As Wirecutter's Sleep Expert, I Tried Dozens of Mattresses. This Is the One I Bought for Myself.

New York Times

14-02-2025

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When I left my position as Wirecutter's mattress tester, I suspect my very nice doorman was secretly elated. I'd been testing a different mattress roughly every few weeks over the course of three and a half years. And it's not easy orchestrating a quasi-move-in-move-out situation so frequently—dealing with that delivery truck blocking our street and the wrath of tenants fuming over the temporary loss of an elevator.
I loved my old job though, and I felt lucky to have tested dozens of possibilities at home. But, of course, a small part of me was excited to finally commit to a 'forever' mattress.
At first, I fantasized about a hand-tufted beauty from a pricey luxury brand, but then, after some introspection, I decided it just wasn't me. I also flirted with the idea of going with a high-tech memory-foam model because it was spiffy and cool, and I was enamored of its huggy slow sink. But I feared that it may be one of those things that would be endearing at first but grow irksome over time.
In the end, it wasn't a hard decision. I chose one of Wirecutter's top innerspring picks: the decidedly old-school, latex-and-coil Charles P. Rogers Estate SE. It's made by a family-owned company that has been manufacturing mattresses since 1855. Of all the mattresses I tested, this one had the features that were most important to me–quality materials, a substantial feel, and a good value.
This flippable, two-piece mattress is made with high-quality, durable materials, including latex and extra-sturdy coils, which are rare in something for this price. But this mattress is heavy, and if you want help setting it up, you'll likely have to pay extra. $1,784 from Charles P. Rogers
(queen)
I first fell for the Estate SE mattress intellectually. Its materials were intriguing to me, and its multi-layered construction felt thoughtful. Sure, I also chose this mattress because it made me feel comfortable, but the 'how and why' behind the comfort was what I found especially appealing.
This mattress is made up of two separate parts: At the top is the comfort portion, which is actually shipped in a separate box. It consists mainly of a 2-inch layer of natural latex, which comes from the liquid extracted from rubber-tree plants. Unlike wholly synthetic foams, latex won't give off that new-car-smell. It is also more breathable, has some springiness, and should last longer, too. You can purchase the mattress with the latex layer as is (which is the firmest, and least expensive, version of this mattress). But I opted for an additional 1-inch layer of gel foam on top; this adds a touch of plushness. (Technically, this variation is called the Charles P. Rogers Estate SE-GL.) I worried that the top layer might shift. But it has stayed centered on the lower layer since I've owned the mattress. Joanne Chen/NYT Wirecutter
The effect, for me, is a just-right medium feel, though my husband disagrees and describes it as soft. What we can agree on is that this mattress offers nice pressure relief and good support, which is a wonder because we are completely different sizes.
What makes this possible is the second part of the mattress—the innerspring unit, which lies beneath a second latex layer in the mattress's lower (aka support) portion. Unlike most other companies, which rely on a third-party supplier, Charles P. Rogers uses steel units manufactured in its own, Florida-based factory. So the company has better control over both quality and design (the latter of which incorporates sturdy springs throughout, including extra-thick coils at the mattress's perimeter). As a result, my husband, who is bigger, feels as bolstered as I do, so we can both sit on the border to put on our socks without sliding off. And after trying so many mattresses with poor edge support, this is something I no longer take for granted. Surprisingly, most mattresses I've tested didn't have handles for easy transport or rotating. The Charles P. Rogers Estate SE considerately has two handles on each side—for a total of eight. Joanne Chen/NYT Wirecutter
What also struck me most about this mattress is that it's designed to last. Latex is inherently more durable than synthetic foam. Charles P. Rogers offers a generous, 15-year warranty on the top layer and a lifetime guarantee on the innerspring unit.
But beyond that, the mattress's construction is also forgiving. Because that top latex layer is a separate unit, if it gets damaged or sags, you can simply buy a new one for about $670 (for a queen), as opposed to spending a couple thousand for an entirely new mattress. If the mattress's top layer gets damaged, I can replace it with a new one, instead of buying a whole new mattress. Joanne Chen/NYT Wirecutter
The bottom coil-unit portion is also built with longevity in mind—this is one of the few modern mattresses I've tested that is flippable; it has a medium-firm feel on one side and a slightly firmer feel on the other. If you're not picky, you can flip the mattress to extend its life. I haven't done that yet because I quite like the plusher feel. But it's nice to know that if I ever change my mind, this mattress can accommodate. You can flip this mattress, which has a medium-firm feel on one side and a firmer feel on the other. Joanne Chen/NYT Wirecutter

The only flaw I can think of is that this mattress could use more motion isolation. Despite the individual pockets for each coil and the 'foam suspension' layer (which supposedly helps to 'reduce motion between sleepers,' according to the site), with this mattress, I can still feel my night-owl husband plopping into bed when I'm trying to sleep.
To some extent, this is typical with innerspring mattresses, but I somehow expected more from the Estate SE. Fortunately, neither one of us tosses and turns a lot, and we're both usually able to sleep through the night.
When my friends ask me which mattress I chose after all these years, I feel like I've disappointed them by responding not with something from an Internet-splashy name or a famous luxury brand, but instead with a mattress from a company whose name their grandmas might recognize.
But that's okay. I love this bed and its they-don't-make-em-like-they-used-to vibes. It's clever, sturdy, coil-generous, and as reliable as they come. I'm happy to have it for the long haul—and so is my doorman.
This article was edited by Courtney Schley and Maxine Builder.
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