DIY Foam Mattress Build: Side Sleeper (300lbs)

Mattress Talk 2) Materials, Specifications & Designs
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Newb with this forum. 300lb side sleeper from the Mid-Atlantic area (so we deal with humidity in the summer). I tend to sleep somewhat hot buy my wife sleeps incredibly cold. Memory foam doesn’t bother me too much regarding sleep temp. I’ve been building DIY mattresses for +15 years and the wife and I enjoy the “sleeping in the sand” and movement isolation that memory foam provides but I haven’t built one in 5+ years so I’m not up on new DIY mattress materials technology.

Here’s my King size DIY mattress build design:

  1. Top: Memory Foam - Density = 5lb; Depth = 3"; ILD = 12 (source: The Foam Factory)
  2. Support: Titanflex Topper - Density = 3.5 - 4lb; Depth = 3"; ILD = 28 (source: MattressTopper.com)
  3. Base - HD36-HQ foam - Density = 2.8lb; Depth = 5"; ILD = 35 (source: The Foam Factory)

Total thickness = 11"

Please let me know your thoughts on this build.

Questions/Discussion:

  1. Pocket coil base vs. Foam base: I’ve been reading a lot about pocket coil bases lately in terms of their benefits such as:
  • Better air flow allowing sleepers a cooler sleep;
  • Increased durability vs. foam bases
  • Pocket coils have less sagging especially on the edges of the bed;
    I’ve also read that pocket coil bases are better for back sleepers whereas foam bases are better for side sleepers. In terms of side sleepers I’ve read it’s better to go for 8" coils vs. 6" to reduce pressure point issues. In my experience I have had good experience with HD36-HQ foam bases and have generally seen them last 8-10 years. Are there any side sleepers out there that can vouch for pocket-coil bases and if so why?
  1. Mattress Covers - This is where my knowledge is pretty low. Does a good quality mattress cover really increase the comfort/durability of the bed? I usually just get a decently reviewed zippered cover and call it a day. Is there a reason to be more selective about the mattress cover and if so, what would you suggest?

Thanks for any feedback!

1 Like
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Your build looks good to me.

You’d probably be interested to see this comparison of the different density memory foams from foam factory: https://www.reddit.com/r/MattressMod/comments/1udx4gz/notes_on_foam_factory_memory_foam_samples/?chainedPosts=t3_1l23cxp

So while the 5lb is the softest, it is more responsive than the others. 4lb is a little less responsive and 3lb is the slowest to regain its shape. And just so you know the titanflex soft is 10ild, medium 20ild and firm is 30. I asked mattress topper’s customer service team the other day for specifications and that’s what they told me

Everything you posted about pocket coils is true. They almost always have edge support, do give better airflow, and wear down slower. Think about it like this, when you picture holding a spring in your hand how do you think about the way it moves? That’s the exact effect you’ll add more of to the general feel of your mattress.

When you think of a block of foam what do you picture? “Insulated” feeling. “Smushy”

After trying both all foam and hybrid, I definitely prefer springs. It’s largely preferential. So if you already know you like all foam builds getting into pocket coil diy would be another journey and if the coil base doesn’t work for you the first time that could be an issue. The 14.75g TPS quadcoil would be what id say to get at your weight but that’d be similar in firmness to 8" of LUX-HQ foam.

The only note I would make about your build would be to split between lux HQ and HD36, considering your stats. So something like this

3" 4lb memory foam since you like a little slower response
3" firm titanflex
3" HD36
3" LUXHQ

And maybe even 2" hd36hq with 4" luxHQ. This would be quite a bit firmer than your original setup, but heavier sleepers need to make sure they have enough support or you risk messing up your alignment. What’s great about this is that foambymail offers 1" sizing so you could order 5 1" layers of each hd36hq and luxhq to dial in exactly how much support you need.

Having the little taller total profile would also help with weight distribution and general durability.

For your cover it’s really about what you would like best. If I were to do like what you are, I’d use the Brooklyn bedding luxury cooling protector as my cover. That way the polyethylene material would be negating the heating effect of the memory foam. Although it’s not exactly an encasement. What encasement you use really is preference as well.