Help with choosing a mattress

Mattress Talk General Mattresses Questions
1

I have the same question about how to start a topic in the forum. Replying to the question about how to ask a question doesn’t make sense to me, but I’ll start with it anyway.
My house burned down in October and we had a Cal King European Sleepworks (the Nordic II) bed that we loved, BUT, as we get older, the latex mattresses are getting too hard to lift when we want to change the sheets. I asked the salesperson at European Sleepworks and all she said was “oh, I just don’t even try” which I suppose meant that she has a beefy partner at home or hires someone. We can certainly hire someone, but I don’t want them to be hurting their back either.

Any thoughts out there? I’ve searched the forum but cant seem to find any comments. Also, very few mattress specs include weight.
Thank you!

2

Hammond,

If you like the feel of latex but an all-latex is too difficult for you to manage, you could look at a mattress using a polyurethane foam core or an innerspring support unit with latex on top. This will be lighter and you’ll still get some of the “feel” of latex, although the mattress will feel different than your previous model because of the change in componentry.

Sorry to hear about your house.

Jeff Scheuer, The Beducator
Beducation / Mattress To Go

3

Thank you for your reply. I’ll start the hunt…off the top of your head though, do any particular brands come to mind?

4

Hammond,

No particular brands come to mind, as I don’t know what you might have available in your area. With over 500 different mattress manufacturers, there are quite a few to choose from and I’m not familiar with the lines from each company. I can offer a suggestion that a good place to start your research could be some of the manufacturers who are members her of the site (you can find a list here). I’ve had the chance to learn about and speak with many of these people and I do find them to be quite knowledgeable. I personal find some of the spring/latex combinations quite comfortable, and those are lighter and have more rigidity deep down than the all-latex models that you are attempting to avoid. Luma has a nice collection of models. Arizona Premium has some options as well. I see that Flexus has something using a quad spring unit (I think it’s form Texas Pocket Spring). Nest Bedding has a hybrid latex. There are a few others in that list I’m sure but I’m sorry I don’t have time to comb through them, but at least it can be a starting/learning point for you. Maybe that helps! There certainly are other good options out there as well - I just don’t have a national list to share - I wish I did!

Jeff Scheuer, The Beducator
Beducation / Mattress To Go

5

Hi Hammond.

Certainly the weight of a mattress and the ability to handle it becomes increasingly important as we age and may need to be included in one’s personal value equation. Most lighter weight alternatives to an all-latex system, as Jeff pointed out (Thanks Jeff!) have a polyfoam or innerspring base with different foam(s) on top, but as all the layers and components of a mattress work together and affect each other and also how they may interact with each individual, changing the type of mattress that you comfortable with may involve making some trade-off in either feel, durability, desirable thickness, motion isolation or a combination of those.

While it’s not possible to make specific suggestions because of all the many variables involved that are unique to each person and your own experience is the only way to know for certain whether any mattress will be a good “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, pressure relief and Personal Preferences) I would make sure to seek the guidance of an experienced manufacturer or retailer that has your interests at heart. Depending of the combination of componentry you are looking at I am providing two lists of some of our trusted members here that may have what you are looking for.

Manufacturers or retailers who carry latex hybrid and ship nationally. (There may be shipping costs associated with purchasing innerspring mattresses)

Arizona Premium Mattress
Christeli
Flexus Comfort ships from CA
Midwest Mattress (CA, SanDiego)
Magic Sleeper
Luma Sleep
My Green Mattress
Mattress To Go carries better quality value national brands.
Nest Beddingnational
Quality Sleep Shop
[url=https://www.texasmattressmakers.com/]Texas Mattress Makers ships from TX
Urban Natural
Bedmasters ships from FL
Beloit ships from IL

Manufacturers and Retailers (members of our site) that carry Poly / Memory Foam Combos and other type of lighter mattresses : [br /]

Addable
Bedmasters ships from FL
Christeli
Magic Sleeper
Midwest Mattress (CA, SanDiego)
Nest Beddingnational
Novosbed
Sedona Sleep with a 7" 1.9 polyfoam base
SleepEZ
Reverie

Because of the uncertainty involved with purchasing an online mattress where you can’t test it in person … a good exchange/return policy can also reduce the risk so I would make sure you are comfortable with the options you have available after a purchase to exchange or return and any costs involved just in case a your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for.

I hope this gives you a good start and once you have a chance to narrow down your options please let me or any of our Expert Members know and if you have more specific questions we’ll be happy to assist you.

Phoenix

To SnoozyDoodle

As we are working on the back end to implement and finalize the new design element – Talk to the Experts and while it is under construction, we have eliminated “New Topics” for Phoenix so we can effectively service consumer members and manage the increased workload demand. However, the “Ask an Expert” tab of the site is taking new topics for any of the Experts listed.

6

Thank you both Jeff and Phoenix for your detailed replies. I’ve been reading through the guides here on your site and am finding them very helpful. We did take a drive to European Sleepworks yesterday and found out that they’ve expanded their offerings to nine different mattresses now and the one we had has been redesigned. We really like the Alpine HDM in a softer configuration than we had before. At first glance of the materials and layers, we thought it would still be too heavy, but it was quite manageable. Granted, it was a queen, but I don’t think the king would be too much. Because we liked their quality and service before, we’re leaning to buying from them again. Also, when we bought our first mattress, we didn’t think the flexible slats added much, but now, we can feel the difference.

7

The HDM line adds the High Definition Microcoils to the “standard” version of each mattress, and there’s also some latex added. There’s some good quality componentry in that model.

And if you’re using the flexible slat foundation, be sure to receive some guidance on the tension adjustments with your sleeping positions and mattress you’re eventually purchasing, as those adjustments can get a bit confusing.

8

Thank you Jeff. European Sleepworks seems to take care to educate customers, and are also giving us a “fire survivor” 20% discount on the mattress. They’ve also donated mattresses to a charity we care about so we’re pleased to give them our business, again. But of course, it’s all about the mattress, and we do like that Alpine HDM.
Best, Lee

9

Yeah don’t understand how to do a new post so hopefully this gets seen.

I’m 5’8" 155 pounds guy who sleeps mainly on his back. My shoulders ache a lot and I toss and turn a lot. Trying to get better sleep…right now I have a Sealy Brookwater Firm queen. I think I should stick with a firm mattress rather than medium-firm.

I think I narrowed it down to Brooklyn Bedding, Tomorrow, or Helix.

Brooklyn Bedding JUST seemed to come out with a hybrid mattress. I looked a couple days ago and it wasn’t that way. So now they are all the same layout.

With discounts/etc. Tomorrow is 675, BB 700, and Helix 800.

Any other suggestions than what I’ve gathered? Which one of these is the best? Is it worth it to go with Helix for their customization?

10

Hi leto4.

Welcome to our forum :slight_smile:

Unfortunately there are far too many unknowns, variables, and different possibilities involved to be able to make any specific suggestions based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” It is not possible to “diagnose” any symptoms you have on an online forum based on the limited information that you offered as this is would need a thorough in-depth analysis that involves you doing some detective work and incrementally narrowing down the cause of your restless nights and shoulder pain.

I can certainly make a few general suggestions that may help in tracking down some of the possible reasons for your pains in the hope that you can use this as a learning curve for your next system. I suggest that you first try to understand your sleeping landscape and where your symptoms originate and do a little bit of local testing before you rush into any online purchase.

Shoulder pressure points and pains while sleeping on your back can come from a mattress that is too firm and puts direct pressure on the shoulders, the shoulder blades, or on the back muscles and can also cause soreness or numbness and tingling in the arms or can often come from postural issues as well. There is a bit more information about sleeping positions and posture this in this article here .

I would also closely look into the pillow issue The pillow that works best for you can vary with different mattresses depending on how much you are sinking into the mattress and the distance between your head and neck and the mattress surface. Upper back issues can also point to a pillow that is either too high or too low for your body type or sleeping position and doesn’t maintain the gap between your head and the mattress and keep your head and neck if good alignment over the course of the night which can affect the upper back as well.

As you seem to believe that you need a firmer mattress I would recommend that you have a detailed discussion with any of the companies you are considering purchasing from whether is BB, Helix or whether is a foam product or an innerspring product and let your advisors help you out.

I am not very sure what you mean by this and what is it that you are asking here.

Without understanding the basis on which you make any of these choices is almost impossible to make any suggestions. It seems that a lower budget range is an important part of your personal value equation and while I can certainly help with “how” to choose … It’s not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, or PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more reliable than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).

I’m not sure what you’ve read since you found the site but just in case you haven’t read it yet … the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure you’ve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for).

Nobody but yourself can speak as to what the “best” mattress for you as you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and what is “best” for you can be the worst for someone else with different needs and preferences. I cannot speak as to how any specific mattress will “feel” for someone else or whether it will be a good “match” in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP because this is too subjective and relative to different body types, sleeping positions, and individual preferences, sensitivities, and circumstances and you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress … outside of PPP (which is the most important part of “value”), the next most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you can’t see or “feel” and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new so I would always make sure that you find out the information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.

Hopefully this information helps to give you a good start in pinpointing your issues and your mattress research.

Phoenix

11

Hi, im 170 lbs back sleeper. i am looking to purchase some variation of latex mattress within the next week or so. i just went to a mattress store that had a latex over polyfoam core with latex on the bottom as well to flip. based on some reading ive done here i realize polyfoam is inferior to memory foam/latex so i wasnt planning on buying the mattress i just wanted to test a latex mattress out (ive tried one other latex over voil mattress elsewhere that i liked as well). the specifications of the latex they use is talatech(i guess their latex blend) 'dual comfort foam topper -16-22ILD, 3.0 lb/ft^3 density, tolerance .25lb/ft^3 and 21-27ILD, 3.25lb/ft^3 density tolderance .25lb/ft^3). the top layer of latex looked like it was about 1" worth with the second layer to be about 3-4". i should have asked for specific measurements on the thickness of the layers including the polyfoam, unless the specifications ive given already have that in there. the polyfoam is 26-34ILD 2.5lb/ft^3 density tolerance .1lb/ft^3. the mattress felt pretty nice, seemed to have progressive resistance to my contour and i didnt feel as though i would experience a bad nights sleep on it. they said it was more of a medium mattress.

i have a ~$1000 budget for a mattress. i have a few questions i hope i can get some help with. how much different would a full latex mattress feel as compared to the polyfoam core? what company would you guys recommend based on my price point for the best deal? im assuming getting a mattress already made as opposed to a diy would be best for me as im a beginner in the latex bed/mattress buying category?

12

Hi zachneedmattress.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum! :slight_smile:

Polyfoam and Latex used as the support core in a mattress are not comparable in terms of overall performance. A latex support core is more durable, more resilient, more elastic, more adaptable to different weights and shapes and sleeping positions, more supportive (it has a higher compression modulus so it gets firmer faster with compression), more “natural”, and has a different more “springy” and responsive feel than polyfoam. Latex in general is a higher performance material and it is more durable than any other type of foams. As you discovered all these qualities also come with a “price tag” as latex is more expensive than a polyfoam core and for some people … a latex hybrid which has the benefits and “feel” of latex in the upper layers (the top 3" - 6" which are the most subject to wear and tear and contribute more to the overall “feel” of a mattress) is worth the cost tradeoff. For others it isn’t.

As all layers work together they lend their properties to the layers above and below and the feel of course will be different in a two-side mattress using polyfoam core vs. latex, and an all-latex will feel different if one sided versus two sided as well and you would be the only one to assess which is the feel you like best.

While price is certainly important of course … the “value” of a mattress purchase is what is most important and price is just one of many factors that can affect the “value” of a mattress purchase. There isn’t a “formula” that can be used to assess or “calculate” the value of a mattress because there are so many different variables and criteria involved that can affect the price of a mattress that can each be more or less important to some people and not to others who may have completely different criteria or definitions of “value”.
There is more about the 3 most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase in post #13 here which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on suitability, durability, and all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for).

Talatech can be blended or natural, the number ranges provided line up with what TG gives for blended (16-22 would be their 19 ILD, 21-27 would be their 24 ILD with “3 ILD tolerance”). Knowing blended or natural good to know if comparing to other items for value reasons. Polyfoam core good density at 2.5.

It seems to me that you are well on its way with your research and testing, and you are correct that having the complete set of foam specifications would give you more clues and help with finding the mattress that is best for your specific needs and preferences, but in the end nothing can replace own personal testing. The only way to know whether any specific mattress design or combination of layers and components is a good “match” for you in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP with any certainty will be based on your own careful testing and/or your own personal experience when you sleep on it.

I am not sure what size of mattress you are looking at but at a quick glance here are some our Trusted Members here with all latex or hybrid latex systems that would fit your criteria.

[indent]
• Luma Sleep with its all latex Luma Mattress would fit your budget range and also an 11" hybrid/latex here that would fit your budget
• Arizona Premium would have a12" hybrid/latex and they can have multiple all latex options as well.
• Sleep EZ has also a few all latex options including Roma that would fit your budget and 8"Latex Mattress Special that you might want to check on, it is a bit over your price range but you may wish to include it in your search.
• Sleep ON Latex also has a 7" and 9" Pure Greenall latex Natural Dunlop mattress within your budget range.
• Latex Mattress Factory has also 7’ and 9" all latex mattresses within your budget range.[/indent]

Some other members with systems that may be worth looking at in a slightly higher budget range:

• Foam Sweet Foam with a 7" All latex mattress.
• My Green Mattress with the Natural Escape latex/hybrid line

Your assumption is correct but just in case you are considering going that route then whether you’re considering an all-latex product or one using an innerspring unit, I would still start your DIY research 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.

Regarding component suppliers, while not inclusive, there are some options listed here.

I hope this will help you in your search and narrow down your options.

Phoenix

13

Hi I have a question about the foundation for a king latex. We purchased a Nature’s Embrace alto 10" organic latex king mattress about a month ago. It is sitting ontop of the slatted base as recommended but I’m finding that I’m moving towards the center of the bed where the center support beam is. It feels better. Does this mean that my firm mattress isn’t firm enough? Or am I the princess and the pea and am bothered by the feeling of the slight sag between the center and outer edges? It makes me want to slap down a piece of plywood! BTW I’m only 5’4" and not that heavy. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. I don’t want to miss my window of sleep comfort guarantee to make any changes. Thanks

14

Unless you have some sort of an active foundation system (bowed or tension adjustable cross slats), you shouldn’t have any movement or sag in your platform bed top deck (assuming solid slats 3" or less apart with center reinforcement).

If your foundation top deck is indeed flat and firm (you can always place your mattress on the floor to see if the feel changes at all), then what you may be experiencing is the initial break-in and slight softening of your mattress materials in the area where you sleep (this can even happen a bit with a cotton, wool and latex combination as in your mattress), and the center may feel a bit “stiffer” because that area hasn’t yet been used as much.

If you do find that your platform deck is the culprit, many people do place plywood on top of their slats to create a more uniform, firm and flat surface. I’m a fan of using a coir bed rug on top of this to help promote airflow between the plywood deck and the bottom of the mattress.

Jeff Scheuer, The Beducator
Beducation / Mattress To Go

15

Hi Jeff, thanks for your response. If I am noticing the softening as you mentioned does that mean my body actually wants a firmer mattress? I have 6" firm 2" firm 2" medium. If we put plywood ontop of slats does that not negate the breathing they want for the latex and would it void warranty?

16

[color=black]First, this site is awesome. Thanks so much for all your assistance.

I am looking for some updates to prospective mattress stores/suppliers in the Indianapolis area or an online supplier.

I am 5’7, 175 and my wife is 5’6 120. I’m 50 and she’s 48. We are both athletic build (flat?) sleepers with probably a preference for side sleeping. Our Tempur-pedic knock-off has served us well over 15 years but recently my wife began experiencing lumbar pain.

Now that I’m educated (thank you), I’m assuming we want a high quality but thinner comfort layer and probably a firm core layer. Before I read the site in full, we tried a Sleep on Latex (they are absolutely fabulous to work with) medium firmness mattress but, sadly, our choice did not relieve her back pain.

If she sleeps on my son’s conventional pillow top “S” brand, she tends to be fine. Any suggestions on where to look in the Indy area or what to seek online would be greatly appreciated.

DM

17

hey phoneix. thanks for the welcome as well as the detailed reply. i did some research on manufacturers around me who produce latex mattresses and found that cozypure is 20 minutes or so away so i can go try what they have. in terms of my body weight, should i be looking for a certain thickness of each layer as well as overall? (7,9,10" etc.)? would it be necessary for me to buy a foundation with 3"slats in between? i have a bed frame right now that my spring mattress was on. i havent talked to them yet, but i see on their site they have all latex mattresses but it doesnt seem like it says whether its dunlop or talalay, it just says 100% non blended. i thought all latex was blended in some way. do you know what they use?

Edit: talked to the rep on the phone and he said they use all dunlop latex. the one thats closest to my price range only comes with a core at 7" as well so it has no ‘comfort layer’. i will probably go try some out within the next couple of days. its out of my price range if i wanted to get a comfort layer. maybe i can get a feel for the dunlop to see what i can find online that would be similar to what i find comfortable there,

18

Hi zachneedmattress.

Thanks for your kind words, I am glad we can help.

The thickness of a mattress is just a side effect of the design and by itself isn’t particularly meaningful because whether a thicker or thinner mattress would be better or worse for any particular person will depend on the specifics of the materials (type, firmness, etc.) and on all the other layers in the mattress. Thickness is only one of many specs that are used to make different mattresses that perform and feel differently and that makes a mattress suitable for one person and not another. There is more about the effect of thickness in post #14 here. Regardless of how thick or thin a mattress may be … the most important part of the “value” of a mattress is how suitable it is “as a whole” for your particular body type, sleeping positions, and preferences in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences). There is certainly no reason that at your weight you would “need” more thickness than either of the mattresses you are considering but you may still “prefer” a mattress that is thicker or thinner depending on the design.

A 170lbs, back sleeper should not need the extra thickness that a higher BMI would generally need to ensure a larger “range” of compression that a so that the mattress is not becoming too firm.

So the overall thickness of a mattress that is either “needed” or “preferred” would depend on the combinations of the layers and components that are needed to achieve the design goal of the mattress and provide the PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment, and Personal preferences) that can best match each person and their unique body type, sleeping positions, and preferences.

Thinner latex mattresses are common in many parts of the world but only your personal testing can tell if this would be an appropriate thickness for you. A 7" mattress can be quite adequate for most adults, depending upon sleeping positions and body type and sensitivities.

The first thing to do is always to check with the mattress manufacturer you’re considering and ask their opinion to make sure that the foundation is appropriate and doesn’t void your warranty and you can check on this with Cozy Pure when you visit them.

There’s much more information about the functions of foundations, active slat systems and actual box springs in the foundation thread here. With most modern mattresses, the bottom piece of the mattress set is a foundation that does not flex. Closely spaced wood slats are quite common for the construction. This serves the purpose of allowing the mattress to be higher off of the floor for easier egress and ingress, and also to help promote better air circulation around the mattress.

A bed frame (or bed set) serves a similar purpose. It elevates the mattress set for easier access, and also promotes airflow around the complete mattress set.

I am glad that you managed to get some clarifications from Cozy Pure over the phone and that you are planning to visit them as nothing replaces personal experience. Their latex is Dunlop with a GOLS certification (only latex that gets this certification) and as they clearly state on web site it is 100% natural and not a blend. NR Dunlop would generally be more durable overall than a blend or synthetic (SBR) latex although there may be value in using a blend because it is less expensive and still a very durable material compared to other foams and in some cases a blend can improve the properties of the foam. FIY most Talalay produced worldwide is blended and usually Dunlop blends would have different percentages which vary with each foam manufacturer but I believe.

I look forward to hear about your decision and any insights you might have from your visit and testing of CozyPure’s products.

Phoenix

19

Hi Demunn.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum! :slight_smile:

Just for clarity, I have discontinued the provision of listings of potential retailers in various geographic regions (unless they are a vetted member here of the site, because of the difficulty in maintaining such lists in a retail landscape that is constantly changing, and most importantly the confusion it was creating with the consumer members who incorrectly assumed that these businesses had indeed gone through the strict vetting and qualification process that is part of becoming an approved member of The Mattress Underground. Such an assumption is unfair to both the consumers seeking assistance, as well as the very businesses and manufacturers who have indeed qualified to be members of The Mattress Underground.

You can perform a forum search on Indianapolis or any other area and see what other businesses have been discussed in that region which may be helpful to you.

Whatever business you’re considering, I would always confirm that any retailer or manufacturer that you wish to visit is completely transparent (see this article) and also make sure that any mattress that you are considering meets the quality/value guidelines here.

I am sorry that the SOL did not work for your wife, fortunately you do know a little more about your needs and preferences. Out of the three main parts to the value of a mattress purchase which are (in order of importance)

  1. Suitability and how well you will sleep on a mattress,
  2. Durability and how long you will sleep well, and …
  3. Value which is a combination of #1 and #2 along with all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you. (see post #13 here )

you did well based on #2 because your SOL mattress uses high quality and durable materials and there are no weak links in its design but without #1 (suitability and PPP) there is little value to a mattress purchase regardless of its durability (#2) or its value (#3) based on price or any of the other parts of value that are important to you.

Since suitability and PPP is the most important part of any mattress purchase … it is only you that can know based on your own actual sleeping experience and every method you may choose to predict this will have some level of risk involved and that the risks involved in some are higher than the risks involved in others.

The most effective way to predict whether a specific mattress will be a suitable “match” for you before a purchase is based on your own careful and objective testing. If you are not able to do testing in person than the best way is to base your choice is a more detailed conversation on the phone with a knowledgeable and experienced online manufacturer or retailer that has your best interests at heart and can help “talk you through” the options they have available and help you choose the mattress that has the best chance of success based on the information you provide them and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. You may wish to peruse our Trusted members here, all of which I think highly of and have a great deal of experience in helping consumers find the best match. Some of them are experts of our site as well and if you

While of course I wouldn’t be able to tell what may cause your wife’s back pain as there are entirely too many personal variables involved, including items such as your BMI, somatotype, sleeping style, levels of flexibility, core strength, sensitivities, and preexisting conditions for most people the lower back pain is associated with poor alignment due to sinking too deeply into the mattress with a construction that may not be as supportive. But of course this is a generalization and she would be the only one that can assess this with certainty through her careful testing of all the factors that may contribute to the back pain she is experiencing.

There is some information about the many different symptoms that people may experience on a mattress and some of the most common causes behind them in post #2 here that may be helpful but you are correct that the most common reason for lower back pain is a mattress that has comfort layers that are too thick/soft or a support core that is too soft

If you have any questions about specifications or certain products you discover, feel free to post back on the forum and I or any of our Expert Members here would be happy to assist you.

Phoenix

20

In order to get the best chance of satisfaction i am hoping i can find an all talalay option for around my price point. it seems that dunlop can be inconsistent in material and i would assume that would especially be true if the dunlop is ‘all natural’ as im thinking the blends are certain ratios for a reason. also, the beds im going to check out only one falls in my price range, but like mentioned it will give me a gauge to give the manufacturer if i were to order online. im interested to know if there are any other latex dealers that i might even be able to purchase a mattress from in my area. as you probably already know i am in the hampton roads area of virginia. know of any? also, as ive stated before i mainly sleep on my back and like to try to stay there throughout the night but if i were to need to try to sleep on my side , is it generally hard to find a ‘back sleeping’ mattress that can be fine for sleeping on your side to and vice versa? or is that just personal preference as well?

Edit: Hey pheonix, i visited cozypure yesterday. i enjoyed the experience overall. the location/showroom was right up my alley in terms of look/feel and i had a nice conversation with the showroom host. when it came to the mattresses, i cant say they were my favorite compared to the talalay/polyfoam mattress i tried. the difference is that of someone who is there in the room with you as opposed to someone listening to you and providing feedback. if i had to make a choice based on the dunlop mattresses they had, i would have to go with their medium, which is a medium comfort layer over a firm core. if i had to choose over all the latex ive tried, hands down i would go with the talalay/polyfoam if were judging purely off of comfort. also, based on links you sent me, organic can mean little when it comes to mattresses.