I'm not sure what kind of bed you're referring to, but all-wool mattresses attract mites and bugs and clump up very easily, from what I understand. I have a wool cover on top of my organic latex mattress, however, and it's not too warm ever. Wool is good for a number of reasons (my baby is asleep on a sheepskin right now), but not as the substance of a mattress.

 

Thanks for the reply 3girl. The mattress type is basically an all wool futon. Here's a link to the company that makes them: Shepherd's Dream
I guess because it's constructed like a futon, layers of batting hand tufted together, I wouldnt expect it to clump. Also, every source I've found that discusses the benefits of wool mentions that one of its strengths is that it is inhospitable to dust mites and mildew, etc ???

: Have you had issues with bugs and mites in wool bedding?

Thanks for the info.

 

Yeah, you know, I think I'm thinking about cotton, not wool. There's a wool-cotton organic mattress out there that isn't very good. But what you want seems great - I'm going to bookmark it for when we furnish our basement, actually. We've had no issues with our wool topper, and it has been a lifesaver with a reflux-y babe.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingerRoot Thanks for the reply 3girl. The mattress type is basically an all wool futon. Here's a link to the company that makes them: Shepherd's Dream

For those prices it should come with a sheep.

 

HAHA yeah.... at least they're Canadian dollars! What's the exchange rate nowadays? Is it about 90%?

 

I've seen those beds on Shepherd's Dream--they DO look fantastic! It has been on my wishlist for quite some time. I love the whole idea of the wool bed on the wooden frame. All those cushy layers...

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3girlmom Yeah, you know, I think I'm thinking about cotton, not wool. There's a wool-cotton organic mattress out there that isn't very good. But what you want seems great - I'm going to bookmark it for when we furnish our basement, actually. We've had no issues with our wool topper, and it has been a lifesaver with a reflux-y babe.

I'm so glad you were thinking of a different mattress and haven't had issues with your wool topper! The all-wool bed does look great, doesn't it?

And yeah, unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) no sheep included. It is quite a plunge financially...But the mattress its self goes for about the same as a good natural latex mattress from what i've seen. Another option I've considered is a natural latex mattress with a thick wool topper.

If I go for it, I'll post and let you guys know how I like it.

I would still love to hear from anyone who has one or who has heard a first hand account of its comfort over the long run (If there is anyone out there).

 

Shepherd's Dream is SOOO great! I initially ordered stuff from them because my Vivetique bedding was taking too long and I had to cancel the order. (literally 8 weeks, and *still* no ship date!!)

But anyway their wool is amazing. I have a Vivetique comforter and then a bunch of Shepherd's Dream products, and there's seriously no comparison. If you want cushy, I think you'll love their bed. I can't afford the actual wool mattress, but the mattress mate is really really comfortable. It kinda gives you that floating on a cloud feeling...

If you can afford it, you should definitely go for it!! And then give us all updates, please. =)

 

Hey kaia8, thanks for your feedback on Shepherd's Dream. I'm so glad that you love your bedding from them! I went ahead and placed the order for a mattress and a topper a few days ago

I'll be able to pick it up in a couple of weeks, yay! I'll definitely post and let you all know how I like it.
Now I have to get to work building a platform for it

Wish me luck!

 

Dear GingerRoot, please please do let us know how you like it! I tried out the mattress sample and it seems great, but I'm also afraid to spend so much money on something I might not love.

Eager to hear your review =)

 

I'll pick up my wool bed and topper in a couple of days! Unfortunately I won't be sleeping on it much for the first couple of weeks

...I agreed to animal sit for some friends and will be staying at their house during their travels. Oh well...my anticipation builds! Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll love it once I finally get to snuggle in. I'll surely post a review.

 

I finally wrote a review of my new Shepherd's Dream Wool Bed!

A poster on another thread had specific questions about he bed, so I included a full review in that reply. I'm feeling a bit lazy so I'll copy it here.

Enjoy!

From Shepherd's Dream Wool Bed Thread:
I actually just recently got one of these mattresses with the wool topper, comforter and pillows...the works! I started a Wool Bed thread a month or so ago with while trying to decide if I should go for it or not. Well, I did....I picked it up a few weeks ago but then the week and a half after bringing it home I slept at friends to pet sit for them and then went out of town myself for a long weekend. This week I have finally been able to sleep in my luscious new bed, and....

O....M....G.... I love it!

It is sooo comfy and nurturing...I love crawling in to bed. I usually spend a few minutes rolling around and snuggling in because it feels so creamy-cushy-soft! I definitely has a cloud-like quality to it but somehow manages to still feel very supportive. It's not springy soft like some traditional mattresses are, more like thick-natural fiber-lofty-slightly sink-in soft. It is a unique feeling (at least to me) that obviously is a little hard to articulate! I guess "luscious" and "nurturing" do it justice.

I do have a wood slat platform bed frame with latex strips. I didn't get the latex from Shepherd's Dream, though. I bought a 3" layer of firm 100% natural latex and cut and glued the strips myself. Shepherd's Dream only offers 2" synthetic/natural blend latex. I figured, I may as well go all natural.

I typically like a moderately firm bed and have slept on a borrowed firm latex mattress for the past 6 mos. I really did like the latex better than any other bed that I have slept on in the past and originally was searching for a latex mattress to purchase when I discovered Shepherd's Dream. I'm lucky to live less than an hour from their store/workshop, so i was able to test the bed there and also pick it up myself (which saved a lot on shipping). I was surprised I loved the feel of the wool bed when I tried it, considering I usually prefer firm. But like I mentioned above, I is actually v. supportive and firm in its own way. I definitely would go for the latex unless you like super-firm. For me, without the latex it still has that yummy, soft-on-top feeling but I could feel the wood frame under the mattress. I really like the "give" that the latex provides. I love sleeping directly on the wool layers though because even though latex is supper comfy...it does feel like foam, which ,of course, it is! I guess what I mean is that it feels synthetic in a way and the wool feels very "organic"...just a subtle feeling I suppose.

My sleep has been great in this bed. The softness with the added "give" of the latex has worked great for my body type. I'm 5'5", 140#s and a bit "hip-y". i can sleep well on my side without turning a lot b/c my hips sink in enough that i don't feel the need to shift off a pressure point...makes sense? Also, it's firm enough that i can sleep on my stomach comfortably. My BF is tall and thin (6'5", 170's) and loves the bed too. For him, the layer of latex wasn't as essential...not so hip-y, he's v. much the ecto-morph if you know what I mean. He calls it the marshmallow!

Hope this is helpful to all searching for a great natural bed. I don't think there is one perfect bed for everyone...but for me, I think I have found it! Yay!

Regarding SD's return policy...they told me that it is illegal to resell any used bedding (makes sense!). They would basically have to eat any losses on returns. They are such a small company, I think they just couldn't do it and stay viable. In their favor, they offer great personal down to earth service. Sarah, the owner is so sweet! And it was really cool knowing that she personally made my bed by hand, especially for me.

Best wishes and sweet dreams!

Leslie

 

thank you Leslie for the awesome review! i am very hip-y/curvy and that has been my biggest problem with mattresses and sleeping on my side. we are planning to get a king size wool bed from shepherds dream next month when my partner gets his quarterly bonus. i am really looking forward to sleeping on a bigger better bed.

 

Thanks for posting the review, GingerRoot! Congratulations on your dreamy new mattress. Are you still enjoying it? I am finally seeing this thread, just a few months late.

Moonfroggy, did you get the SD mattress? If so, how is it?

 

Hmm may be my next matress, what do use as a foundation. Right now I have a platform bed. It is a queen. I tink if I got one of these I would buy a King.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellybelly Thanks for posting the review, GingerRoot! Congratulations on your dreamy new mattress. Are you still enjoying it? I am finally seeing this thread, just a few months late. Moonfroggy, did you get the SD mattress? If so, how is it?

we did get the bed and we love it. i got an eastern king and it is so big and roomy and soft enough that i am comfortable but not to soft.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonfroggy we did get the bed and we love it. i got an eastern king and it is so big and roomy and soft enough that i am comfortable but not to soft.

Thanks for the update! I'm glad you love it. Our mattress, a pretty nice pillowtop conventional mattress, has a lot of life left. Darn!

(But when it is time for it to be replaced, I know where I'm buying!)

 

Wow, this looks completely incredible. And here I was, *thisclose* to being sold on natural latex!

Too bad it's impossible for me to compare the latex to the wool, side-by-side!

I wonder what the expected lifespan is for the woolbed? My understanding is that latex mattresses last for decades?

So glad I saw this thread! Thank you for the detailed review!

 

I went to the website, and it looks like you could make your own for 1/4 of the price, quick and easily. Maybe I'm nuts.

 

i'm sure you could make one but i think it would be a lot of time and work and you would have to be very skilled to make one as nice. but it is certainly doable. i have no idea what that much wool would cost. i adore my bed though have had it more than 3 months and still when i go to sleep every night i think wow i love this bed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SillyLilStinkweed I went to the website, and it looks like you could make your own for 1/4 of the price, quick and easily. Maybe I'm nuts.

 

Definitely not as nice! Maybe even a little ugly. I'm so used to sewing complicated stuff, the idea of this kind of seems easy? Haha, then again, projects always take way longer then you think! I wonder what kind of wool they use? I bet they get in in bulk? I wonder if the amount I'd need would be a bulk amount? I know who I could order it through. I am planning on buying a double size bed with my tax return. Would love to save some money!

My son has an organic spring mattress, the cheapest I could find ($450 for a single, plus $150 for shipping) it has no pillow top and is very uncomfortable for me, but is made for a child. (which is suppose to be why) I have a non-natural foam topper on it. How bizarre is that? Ugh! I love the layering idea. I'm gonna make a wool topper for it. I wonder if a layer of millet or buckwheat topper would be okay under the wool? I haven't really seen any online, so maybe there's a reason why? But there would be no way of it getting wet when under the wool. Hmmmmm......

 

they sellt he wool they use on their webpage http://www.shepherdsdream.com/woolbedmaterials.htm they use wool that has some special certifications you can probably get cheaper wool if you don't care about that. the layers are nice they make it easier to air out the bed and stuff and it is one of the reasons i chose to get one of their beds.

 

I'm glad I'm reading this thread as I was thinking of ordering a wool mattress from the shepherds. Should I get a wool mattress or latex? I can't decide!
How about a latex with a wool topper? Latex is much cheaper as I can get one locally.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sora I'm glad I'm reading this thread as I was thinking of ordering a wool mattress from the shepherds. Should I get a wool mattress or latex? I can't decide! How about a latex with a wool topper? Latex is much cheaper as I can get one locally.

We've been dealing with this same question for a few months. Since we'd have had to order either one from afar (the latex mattresses sold locally are not chemical-free), cost wasn't so much the question (roughly equivalent). We ended up deciding on the wool bed, and we ordered it last week!

It will arrive by mid-Feb. We felt really great about working with Shepherd's Dream, which is such an environmentally and socially conscious company. I think that's what ultimately swayed us. We also like the idea of a firmer bed, which we tend to find very comfortable. We got the 5" mattress plus Snugglemate, and I think we'll save up to add on the latex strips over the summer. HTH! Whatever you decide, enjoy!

 

Will this not become flat over time?