Mattress specs...

I am looking for a latex mattress, decided that this will suit us better than a memory foam.

I have found one with the following specification:’

Quilted bamboo cover
1.5 inches of super soft reflex foam.
3 inches of talalay latex
5.5 inch 2.35 pound high density convoluted base foam

This purchase includes the option to choose a “firmness” level at no additional cost.

How would you rate these specifications? If I use this as a starting point what changes would you recomend? Is the base foam dense enough?

Thanks!

Hi DottyBean,

There is a little more polyfoam on top of the latex (in the bamboo quilted cover) than I would be comfortable with as I don’t usually like more than 1" … but at least its close and for the price range of this mattress (which I am assuming is this one) could be overlooked

3" of Talalay latex in the comfort layer along with the polyfoam above it would be good for many side sleepers and/or back sleepers but that would depend on the ILD (softness firmness) of the latex. Testing this or similar layering would confirm whether this was a suitable thickness and the best ILD for your height, weight, and sleeping positions.

The base foam is a higher density and higher quality polyfoam than is usually used for a “budget” latex mattress.

Overall I would say this is a very good value in a budget latex comfort layer mattress in spite of its polyfoam “weakness”. The site is owned by Brooklyn Bedding which also sells all latex mattresses at their site here (the mattresses on this site have been replaced with all talalay latex mattresses)

Knowing your height/weight and typical sleeping positions would also help with general suggestions as far as layer thickness and ILD.

Phoenix

I am 5’4" and 160lb, I sleep on my back, sides and tummy. Hubby is 5’8" an about 190lb he sleeps mostly on his back and some on his side. We liked the feel of the icomfort, particularly the terry (non quilted) cover, but feel like latex would be a longer lasting choice for us. If we could get something comfortable and long lasting for around $1000 we would be very happy.

Thankyou for your site and your replies, I was very impressed that you picked out the exact mattress I was looking at just by the specs!

Hi dottybean,

Side sleeping generally does best with a thicker softer comfort layer in the 3-4" range depending on weight, body shape, type of foam used, and preferences. This is needed to relieve pressure on the bony prominences such as the hips, pelvic crest, and shoulders. Since side sleeping has a curvier profile … this thicker layer is also needed to “fill in” the gap in the waist/lumbar area.

Back sleepers generally do best with slightly thinner comfort layers in the range of 2-3". This is a less curvy profile and the “pressure points” are not as pronounced but there is still a need for a thick enough layer to fill in the small of the back and the upper thighs.

Stomach sleepers generally do best with the thinnest possible comfort layers which are just thick enough to provide some cushioning for the pelvic bones and other pressure sensitive areas. Too much thickness in the comfort layer in this position can easily lead to the pelvis sinking in too deeply and sleeping in a “hammock” position which can very easily lead to lower back issues. In this position (especially if it is the main position) … it is usually important too to sleep with a pillow under the pelvis/lower abdomen area and to use a much flatter pillow or no pillow at all. This can help offset the effects of this sleeping position.

Combination sleepers generally do best with the thinnest and/or firmest comfort layer which relieves pressure points in their curviest and most pressure prone positions (side sleeping) which will help lower the risk of spinal alignment issues in the less curvy positions (back and stomach sleeping).

The support layers under the comfort layers can either be slightly firmer “transition” layers which can help a comfort layer which is a little on the thin side while still being firm enough with deeper compression to hold up the heavier body parts which tend too sink in too deeply or if the comfort layer is both thick and soft enough to relieve pressure on its own, then a much firmer middle and lower layer (or single layer) is usually best to help hold up the heavier parts.

The lighter someone is, the firmer a particular foam rating will feel to most people. Sensitivity to pressure also plays a role here.

So for your specific circumstances where both of you spend some time on your sides but also in other positions … the comfort layer should be as thin as possible (probably in the range of 3" or so and not “ultra soft”) to accommodate back sleeping. For stomach sleeping even this may be too thick and your choice would depend on how much time you spend on your stomach in relation to other positions. A good choice for many people in this position is a thinner comfort layer (say 2") with a slightly softer middle or transition layer than otherwise would be chosen (still firmer than the comfort layer though) which can help the comfort layer with pressure relief but will also provide better support for back and side sleeping. The quilting on the mattress can also make a difference in how the layers underneath it perform and how deeply they compress.

In the iComfort line, the upper 3 models (or the new top end renewal refined model) have comfort layers that are much too thick IMO to accommodate stomach sleeping or even back sleeping for some in terms of spinal alignment. While I understand that the thicker softer layers may feel really nice in the store, this “initial impression” type of comfort is not the type of long term comfort that will feel good over longer term use as the foam softens and even without the tendency of memory foam and polyfoam to soften, what feels comfortable over the course of a whole night or many nights can be very different from what is comfortable in a few minutes to an hour in the store. There would be a risk of misalignment of the spine … especially with memory foam that tends to allow the heavier areas of the body to sink deeper over the course of the night (memory foam in addition to its other properties has a property called creep which makes it act softer over time)and lead to the risk of back pain.

While you didn’t mention the particular iComfort model that you preferred, the fact that you like the feel of the iComfort points to liking a softer comfort layer and the feel of sinking in to the mattress more than lying on it. Based on this … and subject to your own personal testing confirming this … in a latex mattress (or at least latex in the comfort layer) I would tend to a 3" layer with a firmer transition or support layer or a 2" layer with a more medium support layer. In the second case especially but even in the first case of 3", … the quality of the foam underneath the latex will play a much larger role as a higher quality foam like latex can help keep you in alignment over a greater range of sleeping positions than even high quality polyfoam.

I would certainly be focusing on the thinnest possible comfort layer that relieves the pressure on your side. You are also correct that latex is a much longer lasting material than even high quality and density memory foam which in turn is longer lasting than lower quality and density memory foam. It also doesn’t soften and change its feel and properties over time nearly as much as either memory foam or polyfoam.

Hope this helps and feel free to post more questions. The most important thing I would do is to test various latex comfort layers in the stores to get a sense of the different comfort layers and how they affect you in terms of pressure relief and spinal alignment. These can serve as a model for an online purchase as latex can come in different thicknesses, different ILD’s (softness firmness ratings) and with different layers underneath it … all of which can help “point to” the choices that are best for you in an online purchase.

Phoenix

Thankyou, this is really helpfull.

One more question before we go out and lie on some more mattresses. Is it best to have nothing over the latex comfort layer? I have seen some mattresses with wool (or wool looking) material over the top and with a quilted finish to the outside of the mattress, making the finished product look like a traditional pillow top mattress. Does this affect the feel and the "sink in: of the mattress?

I like the look and feel of the stretchy terry look materials on the outside of the mattress. This would seem to give more of a feel of the comfort layer rather than being able to feel the quilted/ batting top layer. What are your thoughts on this with a latex comfort layer?

Thanks once again!

Hi dottybean,

Post #87 here and post #5 and #7 here will give you some of my thoughts about ticking and quilting materials and how they can affect latex. It is certainly a part of a mattress construction that will interact with the other layers and affect how a mattress performs.

Phoenix