Our Decision: IKEA Sultan Evje Latex Mattress

After much deliberation and reading tons of reviews (especially yours from Monday) on the Tempur-pedic mattresses, we went a different route. Basically, the deal breaker was twofold: the price and the heat factor. I can't stand being warm when I sleep. So with that a risk, as well as the super-high price tag, my husband and I went a more affordable (though so predictable) route and purchased the IKEA Sultan Evje mattress last night. It's currently on sale as a king only, for $649...

After a friend read ">our Tempur-pedic post, she immediately called to say that her IKEA Sultan Furudal was perfection at half the price of a Tempur-pedic. While everyone's comfort level and needs vary, we hold her opinion high because:

1) she's the person who first introduced me to Apartment Therapy 3 years ago,
2) she is pregnant and good, comfortable sleeping is of the utmost importance, and
3) a million other reasons.

We trucked out to IKEA for other household basics and to try out the Furudal. We liked it. A lot. We also liked, a little bit more (a touch more bounce) the Sultan Evje.

After buying sooo much other stuff at IKEA, including a bedframe, two twin beds for my stepson's room, linens, a countertop, and more, we still spent less than we would have on a hot Tempur-pedic. Thanks for all the feedback. But for now, a tight budget and a preference for cool sleeping won out. Fingers crossed.

Comments (25)

I'm looking forward to your review! I've been thinking of getting an Ikea latex mattress.

I will also look forward to your impressions. When it is time to replace my mattress I will be looking at something as light as possible as I have a fairly heavy wall bed without a lot of mechanical advantage in the lift up. Would you have noticed if it weighs less than your other mattress?

We've had that mattress for three years now, and we're still really pleased with it. I think you'll be happy.

I really look forward to your review of this one! I'm a hot sleeper, and so I know I can't buy memory foam. Is latex really that much cooler to sleep on? Does the Sultan Evje only need a platform bed (slats), or is something more required?

Curious... curious.

Good luck with your new mattress!

you'll love it. its the best mattress ive ever owned, period

We have ours on slats. You don't have to flip or turn it either. I don't think it's especially hot, (but i can't remember what other mattresses are like really) you don't sink down into it.

Excited. I'm tired of the Temp-hype and hate the idea of being too hot when sleeping (especially with my blasting-hot NYC apartment heat). I like blankets for warmth, not a coating of nasty chemical foam!

Good luck with your mattress. Hopefully there's a big difference between IKEA mattress models, b/c I have the Sultan Egersund (sp?) and it sucks.

I bought a latex pillow from Dunnes Stores (huge warehouse out of town homewares place all over UK) and when I got it home my boyfriend kindly commented that I was saving the environment by sleeping on recycled condoms. Yeah, cheers mate.

It is actually made out of a tree so its not as bad for the environment as foam or polyester fluff. It has holes all over, and is (unlike memory foam) really cool to have your head on. Its got a really nice soft/hard thing going on which would be perfect in a matress, but it did take me some getting used to.

I would definately think about getting a mattress in this stuff now that I have tried it out.

An ex-boyfriend of mine had an IKEA mattress (I have no idea which one) and I never slept as good as I did then. That mattress was sooo very comfortable. I hope yours turns out to be so great!

My wife and I have the Sultan Erfjord in a queen size. We chose it over the Evje because it was thicker and is mostly natural latex, vs the full synthetic of the Evje. The pricing, while the most expensive of the Ikea latex line, is quite affordable compared to competitors. Also, while the thickest, it's only 7" and still maintains nice, trim proportions on our platform bed. It is very comfortable and has been great for my sciatica. When trying them out at Ikea it is important to note what type of slatted base it is displayed on; These play a large part in controlling the overall "cushiness" of the mattress. The convex slats provide a more springy feel, while the flats are obviously more firm.

memory foam - i slept on a tempurpedic in a sleep study and not only did i feel warm/hot, i felt trapped. i googled this and found that other people felt stuck in the mattress too and coulnd't move much.

yuck! i bought a latex pillow and slept w/o it last night and it was the 1 night of agony. i cant live w/o it. it keeps you cool and is very comfy! Latex all the way.

Berkeley European Sleepworks is where my pillow is from, and i plan to buy the Evje bed soon, as its more affordable.

I have a custom made latex mattress from seckel beds (PA). It's about 7 years old and still the best thing I've ever slept on. Nothing compares with natural latex.

my mom has the Furudal, and loves it! and spaceagemouse, you bought the cheapest of the latex, so maybe that's the problem?

one concern i have with any new mattress is the off-gassing coming from the various materials used for manufacturing (and the fire-retardant sprays)... what's been your experience so far?

I'm picking up the Furudal - or planning to - for an apartment abroad, but I'm definitely going to putting a feather bed on top of it.

No disrespect for the Furudal, just I LOVE feather beds!

Hi Gallivant - The latex mattresses are great but they weigh a ton so it probably wouldn't work for you. I'm checking them out now and was delighted to learn they don't need to be turned, because they're so darned heavy.

I have this platform bed: http://www.brocadehome.com/bh/catalog/product/product_detail.jsp?productId=bh_prod103182&link=leftnav&navAction=jump&navCount=2&categoryId=bh_cat1026

It has a typical 1x6 slat set up which is killing me through my 10 yr-old futon mattress. My back hurts where the slats hits every day. Of course, it's more depressed because I sleep and sit (like a couch) in the same place every day. Flipping and rotating the mattress did not help this at all.

Do IKEA mattresses have to be on those slat bases? Can you put the slat base on top of a slat platform?

It seems like I need both a new mattress and some other support between it and the platform to solve my problem.

pure rest organic mattresses are a great usa made mattress with no chemicals. made of dunlop latex (the best latex) and organic cotton and wool (a natural flame retardant). when looking at natural mattresses it is important to find out if they use flameblocker ingredients (national requirements as of july 2007).

So, how has your experience been with your IKEA latex mattress now that you've had it almost a year? My husband and I are considering one and are in the information/review stage.

I am wondering about the "New' Sultan Hjelmas/Jarlebo pocket coil sleep set that has a latex pillowtop, and would really appreciate any comment/feedback on this new mattress line from Ikea. To me it soulds like the right combination of both pocket coil and still the comfort & pressure relief of the latex. Also, I'm somewhat concerned that latex will smell 'rubbery' after awhile [??] as an older pillow of mine did just that, but could have been inferior type of latex used)
thank you to anyone who can provide some further information to my inquiry.
p.s. the Sultan line of mattresses are offering a 20% back in Ikea gift cards now, until the end of May (here in Ontario, Burlington area)

I just came back from a trip to IKEA where I purchased the Sultan Hjelmas mattress. I went there all set to buy the Erfjord as I thought I wanted a latex mattress. Much to my surprise, I found the Erfjord (which IKEA rates as "firm") way too firm (I'm 5 ft 4 in and weigh about 100 lbs, so maybe that was it). The other latex mattress, the Engenes (which is rated "medium") also felt pretty good, but when I lay down on the Hjelmas, I felt like I was floating on a cloud! It was absolutely marvellous. I couldn't believe I was giving up my full latex fantasy, but something about the spring coil base with latex pillow top just works! I could feel the bed giving just the right amount underneath me, and when I turned on my side, it was more comfortable than the others. I give it a thumbs up.

Thanks for posting about the IKEA Sultan Evje mattress! My husband and I hope on buying a new mattress next year with our tax refund, so I am doing my homework early. How is this mattress holding up for you, a little over a year later? Do you notice any spots that have compressed and not sprung back?

@ chatoyanteuse, Me n my husband bought the IKEA Sultan Hjelmas a week ago.Our preference was soft and bouncy bed.And so far it feels the same.But after having read bad reviews about Pocket Spring Mattresses, I am in a dilemma whether I should replacement for a Latex Mattress or what?

Can you please give your updated review on Hjelmas?Is it still as soft n comfortable as it was initially?

Many Thanks
Ritu

Right now, the only 2 latex mattresses Ikea has are the SULTAN ELSFJORD and SULTAN ENGENES - the price is £259 ($400) for a double of the firmer of the two. That seems a bit suspicious to me as they have a vast selection of spring mattresses :/