Hi Manimal,
[quote]Going by the link to the Radium chart that’s been posted in the forum, I think the “15” ILD all-natural that he currently has is probably technically “13”… so I’m trying to decide what might make the most sense as a “step-up” (or 2) in firmness (Mark was understandably hesitant to make specific suggestions and we both thought it might be worth a post here).
I’ll try to post more about my search and experiences but wanted to see if you had any particular thoughts/advice on the above. I realize it’s “theory at a distance” at least to some extent, and there are multiple variables, but the decision regarding the top layer is an estimation based on testing and discussion with Mark.[/quote]
I’m not sure what I can add to my comments in your other topics.
While I can certainly help with “how” to choose … I don’t make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” or PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
Post #2 here has more about the different ways to choose the most suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for but the most reliable way to know whether a mattress is “soft enough” or “firm enough” or is otherwise a good “match” for you in terms of PPP will be based on your own careful testing and/or personal experience.
If you are uncertain about whether any mattress or combination of layers would be a suitable choice for you in terms of PPP then the options you have after a purchase to return or exchange the mattress or replace individual layers with something firmer or softer would become a more important part of the “value” of your purchase.
To make any meaningful suggestions I would first need a more specific point of reference that includes the specs of a similar mattress that you have slept on and a description of the symptoms (or lack of symptoms) you experienced when you slept on it so that I could make a more educated guess about the type or “direction” of any changes that would have a reasonable chance of success (and again this would be a guess at best).
I can say that in your weight range I would probably focus on an ILD that is in the high teens or low 20’s or higher and would avoid top layers that are in the low to mid teens unless the layer is a very thin one (around an inch or so) that would be used just for its “feel” that had something firmer underneath it.
“Latex based” adhesives are basically water based adhesives (like latex paints) that incorporate various types of elastomers (including but not limited to natural or synthetic latex) in different quantities as opposed to adhesives that use solvents (rather than water) and which often have higher levels of VOC’s. There is some good information about different types of adhesives here and some information about some different types of latex adhesives here. I’m not familiar with Ventex but if it’s a water based adhesive then it wouldn’t be something that would concern me.
Phoenix