Dunlop vs Talalay For a Heavy Person

[phoenix]

Hi Venexiana

Thank you for the prompt reply, Phoenix. It is very much appreciated.

You’re welcome.

I understand the general principles regarding durability/longevity but would like to have a more concrete idea of what would be the actual durability/longevity difference between the preferred above configuration and the previous firmer configurations in our case? Is the durability/logenvity difference significant or negligible?

Even the best engineers in the industry can’t predict mattress durability, as this is an incredibly complex question. But I have some good information in post #4 here and the posts that are linked therein. Between the two configurations you mentioned, I would expect them each to have a very similar “comfort life”.

We actually did try a soft SavvyRest topper in ~N5 / 17.5 ILD Talalay but it seemed too soft. We like the idea of a softer topper on a firm configuration due to arthritic joints which is why we are considering adding the fifth layer or a topper.

The uppermost layers will have the most dramatic impact on your perceived comfort, and as you mentioned you can always add a topper. Deferring toward alignment, as you are, is a good choice.

For comparison, we currently use 3" Tempurpedic topper (general consensus seems to be that the Tempur material is 15 ILD, 5.34 lb/ft3). The topper seems to bottom out in the hip area but feels good on joints, knees etc. However, it sleeps too hot and can get uncomfortably hard on the surface if the room is colder (and we like to sleep in a colder room)…

The feel of a memory foam topper will be quite different from latex, and the memory foam ILD can be misleading, as there are different protocols for measuring this and as you’re aware it changes with temperature and humidity.

Do you think ~N6 / 22-27 ILD Talalay or Talalay GL or Puralux as the fifth layer or topper would work considering our weight?
Alternatively, would doubling up on N7 / 32 ILD Talalay as a fifth layer or a topper soften the overall feel? If so, by how much?

An N6 topper certainly might be a good choice for you, and probably a better choice than the N5. The Puralux would have the slower recover properties of memory foam in a latex, and the Talalay GL (slow recovery) from Talalay Gloabal is no longer produced. Using a second layer of N7 would simply be a firmer surface feel as compared to the N5, and would be a choice if you were desiring a bit more of a “tight” or “crisp” surface comfort as compared to the N5. Two layers of the N7 would make the surface comfort a bit softer, but it wouldn’t be as noticeable as the N5. In the end, only your own careful personal testing will be able to tell which layer, if either, would be more appropriate. For your BMI, a 2"-3" topper would most likely be appropriate.

Phoenix