Latex vs Wool Topper to add to keep a Firm feeling

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My husband and I have been sleeping on whatever mattress they sold at the Naval Exchange 10 years ago, seemed like maybe a 7-9 inch innerspring mattress. I’ve been through 3 pregnancies on it and was totally fine. The bed started sagging a bit and popped a spring on his side so we’ve had to start this journey. We are both under 200 lb. My husband prefers firm/extra firm, I have to sleep on my side in pregnancy (which we hope for more) and prefer a firm instead of extra firm feel for my hips.

I sleep very hot with the pregnancies and nursing babies off and on and toddlers coming into bed. Neither of us want anything to do with memory foam or cooling gels or anything.

I tried the Costco Stearns and Foster Lakeridge hoping for a firm mattress, it was fine and I slept fine but my husband didn’t like the sinking feeling and it was a bit hotter than I wanted. It was also 14 inches thick, seemed twice as tall as our last mattress. We have low ceilings and did not like the height.

When that didn’t work I just went for the cheapest mattress at Mattress Firm because I’m sure that mattress we had before was cheap. We aren’t particularly picky I don’t think, but I do sleep hot. We have the BeautyRest BR800 in a King. It is also fine, I don’t hate it (been about two weeks), but I feel a little more sore when waking up than the Lakeridge. I feel perfectly comfortable falling asleep, don’t toss and turn, but wake up a bit sore. Husband is feeling a bit sore, too.

We absolutely want to sleep on top of the mattress, don’t like sinking. Just want a regular firm innerspring feel, with no sinking feeling or the heat that comes with that.

I’m looking at wool toppers because I don’t really want to return this mattress and I think we can make it work. But wool seems a bit finicky, with wearing out and rotating and I’m not sure if it will feel too pillowy. But it seems to be the only thing that won’t make the mattress hotter?

I would consider latex as well, but I’ve heard that it is cooler than memory foam but that doesn’t mean its actually cool. It will add some heat to a mattress because its still plastic/rubber, even if its natural.

Can anyone direct me in the way to go, to make this cheap mattress work. We just want a cool, no sinking, innerspring feeling. I honestly will just keep sleeping on this mattress and get used to it I think, but if there is a topper that could make it all work I would be grateful.

I’m sorry if I haven’t done enough research, the latex stuff has gone over my head a bit. Thanks for any advice!

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Hi Kabamo,

Welcome to the community, and thank you for your question.

The short version is this is, once a mattress starts to sag, especially a cheaper one or most anyone that does not offer swappable comfort layers, is not going to resolve itself.

No topper, not wool or latex or otherwise, can fix a support issue. Toppers can make something feel a little better on the surface, but they can’t solve a mattress that’s already lacking in its core structure.

In your case, you’re trying to avoid another return, and it sounds like you’re okay with the BR800 for now, even though both of you are waking up a little sore. That soreness is likely coming from a lack of proper support underneath your bodies rather than pressure points on top. A wool topper will help with temperature, and it won’t add that sinking memory foam feel you hate, but it also won’t add support. If the mattress is already too soft or just not holding you up right, a wool topper might actually make things feel worse by being too cushy and uneven over time, since wool compresses and shifts.

Latex is worth considering. It’s not magic, but it’s definitely cooler than memory foam, especially if you go with something ventilated or a firmer type like Dunlop latex. A firm 2-inch Dunlop latex topper could help make the mattress feel a little more supportive and reduce the pressure you’re feeling on your hips. It’s springy and holds you up more than it lets you sink in. It might run a little warmer than wool but still a big improvement over foam and gel. If you go this route, look for something with a cotton or wool cover rather than anything synthetic, since you’re clearly sensitive to heat. This description of latex, particularly my use of dunlop is from a general perspective. The light between dunlop and talalay is shrinking, due to better methods of manufacturing, processing and cleaning.

Longer term, since you and your husband like different firmness levels, you might want to look into a split king setup. That way, each of you can have the firmness you want without compromising. Or you could find a mattress that has split comfort layers inside, where each side is customized. There are companies that do this with latex hybrids or dual-coil setups. Engineered Sleep, DLX, Helix Elite Series, Backscience, and most latex manufacturers can do this for you

If you’re staying with the BR800 for now, the most practical thing would be a firm 2-inch Dunlop latex topper. If the mattress isn’t sagging too badly yet, this might buy you some comfort and better support while staying relatively cool. But if things keep getting worse, it may be time to start looking into a full mattress replacement with something more breathable and supportive.

It’s tough to know what someone’s budget is. My gut reaction is to say that going for the cheapest mattress might not be the best idea. Costco does have a great return policy, but that shouldn’t be the main reason to buy from there, unless you’ve already done your homework, compared your options, and one of their mattresses just happens to be one of your top picks. Many of their mattresses are made specifically for them and to their specifications for sale, so it may be a rough comparison to make from their main retail brand assortment.

You may find success working with a local mattress manufacturer if there is one in your area, or a TM here at TMU. The folks at @DLX, @EngineeredSleep, @Sleep_EZ, @Arizona_Premium and @BackScience have experienced professional staff to help guide you to a perfect split internal comfort mattress to your liking. While there are other single feel mattresses that may work comfortably for both of you, perhaps a firmer mattress with the addition of a topper, that may open up your choice options.

Many times the foundation being used can have a profound effect on the feel of a mattress, so be prepared to offer that information should you decide to speak with someone about designing a bed specifically for you and your spouse.

Finally, it may be time to re-evaluate your pillow. I’m currently on vacation at a fairly upscale hotel in Florida, and the experience has been less than ideal. The feather pillows are terrible, the Beautyrest Hospitality mattress is uncomfortable, and both my wife and I have woken up sore every day. We can’t wait to get back to our own mattress, an unusual sentiment, since most people tend to sleep better when they’re away. Perhaps if the pillows weren’t so awful (all three they provided were equally bad), the sleep experience would have been more bearable. This just reinforces how much a pillow can impact the quality of your sleep.

Hope this helps,

Maverick

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Thanks so much for your response! When I was looking up mattresses everyone said this one was like sleeping on a rock so I figured maybe it was too firm, I wouldn’t have guessed it wasn’t supportive enough but because it’s on the cheaper side I don’t doubt it. It doesn’t have any give at all, but it also doesn’t bounce like our other innerspring so the inside is definitely different. And the edge support isn’t as good as our old innerspring.

I guess the only other option might be the Stearns and Foster Extra Firm we tried. I only get hip pain while pregnant, so I don’t mind going extra firm if the general sleep is better most of the time. The budget isn’t necessarily an issue, but I don’t want to pay 5x more when it seems like we don’t have that many issues. I know our last mattress was also the cheapest one they had at the Exchange so I thought we could get away with it, but I guess they are just too different now.

I will look into the topper though, because hopefully we could use it with a new mattress if we need to switch it as well.

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The short response is, as I am traveling right now, it is not the cost that is going to provide comfort. Cost certainly is a factor for most mortals, but materials, construction, densities and gauges, and how it all cones together to support you, that is more important.

Focus on that first, build up to what is comfortable and supportive. Blindly narrow down to a few that meet all the criteria, then put your glasses on and compare prices and budget. Price should not influence your decision making while you are looking and testing. Price should be your deciding factor after you narrow your choices.

If you allow Price to influence what you test/try, you will never be able to determine what your most comfortable option may be. It may be one that is out of your budget, but at least you know something exists, and what someone else can try to mimic.

Maverick