Hi Buck,
If you are designing and building your own mattress out of separate components the first place I would start is by reading option 3 in post #15 here and the posts it links to so that you can make sure that you have realistic expectations and that you are comfortable with the uncertainty and trial and error (or in some cases higher costs) that may be involved in the DIY process. The best approach to a DIY mattress is a “spirit of adventure” where what you learn and the satisfaction that comes from the process itself is more important than any cost savings you may realize (which may or may not happen).
I would also read post #9 here and the posts it links to about the different ways that one mattress can “match” another one because even relatively small differences between two mattresses can make a surprising or unexpected difference for some people … especially if they are more towards the “princess and the pea” than the “I can sleep on anything” end of the range in terms of their sensitivity to smaller differences between two mattresses.
The most reliable way to “approximate” another mattress would be to accurately find out all the specifics of a mattress that you are using as a “blueprint” and then buy all the individual layers with exactly the same type, thickness, and ILD and layer them inside a very similar cover. If you don’t have the exact specifics of the mattress you are using as a blueprint or if the information you have is incorrect then of course the materials you buy will end up being different from the mattress you tested. There would also be some difference that some people may feel between glued and unglued layers. While you can see the ILD and thickness of the “regular” PLB layers to the best of my knowledge in post #2 here … I don’t know the specifics of the layers in the Healthy Back mattresses and there would be some differences so you would need to be confident that the information you have about the specs is accurate. If you aren’t certain about the specs of the Healthy Back mattresses then it may be a good idea to test some of the “regular” PLB mattresses to use one of them as your blueprint.
I would also keep in mind that there are too many unknowns, variables, and preferences involved for anyone to be able to know with any certainty which design or combination of layers may work best for you based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or theory at a distance (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). Your own testing or experience is really the only reliable way to know whether a mattress or combination of layers is a good match for you in terms of PPP or how closely it will match another mattress.
[quote]So, this is the difficult part, any idea how I could configure a mattress amongst these options to meet the Essence+ goal?
(I’ve run through several layering options and it all comes out to be about the same price in the end.)[/quote]
Again … I don’t know the specifics of the Healthy Back mattresses so I don’t know which combination of layers would come closest (outside of the exact same layers if you are confident that the specs you have are accurate). If you were able to share the specifics of your actual sleeping experience with a specific configuration you have slept on for a few days and then provide some feedback about how it is different from your “blueprint” mattress or your “ideal” in terms of PPP then I could make some suggestions or “guesses” about any changes in layering that may move you closer to what you are looking for but without this I wouldn’t have any reference points that I can use to make any meaningful suggestions.
This would depend on the specifics of what you are looking to change in terms of “feel”, comfort/pressure relief, or support/alignment and on where you are inside the range of all of these that would work best for you. Adding another inch of 15 ILD would make more of a difference in terms of the surface feel of the mattress and would add a little pressure relief. Adding another inch or 24 ILD under the would also add a bit of pressure relief but would make less of a difference in the “surface feel” of the mattress.
[quote]Next, Arizona offers either a 2" 22 ILD or 3" 19 or 28 ILD comfort layer with their all natural Talalay core.
Other all natural topper options are
1.8" 21 ILD or
3" 20-24, 25-29, or 30-34 ILD.[/quote]
Differences in ILD in the range of 2 or 3 ILD if the Talalay is the same type and blend made by the same manufacturer wouldn’t make much difference and would be inside the normal variance of latex layers anyway as long as you are using the same thickness of all the layers. I would keep in mind that the Talalay in the Healthy Back mattresses is blended while the Talalay you are considering seems to be 100% natural so this will make some difference as well. Once you have differences that are more than about 2 or 3 ILD or differences in any of the layer thicknesses or the type of latex then the results can be more unpredictable and you would need to actually sleep on the mattress to know how it compared and then use your actual sleeping experience as a reference point to decide on the type of changes you believe would move you closer to either your blueprint mattress or your “ideal” in terms of PPP. Smaller differences in layers that are closer to the surface will also have more effect for most people than smaller differences in layers that are deeper inside the mattress.
If you are choosing between the layers that you have available from Arizona Premium and you are trying to match “theoretical feel” of the Essence (assuming that the specs you mentioned are correct) with an additional 1’ of 24 ILD in the second layer then I would start with a 6" 36 ILD core, add the 3" transition layer of 20 -24 ILD and then the 1.8" layer of 21 ILD on top which would be as close as you could get with what you have available.
If I was doing what you are doing though I would put together layers that were likely to be a bit firmer than my final design goal and then I would use my actual sleeping experience to decide on what I wanted to use for any “finishing touches”. This means that I would probably buy the 36 ILD core and the 3" of 20 - 24 ILD and the mattress protector you are planning to use and then stop there and sleep on this (with the mattress protector and your sheets) for a week or two and then decide on any additional layers that you think you need to add based on your actual sleeping experience and taking into account the effect of the cover you plan to use as well (which will slightly firm up the “feel” to some degree depending on the specifics and tightness of the cover). I would then order any additional layer you believe is necessary based on your experience and then sleep on this for a week or two as well. If you are satisfied I would then buy the cover in the thickness that will fit your final configuration.
This type of “bottom up” approach modified by your actual experience at various steps along the way will probably give you your best chance of success with the least chance of buying layers that you don’t end up using and can’t return or exchange … especially if the layers you are using are different from your “blueprint” mattress.
Phoenix