Need sleep

[phoenix]

Hi Ricool,

But now we worry about firmness because the one that feels best to us and where my spine was as close to straight as can be, has a medium at the bottom, soft in the middle and soft in the comfort layer, all 3" layers + a quilted wool top surface, just seems like a very soft combination, i think what is making the diff. is that all layers where in their own thin cover (think it firms it all up a bit) and the top layer is sculpted and was cut like waves.

Any insight as to the layers in individual thin covers and the “sculpted” layer? also the mattress we like is pricier then we budgeted for, so my thinking is to try to replicate it from SleepEZ and save about a grand.

When you are testing a mattress locally (and assuming your testing is careful and objective using the testing guidelines in the tutorial post) then the “comfort specs” such as ILD or “theory” are not important and your own personal testing is the most reliable way to know whether a mattress is a good match for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences). In terms of quality/durability there would be no weak links in the mattress.

You can read a little more about covered layers in post #2 here.

You can also read a little more about convoluted layers (which would also apply to other types of surface modification such as “sculpted” layers) in post #2 here. It would have a softer “feel” and response than a solid layer of the same ILD that isn’t convoluted.

It can be difficult to “match” one mattress to another (see post #9 here) unless you know all the accurate specs of all the materials and components in the mattress you are trying to match (including the type of latex, the ILD, the thickness of all the layers, any special features such as the convoluting, and the specifics of the cover and quilting) and exactly the same materials and components are available from another manufacturer or supplier. Sometimes smaller differences in design or differences in ILD (which aren’t normally exact … especially with Dunlop) can make a surprising difference for some people … especially if they are more sensitive and are more on the “princess and the pea” than the “I can sleep on anything” end of the scale. I would also keep in mind that more generic firmness descriptions (such as soft, medium, and firm) are not standardized and can vary between manufacturers.

Having said that … if you know the type, thickness, and ILD of all the layers and you are looking at a mattress with a similar cover (which can also make a difference) then as CentralPA suggested … a more detailed conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced manufacturer such as SleepEz can help you decide which of the options they carry would have the best chance of approximating the mattress you are considering and in their case you would also have the option of rearranging or exchanging layers to do some further “fine tuning” after a purchase if your actual sleeping experience indicated it was necessary.

Phoenix