Hi cassandram,
The Loom and Leaf is a memory foam mattress, as is the Tempurpedic, so the issues with memory foam tending to be less breathable would still be an issue, and the “eco-friendliness” of the polyfoam and memory foams used point mostly to being CertiPUR-US certified and having part of the polyol of the foams replaced with a plant-based polyol, which would generally describe most of the polyfoam produced domestically. In the end, it’s still isocyanate and polyol and water mixed together.
I’m sorry your Loom and Leaf didn’t work out as well as you had hoped. The ZenHaven is an all-latex natural Talalay mattress with different comforts on the top and bottom. This would have a more supportive and buoyant feel than the memory foam. If you’re having back pain (you weren’t specific about where it is along your spine), but assuming it is in your low back, it would make sense that something slightly firmer could allow you to sleep better.
I can’t predict why you might behaving the pain that you are. There is some information about the many different symptoms that people may experience on a mattress and some of the most common causes behind them in post #2 here that may be helpful, but the most common reason for lower back pain is a mattress that has comfort layers that are too thick/soft or a support core that is too soft. It could be that you desire a bit more deeper support, but slightly softer surface comfort, as you stated you had pressure point issues on the firm side of the ZenHaven. I don’t know how long you tested out these different sides of the ZenHaven, as there is usually a period of adjustment when you try out any new mattress or configuration.
Again, I can’t predict what type of mattress you might do best with via an online forum, as there are entirely too many personal variables involved. The Nest Bedding Q3 is offered in three different comfort levels, and the base version is configurable in either a “medium” or “firm” comfort by rearranging the layers. The Avocado is a pocketed coil product and the base mattress is more of a gentle firm, with 3" of latex on top of the springs. There is an optional pillowtop for a softer feel. Memory foam will tend to give you more of the “sinking in” feeling (and potential for sleeping warmer) which you stated that you might want to avoid.
If you are going to stay with online shopping and you can’t test a mattress in person, then the most reliable source of guidance 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.
When shopping online, the return/refund policy and any costs involved would become a much more important part of the “value” of a mattress purchase so you can try out the mattress in your bedroom instead of a showroom with the only risk being the cost of returning a mattress if in the worst case, and in spite of the “best efforts” of everyone involved (both you and the retailer you are buying from) the mattress doesn’t turn out to be as suitable a choice as you hoped for.
As I mentioned in my previous reply to you, and just in case you haven’t read it yet, the first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which includes all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you make the best possible choice … and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones.
Two of the most important links in the tutorial that I would especially make sure you’ve read are post #2 here which has more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and your own Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for and post #13 here which has more about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase which can help you make more meaningful quality/value comparisons between mattresses in terms of suitability (how well you will sleep), durability (how long you will sleep well), and the overall value of a mattress compared to your other finalists based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you (including the price of course and the options you have available after a purchase if your choice doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for).
Outside of PPP (which is the most important part of “value”), the next most important part of the value of a mattress purchase is durability which is all about how long you will sleep well on a mattress. This is the part of your research that you can’t see or “feel” and assessing the durability and useful life of a mattress depends on knowing the specifics of its construction and the type and quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label or how a mattress feels in a showroom or when it is relatively new so I would always make sure that you find out the information listed here so you can compare the quality of the materials and components to the durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress before making any purchase. The two brands you are considering do use good quality and durable materials, and Nest Bedding is a site member here, which means that I think highly of them and their products.
Phoenix