Mattress Manufacturer in South Central Minnesota

[phoenix]

Hi frozenokie,

You’ve probably read this already but just in case you haven’t … the tutorial post here has most of the basic information you will find most useful.

Because we are side sleepers and heavier than average, based on the information here at mattress underground, I think that we need a thick but slightly less soft comfort layer and a firm support layer.

That is probably true but I would let your body tell you which mattresses are the best match in terms of PPP and use “theory” as a secondary guideline.

[quote]I thought that a latex innerspring hybrid might be the best choice, because I worried a latex support layer might not be firm enough and might be more prone to wearing out or prone to compressing too much if I’m sitting in bed reading. Additionally it seemed an entirely latex bed might be more expensive than an innerspring and latex hybrid.
From information here, it seems durability of a quality latex support layer would actually be higher than durability of an innerspring.[/quote]

Latex is a very durable material and you’re right that it would generally be more durable than an innerspring although in most cases the support system of a mattress isn’t the weak link of the mattress in terms of durability (a mattress will tend to soften and break down from the top down). The choice between an innerspring and a latex support layer would be more of a preference choice based on your testing.

[quote]Though we liked the latex bed at Restwell, I have a couple of hesitations.
First- although the bed was comfortable, the nearly 2 inches of polyfoam on top seems like a weak link. The warranty on it covers impressions over an inch and a half. It seems likely that the foam will wear out well before the latex and that the bed will have permanent impressions that are uncomfortable but not deep enough for warranty coverage.[/quote]

As you probably know … I normally suggest a guideline of no more than “around an inch or so” of lower quality materials or polyfoam in the comfort layers. Once you are in the range of 2" or more then it could easily become the weak link of the mattress although this would also depend on the density/quality of the polyfoam. If the polyfoam was in the range of 1.8 lbs or preferably 2 lbs or higher for heavier body weights then it would also be a durable material and wouldn’t be an obvious weak link in the mattress (although it would still affect the “feel” of the latex and would still be less durable than latex).

Second, what exactly does “blended” latex mean for this specific bed? Will it be less durable?

This would depend on the type of latex. With Talalay it would likely be more durable (in the softer ILD’s at least) and with Dunlop it would likely be less durable. You can read more about the relative durability of different types of latex in post #2 here.

Third - though alignment on the bed seemed good, does just having one big layer of latex under a little poly foam mean the latex is also partially a comfort layer. Will one density be sufficient to be both comfort and support?

Yes … the top few inches of the mattress are the “comfort layer” even if they aren’t a separate layer. This is the upper part of the mattress that forms the pressure relieving cradle. Latex (and all foam materials) become firmer as they compress more deeply so the bottom part of the same layer would also be the “support layer”. In this case they wouldn’t be separate layers. You can read more about this in post #4 here.

In general a single layer mattress will be firmer (it will compress to a greater percentage of it’s total thickness and foam gets firmer with deeper compression) and may not be thick enough to provide the combination of comfort and support that can be “designed in” with a separate comfort and support layer but it would depend on your body type and sleeping positions and your own personal testing is the most reliable way to know if a mattress is a good “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences). There is a little more about the thickness of a thicker mattress relative to weight in post #14 here.

I think a mattress without an innerspring may be the way to go, I just don’t want to have low quality poly foam as support or spend a good deal more than we had budgeted.

The support layer is not generally the weak link of a mattress and in general the choice between an innerspring and a latex support core would be a matter of preference. A high quality polyfoam support core can also be a durable choice but for most people a polyfoam support core would be a budget choice more than a preference choice. Both innersprings and polyfoam tend to be lower cost than a latex support core so this would also be a reason for choosing them. There is more about some of the differences between a latex/polyfoam hybrid and an all latex mattress in post #2 here.

Though the organic beds at Moss Envy are more expensive, they seem like they might be higher quality (not a latex blend, not poly foam on top, different density layers). I think we will look at Moss Envy. Natural Mattress, though unconventional, seems like it could also bea good choice at a similar price point.

Moss Envy sells Savvy Rest latex mattress with a choice between organic Dunlop or 100% natural Talalay. They are high quality materials but may not be in the same price range as some other manufacturers that use the same materials and components. The latex sold by Natural Mattress is 100% natural Dunlop and would be the same quality/durability as the Dunlop in the Savvy Rest but it doesn’t have an organic certification as far as I know. You can read more about organic Dunlop latex (and the other types and blends of latex) in post #6 here. They are very similar in design.

Am I right that we probably need a thick comfort layer and firm support layer?

Most likely yes but the firmness of each layer will also play a role (thickness and firmness both play a role in how the layers interact together) and it’s better to go by your testing than by “theory”.

Would an innerspring hybrid be better than latex support layers?

Although latex is more durable than most innersprings … the support core is not generally the weak link of a mattress so I would treat this as a preference or budget choice rather than as a “better worse” comparison. Some of the most knowledgeable people I know sleep on a latex/innerspring hybrid which is their preference over any other type (although others I know would choose all latex).

Phoenix