Recommend latex mattress topper & foundation for the Healthy Back store / PLB Pamper

[phoenix]

Hi crschwartz,

Very hard to get the layering and ILD of the beds – they don’t seem to know in the stores. I’m going to call the Healthy Back Store 1-800 number tomorrow and ask. I didn’t realize they had recently changed their composition.

PLB changed from these specs … to these specs … but I don’t believe the Healthy Back models have changed. They had/have a variant that uses Celsion latex in their comfort layers (now called Talalay GL fast response) which the old PLB models didn’t have so I believe they are coughly based on the old PLB models but use the “new” material on top.

Very hard to get the layering and ILD of the beds – they don’t seem to know in the stores. I’m going to call the Healthy Back Store 1-800 number tomorrow and ask. I didn’t realize they had recently changed their composition.

Because these mattresses were unique to them … they have always been somewhat reluctant to release the specs. This isn’t a quality/value issue because no matter what the comfort specs (ILD) are it is the same quality materials but it would be helpful to know in cases like this.

I think your analysis for the stomach sleeper is exactly right based on what I felt – I need the firmer support so I don’t sink too much. My husband says he feels okay on his back in the Serenity but he snores sometimes in that position and I often need to ask him to turn over (so then he sleeps on his side), which is normally also fine for him, but has been hard on his hip with the Serenity. I also feel like a little more cushioning could help me – I feel a tiny bit sore in the hips. I’m trying to think what other symptoms we are having but maybe need to see in the morning because I can’t describe right now! We have been sleeping on the bed for about 2 weeks.

I would tend to give it another 2 weeks (if that’s within your comfort tolderance) because break in periods as well as initial adjustments can often take this long but I suspect that you will need a little extra even after this. I think it will be helpful to test the Nature/Essence now that you have some experience under your belt because some of the latex in the top few inches will be firmer than the Serenity/Pamper with a 2" topper.

The reason I was asking for more specific “symptoms” was to get a sense of whether you are in the “touch to a little” range or the “little to a fair bit” range. The shredded latex topper would also be less risky IMO with a thicker 2" layer because the latex will displace more under the shoulders (which have less surface area) and compress more under the hips which have a greater surface area than a solid layer which can help alignment. If you have a queen then these aren’t in danger of selling out.

It sounds like maybe an inch topper would be good, or two inches in a firmer density. I was reading up on the dunlop vs. talalay vs. natural talalay, and to me it sounds like the blended talalay may be a good bet. I wish that things things were returnable and I could buy in a store, but there just aren’t many options around here.

Yes … subject to a bit more experience you are heading in the same direction as I would be. Either an inch of softer or 2" of a bit firmer (blended Talalay the same as you already have in the Serenity) or the Seven Comforts shredded/micro-rod Dunlop latex topper (with the possibility of an exchange for the Essence remaining open for now).

Edit: see post #52 here first if you are considering ordering this topper.

Unfortunately toppers are often considered to be a personal item and are either not returnable or are returnable with a significant “penalty” (restocking fees and/or shipping) which of course makes it a good idea to make a choice which has the best possible odds of producing the changes you are looking to make.

Phoenix