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Wednesday, May 24, 2023

OontZ Ultra — A Fantastic, Affordable, Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Whether you're looking for graduation gifts, Father's Day gifts, or presents for any occasion and anyone (including yourself), the OontZ Ultra waterproof Bluetooth speaker is a terrific choice.

Here's my product review of this terrific, surprisingly affordable portable Bluetooth speaker.

Indoor/outdoor waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker - clear, rich sound quality

This compact, waterproof portable Bluetooth speaker is perfect for listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks and more, at home or on the road

Our Constant Companion at Home or On the Go

My husband and I love listening to music and audiobooks. Thanks to its compact size, impressive audio quality and IPX7 waterproof rating, the OontZ Ultra Bluetooth speaker is our constant companion whether we're in the house, on the deck, in the car, at the beach, by the lake or pool, or on vacation.

Note: The OontZ Ultra is also called the OontZ Angle 3 Ultra. To avoid confusion, I will refer to it from this point forward as the OontZ Ultra, to distinguish it from the slightly smaller, less expensive OontZ Angle 3 model.

Here's why we love it.

OontZ Ultra Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker —Key Features and Benefits

Here are some of the reasons we love ours and use it all the time.

Compact Size & Lightweight

The OontZ Ultra is just 6.5" long x 3" wide and weighs 1.03 lbs., so it's easy and convenient to take with you, whether from room to room or from your house to your deck, patio, backyard or car.

Don't let its small size and light weight fool you, though. This portable speaker packs a punch when it comes to audio quality!

Full, Rich Sound at All Volume Levels

Despite its compact size, the OontZ Ultra delivers the exceptional sound quality you would expect from a speaker designed and engineered in the USA by Cambridge SoundWorks.

Its 14+ watts of power and volume booster produce crystal-clear mid- and high-tones, while its two precision neodymium drivers and proprietary, downward-facing passive bass radiator deliver high-quality, full-range bass that's surprisingly rich for its size.

The sound reproduction is high fidelity, balanced and even from lows to highs. It never sounds muddy (too much bass) or tinny (too much treble).

Crisp Highs and Full, Rich Bass, Even at Low-to-Mid Volume. We prefer to listen to our music at moderate volume most of the time. Fortunately, this speaker doesn’t have to be cranked up high to sound good! You don’t sacrifice either clarity or bass when listening at low-to-moderate volumes.
No Tinniness or Distortion, Even When Cranked to the Maximum Volume. When we're listening to music or audiobooks in the car, we always use the OontZ Ultra for superior audio quality, rather than the car's built-in speaker. When we're on the highway or there's a lot of traffic, we often need to crank the volume on our songs, podcasts or audiobooks, and we love that the sound quality remains excellent even at full volume, with clear, crisp audiobook narrations and good bass with no distortion.

IPX7 Waterproof Rating for Indoor-Outdoor Use

This Bluetooth speaker is perfect for taking to the beach or the pool. No more worries about listening in the rain! The IPX7 rating means this speaker is fully waterproof and can be immersed in water up to 3 feet.

Long Battery Life

The OontZ Ultra Bluetooth speaker delivers a full day of listening pleasure on a single charge. The manufacturer claims that its rechargeable battery "provides up to 20 hours of playtime at 2/3 volume." So whether you're spending the day outdoors hiking, camping or at the pool or listening to music while you work, you never have to worry about running out of juice.

Simple, Intuitive Controls With Large Buttons

I love that I don't have to put my glasses on to read the controls of this portable Bluetooth speaker! The buttons are also large enough and easy to push without accidentally pressing the wrong one.

Side view of OontZ Ultra with control buttons

I love how large the buttons and how intuitive the labels are on this portable speaker!

Choice of Horizontal or Vertical Orientation

This speaker can be placed either horizontally or vertically. While we usually use ours in a horizontal orientation, if you are using it on a desk or end table where space is at a premium, it's nice to be able to stand it on its end.

Built-in Microphone

You can take calls from any mobile phone without having to disconnect from the speaker, thanks to the built-in microphone that acts as a personal hands-free speakerphone.

Excellent Bluetooth Connectivity and Superior Wireless Range

The OontZ Ultra Bluetooth 5.0 speaker is a cinch to pair with our mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other devices, and the connection has been uniformly reliable. The manufacturer claims that with its "advanced antenna design and Bluetooth 5.0 technology, this speaker provides faster connection speeds," which my husband and I have found to be true.

It also has an impressive wireless range up to 100 feet!

Thanks to the built-in AUX-IN jack, you can also easily connect to non-Bluetooth devices with a 3.5mm Line-In cable (not included).

Connect Two or More OontZ Ultra Bluetooth Speakers for Your Next Party

While the OontZ Ultra has plenty of power and volume for my husband's and my needs, its maximum volume isn't loud enough for a party. Fortunately, you can connect between two and four OontZ Ultra speakers using the OontZ app and play your party music as loud as you wish in left and right stereo.

This is also a great option if you want to play music in multiple rooms, given the speakers' 100-foot wireless range.

Fantastic Sound Quality at an Affordable Price

Although the list price of the OontZ Ultra Waterproof Bluetooth 5.0 Speaker is $49.99, at the time of this product review post's publication the price on Amazon was just $39.99. That's a terrific price for such a high-quality waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

Even Smaller and Less Expensive OontZ Bluetooth Speaker Recommendations

If you plan to bring your OontZ Ultra to the beach or on vacation, you might want to pay a bit more for the OontZ Ultra with Carry Case, which comes with a carrying case made of waterproof neoprene material with reinforced zippers and a built-in aluminum carabiner clip. The neoprene OontZ Ultra Carry Case can also be purchased separately.

If you are looking for a great, versatile Bluetooth speaker with an even smaller footprint, you might want to consider one of the following options (there are also several other models):

The slightly smaller and less expensive OontZ Angle 3, which measures 5.5" long x 3" wide and has an IPX5 waterproof rating. The list price is $34.99, but at the time of this post's publication it was just $24.99 on Amazon.
The even smaller and less expensive OontZ Angle Solo, which we bought for my husband's parents. The adorable Solo also has an IPX5 waterproof rating but measures only 3.9" long x 2.8 inches wide and weighs less than 8 ounces! My in-laws love using it in their car during their 3-hour commutes to and from their lake house in Maine. The list price is $29.99, but at the time of this product review's publication, the price on Amazon was just $19.99!

These Make Excellent, Affordable Gifts for Any Occasion

The OontZ Ultra, OontZ Angle 3 and OontZ Angle Solo make terrific, affordable gifts for anyone on your list, for any gift-giving occasion. They're easy enough for a child to use, with sound quality that your favorite audiophile will appreciate. Think Father's Day gifts, graduation gifts, birthday gifts, or just-because gifts!

OontZ Ultra — An Affordable, Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker That Sounds Fantastic! by Margaret Schindel

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Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Your Back Will Love This Practical Laundry Bag Backpack

Carrying laundry to and from the basement laundry room in our old house has always been a bit nerve-wracking, thanks to the narrow, steep basement steps that wouldn’t meet today’s building codes. I can’t navigate them safely without holding onto the handrail (which is only on one side). So, when I was perusing Amazon and accidentally happened upon a laundry bag backpack, I got quite excited.

Today, I’m sharing my review of this spacious, practical laundry bag backpack that turned out to be the perfect solution to my clothes-toting challenge.

Whether you have a large family, hate doing laundry or know a busy college student who makes trips to the washer and dryer only when they're running out of clean clothes, toting around large loads of laundry can be a real pain in the back, especially for those of us who already suffer from back pain. Fortunately, the smart folks at Ãzhido have made toting multiple loads' worth of dirty or clean clothes back and forth to the laundry room or laundromat a lot easier on the back with their extra-large laundry bag backpack.

Here's what I love about it.

Hands-Free, Comfortable, Back-Sparing Design

Because it's a backpack, my hands are free to hold onto the banister as I lug my tops, pants, underwear, socks, etc. up and down the stairs to the washer and dryer. There is also much less strain on my back, thanks to the lightweight fabric and the weight load of the contents being balanced behind me and distributed evenly between the comfortable, thick, foam padded straps.

As a result, I can easily carry multiple loads' worth of apparel to and from the laundry room in one trip, something I could never manage with a conventional laundry bag or basket.

Extra-Large Capacity

Excluding the gray, drawstring-top extension gusset (which folds down into the bag when not needed those dimensions increase to 39.4"L x 15.1"W x 15.1"H with a 115-liter (4.06-cubic foot) capacity, easily enough space to accommodate three to four loads' worth of clothing.

There is also a 15” x 11.2” outer pocket to hold laundry detergent and other items, which is especially useful if you are going to and from a laundromat. I have also used it to keep delicate, hand-washable items separate.

Even filled with two loads' worth of clothing, the bag is just half full.

Perfect for Bedding and Oversized Items

Because of its generous capacity, this laundry bag backpack can be used to carry large quilts and comforters, king-size bedding, pillows, down coats and others large, bulky items that can be unwieldy.

Adjustable Size

Just as the extension gusset at the top accommodates extra-large loads, the webbing strap can be folded over the top and securely latched to make the bag more compact when carrying smaller loads. The length of the shoulder straps can also be adjusted to fit the wearer and balance the weight optimally.

You can gauge the size of this extra-large laundry bag backpack on my 6' tall husband. The gray webbing strap can be folded over the top and securely latched on the other side to make the bag more compact for smaller loads. You can also see the large outer pocket for detergent, delicates, etc.

Sturdy Fabric and Durable Construction

The main body and padded straps of this laundry backpack are made of sturdy, rip-resistant 600-denier oxford cloth fabric. All points of wear have reinforced stitching, and the durable webbing straps and secure locking catches are also made for heavy-duty wear and tear over the years.

laundry backpack with foam padded straps

You can see the reinforced stitching and sturdy webbing on all the straps as well as the loop for hanging on a hook or doorknob or to carry the bag by hand for smaller loads.

Convenient Carry Handle / Hanging Loop

The sturdy loop made of heavy-duty webbing can be used to hang this laundry hamper backpack from a doorknob or hook or even carry it if your load is light.

Wide Opening

The wide opening at the top makes both filling and unloading this laundry bag extremely easy.

You can see how easy it is to fill and unload the bag, thanks to the wide top opening (the gray extension gusset is opened up here to accommodate up to 3–4 loads).

Compact Folded Size

When not in use, this laundry bag backpack folds down to a very compact size for storage.

laundry bag backpack folded to compact size

Wide Choice of Colors

At the time of this review's publication, this laundry bag backpack comes in a choice of 13 colors: Teal (the one I chose), Army Green, Black, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Khaki (a pale tan, like chinos), Light Purple (a plum color), Orange, Pink, Purple (a grape color), Red (a deep crimson), Yellow and Charcoal Grey. The wide selection of colors is especially nice if you plan to give these as gifts.

Very Affordable

At the time of this review's publication, the price of this extra-large, heavy-duty laundry bag backpack on Amazon is on sale for less than $22 ($20.49 TO $21.49, depending on the color), regularly $22.99-$26.59, making it an affordable and effective solution to a frustrating problem.

Makes a Great, Practical Gift

The manufacturer emphasizes the usefulness of this product for college students, and I agree that these would make wonderful graduation gifts for high school seniors or anytime gifts for college students.

I also think they would be terrific gifts for anyone who uses a laundromat, has their laundry room on a different floor from the bedrooms or just does a lot of large loads on a regular basis.

Your Back Will Love This Practical Laundry Bag Backpack by Margaret Schindel

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Wednesday, April 12, 2023

You’ll Love These Insanely Comfortable Memory Foam Slippers

Now that I am semi-retired and work from home, I wear slippers a lot. Especially since we have a large ivory antique Turkish rug in our living room, I prefer not to tramp around the house in shoes that have been worn outside. However, finding comfortable, machine-washable slippers with a memory foam foot bed and a sturdy but flexible sole has been a longstanding quest, especially since most slippers are too narrow for my feet.

For decades, I made do with the Acorn Spa Wrap slippers that are very popular for people with foot problems. Then, I finally found my “holy grail” slippers last year.

Here is my product review of my wonderful Landeer memory foam slippers, which I wear every day and love, and which Amazon buyers with both narrow and wide feet also rave about.

Ultra Comfortable Memory Foam Slippers With Flexible Rubber Outsole

I first discovered these slippers about a year and a half ago while putting together a Christmas wish list, which my husband's parents request from both us every year during the holiday shopping season. Since my old Acorn Spa Wrap quilted terrycloth slippers with a memory foam foot bed (a popular model that I had worn and periodically repurchased for decades) had gotten quite "long in the tooth" and the memory foam had eventually lost its resilience, I decided that new slippers would be a good, affordable wish list item and a gift I would appreciate and use daily.

Since I have wide feet, the selection is pretty limited. Even though the Acorn slippers came in a wide width option, were machine washable and had a Velcro closure that accommodated my high instep, I didn't love them. They also had a very thin rubber outsole that wasn't ideal for, say, walking outside to the mailbox (especially given our New England weather).

After researching memory foam slippers with a sturdy, non-slip rubber sole that would fit my wide feet comfortably, I decided to put these Landeer indoor-outdoor slippers on my Christmas wish list. Since they were from Amazon, I knew they would be easy to return if they didn't work out. Fortunately, they turned out to be great!

What I Love About These Landeer Memory Foam Slippers

I much prefer these Landeer Memory Foam Slippers to my old, tried-and-true Acorn Spa Wrap ones. Here are some of the reasons:

Extremely comfortable, well cushioned and lightweight. These are by far the most comfortable slippers I've ever worn! The memory foam foot bed is substantial and has held up extremely well over time, much better than that of my old Acorn Spa Wrap slippers. And, unlike many indoor-outdoor slippers with a sturdy rubber outsole, these are also very lightweight.
Breathable fabric uppers. These slippers have uppers made of a breathable knitted fabric. My feet stay comfortably warm while wearing these but don't become hot and perspired.
Plush fleece lining. The soft, plush fleece lining feels so good against my tender feet!
Flexible, sturdy, waterproof rubber outsoles for good traction. The much thicker rubber outsoles have deeper treads for better traction and absorb the impact when I'm walking on a hard surface, like our kitchen laminate flooring, bathroom floor tiles and uncarpeted areas of our wood floors. Despite their thickness (just over an inch at the heel and tapering down slightly at the toe), these waterproof rubber outsoles are also flexible enough to bend in half. And although they are not marketed as indoor-outdoor slippers, I and many other Amazon customers who have reviewed them find these slippers suitable to wear on a cement patio, walkway or pavement, if desired.
Machine washable and durable. Being able to toss these into the washing machine is especially important for the (admittedly infrequent) occasions when I wear them outdoors. (I wish we could do that with our regular shoes, lol!) I'm pleased to say that these have held up well after repeated machine washing.
Fits both regular and wide width feet (not recommended for narrow feet). If you have been unhappy with the limited options for wide slippers, I recommend giving these a try. Even though I wear a size 7 or 7.5 extra wide shoe, these slippers fit me perfectly. Based on the many Amazon customer reviews I've read, buyers with regular width feet love them, too!

Note: I found that they run a bit long and, after wearing the Women's size 7/8 slippers that my in-laws bought me two Christmases ago for a while, I eventually bought myself a pair in size 5/6, which fits me perfectly. However, the majority of customer reviews indicate that they fit true to size, so I would recommend ordering your usual size and then exchanging them if you find them too long for your feet.
A wide choice of colors. As of this writing, there are 14 color choices for these Landeer mule slippers: Moonlight (a pretty aqua, and the color I chose), Navy, Olive Green, Purple, Red, Wine Red, Apple Green (a lighter olive green), Dark Gray, Light Gray, Pink Orange (a light peach shade), Rose Red (actually a bright medium pink), Pink (pale pink), Black and Yellow. Something to suit everyone, both men and women.
Very affordable price. The list price for these slippers on Amazon is $29.99 as of this post's publication date. As I write this, there's currently a 33%-off deal, so you can snag a pair (or two) for just $19.99. (I don't know how long it will last, though, so if you want to try a pair at this great price, don't wait to order!)

Feet wearing Landeer memory foam slippers

Sitting with my legs stretched out looking at my feet in my ultra comfy Landeer memory foam slippers

Backless "Mule" Slippers Are a Mixed Blessing

I appreciate that backless mule slippers are quicker and easier to slip on and off than styles that enclose the heels. Fortunately, thanks to the long uppers that cover the entire instep, these Landeer slippers stay on my feet without my having to grip the insole with my toes (like other backless styles I have tried on in the past).

On the other hand, they can also come off more easily in situations when I'd rather they didn't, such as when I'm going up and down our treacherous old basement steps, which are very steep and have narrow treads that were built long before the current codes were established.

Designed for Both Women and Men

I was delighted to see that these Landeer memory foam slippers are sized to fit both women and men. Because of the width of the size selection boxes, the size decriptions are truncated until you click on a box to display the full description, so at first glance it might appear that there are only women's sizes. However, when you click one one of the size selection boxes, you will see that each size includes corresponding men's sizes for each of the women's sizes, e.g., "9-10 Women/7-8 Men."

The Amazon product listing also includes helpful size charts that convert U.S. women's and men's sizes to European sizes and foot lengths in both inches and centimeters, as well as instructions for how to measure your foot length correctly.

Makes a Thoughtful Gift

After having put them on my Christmas wish list and worn them since Christmas 2021 (including ordering a pair one size smaller after a few months), I can't say enough good things about what a terrific gift these Landeer memory foam slippers have been.

I think they would make great gifts for men as well as for women, and especially for people who work from home or are retired or bedridden. I'll bet someone who requires an extended hospital stay would also appreciate these soft, easy-on and easy-off slippers with a sturdy rubber outsole that provides good traction.

The price is right, especially if you can snag a pair during the 33% off deal on Amazon. Why not pick up a few pairs and get a jump on your birthday and Christmas shopping?

Finally, don't forget yourself! If you don't love your current slippers, I highly recommend giving these a try.

Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Selected Colors

Landeer memory foam slippers Moonlight Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Moonlight

Landeer memory foam slippers Dark Gray Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Dark Gray

Landeer memory foam slippers Navy Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Navy

Landeer memory foam slippers Red Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Red

Landeer memory foam slippers Purple Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Purple

Landeer memory foam slippers Apple Green Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Apple Green

Landeer memory foam slippers Rose Red Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Rose Red

Landeer memory foam slippers Black Landeer Memory Foam Slippers - Black

You’ll Love These Insanely Comfortable Memory Foam Slippers by Margaret Schindel

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Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

This post is the seventh in a series of candid, in-depth reviews about my experience as a first-time Saatva customer. In the six previous posts I have discussed what happened when I was researching Saatva mattress options, choosing the best mattress for my husband’s and my needs, placing an online order for a Saatva Solaire mattress, bedding and adjustable base and taking delivery of our mattress pad and sheets, as well as the white glove delivery of our upper-flex Solaire and removal of our old mattress and my detailed, candid product reviews of our new Saatva Solaire mattress and adjustable base.

Today I will review our experience with exchanging our split-top Solaire for the (solid) standard version.

Is It Really Hassle-Free? Exchanging a Saatva Mattress

Disclosure: I have joined the company’s affiliate program, which means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the links in this post I may be eligible to receive a commission, at no cost to you. I highly recommend the Saatva company and its products for their excellent quality, performance, price and customer service. The opinions, product reviews and recommendations in this post are my own and are based on my personal experiences. The decision to click on those links to learn more about the company’s products or make a purchase is greatly appreciated, but entirely up to you.

As I explained in my last post, my husband and I loved nearly everything about our new Saatva Solaire mattress except the center split down the top portion. We had decided to give the “upper-flex” configuration of the mattress and adjustable base a try because the top split allowed one of us to elevate and lower the head of our side of the bed without disturbing our partner. For example, since my husband wakes up earlier than I do, he could raise his side to sit up and read next to me while I continued to sleep.

However, since we usually fall asleep snuggled together on our sides in the “spoon” position in the middle of the mattress, one of us would end up with our arm stuck in the center split.

After trying for more than a month to find a way around that problem, we finally decided we’d be happier with a solid mattress and exchanged our upper-flex king for a standard king Solaire.

Note: Even if you and your partner also like to "spoon" together, if you eventually return to your respective sides of the bed for sleeping you may love the upper-flex option. Exchanging ours for a standard Solaire wasn't an easy decision!

Initiating Our Saatva Solaire Mattress Exchange

The Saatva Mattress Home Trial, Warranty & Return Policies page provided simple instructions for exchanging a mattress: Call a toll-free number to initiate the exchange, pay a $99 processing fee (to cover Saatva’s fee to the delivery company for the white glove delivery and pickup service) “and we’ll take care of the rest!”

Saatva FAQ - What if I need to exchange my mattress?

Saatva's website made the exchange process sound hassle-free...and they definitely "delivered" in real life

It was the end of a busy, stressful week and I decided to send an email instead of calling the 888 number.

My email to Saatva requesting to exchange my upper-flex Solaire mattress for a standard Solaire

Instead of calling the toll-free number to initiate the exchange, I replied to the order confirmation email

An automated reply from Saatva appeared in my inbox almost immediately containing a ticket number to track my inquiry and explaining that, due to heavy customer demand, it might take “up to 24 hours” for someone to respond.

Since I had sent my email late on a Friday afternoon, and given the widespread pandemic-related staffing shortages at the time (August 2021), I wasn’t expecting a response until Monday. However, To my surprise, Ina, one of Saatva’s “sleep guides,” phoned on Sunday to help me initiate the mattress exchange I had requested.

She initiated a refund for the upper-flex king Solaire mattress, sheet set and mattress pad and placed our order for the standard king Solaire and bedding replacements. She let me know that the white king size sheets I wanted were backordered and expected to be in stock in two weeks, but the ivory color was in stock if I didn’t want to wait. I said I preferred to wait for white sheets and asked her to add a king size waterproof mattress protector to our order. She also asked us to donate the upper-flex sheet set and mattress pad to a nonprofit charitable organization of our choosing.

Ina explained that the delivery of our standard Solaire mattress would work the same way as our previous delivery. As soon as our new mattress was manufactured, the delivery company would contact us directly to schedule the white glove delivery and setup of our new standard king Solaire and the removal of our upper-flex Solaire.

I told Ina that since we had purchased an upper-flex king Lineal adjustable base (now called the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus), which could not be exchanged for a standard king version, we wanted the delivery service to reconfigure and sync the two joined twin XL adjustable bases to work with the new, solid king mattress. She said she would instruct the delivery company to take care of that for us when they delivered our standard king Solaire.

A few minutes later, I received an email from her confirming what we had discussed and updating the support ticket.

Email support ticket update - confirmation of mattress exchange and adjustable base reconfiguration

Saatva's Sleep Guides (customer service representatives) help customers 7 days a week

Saatva Customer Service Follow-up

As promised, two weeks later the delivery company emailed me directly and asked me to call them to schedule the delivery of our new solid king Solaire.

The email arrived on the Friday before Labor Day, just as my husband and I were headed out of town for the long holiday weekend, so we decided to wait until we got back to put our calendars together and find a date when we could both be home to supervise the mattress delivery.

On Tuesday, the day my back-ordered white organic cotton sateen sheets were due to be restocked, Ina called to let me know that they were still not back in stock. She said that if I didn’t want to wait longer, she would be happy to either cancel the order for me or send me the same sheet set in ivory, which they did have in stock.

I thanked her for calling to update me about the backorder delay and offering me the choice of several options, and said I would prefer to wait for the white sheets to be restocked. Ina promised to continue to monitor and keep me updated about the status of my backordered white sheet set. She proved to be true to her word and kept in touch with me until the sheets were delivered.

I also mentioned that I had gotten an email from the delivery company a few days earlier but that I hadn’t called them yet, since my husband and I had been away for the holiday weekend and we hadn’t yet had a chance to work out when we could both be available to supervise the mattress delivery. If she was able to stay on the call for another minute or two (and if I could catch my husband in between Zoom meetings), I could try to get her some options for delivery dates.

Ina explained that mattress deliveries are scheduled directly between the customer and the delivery company, but that once my husband and I determined our availability, she would be happy to pass on those possible dates to the delivery company on our behalf, if we would like. Even though I declined and said I would talk to my husband that evening and then contact the delivery company directly, I considered her kind offer another example of how Saatva employees take initiative and are empowered and encouraged to go above and beyond.

Our Second Experience With Saatva’s White Glove Mattress Delivery and Setup

Our second experience with Saatva’s white glove delivery was very similar to our first Saatva mattress delivery experience. After receiving the email from the delivery company, I called them to schedule our Solaire mattress exchange and setup.

Once again, the company contacted us the day before, this time by email, giving us a three-hour delivery window, confirming our address and phone number, and saying the delivery team would call us when they were 40 minutes from our house.

Once again, we did not receive a call from the team before they arrived, nor did their instructions mention reconfiguring our two twin XL adjustable bases to work with the new solid king Solaire mattress.

Apart from that, however, the team was extremely fast and efficient (perhaps even more so than the team that had delivered our upper-flex Solaire and adjustable base!) and very respectful of our property.

Not only did they reconfigure the adjustable bases so that the head and foot would operate in sync, at our request they also showed my husband how it was done in case he needed to fix any issues that might arise in the future.

They were extremely professional, friendly and accommodating throughout their visit.

Follow-Up Customer Service Interactions

At one point, the remote control for my husband’s side of our Adjustable Base Plus stopped responding. I called customer service and explained that he had tried putting in fresh batteries and re-syncing his remote, which did not fix the problem. The customer service representative, Paul, explained that accidentally pressing and holding down the Lock button was one of the most common reasons for the remote to stop working. Unfortunately, the non-working remote was not in its usual spot on my husband’s nightstand, so Paul talked me through how to lock and unlock the remote using mine. When my husband came home, we tried unlocking his remote, which still didn’t solve the problem, and Saatva immediately sent us a replacement.

The next day, we discovered that the problem was, in fact, user error (I can’t remember what) and I called back to let Saatva know that we wouldn’t need a replacement remote after all. They were extremely gracious and said they had already shipped it to us and we should keep it, “just in case.”

Another example of how Saatva’s customer service goes above and beyond!

Final Verdict on Our Overall Experience Buying a Saatva Mattress, Adjustable Base and Bedding

My husband and I spent six months shopping for, researching, selecting, ordering, taking delivery of and exchanging our first Saatva mattress, bedding and adjustable base. Throughout that time, Saatva’s commitment to excellence was obvious in every interaction we had with the company and its representatives.

We were able to find answers or get help using whichever method we preferred (email, phone, website or live chat), even on nights, weekends and holidays. Everyone with whom we spoke was knowledgeable, professional and proactive in helping us. They also appeared to be empowered to “go the extra mile” to ensure that we had a positive experience without having to get permission from a supervisor.

Based on my personal experience, Saatva consistently delivers on its promise to provide superb customer service 24/7/365

In a recent article, Saatva founder and CEO Ron Rudzin shared the story and significance of the company’s unusual name, which is well worth the read. For him and everyone else at Saatva, the name is “a reminder every day that we are committed to honesty, transparency, and putting our customers first. We try to live up to the principles embodied in our name, whether it’s through the helpful content we put on our website or the premium materials we put in our products.”

As a former marketing professional who has advised major corporations on improving their customer experience, I am a savvy and demanding consumer with high expectations. Saatva has thoroughly impressed me with not only its products and customer service but also its overall standard of excellence and ethics in doing business.

If you are thinking about a new mattress, bedroom furniture, bedding or gifts for better sleep, I encourage you to explore the Saatva website and talk to a knowledgeable Saatva Sleep Guide to help you make the best choice for your needs, regardless of what brand or model of mattress or bed you ultimately decide to buy.

What's Next: Which Queen or King Size Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Is Right for You?

Next week, I'll publish my final post in this series,

Be sure to subscribe* to Review This Reviews to be notified when new posts in this Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper series (and my popular keto diet success series) are published!

*See the email subscription box in the sidebar; if you are viewing on a mobile device and don't see the sidebar in your browser, click on "View web version" at the bottom of the page.

Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience by Margaret Schindel

Posts in This Series

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 1: The Journey Begins

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 2: How to Choose the Best Saatva Mattress for Your Needs

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 3: Ordering a Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Bed Online — A Candid Review

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 4: Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 5: Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 6: Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 7: Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 8: Which Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base to Buy

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

My husband and I ordered our first Saatva mattress nearly two years ago. This is the sixth in my series of detailed reviews of our customer experience as first-time Saatva mattress shoppers.

I have already explained our product research process and reasons for choosing the king Solaire mattress and Adjustable Base Plus, why we opted to try the upper-flex configuration and our first experience with Saatva’s white glove mattress delivery service, as well as my review of our Saatva organic cotton sheets and mattress pad.

In today's post I’m sharing my candid feedback on what my husband and I loved about our new Solaire mattress and Adjustable Base Plus, as well as a couple of things about the upper-flex (aka head split, split-head, top split or split-top) configuration that didn’t work for our needs and led us to exchange our upper-flex mattress for a solid, standard king Solaire, which we have been sleeping on for nearly two years and absolutely love.

Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus detailed, candid product reviews

Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress Product Review

As I explained in a couple of previous posts in this series, my husband and I aren’t always on the same sleeping schedule. I often read in bed after he has gone to sleep, and on the weekend, he often reads in bed while I sleep late. So, the upper-flex configuration of the king Saatva Solaire mattress and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (formerly called the Lineal adjustable base), which allows each sleeper to raise and lower the head of the bed on their side only, was very appealing.

Since we always gravitate to sleeping in the “spoon” position (even subconsciously, in our sleep), we had concerns about whether one of us would end up with our arm getting stuck in the center split along the top portion of the upper-flex mattress. However, since the mattress topper we purchased would fill in most of the split, we decided to give it a try, knowing that we could return it or exchange it for a solid king Solaire mattress, if we wished, thanks to the very generous Saatva in-home trial, warranty and return policies.

Saatva Solaire mattress in the split-top "upper-flex" configuration

The upper part of the upper-flex Saatva Solaire mattress is split to allow the head of each side of the bed to be raised and lowered independently

What We Loved About the Saatva Solaire Mattress

Very comfortable and supportive. Both my husband and I have back problems and joint issues, and we appreciate waking up with no aches and pains.
Individually customizable firmness for both sleeping partners. We love being able to set the mattress firmness for our respective sides to our individual preferences, and to quickly make it softer or firmer on the fly, if desired, when changing sleeping positions. Having 50 firmness settings that can be adjusted incrementally with the touch of a button on the remote gives us both true, precision customization!
Thoughtfully designed, six-layer construction.

The countouring 3-inch Euro pillow top with Lumbar Zone Quilting provides more support in the center. It is covered in a breathable, hypoallergenic organic cotton, treated with Saatva's exclusive Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment. Saatva uses a Paladin flame barrier made of a poly & rayon blend instead of fiberglass or toxic chemical flame retardants.
Next is a 1-inch layer of ergonomic 5-zone natural latex that provides enhanced lumbar support and pressure-point relief. This natural latex is naturally hypoallergenic, resistant to mold, mildew and dust mites and doesn't off-gas.
Under that, a CertiPUR-US certified 2-inch gel-infused memory foam helps disperse body heat away for cooler sleep and contours to your body to relieve pressure points.
Moisture barrier layers protect internal mechanical components to prevent bacterial growth.
No-sink vulcanized air chanbers with multi-directional box baffle design provides consistent, edge-to-edge comfort by maintaining even firmness and support throughout the mattress, from side to side and from head to toe.
Underlying it all, a reinforced power edge enclosure provides a stable base and houses the quiet air inflator and hoses out of sight.

Each layer of the Saatva Solaire adjustable firmness mattress contributes significant benefits to the sleeping experience.

Doesn't feel like sleeping on an air mattress. The adjustable firmness layer with its inflatable vulcanized air chambers is the fifth layer down from the sleep surface. And, unlike an air mattress, the Saatva Solaire has firm, supportive edges.
No center dip. Even with each side of our king Solaire adjusted to different firmness levels, the center of the sleeping surface is level all the way across.
Remote controls with large, easy-to-read buttons. We love being able to adjust the firmness without having to put on our glasses or accidentally pressing the wrong button.

Solaire mattress remote control instruction card

Surprisingly quiet firmness adjustments. The firmness adjustments on the Solaire mattress are made by inflating or deflating the reinforced, vulcanized air chambers via the remote control. The air inflator and hoses are enclosed in the bottom layer of the mattress, which not only keeps them out of sight but also muffles the noise of the motor, making the process of adjusting the Solaire’s firmness surprisingly (and delightfully) quiet.
Made in the U.S.A. from eco-friendly materials. This straightforward statement about the company’s values (from the Specifications/FAQ section of the product page) is one of the things that make us proud Saatva supporters: “Every Saatva mattress is made to order and handcrafted in America with care and pride, using only the highest quality, consciously sourced materials. We could have settled on cheaper materials and produced our products elsewhere for higher profits, but we've never wavered in our commitment to quality. We believe it's the right thing to do for our customers, our American workers, and our economy.”
Generous in-home trial period, pressure-free sales support and customer service, and hassle-free returns or exchanges. Here’s what the company promises: “At Saatva, we never pressure you to make up your mind quickly. All of our mattresses come with a 365-night home trial, so you have plenty of time to decide whether it’s right for you. If at any point during your home trial you’re not satisfied, just give us a call and we’ll come pick up the mattress and refund your money, less a $99 processing fee to cover our cost of gas and labor for the pickup. That’s it.”

Based on my personal experience when my husband and I decided to exchange our upper-flex king Solaire mattress for a standard king, I found that promise to be sincere. In fact, the customer service representative who helped me arrange our mattress exchange and schedule the new pickup and delivery was terrific. (More about that in my next post.)

What We Didn’t Love

While we loved most aspects of our new king Saatva Solaire mattress, there were two issues with upper-flex option that turned out to be deal-breakers for us.

Top-split mattress issue for couples who like snuggling or sleeping in the “spoon” position. Our concerns about one of us ending up with a shoulder in the gap while snuggling together in the spoon position turned out to be justified.
Top-split bedding challenges. My husband and I found that it took both of us to successfully wrestle the mattress and bedding into submission when we wanted to put on or take off the split-top mattress pad and sheets. In addition, there are far fewer options on the market for split-top vs. standard, solid fitted sheets and sheet sets, and we weren’t able to find any high-quality flannel split-top sheets, which we prefer during our cold New England winters.

For those reasons, after sleeping on our upper-flex Solaire for more than a month to give it a fair in-home trial, at the end of August 2021 we decided to exchange it for a standard (solid) king Solaire mattress.

Saatva Adjustable Base Plus Product Review

Most standard queen or king Saatva mattresses, including the Saatva Classic Luxury Hybrid Innerspring (11.5-inch height only), Loom & Leaf Ultra-Premium Memory Foam, Saatva Latex Hybrid, Zenhaven Latex, Memory Foam Hybrid and Solaire Adjustable Firmness mattresses, are compatible with any standard queen or king adjustable base.

If you don’t already own one, the company now offers two models.

The Saatva Adjustable Base allows you to raise and lower the head and foot of the bed. The simple wireless remote has a built-in flashlight (handy for nocturnal trips to the bathroom or kitchen). The zero-clearance design and removable legs allow it to be used on most platform bases, if desired. However, it is not available in the upper-flex option.
The Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (formerly Lineal Adjustable Base) adds more advanced features, including full-body wave, leg and head massage with three speed options, an anti-snore preset that elevates the sleeper’s head to open up airway passages, a Zero-G preset for “weightless support” and under-bed lighting. It is available in a full range of sizes, including the upper-flex option for queen and king sizes. It also features a wall-hugging design in the standard configuration (but not upper-flex king or queen).

Side by Side remote controls for the Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus

The wireless remotes for the Saatva Adjustable Base (left) and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (right)

An upper-flex queen or king Solaire mattress with a top split needs to be paired with an adjustable base that allows the head of each side of the bed to be raised and lowered independently. For an upper-flex king Saatva Solaire mattress like ours, two twin XL adjustable bases (each with its own wireless remote) are joined side-by-side, sync’d with a special cable and configured to make the lower part of both bases respond in unison to either remote control, while the head of the bed on each side responds only to the remote assigned to that twin XL base. (The upper-flex queen base is configured the same way with two narrower adjustable bases.)

If you purchase a compatible Saatva mattress and adjustable base at the same time, you also get a nice discount on the base.

Saatva Adjustable Base Plus upper-flex king configuration

If you buy a Saatva Adjustable Base Plus to go with an upper-flex (split-top) queen or king Solaire mattress, you get two twin XL adjustable bases (king) or two narrower bases (queen)—without the wall hugger feature—that are connected and sync’d with a cable so the head of each base operates independently while the lower parts move in unison

What We Loved About the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus

User-friendly remote controls with large, easy-to-read buttons. The buttons are also spaced far enough apart so we rarely press the wrong button by accident, as often happens on remote controls with small, hard-to-read buttons that are crowded together.
Ability to raise the head or foot of the bed to the desired angle. The Head button on the remote lets us raise or lower the head of the bed to whichever angle we find most comfortable for different activities, such as reading, watching TV or working on a laptop. When we had the upper-flex Solaire, we also really liked being able to raise or lower the head of the bed on our side without disturbing our peacefully sleeping partner (which is why it took us more than a month to decide whether to keep it or exchange it for the standard king Solaire).

After a long, active day, it’s so nice to be able to lie down and put our tired, swollen feet up just by pressing the up arrow on the Foot button. There’s also a button for raising the head and foot of the bed simultaneously.
Customizable Snore and Zero-G presets. The Saatva Adjustable Base Plus remote has dedicated Snore (anti-snore) and ZG (zero-gravity) buttons with preset adjustments. Both buttons can also be reprogrammed to your personal preferences (and then reset to the original factory defaults, if you wish).

Pressing the Snore button elevates the sleeper’s head above their chest to reduce pressure on the airway and help increase airflow. Since my husband snores loudly (according to him, my snoring is much more “ladylike”), we find this preset comes in quite handy. (Elevating your head may also help mitigate acid reflux-related sleep disruptions.)
The Zero-G preset slightly elevates both the knees and the head while raising the feet to the same level as the heart. According to Saatva’s website, this preset “mimics the position astronauts take during liftoff, which eases the stress on their bodies as they escape Earth's gravity.” Both my husband and I have old back injuries that act up from time to time and the zero-gravity preset helps relieve the pressure on our spines. It’s also good for just relaxing and unwinding at the end of a stressful day or taking a quick, restorative break in the middle of one.

Return the bed to the Flat position at the touch of a button. Whether you have made manual adjustments to the head and/or foot of the bed or used one of the presets, you can use the Flat button to return the bed to its default, level position and shut off the massage (if it’s on).
Surprisingly quiet motor. The motor for raising and lowering the head and foot of the bed is much quieter than we had expected, which was a very welcome surprise! While not as quiet as the motor that inflates and deflates the air chambers in our Solaire mattress, we especially appreciated being able to raise or lower the head of the bed on our side (when we had the upper-flex Solaire) without the motor’s noise rudely awakening our sleeping “better half.” The constant hum of the motor when using the vibrating massage options can be a bit annoying, but since we rarely use those features, it isn’t a problem for us.
Under-bed lighting and remote controls with a built-in flashlight. The top left button on the remote control turns on (or off) an array of LED lights on the underside of the base that are bright enough to illuminate the few steps to our bathroom in the middle of the night, but not bright enough to awaken whichever of us is still asleep. If I decide to make a cup of herbal tea to help me get back to sleep, I can press the top middle button on my remote to turn on the built-in flashlight to light my way to the kitchen and back.
Designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. Choosing a Saatva adjustable bed base, like choosing a Saatva mattress, supports American workers, jobs and companies.
Sturdy materials and construction. It was obvious at first glance that our new adjustable bed base was made of robust, high-quality materials and was built to last.
Excellent manufacturer’s warranty. Since the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus is a final sale, it’s reassuring to have such a good full 5-year/limited 25-year warranty [https://www.saatva.com/warranty/saatva-adjustable-base-plus/] in case anything ever goes wrong.
Compatible with most bed frames. Both of Saatva’s adjustable bed frames are compatible with most bed frames that are designed to accommodate an adjustable base. This includes all but one of the bed frames Saatva offers, which come in a wide variety of elegant styles that would look great in our bedroom. We’re hoping to purchase one in the future.

What We Didn’t Love

Vibrating massage. The remote control on the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus lets you select a full-body wave, head, or leg massage. Although my husband and I both love getting a massage, neither of us is a fan of the vibrating base “massage” features. However, many people love them and find that the vibrations relax their muscles, especially after a workout.
No wall-hugger technology in the upper-flex configuration. When we made our decision to try the upper-flex Solaire mattress and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (then called Lineal), we understood that we would be giving up the convenient wall hugger-technology, which simultaneously lifts the head of the bed and glides it back toward the wall, so that your nightstands remain within easy reach. That technology wouldn’t work for the upper-flex setup, where the joined Twin XL bases operate independently at the head but in unison at the foot, so it isn’t included in the upper-flex configuration.

Since all Saatva adjustable bases are final sale, when we exchanged our upper-flex Solaire for a standard king we couldn’t do the same with our Saatva adjustable base. We knew that when we decided to try the upper-flex, so it was a calculated risk and the only thing we regret about that decision.

Next Up: Exchanging Our Saatva Mattress

In my next post I'll share our experience with exchanging our upper-flex king Solaire for the standard king Solaire.

Be sure to subscribe* to Review This Reviews to be notified when new posts in this Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper series (and my popular keto diet success series) are published!

*See the email subscription box in the sidebar; if you are viewing on a mobile device and don't see the sidebar in your browser, click on "View web version" at the bottom of the page.