stomach/side sleeper - best combo for all latex mattress

[phoenix]

Hi suz111,

Thanks for the update and feedback

The third mattress I tried was called the Wynkoop Street mattress. This mattress has 6" of firm natural talalay with a plush top. I was not able to get a clear answer on exactly what the make up of the 5" top layer was. I did see it unzipped and it had a 1" layer, then a 2" layer, and then another 2" layer all glued together. I think it could either all have been soft talalay, although some of that may have been a medium firm talalay. It was just called plush. I don’t understand why there would be 3 layers all glued together to make the 5" top layer. I loved the feeling of the top layer. It didn’t feel like I just sunk into it. it felt very luxurious. I could definitely feel a difference between the talalay soft layer and the dunlop soft layer that I experienced as a top layer when trying latex mattresses a few weeks ago.

They use multiple layers that get progressively firmer from top to bottom so that it has a softer surface feel but then becomes progressively firmer and more supportive as you sink in more deeply. By having smaller differences between different layers the transition between the firmness of each layer and the progression from soft to firm is less noticeable. They glue them together to help prevent any shifting.

He also said all three mattresses provide the exact same support. I am so grateful to this site because I feel that I am now much more knowledgeable than many mattress sales people and know that a soft, medium, and firm mattress will not all provide the exact same support.

He probably meant that the support core that provides the primary support for the mattress was the same in all three and the differences between them was in the firmness of the top 5" which would make a difference in the pressure relief and secondary support (that “fills in” the gaps in your sleeping profile).

The sales person also had me try out a wool mattress topper. That made the soft mattress feel a little more supportive but the mattress still had a lot of give to it. It was very comfortable. I am wondering if that would have given me a glimpse at how the wool/cotton cover from SleepEZ would feel on top. I know it would not be the same but it was the only wool experience I have felt on a mattress.

Perhaps a glimpse. They would both have good temperature regulating properties but the wool topper you tried was probably thicker and contained more wool than the wool quilted cover in the SleepEZ mattress so it would probably feel softer. You would also feel more of the properties of the wool itself compared to a wool quilted cover that would keep you closer to the latex so that more of the “feel” of the latex underneath the wool would be noticeable.

I did talk to someone at FloBeds the other day just to check out more options. He was extremely helpful and I had a very nice conversation with him. However, FloBeds charges $75 for each split layer to swap, so to get an entire layer exchanged, it would cost $150. I also was not sure about the 2" convoluted top layer. If I had to rearrange a layer, that layer probably would not work out so well as a middle layer if I ended up liking the M, S, F combo instead of a S, M, F combo. The options for FloBeds would be a 9" mattress - 8" of latex with a 1" wool/cotton cover or a 12" mattress - 11" of latex with a 1" wool/cotton cover. There is no 10" mattress option.

The thickness of a mattress is really just a side effect of the design and by itself isn’t particularly meaningful (see post #2 here) although higher weight ranges will often do better with a mattress that is a little thicker than lower weight ranges.

You can see some comments about convoluted layers in general in post #2 here and about the Flobeds convoluted layer in the reply to question #4 in post #4 here.

My big decisions now are:

1. 9" or 10" mattress (1 " being the cover). After trying out the latex mattresses in Denver, I am pretty much leaning towards the 10" mattress. The 5" of soft talalay - IF that was what it was, felt nice so I think a 3" layer of soft talalay would work fine… although I am still not 100% set on a soft top layer…
2. S, M, F or M, M, F - I am leaning heavily towards the S, M. F combo - Both the S & M or M & M layers will be talalay. At least I have made that decision!
3. Firm layer - Talalay or Dunlop? - leaning towards all talalay but this one is still a toss up!
4. Cotton stretch cover (think that’s what it is called) or the cotton/wool cover - leaning towards the cotton/wool cover. I think only if I decided on the M, M, F combo would I consider the stretch cover.

When you can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart (such as SleepEZ) who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses 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 well on and liked that they are familiar with, any special considerations you may have, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about helping you to “match” their specific mattress designs or firmness options to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences or even to other mattresses that they are familiar with than anyone else so that in combination with your own personal testing you can make the “best possible” choice with the highest chance of success.

I’m looking forward to your next update and finding out about your final choice.

Phoenix