You did well with both reaching out to our expert members and appending your comment to an existing topic. For those asking the same question, I posted a sticky which explains this.
Congratulations on your new mattress purchase :cheer:
Most consumers that come here and wish to make an informed purchase go through a bit (or … 6 months :ohmy: ) of “information overload” and “paralysis by analysis” unless they have a great deal of knowledge and experience with different types of mattress materials and specs and different layering combinations and how they combine together and can translate them into their own “real life” experience that can be unique to them. It finally comes to the point when one is better served by taking “the plunge” and relying upon the advice of a manufacturer/retailer that is knowledgeable and has consumers’ best interest at heart.
You’ve certainly made a good quality/value choice from Arizona Premium, our Trusted Members here and I am glad that you used Ken’s expert advice in making your selection.
I’m looking forward to any updates you may have one you’ve had the chance to sleep on it.
I want to express my gratitude to the administration of this site and to everyone who wrote in this thread.
This information was also useful to me as a novice.When choosing a king mattress for self.
Thank you again.
It seems that you are making some progress with your DIY.
It is good to remember that the topper/ mattress combination that is best for each person is still a matter of preference and what works best for their individual needs and preferences in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences). Dunlop latex tends to have a slightly firmer feel to it than Talalay of the same ILD, and Talalay tends to be a bit “bouncier” than Dunlop so again this would be a matter of what you like best. Even though Jill71rdh’s input might give you some hints it is still necessary for you to determine which material and firmness choice is good for you based on feel and personal experience.
I understand what you are saying about PPP being an individual thing. I wish that I weren’t so far away from Arizona Premium Mattress because I would love to go in and try out the different toppers and mattresses. But I live in NY so that’s not really an option. I wish there were some business that was set up similarly that was closer to me but I have not been able to find one on Long Island or in the New York Metro area. Even parts of Connecticut, or New Jersey might be doable. Actually anything in the northeast that is drivable might be an option! If you know of any, please let me know.
I do think I like the feel of innerspring better than foam core, but I really don’t know if I’d like Dunlop or Talalay for comfort layer.
I will call APM at some point and have a chat to see what their thoughts and recommendations would be.
The better options or possibilities that I’ve researched in the past in and around the Long Island area (subject to the guidelines here ) are listed in post #4 here which also includes a link to the New York City list as well. Keep in mind that this is not and updated listing as 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 qualification process and were approved as members of The Mattress Underground. Such an assumption was unfair to both the consumers seeking assistance, as well as the very businesses and manufacturers who have indeed qualified the be members of The Mattress Underground.
To further narrow in on certain areas, you can perform a forum search here and you can type in the “key term” text box any city or area you would be closer to and consider driving such as Connecticut or New Jersey (or other towns) or any other area and see what other businesses have been discussed in that region which may be helpful to you.
Your plan sounds good and I would make sure to drive to any shop in your local area that carries different brands and types of mattresses that carry latex and all latex mattresses (both Dunlop and Talalay) to test the feel of each and see what you like best If you find something that you like you can discuss this with APM … Ken and Vinny are very knowledgeable and great at approximating mattresses and even if you end up purchasing different components from different suppliers, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
For some reason i can’t seem to start a new topic, so ill post a quick question here.
Im doing DIY mattress building with my extra firm spring core. I cut the quilt layer off at the top to get to the springs and just stacked latex on top. My issue is that the “interfacing” or “utility” fabric (not sure what to call it) just above the springs is ripped open and id like to replace it.
Do you know what kind of fabric that is? and where i might find any like it?
I have a question about sleeponlatex mattresses and toppers. Are they all natural latex? I mean no fillers or synthetic? Thats what it says on their web site, however why ILD is not in a range (like it normally would if it’s 100% all natural latex, but instead just one number??
Another question, does any one know who is the manufacturer for their mattresses and toppers? They say they manufactured in sri lanka, could it be latex green?
It seem that you have quite some fun with your DIY.
This is what SOL lists on their site: “All of our products contain 100% natural latex foam. We never sell any products with synthetic latex, fillers or fire retardants.” This is part of their vision and environmenal awarness and you can read more about this here. I have no reason to believe that this in any way inaccurate and of course if there was one then they would not be a Trusted Member of the site. From the many conversations I’ve had with them I know that they do not take shortcuts and they are very honest ad open in all their dealings,
The question about ILD may have a bit more complex answer than you hoped. ILD in latex is usually measured with a 6" thick layer of foam and it’s basically the weight that it takes to compress a 50 sq in round metal foot into the foam by 25% (which would be 1.5"). Some latex manufacturers also produce cores that are a different thickness which would also produce a different ILD rating compared to testing ILD on a 6" core. There are also different testing protocols for ILD so in some cases the ILD would be tested at 40% compression instead of 25% compression which would also produce a different result.
Different materials including latex have a variance across the surface of the 6" core so in one place it may be say 24 ILD and in another part of the core it may be 22 or 26. The ILD rating is usually an average of the range across the surface. Blended talalay has less variance (=/-2 or so) than Dunlop which may vary by more (+/-4 or so). 100% natural Talalay can have a larger variance than blended Talalay.
In addition to this … the latex particles in Dunlop settle more in manufacturing so a 3" Dunlop layer that is cut from the bottom half of a 6" Dunlop core can be firmer than a 3" layer cut from the top half and the top would be softer than the bottom of the layer while with Talalay it’s more consistent from top to bottom so it doesn’t matter as much which part of the core a thinner layer was cut from. All the layers cut from a single core will be rated the same even though they may not have exactly the same ILD.
While knowing the specs that can affect the quality and durability of the layers and components in a mattress is always important, I’ll always caution that unless you have a great deal of knowledge and experience with different types of mattress materials and components and their specs and different layering combinations and mattress designs and how they combine together and can translate them into your own “real life” experience that can be unique to you (which would generally be a very small percentage of people), I would tend to avoid using complex combinations of specifications to try and predict how a mattress will feel or perform for you. When you try and choose a mattress based on complex combinations of specs that you may not fully understand or only based on specs for single layers or components that may not be as relevant or meaningful as you believe they are then the most common outcome is “information overload” and “paralysis by analysis”.
SOL manufactures their mattresses and toppers at their factory in Chicago, IL, and while I can confirm that the foam is produced in Sri Lanka, I would not venture to say who their foam supplier is … if they did not list this on their site it might be something they wish to keep to themselves. I am not sure if they wish to share this info with the general public, but I recommend you give them a call and ask them directly,
Thank you for posting your question on The Mattress Underground. The fabric that is ripped on your current mattress does have a purpose. It is there to prevent “Cupping”.
What that means is it keeps the layers above the spring from getting into each coil. We have used extruded plastic netting, cotton rag pad and non-woven fabric like you found at Joann’s in our products. In your case, you are stacking layers of latex above the spring for your comfort layers.
The product you identified from Joann’s would work well for what you want to do.
However, you can also use a thinner product that would accomplish the same thing. As long as you cover the springs and attach the barrier to the edge of the coils (we use hog rings, but you could use a large needle and dental floss or fishing line to sew it to the edge coils) it should work.
I wish you much success in building your mattress!
If you have additional questions, please let me know.
Thanks for your response, I have done a LOT of research about latex before i have decided to get a 6" medium base from sleep on latex and a 3" soft topper. I have to say it was a lot more comfortable compared to my old mattress, however, the topper did smell. I have a small room and and my window is not big, however i noticed that on hot days with more heat/sunlight it did smell more. I had not purchased a casing for the topper yet and it was under cotton mattress pat, sheets, and bed cover. While the comfort was OK, some nights i noticed i had developed headaches, irritated/swollen eyes in the morning, and mild nasal congestion. Also I was sweating more than on my regular mattress which I think is polyurethane foam with springs. In fact skin on my back became somewhat irritated. I don’t know what to think I only have read good reviews I guess and haven’t looked that it can have such issues. I am now thinking it must be in a case or a wool mattress pad underneath. Also, both a mattress and a topper both have patches, now sure why.
For the vast majority of people, any smell of latex would be below their sensitivity threshold after a few days to a few weeks although if you put your nose right into the bare material you may still notice a slight smell. There is more about the smell of latex in post #2 here or odor of new materials in post #3 here but in most cases latex smell is reduced to levels below what people will notice in a few days to a few weeks but this can also depend on how acute your sense of smell is and on how sensitive you are to a particular smell. There can also be some differences between different batches of Dunlop.
It’s very unusual though that someone would develop headaches, irritated/swollen eyes in the morning, and nasal congestion with any kind of latex (this is a more common symptom with memory foam) so this may be an indication of an unusual sensitivity or even a possible latex allergy (which would be rare but is the case for a very few people). There is more about latex allergies in post #2 here. It may even be something that has nothing to do with the latex itself but I don’t know what that could be and it may take some detective work or a process of elimination to find out for sure.
SOL does use 100% natural Dunlop latex, organic certified cotton and organic wool in their mattresses as well, I wouldn’t know if this “smell” would be from the latex or from the wool itself as the more “natural” the material, the more variation there can be in the odor.
The materials, layers, and components of a sleeping system that are closer to your skin will have a bigger effect on airflow, moisture transport, and temperature regulation than materials, layers, and components that are further aw, in general,r skin. Your bedding and the wool pad would have the most impact on how warm you’d sleep. Wool is among the best temperature regulating materials and it generally doesn’t feel “hot” and it helps regulate moisture too (which can trap heat) and reduce the perception of temperature that comes from higher humidity levels (similar to how temperatures feel cooler on less humid days than they do on more humid days).
Latex in general is also the most breathable and “temperature neutral” of all the different types of foam materials (including polyurethane) but the firmness of a mattress and how much you sink into it can also affect sleeping temperature as well. While it’s also not always possible to track down temperature regulation issues for any particular person on a specific mattress because there are so many variables involved (including your room temperature and humidity, your sheets and bedding and bedclothes, your mattress protector or any mattress pads you are using, and where you are in the “oven to iceberg” range) and some people can sleep warmer on mattresses that most people are generally fine with … there is more about tracking down a potential cause or causes for temperature regulation issues (at least to the degree possible for a specific mattress) in post #2 here and the posts it links to that may be helpful.
Ultimately I’d suggest that you contact SOL directly with your concerns should the odor continue to be obtrusive to you and gather their feedback, as I do think highly of the advice that they provide their customers.
I chose the soft/plush going by my weight and sleep positions and trial on a Savvy Rest bed. This is what Ken suggested. I just got it yesterday and have not set it up. I will let you know!
Still not sure how to post a new topic. I just got my Arizona mattress Ultimate hybrid yesterday. I have not set it up yet. I am looking for a good waterproof mattress protector that will not affect body temperature or feel plastic. Spent a lot on the mattress and want to make sure it is protected and lasts.
Congratulations on your new mattress purchase! :cheer:
I am glad you are narrowed down your search and decided on a product from Arizona Premium. As you already know they are one of the manufacturing Trusted Members of this site and like all the members here I think very highly of and consider them to compete well with “the best” in the industry.
I agree with you that It’s always wise to use a mattress protector on any mattress to protect your investment against stains and accidental spills (which can void a mattress warranty) or from the normal body fluids and oils that we release each night along with the skin particles. Having a protector that can easily be removed and washed will help keep your sleeping surface in a clean and hygienic condition. There are many protectors to choose from and you may wish to read through some of the popular types of mattress protector options as listed in post #89 here . There are some protectors that meet your general criteria that use wool (which is a more temperature regulating material) in their construction that may be of interest to you. One of the most popular of the cotton/wool protectors is the St Dormier protectors that you may wish to consider, but it is water resistant and not 100% waterproof. St Dormier has been recently discussed in post #24 here There is more about the pros and cons of different types of mattress protectors in post #89 I linked above. The stretch knit cotton protectors would likely allow more airflow but with the wool, the St Dormeir would likely be more temperature regulating than any protector.
I’m looking forward to your feedback when you’ve had the chance to sleep on your new mattress for a while.
I would need waterproof…not just water resistant.
I bought a Lucid Rayon Bamboo jersey pad and just put it on (we just set up mattress today) and it sounds like a garbage bag. It is very thin and that may be why. Any recommendations for that? I read the articles you referred me too and it seems like if I want waterproof and not just water resistant, I may have some noise no matter what.
Could you give me a general idea of what the difference in the feel of an all natural medium Talalay 3 inch topper would be compared to an all natural 3 inch soft Dunlop topper.
I was recommended one by one place and the other by another place.
I am 220, 5’ 8, with sore shoulders and hips, and lower back problems.
So i went with a fabric i got from my local Joanns fabric. It was a piece of underlining for upholstery (liner underneath chair), and it seems a bit tough on me. Its about all they had. Nothing softer. The lining that ripped was lots softer.
Its basically polypropylene fabric (non woven i think) made for mattresses. Now im pretty sure this is a problem anyways, as even w/ the old fabric i was getting shoulder and hip pain, but i think this tougher fabric has somewhat made it worse (as the fabric creates small fabric hammocks for my butt and back, although firm ones).
Do you know of any type of fabric i could use that would be softer than furniture underlining? A thin piece of something? And/or who sells it? I would love to find the polypropylene mattress liner fabric but it only seems like china makes it.
Also, is is basically true that the lining above the coils is really needed to help distribute the weight of my body? I mean aside from the “anti cupping” action.
Using a stiff fabric could indeed impact your interaction with the innerspring unit.
I would think if you have the right combination of comfort layers over the spring and this fabric, you shouldn’t be impacted by the heavy fabric creating hammocks while you sleep, unless you have pulled it too tight over the spring. Do you have an old sheet you could try as a barrier? It needs to lay over the spring, and as I mentioned before attach to the coils, but do not pull it so tight that it keeps you off the spring. Then add your comfort layers and see what happens.
I hope this works, and you find comfort for your shoulders and hips.
) of “information overload” and “paralysis by analysis” unless they have a great deal of knowledge and experience with different types of mattress materials and specs and different layering combinations and how they combine together and can translate them into their own “real life” experience that can be unique to them. It finally comes to the point when one is better served by taking “the plunge” and relying upon the advice of a manufacturer/retailer that is knowledgeable and has consumers’ best interest at heart.