Sleep on Latex | Firmness

[phoenix]

Hi shubox56,

I know that firmness is subjective and difficult to qualify, but I’m looking for a GENERAL idea of how a particular mattress might feel. And though it seems clear that most do not like looking at ILD ratings, I will mention a few for a specific mattress.

ILDs are discussed quite frequently here on the forum, and while knowing the specs that can affect the quality and durability of the layers and components in a mattress is always important, I’ll always caution that unless you have a great deal of knowledge and experience with different types of mattress materials and components and their specs and different layering combinations and mattress designs and how they combine together and can translate them into your own “real life” experience that can be unique to you (which would generally be a very small percentage of people), I would tend to avoid using complex combinations of specifications to try and predict how a mattress will feel or perform for you. When you try and choose a mattress based on complex combinations of specs that you may not fully understand or only based on specs for single layers or components that may not be as relevant or meaningful as you believe they are then the most common outcome is “information overload” and “paralysis by analysis”.

When you can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance I’ll recommend is always a more detailed phone conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart and who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and “feel” of the materials they are using and the options they have available that may be the best “match” for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs, options, and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else.

The SOL 9" soft mattress appears to have a 6" core rated at ILD 24, which appears to be borderline between soft and medium depending upon who you ask. The top 2" is rated at a soft 20 ILD. If the above info is correct, do you think that the AVERAGE Joe would find this Dunlop mattress soft enough to provide excellent pressure point relieving qualities while being supportive enough for back sleeping when required?

I don’t know that those are the correct specifications for the Soft model, but regardless, and for reasons I think you’re already aware, there’s no “average Joe” interpretation or what someone might find as having “excellent pressure point relieving qualities”, as there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved in choosing a mattress for someone else to make specific suggestions based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or theory at a distance that can possible be more accurate than your own careful and objective testing (using the testing guidelines in the tutorial post) which is always the most reliable way to predict which mattress will be the best match for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your Personal preferences) (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here). A detailed phone call with Sleep on Latex would be your best course of action.

I’m typically a side sleeper, but due to a recent disk hirneation (maybe more) I’m finding it necessary to spend time on my back when pain is at its highest. I know that bridging both worlds is difficult, but I’m hoping to get a few solid opinions.

I’m sorry to hear about your disc issues. You’ll certainly want to bring this up when you phone Sleep on Latex. With certain disc issues, you may wish to defer to something offer a bit of a firmer deep support to help promote a more “neutral” alignment.

If the ILD info is correct, I believe it was taken at 25% load.

ILD in latex is usually measured with a 6" thick layer of foam and it’s basically the weight that it takes to compress a 50 sq in round metal foot into the foam by 25% (which would be 1.5").

And last question: if their soft version, which most reviewers claim to be soft (but firmer than expected) was purchased, should I expect a shorter life span VS a medium firmness?

I would expect a good comfort life out of either option, but it is logical that a softer latex will have slightly less durability than a firmer latex. Of course, there are many factors involved in durability. And I wouldn’t put any credence into what other’s “expectations” were of a plushness of a mattress, as it has no bearing on the overall comfort of a mattress or appropriateness for yourself, but only speaks to their unfamiliarity with a certain product.

Phoenix