Sorry for that snippy response. I realize I hadn’t read your entire response. I read the suggested posts and think that I need to find other manufacturers or outlets in my area who can perhaps provide a thinner memory foam layer and a better support layer. I do have problems with my hips and lie on my side. I noticed that you gave ComfortSearch, some suggestions in his area of Colorado. I live in NYC, zip code 11369. I can travel to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Nassau county. Thanks.
Hi cschell.
You may be interested in checking some other site members in New York City such as Nest Bedding or Urban Natural Home Furnishings, or if you are considering drivinga little further, then Comfort Sleep Systems, or Shovlin Mattress company in Fanwood, NJ , or Magic Sleeper all have a wide variety of mattresses which may have some good options for you.
Aside from those businesses I have discontinued the provision of listings of potential retailers in various geographic regions (unless they are a vetted member here of the site.), because of the difficulty in maintaining such lists in a retail landscape that is constantly changing, and most importantly the confusion it was creating with the consumer members who incorrectly assumed that these businesses had indeed gone through the strict qualification process and were approved as members of The Mattress Underground. Such an assumption was unfair to both the consumers seeking assistance, as well as the very businesses and manufacturers who have indeed qualified the be members of The Mattress Underground.
You can perform a forum search and you can type in the key term any city or area you would be closer to and consider driving such as New York, NYC (or Manhattan, Brooklyn, Nassau) or any other area and see what other businesses have been discussed in that region which may be helpful to you.
Whatever direction you chose to go with your purchase I would always confirm that any retailer or manufacturer that you wish to visit is completely transparent (see this article) and also make sure that any mattress that you are considering meets the Post #13 quality/value guidelines here.
I hope this helps. Once you have a chance to narrow down your finalists please let me know and if you have more specific questions I’ll be happy to assist you.
I’ll be interested to learn of your eventual decisions.
Phoenix
Thanks for the listings of manufacturers. I can get down to Nest Bedding fairly easily and plan to see about visiting Helix. They seem to require an appointment.
You commented above: “Because {memory foam] absorbs energy, has little resilience and is a poorly suppoortive material and relies on the layers underneath to provide support and spinal alignment. Even though you are light and petite with thicker layers there is little support for the lumbar area which does not come in firm contact with the support layers and will not be held up well by a foam that “melts” under pressure.” Do you have a recommendation for a more ideal thickness of the memory foam layer that would enable my lumbar area to come in firm contact with the support layer? And a good support layer?
Hi cschell.
Just to clarify my previous statement…all of the layers of a mattress work together at once, not sequentially and thicker comfort layers allow for a deeper comfort cradle, which for some people can negatively impact alignment. The secondary function of a comfort layer is to support or help support the more recessed areas of the body (such as the lumbar) and prevent them from sagging. For comfort layers to be able to both relieve pressure and fill in and support the gaps in your profile, they need softness (to allow you to sink in deeply enough to form a cradle), progressive resistance (to increasingly stop the sinking so you don’t go all the way through the layer), point elasticity (the ability to shape itself exactly to your profile), and resilience (the ability to push back and hold the more recessed parts of you up).
Different materials have different combinations of each quality and are suitable for different types of construction. How much thickness or plushness a comfort layer needs to be, varies with each person depending on their sleeping style, BMI, body shape … and only careful testing will be able to tell what works best for each person.
You did not share your experience with latex and I would not have a way to know what may have caused your hip pains, but if it is not the feel of latex that you dislike, it may be that you just needed a softer latex on top and you may wish to try a very plush latex comfort layer. This would have all the advantages of memory foam in terms of forming a cradle and contouring around your body but would be more supportive and “temperature neutral” (latex is the most breathable and of all the different types of foam materials).
As far as support goes with you being only 108 pounds, a firmer polyfoam core such as the one you mentioned in your initial post would provide adequate support but keep in mind that all layers work together and each layer will lend its properties to the layers above and below. If you go with the Memory foam choice you will not sink into it a as much as a 200-pound person and you will need to assess your posture and alignment carefully. Also make sure that you find out the information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to verify that there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.
Both Nestbedding and Helix have good options that would fit your criteria. As you’re aware Nestbedding is one of our Trusted Members here which means that I think very highly of them and that I believe that they compete well with best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency. I would certainly suggest to you to rely on the advice they would have for you, as they are much more familiar with their own mattress designs and materials than anyone else (including me) and they can use the information you provide them about your body type and sleeping positions, your preferences, your history on different mattresses, and the results of your local testing to make suggestions based on the “averages” of other customers that may be similar to you. The more accurate and detailed the information you provide them the better you will help them to help you make the best possible choices out of the options they have available. Of course the options you have available with each retailer or manufacturer (or with a particular mattress) and your ability to exchange layers or the mattress itself or use other forms of fine tuning after your purchase or the return policy may also be an important part of your personal value equation or to offset the risk that can go with any online purchase.
I’m looking forward to finding out what you end up deciding after you have a chance to visit their stores.
Phoenix
My husband and I have been sleeping on a full-size Tempurpedic mattress for over 10 years and are looking to buy a King-size mattress. I’ve been trying to read as much as I can on your very informative website, but still a little confused.
We visited The Original Mattress Factory (Cincinnati) today and looked at their 2 memory foam mattresses, as well as their latex mattress. The latex seemed too “bouncy” and not as firm as one of the memory foam, but it seems like you promote the latex over the memory foam? We’re used to the memory foam now, but were hoping that the newer models wouldn’t heat up as much with our body heat (sometimes I’d wake up in the middle of the night and the mattress would be so hot where my body touched).
The latex mattress also seemed to transfer our body movement to the other person a little more.
Just in the last couple of years, I’ve also found that, as a side sleeper, I wake up with hip/leg pain that I hadn’t experienced before, and I have to turn onto my back or stomach for relief before returning again to my side.
My last question is about return policies and what we should expect… when we visited TOMF today, they informed us that they don’t allow returns at all, except for a 25% fee to change to a different comfort level. It seems like other posters on this site talk about returning mattresses with no fee.
Thank you so much for any info 
H ibeda.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum!
Although I do personally like the feel and properties of latex, the choice of materials is a personal preference and there are many people that prefer a Memory Foam feel and are “used” to it to such a degree that any change to a different material may be perceived as very uncomfortable. There is absolutely nothing wrong using Memory Foam in a mattress… provided that it meets durability guidelines here . My cautions on the site are related to most of the brand names who use less durable materials in their mattresses than most of their smaller competitors, or some of the many online companies who ship compressed “bed in a box” mattresses that are using lower quality materials in their products, which would compromise the durability and useful life of a mattress. Of course part of your perception maybe also that memory foam itself has a unique feel and is a more polarizing choice (people tend to really like or dislike it). When it comes to Memory Foam in fact many of our Trusted Members here (that I think very highly of and I believe that they compete well with best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, knowledge, and transparency) carry high quality memory foam products.
If you like the feel of Memory Foam, then choosing the “best possible” mattress for you would come down to FIRST finding a few knowledgeable and transparent retailers and/or manufacturers (either locally or online) that sell the types of mattresses that you are most interested in that are in a budget range you are comfortable with and that you have confirmed will provide you with the all the information you need about the materials and components inside the mattresses they sell. When assessing any product, also be sure that you find out information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase.
While Memory foam does a very good job at minimizing motions transfer, it will generally be the least breathable and most insulating of the foam comfort materials, so as you noted temperature can be an issue and you’d want to make sure that you don’t choose something with too much memory foam on top that you sink in too deeply as the more you sink into it the more will sleep hot.
It’s difficult to quantify with any accuracy the sleeping temperature of a mattress for any particular person because there are too many variables involved including the type of mattress protector and the sheets and bedding that you use . But of course I would guess that t the main culprit is the Memory foam in the comfort layers of your mattress and how deep of a cradle this forms around your body. You can read more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here that can help you choose the types of materials and components that are most likely to keep you in a comfortable temperature range. In very general terms … the materials, layers, and components of a sleeping system that are closer to your skin will have a bigger effect on airflow, moisture transport, and temperature regulation than materials, layers, and components that are further away from your skin and softer mattresses or foam toppers will tend to be more “insulating” and for some people can sleep warmer than firmer versions of the same material.
There are the new generation of gel memory foams with different types and chemical formulations that may be sleeping somewhat cooler and also can have a faster response time than others but all memory foam has a very low resilience (springiness). Some types of memory foam are also more breathable than others and have less effect on sleeping temperature but memory foam, in general, tends to sleep warmer for some people than other types of foam materials (latex foam or polyfoam). There is more about the different properties that can be formulated into memory foam in post #9 here and post #8 here.
In addition to the information above, this post … post #29 here has more information about temperature regulation and the microclimate on a mattress.
Memory Foam is very good at isolating movement between sleeping partners because of its ability to respond to pressure in a very local area. It shares this quality with latex and to a lesser degree some higher quality polyfoam. Keep in mind that sometimes what people perceive as motion transfer may be due to the deeper layers within the mattress that respond to the movements from the layers above. For example … memory foam is a much more energy absorbing material and is also very point elastic (conforms to the shape of the body more exactly … at least if it’s good memory foam) and would typically be the “best” at motion isolation. But if you put memory foam on top of an innerspring that has helicals then you would still feel the stronger or faster movements that went “through” the memory foam and compressed the springs. In the same way, if you had a memory foam comfort layer and then had a quilted cover that didn’t have any stretch you may feel smaller movements more because the cover would “pull” when you moved … especially if someone was heavier.
There is also more information in post #2 here that talks about the various symptoms that people may experience on a mattress and some of the reasons that can cause them that can help with the detective work or trial and error that may be necessary to identify the types of changes that may be helpful.
It is up to the manufacturer themselves to decide whether they include in the price of their mattresses the cost of any future returns. The trend now, especially with the online eCommerce is to offer free return/free exchanges for an average period of 90/100 days and allow for in-home trial and ensure suitability of the system with sleeper.
So-called “free” shipping or “free” exchanges could be also just about marketing because the cost of returning or exchanging a mattress or individual layers are all built in to the purchase price of a product that offers “free shipping” or “free returns” so the majority of people who don’t return or exchange a mattress are the ones who pay for the minority that do. You can read more about exchange and return policies in post #25 here. Some manufacturers or retailers include the “real” return and/or exchange costs into the cost of their product and some manufacturers or retailers prefer to have them as a separate cost so only the people that return or exchange a mattress or a layer pay for it.
I hope this gives you a good start in the search for “your” mattress and I or any other Expert Member of the site would be glad assist you with any questions that you may have.
Phoenix
Thank you soooo much for your in-depth input and advice… you are an amazing source and we will use the info in our decision
Hi beda.
You are welcome! I am glad that we can help.
Phoenix
I’m looking for a new mattress and have been reading extensively through the site. I’ve narrowed my search mostly to latex mattresses, for a variety of reasons. First, I want something that will last for a long time and would rather pay more for a durable product that less for something replaceable. Second, the research on Latex mattresses support + comfort that is explained on this site is very compelling. Third, I have enjoyed sleeping on high-quality memory foam mattresses like Tempur-Pedic in the past; the pressure relief is noticable and the feel is comfortable. But I don’t want to pay $4k for Tempurpedic, and I also have problems with “sleeping hot.”
I prefer a firm-ish feel, yet am light (5’8", 130), often sleep on my side, and have lower-back issues.
I live in the NYC area and am planning to try out some latex mattresses at Scott Jordan, Nest, and Clean BR. Then I plan to look at SleepEZ and CozyPure based on price, quality, and options. CozyPure’s “zoned” construction sounds appealing based on side sleep + back issues, though I’m not sure I’ll need it.
My question is this: is there anywhere in the NYC area to try out a mattress with a latex support base, memory foam comfort layer, and latex top? Nest, Helix, and Casper have NYC showrooms and have “Hybrid” models, but these seem to be either latex+innerspring or memory foam+PU foam, not latex + memory foam.
I’m curious whether this combination might combine what I like about memory foam (“cradling” support, pressure relief) with what sound appealing about latex (durability, support, coolness). I was thinking that if I like it, I could “build” a bed using a combination of a 2-part latex bed, including zipcase, from CozyPure or SleepEz, plus a layer of memory foam.
I’m also curious if, in that case, a 6-inch latex base is really needed given my weight (my partner is similar), or if 3" latex base + 2-3" memory foam + 2" latex top would be sufficient.
Is it too difficult to predict the firmness of memory foam to DIY this combination with other companies’ materials if, on trying a combination using these materials, I decide I like it?
I hope this isn’t thread-jacking, but I couldn’t find any more appropriate place to post my questions.
Essentia is in NYC, I am not sure what the specs are other then they use high density memory foam.
Looks like they only have latex bases topped with their “natural” memory foam. But might be a good opportunity to get a feel for memory foam on top of latex.
Does anyone else have thoughts on memory foam sandwhiched between latex?
Hi m00se.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum!
You’ve got the right ideas… you are correct that latex, in general, is the most durable of all the foam materials (latex foam, memory foam, polyfoam) regardless of whether it is Dunlop or Talalay or is made from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or a blend of both.
“Sandwiching” the memory foam between two layers of latex certainly is a viable alternative that many people find comfortable. Speaking personally, I find a layer of latex on top of memory foam to be more comfortable than the other way around but that is my own personal opinion. Having Latex on top can add to the durability of a mattress compared to other materials. The deeper layers of a mattress also have an effect on mattress durability but to a lesser degree (a mattress will soften and break down from the top down) and will have more of an effect on performance and support/alignment. Whether or not you would like the feel of a latex on top … or … a latex topper on an existing memory foam mattress, of course, would ultimately come down to your own personal testing because while latex and memory foam can be equally “pressure relieving” they are very different materials with very different properties. There is more about some of the differences between memory foam and latex in post #2 here.
“Sleeping hot” along with the difficulty to reposition tend to be characteristic of memory foam that most people complain about. Latex, it is the most breathable of the foam materials and it is a great choice for temperature regulation. Generally, the layers that are closer to the top sleeping surface will have the greatest impact upon comfort/pressure relief and sleeping temperature (including your mattress pad, sheets, and linen). There is more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here.
Price as well is part of each person’s personal value equation and I certainly understand why you wouldn’t want to pay a premium for a Tempur bed, For the most part, they use good quality and durable materials but for most people they wouldn’t be in a particularly good value range compared to many other memory foam mattresses that use similar or better quality materials that would be just as durable. I personally would have a great deal of difficulty justifying a Tempurpedic purchase unless for some reason my needs and preferences were so unusual that there were no other alternatives available that would be just as suitable and “comfortable” in terms of PPP and used materials that were the same or better quality that would be just as durable as the Tempurpedic line … and this would be very unlikely.
While it is more unusual that you’d find a mattress that has a latex core and memory foam comfort layers…. FloBeds one of our expert members here used to have a hybrid and memory foam/latex and you could ask them a fee more specific questions about it. Depending of how much of the feel of the memory foam you’d like to bleed through the latex layer on top you can chose different layer thickness. Again personally I’d chose relatively thin layers of latex over relatively thin layers of memory foam because it can provide a more resilient and “movement friendly” surface feel and performance to the mattress while at the same time you can feel yourself more slowly sinking into the softer memory foam underneath. The latex would isolate the memory from your body heat to some extent so it would respond more slowly and/or be firmer than if you were sleeping directly on the memory foam. This can create a very interesting “feel” that some people like.
Allt the layers in a mattress work togheter and generally … 8" - 9" of latex is a good mattress thickness that can include the combination softer layers (or sometimes sections) for pressure relief and firmer layers for support that most people of average or even higher weights would need. In some cases … lighter weights or people that sleep in “flatter” sleeping positions, have slimmer less curvy body types, or who prefer a firmer mattress will do well with even 6". These are all good questions to ask the manufacturer or retailer of any mattress you are considering so they can discuss the differences between the different options they have available in terms that are more specific to the layers they use or options they provide. A 7to 8’ layering arrangement as you describe could work well provided that you select a suitable firmness/softness for your particular needs and preferences.
If you do decide to move forward with a 3" latex core , I’d be very interested in hearing what you found and how that works out for you.
Phoenix
Thanks, Phoenix, for your very guidance. I was able to spend some time at The Clean Bedroom today which was very helpful in zeroing in on what I’m looking for.
I realized my preference for “firmness” has to do with a top layer that doesn’t feel “squishy” or too pillowy. Of mattresses with a “soft” comfort layer, I liked the “feel” of the ones with 2" comfort tops over ones with 3" comfort tops. In Savvy Rest, they had Firm/Med/Soft and Firm/Firm/Soft; the first felt too soft, while the second felt both too firm and too “squishy.” They had 2 different Obasan mattresses, both of which I prefered to the Savvy Rest. One had a 4" medium support layer + 4" zoned support + 2 soft comfort top (called the Acadia 3.0), another a 2" firm support layer " 4" zoned support + 2" comfort top (Acadia 2.0). I couldn’t really decide re the zoning (which makes me think I should avoid it), but preferred the 2.0 with the firm support base. I also felt like their mattress cover was better because it was stretchier and allowed the responsiveness of the mattress to come through better—firm but responsive, without being “bouncy,” if that makes sense. (This made me realize, too, that Dunlop as the top layer seems right—I liked that it wasn’t too “bouncy” and so was uninterested in trying out Talalay).
This helped me zero in on what I want. I think the Obasan zoning is probably too complicated, and the price is either way too high. My takeaway is that I like a firm “feel” but also some pressure relief, especially since I usually sleep on my side (I could tell that the firm/firm/soft Savvy Rest, as well as a monolayer “Firm” Royal-Pedic, was too firm).
I’ve zeroed on in Sleep-ez because of the flexibility with exchanging layers, the split sides (am sharing with a partner who is similar size and similar preferences, but mostly back sleeper), and the 2" comfort layer. The two possibilities I’m working with now are:
–S/M/F in their 9" mattress. This seems like the most common set-up, and seems like it would likely be appealing given my experience with the Obesan and Savvy Rest. Advantage is that this can be re-arranged, e.g. to try a M/S/F, which could provide a firmer feel but also some support.
–M/F or S/F (possibly split, in order to try out) in their 7" mattress, plus a 2", 5.3lb memory foam layer from Foamorder. I’m still interested in this for a couple of reasons. My sense from trying out the Obesan and Savvy Rest is that a comfort layer with a firmer “feel,” then a “contouring” layer below for pressure relief, would be the best option. And my experience on good memory foam (eg Tempurpedic) has given the best sense of “pressure relief,” so combining that with the top-layer feel that I like would seem to be the best of both worlds. This would also be $200 cheaper than the 9" Sleepez, while still leaving open the possibility of returning the memory foam, and then adding in another layer from Sleepez, if it doesn’t work out.
My question is, from reading the various posts and Overviews about mattress construction (both progressive and “dominant” construction), it sounds like I’d want the top latex layer to be 2" rather than 3," especially given that both my partner and I have low BMI (~5’8" and 130), to allow the properties of the memory foam layer to come through. (Especially with a “medium”-firmness layer on top, 3" would seem to be too thick). Does this thinking sound right? And does anyone know if its possible to order a 3+2(+1 cover) mattress from Sleepez? On their website, they only seem to have either 3+3+2 or 3+2.
Thanks again Phoenix for your advice so far! This site is truly an impressive resource.
Hi m00se.
Thank you for your words of appreciation for the site. You’re certainly doing a great deal of research & learning and seem to apply it very well in your testing From what you’ve described throughout your post it seems that you get good feedback and are well-tuned with your body.
All layers work together and the thickness and softness are interdependent and it may be that the feeling of “squishiness” that you are experiencing may be connected with the firmness/softness of the layer underneath rather than being “squishy” by itself, but you are correct that the difference between a 2" and a 3" comfort layer can be quite dramatic and it also depends on a person’s weight, shape, and sleeping positions. The thinner a layer is … the more you’ll feel the properties of the layers below it. As you are a side sleeper you will notice this more (the surface area in contact with the mattress is smaller and you’d be more likely to go “through” a thinner comfort layer) and feel more of the properties of the layers below it.
The Serenity mattress is designed with the ability to fine tune it to a wide range of needs and preferences and just to make sure that you did not leave any stone unturned and got all clues you’d need… have you also tried Dunlop on top of a Talalay layer? … As you already discovered Talalay on top would feel lighter and “livelier” than Dunlop (which may equate with the feel of "squishiness " and “bounciness” that you’re trying to get away from) … but you might like the feel of a thinner layer of Dunlop on top of Talalay. The cover too can be a significant part of the performance of the mattress so you’d need to take that into account as well.
[quote]I’ve zeroed on in Sleep-EZ because of the flexibility with exchanging layers, the split sides (am sharing with a partner who is a similar size and similar preferences, but mostly back sleeper), and the 2" comfort layer. The two possibilities I’m working with now are:
–S/M/F in their 9" mattress. This seems like the most common set-up, and seems like it would likely be appealing given my experience with the Obesan and Savvy Rest. Advantage is that this can be re-arranged, e.g. to try a M/S/F, which could provide a firmer feel but also some support.
–M/F or S/F (possibly split, in order to try out) in their 7" mattress, plus a 2", 5.3lb memory foam layer from Foamorder. I’m still interested in this for a couple of reasons.
My sense from trying out the Obesan and Savvy Rest is that a comfort layer with a firmer “feel,” then a “contouring” layer below for pressure relief, would be the best option. And my experience on good memory foam (eg Tempurpedic) has given the best sense of “pressure relief,” so combining that with the top-layer feel that I like would seem to be the best of both worlds. This would also be $200 cheaper than the 9" Sleepez, while still leaving open the possibility of returning the memory foam, and then adding in another layer from Sleepez if it doesn’t work out.
My question is, from reading the various posts and Overviews about mattress construction (both progressive and “dominant” construction), it sounds like I’d want the top latex layer to be 2" rather than 3," especially given that both my partner and I have low BMI (~5’8" and 130), to allow the properties of the memory foam layer to come through. (Especially with a “medium”-firmness layer on top, 3" would seem to be too thick). Does this thinking sound right? And does anyone know if its possible to order a 3+2(+1 cover) mattress from Sleepez? On their website, they only seem to have either 3+3+2 or 3+2.[/quote]
You are correct that at your BMI there would not be any reason to go with a thicker mattress and you can do very well with both the 9" or the 7" + 2" (or with the customized 6" + 2") but again if you change the thickness this will also have an impact on the overall comfort/support of the mattress. If I understand you correctly it seems that you are more inclined towards a “dominant layering” which can work well for some people. Generally, a medium over soft would “stop” the hips a little faster but would result in a little firmer support under the recessed waist and would result in a firmer/“crisper” sleeping surface … that you seem to like. Generally, it is unusual to use a soft layer of Memory Foam under a firmer layer of latex as in some cases it can have a negative effect on whether the deeper layers are firm enough to keep your spine in good alignment over the course of the night but any arrangement that is a good “match” for you in terms of comfort, firmness, and PPP would be OK. Sometimes there are multiple pathways to similar goals but the key is always to look carefully at the effects of each change to see the “patterns” they produce and as much as possible to keep it as simple as possible … and always work towards identifying “patterns”. The strength of multiple layering is the degree of fine-tuning that can be done. in some cases, though it can also be surprising what effects certain changes can produce because of “unknowns” that are more difficult to identify. As far as pressure relief memory foam is generally considered to have the ability to distribute and relieve pressure. This does not mean however that it is dramatically better than the best of other materials as there are other types of foam like latex or high-quality polyfoam that in their softer versions through compression alone are very close to memory foam in their ability to distribute pressure to levels below personal detection for most people.
You seem to have a very good grasp of the feel you wish to achieve and at this stage, I think a good conversation with Shawn at SleepEZ would be the best way to move forward. As a manufacturer, SleepEZ would be able to make all the adjustments that you’ve mentioned. When I spoke with Rodger a few days ago he mentioned that they’ll always go above and beyond to accommodate customers coming from TMU as working with an informed and educated customer that is able to accurately describe their needs and testing history helps them zero in on their suggestions.
You are certainly considering a good quality/value mattress from SleepEZ and as you already know they are one of the manufacturing Trusted Members of this site and like all the members here I think very highly of and consider them to compete well with “the best” in the industry. They are very knowledgeable and very skilled in guiding their customers to make the best possible choices out of the many options they have available.
I hope that the information provided helps you out. I’ll look forward to learning about your progress and the results of your discussion with SleepEZ and of course any other questions you might have along the way.
Phoenix
Thanks again Phoenix for the guidance.
I’ve put in a call to SleepEZ and spoke to Jim there. I asked to speak to Shawn but was told that he’s the owner and wasn’t the right person to talk to. Jim basically said that they could do the configuration I was interested in—3+2+2 (F-S-M)—but didn’t have any real suggestions or response as to how this would work based on my experience and preferences.
Is there a way to get in touch with Shawn directly? Maybe at this point its not necessary, since it seems like that configuration would be pretty adaptable (could switch to F-M-S), but I wonder if he would be able to better explain how the setup I’m thinking of would fit with my preferences.
Hi m00se.
I spoke with Shawn and he was out for the day but he’d be more than happy to through everything once more with you to make sure that this is the most suitable configuration that would give you most options.
Even though he is still out today, he is available to you. For this, he asked that you call the office at (800) 710-9846 and ask to speak with Jody who is waiting for your call and she will direct you to Shawn. You are in good hands!
Good luck with your purchase
Phoenix
Great information about memory foam mattress! You can shop online of these mattresses with discount prices.
This is my first post, so I hope I’m doing this correctly! I searched for “scoliosis” posts to tag onto, but couldn’t quite find the right one and my question is kind of about memory foam comfort layers… I was so excited to find this community as I’ve been struggling to find a foam mattress for the last 6 months that could replace my Simmons Comforpedic Advanced Rest/Luxury Firm memory foam mattress, 5 years broken in, that was perfect. It felt like a bunch of individual foam cushions. I miss sleeping well and now dread bedtime. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have!
About me if helpful: Princess and the pea sleeper. I have rods in my back to correct scoliosis, so I need a mattress that conforms to me, since I don’t really bend. I’m 144lbs, BMI is 22 but I’m bony - post-pregnancy, my tail bone sticks out way more than it used to and is jamming into the mattress when on my back. I have trouble with my lower lumbar spine overarching when on my back (toward the ceiling) and causing back pain.
Like many here, I’m dreaming about:
- really good support
- pressure relief
- an all foam mattress (I like sleeping “in” the bed with memory foam, even the hybrids are too pushy and latex feels too bouncy)
- works for back sleeping (75% of night) and side sleeping (25% of night)
What I’ve tried so far:
First, I tried to find a Comforpedic on Overstock, but it was a more plush version. My butt sunk in too far right through the comfort layer then hit a too firm next layer. I had nerve compression/ tingly feet.
Then, I tried the Tempurpedic ProAdapt Medium. I broke it in for 2.5 months but it was WAY too firm and caused bursitis, pain in my hips, tail and butt bones. It felt like I wasn’t exerting enough pressure on the mattress and just sleeping “on” it.
Currently, I’m on day 4 with Amerisleep AS4 and I can’t sleep on my back at all because my lower lumbar spine is overarching. There is no gap - the bed fills in the space - but is pushing me way too far towards the ceiling. It feels “softer” than the ProAdapt, but I don’t think my butt is sinking in very far. Is there a way to tell if the overarching is from too much sinkage vs not enough? I’m guessing not enough bc I feel like I’m sleeping “on” the mattress, not “in”.
I know it takes a while to break in and might end up much softer, so I’m going to walk on it, weigh it down with books, do what I can to last another week of sleeping on it at least, but it’s pretty brutal as my hips are sore from exclusive side-sleeping.
Any thoughts on:
-toughing it out on the Amerisleep AS4?
-suggested mattresses similar to the Comforpedic Advanced Rest/Luxury Firm, but less firm/5 years broken in?
I think I need to find an all foam mattress that is very conforming, supportive, and with a soft enough firmness to cushion the bony butt and hips but not too plush to sink through the comfort layer and overarch my back.
In our local stores, I’ve laid on all the foam mattresses - the Beautyrest Black line, iComfort line, and Sleep by number. The closest to comfortable were the Beautyrest Black Nadia (too firm) and Scarlett Plush (too plush).
Online research has me looking at:
-Layla soft side (but maybe similar to AS4?)
-Novosbed soft (but see in Forum concerns about poor quality)
-AS5 (only if it’s substantially softer than AS4 and have to wait 30 days to switch I think)
-Luxi soft setting (but sounds difficult to return, bad customer service)
Nothing seems quite right and how to compare to the ones I’ve already tried!
I’d love any guidance! I wish it was possible to hire a mattress shopping consultant, because this is so complex.
Hi Mia12345,
Welcome to the Mattress Forum! :).
Your post was great, well done. You are the princess and pea sleeper…I love that book and the images are so appropriate. But very well explained why you are like that with the spinal curvature, and the additional issues brought on; bursitis and nerve compression. It’s really hard, and so confusing.
Regarding the Amerisleep, the dont list the exact specifications, in another post they were listed for the A2 and A3 as follows:
[i]The Amerisleep AS3 contains(?):
3" memory foam 4 lb
2" polyfoam 1.65 lb
7" base polyfoam 1.8 lb
The Amerisleep AS2 contains(?):
2" memory foam 4 lb
3" polyfoam 1.65 lb
7" base polyfoam 1.8 lb[/i]
Although you have the AS4, If these are accurate, they are good quality densities and there are no weak links in this mattress. I personally don’t like to ever recommend people sending back mattresses. It’s still a lot of const to the companies, your time, gas, freight, etc and many end up in landfills. But really I think you will have a hard time finding your best match. I think you should explore some toppers to put on top of the latex. My first thought is a Talalay 19 ild, 2 or 3" topper. Maybe a 24 ild if this is too soft. This type of topper will give you a little “lift” almost like you are floating, and the pressure relieving benefits of latex are excellent. With your clear medical issues, you are the one that has to really dial in your best comfort. Toppers are not always returnable, but they are awesome on other beds in the house, if you find they don’t work for you. Talk to some of the latex focused members of TMU.
Our trusted members are listed here.
Here is also a post about adding a topper.
And another post about latex and memory foam toppers differences.
Good luck and keep us informed.
Thanks,
Sensei
Thanks Sensei for the response and sympathy. Just to make sure I understand your suggestions - it may be too tricky for me to find the correct mattress AND/OR given that I already have a good quality mattress that I’m breaking in, you are suggesting a topper? I hadn’t really considered a topper as a long term option, but it could be a way to tweak the top layer to get the soft yet supportive feel that I need (soft enough to not feel like my hips, butt, and tailbone are bruising but not too soft to sink through and overarch my lower back). My understanding was that toppers need to be replaced more frequently. I can read more on TMU about toppers next.
I also really like the feel of sleeping “in” the mattress as opposed to “on” the mattress. I’ve only tried latex mattresses in the store, but didn’t find the latex had that contour deep hug feeling that I’ve experienced with memory foam and liked in the past.
One other thought, is there any objective way to find the attributes of my previously loved bed (Comforpedic Advanced Rest/Luxury Firm) and use those to narrow down what to select online? I understand that it comes down to how it feels and ultimately must be tried by me, but there are SO many online mattresses - even when I narrow down to medium-soft all foam options. For example, similar densities, thickness of the comfort layer or transition layer or even number of layers before the base layer.
I guess I had been relying too much on mattress reviews, assuming that the relative ranking of attributes was meaningful, but am learning that it’s really hard to interpret from online reviews.
Thanks again. It’s easy to feel all alone out there struggling to find a mattress!