Does what I'm looking for exist???

[phoenix]

Hi EFRYAN,

I’d say I’m more likely headed on a path of a DIY/mattress & topper(s) path.

If you are attracted to the idea of designing and building your own DIY mattress out of separate components that are purchased from one or several different sources then the first place I would start is by reading option 3 in post #15 here and the posts it links to (and option #1 and #2 as well) so that you have more realistic expectations and that you are comfortable with the learning curve, uncertainty, trial and error, or in some cases the higher costs that may be involved in the DIY process. While it can certainly be a rewarding project … the best approach to a DIY mattress is a “spirit of adventure” where what you learn and the satisfaction that comes from the process itself is more important than any cost savings you may realize (which may or may not happen).

I would either use the specs (if they are available and are of a higher quality) of a mattress that you have tested and confirmed is a good match for you in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP as a reference point or blueprint and try and “match” every layer and component in your reference mattress as closely as possible or alternatively use a “bottom up” approach (see post #2 here).

I take all this to mean that both of our preferred mattresses have 4" of memory foam,

The Serta you listed uses 3", the Tempurpedic 4".

In terms of personal preference, we lean toward the feeling of an upper layer with a little more “give” over a lower layer with less “give”, or in a memory foam-to-sand metaphor, the feeling of a layer of damp “sand” over a layer of wet “sand”.

The Tempurpedic Contour Elite Breeze uses 2" of 7 lb. memory foam over 2" of 5.3 lb. memory foam, which by “theory at a distance” would be, in your terms, “wet sand” over “damp sand”. So you can see the difficulty of attempting to pick a mattress based purely upon specifications, as your actual experience trying out the product does not match with what the specifications would “predict”. Even mattress industry experts are often surprised at the feel of a finished product that they are designing and how it differs from what they think it will feel like “on paper”.

This would seem to imply a preference to the reportedly risky proposition of attempting to layer memory foam.

I’m not sure what you mean by this or your concern, as many high-quality memory foam mattresses use two layers of different memory foam in the upper comfort layers.

Another reader in a post I’m unable to recall wrote that the Savant III Cushion Firm used layers of 3lb., 4lb., and 5lb. memory foam, presumably from mattress top to bottom. Based on my education so far on this site, with the many types of memory foam and their even more variable qualities, there’s still a lot of guessing to do following yet more education.

There was no confirmation of those specifications, but regardless they don’t relate to the Serta mattress you mentioned. Serta unfortunately doesn’t share publically any meaningful information about the foams used in their mattresses and the polymer density of their memory foams tends to be lower (along with most other major brands), as I referenced in my earlier reply.

Does anyone have experience in comparing Aerus+, Aerus, Foam Order’s 5.3 lb. memory foam, and the 4lb. Gel Memory Foam Topper (listed on both the Rocky Mountain Mattress and Sleep Warehouse websites) in terms of response and recovery times? How does the 3lb. Energia foam compare to the memory foams above? My assumption is that its lower density makes it less desirable to me due to the likelihood that it is less durable than other options.

Perhaps a member of the site has had the chance to sample both of these toppers at the same time and they can share their experiences, but I would caution you in using their experiences as an estimation of the applicability to your particular situation, as their preferences are individual and the feel of the topper will vary with the mattress upon which it is placed. I know “Frrst” recently ordered an Aerus topper.

Your best course of action would be a phone call to Rocky Mountain Mattress (a member here, which means I think highly of them) and have a detailed conversation with them, as they offer the types of foam you mentioned. They also offer a unique program where you can request samples of the foams you are considering, which is very useful.

Are there any other 4lb±density memory foams I haven’t mentioned that would be worth investigating?

Unfortunately, I can’t keep a record of the individual mattresses or their materials/specs that the retailers and manufacturers in the hundreds of forum lists throughout the forum carry on their floor or have available online - it would be a bigger job than anyone could keep up with in a constantly changing market.

I would reference you back again to my earlier reply where I linked to the members here on the forum, many of whom offer memory foam mattresses and components, and are familiar with how their products compare to the other mattresses you mentioned.

With a personal preference of limiting mattress height to around 10" to account for my current bed frame and desired box spring, would I be making any significant sacrifices in terms of durability or cushioning by the use of a 6" latex core?

Many latex mattress component companies and latex mattress manufacturers use a 6" latex “core” for their mattresses, so I wouldn’t personally have a concern with that. You’d simply want to make sure that the density/ILD of the core is adequate to provide good support for your project.

Phoenix