DIY- All Latex or Hybrid?

Talk To The Experts
1

Greetings!

Gone down the rabbit hole and now I am looking at DIY. Coming from a 7 Year old Tempur-Pedic Contur Elite Breeze King. The Tempur foam has gotten soft and is not comfortable. When I go to a hotel, I usually sleep better. Especially on softer beds.

Stats: 6’ 300lbs, side sleeper. The wife is 5’8" 250lbs.

Have been experimenting with BIAB and Costco/Sam’s club with no success. Either top firm or too soft.

I want something to last and while I always appreciate a good value, I also recognize that sleep is 1/3 of life and it is essential. So, money is no object.

I have been thinking about doing a DIY mattress.

I tried a soft latex topper from SOL which helped but was a little too soft. Now, I am on a medium but it feels a little too firm.

Online mattress recommendations usually have me on a form because of my weight but it causes shoulder and hip pain.

I live not too far from Foam Factory, so I can pick up parts or get them shipped easily.

The 3 layer approach from Sleep EZ recommends extra firm/firm/ medium. I am just worried that it won’t provide enough pressure relief.

What do y’all think?

1 Like
2

Hey there Restlessanddrowsy,

Since you’re plus-sized, I’d suggest looking into a mattress with solid strong spring support. If you’re thinking about putting one together yourself, it might be worth checking in with folks like @Sleep_EZ, @Arizona_Premium, @CST, or @FloBeds. They’ve all got experienced people who can help you figure out what might work best for you.

CST and FloBeds are all talalay latex setups. They’ll customize something for you that handles your specific needs and make the whole process pretty straightforward.

SleepEZ and Arizona Premium offer both hybrids and all-latex mattresses. For folks over 250 lbs, they usually recommend going with an all-latex build.

This isn’t really something you want to just guess at. Things like whether you use a stretch or quilted cover can make a difference, and getting the right latex combo is important.

These companies work with couples in your situation all the time and really aim to get it right on the first try.

They also offer layer swap options you can do at home, and you can always add a topper later if you need a little extra pressure relief.

Most importantly, you need a great foundation. Skimping on the foundation will lead you back here sooner than you would like. Something like the @MattressFoundations terra foundation is an excellent choice, or at the very least a benchmark to strive for. The other option is an adjustable base, provided it has solid decking.

While DIY can be a satisfying and rewarding accomplishment, you need someone that works with folks like yourselves everyday.

I dont think Costco, Sams, or even the department stores are the right place for you to be searching for a mattress. You really need to collaborate with an expert who does this all the time and really has a deep understanding of how these foams, fabrics and construction materials work together.

Best of luck on your search. Hopefully, this will give you a little food for thought.

Maverick

3

I appreciate your thoughts. I have given up on Sam’s/Costco/BIAB for the reasons you mentioned.

Going to Mattress Firm or other Mattress stores they send me straight to a Tempur Pedic or their most expensive model. It feels more like a push to their highest commission items rather than something that will work for me.

My foundation is very sold.

I actually called a couple of the companies mentioned, in addition to one local mattress manufacturer who recommended their top of the line hybrid spring/latex model.

Since there has been some discrepancies I wanted to get a little more feedback. One company recommended coils for a heavy person, another recommended all latex. I don’t have a preference. I just want good sleep.

1 Like
4

I’m a bigger guy. I’m about 6’ and 220 lbs now, used to be between 250 and 265. I was an athlete when I was younger. My wife is 5’4" and around 135 lbs. We’ve tried all-latex and all-foam mattresses, and to be honest, they just didn’t work for me.

When I visited @EuropeanSleep in California, I tested some latex hybrid mattresses and they were seriously amazing. Those combos really stood out.

Personally, I just prefer a mattress with springs. That’s what works for me. Right now I sleep on a very firm Brooklyn Bedding Plank Luxe. I’ve had it for over two and a half years and it’s still going strong. For larger couples, I think it makes sense to go a step above the average mattress.

You really need to work with people who can build something just for you. The usual store-bought mattress often isn’t enough. Even the Big Fig, a mattress marketed for larger sleepers, probably not going to cut it.

The folks I have already mentioned, can craft something that will work, perhaps, one may have a slightly different philosophy on how to create the final version. One thing for certain. NO COMPANY LIKES A RETURN. It costs money. None of them are going to sell you on something they think is coming back. These folks are not like a Tempurpedic or mass market showroom.

You check out places like @ShovlinMattress, @foxmattress, Spencer’s Ventura Mattress in Southern California, or @BeloitMattress. These places offer more than just foam mattresses, springs, wool, cotton, horsehair, no foam at all, all-natural options built to support more weight and hold up over time. Yet a different philosophy.

I often mention. There is not just one mattress that will work. There are dozens out there, that folks like @kensigmamattress mattress and mattress factory in texas, that will build you a solid mattress that will really last. Shifman, and @TheCleanBedroom’s ViSpring Mattress are mattresses made to last and do not discriminate about who is sleeping on them.

The truth is, not everyone has an unlimited budget. Some brands like Shifman, ViSpring, and Custom Comfort in Southern California offer top-tier mattresses, but they definitely come with a higher price tag, and for good reason.

That said, not every expensive mattress is the right fit. For example, some Avocado mattresses can cost between 8 to 10 grand, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right choice for you. A high price doesn’t always equal the right solution.

Still, those other brands I mentioned are in a different class when it comes to mattress quality and the materials they use. They’re just built on another level compared to most of what’s out there. My feeling is you can have those quality TM’s here at TMU collaborate and craft a mattress that will suit your needs and comfort preferences, or you can take it to the next level.

Maverick

5

I agree with you 100% and am so glad this site exists. For those considering Vispring,(I was one…), I do recommend finding WINSTON’S in the UK because they build mattresses thatcan be custom tailored for support spring coil tension and still have a supper comfort layer that doesn’t sleep hot and negated any need for a “topper” for me! Imagine my surprise when an actual person called me from the chat on the website to explore what worked and didn’t with the prior mattresses that I trialedand sent back.
I am only doing forum conversations because I owe it to those who came before and posted here, Trustpilot and Reddit or elseI would NEVER have known about Winston’s in the UK. HOPE THIS HELPS :grin:

1 Like
6

I recall that another MUGster here on TMU purchased a Winston’s mattress. If memory serves, it ultimately didn’t work out for them, but they were very complimentary about the quality of the mattress and customer service they received. Just based on the build and construction alone, Winston’s appears to offer excellent value, especially given the combinations they make available.

One thing I’ll highlight is that some Winston’s models are designed with toppers, similar to some of the finest luxury mattresses in the world. It’s fantastic to hear that it worked out so well for you. This is a great example of why lying on a mattress for 20 or 30 minutes, while helpful, isn’t always enough to determine long-term comfort or satisfaction.

I’m a perfect example of that myself. I tested a Shifman mattress and absolutely loved it. I was fully prepared to spend five figures on it. But curiosity got the better of me when Brooklyn Bedding was promoting the Plank Luxe as one of the firmest flattest mattresses on the market. The specs supported the claim, so I gave it a shot. That leap of faith turned out to be the right one, the Plank Luxe has worked wonderfully for nearly three years now.

There’s no doubt that some of these British-designed mattresses really do meet the mark.

It’s always great to hear success stories like yours. Wishing you many more years of restful sleep on your Winston’s, in good health!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

Maverick