I’m close, really close, on placing an order with Ken at mattresses.net for a latex setup, but would love some confirmation that what I’m doing makes good sense. I’m from Toronto area, so I will need to factor in the shipping and duty charges (but I still think ordering from Ken will come out better than endless local search).
Here’s the people:
HE : 6’2" 240lbs. Likes a firm mattress with a bit of top koosh. Sleeps back & side.
SHE: 5’6" 140 lbs. Likes to sleep on a cloud, but wants enough support. Sleeps side and sometimes tummy.
Current situation: mild back sore-ness on an 8yo innerspring with eurotop etc. No chronic issues.
The solution (proposed) based on my research:
- Blended 6" talalay core. His side firm (36ILD), her side medium (32ILD)
- Blended 3" talalay topper @19ILD
- 6" bamboo/wool mattress cover to house the cores.
- 3" bamboo/cotton cover for the topper
Phoenix - I would love to hear what you think of this setup. I have not been able to simulate this locally, so, in a sense, I’m ordering blind (with the exception of knowledge gained here and elsewhere).
p.s. This site has been an amazing resource. Thanks.
Cheers !!
Hi stickhandle,
I can only speak to the quality and value of a mattress but the suitability of a mattress in terms of PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment, and personal preferences) can only be determined by personal testing on local mattresses or sleeping on the mattress. If this is not an option or possible … the next best way would be more detailed discussions with the manufacturer themselves who all have much more detailed knowledge than anyone else (including me) about how their mattress designs interact with different people and have many years of feedback from their customer base which they can use to help guide you towards a design that “on average” has worked well for others that are similar to you. If you are inside these “averages” then the odds are much better that these types of suggestions will work for you as well.
The only comment I would have is that 3" of 19 ILD latex is somewhat softer than would normally be used in a comfort layer for someone of your weight but again I haven’t had the more detailed conversation with you that would be required to know if the tradeoffs involved in using softer latex would be the most suitable choice for your specific circumstances and requirements.
In the absence of specific testing on mattresses that have a very similar design … comfort choices are always best left to more detailed conversations between customers and the manufacturer or retailer you are working with instead of using “theory at a distance” without any reference points which can never be as accurate as your personal experience or the knowledge and experience of the people who actually make the mattress and have sold it to their customers for years.
Phoenix
Can you nutshell the tradeoffs here for me? Obviously to soft is too soft, but my line of thinking is that under my weight, especially through the torso pressure points, the top layer will compress and get help from below, while the other parts, like small of back etc, will get support.
Would you be more comfortable hearing that it was 2"? Or that it was 28ILD 3" topper?
Cheers!
Hi stickhandle,
The tradeoffs are that softer latex is less durable than firmer latex (which is also true of all materials) and under heavier weights will soften more quickly. Depending on the layer thickness and the mattress design … it can also be more risky for higher weights because your pelvic girdle may sink down too far for good alignment (it may tilt which will flatten the lumbar curve out of its natural alignment). It will also be less supportive under the small of your back because it is softer. At your weight … there would be not normally be issues with firmer latex compressing enough to provide good secondary support in thee recessed curves of the spine … and the tilt of the pelvic girdle (controlled by how far it sinks in) is the main factor involved in maintaining the natural curvature of the Lumbar spine.
The other side of the tradeoff is that it feels softer and may offer better pressure relief (again depending on the rest of the mattress design) and you will sink into it more which some people prefer.
It’s not a matter of my comfort as much as yours and my role is more to help you identify some of the tradeoffs and potential risks in different designs so that you can make more informed choices. There is no right or wrong in any of this … just tradeoffs. 2" of 28 ILD or 3" of 28 ILD would certainly be less risky for you yes (the effect of foam softening would be less on the mattress as a whole) but the rest of the design would also need to work well with either to make sure you had good PPP which of course is where your testing and all the other layers come into play. Durability without PPP just means you would have an uncomfortable mattress for a much longer time. In some cases … trading durability for “comfort” may be well worthwhile for some people (particularly if the layer that may soften more quickly can be replaced)
Phoenix
Recall:
HE : 6’2" 240lbs. Likes a firm mattress with a bit of top koosh. Sleeps back & side.
SHE: 5’6" 140 lbs. Likes to sleep on a cloud, but wants enough support. Sleeps side and sometimes tummy
I understand the tradeoffs and I get that its all rather personal. But as an academic exercise … and assuming the HE and SHE are in good health without any issues (i.e. they probably fall into stereotypical patterns), what do you think of this EKing config:
6" Firm cores + 3" 28ILD in a 9" quilted bamboo/wool mattress case.
3" 19ILD soft topper in its own case on top.
Hi stickhandle,
I can only speak to the quality and value of a mattress or any potential “risks” in its design and not to your comfort choice. Your own personal testing and more detailed conversations with a manufacturer or retailer is the best way to know whether a mattress is suitable for your needs and preferences.
I’m assuming the mattress you listed is blended Talalay latex (based on the ILD’s you provided)?
I would be tempted to bump up the ILD of the topper one level (to 24) because softer materials will be less durable for your higher weight and with thicker mattresses it’s often fine to use slightly firmer materials because they will be softer overall. The thickness and softness of the top two layers may also be a little risky for your alignment. It may also be somewhat risky to have 3" of 19 ILD over 3 of 28 ILD for her stomach sleeping (although this may depend on how much time she spends on her stomach). Of course a topper can be exchanged if it softens more quickly than the other layers and the durability tradeoff to accommodate her lower weight and softer preferences may be worthwhile if you are OK with replacing it if necessary. If it turns out that the top two layers are thicker/softer than your ideals in terms of alignment … then it would also be important (to me at least) to know the options you had available and the cost involved if you needed to make some changes.
If you have a reference point of testing local mattresses that have a similar layering and can share your experiences on them … I may be able to make a few further comments about the effect of any changes between what you tested and this mattress.
Phoenix