Looking for some initial advice with latex/memory foam, first time mattress buyer

[phoenix]

Hi kmark,

Thanks for the update and for letting us know what you ended up deciding.

I think you made a good quality/value choice … and congratulations on your new mattress

One thing that was getting me and my girlfriend is the sense that we still enjoy the sinking in feeling of memory foam better on our sides, but love the latex better on our backs. Of course the latex won out because of several other factors, but we were curious about adding a 1" or 2’ memory foam topper to get that sinking feeling while keeping with the latex’s durability and great support. What is the feasibility of this? Any advantages/disadvantages I should keep in mind?

Adding a thinner memory foam topper can work well to provide some of the “feel” of memory foam without some of the disadvantages that can come with thicker layers of memory foam (such as motion restriction/ease of movement) because of the more resilient latex layer underneath it. For many people that like both memory foam and latex this can be a great idea.

I would first sleep on the mattress for a few weeks though because of the initial break in and adjustment period for any new mattress so you are in a better position to make a good assessment of the thickness of the topper that will give you the results you are looking for over the long term.

After a few weeks you can use the information and suggestions in post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to to help you decide on the type and thickness of the memory foam topper that you think would work best for you based on your sleeping experience. The only caution I would suggest is that while thicker layers of soft foam in the comfort layers (the upper layers of the mattress and the topper combined) can provide better pressure relief … they can also be more risky for good spinal alignment because they can “allow” your hips/pelvis to sink down too far before they are “stopped” by the firmer support layers so “just enough” in terms of thickness to provide the benefits you are looking for (“feel” and/or pressure relief) and no more would be less risky in terms of alignment. Thicker memory foam layers would reduce the “feel” and resilience of the latex below it and thinner memory foam layers would “allow” more of the feel and resilience of the latex layers to “come through”.

When you are considering a topper … “just enough” in terms of thickness and softness to provide the subjective “feel” you are looking for and provide good pressure relief for your side sleeping is usually the best and least risky approach in terms of maintaining good alignment in your other sleeping positions. 1" to 2" would be in a realistic range.

I’m looking forward to any updates and feedback you have the chance to share once you’ve had the chance to sleep on your new mattress for a bit and of course about any topper you decide to add to your sleeping system.

Phoenix