Need Advice Determining Mattress Configuration

Mattress Talk General Mattresses Questions
1

Hi there!

Thanks for putting all this great info out, it’s been really helping me make an informed mattress decision and I love going to all the local committed mattress businesses in the area.

I need some advice regarding the softness of latex mattresses I’m deciding between. I’m 22 years old, 5’5", about 125 pounds, combination sleeper but primarily fall asleep on my side. Currently I’m sleeping on the Leesa and feel it is too firm. I have always had issues with my arm falling asleep at night. I’ve tried several 100% latex mattresses and after reading your info/ feeling them in person that is the material I am interested in purchasing.

I’m in the San Diego area and I’ve tried out several mattresses at Escondido Mattress Factory and SD Mattress Makers. The Escondido ones felt a bit too firm to me and the soft mattress topper didn’t allow me to sink in enough. My favorite mattress so far was the Presidio Plush model from Mattress Makers, it has 3 inches of 15 ILD Talalay, followed by 3 inches of 24 ILD Talalay, and 6 inches of 30 ILD Dunlop. The mattress was extremely comfortable (I almost fell asleep in the store), but I’m not sure if may be a tad too soft. I tried out the mattress several times for comfort and then for nearly 20 minutes for support. I love how soft the comfort layers were, but it’s hard for me to tell if I was supported enough. I may have felt a bit of sagging but it was difficult for me to tell, I didn’t have my usual pillow with me and my current mattress is much firmer. I’m also concerned about the plushness causing the mattress to wear out and become too soft prematurely. But, I feel given my weight and sleeping preferences, a soft mattress would probably be the way to go?

I was also looking at the slightly firmer Foam Sweet Foam mattress in this configuration: 3 inches 18 ILD Talalay, 3 inches 27 ILD Talalay or Dunlop (not sure which one to pick), 3 inches 32 ILD Dunlop, 3 inches 38 ILD Dunlop, but can’t try it out in person since it’s online.

Given this information, do you have any advice regarding which level of firmness I should select? Do you think the ILD difference in the layers of the Foam Sweet Foam mattress would provide the extra support I’m looking for, or would it be insignificant? Is there a particular mattress store/ configuration altogether you’d recommend?

I know it was a lot of info, appreciate your help!

–Brooke

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Hi Brookiecookie2,

Welcome to the Mattress Forum! :slight_smile:

You’re welcome. I’m happy the information here is useful to you.

The good news is that you’re considering products using good quality and durable materials, and both Escondido Mattress Factory and Mattress Makers are members here of the site, which means that I think highly of them and their advice.

The two basic functions of a mattress are to provide support/alignment, and then comfort (see this article). It seems that you are describing overall something that may be “too soft” in the upper comfort layers, but it’s difficult for me to tell much via an online forum. Usually your instincts are correct, and if you think that something initially might be “a tad too soft”, and we know that all foams, even latex, will become softer over time, you may wish to investigate something just a bit slightly firmer in the upper comfort layer, maybe around the 19 ILD range, just for comparison. There’s more about alignment and support in this article. While someone can look at your alignment when you’re testing out a mattress, unless they are truly skilled in biomechanics and finding landmarks, your own personal testing will be most accurate. If you speak with most sleep ergonomic experts, they’ll generally agree that people choose too far toward the plush side when selecting a mattress, and they recommend to defer toward good alignment first, and then “just enough” surface comfort to make the mattress comfortable. At your BMI, the configuration your tested could certainly provide enough “deep support”, but whether or not it meets with your needs would be more accurately determined through your showroom testing.

Overall, this would have a firmer comfort than the model you tested in person. Having four layers allow more subtle changes from softer to firmer in the layers as it transitions, and also allows for more potential customization down the road. This can be a benefit to some people, and for others can create more confusion through the additional options available. Foam Sweet Foam (also a site member here), finds that their four-layer systems are their most popular choices, but that doesn’t mean it would be what you specifically need. When you can’t test something in person, I would rely upon the guidance from a knowledgeable and reputable manufacturer, such as Foam Sweet Foam, and via a phone conversation see what suggestions they might make for your particular needs, BMI, body shape, and sensitivities. They will know more about their products than anyone else and can base their advice upon the results they’ve had in the past with others of similar shapes and needs, as well as comparing to any local testing you’ve done.

You may wish to go back to Mattress Makers and see about trying something that is slightly less plush in the upper layer and see if that gets closer to the feel you’re attempting to find, and then move forward from there based upon your results, either deciding to stay local or use that data for comparisons from other sources.

I’ll be interested in learning what you decide to do.

Phoenix