Suitable comfort layer for latex mattress

[phoenix]

Hi smmimp14,

The 30 talalay was originally purchased as a topper for a mattress and I was reassured several times by Shawn that the topper would hold my weight…300 pounds. Gradually I ended up discarded the mattress and box spring as that 30 blended topper did not hold my weight as promised by Shawn. AFTER ONLY 8 MONTHS IT IS USELESS AS A TOP COMFORT LAYER.

I’m not clear why you believe the Talalay top layer is useless or why it isn’t holding your weight. You could check whether the topper is defective by putting it on the floor and using a straight edge or a string to measure any visible impressions in the topper but it’s very unlikely that the latex topper was the problem and it’s much more likely that the issue with “holding your weight” (which I’m translating to mean you weren’t in good alignment) was because of the mattress underneath it.

Don’t forget … every layer and component in a sleeping system such as a mattress/topper combination will have some effect on every other layer and component in the mattress both above and below it and on the mattress “as a whole” so when a mattress/topper combination isn’t keeping you in good alignment then it would be important to identify the actual cause of the problem because it may not be the topper.

The 40 blended has held up quite well but is too firm as a top layer. I have spoken to SleepOnLatex on two separate occasions and spoke with two different people and they both offered the same solution. Their idea is to put 2 inches of their soft topper on top of my mattress to add softness. I explained my concern to both that it would not be able to handle my weight. They both assured me that it would. Hmmm…seems like I have been down this road before.

40 ILD would be too firm as the top layer for most people … even in your weight range … so I would agree with the opinions that you were given and it’s very likely that you would do better with a softer top layer either by rearranging your layers so that you have a softer layer on top or by adding a softer topper.

I’m not clear about the specific problem you are trying to solve (outside of the top layer being too firm which is certainly understandable and just means that it needs to be softer) or the actual symptoms you are experiencing on your current layering combination or the previous combinations you’ve tried or how your experience on each of the layering combinations you’ve tried changed your experience and compared to each other and without much more specific information about your experience and your “symptoms” on each layering combination you’ve tried I don’t have any reference points I can use so it’s not really possible to make any meaningful suggestions.

If I had to guess though it looks like your deeper support and/or transition layers may be too soft and your top layer is too firm and it may be more effective to start with firmer layers on the bottom and then use softer layers closer to the top of your mattress. Your layering combination seems to be somewhat backwards with the firmest layers on the top and the softer layers on the bottom. A more typical layering combination for a 4 layer mattress or at least a starting point (from the bottom up) would probably be something like X-Firm/Firm/Medium or Firm/Medium depending on your body type and sleeping positions and of course your personal preferences.

There is also more about primary or “deep” support and secondary or “surface” support and their relationship to firmness and pressure relief and the “roles” of different layers in a mattress in post #2 here and in post #4 here that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support/alignment” and “comfort/pressure relief” and “feel” and how they interact together.

Phoenix