Putting a topper on an old / ripped TempurPedic vs. buying a new memory foam mattress?

[phoenix]

Hi Tr0LL,

If I remember correctly, the original tempur pedic uses 1-3" 5.4lb density foam/ILD 15-16 (I read that somewhere) on the top. I plan on putting a 5.3lb gel infused memory foam topper on the top. I just don’t know what thickness. Again, I’m only 115lbs or so, and I sleep on my side, back, and front whatever but mostly side/back. I would like to just get a 4" topper and be done with it, but will the 4" topper + the original 1-3" be too much or does it not really work that way?

The Tempurpedic original bed used 2.8" of their original 5.3 lb memory foam with a 5" polyfoam support core (see here)

As you probably read in the previous posts I linked about the properties of different types of memory foam … the ILD of memory foam is not particularly meaningful spec.

If you are “repairing” your mattress by doing mattress surgery (see here) and removing the original memory foam layer and putting a new layer on top of it and if your original mattress was a good match for you in terms of PPP then I would tend to use a 3" layer of a similar density memory foam although as you can see in the previous posts I linked about different types of memory foam it may have different properties than the Tempurpedic memory foam in your mattress so it may not feel the same as your mattress did originally. I would also make sure that the polyfoam support core doesn’t have any soft spots or impressions (virtual or visible) because if it does (which is very likely after 17 years) then the memory foam will just “follow” the soft spots or impressions in your mattress.

If you are just adding a topper over your current mattress then I would use the information in post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to to use your sleeping experience as a reference point to help you choose the type and thickness of the topper that would have the best chance of success. Once again … I would make sure that your mattress doesn’t have any soft spots or impressions (virtual or visible) before adding a topper.

I want to go with justad comfort which sells on ebay. I couldn’t find many reviews on this forum about them, have you heard of them? They claim 5.3lb measured in 1 cubic foot, 15 ILD, and is 4" gel infused like I wanted for about $330 shipped (cheaper with ebay promotions)

I’m not familiar with them and the only mention of them on the forum is in post #3 here.

You can see the guidelines I would use for memory foam in post #4 here and since they aren’t on the CertiPur list I would ask them about the source of their toppers and confirm that they are made in the US at a very minimum (which they appear to be). While some of their information is a little bit “over the top” … I agree with most of what they say on their site although they have a little bit of misinformation and they overemphasize the importance of ILD which is a personal preference IMO. I would also want to know the specifics of their return or exchange policy and the costs involved just in case your purchase doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for so you can take that into account as part of the “value” of your purchase.

There is also more information about gel memory foams in post #2 here.

Phoenix