Stearns & Foster - Crystal Palace Mattress

I know S&F gets some flack here, and although we only bought it in Feb, we have a Stearns and Foster Crystal Palace with a 2 inch dunlop latex topper (Silk & Snow). My partner is a 300 lb side and back sleeper and loved the bed as-is. With the topper, I get more cushion for side sleeping (195 lbs), whereas he sinks through and gets the support he needs from the luxury firm mattress. If I have to replace this topper down the line, I will probably get a 3 inch talalay topper, just for a little extra softness. It took like 5 months to break in enough so that speaks to the construction in my opinion, and even then, it’s still not as soft as the floor model was. It has really good edge support and the coils inside are strong. The only complaint I have now is the hump in the middle, but it’s a king so I think that’s expected since we don’t sleep there. I will have to walk on it a bit to break that in. 

Derek from NapLab here! Thanks for the page. Good mattresses definitely still exist, though I will say, it's harder than ever to see through the smoke and mirrors and find a good one.. In addition, many older brands that used to build higher quality mattresses just don't any more. The S&F you tested is a perfect example. I tested both S&F flagship models a few months ago and found them to be incredibly disappointing (especially considering the price). Your experience with S&F is not the first I've heard like this. Since we're in r/BuyItForLife I should say that, I don't think you can really buy a mattress and it last your entire life. But there are some things you can do to make sure it lasts as long as possible. 1) Use a high performance platform foundation like Sleeping Duct Indestruct or Floyd. These types of platform beds create better support, reduce body impressions, reduce sagging, and provide better longevity for the mattress. 2) Rotate the mattress when it's brand new at 6 months and then every 12 months after that 3) Always use a water proof mattress protector Beyond that, it's just down to purchasing a mattress that's going to last longer. Here are my guidelines to get the best durability / longevity. 1) Choose a thicker mattress. Thicker mattresses have more material and in most cases that means it's going to last longer. Look for 12-15" thick. 2) Look for heavier weighted mattresses. Same thing as thicker mattresses...but mattresses that are heavier have more physical stuff providing the support / comfort. More material in most cases means it's going to last longer. Look for mattresses that ideally weigh 120+ pounds (Queen). 3) If the manufacturer will tell you, check the foam density. Ideally, we want to see at least the primary comfort layer at a density of 3.0 PCF, with 4-5+ PCF being ideal (very rare to see more than 5.0 PCF). The higher the average density of all foam layers, the better the durability will generally be. Same as 1 and 2, higher density foams mean there is simply more to that foam layer, which means it takes longer to break down, form body impressions, sag, etc. I'm working on pulling density information together for every mattress we've tested. So you'll be able to find this info on NapLab in the near future (hopefully within the next 2 months). 4) If the manufacturer will tell you, check the coil gauge. Ideally, we want to see 12-14 gauge. Lower gauge = thicker wires. Thicker wires = last longer. I'm also working on pulling this information together on NapLab. I hope this was helpful! If you'd like a personalized recommendation I'd be happy to send you one. Just let me know!

I'm no expert, and I saw some other folks mention a few things. My Stearns & Foster is the best mattress I've ever owned, and it's not close. $4k-ish, and firm. I'm a big guy, my wife isn't small, and we moved from a medium to a firm, and couldn't be happier. I have no brand allegiance, just happens to be the most expensive one I've owned, and definitely the best for me.

Why do you hate it?! We literally just bought one for our guest bedroom to replace the S&F I bought in 2014 (fav mattress ever) but it hasn’t been delivered yet. We went with the firm.

I wonder if you got a lemon . Our stern and foster from 2019 is still perfect That said I love love love the Marriott mattress and plan to buy that as our next one

I have gone through 7 beds in last 4.5 years 2 Beautyrests, Blackice, 2 Stearns and Foster  firm and Luxury Firm,  2 Sertas different models all have sagged ranging from. Starting 2 weeks to 3 months I'm 200# 5'10"  I feel like I melt these things. I'm a side sleeper.  Have no idea what to go to next seems  hybrids are worst anything with foam is worst.   Have  minimal plush top a d lots of innersprings. .issues the old days when just springs and fabric. Can use suggestions

I’ve had a Stearns & Foster hybrid for about 4 years. Still feels like the first day. Definitely built to last.

Hate my Stearns and Foster. After 18 months it caved in on the top left side. I switch it around same problem on the one side. Garbage and not great customer service 

Something no one tells you: don’t shop for a mattress when you’re tired. Everything feels amazing if you’re exhausted. Go during the day, take your time, and really test them. I spent 20 minutes on each side position in store before deciding. Ended up with a Stearns & Foster hybrid that I would’ve dismissed as “too traditional” if I hadn’t actually laid on it. Expensive, yes, but I wake up pain-free every morning now.

We got a stearns and foster and I love it so much. Cost an arm and a leg though.