Phoenix … thanks for such an informative website, but I’ve read too much and have information overload. My goal is to give good advice to my son who is in grad school and in the middle of a move with limited time right now to wade through the decision points. SleepEZ will stack the website 5% off plus their current 5% memorial day sale if an order is placed today, but will hold order for several weeks so that final configuration is determined. Not committed to them nor absolutely ordering today to lock in the extra 5% off, but is appealing and from reading here and one brief phone call to them and their website they seem to offer a great value with excellent service.
Solution likely will be queen bed with his/her adjustments; on new wooden slat base; and I expect separate wool topper for added temperature control (especially excess heat). Solution also needs flexibility for future changes at a reasonable cost. Cover and any separate wool (or otherwise) topper will be organic. Trying to narrow down the variables.
His
5’ 11" #225 back sleeper sleeps very warm (on current older pillow top coil spring mattress, but the very warm has always been true).
Large framed and muscular and intends to loose at least 30# but not while dealing with grad school.
No injuries or unusual spinal or other health issues that would impact mattress choice.
Hers
This is an unknown but intended future direction.
Planning for this upfront is part of the need for flexibility.
The firmness choices for this side will allow easier experimentation for his side without the need to necessarily replace core pieces during the inexpensive swapping grace period offered by SleepEZ and others.
I have a 6" natural Talalay from Soaring Heart with separate purchase of memory foam topper so have some direct experience, but from reading here realize I can tweak things even more for even better comfort.
My son has done some field testing but those retail bed stores are too expensive and not a good value. Also due to high sales tax where he is the online option has an immediate cost advantage. However Flobeds in California despite the sales tax penalty has appeal for the cost effective flexibility they offer. They allow one to keep any cores that are exchanged; over the 20 year life of the bed they allow you to purchase/exchange up to 4 cores (meaning half-side of a queen). I read with great interest your very respectful and clarifying interchange with Flobeds on the thread (https://forum.mattressunderground.com/t/flobeds-vs-sleepezlimitstart=0) comparing SleepEZ with Flobeds.
A bit more info and then initial questions:
1) From his field testing and description it seems my son likes at least moderate sinking in feeling. Given his size/weight and personal preference would it be correct in saying that his bed should use the progressive approach (rather than differential)?
2) Temperature control: From what I have read it seems that in addition to what ever wool is already built in to the cover, that he will benefit greatly from an additional wool topper. I have spoken with Holy Lamb Organics as well as Sleep and Beyond about their wool toppers. Since the reason for this topper would be temperature control 1.5" will accomplish that as far as I can tell (versus 3" models); and while the wool topper will alter the experience of the mattress below; the 1.5" would seem to have less impact on this. In addition, and unfortunately a separate wool topper over the course of several years of use will get firmer, but it seems to me that the amount of change will be even greater for the 3" over time. For some manufacturers the difference in cost between 1.5" and 3" is quite small while for others the cost jump is enormous. Not ruling out 3" but would be nice to rule out that out to reduce the variables and decision points. Finally from limited field testing there is some preference for Talalay, and I believe this might be somewhat better temperature advantage than Dunlop (but since any Dunlop would be the lowest layer in stack) the possible advantage of Talalay as regards temp control would be minimal as the temp control aspect would probably be most impacted by materials and layers closest to body (as well as what kind of blanket and room temp/humidity for sleeping). Appreciate your thoughts on the temperature control aspect?
3) Next steps: My son will go today to place that carries Savvy Rest and do some field testing. Their Savvy separate wool topper is 2" and its construction is going to be somewhat different than the likely choice that he would purchase, but it seems that testing any mattress is best done with any separate topper that one is planning on using. (Unfortunately it has been a challenge to find a shop that has the 1.5" wool topper available AND has ability to demo various mattress layer configurations.)
In addition, the tentative plan is that below the normal fitted sheet would be a thin organic washable cotton pad and this too should be used in testing. A cotton pad seems needed for moisture absorption and easy washing; I don’t think an additional fitted flannel sheet in lieu of the cotton pad would be sufficient, but perhaps you think that’d be worthwhile. It’d seem that a flannel fitted sheet would alter the feeling of the mattress less.
He will take current pillow with him for field testing in part because it is familiar, but with new mattress it is extremely like that new pillows and some pillow experimentation will be essential (after breaking in; tweaking; and getting used to a new mattress).
FYI, seems like mattress might end up being 3 x 3" latex layers with organic cover with integrated wool; then separate 1.5" wool topper; and very thin cotton pad; and finally normal fitted sheet. My son is as detailed and discerning as I can be and has actually done some mock ups of furniture design so appreciates the research I’m doing for him which he will fine tune.
Sorry for such a long post and thanks for steering us in the right direction.