That helps, im just dumb and forgot completely that you were seperately mentioning your side and your wifes side so i got confused thinking you had both medium and firm layers in your side. Dont mine me. Appreciate the help this makes total sense and its something i am considering too. Vzone seems the ultimate flexibility solution.
No worries! My configuration is pretty convoluted (no pun intended). And yeah, the vzone is a pretty great comfort layer. Very flexible.
Hi. I’m curious…
Since the vZone is your top layer, do you feel the “lines”’ between the sections?
I’ve noticed that FloBeds’ official vZone mattress has a layer of thin convoluted foam on top of the vZone layer, and I assumed one reason for it might be to prevent feeling the section “lines” of the vZone.
tia
No, I don’t feel where the segments meet up. They fit pretty snugly in the bamboo encasement (APM encasement), so there really is not space between the segments.
1 Like
glad to help, but I’m not sure I understand the question.
1 Like
I don’t think Sam_Sneed meant to tag you in that comment. That comment was just a response to my previous comment/question about their FloBeds vZone top layer.
2 Likes
Received my 8" Quad Coils and QuadMini last week, and got them set up on Thursday:
- 8" 15.5g TPS Quad Coil (twin xl, one side firm)
- 3" TPS QuadMini
- 2" FloBeds convoluted Talalay latex (my existing topper, just a thin layer to “hide” the feel of the Mini’s coils for now)
- currently all just covered (“loosely encased”) with my existing St Dormeir wool mattress protector and a fitted sheet.
I’m SO glad a stuck with the advice from @PSS and stuck with the 15.5g coils!
I had seen posts and comments from other side/back sleepers that are around my height and weight (or less) saying that the 15.5g coils were the right choice, and maybe even too firm for some. But then I also saw a bunch saying the opposite - that the 15.5g coils were definitely too soft, and the 14.5g would have been the better choice. All that had me second guessing my choice of the 15.5g, and was my biggest concern up to now since I wouldn’t be able to return/exchange them if they were too soft - and it would have been hard to make the DIY work for me if I was starting with a base that was too soft.
So now it’s even more clear to me how varied and wide ranging the perceived firmness and feel of a mattress is from person to person, because to my taste and feeling the 15.5g was the right choice for sure.I would definitely not call them “soft” in any way! In fact the 15.5g is nicely firm to my taste. In fact they are probably even a tad too firm for me (I can feel some pressure points on my back when back sleeping and my shoulders when side sleeping) - but I can deal with that and tweak the build for it as I choose my top layer(s).
So I’m VERY glad I wasn’t swayed to the 14.5g, because that would have been WAY to firm… for me.
I slept on the above for three nights, and then removed my convoluted Talalay layer yesterday so that I can get a feel of just the Quad Coils + QuadMini combo by themselves before I decide on the layer(s) to put on top of them. Yes, I do feel the coils of the Mini but not so much that I can’t sleep on it for a few nights of “testing”. (Plus I’m better able feel the coils of the Mini conforming to me without that thin/soft latex layer in the way.)
The convoluted Talalay layer does “hide” the feeling the coils of the Mini really well. But it’s effectively 14 ILD and effectively thinner than 2" since it’s convoluted, so it doesn’t do much more for me than that. So all it really did was confirm for me that even a just very thin and soft layer could be used IF all that was needed was to “hide” feeling the coils of the Mini.
But I’ll need more than just that. I’ll need 2"-3" to help with pressure point relief (especially when on my side). So that’s my next step: to decide on what 2"-3" latex layer I want to try on top.
3 Likes
great write up on your DIY. so happy its worked out. glad we are a part of it.
1 Like
While I’m testing out my build, I wanted to make note (so I’m easily able to find it in the future) of a post by @phoenix that most clearly explained that key aspects/purpose of the layers of a mattress I’m considering as I “build” my mattress: post #4 here.
As well as this The Basic Functions of a Mattress article (and those linked from it).
I’m very confident that (for me) I’ve got:
- a good bottom “support” layer in the 8" 15.5g Quad Coils - stopping the most heavy parts from sinking too far
- a good “transition” layer with the 3" QuadMini - helping both with heavy parts sinking in too far and filling in the secondary support “gaps” (to me I term it as this feels like it is “conforming” to me really well)
Now I’m working on finding a good top “comfort” layer for me, that I feel gives “just enough” pressure relief for the hips and (particularly for me) the shoulders when I’m on my side but also does not mess up my alignment/support when I’m on my back. I’ll update when I get that layer figured out. 
2 Likes
Did you find a good top layer?
2 Likes
Sorry I haven’t updated in a while. You know… life. 
After my last update I ordered a 2" Soft SOL topper, and then a 2" Soft (19 ILD) Talalay topper from Latex Mattress Factory. I tried several combinations of that, the 2" Soft SOL topper, and my 2" FloBeds convoluted topper. I ultimately settled on the LMF topper.
Also after sleeping on the build just loosely covered with my St Dormeir wool mattress protector I decided I wanted a little more structure for my cover than a stretch cover (like the PCS Organic Cotton Cover). So I ordered a Organic Zippered Cotton Cover from Arizona Premium Mattress Cover.
So for a couple of months I have been sleeping on my final (for now) build:
- 8" 15.5g TPS Quad Coil (twin xl, one firm side/edge)
- 3" TPS QuadMini
- 2" Soft (19 ILD) LMF Talalay latex topper
- 14" APM Organic Cotton Zipper Mattress Cover
- St Dormeir wool mattress protector
Overall I really like the build. As I’ve mentioned before, to me the 15.5g Quad Coil base is definitely not too soft and even on the edge of too firm, especially for side sleeping, so it provides really good core support. The QuadMini transition layer does a great job of supporting while conforming to my body extremely well. Finally, the topper provides just the right amount of comfort layer cushion and pressure point relief.
The only exception is when I’m on my side. In that position I just don’t “sink in” enough for enough pressure relief on my shoulders. It’s not horrible, but not ideal. I’m considering at some point in the future maybe trying the Flobeds vZone for the top comfort layer, like @Sam_Sneed has for his build. It would allow me to soften just the shoulder zone, plus it’s an additional inch thicker for more depth for the shoulders to sink in.
But for now… this configuration is working very well for me.
2 Likes
Here are some pictures of my build journey…
DIY TPS Quad Coil mattress initial testing build
2 Likes
Forgot to mention that I also found a pillow I REALLY like - the Juvea Curve, crescent shaped shredded Talalay latex pillow. It’s comes packed with enough shredded latex so that it’s very firm by default. I removed quite a bit to make it less firm/stiff and a little more conforming and cushiony, and it works great for me.
It’s been especially helpful since my topper layer doesn’t give quite enough relief on my shoulders. This pillow really helps reduce the impact of that. I’ve never known of or tried a crescent shaped pillow before, and I was surprised at how much more comfortable it is for me versus a standard pillow when I’m on my side.
2 Likes
Hmm… Can’t seem to edit my previous comment. Or my brain is completely forgetting how to do it.
I was going remove the mention that the Juvea Curve stuffing is customizable, because it is no. That was another similar pillow that I tried which was “okay”, but I ended up liking the Juvea better.
1 Like
so good to read this. glad its working out.
I love the pictures! its nice seeing the coils flex on the adjustable base.
2 Likes