY mattress (which is a totally fair move), I decided to bite the bullet and get a Naturopedic. I love it. I'm lying on it right now. I'm so happy I did. I got their serenade hybrid and firm.
caveats: they're expensive. with saatva, I saw too many reviews about sags and not being happy post-purchase. you also have to be particular about your bed frame. The warranty will not be guaranteed unless you have the specifications that are required for latex mattress (it's a heavy piece of shit and it needs certain supports and also breathing room).
but the too long, didn't read: you definitely need to try a latex mattress in person before buying to see if you even just like the feel.
I’m very happy with the storage bed frame from silk and snow. It’s holding up well and looks great.
I’m still a bit in the latex mattress shopping journey. There’s so much info out there. For me, I personally am inclined to go for a latex hybrid, which typically has individually wrapped coils, a 2-4” layer of latex, and a cotton/wool top. Organic and foam-free. The coils provide extra targeted support, which I need. The other option is a full latex mattress.
I’m trying not to go over $2,500 after tax. We ended up ordering the Naturepedic serenade. They had a Presidents’ Day sale. I’m sure they’ll have another sale for the next holiday. We were between them and the my green mattress natural escapes, which is extremely similar. Ultimately it seemed like the Naturepedic was just a nicer mattress for just a bit more money.
Thanks for sharing. I’m having the exact same debate as OP and am leaning slightly toward the MGM natural escape for the extra latex. It seems like both companies are reputable.
I’m 110 lbs and a mostly side sleeper, sometimes back. Partner is 180 mostly back sleeper, sometimes side. I have wider shoulders so I like a bit more sinkage.
I was happy with the silk and snow medium organic mattress, but it’s sagging after only a couple of months.
How is your mattress holding up so far?
I wanted to share my experience so far. We had an organic latex silk and snow mattress for a few months and it started to sag. It also never fully expanded. Back it went. Easy and no fees.
I’m a 110 lb mostly side, occasionally back sleeper. Partner is 180 mostly back, occasionally side sleeper.
We were between MGM Natural Escape and Naturepedic Serenade. We ultimately went with the Naturepedic Serenade and have been very happy so far, but it has only been around a month. Their customer service was very helpful and the mattress arrived much quicker than anticipated.
Last year we slept at an Airbnb with a 4 inch gel memory foam topper and I found it to be really amazing. Partner did not agree. The serenade certainly doesn’t feel that way, but I still enjoy it. The support has helped my back and shoulders. We wanted a latex hybrid for the support and mostly for the non-toxic materials, so memory foam was not an option.
I’m now on the hunt for king sized organic pillows. I am trying both the MGM charcoal infused latex pillow and the Naturepedic adjustable latex pillow. We’ll see which one we each like!
Trying to decide between the two. I sleep hot and need zoned support because I have a lower back injury/am bottom heavy and have a small upper body & neck pain.
Casper cloud one and Sleepys spring premium plus euro top are also options.
Just got rid of a Naturepedic Serenade that I hated.
i recently went through a similar decision process (it was between naturepedic, my green mattress and harvest for me), and i ended up going with the natural escape. the specs on both are very similar, but the deciding factors for me were: the coils on the natural escaped are zoned (more support in the middle third), the dunlop comfort layer is 3'' instead of 2'', and it's tufted. the price is a bit lower and the warranty and trial period are more generous, as a well.
i tried the harvest pillowtop in store; i liked it but it was a bit too soft and bouncy. i also got to try the serenade in person and quite liked it; preferred the firm to the cushion-firm (which is what i went there to try), that one was was a bit too soft for my taste.
my natural escape arrive literally today, and it feels like the halfway point between the serenade cushion-firm and firm. my initial impression is that the extra inch of latex and the tufting help to firm it up a bit. jury's still out on the long term, but my initial impressions are positive!
Back sleeper and a $1,500 budget is a pretty straightforward starting point. You’ll usually want something in the cushion-firm to firm range so your spine stays lined up and your hips don’t sink.
One thing I’d think about (since you’re buying online) is what the bed’s actually made of. A lot of mattresses in this price range lean hard on polyurethane foams – they can feel nice, but they’re also the stuff that tends to soften/break down faster, and some people care about off-gassing/chemicals.
If that matters to you, an organic/certified mattress is basically the “pay a bit more up front, worry less later” route: organic latex and organic cotton/wool, and no added flame-retardant chemicals. Naturepedic makes one called the Serenade that’s typically in your budget for most sizes – it’s a latex-over-coil hybrid with a cushion-firm feel that tends to work well for back sleepers (plus, it's 20% off right now for Earth Day). Here’s the compare page: [https://www.naturepedic.com/adult/mattresses/compare](https://www.naturepedic.com/adult/mattresses/compare)
Also, if you can try anything in person first, do it. Even 10 minutes lying on a mattress tells you more than a week of reading reviews.
Yeah, hip pain on your side is usually a “not enough pressure relief” problem (or the top layer is worn out and you’re basically hitting the support layer).
For heavier side sleepers, I’d look for a medium to medium-firm hybrid that still has a thicker/softer comfort layer up top. Coils + a decent comfort layer tends to work better than something that’s just firm, because you get support without your hips taking all the load.
If you want to stay around $1.2k, our Naturepedic Chorus could be worth a look, but heads up: it runs on the firmer side, so if your hips are already complaining it might feel a little “too flat” unless you like a firmer bed. Our Serenade has more cushion/pressure relief and is usually the better match for side sleeping, but it’s typically above your budget.
Both ship compressed in a box, so it should be manageable for a second-floor apartment. If you’re on the fence, I’d focus your search on “hybrid + good pressure relief for side sleepers” more than the brand name, because that’s what usually fixes the hip issue.
Yeah, I’d bail on an air mattress too — once they start losing air it’s usually a constant annoyance.
If you liked the adjustability part of Sleep Number, you might want something you can tweak without replacing the whole bed. We make one called the EOS where the inside is modular (latex layers), so you can swap layers to change firmness, and you can set each side differently if you share the bed. It’s a coil + latex hybrid, so you still get that “normal mattress” support without dealing with air chambers.
If you don’t care about adjustability and just want a straightforward innerspring, our Serenade is the simpler/less expensive option.
If you tell me your sleep position + weight range and whether you sleep hot, I can point you toward which setup makes the most sense.
Yeah, I’d be nervous about dropping $1500 if you’re seeing a bunch of “it sagged in 3 years” reviews.
One thing in your favor: at 110 lbs you’re probably not going to chew through comfort layers the way heavier sleepers do, so you may get longer life than some of those reviews.
If you want that more traditional springy feel (and hate the stuck-in-memory-foam thing), I’d look at coil + latex builds. Latex is way more responsive than memory foam and tends to hold up better than a lot of polyfoam pillowtops. We make one called the Serenade (latex over encased coils) that’s in the same general price range and has a medium feel that usually works well for lighter combo sleepers.
Re: box spring — if your platform is solid/flat and has decent slat spacing, you’re good. A box spring is mostly for height/feel; it doesn’t automatically make a mattress last longer (and some mattresses actually want a firmer base).
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