DFW/ATX

[phoenix]

Hi hermanski,

Welcome … and I’m glad you found us.

I went to UM in Dallas and I liked the Dunlopillo branded Ambiance mattress in luxury plush. I did enjoy it on the PPP scale and purports 36% latex (from what I was told by weight, so there’s roughly 28% latex in the layers.). Based on my research here, I do feel somewhat uncomfortable with buying a majorly memory foam mattress v all latex or even an interspring/latex hybrid

I’m concerned about the foam layers linked here:
sherwoodbedding.com/wp-content/uploads/2...llo_Digis_062014.pdf

Based on that diagram, the latex layer looks much less than 28% of the layer makeup. Does the latex provide functionality here even @ 28% sandwiched between foam?

Every layer of a mattress will have some effect on the other layers above and below it and on the mattress as a whole but how the latex layers would affect the mattress as a whole and how much effect it would have would depend on the specifics of the latex layers (firmness, layer thickness) and on the specifics of the foam above and below it. You probably wouldn’t be able to identify the specific effect it was having because you will feel the mattress “as a whole” but if you changed the latex layers with other materials with different properties then you would probably be able to feel a difference. Thinner layers will have less effect and contribute less of the “feel” and properties of latex than thicker layers.

As you know the percentages on the law tag are based on weight and latex is a denser and heavier material than most polyfoam (although it may be lighter than some memory foam) so the percentage of latex in the mattress based on thickness would probably be less than the percentage based on weight but it would depend on the densities of the other foam layers. I would want to know the actual thickness of all the layers in a mattress along with the other specs that you will need to make an informed choice about any mattress … not just a percentage (see this article).

In theory, are these top comfort level layers of “Hyper soft” & softer foams majorly a bad idea? I’m curious whether “soft foam” is another word for “low density” which as I understand signifies low quality.

They are certainly a potential weak link in the mattress in terms of durability but it will depend on the thickness and the density of the polyfoam layers. lower quality or unknown layers that are “about an inch or so” or less are generally fine but if there are 2" or more of lower quality/density polyfoam in the upper layers of a mattress then I would consider it to be a weak link in a mattress and I would tend to avoid it (see the quality/durability guidelines here)

The firmness or softness of polyfoam isn’t related to its density and any density of polyfoam can be made in a wide range of firmness levels so while density has little to do with the firmness or comfort of a material … it is the single biggest factor in the durability of a material.

Does the layering in the ultra firm look potentially more sound with 2 layers of latex layered + the fact i’ll be adding 20lbs to my weight shortly? (ps i’d prefer not needing a topper upfront and the firm didn’t seem as comfortable)

I can’t speak to the comfort or suitability of a mattress in terms of PPP because your testing will be a much more reliable way to know that than any “theory at a distance”. I don’t see an Ambiance ultra firm (I only see the luxury firm and the luxury plush eurotop) … but how much “good stuff” there is in a mattress doesn’t matter if there is too much “bad stuff” and to know whether a mattress has a weak link you would need to know the thickness and density and position of all the polyfoam layers regardless of how much latex may be in the mattress. If you can’t find out the information you need then you would be making a much more risky purchase than I would consider and I would pass the mattress by

Just in case you haven’t seen it yet … the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in and around the Dallas/Ft Worth area (subject to the quality/value guidelines here) are listed in post #4 here.

Phoenix