Sleep Innovations Novaform Elite Memory Foam Mattress
posted Saturday, October 7th, 2006 by Victoria Fung
It was time for that once-a-decade-or-so chore of buying a new bed. My husband and I both dreaded what lay ahead. Our weekends would now be forfeit as we cut an endless trail from mattress store to mattress store, cringing as the wheeling and dealing ensued. We’d flop ourselves down on countless beds, attempting to discern the difference between identical mattresses that were probably manufactured by the same company. Different names, similar mattresses, wildly varying prices – no matter how savvy a shopper you are, how could you not wonder if maybe you got ripped off when the process was done?
As we steeled ourselves for the ordeal ahead, an idea occurred to us both: What if getting a new mattress didn’t have to entail an endless parade of indistinguishable and, frankly, mediocre products? What if there was, in fact, something demonstratively superior to a conventional bed? We live in an age where technology has improved almost every aspect of our daily routine, why not our nightly routine as well?
It was right about then that we noticed some conventional mattresses we were looking at came with a layer of visco-elastic memory foam right below the ticking. Hmmm… Okay, we could see how that might be a nice improvement. But if a little memory foam is good, wouldn’t a lot be that much better?
Tempur-Pedic. Tempur-Pedic is the pioneering Swedish mattress developed using (literally) space-age material developed by NASA. Back in the 1970s, NASA was experimenting with a material that would conform to the weight and shape of astronauts, and relieve the tremendous G-forces astronauts experienced escaping the earth’s gravity well. Fagerdala World Foams of Sweden refined the product, and the result was the Tempur: an open-celled, visco-elastic, temperature-sensitive foam that senses body weight and temperature, and conforms to provide support and help alleviate pressure points. The first Tempur mattress and pillow were introduced to the public in Sweden in 1991.
Despite the fact that a Tempur-Pedic Cal-king mattress may set you back from $1,500 to $6,200, many people swear by them. Customers with chronic back problems rave they’ve never slept more soundly or more comfortably.
So we tried the Tempur-Pedic. It was a new sensation as we sank in and foam cradled our bodies. Great support. But we felt heavy, like we were really sinking into something that resembled high-tech quicksand. We were on the right track, but pure Tempur-Pedic wasn’t quite working for us.
Sleep Innovations. So we dug a little deeper in our research. It seemed after more than a decade of Tempur-Pedic domination, there were now many other takes on the visco-elastic memory foam mattress coming to market. Different brands, varying quality. Then my big brother mentioned he and his wife really liked the Sleep Innovations’ Novaform Elite Memory Foam Topper they bought for their queen-size bed. The 2.5 inches of memory foam really molded to his body, he said, returning to its original shape after each use. He also said that, as claimed, the memory foam relieved pressure points and improved his circulation.
My brother’s suggestion made sense. After all, my husband and I were already using Novaform pillows, and we love the way they cradle the head and support the neck.
So we logged on to Costco.com and ordered a Novaform Cal-King Elite Memory Foam mattress for $749.99 (plus tax; shipping and handling included). We opted against a platform bed. Instead, we headed to a local mattress store and bought a bed frame and two box platforms, which are like box springs without the springs and a firm board across the top.
Within a week, the Novaform was delivered to our door in a box about the size of two large suitcases placed side by side. Inside was the Novaform, vacuum-packed in a thick plastic bag. Cutting open the bag, we heard a hiss. Quickly, I pulled the bag away, and we watched the mattress grow before our eyes – from a chunky rectangular lump into a full-sized Cal-king.
My husband and I slept in the guest room that night in order to let the Novaform mattress release some of its chemical odor. Then we decided to try it.
Though the Novaform mattress comes with a cotton jacquard cover that zips off for easy laundering, we topped it with a thick mattress cover for extra protection. Our Cal-king sheets fit just fine. Sleeping on the mattress was pretty amazing. My husband agrees we’ve been getting the best sleep ever. Restless sleeper that I am, I tend to flip back and forth between lying on my back and then on my stomach. Lying on my tummy used to make my back ache. Not any more, thanks to the memory foam’s support.
It’s gotten to the point that we miss our bed if we stay anywhere else. And our 25-pound Keeshond-Terrier, who has two very nice doggie beds in the house, has taken to spending the night between us toward the foot of the bed.
Costco is apparently doing so well with the memory foam beds that I’m now seeing them in their warehouses, not just online. And there’s an even fancier version on Costco’s Web site: the Novaform Cal-King Comfortluxe Memory Foam mattress, currently available for $849.99, which is $150 off the regular price.
Just because the Sleep Innovations bed is the best we’ve ever slept on, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work for you. Try a bunch of different beds, including conventional and memory foam. After all, you really do spend about a third of your life sleeping, so it makes sense to seek as much quality as you can practically afford. In the end, what you chose is really a matter of personal preference. If you decide to go for visco-elastic foam, aim for a higher-density foam, which will provide better support.
Geek-o-Meter: The Novaform Elite Memory Foam mattress is not only the most comfortable bed this reviewer has ever slept on, it’s also one of the best values to be had. It scores a 10 on the Geek-o-Meter. We’re genuinely impressed with the support and durability of this product. We’re also less cranky because, these days, we’re sleeping really well.
The Specs:
Novaform Cal-King Elite Memory Foam mattress
- Price: $749.99 (plus tax; shipping and handling included)
- 12″ thick mattress
- 3″ top layer of 4-lb. density premium Memory Foam
- 9″ 2-lb. density conventional foam base
- Breathable poly/cotton blend, jacquard pattern cover for easy laundering
- Hypo-allergenic, CFC-free
- Flame-retardant
- Dimensions: 72″ W x 84″ L x 12″ H
- Warranty: 10-year limited
Novaform Cal-King Comfortluxe Memory Foam mattress
- Price: $849.99 (plus tax; shipping and handling included)
- Cover is a finely woven double-knitted cotton/polyester blend fabric
- Cover is filled with soft, durable 100 percent Hollofill fiber which enhances loft retention
- Flame retardant cover conforms to strict California Standards
- Anti-fungal, anti-microbial treated
- 12″ thick mattress
- Top layer: 1.5″ of Cool Wave Memory Foam; made using advanced open cell foam technology
- Middle layer: 1.5″ of premium 6-lb. density Memory Foam
- Bottom layer: 2″ of premium 5-lb. density Memory Foam
- Base layer: 7″ of high-density conventional foam
- Dimensions: 72″ W x 84″ D x 12″ H
- Weight: 154 lbs.
- Warranty: 10 years
For More Information
December 6th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
I would just like to thank you for posting this review. I have been looking at purchasing a similar mattress for some time, but have been reluctant as the costco store does not have a matress set up to try. I found your review very helpful to making the decision to go forward, letting me know I was not purchasing a foam piece of junk.
Thanks Much
December 28th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
We bought the king Novaform mattress at Costco on-line. It was shipped via UPS ground. Since it weighs almost 150 pounds and is folded twice and bound in double plastic wrap, it’s like moving a pregnant cow into the bedroom. Once in, we opened the slider to the backyard, started a hurricane fan, and carefully performed a C-Section. That baby when opened smelled like dog gas combined with rotten tennis shoes. Three days later it had the fragrance of the locker room in a Senior Citizen’s aerobics class. Now, a week later we pulled, shoved, and cussed it up on to the foundation left over from the old mattress. Bad idea because when the wife got up to void her bladder, it felt like we’d been hit by an earthquake. In fact I rushed by her in the hall to beat her to the doorway that is supposed to be safe in a quake. The next day we went to the lumber yard and bought 3/4-inch plywood, had it cut wrong at Home Depot, installed it on the bed frame, then shoved, pulled, and cussed the mattress up on to the wood. A good nights sleep was had, but since it was Christmas time it smelled like we were in the manger the whole night. We never knew plywood had an odor that could overwhelm the fragrance usually reserved for the holding tank of a Russian fishing boat caught in a freak heat wave off the coast of Brazil. We then pushed, pulled, and cussed the mattress off the plywood on to the floor. I then ordered Green-Earth plywood sealer and sealed the plywood on all sides with 3 coats of sealer and let it dry for 24 hours. We then shoved, pushed, and cussed the mattress on to the plywood. It’s been 10 days now and the sealer on the bottom away from the mattress is still a bit tacky and only has a little odor, a little like you get in a crowded elevator in Sears Tower in June.
Now as far as comfort goes, I have had one night’s sleep lasting almost 8 hours, the best in years. When either my wife or I get up to visit the ivory pond in the middle of the night, there is no mattress movement, only the crack of the plywood punishing us for cutting another rain forest tree.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I purchased the King Novaform Elite matress topper, left it for more than 72 hours to expand. There is a lump in the bottom which is at least 3 inches deep and the edges are about an inch, only. I can’t get it bak in the box to return , can’t carry it to return it. I am wondering if there is anything i can do to solve this problem. Thanks, Kathy Adams
March 12th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
We bought the mattress from Costco and received it within 5 days. It is heavy and once we got it upstairs we opened it and then unwrapped it rather easily. It was surprising to see how it was folded but we unfolded it and left it for 4 hours and it was almost all expanded. We left if for a total of 24 hours before sleeping on it but I think it only needed 12 hours.
We slept well on it the first night and this continued on for the next few nights but we felt that we were sleeping quite hot. Once we figured out that we needed fewer blankets we slept even better. So far we have had it for a month and both think it is great. My only reservation is how hot we will sleep this summer.
To dispel a few myths: We do move in the bed during the night like we did in our old bed. It has not stop my wife’s snoring. In spite of this we still love the bed. It is more comfortable that any mattress we have had and much cheaper. We changed our mattress because I was waking with a sore back. Once we bought this one I slept better but my back was still sore when I woke up. Then over the next two weeks my sore back gradually went away and it has not returned.
Both my wife and I recommend this bed.
March 24th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
My husband and I were slightly wary about getting a foam mattress, and had the same issue that Costco did not have one out to try. But I can understand now why they didn’t!
We bought our mattress February 3, 2007 and put it on our old boxspring. We gave it a full two days to decompress, but I don’t think it really needed that long. It did smell funny enough that we put a fan on for a while, but it wasn’t overwhelming or nasty—more like a musty smell, I think.
It was very strange to sleep on for the first night or two. It doesn’t respond to movements the way an innerspring mattress does, so I did have to adjust a little. I also noticed that it felt difficult to move in the bed, sort of difficult to roll over.
I also found it was very hot and that we both sometimes would wake up sweaty in the night. We adjusted by switching our winter comforter for a light bedspread, and that solved that problem.
I would have to say after a week of sleeping on this bed I didn’t notice any of those differences any more. My husband had some stiffness and soreness for the first day or two (although he said he slept better than normal), but after that first couple of days he has had no complaint. I didn’t notice any stiffness or soreness at all.
What I did notice is that I didn’t have to be careful about disturbing my husband. I usually get up earlier on weekends, but he hasn’t noticed at all since we got this bed.
I love this mattress and would never give it back. If I were to buy another one (if I ever get the King size I’ve been wanting, say…) I might think about one of the “cooler” memory foam mattresses I’ve heard about –but to be honest if Costco doesn’t carry it I probably wouldn’t buy it, just because it is so important to be able to return it whenever I want to.
I would recommend this mattress to anyone. Unless they WANT to know when their significant other (dog, cat, etc) is coming and going from the bed! Four thumbs up for the Novaform Elite!
April 17th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I was so glad to read these reviews. I had reservations until I read them. I ordered on-line yesterday 4/16/2007 and hoping to have within the 10-15 day timeframe.
I ordered the Comfortluxe so hopefully I will not have a problem with it being too hot.
Glad to read the comments about the expansion so we can put it in position on the frame and not have to move it after.
I have a Sensus queen size and really love it. BUT it is in the guest bedroom and we had bought a new Beautyrest Worldclass the end of 2004. That is the one we are now replacing and I will be happy to donate that one to the Salvation Army. It had body impressions within the first year and neither of us weigh over 150lbs. AND the thing weighs a ton. Wears me out just changing the sheets.
I can hardly wait for this new one to come. Thanks again for all the comments!
April 18th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Wow! I got the shipping notification today and expected delivery date of 4-20. I only ordered the Comfortluxe on 4-16. I sure hope this is correct.
I know it does not ship from Costco, but instead comes directly from the factory and the shipping location closest to me is in Calif. So we just might be able to sleep the weekend away!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoppe!
April 20th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Well, UPS was right on time and our Comfortluxe came today. We lugged it into
the house and up on the bed (not easy) and wouldn’t you know we had it upside down and bottom side up. After a lot of grunting and groaning it was properly in place and I must say it expanded like you would never know it had been compressed. It also has
NO odor whatsoever. SO we sure will sleep on it tonight. The other wonderful thing is the packing slip from Costco said it could be returned for a full refund including shipping and handling AT ANY TIME. AND Sleep Innovations said if anything goes wrong within the ten year warranty they will replace door to door. What more could you ask for? A good nights sleep is the last expectation and I have no doubt in my mind we will LOVE it.
April 26th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Had a friend over today and she said “that mattress is going to get body impressions!” I did not think it would but just want to check others experience. We got the Comfortluxe not the Elite. Has anyone had this experience with the Comfortluxe?
Thanks
May 7th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Just wanted to comment that the Elite version is now also for sale on QVC under the Bodipedic EL500 name. If you click on additional pictures, it will show the Sleep Innovations tag. I just ordered my son the twin size and am hoping he will love it.It was $426 on QVC vs $519 at Costco.
May 12th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Hate to burst the bubble here but I thought you should hear about my experience with the novaform elite from Costco. We bought the bed back in 2005. For the first 8-10 months it was absolute heaven. Honestly the best nights sleep I have ever had. Then the foam base began to give out. What can only be described as a “low spot” formed on my side of the bed. My wife was still in love with the bed, I think she would have tossed me rather than give up this bed, anyway we began turning and flopping the thing every month or so to try and make it wear evenly. Now 18 months later both sides of the bed are “soft” and even my wife now hates the bed. Great concept, and great for the first year or two. We even tried to work with novaform but that was a dead end. So much for 10 year warranty. So I guess what you really need to know is that, in my opinion, you will be replacing this bed every three years at the latest.
May 27th, 2007 at 8:51 am
[…] My Attempts at Frugal Mattress Shopping is a guy’s account on buying a mattress. He runs a site that deals with finances, some practical spending and investing advice, but says he is not a guru on it. On mattress shopping, he checked out a lot of deals to finally decided on NovaForm Queen Fresh Dreams Memory Foam Mattress which he bought at Costco, on sale for $550. After reading a couple of online reviews, it seems like a solid bet. Older models had a certain smell to them, but the newer ones apparently don’t. Also, there have been scattered comments about the mattress not expanding properly into a perfect box shape. Since it doesn’t come with a platform, I know that I’ll have to make my own or just buy a piece of plywood to put on top of our current boxspring since foam mattresses need to be on a solid surface. […]
June 1st, 2007 at 4:18 pm
What are people’s experiences a year or two or three down the line? The reviews and opinions I can find about the NovaForms are all very recent and I’m wondering how they hold up over time?
June 5th, 2007 at 10:11 am
We’ve used the Novaform memory foam pillows for awhile and find them quite comfortable. However, I have had 1 out of 4 become really soft in less than year. This one has been returned and exchanged with no difficulty at Costco.
We have also used the toppers on top of firm mattresses and futons and have found them to be comfortable as well even after about 1 year of use.
We ordered a Coolwave from Costco.ca in the Queen size and after 2 weeks of sleeping on that, decided that although the mattress is comfortable, the edges were a bit squishy and difficult to get out of the bed from. We keep the mattress on the floor as we like the lower height. The mattress is supportive yet soft because of the molding of the memory foam…and the Coolwave appears to not make the mattress seem too hot.
We decided to return this mattress and purchase the King sized Comfortluxe and so far after a week, this has been a much better experience. The Comfortluxe is a slightly firmer mattress that appears to have more edge support so it doesn’t feel like you are going to roll off if you get close to the edge like the Coolwave version. There is a layer of Holofil fiber on top of the quilting cover and that is quite comfortable. It is currently over 30C and humid, and the mattress does not feel “hot”.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:12 am
bought Bodipeic KING SET from QVC it has come apart and there is no one that will help even if it has a 20 year warranty. A rip off and QVC will not stand by what it sold me A $1100 PIECE OF JUNK.