I purchased a luxerion latex mattress in June. I went with the FMM combo even though the recommendation was to go with a FMS combo. I prefer a firmer mattress and figured I could switch out the top medium layer for a soft layer if it was too firm. After almost three months of sleeping on the mattress, I am confident that I made the right decision. I like the firmness of the mattress. However, I feel like it’s lacking something and I’m wondering if I need to add a talalay topper. I just feel like I need a different type of layer between me and the bed. The dunlop layers in the mattress are great support, but I feel like I need a different type of cushioning to lay directly on. I don’t think switching out the top medium layer for a soft layer would provide the type of cushioning I want (but maybe I’m wrong). I was thinking I should order a talalay topper instead. Since I prefer a firmer mattress and like the firmness of the FMM dunlop combo, should I order a medium talalay topper? Is there something else I should be considering instead? I’m open to all suggestions. I feel like the mattress is almost perfect for me, but it just needs a one more thing to truly meet my needs.
Hello and thank you so much for the inquiry! Please keep the following in mind when choosing a thickness for your topper: A 2” topper will make a noticeable difference but, depending on how much you want to change the feel of your mattress, may still leave something to be desired. The 3” topper will change the feel of your mattress the most, and if that’s the change that you’re looking for then this would be the best bet. The best way to summarize it would be to say that a 2” topper will make the mattress feel moderately softer and the 3” topper will make the mattress feel much softer.
Both the thickness and the density makes a difference when choosing a topper. Ultimately, how you make your decision will depend on the following: how firm your mattress is now; how much softer you want your mattress to be; your height, body weight, and sleeping preference (For example, if you weigh more than about 200 lbs I would recommend a medium topper; if you weighed more than 200 lbs and bought a soft topper, you would likely bottom out and sink right through the topper to the firm mattress that you’re trying to move away from). We normally recommend soft for folks under 200 pounds, medium for folks between 200 and 250 pounds, and firm for folks over 250 pounds. Even though we call it a “firm” topper, it will actually feel quite soft to anyone over 250 pounds, just FYI.
Aside from that, Talalay is bouncier and springier and is generally better at contour and pressure relief on your hips and shoulders. Dunlop is denser and firmer and is generally better at support and maintaining proper spinal alignment so Talalay is much more common for toppers. Talalay can also be helpful in avoiding back pain because it provides more of what we call secondary support. Secondary support fills in the gaps between your body and the mattress. For side sleepers, this is normally the area between a person’s ribs and waist. For back sleepers, this is normally the area between the small of your back and the mattress. If these parts or your body aren’t being held up by the mattress, your muscles will work all night to hold those parts of your body up, which can lead to back pain. So Talalay is much more common for toppers because of the extra pressure relief and secondary support it offers.