Thank you for the inquiry and thanks for reaching out! Latex isn’t new by any means, but it is growing more and more popular as people search for a natural, non-toxic mattress that lasts 20 years (in fact some people have kept their latex mattress for over 40 years). There are many differences between latex and foam or latex and memory foam and I’d be happy to outline a few for you. Latex is a natural product that is certified against harmful chemicals and off gassing and is available with organic certifications as well. Again, latex mattress typically last 20 years (sometimes 30-40 years) whereas memory foam mattresses typically last 5-8 years. Latex is an open-celled product that is naturally breathable and sleeps cooler, whereas memory foam is close-celled and traps body heat, causing it to sleep hot. Memory foam gets softer as you sleep on it whereas latex does not change its feel over the night. The best way I can describe the difference in feel is that you sleep on top of a latex mattress, and you sleep inside of a memory foam mattress since you sink over the course of the night. Aside from that, our DIY mattresses normally go out with three 3" layers of different densities - normally the softest layer (or the cushion & contour layer) is on top and the supportive layers are on the bottom. This helps ensure our customers get the right balance of contour for their hips and shoulders but also support for their lower back. Furthermore, if you start with a certain setup and find that it’s too soft, you can unzip the cover and rearrange the layers to get a firmer feel out of the mattress, or you can exchange a layer to make it softer. Additionally, in 5 or 10 or 15 years you decide you want a softer or firmer mattress you would only have to buy a new layer instead of an entirely new mattress. There are no memory foam mattresses on the market that allow this level of adjustability.
When comparing latex mattress companies, please keep in mind that there are only 2 manufacturers of Talalay latex in the world and only a handful of Dunlop manufacturers in the world. As such, we’re all (more or less) getting our latex from the same few places. When comparing companies, warranty and return policy is important, customer service reputation is important, and number of years in business is important as well. When comparing mattresses, ours stand out because they are tailored to every person’s individual needs and preferences. They are easily and fully adjustable because of our layered design coupled with our zippered removable cover. Our mattresses are also available with a “his & hers” setup so that your side of the mattress can be dialed in to your specific needs and preferences and your partner’s side will be dialed in to their specific needs and preferences.
When comparing natural latex to organic latex, that’s normally a matter of preference. If you had the two side by side you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. They feel the same, sleep the same, breath the same, are both hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, dust mite resistant, etc. Organic latex mattresses normally appeal to people that want their mattress to be as “green” and environmentally friendly as possible. If this doesn’t sound like you, then I would save some money and go with a natural latex mattress.
Based on the information you’ve provided I would absolutely recommend medium Talalay (28 ILD) over medium Dunlop (28 ILD) over firm Dunlop (38 ILD). I would not recommend a soft layer because you sleep on your stomach. Stomach sleepers generally need a firmer sleeping surface to prevent lower back pain caused by insufficient support. Talalay is bouncier and springier and is generally better at contour and pressure relief on your hips and shoulders. Dunlop is denser and firmer and is generally better at support and maintaining proper spinal alignment, so our most common configuration is Talalay for the top layer and Dunlop for the bottom 2 layers. We will recommend Talalay for two or more layers for customers that have things like fibromyalgia, shingles, chronic hip pain, chronic shoulder pain, or anything where they’re sensitive to pressure, or for customers that just prefer a bouncier / springier feel. Outside of those circumstances, a combination of Talalay and Dunlop offers the best chance to be successful for the average person.
If you have any additional questions or if I can clarify further please just let me know!
