Most importantly I would like roll it up or fold so that it can be stored away. I am looking at Wal Mart’s Spa Sensations 6″ mattress. If anybody has purchase one of these I would love some feedback.

Thanks.

Answer:

I am hopeful that some of our readers may be able to answer your question about the Wal Mart Spa Sensations 6″ mattress.  I am sorry I am unfamiliar with it. Models seem to come and go with department stores when the wind changes directions.  What I can tell you is that it will not be anything near the quality of a Tempur Pedic or one of the good Tempur Pedic knock of brands like Ecomfort Eco Friendly memory foam. If I may add please do not forget the old cliche’ you get what you pay for.

A good suggestion would be to shop a specialty mattress store where you can test rest the mattress or try it before you buy it. It would also be a good idea to verify that you are getting the best price by shopping for competitive pricing on line.

As far as the folding and storing of a memory foam mattress it is true that they bend and flex making them ideal for tight staircases and adjustable hospital type beds. Many of them when purchased new are vacuum packed and rolled up. I have heard of many cases where brand new mattresses have not bounced back to normal shape, size, and thickness. Many companies like Ecomfort who I am very familiar with tell us that if we have inventory approaching 90 days that we should release the vacuum so as not to damage the foam permanently.

With that said, I would recommend not folding or rolling up a memory foam mattress and storing it unless it is very short term, regardless if it was rolled up and vacuum sealed when you first purchased it.

Twelve years of selling memory foam mattresses and I can honestly say I hadn’t seen many differences in manufacturing until just recently. Newer products from companies like Anatomic Global’s Ecomfort Eco friendly memory foam beds are setting the standard by which memory foam will be judged both today and in the future.

1. Often called earth friendly, future friendly, even Eco friendly memory foam is actually a chemically intensive product. Huge strides are being made to be more earth friendly by utilizing sustainable materials. Often considered 2nd generation Visco Memory while still not exactly a tree huggers dream it is far superior product to its predecessor and continued advancements in building technology are moving forward.
2. 30% plant based oils such as soybean, corn, and sunflower seed oils are replacing traditional oil for production of memory foam. Plant based percentages have increase significantly in just a few years reducing our dependence on imported oil.
3. Open cell structure and a 0 emissions manufacturing process are the primary reasons for a lesser amount of gassing that is a common complaint with competing brands.
4. Temperature stable foam that doesn’t get harder in bedrooms that are cooler and softer in bedrooms that are hotter  is a problem that has been addressed and corrected. Ecomfort mattresses don’t change in firmness between 60 degree and 90 degrees. They are not as heat sensitive meaning that they don’t get as firm or soft as the old product.
5. Ecomfort’s Ecofriendly 2nd generation Memory Foam has a unique open cell structure that creates a bed that can dissipate heat and maximize air circulation 8 to 9 times faster than some 1st generation Memory Foams. More breatheability means Chemicals cannot be trapped, the end result is less smell and a mattress that sleeps cool.
6. If you can reuse something that is always a good thing and Ecomfort has been able to utilize 1 inch of recycled foam manufactured in a very similar way to carpet padding within their mattress base. This not only adds unmatched strength but also utilizes pre consumer goods through recycling.
7. Reduction of their carbon footprint has been a goal that companies like Ecomfort continue to improve upon. Mattresses can be shipped via UPS who runs daily in virtually every neighborhood and community across the USA. This eliminates the need to run delivery trucks by the mattress retailers saving in vehicle expenses and lowering costs for everyone from the manufacturer to the consumer.
8. The cover is made from bamboo one of earths most sustainable and easy to produce resources. It is built as a permanent cover not as a “replacement like zippered competing model.
9. Mattresses are fully vacuum-sealed allowing for more shipping spaces and easier transportation and a reduced carbon footprint on the way to your home.
10. Box springs are called semi fold boxsprings for their ability to be folded up. This too is for easier shipping and handling to your house while making them easier to handle with in the tight confines of a stair way or tight spot. More space in the truck for other items means a smaller overall carbon footprint for this revolutionary box spring.

 
So who’s the expert and what do I need to know in order to buy the correct mattress?

 
The truth is I am not a doctor. I have had considerable experience over the last 24 years working with people of many different shapes, weights. Often people have complex sleeping and physical health related issues that somehow they believe I can help them correct with a mattress.  Sometimes I can help them find comfort or possibly even some level of relief; however I do believe that shoppers need to recognize that a mattress cannot repair a bad back. Doctors and chiropractors are the people who specialize in such repairs and we need to look to them when it comes to fixing back problems and sleep issues. Unfortunately most know little or nothing about mattresses, all the various kinds, and how each of these uniquely constructed beds work.

 
So can a memory foam mattress help your back if I have?

Arthritis
Muscular Pain
Joint Pain
Degenerative or some other disc issues
Etc.
 
If you have problems like these it is very likely memory foam can aid and comfort the issue while on the other hand it may aggravate other issues. Most memory foam mattresses are excellent beds where a person can find pressure relief in areas like painful joints and muscles. There are cases where a problem can arise while trying to roll over or getting out of the mattress. This problem is similar to that of old waterbeds. The pressure relief from these mattresses has the ability to reduce tossing and turning, but the repositioning that goes along with from turning over or getting out of bed can be a deal breaker for some individuals. The good news is that foams are now being designed that are quicker responding which have been able to alleviate such issues, so it is important to visit lots of stores and take all the time you need while test resting.

Customer feedback on memory foam mattresses

 
Consumer Reports polled their readers in their October 2009 issue asking people who owned specialty mattresses like memory foam if they would buy them again and most said yes. Tempur Pedic the world leader in memory foam is now the 4th biggest seller of mattresses in the industry knocking out Spring Air from their former position. I might also add that personally I have recommended memory foam mattresses to a good number of my family members, friends, and customers for many years now with a lot of positive feedback over the last 10 plus years.
 
 
The truth is all mattresses are built in a nonspecific fashion meaning that they are built for the masses. They are marketed to a broad range of consumers varying in height, body weight, and shape. Whether or not it would be bad for your back is a hard thing to say, which is why many physicians rarely recommend mattresses. They know the chances are slim to none that the mattress could actually fix a problem. In addition most would agree that as long as the memory foam bed has good support and is comfortable there is really no reason a person couldn’t sleep on one.
Take your time and test rest mattresses till you find the one that feels and supports “you” the best.

Ecomfort has made a commitment to the environment with its mattresses. Each Eco Memory Foam Mattress they build is plant based, eco-friendly, and incredibly breathable for a comfortable night of quality sleep.

Ecomfort memory foam mattresses don’t just talk the green talk, they actually walk the “Eco” walk and even tout it in the their name. Ecomfort’s only intention is to offer each and every person the best quality, most comfortable & supportive, eco-friendly memory foam products in the market place.

While most companies today are thinking and talking about changes in manufacturing, infrastructure, and their delivery procedures in an effort to become more “Green.” Ecomfort is doing more than just following the latest trend – They have set the manufacturing bar higher than any memory foam producer by not only leading the way but developing and setting new industry standards for earth-friendly memory foam products.

What is Eco Memory Foam?

Ecomfort’s has developed a proprietary Eco Memory Foam manufacturing process that actually conserves energy and is made in the USA?

Ecomfort utilizes a unique patented technology in manufacturing and refining process that produces zero emissions.
Their unique memory foam beds use sustainable rapid renewal resources like bamboo for product materials and packaging.

Wish more recycle materials were being utilized in mattress production? The base layer of each Ecomfort mattress uses pre-consumer recycled products in it.

Ecomforts shipping is eco-friendly too. Through the exclusive packaging and compressing of each mattress that is shipped, Ecomfort is able use up to 80 percent less petroleum fuels, consequently reducing their carbon footprint.

STL Beds is proud to announce that we have partnered up with Ecomfort to offer concerned mattress shoppers an alternative to other memory foam mattresses.

What can Eco Memory Foam Mattresses do that the competition cannot?

Offer consumers:

• Memory foam mattress that is not hot and lets you sleep cool.
• The most eco-friendly memory foam mattress available.
• A memory foam mattress that doesn’t reek of chemicals.

Visit our STL Beds St. Louis MO showroom to test rest one now or order on line and have one delivered to your door.

(Coming soon our Eco Memory Foam Mattress Selection Online!)

Organic memory foam, all natural memory foam, certified organic memory foam. What is it and why can’t you find these descriptions of memory foam anywhere in the mattress industry?

That is a good question. It seems this is because according to every manufacturer of memory foam mattresses, including the manufacturers utilizing 20-30 percent biobased materials, a memory foam mattress containing more than that will turn into a goo. Here is a question for you. Do we want to start calling a mattress 30 percent biobased, “natural”? These days you can find Earth friendly memory foam or even eco friendly memory foam from manufacturers, but none of them I have talked with are claiming their memory foams to be certified organic memory foam, organic memory foam, or even all natural. Their only claim was more eco friendly and environmentally friendly.

Researching natural memory foam

In my research to find out more about natural memory foam mattresses on the World Wide Web I stumbled across myessentia.com. They have an interesting claim; they sell it. After doing some research on their site, I came to 2 conclusions. 1 is that Essentia is privy to completely cutting edge memory foam technology and knows something the entire rest of the memory foam mattress industry does not know and if so f that is the case, kudos to them.

My opinion however is this; disappointment for a couple reasons. I asked for a sample of the natural memory foam which was never sent. So I guess I’ll never know. So I still don’t know if Essentias’ claim to be the only manufacturer of natural memory foam in the world true is a true one. After all it it was their claim to be a natural memory foam yet their description calls it 100% natural latex, plant extracts, and organic essential oils.

As an experienced mattress professional I have not only sold the leading manufacturer of memory foam Tempur Pedic, but I also slept on one. My feeling is that memory foam neither feels like nor is in any way, shape, or form similar in construction. Then again I’m not an engineer.

Essentia’s Memory Foam Motives

I am curious though of a couple things. I wander if Essentia is trying to capitalize on the popularity of memory foam? Does Essentia believe all natural latex and memory foam are the same thing? Essentia please feel free to explain your position or tell us how your all-natural latex rubber can be called natural memory foam other than the fact there is no industry standard in place of what is what or what something can be called. The numbers I have heard in recent months claim even the most eco friendly bio based memory foam mattresses utilize no more than 30 percent biobased oils in their construction.

Nonetheless this raises some interesting mattress industry questions. So mattress buyers, industry manufacturers, and mattress retailers can or should the industry blur the lines between all natural latex and memory foam? Should we call latex the all-natural memory foam?

Do you think such a claim would only confuse the mattress market place even more?
Should we as an industry capitalize on memory foams extraordinary popularity by calling all natural latex memory foam.?

Sure latex can have a great feel and be nearly 100% pure. Some latex like the Dunlop process was engineered in the 1930′s while new modern updated engineering of latex manufacturing techniques like the Talalay Process have changed the playing field and offer a wider selection of feels. Memory foam unlike latex rubber is still the newest and most unique state of the art mattress technology to come along in recent years.

Perhaps the Industry will decide the issue if these two products are as different as apples and oranges. Debate and discussion may very well put such arguments to rest while answering the important questions when industry leaders put into place some uniform standards to it legitimizing all past, present, and future claims of natural, all natural, organic, and certified organic in the industry. Until then our industry is as wild as the old west.

Visco Memory Foam Beds: Does it mean No More Tossing and Turning? Well of course not, but what it does mean is significantly less tossing and turning compared to other kinds of mattresses.

Visco elastic memory foam is unique in how it conforms and supports your body. Try it for yourself, it simply does it better than other beds, whether it is a latex bed, foam bed, or conventional mattress and boxspring. Symbol’s memory foam has pressure and temperature sensitive properties that react to and conform to your individual body characteristics. Memory foams’ ability to sense your unique contour and shape can only result in a deeper less disturbed sleep. Why? It’s simple; less tossing and turning means less sleep interruption, well from the mattress anyway. What you choose to do about the kids and the pets is your decision. Sleep on a Symbol memory foam mattress and you should wake up more refreshed, alert, and ready to embrace your day.

To learn more about the Symbol line of Memory Foam Products that are available Click on the various mattress models below. COMING SOON!

Symbol Memory Foam Mattress
Model # HTKO 10
Model # ALOE CARE-HTKO 8
Model # ALOE CARE-HTKO 6
ALOE CARE Natural Touch-GRFA

Or click on the highlighted link if you would like more information or to contact an STL Beds specialist.

I decided to research along with my own website www.STLBeds.com, various blogs, mattress reviews, and forums looking specifically at memory foam mattresses, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Throughout my mattress research I found that there were no shortage of opinions on the Internet.

After reading as many comments and reviews as I could in addition to my own experiences having slept on one for 2-3 years and selling them for eons, I believe memory foam mattresses have unfairly taken it on the chin in the Internet world. So I set out to prove or disprove my theory. I was curious to know like many shoppers, which opinions pertaining to memory foam were correct and which were incorrect. I wanted to know if we could believe everything we are reading regarding these mattresses to be accurate information? In conclusion I am not sure we can, here are some examples of opinions regarding the exact same memory foam mattresses.

Pros

1. Engineered by NASA Space age material
2. Very supportive (perfect firmness)
3. Reduces painful pressure points so you don’t toss and turn
4. Memory foam beds are extremely durable & holds up well
5. Get what you pay for (a good mattress)
6. The foam recovers and bounces back quickly
7. The smell goes away
8. Will not disturb your sleeping partner (Wine glass test)
9. Worth every penny I paid for it
10. Best mattress ever I have never slept better

Cons

1. Expensive
2. Don’t hold up
3. Get soft or mushy over time
4. Develop body impressions
5. Hard to turn over in
6. Hot
7. Not supportive (too hard or too soft)
8. Not worth the money
9. Off gassing (smell)
10. Worst mattress ever I have never slept worse

As you can see some saw black while others saw white. My own unscientific Internet study of comments did not seem to be as balanced as my 10 pros and 10 cons of memory foam chart I displayed above. My research showed there to be a greater amount of negative information to be found vs. positive information to be found concerning memory foam mattress opinions and reviews. For example on my website the following 2 blogs were posted with in 7 days of each other.

Posted January 28, 2008 with 23 comments

Top Ten Problems With Memory Foam

Posted on January 21, 2008 with 0 comments

Top 10 Benefits Of Memory Foam

What I found so interesting is that bad or negative memory foam information out weighed the good information. Knowing what a good product memory foam mattresses are I am concerned that mattress shoppers may be swayed by the amount of bad publicity they are getting on the Internet. I hope shoppers won’t take to heart the vast amount of negative comments concerning memory foam mattresses or any other for that matter. Consider this old truism, “Do something nice for someone and they will tell 2 friends…do something BAD and they will tell everyone!”

Because of human nature and the wild wild west of Internet technology called chat rooms, forums, and blogs we are able to share our bad experiences with all who will listen and read. On the other hand for what this mattress veterans opinion is worth, I am hoping people will realize that a greater number of their fellow men and women having had positive experiences with memory foam mattresses are not balancing out the negative comments. Memory foam is one of the best selling, most comfortable, and best built mattresses made today.  In this case it looks as though positive comments and opinions seem to mirror the fore mentioned truism of only telling 2, which is unfortunate for memory foam mattress shoppers.

Coming soon:
23-year mattress salesman’s opinion of memory foam.

1. Is it 100% all natural latex a foam?
2. Is it  100% all natural latex it a foam rubber?
3. Is it 100% all natural latex Is it simply just rubber?

Lots of confusion concerning what this stuff really is. Here is the simple to understand explanation of what is 100 percent all natural latex really is.

Plain & Simple: All Natural Latex goes by 3 names:

100% all natural latex foam
100% all natural latex rubber
100% all natural latex foam rubber

Understaning the 3 common terms used very loosely by the mattress industry.

The correct and true name is 100% all natural latex rubber. It is made from the sap of a rubber tree and is processed until the point where it ends up as a finished sheet of latex rubber ranging in thickness from one inch up to 6 inches thick. These sheets of rubber are then inserted into an all natural latex mattress or become part a of the growing number of organic mattresses on the retail market today.

Here is where the confusion begins.

The finished sheet of all natural latex rubber is commonly inserted into a mattress just like a sheet of polyurethane foam. Many manufacturers use the common term “sheet of foam” when describing or talking about the innards of a mattress and working in the mattress industry. Really by default these mattress gurus just started calling it foam rubber because it was easy, and it was being used in the identical way that we use a sheet of polyurethane foam. In quick industry lingo they were and are really just one and the same even though it was and is totally incorrect.

Polyurethane foam is commonly purchased by mattress manufacturers in varying thicknesses, just like all natural latex rubber.  Polyurethane foam or PU, is the most commonly used foam product in a mattress and boxspring today. However polyurethane foam is petroleum based and is not all natural. PU Foam is not made from a trees sap but is actually made from an irreplaceable natural resource, oil. Memory foam commonly recognized in the world under names like Tempur Pedic, the famous handprint, and being designed and developed by NASA. An important fact about memory foam is that this type of polyurethane foam is petrol based.  Because of that nearly 100 percent of all Memory foam isn’t considered to be anything close to organic or all natural, but is commonly more durable than traditional polyurethane foam.

Contact us if you have more questions about all natural latex rubber?

Can you offer an 11th reason?