Hi lacabra,
[quote]I am very keen on the idea of natural and organic materials, but have some reservations on using too many natural fabrics in the comfort layers based on several of your posts here which talk about body indentations forming relatively quickly. So I am considering an innerspring with thin layers of latex in the comfort layers.
What are your thoughts concerning the following?
A.) www.abacaorganic.co.uk/whatwemake.html#d_denbigh
The sales rep told me that they don’t believe in using more than 2000 springs at the very max because of diminishing returns, and after explaining some of my preferences, recommended either the Chester or Snowden. I am partial to the former based on the inclusion of latex, but was wondering if you felt the other options (as well as the Monmouth or Denbigh) had weak links in the horsehair or mohair in the comfort layers (in the form they spin it into), or elsewhere in the construction.
She told me that sometimes it helps to buy a separate topper to assist with greater padding during nights where you feel achy or sore, but I was wondering if this might prove complicated to combine with another latex comfort layer (eg. the Chester) based on the manner in which they interact together- particularly for breathability. I am not sure if the latex is Dunlop or Talalay and she couldn’t remember off the top of her head.
In this event, would it be a good idea to opt for one of the other models without latex, and then add a different topper for me and my wife according to how we sleep? For example, I thought it might be a good idea to consider a wool topper for my wife (stomach sleeper): www.abacaorganic.co.uk/mattresspads_1.html
and a thicker one for me as a side sleeper: www.abacaorganic.co.uk/mattresspads_3.html
Or alternatively a compromise for both of us: www.abacaorganic.co.uk/mattresspads_2.html[/quote]
I would keep in mind that while natural fibers will form some degree of impressions fairly quickly … this will vary based on the type of fiber, how they are made and tufted, and they will even out to some degree over the course of time as you sleep on different areas of the mattress or rotate or flip the mattress. The impressions also won’t effect sleep quality or PPP in the same way as softening or impressions in foam materials because this is part of how natural fibers respond over time and they become firmer as they compress rather than softer (see some comments in post #2 here and post #30 here).
One of the reasons for having thicker layers of natural fibers in the comfort layers is because of the breathability and temperature regulation of natural fiber materials (outside of the fact that some people prefer them based on how they “feel”) and if you add a latex topper then some of the benefits of this would be reduced or lost because you would be sleeping more on the latex rather than on the natural fibers. If you prefer or are focused on the benefits of sleeping on natural fiber comfort layers then I would probably stick to toppers that also use natural fibers (or at least use latex that is wrapped in natural fibers).
If you prefer the feel or performance of latex then I would choose a mattress that has latex comfort layers perhaps with natural fibers on top of them.
I wouldn’t consider natural fibers to be a weak link in a mattress … even if they form some degree of impressions … but the choice between natural fibers or other comfort materials such as latex would be a matter of personal preference rather than a “better/worse” choice and would be based on which one your testing indicates you tend to prefer.
In other words … I wouldn’t consider any of these mattresses to have any weak links in their design and I would choose between them based on which one your testing indicated was the best match in terms of PPP.
Having a different topper on each side of a mattress or a split layer mattress can also be a good idea for couples that have different needs and preferences if they can’t find a mattress that works equally well for both of them (see the first part of post #2 here) but once again I would make your choice based on testing the mattress/topper combination in person.
[quote]B.) Natural Latex Mattress, Natural Latex Toppers, Latex Pillows - Latex Sense
I researched this model based on the inclusion of softer latex, but am concerned about the polyester padding and reflex foam. Do you feel that the difference between the Talalay and reflex foam layers is appropriate for a side sleeper and could the reflex foam be a weak link?[/quote]
I don’t know the density of the reflex foam but it is underneath the latex and is less than 1" thick so I don’t think that either this or the polyester quilting would be a weak link (as long as the thickness of the polyester padding isn’t more than “about an inch or so” thick) but of course polyester won’t have the same temperature regulating benefits as natural fibers because they don’t absorb moisture.
You can see my thoughts about foam encasements for innersprings in post #2 here.
[quote]C.) Natural Latex Mattress, Natural Latex Toppers, Latex Pillows - Latex Sense
This model is completely natural which I prefer to the one above, but my issues with this revolve around the dunlop latex layers and whether they would be too firm. Do you feel that 8cm in the comfort layer above 2cm might not be a logical construction to make for a smooth transition when sinking down?[/quote]
I can’t speak to comfort issues because I can’t feel what you feel and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved for anyone to be able to predict how suitable a mattress will be for someone else based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). If the only materials in this mattress is the natural Dunlop latex and the pocket coils and the cover then there would be no weak links in this mattress so it would be worth considering if it was a good match for you in terms of PPP.
[quote]D.) www.somnus.co.uk/home/video/
I like the description of the Ortho-care model: (www.somnus.co.uk/bed-collection/supremac...on/ortho-care-royal/) although I think they get a bit too caught up in the spring count here. Their core springs don’t typically number more than 2000, but they use micro springs to increase the count and supposedly the support layers. Would this be a weak link? If you’ll look at the video between 1:55 - 2:00 I imagine that this depicts the basic construction for most of the models, but can’t imagine where they Talalay would be placed.[/quote]
They don’t mention all the specifics of this mattress (see this article) but microcoils are a breathable and durable component (see this article and post #10 here) so if there are only pocket coils, microcoils, latex, and natural fibers in this mattress then it wouldn’t have any weak links either.
[quote]E.) www.vispring.co.uk/the-collection/luxury...eds/the-magnificence
This is one example of the beds in their range which use quite a few natural materials, similar to the Somnus line above. Again, do you feel the natural fabrics would be a weak link? To my mind, this site seems a bit better than the Somnus one based on the fact that you can see exactly what’s in each mattress.[/quote]
VI Springs are one of the highest quality mattresses in the world (and are also very costly) and there are no weak links in any of their mattresses either.
You can also see some comments about “ultra premium” mattresses such as VI Springs in post #2 here.
There is more about the most important parts of a successful mattress purchase in post #13 here but the bottom line is that none of these mattresses appear to have any weak links in their materials or design so their “value” would really be based on which one is most suitable for you in terms of PPP and how they compare based on all the other parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.
Phoenix