Organic Latex Mattress Help! (not hybrid)

Mattress Talk
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Hi all! I am new here and have been researching like you wouldn’t believe because I am desperate to get a good night’s sleep here. A little about my mattress/back pain history:

I just sold my Cariloha med/firm bamboo mattress that I had for almost 7 years. I loved it, but I noticed I started sinking in a bit and I need a really firm mattress for my back. Herniated disc at L5/S1 with sciatica and chronic back pain.
I’m 40 year old female, petite build at 105 pounds but I don’t do well on soft or spring mattresses.

I bought an Avocado green (hybrid latex) mattress 1.5 weeks ago and sadly hate it very much. I didn’t know it was possible to dislike a mattress so much but here we are lol The customer service has been awesome though. I can return it after the mandatory 30 day trial period for $99, so I am counting down the days (2.5 more weeks to go!!).

I bought a 2 inch organic latex topper from Avocado to try to make the remaining trial period more manageable, but I still loathe the mattress. So I took the 2 inch topper to the living room floor. For the past week I have been floor sleeping and while it takes some getting used to, I am sleeping better than I was on both the Cariloha and the Avocado. 2 inches is a little too thin for the floor, so I ordered and am waiting on the Avocado 3 inch organic latex topper (both are dunlop).

My plan is to sleep on the 3 inch topper on the floor until the Avocado mattress trial is over, and maybe even possibly stack the 2 inch topper onto the 3 inch to make it a 5 inch makeshift mattress on the floor lol We will see how that goes when it finally arrives, apparently the 3 inch has been out of stock for a while.

So my question! Has anyone made their own ALL latex bed using different toppers, buying a cover, etc? If so, do you have any tips? I am contemplating whether or not I should keep both of these toppers and try to build my own mattress with other latex layers from another company, once they take the dreaded Avocado away. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! My other option would be to buy an all latex bed from either Plushbeds, Savvy Rest, Sleep on Latex, etc.

Savvy Rest doesn’t allow returns, only a swap out of layers within 90 days I believe, which is scary since I live nowhere near a showroom of theirs and have to invest in something without trying it (learned my lesson from doing that with the Avocado). Any recs on your favorite all latex mattress whether put together yourself or straight from a company would be SO helpful.

I went to The Futon Shop in California where I live and I actually really liked their latex mattress that had a layer of coconut at the very base. I didn’t lay on it long enough to test if it would be a good choice to take home, but I’m not completely ruling it out yet. Sadly their return policy is very unforgiving so it seems you have to be very sure about your purchases there before buying, which is so hard to tell when it comes to a mattress. That’s why I’m leaning towards building my own since I can customize it to my needs and comfort without as much risk.

Final question! Has anyone found other latex toppers superior to Avocado’s dunlop topper options? Should I keep the ones I have or swap them out for a different brand? I believe I can only return one of them, and if that is the case I would likely keep the 3 inch and layer it into a DIY build and just return the 2 inch which served it’s purpose of helping me ease into floor sleeping while the Avocado mattress sits out its trial period on my bed frame lol

Long post, I know! I would appreciate any feedback here and hope you all have a beautiful day and more restful sleep than I have been getting lately!

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Hi! My husband really needs firmness also. We have an Obasan mattress, and he added a layer of plywood just below the top layer. (I know - it isn’t organic, but he really needed more firmness). This has made the mattress firm enough for him. We just got back from a trip and he said during the trip he couldn’t wait to get back to his own bed lol.

I thought of that because sometimes on vacation, he has taken to pulling cushions on the floor and sleeping on them.

Maybe our Healthy Choice mattress would be something to consider - it is customizable to your firmness and all organic. Take a peek and see what you think. Layer swap allowed after purchase.

We have a Naturally Organic mattress that is very firm, also.

I do wish you well and if we can help you in some way, let us know.

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I had plywood underneath my bamboo mattress and still have it on my bed frame now since my slats are 8 inches apart- way too far! I just learned I need to drill holes in the plywood for air circulation when I get my next mattress (especially for latex mattresses). I will check out your link thank you for your reply!

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Yes, you are correct - I forgot to mention - you do need to let the latex breathe. My husband drilled holes about 6 inches apart in the plywood. The plywood does not go the full length of the mattress as he primarily needs the extra support for his back.

We run sales periodically - so if this is not urgent (since you have learned to make it work to sleep on the toppers) you can sometimes find a price that is more agreeable to your budget if willing to wait. Things like level of customization, type of delivery, etc. play into that final quote also.

Best of luck to you - a comfortable bed is so important for overall heatlh and wellbeing. If we can help, give us a call.

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Hey there,

First off, I really feel for you chronic back pain plus the trial-and-error of finding the right mattress is a rough combo. But you are on the right path and honestly, it sounds like you are listening to your body which is key.

I have been down a very similar road. I also have lower back issues not quite herniated dis but serious lumbar sensitivity and went through a long process of testing hybrids, memory foam and floor sleeping before landing on a DIY latex setup that actually worked.

Here is what finally helped me:

Building my own all latex bed with layered toppers was the best decision I ever made. I ended up going with:

  • A firm 3” Dunlop base
  • A medium 2” Dunlop layer
  • A soft 2” Talalay latex top for a touch of comfort

I encased everything in an organic cotton and wool zippered cover from Sleep On Latex. You can mix and match from different brands you are not locked into just one company. This route gave me full control to adjust layers over time.

Some tips for you:

  • Yes, you can stack toppers like you are doing just make sure you get a proper encasement so they do not slide around or shift under you.
  • I do personally keep the 3” Avocado topper especially if it is working on the floor but consider swapping the 2” for a Talalay layer from another brand. Talalay adds a touch more pressure relief and responsiveness which might balance out the firm Dunlop feel.
  • FoamOrder, Sleep On Latex and Latex Mattress Factory are great for individual layers and some offer firmer Dunlop cores than Avocado.
  • If you liked the coconut layer at The Futon Shop, consider it as a base layer in your build. It adds solid, breathable support but yes that return policy is risky.

Also, the fact that you are sleeping better on a 2” latex topper on the floor says a lot. It means your body probably craves flat, supportive firmness and latex is perfect for that.

Once the Avocado mattress is returned, building your own 100% latex bed gives you long term flexibility, less financial risk and a setup that is actually tailored to your spine. You can always tweak it later.

Wishing you truly restful sleep soon, you deserve it. And feel free to reach out if you need layering help or brand recs.

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Sana, you are amazing, thank you so much for this information! It made my night ◡̈ How long ago did you put your mattress together? I was thinking of doing the same firmness set up with the Talalay on the top! But I was thinking of doing all 3 inch layers. Do you think that would be ok?

It seems like I would only need to buy a 3" firm dunlop core (6 inch cores are also really popular it seems), a medium or soft Talalay layer on the top, and the case to close them all up in! Also possibly a coconut mat to go underneath it all for air circulation. I would also like to purchase new plywood to put over my bed slats (they are 8 inches apart, which is likely made for a box spring to go on top) but this time would like to drill holes in the plywood for better circulation. After all my research I’ve learned a lot! lol What type of surface do you have your mattress on? Thanks again it means so much!

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If I recall correctly you posted about this earlier. Avoid the Futon Shop like the plague. I have my own DIY All topper mattress. Most of it talalay.

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Also, a proper slatted foundation is essential

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Even just for the coconut mat? Did you have a bad experience for that? Also, what type of foundation do you have?

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The coconut mat kind of fell apart. The Shikibuton (they no longer carry) was subpar.
I have bed frames from here: https://kdframes.com/
In fact I have 3 frames from them. In different bedrooms.

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Oh good to know, thank you for that info. Wont be buying my mays from them!

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Hi, Cupcake: I feel your pain - literally. I have told my story on here several times (you can probably search by user name), so I’ll try to keep it short here. I have 15 years and 25 pounds on you but also a severely degenerated disc at L5-S1 along with spondylitis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. Did fine on a Tempurpedic until it got old. It was also hot in the summer and I live in a warm climate. I went through several very expensive “off the shelf” mattresses" that were total fails. I need some “give” for painful joints and bony prominences but good support for the lower back. I had slept on latex at a couple of hotels and knew that’s what I wanted. I started with a 2" topper in soft density Dunlop on top of one of the conventional mattresses and knew that latex was the right feel. What I ended up with is a DIY with firm, medium and the soft organic Dunlop layered in a cover. On top of that (to avoid the “drum effect”) I have a 2" medium Talalay topper in a separate cover. All of this is on an adjustable base. For me, this is as close to perfection as it gets. I’m a little short for the adjustable base (at 5’1" the “bends” are a little too far apart) but I scoot down a little to compensate. I used to toss and turn and wake up every 20 minutes - now I can sleep 4-5 hours the first part of the night - most nights - in the “zero-gravity” position. I got all of the mattress components from Latex Mattress Factory - they are very knowledgeable and can help you configure what you need based on height, weight, sleeping position, health issues, etc. I got the base locally at Furniture Row so it could be delivered and set up (we are late 60’s). The entire set-up cost less than ONE of the high-end name-brand mattresses. I hope you find your sleep solution!

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Thank you so much for your help! This made my day and confirmed I am on the right track. I was thinking of doing the exact same- firm, med, soft dunlop and an extra Talalay topper (most likely medium because soft anything doesn’t really appeal to my back!). Did you have to do do any trial and error with the firmness or swap out any layers? Also are your 3 base layers all 3" bringing your total mattress height to 11 inches with the topper? I am not aware of what the drum effect is, but I am going to look into it now! Thanks again x

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Ok just looked up drum effect and yes- I hate that! lol The Avocado waterproof mattress cover changed the whole feel of my mattress and it made me feel slightly hopeless at the time. What kind of mattress cover are you using now? And do you protect your topper with anything as well?

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Exactly my configuration. Soft Talalay is usually recommended for the topper but I know my body and went with medium. I knew from trying two different toppers and one ready-made latex mattress (and more than a year of research) what layers I wanted. My Firm and medium Dunlop layers are 3" but I already had the 2" topper so used that as the top layer in an 8" cover. The Talalay topper is 2" so that I could use the topper cover I already had. That gives me a total of 10" which is plenty for my weight (125-130) and very responsive on the adjustable frame.

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Makes sense! Where did you buy your 8" cover from? And what kind of mattress protector do you use on your mattress as well as the 2" topper (if any)?

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Maybe I missed it but you did not say what firmness, ILD numbers if you know them, are your 2" and 3" toppers, and I’m assuming this is a queen size bed.
My wife is about your weight and also has back problems, osteoporosis. An MRI showed she has several hair line vertabra fractures. We went with a 3-3" layers, soft, medium, firm combo from the Latex Mattress Factory, read our review of it here.
If your current toppers are soft and medium I would keep them and get another 3" firm topper. LMF also sells covers in various sizes.
And slats 8" apart on your foundation is, as you are probably already aware, way too much. They should be a maximum of 2.75" apart. Can you add more slats to your foundation? If yes, then you would not need a sheet of plywood on top of it.
Also quoting RF-Jens from one his posts . [quote=“RF-Jens, post:14, topic:41361”]
Nowadays, the DUNLOP process uses modern high-tech mixers that continuously produce an exact density with the same qualities and the same good and fine foam structure.

The statement “The TALALAY process enables lighter densities” is just as misleading. This is demonstrably false. With modern mixers, the DUNLOP process can produce foams with 55 grams per litre (dry) or less.

I bet that most of the so-called experts would not be able to tell the difference between a (modern) DUNLOP foam and a TALALAY foam (in a finished mattress) in a blind test.
[/quote] If you get another topper I would purchase a Dunlop latex one.

You also say that you have a herniated disc. I’m assuming you have seen a doctor, preferably a neurosurgeon, about it.

“Based on data reported by literature, it can be claimed that medium-firm mattresses offer more advantages to subjects with non-specific low back pain.”

Of course there are different types of back pain. What worked for my wife may not work for you.

We use Linen Spa mattress protectors. We have washed them many times and they still look new.; and will not change the feel of the mattress.

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Thank you Bob! Yes I have a queen size. My toppers are both medium from Avocado and when I look it up online it says they are “20-25 ILD”
I already have the plywood over my ridiculously far apart slats (always have) so I’m just going to drill holes in it for some ventilation. And yes, definitely seeing doctor/surgeon/physical therapist regarding my disc and they all say firm mattress would be best for me! Sleep on Latex has been very helpful, I’m wondering why they aren’t mentioned much on here? Anyway, your input was very helpful and I appreciate greatly!

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The cover is from Latex Mattress Factory as well. I started out using my existing quilted organic cotton mattress protector, but with an adjustable bed it bunched up at the upper "bend. Now I use a Slumberly Hypoallergenic Bamboo mattress protector. Although “breathable” it is a little warm in the summer but works well with both the latex and the adjustable base.

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