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Tempurpedic has a long standing reputation of offering premium mattresses (at premium prices of course) and for years has boasted about the 5.3lb “Tempur” material aka. memory foam.  We were surprised to hear of Tempur-Pedic’s release of their TEMPUR-ES™ – a lower density (4lb) memory foam.Here at cloud 9, we’ve known for years that density is not a complete determining factor in the quality of  memory foam, but TempurPedic has always seemed to talk down about any visco-elastic foam under a 5lb density.  So why have they decided to release a 4lb memory foam in the CLOUD series beds?

There are two solid answers we can think of.  First, it is a bit easier to create a softer feel with a lower density memory foam.  Please don’t let us confuse you.  memory foam has two numbers attached to it.  First is the density – or the weight of a cubic foot of foam (usually 3-6lbs)  The second measurement is IFD, or ILD.  This is the compression rate of the foam, or how “soft” it is.  The two numbers work independently of each other.  For example, you could have a 8lb memory foam with an ILD of 7, and have it be softer than a 2lb memory foam with an ILD of 15.

The second reason we see for the release of the TEMPUR-ES™, is cost.  Simply put, higher density foams cost more to produce.  By using foam a pound lighter, you cut the manufacturing cost of the foam, leaving more room for profit.

Now, all of this said, we LOVE the cloud bed by Tempur-Pedic.It has a soft feel, good support, and is an overall appealing mattress for MOST people (the goldi-locks bed if you will)  We just wonder what pushed TempurPedic into producing a bed made of the materials they have snubbed for so many years.

When we were asked to write a review on the new ThermoPlush Elite, we were very excited.  If you have read any of our other articles on ThermoPlush mattresses, you know we consider them to be one of the best memory foam mattresses (if not the best) on the market today.  We decided that instead of just writing a review, we would write up a moment by moment account of receiving, opening and testing the new ThermoPlush Elite.Our ThermoPlush Elite sample bed arrived via UPS on Wed.  It was in a box about 16? x 16? x 6 feet tall.  This is a two person carry!  Weighing in at close to 100lbs, it was heavy, and cumbersome…but that is to be expected when dealing with a quality memory foam mattress.  The box looked like the top may had opened during shipping and been re-taped.  It also had one small tear in the side, and we were concerned there may be some mattress damage.  The box was carried into the testing room, and opened.  We were pleased to find the superior packing job INSIDE the box.  The mattress had been roll compressed, and then slid into a very heavy grade plastic tube/bag.  The bag was a heavy enough grade that it have a pair of scissors a hard time.  That tear in the side of the box we were worried about was no issue at all.  In fact, they could probably ship these without a box an have them arrive perfectly.

When the mattress (still in plastic tube) was placed on the memory foam foundation, it looked as if we had been sent a full, not the queen we had prepared for.  Not a big deal as it was a complimentary mattress for testing purposes.  It had a note attached stating the mattress was in a compressed state and could take 24-48 to regain shape.  This was a bit surprising to use.  Generally, quality memory foam mattresses only take 15-30 minutes to come to shape and be ready to sleep on, and it’s normally the cheaper mattresses from wholesale stores and cheap internet sites that take a long time to recover from the compressed state.  We opened the plastic wrapping sleeve, and inside the mattress wa wrapped again.  We removed the second layer of wrapping, and unrolled the mattress onto the foundation.

Odor Free Memory Foam?!?!

Before we go any further, there is something very important that should be mentioned here.  THERE WAS NO ODOR WHEN WE OPENED THE PLASTIC! This was amazing…We had been told by others at Cloud9Beds that these mattresses had no odor, but had not seen it for ourselves.  This was our first time dealing with a new ThermoPlush mattress, and it was truley amazing.  When a memory foam mattress is opened for the first time, it has a strong odor similar to a “new car” smell, but more pungent.  Some of them (such as the Chinese imports) can be so bad you need to leave the room.  This mattress had NO NOTICEABLE ODOR! We have been told that this is because of two things.  ThermoPlush only uses top quality, American made chemicals in their foams.  They also use a proprietary out-gassing technique during the curing of their foam that out-gasses the foam  while it is curing at the factory so that when it comes into your home, it can be odor free.

Moving on…

As the mattress expanded, we learned two things.  First, this was in fact a queen size mattress.  it just appeared to be a full because of being compressed.  The second thing we realized was that the mattress was NOT going to take 24-48 hours.  It took about 15-20 minutes for the entire mattress to regain it’s full shape.  It was cold outside, so we were not in a rush to test the mattress.  We left the room for a few hours and let the foam come back to room temperature.

Memory Foam Mattress Review

Now- Finally the review of the ThermoPlush Elite.

First Impression:  WOW!

Second Impression: DOUBLE WOW!!  OK, not the most professional or descriptive term, but really wow. For a mattress that retails for just 1799, this is probably the nicest we’ve ever seem.   This mattress is as plush, comfortable and conforming as some of the taller 12? & 14? mattresses at just 8? thick.  It combines a ThermalSense PC top layer for an immediate plush feel, with a generous layer of ThermalSense Classic viscoelastic foam underneath for a bit of pressure-relieving support. The additional of a transitional foam between the visco layers and the base layers means you never “bottom” out of the visco and go straight to a firm foam.

After a night sleeping on the ThermoPlush Ellite

It’s always an odd thing to sleep over at work, but it’s the only good way to set up our mattress trials when multiple people have to test one mattress.  The brief review is this – I feel asleep fast, did not wake up in the middle of the night, and woke up feeling GREAT.

Here is the more detailed review.  I sleep on my side, and the bit of extra cushioning was much appreciated by my hip and shoulder.  At the same time, I found the mattress to have plenty of support.  When you first lay down, it literally feels like you’re laying on a cloud.  It has such a nice soft touch to it, that you just get cradled by.  Th, it firms up just a bit, and you feel weightless.  A truely amazing mattress.

Heat: Not hot at all.  Had a great feel, with none of the typical heat associated with memory foam mattresses.

More review to come from other members.  If you would like to post a personal review of this product, please email us.

For years, TempurPedic™ has been one of the most trusted names in the memory foam mattress industry. They have provided the market with years of high quality products and innovations. With 10 different models as of Aug. 2008, there is something for everyone, from extra firm, to super plush. The only thing that has ever held them back is the exceptionally high cost. Well there is a new player in the game, and their products are called ThermoPlush™. We believe they will be the new industry standard for perfection and quality in very little time, and the best part is their price, with some models being up to thousands of dollars less than the price of TempurPedic™.

ThermoPlush™ mattresses have been designed by an exceptional team of experts consisting of doctors, sleep experts, and one of the leading foam chemists in the US. This combination of experts is sure to make ThermoPlush one of the best products on the market. Their lead chemist is originally from the Number 1 manufacturer of ViscoElastic products in the US. As a company, they manufacture over 60 different visco-elastic foams which are sold to bedding companies world wide, but their 4 premium products are reserved for use exclusively in ThermoPlush bedding products. These 4 foams include the ThermalSense SHD, HD, BR and PC.

ThermalSense SHD is an 8lb Super High Density (hence SHD) Visco Elastic Foam, which is the evolution of the ThermalSense HD (High Density) 6lb Visco Elastic Foam. The ThermalSense BR is ThermoPlush’s Super Soft, Extra Breathable visco elastic foam meant to keep you cooler while you sleep and provide the softest feel of any memory foam on the market. Finally, the ThermalSense PC is ThermoPlush’s all around solution for standard memory foam applications. Still in the high density realm, the ThermalSense PC is lighter weight, and slightly softer than the HD and SHD materials.

ThermoPlush also offer the highest quality base foams of any memory foam mattress. they have opted to not skip over this important base support layer. Many manufacturers look to save money by cutting corners and using cheaper foams in their base, but buyer beware if they have! The support layer in a memory foam mattress is just as important, if not more so, than the visco-elastic comfort layers. Without the proper base layer, you body will not receive proper support, and your mattress will show body impressions long before it should. Though these cheaper materials may feel fine at first, they are guaranteed not to stand the test of time.

All elements considered, there is no way you can go wrong with a ThermoPlush mattress. The high quality products are made to last, using higher specs than any other memory foam mattress being manufactured today. ThermoPlush mattresses can be found locally at your trusted mattress store, or from a select number of online companies.

COMPARISONS TO TEMPURPEDIC™

Though ThermoPlush™ refuses to compare any of their products to TempurPedic™, we do not. The cross reference below will let you compare ThermoPlush™ mattresses to their TempurPedic™ counterparts.

REMEMBER TO SHOP AROUND! No matter where you go, TempurPedics will be the same price. Retailers are not allowed to sell TempurPedic™ beds for less than the MSRP (suggested retail price). The pricing for ThermoPlush listed here is MSRP, but they do NOT have the same rules as TempurPedic™. You may find them for more or less than the prices below, depending on the retailer. If you are a savy shopper you will spend less on a ThermoPlush mattress than the prices listed below-meaning even greater savings…

We have found the following to be accurate as of 8/5/2008

TempurPedic Classic® compares to the ThermoPlush Select®.
TempurPedic Classic® has 3″ of 5.3lb visco over a 5″ Base. ThermoPlush Select® has 3″ of 6lb HD Visco over a 6″ Base.
KING CLASSIC-$2099 Vs. KING SELECT-$2099*
No savings here (unless you find a sale), but a lifetime warranty & higher density foams with ThermoPlush.

TempurPedic Deluxe® compares to the ThermoPlush Premium®.
TempurPedic Deluxe® has 4″ of 5.3lb visco over a 6″ Base. ThermoPlush Premium® has 4″ of 6lb HD Visco over a 5″ Base.
KING DELUXE- $2,299 Vs. KING PREMIUM-$2,099*
$200+ Savings, Coolmax Cover, a lifetime warranty & higher density foams with ThermoPlush.

TempurPedic Rhapsody® compares to the ThermoPlush Supreme®.
TempurPedic Rhapsody® has 1″ of Tempur-HD® (7lb) and 3″ of 5.3lb Tempur® Memory Foam. ThermoPlush Supreme has 1″ of ThermalSense SHD (8lb) and 3″ of 6lb ThermalSense HD® Memory Foam.
KING RHAPSODY- $2,999 Vs. KING SUPREME-$2,599*
$400+ Savings, coolmax cover, a lifetime warranty & higher density foams with ThermoPlush.

TempurPedic Celebrity® compares to the ThermoPlush Ultra®.
TempurPedic Celebrity® has a 2″ 5.3lb pillow top, & 3″ of 5.3lb visco in the bed, on top of their base foam. The ThermoPlush Ultra® has no visible pillowtop, but the same construction with 2″ of ThermalSelse BR, and 3″ of ThermalSense HD on their base. Same basic feel.
KING CELEBRITY- $3,799 Vs. KING ULTRA-$2,999*
$800+ Savings, Coolmax Cover, a lifetime warranty & higher density foams with ThermoPlush.

TempurPedic Grand® compares to the ThermoPlush Allure®.
TempurPedic Grand® has 2″ of Tempur-HD® (7lb) and 3″ of 5.3lb Tempur® Memory Foam. ThermoPlush Allure has 2″ of ThermalSense SHD (8lb) and 3″ of 6lb ThermalSense HD® Memory Foam.
KING GRAND- $6,699 Vs. KING SUPREME-$3,299*
$3,400!+ Savings, coolmax cover, a lifetime warranty & higher density foams with ThermoPlush.

So you have decided you want to buy a memory foam mattress, but which one to buy?! It is pretty widely accepted that TempurPedic is a great choice, but they are very costly, and frankly, you can get a mattress that is just as good or better for less now. Below, we will teach you how to be a more educated memory foam consumer so that you can get the best mattress for the best price.

Here are some things to consider…

1- Density – Memory foam density is a big deal. Never buy a mattress with less than a 4lb memory foam. The density of the memory foam is the weight that 1 cubic foot of the foam weights. So, if you had a 1′ x 1′ x 1′ block of 5lb memory foam, that cube would weight 5lbs. So why does this matter? A higher density memory foam will hold up better over time. A common misconception is that high density memory foams are hard, whiler lower density foams are softer. This is not true. Along with densities, foams have a number called the ifd, or ild. The ifd/ild is a number that rates the firmness of a foam. You can have a 4lb foam with an ifd of 20 that will be much firmer than an 8lb foam with an ifd of 8. The lower the ifd, the softer the foam. Generally speaking you want between 10-15 ifd in a 5 or 6lb memory foam

Now, we’ll make your head spin a bit. Density isn’t always true! Many manufacturers use a dirty little trick so they can say they use high density memory foams when they in fact are inferior foams. That trick is using fillers in the foam to make it weight more while using less of their expensive raw materials. To do this, manufacturers will mix all sorts of things into the foam, sometimes as crude as dirt, or marble dust to make a 3lb foam weigh 5lbs when put on a scale! doing this creates a foam that does not have the same pressure relieving properties, or long life of a true 5lb density foam. BUYER BE WARE!!!

2-Amount of memory foam – a good memory foam mattress will usually have between 3 to 5 inches of memory foam. More than 5 inches is a bit over-kill, less than three inches does not give the same level of pressure relief.

Here is a list of the top benefits of sleeping on a memory foam mattress. These are in no particular order.
1) Better Sleep Quality. Memory foam decreases tossing and turning. That’s right! It has been proven the a memory foam mattress will decrease the amount of times you toss, turn, and get up through the night. In addition you don’t need to sleep as many hours to get the benefits you would from a standard mattress. (For example, where it may be necessary to get a full 8 hours of sleep on an innerspring mattress, you may only need 6.5 hours on a memory foam mattress.) In a time where the majority of people are not getting the ful amount of sleep that they should, this is particularly important. If you can’t get a full nights sleep, OPTIMIZE THE SLEEP YOU DO GET! Denser foam will allow a person to get more sleep due to its conforming effect.

2) Longer Life. A memory foam mattress will last much longer than a standard innerspring. Inner spring mattress give out more and more as time goes by. TheBetter Sleep Council says the average time that an innerspring mattress is good for is 7 years. (Have you had your old mattress for longer than that?)

3) No Noise or Motion Transfer. Don’t you hate it when you partner comes to bed late and wakes you up just by getting bed?  Or how about when they get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night? With a memory foam bed these are problems of the past.  Because there are no noisy springs your partner will lay undisturbed if you get up early in the morning. In addition, because of memory foam’s lack of “motion transfer” (in other words- memory foam absorbs motion), you can’t notice someone moving on the other side of the bed. You can even set a glass on the bed and it won’t fall if you move! (though we still don’t suggest you play with this-just in case. And if you DO happen to do this, and the glass spills, we don’t want to hear about it!)

4) Say Goodbye to Mattress Related Allergies. Memory Foam Mattresses are constructed to be hypoallergenic and dust mite proof. Gross Fact: The average innerspring mattress DOUBLES in weight over the course of ten years due to accumulation of dead dust mites that feast on your dead skin cells. It’s true. Luckily, you can wash your Memory Foam cover whenever you want to get rid of any skin cells you may have between the cover and your sheet AND dust mites cannot survive in memory foam, assuring you that you will not have a problem with those horrible little insects that cause allergies and worsen asthma ever again.

5) Less Joint and Back Pain. Memory foam offers some of the best pressure relieve properties of ANY bedding product.  When you sleep on a quality memory foam mattress, your don’t have any springs “pressing back at you” like you do in a traditional inner spring mattress.  What this means for you, is that you will wake up with fewer aches and pains than ever before.  Back, neck, joint and arthritis pain are just a few of the different aches memor foam will help prevent and relieve.  Give yourself a break!

6) Warranty/Longevity. Quality memory foam mattresses come with at least a 20 year warranty. Be cautious of cheap memory foam mattresses that offer a 5 or 10 year warranty.  It is likely that they use 3, 2 or even 1.5 pound memory foams.  These low poundage foams will not last nearly as long as their heavier counterparts, A good warranty should give you some peace of mind that the mattress you just purchased isn’t your problem if the mattress doesn’t hold up like it should. Many companies say they have a warranty, but when push comes to shove they don’t back up their products, so be sure you deal with a reputable mattress company.

Better Memory Foam. Look for companies that use high density visco elastic memory foam.  At the absolute minimum, they should be 4lb foams, but better yet would be 5 or 6 pond foams.  We have found that 8lb foams do not offer significant benefits.  They cost more, and make your mattress MUCH heavier and harder to move around.  

 Overall Value. Once you make the right purchase, you will get a better overall value with memory foam than any other product.  The mattress wil last for years and offer you the best night sleep you have ever had. 

With many manufacturers, you can find a memory foam mattress mattress of the same feel and quality of TempurPedic at a fraction of the cost, many with extensive warranties and in home trial periods. Many companies online offer FREE SHIPPING and some may even offer financing—getting a luxury mattress at an incredible value has never been easier – but is memory foam the way you want to go?

Memory Foam is a widely trusted material that has been featured in magazines, newspapers and is rapidly becoming a product recommended by doctors everywhere. Companies such as TempurPedic have been around for a good number of years, and other companies have only been around a short period of time. Luckily – many companies now offer outstanding memory foam, even some of the younger ones.

With many different memory foam beds for every taste there is a large variety to choose from (though we do tend to recommend premium American made memory foams for your bed) . There are several gimmicks to look for such as the “air flow” layer being offered by many manufactures. You’ll also find a wide variety of cover materials including velours, cashmere, and coolmax materials (intended to keep the user cooler while they sleep). Using materials like Cashmere, Silk, and Suede, does not make any difference in the quality or feel of the mattress, but will change the appearance – of course when you put your sheets and bedding on – this is moot. To find out which bed is best for you, continue reading through this article, as well as the rest of this site! You will find more information than you’ll know what to do with – but we promise to try and keep it organized and efficient.

Comparing a memory foam mattress to Tempur-Pedic is a good place to start. You’ll find that many beds are very similar to TempurPedic, but none of them use the exact “Tempur” foam (which is exclusive to TempurPedic, but the good news is…it’s just a premium memory foam. The construction of both company’s beds is nearly identical, both in feel and density. These companies are also the only companies that offer HD foam beds. Our memory foam pillows are also very similar. For direct comparisons, see the individual product pages or view the Tempurpedic Comparison page.

“Zero Gravity” Adjustable Beds are a premium upgrade for any memory foam mattress. Adjustable frame beds are designed to allow the user to raise and lower their head and feet. Many offer variable features such as massage and wireless controls.

High Density memory foam are the newest thing to hit the market. Probably the best on the market today is the ThermalSense HD memory foam. This 6lb High Density memory foam is sold as bed toppers, as well as used in the different ThermoPlush mattresses. Memory Foam Mattress Toppers are a great way to soften up a mattress that’s too firm, eliminate pressure points, and provide a more even support. The ThermalSense HD mattress topper is by far the BEST topper on the market..

To learn more about memory foam and our company, see our memory foam blog and buying guides. Our friendly sleep specialists are standing by around the clock to answer any other questions you may have.