Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are looking for a new latex mattress. This site has been great for understanding the mattress industry and mattress selection. Since we will likely be ordering it on line we want to get it right the first time, as much as possible, which has caused analysis paralysis for sure! Perhaps you can help. We are both 5’7"; he weighs 155 and I weigh 126. We are in our 60’s, have sleep apnea so mostly are side-sleepers. He has shoulder pain and I have hip pain when sleeping on our current 15 yr old latex bed. We have tried a very limited selection of mattreses available in our area of Maine and found we like the feel of all tallalay at Portland Mattress Makers. We also like to have the ability to change around the layers when needed which they don’t offer.
Also, we are looking for a storage bed for latex which has been quite elusive in our area.
Any suggestions, tips would be most appreciated. Thank you so much!
With an all latex bed, other than your desired feel, it’s very simple. The layers you’ll need are 3" soft, 3" medium, then 3" firm. All talalay translates cushier than dunlop so it makes sense you’d prefer that.
has the best pricing from what ive seen. Simply go on the latex mattress builder, select 10" tall, soft talalay, medium talalay, then firm talalay and add to cart. Total is 1450 before tax and i believe shipping is free.
Or if you wanted to save even more, there’s the option for the 7" where you could pick soft, then medium, then your base underneath would function basically as the firm part. That would only cost $1050. 7" is a fairly short mattress all things considered, but latex is very supportive. It’s up to you really. You could always swap the soft layer with another medium layer, then put the soft layer on the top in a topper cover if you decided you want a taller feel.
Just something important to keep in mind, foundations like the one shown in that DIY setup often aren’t ideal for a latex mattress.
Latex is very flexible and heavy, so it really needs a supportive base with slats that are no more than about 2–3 inches apart and at least 2–3 inches wide, or a solid surface like a bunkie board. Wider gaps (which are common with metal platform beds) can allow the latex to dip between slats over time, which can affect both comfort and durability.
Even if a seller says a wider-slat foundation is “compatible,” it can still subtly change how the mattress feels, especially for side sleepers dealing with shoulder or hip pain, where consistent support really matters.
Since you’re already investing in a quality latex setup, it’s worth making sure the foundation supports it properly. It can make a noticeable difference in how the mattress performs and holds up over time.
A bunkie like the mattress foundations terra bunkie is the benchmark to look for.
Maverick
Thank you for simplifying. I will check that out!
Thank you! I was looking at those foundations at Mattress Foundations this morning but can’t seem to see products on their website now so I didn’t look at the bunkies. Are bunkies structures that can go over a solid platform to create enough airation for the mattress? All of the Captains beds with drawers around here only have a solid platform and I read that that can cause deterioration or molding of the mattress.
Just looked at ComfortPure frames which seem ok, wondering if anyone has experience with them. No info on how much weight they can hold. How much does a typical 9" or 12" latex mattress weigh?
Hey there,
I think they just have a glitch on the website and are working to correct it.
The short answer is yes, absolutely their 1.75" bunkie will allow sufficient airflow. Actually, their bunkie is so robust, it is foundation worthy in and of itself.
Thank you! That site is up and running. The quality looks very good for a foundation if needed.
Is there any benefit to having a super soft layer of tallalay on top of a soft layer and then med to firm for core in side sleepers at our weights- 128 and 155 lbs? TIA
For side sleepers at 128 and 155 lbs, adding a thin (2") super soft Talalay layer on top of a soft layer can improve pressure relief and give a plusher, more cushioned feel, especially around shoulders and hips. On the other hand, it’s not essential and can backfire if too thick, causing excess sink and alignment issues. In most cases, a single 2–3" soft Talalay layer over a medium-to-firm core is already sufficient, so if you include super soft, think of it as a light comfort “tuning” layer rather than a core part of support. Of course the thickness of the layers will have an impact.
It really is not as easy to say will a soft on soft will have a specific benefit unless we talk about the entire setup as a whole, the foundation it is on, and the exact firmness of the supporting layers.
Regarding your weight question. I think my 3" king talalay latex topper weighs about 40 or 50 pounds, so I will estimate a 9-12" mattress will be about 140lbs to 150 ish.
Thank you for all this information. I realize its difficult to answer these questions with so many variables effecting the result. This does give us a basis to put together a reasonable set up and then check it out with the trusted manufacturers on this site who would know more specifics about how their products work. I really appreciate your time!
Hi there—first off, I totally understand the “analysis paralysis.” There are so many good latex options out there, especially once you start looking at layer configurations. Since you mentioned sleep apnea and side sleeping (plus shoulder/hip pain), one thing you might consider is your foundation position. I was having similar sleep issues and came across research showing that even a small incline, just a gentle tilt, can help with breathing and sleep quality. This concept has been shown to reduce sleep apnea severity and snoring in some people, and can also improve sleep continuity. It basically lets gravity work a little in your favor by keeping the airway more open and your spine in alignment. I went down a similar rabbit hole and ended up trying a full-length incline. What surprised me was that it didn’t feel as “dramatic” as I expected, it was more of a subtle shift. If you’re curious, there’s a site called Incline Sleep that explains the concept of a full-body incline pretty well. I originally came across it just while researching options and it helped me understand the benefits of tilting the whole sleep surface. I ended up getting a Wedge that is placed under my mattress with a 6" incline. For me, it has made an incredible difference with relieving hip pain because it takes the pressure off all of my joints, especially as a side sleeper. It’s amazing and now I can’t imagine sleeping on a flat surface. Hope that gives you one more angle (no pun intended 
) to consider, and good luck with your search!
Hi,
Love the pun! That is so interesting especially hearing about the benefits you have seen. I took a quick peak at that site and will have to read more about that. I am very interested in anything that helps improve sleep quality. My husband has occasional GERD so that may help a lot of things happening as we age…Thank you so much for the post!
I share similar needs. I have a firm mattress with a medium Talalay topper. Excellent support and perfect amount of cushioning. Good luck.
You’re actually in a really good position you’ve already done the hardest part, which is figuring out that you both like the feel of Talalay latex and that you want layer customization. That narrows things down a lot.
Based on your stats (both lighter-weight side sleepers with shoulder + hip pain), I’d strongly lean toward a softer comfort layer over a supportive core, rather than an all-firm build. Talalay is a great choice for that because it’s more breathable and pressure-relieving than Dunlop, especially for joints.
A very typical setup that works well for couples like you would be something like:
*** Top: Soft Talalay (for shoulder/hip relief)**
*** Middle: Medium (transition support)**
*** Bottom: Firm (keeps spine aligned)**
The big thing you’re absolutely right about: being able to rearrange layers later is HUGE. Even small changes in firmness can make a noticeable difference over time, especially as bodies change.
From what I’ve seen (and even from people sharing experiences online), lighter side sleepers often struggle when the mattress is even slightly too firm it can feel “supportive” but still create pressure pain. One person described needing a softer Talalay layer because firmer builds kept pushing back into pressure points instead of relieving them.
A few practical tips:
- If in doubt → err slightly softer on top, not firmer
- Look for zippered cover designs (so you can swap layers easily)
- Consider split firmness inside one mattress (each side customized)
- Make sure there’s a layer exchange policy (this matters more than brand name)
About storage beds (important with latex)
Latex is heavy and needs consistent support, so:
- Avoid cheap slatted storage beds with wide gaps
- Look for solid platform or closely spaced slats (<3")
- Hydraulic storage beds can work, but only if the base is sturdy and flat
One more thing (worth considering)
If you’re ordering online, a vacuum-packed “mattress in a box” latex or hybrid can actually make logistics easier (especially getting it into your home and onto a storage frame). Some modern options still allow layer customization while shipping compactly.
Thank you for your assessment and advice. Could you please suggest ILD ranges for what soft, medium and firm talalay would be? Also, I’ve seen a lot of mattress companies recommending dunlop as the 3 inch or even 6 inch bottom layer. Does that mean talalay is not supportive enough as a support core in the long run or are there other reasons for manufacturing the mattresses that way? Thanks for any light you can shed on that!
Dunlop definitely translates firmer than talalay.
A soft piece of dunlop is about 21, a soft piece of talalay will feel like 17. Dunlop has a more resilient hold up throughout its compression.
I like Dunlop for the base layers because it’s a good bit cheaper but I’ve never tried an all talalay bed. I am 220 pounds so dunlop would be what id use for the base. Talalay would feel a bit softer which lighter sleepers might prefer.
I once had a storage bed frame with a very sturdy platform from Pottery Barn Teen. Most storage beds are marketed towards teens or college students so the largest size is a queen. Once I went to a king I gave up on the storage frame.
I personally am doing much better with a non-memory-foam foam on top of all latex
2” Serene foam
3” soft Talalay
3” medium Talalay
6” firm Talalay
I think latex just has too much jiggle and pushback for lighter bodies as a top layer