Hey Everyone
I am hoping to get some input on the DIY mattress I am planning out from people with similar experiences. Please feel free to offer your thoughts on any of the information below!
I am 5’8" 155lbs, slightly broad shoulders, 99% side sleeper.
Currently sleeping on a Purple Restore Plus and I have no real complaints except for the height of the mattress at 13". I really dislike the look of big mattresses. It does not go well with a lower profile platform style bed. The proportions just look wonky and it annoys me more than it probably should. I can’t find a bed frame I like with slats that are an inch or two lower on the side rails to counteract a tall mattress look (without going directly to a custom shop which costs $$$ and has a lead time of 7-10 weeks). Anyway, off of the bed frame solutions and on to what is in scope for the forum which is the DIY mattress!
For the reasons above, I would like to make a lower profile mattress ~8-11" range. From my understanding, figuring I’m not a big guy, I shouldn’t need super tall coils for my needs even as a side sleeper.
My first thought was this combo:
6" TPS Quadcoils at 15.5
3" Soft Vita Talalay Latex topper
So 9" of stuff, after a case, probably closer to 10"
Unfortunately, TPS doesn’t offer 6" in their direct to consumer shop. Matan from TPS was absolutely wonderful to work with and talk through a lot of things. Definitely learned a lot from him and I really like the company and decided to suck it up and go with the following.
8" TPS Quadcoils at 15.5
3" Soft Vita Talalay Latex topper
So 11" of stuff, and after a case, closer to 12"
The main benefit for me doing a DIY mattress is shrinking for someone who has a perfectly comfortable mattress. Benefits are now saving a few hundred bucks for an inch difference at the risk of having a worse mattress and a bunch of non returnable components.
While doing more research and shopping for a case, the ability to buy 6" L&P Quantum Edge Elite Pocket Coils keeps catching my eye. Unfortunately, all I can really find on these coils so far is that they are a bit firmer than the 8" model. They use ILD numbers in the hundreds, so its hard to properly compare them. But it seems like it is a 30-40% difference in firmness (Center ILD of 531 (8") & 762 (6"). It seems clear that the difference between the much firmer 6" and a soft talalay be too drastic to provide the right balance of support and pressure relief for someone my size and sleep style.
The thought has crossed my mind to go with an all latex mattress and do 3 layers. Either firm, medium, soft or medium, medium, soft latex for 9". But I would like to do a hybrid for the responsiveness and cooling. Im not necessarily a hot sleeper, but I prefer to be cool. My understanding is that memory foam does not do either of those well, and latex does cooling decently, but is closer to memory foam in responsiveness than it is to pocket coils.
The last part of the build I am trying to figure out is a good enclosure. Something simple and stretchy and low profile so the components of the mattress can shine on their own (and keep the mattress height down). Any recommendations on this front would be appreciated as well.
Also, any information on good all natural Talalay latex toppers would be appreciated. I have seen prices range from a couple hundred… to over a thousand for a 3" Talalay topper… I then heard there are really only two distributors of talalay latex out there (Vita Talalay, and Latex International/Talalay Global) (maybe that is just the super certified stuff?). So any information on the range of talalay latex topper options and what justifies the price differences would be appreciated as well. I am generally a buy once cry once kind of guy, but I don’t like throwing money away either. And DIY seems like an iterative process for most people. So, I am trying to educate myself as much as I can at least reduce risk.
Long story short is I can’t seem to have it all, but I am sure as hell going to try to get as close as possible and I hope you all here can help!
Thanks!
Ryan