Overweight Husband and Latex Mattress

[phoenix]

Hi Judiray,

My husband is very large. I am not sure of his weight but he wears a 2x to 3x and size 48 pants. I am 5’4:, 185 lbs.

Outside of the information in the mattress shopping tutorial (which is the first place I would begin your research) … there is also more information and guidelines for those that are in higher weight ranges in post #3 here and the posts it links to that will be helpful. The process of choosing a mattress for higher weight ranges would be exactly the same as for anyone else except those that are in higher weight ranges will generally need firmer mattresses and more durable materials than those that are in lighter weight ranges.

We liked the Pure Latex Bliss BEAUTIFUL and found an online store where we could purchase for $2200., mattress only. He suggested to keep our foundation because he did not like their foundation.

The Beautiful is one of the softest mattresses in the PLB line and I would be very cautious choosing it for someone that was in much higher weight ranges. A mattress as soft as this would greatly increase their chances of sleeping out of alignment (especially for back sleepers) and the lower back pain and discomfort that can go with it and thicker layers of softer latex also won’t hold up nearly as well over time as firmer latex layers that would have a much better chance of being a more suitable choice for your husband.

He suggested to keep our foundation because he did not like their foundation.

You can see some of the guidelines I would suggest for a foundation that is suitable for an all latex mattress in the foundation post here. I would agree that the PLB foundation isn’t a particularly good choice for a latex mattress and if your foundation is still in good condition and meets the suggested guidelines (a slatted foundation with no more than 3" in between the slats and has no sagging across the surface) then it would be fine to keep it.

I also have the option of having a local mattress company build me a 12" latex mattress using the same talalay latex. at wholesale cost of $1025. I can get this deal because I work in the furniture industry. It would be a 6" 36 ILD core, 2" of 24 ILD, another 2" of 24 ILD, and 2" of 19 ILD. It is the same mattress he built for himself and his wife. My question is will this have a similiar feel like the BEAUTIFUL with the 15 ILD top?

Just for clarification … the link that brass provided with the PLB specs was for a previous version of the PLB mattresses and the current specs are listed in post #2 here.

There is more about the different ways that one mattress can “match” another one in post #9 here but the only reliable way to know that one mattress will match another one is if all the layers and components in both mattresses are virtually the same. The layering you suggested has many differences compared to the Beautiful (different layer thicknesses, different ILD’s, and possibly a different cover and fire barrier as well) and each of the differences can affect how the mattress feels and performs and interacts with different people in unpredictable ways that will vary from person to person. The only way to reliably know how it would compare for you (regardless of how it would compare for anyone else) will be based on your own personal testing and experience.

What concerns me is the mattress I can get wholesale has both the inner layer and the top layer being a little firmer. I don’t know how much difference there is in the feel between 15 and 19 ILD. With those specs, do you think there would be much difference. It would be cheaper for me to get that mattress and pay retail for a 3 inch 15 ILD topper and have a 15’’ mattress.

For most people the differences would be significant enough that they would make a noticeable difference in how they feel yes. As I mentioned earlier though I would be very cautious about going this soft (with either the Beautiful or your suggested design) for a heavy back sleeper.

If his testing and experience indicates that he would prefer a softer layer on top in spite of the additional alignment and durability risks then at the very least I would add it as a topper (or as brass suggested in a mattress with a zip cover and individual components) so it can be easily removed and replaced without having to replace the entire mattress.

One mnore thing! He puts a quilted cover on his bed. I didn’t want a quilted cover because I want as little as possible between me and the latex. He said he can put the same kind of cover as Tempurpedic. Will that be hot?

Latex in general is the most breathable and temperature regulating of the different types of foam materials (polyfoam, memory foam, latex foam) but there are also many other variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress besides just the type of foam that is used inside it or the type of cover and quilting in a mattress including the mattress protector or mattress pad you use, your sheets and bedding, and where you are in the “oven to iceberg” range that can all interact together and have a significant effect on sleeping temperature. There is more about the many variables that can affect sleeping temperature in post #2 here that can help you choose the type of materials that will have the best chance of keeping you in a temperature range that you are comfortable with.

While there is no way to know for certain whether a particular person will be in a comfortable temperature range on any specific mattress because there are so many interacting variables involved that can affect temperature … most people wouldn’t have any issues with temperature regulation even if they were sleeping more directly on latex although there may be a few that do with any softer foam material including latex. There is more about the pros and cons of a quilted cover vs a thinner stretch knit cover in post #12 here.

Phoenix