Hi buriedunderkids,
Sorry to hear your new sleep on latex soft king and topper are not working out the way you anticipated.
It is hard to decipher exactly what the root cause of the issue you are experiencing with a “soft” dunlop latex that is causing hip pain throughout your sleep session each night.
While one might expect dunlop to have a higher “support factor” and a higher ILD at 65% compression, which in fact might be an issue here. SoL (toppers) ILD increases from a 20ish ILD at 25% to a firm 46ish ILD at 65% compression.
I invite our dunlop and talalay experts @Sleep_EZ & @Arizona_Premium to weigh in on this with their advice on the situation as well, as I welcome any contrast and criticism they might offer.
One issue that often is a factor, at least with SoL is their mattresses are preconstructed with only two firmness levels, Medium and Firm. Their toppers/DIY layers are available in Soft, Medium and Firm. I am not quite certain about your first statement:
Did you DIY with SoL topper layers to create this? If not, did SoL custom design that “soft king” mattress for you? Perhaps you actually have a “Medium” mattress, which then would have a different ILD at 25 and 65% compression (34ish and 76ish) which is a 70% increase in firmness.
This may not answer your specific question about what might give you relief, it may be the cause of the problem.
It may be possible to simply add a talalay topper to your current set up and perhaps it may solve the problem. One contradiction to this is you may be creating a more expensive mattress system than necessary. I will take it on you statement about not springing for a $200 cotton mattress protector, might indicate the need to be more conservative with the budget.
A direct answer to your affordable soft talalay topper might me this at mattresstopper.com this price includes an organic cotton topper cover.
Digressing back to the subject at hand.
If you are still within the return/trial period with SoL, their return policy.
Trusted Members at TMU often provide valuable insights and expertise in mattress construction, helping customers customize their sleep solutions to achieve optimal comfort and support. By collaborating with a Trusted Member, they can help you to create a DIY mattress setup tailored to your specific requirements. They can offer personalized recommendations based on factors such as body weight, sleeping position, and specific preferences. Be sure to communicate your preferences and concerns clearly in addition to your original concerns stated to receive the most relevant advice and guidance.
I prefer not to dismiss a new mattress based solely on its initial “feel.” This is because most foam mattresses, whether natural or synthetic, typically require some time for adjustment. Firstly, your body needs time to adapt to the change in firmness from what you’re accustomed to. Secondly, the foams themselves need time to settle and soften. While natural latex may not undergo as much break-in as synthetic foam, there will still be a softening period to consider.
Regarding your concern about hygiene and cleaning, covering the topper with your cotton mattress protector is a good idea to protect it from stains and dirt. Most mattress protectors are machine washable, so you can easily clean them as needed to maintain hygiene. Just make sure to follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. If you’re unsure about whether it’s hygienic enough, consider investing in a separate cover specifically designed for mattress toppers for added peace of mind.
Hopefully, this helpful, as comfort is a very personal experience and sometimes require some trial and error. Fortunately, our TM experts are extremely successful more than 90% of the time when carefully collaborating with sleepers and their preference requirements.
All the best,
Maverick
@Sleep_EZ
@Arizona_Premium
@TheCleanBedroom