Hello. Have been reading your mattress forum for awhile and still can not quite figure out how to evaluate our new IChoice mattress purchased from Denver Mattress. I had been sleeping in the recliner for quite some time due to difficulties sleeping on a too firm Restonic mattress that my husband loves. I had arms going to sleep in the firm mattress, and had lower back pain from the too soft innerspring mattress before that.
Layers on the IChoice:
3" Talalay Latex Topper (Very Soft Feel)
Quilt layers:
Stretch Knit Ticking
2" Talalay latex
1" 1.35 Density foam
Natural Rayon Fire Barrier
Support system:
4" Talalay Latex core
3" 1.8 lb high Resiliency Foam
120 day sleep test. We tried the tempurpedic simplicity mattress first and my lower back hurt so much I never really even could get to sleep on it.
This bed eliminated the lower back pain (EUREKA!) but now have upper back pain and a very sore neck. I went back in and they talked me into buying a different pillow to see if that helped.
It hasn’t but I am so thrilled at the lack of lower back pain I want to see if I can tweak this mattress to work.
I end up sleeping on my back in this bed usually after trying my side. I have knee pain when my knees touch that even a pillow doesnt seem to help. That is normal for me in most every bed…
We tried sleeping on the mattress without the topper and it is too firm.
Any direction that anyone can give me would be most welcome!
I believe that their topper may be 24 ILD but none of the stores have ever been able to confirm this for me (and I’ve asked many of them). ADDED: you can see the specs here (thanks djarchow) and the topper is 14 ILD.
[quote]This bed eliminated the lower back pain (EUREKA!) but now have upper back pain and a very sore neck. I went back in and they talked me into buying a different pillow to see if that helped.
It hasn’t but I am so thrilled at the lack of lower back pain I want to see if I can tweak this mattress to work.[/quote]
Post #2 here and the posts it links to has more information about the more common sleeping “symptoms” and some of their possible causes but with the symptoms you are describing your pillow is also the first thing I would have suspected as well.
Side sleepers generally need a thicker pillow to keep their head and neck in good alignment, stomach sleepers generally need a very thin pillow or no pillow at all, and back sleepers are in between these two. There is more about pillows in the pillow thread here.
I don’t know your body type but it’s also possible that the topper in combination with any softer comfort layers in the mattress may be a little too thick and/or soft for you which can lead to sleeping in a more “hunched” position when you are on your back which can also lead to upper back discomfort or pain.
I don’t know the cause of your knee pain but sleeping with any joint outside of it’s “neutral” range of motion can certainly cause pain in that joint (see post #2 here). As you mentioned, a pillow between the knees can also help when you are side sleeping.
Thank you for your reply Phoenix.
I am 5’5" and weigh 175 lbs. and 47 years old.
Is there a way to find out the ILD’s of the different latex layers in this bed? Does Denver Mattress disclose that information to the public? I am shopping at the one in Lincoln, NE. I do not know any other location near us that seems to have the 120 day test and even this location says after two beds you are done because they have to sell the beds at a loss after I return them. Do you have any other stores that you would recommend? I am not impressed with Slumberland or Mattress Firm…Possibly Nebraska Furniture Mart in Omaha?
I tried using no pillow while on my back and that relieved the neck pain but still am definitely having the mid to upper back pain.
Also tried positioning my legs differently after reading the post you recommended and it helped! But for some reason I still seem to flip over to my back eventually!
The only way to find out would be from Denver Mattress and none of the people I have talked with knew what the ILD was. My guess of 24 was based on the ILD of the comfort layers they were using in their previous mattresses that the iChoice replaced. ADDED: you can see the specs here (thanks djarchow) and the topper is 14 ILD.
The better options or possibilities I’m aware of in the Lincoln and Omaha, NE areas are listed in post #2 here.
I was also looking at the IChoice but ended up ordering from Flexus Comfort (who were great).
My local Denver had the ILDs listed for the internal layers but not the topper. I contacted corporate and they called me back with the details on the topper and verified the other layers.
Thanks darchow for the specs on the IChoice. Even though it uses quality materials I feel that is isn’t quite right for us. At the $2599 price I hate to think that I also then need to buy a different topper to be happy with it! I think it is just a bit too soft…
What was your experience like with Flexus Comfort? Are you able to customize and exchange until you get the right fit for you? Are you satisfied with your purchase from them?
Thanks for posting the specs … I appreciate it. I had called corporate a few times but I didn’t leave a message thinking that I would just try again so I’m grateful that you were able to confirm the specs which are different from what you had been told previously in a store and from what I had “guessed” as well.
They are certainly using a thick/soft topper.
I’ve edited a couple of my posts where I guessed (wrongly) at the ILD and linked to your specs.
I also thought the topper was really soft, but I like a firmer bed so YMMV.
I just received my 13" mattress from Flexus today but I haven’t put it together yet. The foundation I got from Flexus (which actually ships from SleepEZ) won’t be here until tomorrow so I cant comment on how the bed feels. They told me they will exchange 1 layer for a flat fee of $50. Henry Ortiz, the owner was great to deal with. He was quick to respond to questions both via email and over the phone. They also shipped the bed in less than a week after I ordered which was great. I bought during their sale (which I see is going on again) which made the bed and foundation shipped, just $40 over the best price I could find on the web.
So while I haven’t slept on the new bed yet, my experience with Flexus so far has been great.
I am sleeping great on the new mattress. I am waiting for it to soften up some more and may switch the top 24 ild layer for a 19 depending on how it feels after my 30 days. The only drawback to the latex so far is I have rolled too close to the edge a couple times and rolled right off the bed. I am still used to the stiff sides on our old innerspring. My wife thinks it is hilarious.
