Hi-
Is there a recommendation regarding going with an all-Talalay mattress (9") vs a 9" mattress with 3" Talalay on top and 6" Dunlop layers underneath?
Thank you,
Giselle
If you’re looking for an all-Talalay mattress, my recommendation for the firmness levels would be the same, for sure. Please keep in mind that you’ll get less back support and it won’t last you quite as long if you choose all Talalay. I’ve included some detailed information on the differences between Talalay and Dunlop just below. At the end of this post, I’ll explain why there’s no such thing as GOLS / organic Talalay, just so you have that information as well.
There is a noticeable difference between Talalay and Dunlop, and it’s not really that Talalay is softer than Dunlop. Most people and companies say Talalay is softer just because that’s an easier way to explain it. You can actually have a soft Dunlop layer that’s softer or firmer than a soft Talalay and a medium Talalay that’s softer or firmer than a medium Dunlop, etc. The real difference comes down to how they react when being compressed. Talalay is bouncier and springier and is generally better at contour and pressure relief on your hips and shoulders. Dunlop is denser and firmer and is generally better at support and maintaining proper spinal alignment so our most common configuration is Talalay for the top layer and Dunlop for the bottom 2 layers. We will recommend Talalay for two or more layers for customers that have things like fibromyalgia, shingles, chronic hip pain, chronic shoulder pain, or anything where they’re sensitive to pressure, or for customers that just prefer a bouncier / springier feel. Outside of those circumstances, a combination of Talalay and Dunlop offers the best chance to be successful for the average person. Again, the best way I can summarize the differences would be to say that Talalay is better at pressure relief on your hips and shoulders and Dunlop is better at maintaining proper spinal alignment and avoiding back pain. However, Talalay can also be helpful in avoiding back pain because it provides more of what we call secondary support. Secondary support fills in the gaps between your body and the mattress. For side sleepers, this is normally the area between a person’s ribs and waist. For back sleepers, this is normally the area between the small of your back and the mattress. If these parts or your body aren’t being held up by the mattress, your muscles will work all night to hold those parts of your body up, which can lead to back pain. Aside from that, women tend to be curvier, especially around their hips, and having a top layer of Talalay can help avoid hip pain and keep the mattress from pushing their hips up, which can also lead to back pain. As such, most of our customers definitely benefit from having one layer of Talalay on top, and Dunlop for the rest of the mattress, but it’s completely up to you what you would like to order.
When it comes to Dunlop latex, the organic certification doesn’t make much of a difference over 100% natural Dunlop. For latex, the organic certification requires that less water is used manufacturing, less electricity is used, the manufacturing plant has a smaller carbon footprint, less environmental impact, and things along those lines. It also includes things like workers’ rights (fair pay, overtime pay, safe work environment, etc). It basically certifies that the latex is better for the environment and the employees, but the end product is still the same between 100% natural Dunlop and organic Dunlop. They have all the same properties in terms of feel, durability, etc. etc. This is actually why there isn’t organic Talalay anywhere in the world. The Talalay process is more advanced and has more steps to it, and the Talalay manufacturers just can’t meet the lower limits of water and electricity usage required for the organic latex certification.
If you are lighter weight and/or a side sleeper, the all Talalay would work best. Dunlop is more dense and works well for heavier people and/or back or stomach sleepers. I sleep on all Talalay and am 175 lbs side sleeper and have no pressure points. My Talalay base layer is 6" and 22 years old and still going strong. I get about 9.5 years out of my soft top layer.
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