Hi there, I’ve been obsessively scouring posts here for the past week, but this is my first time writing one. My husband and I are upgrading to a king, and after a few days of testing mattresses in local shops and talking with salespeople, we decided to go for a split king and just pick out separate mattresses, because we have very different needs and preferences. We ordered adjustable bases with height-adjustable legs, so we should be able to level the top surface of the bed even if our respective mattress selections are different heights.
I’m 5’11” and about 300-320 lbs, so the weight limit/durability is an important factor for me. I generally prefer the feel of a firmer mattress, but I’m also a side/stomach combination sleeper, which seems to just confound all of the conventional advice I’ve read.
Initially, I was planning to go with one of the hybrid mattresses designed & marketed for bigger people, like a Big Fig or one of the Titan models. But as I continued to research, I started leaning more towards a natural latex hybrid, after reading about the better durability & longevity of natural latex. That led me to looking at more natural/organic latex hybrids, and looking for something with: wool, medium/firm Dunlop latex, 8” pocket coils in a heavier gauge or higher twist count + strong edge support. Organic and other environmental certifications are a nice perk. Price wise, I could go up to about $1800, but would prefer to keep below $1600.
With that lengthy preamble, I think I’ve landed on 2(ish) options to choose between:
- Harvest Green Original
Specs, top to bottom: organic cotton cover, organic wool layer, 2” organic Dunlop latex (Soft, D65 / 14-19 ILD), 8” recycled steel pocketed coils (15 gauge, with two rows of 13.75 gauge along the edges), 1” organic Dunlop (same density as the 2” layer), organic cotton canvas on the bottom.
1a. Harvest Green Pillowtop — same construction as the Original, plus an additional layer of the same 2” Dunlop (so yes, that’s 2 2-inch soft Dunlop comfort layers in a row.)
Or
- MGM Natural Escape (I’m assuming I don’t need to post the specs here in your own forum
) I like that the Dunlop layer is 1” thicker and a higher density rating than in the HG Original.
I was able to try the two Harvest Green models at a local shop in my town. I liked them both, but was surprised to find I liked the pillow top a little more— despite being softer due to the extra cushioning, the support still felt firm and solid. I was really leaning towards that one, and the store owner was incredibly kind and knowledgeable. However, I had a couple extra questions after I got home, so I contacted the customer service chat on Harvest’s website. I asked about the weight limit, and was told it was rated at 300, though would likely support more, but longevity would be impacted. They said they had a customer who weighed 320 who bought the Original and reported that it held up great. They recommended that I stay on top of the recommended rotation schedule to help it last longer. But then they said they wouldn’t recommend I get the Pillowtop, just the Original and add a latex topper to have a feel sort of like the Pillowtop. That way, the topper would wear out first and could be replaced easily and for way less money than buying a new mattress. I see the logic in this, though if I bought Harvest’s topper with the Original mattress, it would cost more than just getting the Pillowtop. I know I can find other topper options elsewhere, probably for less, and stay in a more comparable budget.
I haven’t been able to try out the Natural Escape, but I’ve read a lot of good things about it, and the price is lower, which is a plus, and My Green Mattress being a trusted manufacturer here certainly helps. I have a few questions that I’m wondering if you can answer:
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The website lists the weight limit as “up to 750 lbs.” Does that apply to the TwinXL? Or should I read that as a limit of ~375 lb per sleeper? (Either way, I think it will work.)
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I’m wondering about the zoned coils. I’ve seen a few posters here on TMU mention that the firmer center zone felt too firm for them, especially as women with hips and as side sleepers. But I’m a fair bit heavier than those folks, so perhaps I’d sink in more anyway and it wouldn’t be as uncomfortable/different from the other coils? The Harvest Green doesn’t have zoned coils, aside from the heavier gauge for edge support.
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If I did decide to add a topper to the Natural Escape, how do I decide about firmness? Because of my weight, I tend to automatically assume I should select firm when available, but should I pick a topper that’s softer than the comfort layer in the mattress? Or is that something to figure out after I sleep in the mattress for a bit?
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I love wool, especially its breathability, so having a wool layer between the latex layer and my body is very appealing. If I add a latex topper, wouldn’t I lose that, even if there’s wool in the mattress below the topper? Should I look at wool toppers instead? Are latex toppers with a wool layer/wrapping a thing?
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Finally, one last embarrassingly basic topper question: I plan to get a mattress protector… do I put the mattress protector over both the topper and the mattress? (If so, does it need to be a deep pocket style?) Or does a protector just go over the mattress, then topper over that, and fitted sheet over everything? If so, what protects the topper from spills and stains? I have a 4 year-old child and a 60-lb dog, both of whom like to get in bed with us; regardless of my best efforts, there will be spills, muddy paws, stains, etc. I’ve never had a topper before, so this is new territory for me.
Thanks for reading this far, and any answers or feedback you can provide!