I got a nice mattress from a member of the trusted member’s list (Black Oasis Pillow Top – Magic Sleeper). It’s fairly comfortable, but there’s an issue. I don’t weight a whole lot and I also have broad shoulders. I’m a side sleeper, so this causes a fair bit of discomfort when I’m trying to sleep since my shoulders can’t recess with the rest of my body. I’ve read that two possible solutions are a topper, or just breaking the mattress in more. I feel kinda weird needing a topper for a bed I just got. Is there anything I’m missing? Or should I just return the mattress and find something else?
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One thing you shouldn’t feel weird about is needing a mattress topper to fine-tune your sleep comfort. Just like you’re noticing with your new Black Oasis mattress, sometimes a little extra help, especially for your shoulders, can make a big difference. Frankly, there’s no guarantee that switching to another mattress would fix the issue… or not cause a new one.
When people have discomfort like yours, it’s often the pillow height (or “loft”) that’s actually the main issue.Broad shoulders and not enough loft is often a recipe for shoulder discomfort when sleeping.
Toppers are a great way to adjust comfort indepently or with the correct pillow/s when only one of them alone aren’t cutting it. In fact, many super high-end mattresses (even the $10k+ ones) are designed to work with specific toppers for this reason. I would not underestimate the value of the topper. It is easy to dismiss it’s value, but it is worth adding it to the sleep system. I suggest working to see if a better aligned and structured pillow will make a meaningful fix.
Hopefully, you’re using a new foundation or one that matches up with your Black Oasis. If the slats underneath are too far apart, that can cause problems. I would guess the Black Oasis is meant to be paired with a semiflex foundation. An old foundation may have some flexing in areas that can affect the support of any new mattress placed on it. Therefore, using a previous foundation, may be a bit of an unknown risk.
Also, since your mattress has a pillowtop, expect it to soften a bit over the first few months. That said, it’s still a good idea to keep looking for a pillow that gives the right height and support, especially for side sleepers with broader shoulders.
Hopefully, this offers some insight and options.
All the best,
Maverick
I did get a smooshy pillow that came with the bed (Shoulder Gel Dough + Z Gel - Pillow – Magic Sleeper) but if you think smooshier is necessary thats definitely something I can look into.
Ok topper is viable then! Wouldn’t that interfere with the intended design of the bed, or is that something negligible in this case?
Went with amazon basics because I figured the mattress had lots of support already and was extremely tall lol 
The malouf gel dough pillow series is not bad. I have one myself, but it is not a shoulder version and it is a high loft firm (I bought it at a time where they offered different options). I always seem to get the high loft version, as I have reasonably broad shoulders and am 6’ 220. Smooshy, does not work for me at all.
No, the topper, if chosen correctly will enhance the design of the mattress, not interfere with it. If a mattress is designed at a very firm level, more than what you anticipated, a topper may be the perfect solution.
Amazon Basics Foundation. BAD MOVE. Sorry for yelling. The support a mattress has is only as good as the rest of the support it is provided. If you were my brother or son, I would be telling you to send that Amazon basics back right away.
You just spent 3k on a beautiful new quality mattress, and $149 on the bed frame. Oh no you didnt! 
At the very least spend the extra 100 or so and get something like this or something like this.
You are going to have this mattress for 10-15 years, the foundation matters.
You will be better off in the long run.
Maverick
My issue is I’m 5’4" with broad shoulders. Seems like a lot of mattresses are made with taller people in mind. For a pillow, would it want something firmer or softer? Or is that more of a preference thing?
Excellent! Any recommendations? I’ve had a temperpedic one before along with a couple of no names. Saatva looks like they have a good one thats latex. Thats the one I’ve been eyeing up recently. I’ve also seen one made from buckling columns, but I figured latex/foam would be the safer bet.
So a solid metal foundation isn’t a good thing?
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You’ll probably want something a bit firmer, specifically a pillow that doesn’t compress too much under the weight of your head and shoulders. A low-loft or overly soft pillow can let your shoulder collapse downward into the mattress, especially if you have broader shoulders, which can lead to discomfort or misalignment.
One way to experiment with loft and firmness without buying a new pillow right away is to take your current pillow and roll up a couple of towels to place underneath it. This will raise the overall height and support, helping to lift your head, neck, and shoulders into better alignment. The goal is to keep your spine neutral and prevent your shoulder from digging too far into the mattress.
A lot of times, we blame the mattress, thinking it’s either too soft and we sink too much, or too firm and we get pressure points, but the pillow often plays a bigger role than people realize. If the pillow doesn’t support the space between your head and shoulder properly, your upper body alignment gets thrown off regardless of mattress firmness. When your pillow keeps your head, neck, and shoulders at the right height, it reduces pressure on the shoulder whether the mattress is soft or firm.
When it comes to toppers, I have had tempurpedic and memory foam toppers. Although they are certainly pressure relieving, they also act like hot lava quicksand. You sink into them, become surrounded (hugged) by the topper, which retains heat and makes you hot. Additionally, you get stuck in the topper making it hard to get out of the bed with the memory foam topper on it, as it is very restrictive to your movement. Latex, feather bed, and wool toppers are more accommodating. With your mattress, I suggest latex or feather bed, wool may not soften the feel enough as it gets firmer as it compresses.
Well, it’s not exactly “solid” metal in the way it sounds. If the metal foundation used slats like a boardwalk, meaning slats that are about 2 to 3 inches wide and spaced less than 3 inches apart, then it might be okay.
The issue with most of these basic metal frames is that they use thin metal bars with wide gaps between them. That creates a lot of room for the mattress to sag or dip into those gaps over time, especially with heavier or high-quality foam and hybrid mattresses.
Think of it like standing on a tightrope versus a balance beam. Even if the tightrope were made of solid steel, the narrow support would feel unstable and uneven compared to the broad surface of the beam. A wider, flatter base distributes weight better and supports you or whatever is placed on it more evenly, same goes for your mattress.
So it’s not just about metal vs. wood. It’s about surface area, spacing, and long-term support.
Great questions.
Maverick
After fiddling around with towels for a little bit, I can say that the pillow, while not perfect, is more than serviceable in the scheme of things. Im short enough that its big enough to fit the gap between my head and my shoulder on the bed. Its dense enough that it doesn’t effect my arm when I lay on it, and the shoulder cut-out really helps. In terms of a solution its definitely workable.
I may be a weirdo on this, but other than the heat aspect, I like the doughy feeling of memory foam lol. I like to sink in just a touch. Its also why I have a weighted blanket for that same “hugging” feeling. I do sleep pretty hot though so soft latex may be the way to go.
So from the looks of it there is in fact a metal grid underneath and no huge holes… unless those holes are too huge? Lol
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Yes, for certain, the metal bars are too thin, and eventually, you are going to get uneven wear and there is a likelihood that the mattress can protrude through the spacing. Also since the bars are so thin, you may get excessive wear to the bottom of the mattress. You should add a bunkie board over the grid and under the mattress.
If you’re comfortable with your pillow, I won’t try to argue otherwise. Comfort is ultimately what matters most. What works for you is what’s right for you.
The same goes for viscoelastic memory foam. Comfort is personal, and no one can tell you what you should or shouldn’t like. If you enjoy that sinking, cradled feel and don’t mind the added warmth, then a Tempur-Pedic topper might be a great fit for you.
That said, a weighted blanket isn’t quite the same as a memory foam topper, even if both offer a “hugging” sensation. The experience is different in how the pressure is applied and how it interacts with your body.
In the end, it all comes down to preference. We can offer suggestions based on specific concerns or issues, but what feels best to you is what really matters.
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Good idea!
I look at it as problem solving first, then optimization 
I mean… can toppers and pillows be DIYed like mattresses? Are there any other trists to be aware of doing so?
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Yes, toppers and pillows can be DIY’d. Here is my pillow post, you will see that many of the pillows, I created myself. Many modeled after pillows I have purchased. I have purchased 100% cotton zippered inner liners and quilted pillow covers in both wool and cotton. I have acquired blonde horsehair from a source in Italy, wool batting from Sonoma Wool, latex noodles from CozyPure-Ebay and Amazon suppliers.
I generally prefer fills that are uniformly cut and consistently sized, rather than random shredded foam. Consistency in fill size makes the pillow more predictable in how it compresses and displaces under your head. It also makes it easier to fine-tune the feel when adding or removing fill.
That said, not all randomly shredded fills are bad. My Brooklyn Bedding shredded foam pillow is actually quite good. Although the pieces are not as uniform as I would prefer, and the foam quality is decent, so it doesn’t clump or shift too erratically.
DIY toppers are trickier. You’ll need a proper topper cover, which isn’t always easy to find. Standard duvet covers won’t hold loose fill in place, so you need something either quilted or segmented to prevent the fill from shifting over time. Tufting, baffling, or creating ribbed channels can help keep the fill evenly distributed, but they add to the complexity of the project. If you can not do this part yourself, it is kind of tough to get someone to do it, perhaps your local dry cleaner could sew the baffles or ribbed channels.
Even if you purchased a single piece of latex, you would need to buy a stretch cover to it. You are not likely to save much money buying a layer of latex and nice organic cotton stretch cover, opposed to buying a topper from someone like latex mattress factory or mattresstopper.com.
To make a noodle mattress topper, which is quite nice, sewing it would be a PIA.
Buying a layer of memory foam and cover is much the same as it would be for solid latex.
The main reason I crafted my own pillows was due to the fact if the loft on my pillow was as little as an inch and a half offer, my sleep suffered. I had to add fill to my cozypure baa-noodle. The Brooklyn Bedding was filled quite well. The cube filled latex pillow from European Sleep Works was good, but I had ordered extra fill just in case, but I did ask to over stuff the pillow when they created it for me. The Oxygen Pillow ESW created for me was calculated from the start and is great.
One of the more interesting creations was the Serta Memory foam pillows from Sams Club. 2 for 12.98. They sucked, but since they had zippers, I took about 50-60% of the fill from one pillow and overstuffed it in the other pillow and it was pretty good, although a bit lumpy. Most people would never know the difference. I bought a second set of the 2 for 12.98 and created a 2nd overstuffed pillow. The guests seem to like it. LOL, Basically for 2 over stuffed pillows, it was $26, the best bargain as I could not buy the fill for that price independently.
So after a quick dive on the interwebz here are some toppers I came up with:
https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Beyond-myWoolly-Natural-Mattress/dp/B09F357WZ3?th=1
The tempurpedic and the saatva came up a lot as “best of” and the horse hair and the noodle one I had to dig a little bit for (ngl I did not expect literal noodles lol). I figure buying one outright is just a simpler solution if only for the fact there’s a warranty attached and I don’t have the wherewithal right now for DIY. I think it would be really cool to make something myself, but in this case there are just some manufacturing techniques that are impractical for me.
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Based on what you said you like, I suppose TP may be on the top of your list, then the Saatva.
I would also consider the cozypure noodle topper It has a very plush luxury feel, much like their pillow. More on the soft, plush cuddly side rather than the firm side.
The horsehair topper is an excellent one, but may not provide the feel you are looking for, but it will be the coolest to sleep on of the bunch.
I like what’s comfy! Brand does not matter lol. It’s why I ask so many questions about material. I’ve tried TP sure, but for all I know there could be something better out there. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t truly curious about the horse hair one.
Really as long as its soft and comfortable, and in this case relieves my shoulder pain, I’m happy. The horse hair one on that basis alone sounds interesting given what is in it, along with the fact it will probably sleep very cool. I have read however, it being a natural material, it breaks down over time faster and compresses faster than something that is synthetic. Either way, I would not be objected to trying something new if its worth it.
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Natural fibers tend to last the longest. While they do compress over time, they usually conform to the shape of your body in a way that is predictable, reliable, and comfortable.
For example, my organic wool topper has molded to my body’s contours, which makes it more comfortable. Visually, it may look like it’s sagging, similar to a worn-out mattress, but it’s not the same. A true mattress sag indicates a loss of support, whereas the body impressions in a wool topper are a natural result of the material adjusting to your shape, and can actually enhance comfort. there are some natural toppers, like Millbrook’s very nice latex and wool topper that are tufted under very high compression to begin with and create a very nice firm, but super comfortable if you like a firmer, on top of the mattress feel.
Soft and comfortable is the CozyPure.
It seems they’re out of stock atm 
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@Maverick so it seems cozypure still hasn’t restocked yet. They said they would put me on the wait list, but looking at when I posted, its been almost a month 
Is it worth the wait, or should I look into an alternative? (I figure i would ask while all the labor day sales are going on).
Unfortunately, I asked to be put on the waitlist for the same noodle topper back in June. I was told they’d be back in stock mid-July. And they’re still out of stock. Bummer, it really looks divinely comfortable. I recently went ahead and bought different options. I added the 3” Avocado Eco topper in plush Talalay latex, plus a wool topper from a local manufacturer, Orange Mattress Company. I’m used to a taller bed than I ended up with when I got a new mattress and bedframe, so I was actually happy to add some more height to my setup. Last night was my first night on the stack of latex mattress + latex topper + wool topper and it was lovely. Looking forward to lots of cozy sleep in my future.
Well supposedly it is very soft and comfy. Maybe one day I will have the pleasure of trying it 
I’ve been looking into others just in case as well, but I was told its being looked into so I can be patient a little longer. It’s not like the bed I’m on is terribly uncomfortable, but if I’m spending about 8 hours in something, I want it optimized 
. I’ve looked into a couple that are shredded latex as well. May not be the same as the noodles, but I suppose the principle is the same ( https://sleepez.com/product/box-stitched-latex-topper/ for example). The Saatva one I posted before seems to rate fairly well, and while I do like tempur, the idea of sleeping on something cooler is far more appealing. This one from BB ( https://brooklynbedding.com/products/copperflex-401 ) also looked interesting (though not sure about the efficacy of copper in foam it sort of defeats the purpose a bit). I’ve also seen that parachute down ( Fiber Bed with Down Alternative | Parachute – Parachute Home ) is also viable for cooler, softer sleeping. Of course there’s also other more esoteric materials out there, but there is also something called the law of diminishing returns.
I myself just recently got a Black Oasis mattress from Magic Sleeper ( Black Oasis Pillow Top | Comfort Alternative To The Simmons Beautyrest – Magic Sleeper ) and so far I’m really enjoying it! Just needs a little more softness on the top for me because I’m short and have broad shoulders. Need a little more to sink into.
Edit: also found this guy (Premium Mattress Topper with GlacioTex™ - Helix Sleep) the construction looks really interesting, though not sure about the coils…
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