Phoenix, can you tell me the height of the metal bar that keeps the mattress in place on the Reverie adjustable bed? How many inches above the bed it extends?
Another worry I have about a 6" inch short mattress is that that metal bar will stick out in an unattractive manner if it’s meant to hold a much taller mattress.
Any thoughts on that?
Hi chip,
I measured it and the top of the metal bar is just a smidgeon over 7" above the base.
It would probably look a little odd yes but I would be a little more concerned with the possibility of hitting it when you were sleeping if (your feet go close to the end). If your mattress is a little thicker with the cover and by the time you add some bedding it may be flush and they could probably add a little extra thickness on the bottom if you needed it as well.
Phoenix
So it’s only 7" above the base, meaning a 6" mattress would only leave 1" of metal, even before bedding and extras? If so, that doesn’t sound too bad at all. I was worried about 4 or 5 inches sticking up… So I guess your mattress and most mattresses are actually taller than the base (which certainly sounds preferable)?
Hi chip,
I would say that 6 - 7" is on the thinner end of mattress thickness in North America (although there are certainly quite a few in this range). Thinner mattresses are more common in Europe and Asia.
Phoenix
Yes, definitely on the thin end. And I was hoping to go up in height from current 8" mattress to fit my sheets better, and certainly not down. But the latex ones from Dixiefoam are unfortunately only 6". As mentioned, I could pay 200 bucks to get 3" added, but I worry that would make it un-exchangeable. (I will have to verify this I guess.)
Ordered the Talalay extra firm today. Should arrive in a week. Will report back later.
Hi chip,
Congratulations on your new mattress 
I’m looking forward to your feedback when you receive it and have had a chance to sleep on it.
Phoenix
Thx, Phoenix. Hey, how tall is your actual reverie bed (the ‘box spring’ portion of it, not the overall height)? Do you think it would be possible to use my deep fitted sheets over my thin mattress AND the bed together? The sheets can handle up to 14" supposedly.
Or would that not work for some reason?
Hi chip,
The top of the platform is about 15" above the floor and the foam side rails along the sides are about 7" deep (so your sheets would need to accommodate an extra 7" of thickness).
You would need to put your sheet under the foam side rails (and over the end bar) and the rails are quite soft so I don’t know how well your sheets would stay secure either with the bed flat or with elevated positions (I’ve never tried it). The corners of the foam are a little bit firmer (where the sheet corners would tuck under) than the sides so I don’t know any reason why it wouldn’t be worth a try.
Phoenix
Thanks. I’ll guess I’ll assess options once I have both bed and mattress, which should be in about a week or so.
The mattress is here. I will begin sleeping on it tonight. What can I expect in the coming days? Is there some sort of breaking in or getting used to it process?
I do notice an odd smell, almost fish-like. Presumably that is normal and will go away?
Oh, and my mattress is shorter than the metal bar, as discussed, and I can I’ll have to address that soon because my foot hit the metal a couple of times in a just lie down test run.
Hi chip,
A mattress will go through an initial softening and breaking in period and you will go through some kind of adjustment period to a new sleeping surface as well but everyone is different so I wouldn’t precondition yourself to expect anything specific and I would just sleep on it (although that’s hard when you have a new mattress when it’s easy to be hyper aware of every new sensation).
Most materials have an initial smell and different people describe the same smell in different ways but I’ve never heard of the smell of latex being likened to fish
In any case the smell will diminish and fade away over the course of the first few days and weeks (depending on how sensitive you are).
Phoenix
Thanks, Phoenix. I survived the first night!
A bit more sore than usual, and perhaps I ended up sleeping on my stomach a bit more than usual.
Meanwhile, as if I didn’t have enough problems dealing with my adjustable bed issues – and bickering with you about them:) – I’m unsure about this mattress I’ve bought. After 5 nights or so, it seems I’m waking up sore too often, and with pain in the hips sometimes, which is new for me. I’m wondering if it’s too firm, or at least, too firm for side sleeping. (It’s an extra firm 100 percent Talalay).
Also, strangely, I feel thoraic pain after napping for 30-60 minutes in the zero gravity position. I’ve never really napped in this position before, so have nothing to compare it to. I can feel the same pain sometimes while awake in that position, or close to that positon. I have no idea what this is about. The mattress? The adjustable bed? The combination of the two? The position itself?
Otherwise I have no obvious issues with this mattress – it seems nice enough to the touch and feel and lying on it – but it’s not doing much magic over an actual night’s sleep. I will give it a few more nights and reassess.
Hi chip,
A single extra firm support core would provide great primary support but it would probably be too firm for most side sleepers without a softer comfort layer in the range of 2" - 3".
It could be almost anything but most likely is that you are not used to sleeping in this position and your body may need time to get used to a different sleeping posture. Post #2 here may be helpful as well.
Normally it’s a good idea to wait a few weeks before assessing things because of both the break in period for the mattress and the adjustment period that is involved with a new mattress but if you spend a fair bit of time sleeping on your side then it’s quite likely that you may need some extra softness for pressure relief. There are some topper guidelines here (and in the post it links to) that may be helpful if you decide to add a topper to improve pressure relief…
Phoenix
Thank you, Phoenix. I appreciate your thoughts on this.
Normally I wouldn’t want to be so quick to judge the mattress, but the problem is I have only about two weeks to decide whether I want to return it. (Mark at Dixiefoam was vague on time limit for returns – first he said 10 days, then he said 2 weeks).
So the question I’m going to face in a couple of days is: Should I swap this mattress for the Dunlop I also liked, or some other type of mattress he might have, or keep this one and work on softening it up with toppers and such? Another night under my belt suggest something will need to change, as my hips do not seem to like the current set-up.
The possibility of another mattress working like a charm and not having to bother with the expense and hassle of finding a topper is very tantalizing; the possbility that I have the exact same problem (or worse) with another mattress is less appetizing…
Hi chip,
The choice between Dunlop and Talalay is really a personal preference and would depend on which one you liked better.
Both of them come in a range of firmness options though and I think that no matter which you choose that the softness/firmness will be the key. If you were to choose a very firm Dunlop for example you would likely have the same issues with pressure points as you are on the Talalay.
Generally side sleepers will do better with a layer of softer foam on top regardless of what type of latex they use in a firmer support layer. For those who are a combination sleepers (such as side / stomach) then the thinnest possible comfort layer that is “just enough” to relieve pressure on your side would be best because it would have the least possible alignment risk for stomach sleeping. Stomach sleepers tend to “hammock” in a mattress where the support layers are too soft or where the comfort layers are too thick/soft so thinner is better for stomach sleeping (the pelvic girdle sinks down too far resulting in a swayback or hyperextended spine position which can cause back issues).
If you do choose either a softer Talalay or a softer Dunlop 6" core then it would need to be soft enough to provide good pressure relief when you sleep on your side so the issue is more about the firmness of either type of latex than it is about the type of latex itself (which is a preference).
Phoenix
So, since I have no obvious or apparent distaste for my Talalay, there is no reason to switch to Dunlop in the same firmness in hopes that will solve my problem?
I guess my best options include switching to a softer Talalay (or Dunlop), or going with a memory foam perhaps?
If I switch one level of firmness lower in the latex, for example, is that likely do the trick? And is there a risk of that I will then have other kinds of problems because it’s now too soft?
How should I go about deciding whether to exchaqnge for a less firm mattress, or just bite the bullet and get a topper?
Hi Chip,
No … but it would depend on the firmness of the Dunlop compared to the Talalay. If anything Dunlop in the same ILD will be a little firmer than Talalay for most people because it gets firmer faster than Talalay once you are past 25% compression (which is the depth of compression that is used to measure ILD). Dunlop will start off a little softer with initial compression and then “catch up” at 25% and become firmer. Dunlop also has a wider ILD variance across the surface of the mattress than Talalay and ILD measurments are not as accurate with Dunlop as they are with Talalay.
The “typical” solution would be to add a topper as a comfort layer. Going to a softer 6" layer may also work if there is enough initial softness to relieve pressure before the layer becomes firmer as you sink further into it. You could certainly add a memory foam topper to the latex core just like you could add a softer latex layer and the4 choice between them would be based on your preference between latex and memory foam. Both can do a great job with pressure relief but memory foam is not suitable for a support layer and always needs a firmer layer underneath it.
There are too many variables and unknowns and individual perceptions and preferences for me to know how someone will feel on any mattress or material that is more accurate than their own personal experience. I just don’t know. My guess though given your comments is that you may need to go down more than one “level”. A single layer of latex can work well as a mattress because even softer latex gets firmer as you sink into it and can provide good support but you will generally need a few inches of “softness” even in a single layer. A a thinner 6" layer will also get firmer faster than a thicker mattress.
The only real way to know would be through trying a 6" mattress where you knew the details of the type and ILD of the latex you were testing so you would have a reference point. The odds of success would probably be better adding a separate comfort layer though because then you would have good pressure relief from the topper and good support from the firmer latex below it.
If there is a Pure Latex Bliss dealer near you (you can see a search on the PLB site here) then it may be worthwhile testing the pamper which has a 6" layer of firm Talalay (40 ILD) and a 2’ 21 ILD layer over this to see how it feels for you and to be able to use it as a reference.
All of the other PLB mattresses have a 6" 36 ILD support core with thicker comfort layers of various ILD’s on top of this which may also be useful as a guideline (you can see the PLB specs here).
Phoenix
There are a couple of PLB dealers out in Brooklyn apparenty, but I’m not sure I trust myself to competently conduct that comparison test even if I did make the schlep.
My only other choices at Dixiefoam if I did exchange my mattress would be 6" inch latex mattresses, or different types of mattresses all together. (I guess I could pay more for a custom made thicker latex, but at that point, I would probably be better off trying toppers.)
Are you saying you think the odds are low that any 6" latex mattresses would work for me?
Ironically, my back really doesn’t seem to mind sleeping on my stomach on this mattress, but my hips are killing me from what I’m guessing is my side sleeping. And I don’t think I can recall my hips ever hurting before from any bed I’ve ever slept on. This ia brand new problem area.