Here’s what I’m deciding on. I tried the Pure Talalay Bliss Beautiful bed in a store and I loved it. I think it’s the perfect feel. It’s 12" total - 3" ILD 15, 3" ILD 24, 6" ILD 36. I’m trying to recreate this type of feel as close as possible. King size.
I’m looking at either:
Flobeds 12" (Deluxe) - 2" ILD 14, 3" ILD either 22 or 28 (soft or medium), 3" ILD 32, 3" ILD 36
the top layer is full, the rest are split which I’m not sure if this is great since I sleep solo and probably will be in the middle more than not. on the other hand I like that each side could be adjusted separately in future if needed
also trying to decide between soft and medium for the 2nd layer
I can make the top 2+ layers full if I want here, so that less layers are split if that might end up being a consideration
So questions:
Should I consider the full vs split layers (top layer is full either way) given that I will sleep in middle?
Which ILD order seems to match best the Beautiful bed? I’m worried the top layer is most important and that I won’t like the 18 compared to the 15, whereas the 14 is only 2" instead of 3" of 15. So I don’t know which is more similar. Also if I go flobeds whether to go soft or medium for 2nd layer.
There is more information in post #9 here about the different ways that one mattress can “match” or “approximate” another one. Every layer and component in a mattress (including the cover and any quilting materials) will affect the feel and performance of every other layer and component and the mattress “as a whole” so unless you are able to find another mattress that uses exactly the same type of materials (Talalay in this case, blended), components, cover and quilting, layer thicknesses, layer firmnesses (ILD), and overall design, then there really isn’t a reliable way to match one mattress to another one in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) based on the specifications of the mattresses. The best you will hope for is to find something “in the range”, but realize that only your own careful personal testing will reveal whether or not the feel is what you desire.
Having the split layering is advantageous to make potential changes down the road for each side, and it is also an easier mattress to assemble (split pieces versus a full sheet of latex). With a cover with decent integrity that helps hold the layers in place, combined with the “stickiness” and high coefficient of friction of pieces of latex, it would be odd for you to feel a gap in the center of your mattress, so I would not have a concern should you decide to proceed with the split layers.
The Foam Sweet Foam configuration that you’ve listed would be the “closest” in the upper layers to the PTB Beautiful. The Beautiful dos use blended Talalay and the FSF uses 100% natural Talalay, but it’s unlikely that you’ll feel much of a difference between the two. The transition to the support core will be a bit more gradual with the 32/38 layers, but as this is deeper down it won’t be quite as noticeable. But it will be different. The cover FSF uses is also more substantial that the cover used by PTB.
The Flobeds uses 100% natural Talalay from Vita Talalay. Their top layer is convoluted, so this would conform very well but have a different feel than a solid sheet of latex. There would also be 1" less latex beneath your top layer and a little more “firmer” (in comparison) latex closer to the top of the mattress, so this product differs just a bit more in configuration to the Beautiful, most notably in the uppermost layer. Their cover is also more substantial than the PTB cover.
Overall, strictly spec-wise, by theory at a distance, the FSF seems to be a bit closer to the Beautiful, but I have no doubt that either product would be in a “similar” range of comfort. Whether or not you would prefer one over the other can only be determined by you. The good news is that you’re dealing with two reputable companies (both are site members here, which means that I think highly of them), and they each have good return/exchange policies.
I’ll be interested in learning about any decisions that you make.
Thanks for the feedback Phoenix. I may be splitting hairs here but just a few more points if you could comment on would be great.
If I go with the soft top layer after the 2" 14 ILD from Flobeds, that would give me 2" 14 ILD then 3" 22 ILD, which is actually softer overall than the PTB Beautiful 3" 15 ILD then 3" 24 ILD, even tho it is 5" instead of 6". I kinda think this would be better match than the Foam Sweet Foam 3" 18 ILD and 3" 24 ILD which would be slightly firmer if anything. Thoughts?
Any consideration to matching the lower 6" both at 36 ILD like the Beautiful, or should I go 3" 32 and 3" 36 (which is what Flobeds recommended to me) and this would also give me the option to flip them as well.
How do you know one if softer than the other - have you been able to try both side by side in person? Only your own personal testing will be able to tell you which one feels the softest to you, as a convolute will feel different from a solid sheet, and there’s one inch less in the upper layer and you’re dealing with ILDs in similar ranges with foams from different sources and different fabricators, and it is part of a completed mattress where all of the layers work in unison. You’re in a “similar” range of comfort and I’d avoid trying too much to predict comfort from raw specs when comparing two items that are quite similar, as this is difficult even for those in the industry who have decades of experience in mattresses, foams and fabrications. The advice you receive from FloBeds will be quite helpful here, as they are familiar with how their products and configurations compare to different beds like the Beautiful.
Having the option to rearrange layers is very attractive to many individuals and does give you more flexibility, and I’d certainly take the advice of FloBeds into account, as they are quite familiar with their systems and what they feel might work best for your particular situation. Again, remember that all of the layers work as part of a completed mattress system.
