Parting is such sweet sorrow...especially if you're parting with a mattress that you wished you could keep forever and ever. Such was the case a week ago when we bid our BoConcept review Fahrenheit Mattress farewell after a 30 day trial period. The visco-elastic foam mattress was our first hands-on experience with a true memory foam style mattress, and we welcomed it with both high expectations and concerns, since the Fahrenheit mattress was so different from our (formerly) comfortable W Hotel bed...
The BoConcept Fahrenheit° Mattress in the Test Lab
First off, let's get the construction components listed. The Fahrenheit° mattress is built with three layers:
- Layer 1: 2" soft, visco-elastic top mattress. An extra soft, comfortable top mattress material.
- Layer 2: 1" visco-elastic foam. A firmer foam that, with the upper layer, provides the optimum support and pressure-relieving properties.
- Layer 3: 4" base mattress of 84 lbs polyether foam that ensures the mattress remains firm and retains its shape.
The mattress is very heavy, exhibiting a noticeable solid-center heft that was unexpected from something described as being composed of foam. A couple burly BoConcept deliverers taxed up our entryway stairs and dropped off the mattress with a careful thud on top of our Modernica Case Study bed frame. Aesthetically, the BoConcept Fahrenheit° mattress is a nice fit for platform style bedframes and looked handsome ontop (though noticeably lower in profile compared to our spring mattress, which we liked).
Of course the first thing we did as soon as the delivery team left was to jump ontop, behind first, onto the mattress. The sensation was neither the springy bounce of a typical mattress, nor the quagmire-sinking sensation we expected. It was more akin to a brawny set of arms confidently catching you, and the mattress didn't register any movement which was very impressive considering our weight and our enthusiastic leap. Laying directly ontop we noted the mattress was somewhere in the "very firm" range, but we also guessed because of this solid quality, the mattress would last eons without any noticeable loss is shape.
There's a noticeable funky off-gassing odour which is typical for a mattress like this; the smell faded in the first few days, and was also diminished when we added our allergen barrier mattress cover. Those with chemical sensitivities may want to ask for a material sample before purchasing.
Our first few nights sleeping with our new foam filled friend was admittedly not perfectly comfortable. Transitioning from a sagging, but cushy spring mattress to a fully supportive and firm mattress takes a bit of time getting used to. As noted before, the mattress is extremely adept at containing movement in a specific region. So when Emily got up for work as I snoozed lazily till my later-set alarm, I hardly registered her departure. I woke up the first 3-4 nights feeling sore in certain pressure points, but noticed on days where I had worked out and went to bed extremely tired, the next morning I had noticeably less sore points; this was likely due to the fact when we're truly fatigued-tired, we don't move around during sleep as much. The Fahrenheit° mattress seems most ideal for stomach and back sleepers, in this regard.
One large concern we had was the issue of body heat using a visco-elastic foam mattress. We've used memory foam toppers, and although comfortable in colder temps, for someone such as myself who mimics an EasyBake Oven each night, memory foam tends to bring on the sweats. The Fahrenheit° mattress is dotted with visible air vents, and because of this, it stays remarkably cool and comfortable. There was no single evening where I woke up feeling too hot because of the mattress, despite some early fall heat wave temps, so hot heads such as myself can rest comfortably.
Around the end of the first week of sleeping ontop of the Fahrenheit° our bodies became acclimated to the firm support and the positives of the mattress became evident. Morning sore spots disappeared, replaced by a refreshed sensation of a good night's sleep each night. Both of us found the Fahrenheit° like a good pair of shoes that needed some breaking in before the fit and quality became evident. So it seemed just as we really began to love and appreciate the Fahrenheit°, our 30 days were up and the mattress was picked up by the same pair of deliverers from BoConcept...leaving us with dreams of saving up enough money to call one our own (these babies aren't cheap, but considering the worth of a good night's sleep each and every night, we think the price is fair).
BoConcepts offers 60 day trials with their BoConcept Fahrenheit° Mattresses here. "Drats" for not asking for a longer trial period ourselves...those extra 30 days would have surely been welcome.
Tags
Test Lab - Product Reviews, bedroom - beds, bedroomRelated Links
- The Neuton CE 5.2 Battery Powered Lawn Mower in the Test Lab
- Review: Halo UV-ST Ultraviolet Vacuum
- ATLA Hands-On Review: Dust Devil KONE
- Human Touch HT-1470 Back Massage Pad In The Test Lab
- The BoConcept Fahrenheit° Mattress in the Test Lab
Share
Comments (18)
Daily Email
Top Tours
- Moses and Jamie's Whimsical Modern
- Bryan's Fashionable Statement
- A Mid-Century Modern Musicians' Loft
- Alysia's Treehouse by the Lake
- Eric and Christine's Spacious Pad
Top Posts
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I just bought a mattress from H3 Environmental and went through the same sort of transition: it's very different from a springy coil mattress (and SUPER heavy!). But I must say, the fact that it's all natural latex, organic wool, and cotton means no off-gassing, and it's SO NICE to think that I'll be sleeping on non-toxic, non-petroleum-derived materials for the next 10 or so years!
view alexarc's profile
alexarc: I am very interested in testing out other natural latex mattresses for the reasons you've listed; I'd love to compare whether there is a trade-off between natural latex and manufactured latex mattresses.
view gregory's profile
I know this is irrelevant, but that picture looks like it is a bed installed in a bathroom, with a clock-radio that looks like a roll of t.p. Just sayin'.
view K T G's profile
K T G: we live in a small studio apartment without a bedroom, so the bed frame sits inside what was once a breakfast nook. I know our place isn't large, but this is the first time anyone has compared our sleeping area to a bathroom. Maybe it's just a sign you had too much coffee and need to use the loo :P
view gregory's profile
We looked into the purchase of a foam mattress as well, but let go of the idea after reading about night sweats as well as chemicals turning up in breast milk from women who sleep on them. It sounds like BoConcept has solved the former but not the later.
view wig3000's profile
It was the first impression I had. I like your curtain, though!
view K T G's profile
I just gotta ask:
Since you sink into the mattress - was it more difficult to have "extracurricular activities" on the bed?
view bepsf's profile
Um, to bring this back on topic, I wanted to chime in that I purchased a 2" thick natural latex foam topper from organicselections.com to place on my firm regular spring mattress from R&B. I love sleeping on my bed. It's firm (I like firm) but with just the right amount of give. I would love to eventually upgrade to a full natural latex mattress, I imagine that would be fantastic. My topper has little holes drilled into it, it ventilates really nicely. I never feel like I'm sinking into it either. The offgassing in memory foam worries me.
view summerinbrooklyn's profile
bepsf: I'm going to embarrass my better half a little bit and just say we both approve of it for anything beyond sleeping. The mattress never...ahem...shifts.
view gregory's profile
I have a chronic nerve pain disease and first got a 2 inch memory foam topper from Overstock.com and doubled it over on my twin bed. It was SO nice. I felt an immediate change in comfort and waking pain and being able to sleep at all.
But I think a topper over a nice firm spring mattress delivers similar results for a cheaper price than getting one of the full foam ones.
If you've got any sort of chronic pain I highly recommend at least getting a topper.
Bepsf: Even when I had the ultra thick super soft memory foam, those activities you speak of where not hampered at all. It's not like an ultra bouncy spring bed where you need perfect rhythm. :)
view mabith's profile
here comes another irrelevant comment:
when i saw this post - i LOVED the paneling and the colors - all that white and gray - really pretty! forwarding to my friend - just for said items :)
view houseno8's profile
Am I the only one that can't get over the idea of a 30-day trial for a mattress? What do they do with them afterwards?
view home body's profile
Forget the mattress, where's that curtain fabric from! Lurv!
view barbidahll's profile
LOL bepsf - you are on a roll today. Thanks for the giggle.
view AZkathy's profile
Before you get a latex mattress, natural or otherwise, be sure that you're not allergic to latex - which can cause anaphylaxis. Natural does NOT always mean better!
I agree with mabith - I have the 3" Sealy topper from Overstock on top of a very, very firm mattress and it is just great. It has over 2,000 positive reviews and costs $135. Yes, it needs to outgas but everyone I know who has tried it has loved it.
view Taureg's profile
I bought this mattress.
IT'S LIKE SLEEPING ON A BOARD! There is no give to it whatsoever.
view jeffnyc's profile
I am sleeping on a Fahrenheit every night, and I would not want to change that. I even have the pillow in from the same line. I have had problems with my neck, back and my shoulder for some years. Not any more, thanks to the Fahrenheit. Ofcourse some physical therapy helps too. But I have to say I sleep like a baby, and wake up fresh with no pain. Both me and my partner miss the Fahrenheit badly when we sleep at hotels etc.
view rakimou's profile
jeffnyc: The first few nights, I added a traditional memory foam topper to aid the transition. That might help you reach that comfy inbetween.
view gregory's profile