Hi Venus,
Sorry to hear the Naturepedic EOS is not a good match for your sleeping needs and you had to return it. Thanks for sharing what worked and what did not with it.
I went back to read some of your past exchanges with several subscribers and was surprised to see that a DIY was your original idea back in 2020 (pocket coil and pre-compressed wool). The combination of intuition, accumulated experience, and knowledge may prove to lead you in the right direction. But before you go full speed aheadā¦ it is good to remember that building your own DIY is a process of trial and error unless you are experienced and understand what different types of layers will do for you, how they interact with each other and with your body. Youāve tried many beds so youād have some idea about what you need but I wouldnāt trust the advice that either I or any subscribers may have to offer in terms of personal preferences and needs as you are the only one that can feel what you fill on any particular mattress.
If you are looking into building your own DIY mattress out of separate components that are purchased from one or several different sources then the first place I would start is by reading option 3 in post #15 here and the posts it links to (and option #1 and #2 as well) so that you have realistic expectations and that you are comfortable with the learning curve, uncertainty, trial, and error, or in some cases the higher costs that may be involved in the DIY process. While it can certainly be a rewarding project ā¦ the best approach to a DIY mattress is a āspirit of adventureā where what you learn and the satisfaction that comes from the process itself is more important than any cost savings you may realize (which may or may not happen).
There are some other variables besides sleeping positions that will come into play when selecting a sleeping system. such as BMI, body type, body profile, sensitivities, etc which you did not mention but before you do Iād narrow things down a little more as described below.
[QUOTE] So, Iām now considering the following:
Bottom layer: QE bolsa pocketed coils for firmness
Comfort layer: maybe a precompressed wool topper (3 -4 inches)
Any thoughts about whether this might work or whether it might be worth it to also add in a microcoil layer (eg from Hickory Springs) as the comfort layer (to put on top of the pocket coils support layer) in addition to the topper ? Or would the topper be sufficient for comfort and support over the pocket coils?
Recommendations for the whole height of this concoction?! (will be adding a wood bed frame that sits low).[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately, there are too many unknowns, variables, and individual preferences and complexities involved for me to be able to predict how you would feel on any combination of wool toppers in combination with any specific mattress (all the layers and components of your sleeping system will have an effect on all the other layers and components both above and below it. I also donāt have any personal experience on the wool topper combinations that you may be considering or on any particular mattress but even if I had my experience could be very different from your own.
There are a few good sources available though that I know of ā¦
[indent]Arizona Premium mattress organic zippered covers
DIY Natural Bedding Organic Knit Ticking: Knit Ticking (Trusted Member of TMU)
An expandable version of Expandable Knit Ticking
Sleep EZ organic zippered covers (a member of The Mattress Underground)
Shepherds āDream has a large selection of Wool mattress Toppers that you may want to consider
ZIPPER COVERS & PROTECTORS ā SleepLikeABear.com (have a good reputation but can cost a little more)
Foam source also has a couple of ticking zip covers one of which includes an inch of quiltable latex but Iām not sure if they sell it separately.
Although I donāt normally recommend them as a reliable supplier because of the inconsistent nature of what you receive compared to what you actually order, for a mattress encasement they may be worth considering https://www.foambymail.com/MatAccessories.html [/indent]
[QUOTE] Lastly, I am concerned about mold and so if anyone knows whatās better at keeping moisture low- ie pre-compressed ALL wool topper vs wool WITH cotton to wick away moistureā¦
and is wool batting better than wool? [/QUOTE]
Wool resists mildew & mold, discourages dust mites. It has has a structure that has a more porous inner core which can absorb large amounts of moisture without the moisture coming into contact with the skin. This moisture which is held inside the wool fiber itself can then evaporate in a more gradual process which helps to regulate temperature much better. Breathability (airflow) creates a drier microclimate and encourages evaporation as long as the material isnāt saturated with moisture against the skin. Wool can be both insulating by trapping air and warming and allow evaporation which is the reason it does such a great job of regulating temperature in both directions. It can also hold moisture in the inner core before the moisture comes into contact with the body while other fibers become soaked right through the fiber. Depending on the fiber size and breed of sheep wool absorbs 50% and alpaca about 35% of its weight in moisture so both are great choices for adding some comfort and temperature regulation.
As far as wool toppers and layers go things are a bit more complicated because there is a wide range of different options, different types o wool, and different densities and thicknesses as well. Iāve spent some time in the last few days reviewing some of my research about wool so that I can reply with more accuracy but I am hoping that Deborah from DIY Natural Bedding or Cheryl from Cozy Pure or Renee or Eric from Shepherdās dream which are all our Trusted members of the site and are very knowledgeable in wool, cotton, latex and DIY will see your post and give you some input. Either way, Iād make a call and discuss your plans with them.
When you canāt test a particular topper (or combination of toppers) in person then the best source of information and guidance about a particular wool topper will be a conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced manufacturer/retailer that sells them. They will be more familiar with the specifics of their wool toppers and can help you differentiate the specifics of the topper you are considering and help you make more meaningful comparisons with other āsimilarā wool toppers than anyone else. The suppliers on the list that I have talked to all tend to be open, transparent, and informative about the wool toppers that they make or sell and the information they provide you can help you make more informed choices between the many options you have available.
Uncompressed wool can have a nice feel, to begin with, but this will change over time and pack down more easily than wool batting that is aligned horizontally, precompressed, or tufted which would result in more resilience, and will be more supportive (It has more "lift: but less ātravelā) While less than latex wool also has the ability to absorb pressure points. (batted wool less than uncompressed wool). Due to the composition and spiral shape of the wool fiber, the fibers stretch instead of bending as cotton fibers do. The fiber stretching will result in the absorption of pressure points for side sleepers while offering more support and less āsinkageā.
When choosing wool as a layer into your sleeping system Iād base the decision on how much wool youād want to add to the sleeping system, the thickness of the layer, the type of maintenance required, and the degree of āfine-tuningā that might be necessary. Also, the amount of wool used, densification, its life span, any return privileges, and what would be involved in replacing the layer at the end of its life. Perhaps most importantly Iād look at the type of feel and performance you target and the knowledge and ability of retailers or manufacturers to understand what I was trying to achieve and their advice about which of their products would best meet my needs and why.
When you are dealing with products like these that are more difficult to meaningfully compare, I place a very high value on the ability of the retailer or manufacturer to help me make the best choice for my specific circumstances. I also tend to lean towards outlets that manufacture their own products or at least deal directly with the manufacturer and are very knowledgeable in their own right. You may need to do some comparisons that involve thickness, the amount of wool in a topper although there are also many other variables that can affect how different wool toppers/layers compare to each other as well (see post #17 here and post #4 here and post #6 here ).
The main issue I see is that there is quite a bit of uncertainty regarding the final result and how your DIY construction will work for you and this path may not be as āeconomicalā as you are hoping for. You do have -the right idea about zippered encasement where you can change layering down the road but there is much legwork that you still need to do to have the best chance of success.
Phoenix
