Hi LookingForACloud,
There is more information in post #2 here and the more detailed posts and information it links to about safe, natural, organic, “chemical free”, and “green” mattresses and mattress materials that can help you sort through some of the marketing information and terminology that you will encounter in the industry and can help you differentiate between them and answer “how natural is natural enough for me” or “how safe is safe enough for me” so you can make more “fact based” choices on the types of materials you are most comfortable having in your mattress. These types of issues can be complex and are generally specific to each person and their individual sensitivities, circumstances, criteria, beliefs, and lifestyle choices.
[quote]I am now back to my Greensleep mattress and on a budget. :-S I’m at my wit’s end and would appreciate any feedback you can give for a mattress. I’m thinking of going again with an all latex mattress and would like ideas for configuration. Anytime I’ve gotten a memory foam product that is supposed to be as eco-friendly as possible and not off gas-- they always smell to me and need to be aired out for a good while before I can use them. So I would prefer to avoid a foam product.
I’ve read a lot of the forum posts and have read the mattress shopping tutorial but I still feel at a loss for a configuration to start with. I realize each individual is different and that mattresses should be tried out in person. But just the same, any suggestions you have are appreciated. Thank you for the forum and for your help! [/quote]
I don’t make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or materials because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” or PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) or how a mattress will “feel” to you based on specs (either yours or a mattress) or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
I can certainly help you to narrow down your options, help you focus on better quality/value choices that are available to you either locally or online, help you identify any lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress you may be considering, act as a fact check, answer any specific questions you may have along the way that I am able to help with, and help with “how” to choose but only you can decide which specific mattress is the best match for you based on your own careful testing or personal experience and on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you.
There is also more about the different ways to choose a suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of PPP in post #2 here that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for once you actually sleep on your mattress.
I would be cautious about choosing another latex mattress if your experience indicates that you aren’t comfortable with the “feel” or resilience of latex (what you are calling “pushback”) unless you are confident that it would be a good “match” for you in terms of PPP or it has a good return policy.
Since you already have a very high quality mattress, if the only issue is that you need some additional softness and pressure relief then it may also be worth considering a softer topper instead of buying a whole new mattress.
If you do decide to go in this direction then there is also more information about how to choose a topper in post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to that can help you use your sleeping experience as a reference point and guideline to help you choose the type, thickness, and firmness for a topper that has the least possible risk and the best chance for success. It also includes a link to a list of some of the better online sources for toppers I’m aware of as well.
If you let me know your city or zip code I’d also be happy to let you know about any of the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.
Phoenix