Just wanted to put out some feelers. Asking about memory foam topper experiences. I am 6’0" ~218lbs. DIYing my old bed. CUrrently sleeping on Bonell coils (old firm posturepedic) with firm talalay and 3" viscosoft high density topper. Topper is by my calculations ~3.8lbs. Weight of the product is about 20 lbs. ANyway, its a good topper and I like it much better than lower density cheap retail store foam. The only thing is in the morning like all toppers Ive gotten even like my Moms Temperpedic, it’s really soft /mushy by morning. I could go and lay on it now and the support/firmness is almost perfect. It doesnt last unfortunately. This is what I wanted to see in other peoples experiences. Do you notice the same? In the morning i cant lay on my back for long without pain coming up it’s so soft. I put my hand behind my lower back and it’s just too mushy. On my side it’s fine i think it keeps my spine in line and lowers pressure points def. Just really loses its firmness due to temperature and pressure all night. I wonder if many memory foam toppers do this? The market is saturated with MF toppers right now. It’s crazy looking at all the options. Overwhelming really. Are they all really that different? I would bet they all do the same thing. WOuld a thicker topper really matter for this? Would a denser topper matter? Be more resistant to temp softening or take longer to soften? So far all the toppers ive used do the same thing. Just mush by morning esp the cheap ones. Aside from trying denser material, I guess newer serene or BB titanflex or equivalent might do the trick as they are less affected by temperatures I understand. I do love the Viscosoft topper MUCH more than the cheap retail toppers.
Hi Nate and welcome to the Mattress Underground and becoming a MUGster.
I can empathize with your situation, being 6’ and 220 pounds. I had a similar experience with my previous mattress, a Sealy Posturepedic ultra-firm mattress that began to sag after around 9 or 10 years.
I made the mistake of adding a 3" 5+lb Tempurpedic topper. Viscoelastic toppers, especially those from Tempur-Pedic and similar brands, are temperature-sensitive. This means that in lower temperatures, such as below 65 degrees when you’re away from home during the day, the memory foam tends to stiffen up. When you later raise the ambient room temperature to 68-72 degrees, as most people do in winter, and factor in your body temperature while resting on the mattress, it creates a warm environment, leading to a soft, sinking sensation akin to quicksand. My wife absolutely hated that topper as she felt trapped in the mattress, had trouble getting in and out of the mattress, which sped up the process of getting a new mattress.
Materials like Titan Flex, Energex, and other latex alternatives made from polyurethane foams don’t create this sinking and swallowing environment. Natural latex, in particular, promotes better sleeping “pushback” sleeping on top, rather than sinking sleeping in the mattress condition, and offers a less warm sleeping surface due to its natural airiness and breathablility.
Quality of materials always play a role in terms of durability and longevity, but viscoelastic memory foam is going to be temperature sensitive and create that sinking dynamic.
Hope this helps,
Maverick
Ty for the reply. Like I can lay on the current topper right now and it’s fine but in the morning it softens to the point where I bottom out and can feel the firm talalay alot more. IDK if all memory foam regardless of density does this. There’s a rediculous amount of toppers out there. Many of them I suspect are not all that different from eachother. Have you exp significant softness in your MF toppers after a nights sleep?
Im thinking of trying a 4lbs topper 4-lb. Memory Foam Topper - Mattress Topper but am wondering well is it not gonna be that different from what im already sleeping on (viscosoft HD MF toper).
I might try a medium dunlop transition layer at some point. SLeep on latex looks good and can return it from what Ive seen.
There’s also foambymail 5 lbs topper (or 4lbs topper).
IDK if this would simply do the same thing. WOuld the higher density be more resistant to temperature softening over a length of time in general theres more material to soften?
THere’s also these im looking at Amazon.com
More layered foam memory foam ontop of support foam which would def firm the bed up.
All viscoelastic memory foam will do this. Even the very dense over 5lb tempurpedic. Polyurethane mixed with certain additives change the structure of the polyurethane and creates a foam that is temperature sensitive. The longer you lie on it, the more it retains the heat, the softer it gets. For example the Foam by Mail 5lb viscofoam has and ILD of 12 which is super soft, not firm at all.
It is critical you know what you are buying when it comes to synthetic foams as they can be formulated by density and firmness. You can read through this tread as another MUGster has similar questions Foams, density and firmness (ILD) but specifically geared toward latex, but the principle is the same.
Maverick
Which would only get softer. TY for the replies.