Hi itisme,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround.
You raise an interesting point. While there may be a connection between mattress sinkage and back pain, the impact can vary depending on the individual and the specific amount of sinkage they experience.
2 inches of sinkage can be normal for many mattresses and is often considered comfortable for those who prefer softer, more contoured feels, like side sleepers. However, whether it’s comfortable depends on sleeping position, personal preference, body weight, and the type of mattress. If you feel like it’s too soft and leading to discomfort (like your lower back pain), it might be worth considering a firmer mattress or one with less sinkage for better support.
Keep in mind, whether a mattress is a pillow top, eurotop, tight top or any other top, you can have mattresses that offer firmer tops in those areas while others may offer a softer top sleeping surface.
Memory Foam and Pillow-Top Mattresses are stereotypical types of mattresses tend to have more sinkage, particularly in the top layers, as they contour to the body’s shape. Memory foam, for example, is designed to sink to some degree to relieve pressure points, so up to 2 inches of sinkage may be typical and comfortable for people who prefer a softer, more cushioned feel.
Latex and Hybrid Mattresses typically offer less sinkage than memory foam, but they still provide some contouring. While hybrids may have a thicker pillow-top, they tend to offer more support in the deeper layers, reducing sinkage.
Having said this, if your mattress has a 3" 14ILD latex comfort layer, you may experience quite a bit of sinking, particularly if you are on the heavier side, even if not plus sized.
Mattresses offer a personalized subjective experience. When selecting a mattress, particularly with foam comfort layers, you need to factor in that it will soften a bit, usually front loaded (first months of use), and buy a mattress, with the help of a seasoned mattress professional who will help you evaluate how much softening and sinking to expect.
It appears that this particular Serta is not right for you, and you need a mattress with a firmer comfort layer, that also has a robust support layer. I know this may now seem obvious, I would not use those somewhat generalized sink numbers to evaluate what is good or necessary for you.
What if the mattress sinks 1cm or none at all and you get back pain? The key is finding the right balance of support and comfort. Unfortunately, there really is no topper that will correct this. If the mattress does not have a zippered comfort layer that make it replaceable, I am afraid you may have to exchange the mattress. Keep in mind that a latex mattress that sinks ‘x’-cm vs a viscoelastic memory foam that sinks the same amount will feel different. Memory foam and Latex do not feel the same, act the same and perform the same. So material mattress more than mattress style, ie pillowtop vs tight top.
Work with a seasoned professional to help you get this right.
Maverick
