Trialed Naturepedic Concerto and Leesa Legend - Neither Worked - Ideas?

Beyond Mattresses
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Can anyone steer me in the right direction? I am getting overwhelmed. I am 5’3", and weigh 113 lbs. Combination sleeper - side and back.

I am sleeping on a 10 year old Serta Dr. Greene Auburn Falls Medium Pillowtop which is in great shape, but has always been too firm for me. I have a 3" Tempurpedic Serenity topper from Costco on it and that’s made it comfortable enough to sleep. I previously had a SOL 3" Dunlop topper and it gave me low back pain every night. I never knew it was from the topper but the day I got rid of it, the back pain stopped.

  1. I loved the Naturepedic Concerto support, but the pressure relief was not there because it only had 2" of latex, which was Dunlop, and because of my size, the bed had no give. I had excruciating pain nightly in my shoulders and shoulder blades. I wanted to keep the bed because it’s very well made, but I couldn’t tolerate it. I tried putting a 3" shredded latex topper on it and that made it worse, and tried a 3" shredded memory foam topper from Coop on it and that didn’t help enough either.

  2. I next trialed the Leesa Legend, which was really strange - not supportive, but not soft either. And the zoning killed my hips. I couldn’t wait for the 30 day trial to end. Even with the 3" memory foam topper, it hurt me.

  3. Recently we check out the Tempurpedic beds simply out of curiosity. I have to say, lying on the Luxe Adapt Hybrid and to the lesser extent the Pro Adapt Hybrid, I felt finally “ahhh…”. But I read constant reports of people experiencing back pain and breakdown, and the beds being rock hard for months. Not to mention I really don’t want to drop 4K on a bed.

As a 2x cancer survivor, I really lean toward a “natural” bed without toxic chemicals. Would a Talalay latex give me the pressure relief I seek? Would putting my Tempurpedic 3" Serenity topper on top of a latex bed soften it enough for me? I feel like I’ve hit a brick wall and it’s such an investment I feel paralyzed. I don’t want to make another mistake. Is latex just not the right product for me?

Is there a “Goldilocks” bed for me that has the great spinal alignment and support I got with the Naturepedic Concerto but superior pressure relief that I require to be able to comfortably sleep without pain (I have lots of spinal issues - cervical stenois, scoliosis, bulging disks, piriformis syndrome which is compression of my sciatic nerve)?

@BackScience

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Hi macdebbie.

Thanks for your post in our Mattress Forum :slight_smile:

I’ve tagged @BackScience here for some additional insight, but wanted to leave my two cents as well…for what it’s worth :sweat_smile:

First, I’ll say this up front because I don’t want you to feel like you’ve somehow done anything “wrong”: your body type, your medical history, and your pressure-sensitivity mean you fall into a very small subset of sleepers who need unusually plush, contouring comfort layers without sacrificing alignment. So the fact that most latex setups you’ve tried haven’t worked isn’t surprising - and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong or that you’re impossible to match.

I also want to acknowledge what you shared about being a two-time cancer survivor. Prioritizing low-toxicity, clean materials makes complete sense, and it is possible to find that without giving up comfort.

A few thoughts based on what you’ve described:

• You need more pressure relief than Dunlop latex can give someone your size

Dunlop tends to “hold you up” more than it “lets you in,” especially at your weight. Two inches on the Concerto just wasn’t enough surface plushness, and your body told you exactly that.

Soft Talalay, on the other hand, has a lighter, more buoyant, more glove-like contour. If latex is going to work for you at all, Talalay is the version most likely to.

• Your pattern suggests you do best with deep, slow-response contouring

Every time you’ve liked something, it has been memory-foam–forward:

  • Your current comfort comes from the 3" Tempur Serenity topper
  • The Tempur Luxe Adapt Hybrid was the first time you felt “ahhh…”
  • Latex toppers (SOL, shredded latex) worsened your pain
  • Beds with minimal surface softness (like the Concerto) created pressure issues immediately

That tells me your system needs significant sink in the first 3–4 inches before firmer support engages underneath.

• A latex hybrid alone might not be your Goldilocks

A latex hybrid tends to be springy and a bit linear in how it compresses. For someone with cervical stenosis, scoliosis, and piriformis involvement, you usually need more “cradling” from the very top layer than latex alone provides, even Talalay.

You can soften latex with your 3" Tempur topper, but if you already know memory foam works well for your body, it may make more sense to lean into that instead of forcing latex to behave like memory foam.

• There are more affordable, non-toxic, pressure-relieving options

If you want to keep things cleaner (fewer chemical additives than traditional foams), you can look at:

  • Open-cell, low-VOC memory foams with CertiPUR-US certification
  • Talalay latex + memory foam topper combinations (this can give you alignment + pressure relief)
  • Zoned or softer coil units that reduce pressure in the shoulders for lighter side sleepers

The key for you is likely going to be: soft top comfort → steady, consistent support underneath → no zoning that messes with your hip level.

So… is latex wrong for you?

Not necessarily, but Dunlop is probably not the best choice. And too little Talalay isn’t going to give you the support/comfort you’re after.

I don’t think a pure-latex mattress is your match. A hybrid with a truly soft Talalay layer could work, but I think you would still want your 3" Serenity topper on top.

There are brands in our Trusted Member lineup who can get very close to that feel using cleaner, higher-quality foams and they offer guidance and customization if the first layer combination isn’t quite right.

If you’d like, I can tag a few reps who are great with pressure-sensitive sleepers and can help you dial in the feel without guessing. You’re absolutely not at a dead end, we just need to match your known needs to the right construction.

NikkiTMU

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Definitely try Back Science!

John

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Thank you so much! I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. I believe that my body would do better with memory foam. I appreciate you pointing that out, as it seems not many people are fans of memory foam beds. I do wish in hindsight that I had tried my 3" Tempurpedic Serenity MF topper on the Concerto as the spinal support in that bed was amazing, in fact it took away my 2yr long piriformis pain. It was a non-zoned bed with I believe 15 guage coils, but I am not sure. I definitely do not want a zoned bed as it doesn’t make sense to me that a 5’3" female’s head, feet and midsection would fall in the same “zone” as a 5’11" man.

I would absolutely love some suggestions. One thing I have learned is that a trial is imperitive for me, as whether the bed is a fit or not cannot be determined online or even with substantial time spent in a physical store lying on the bed. No research can match actually sleeping in the bed. And having the bed picked up rather than having to stuff it back in a box and ship it somewhere is an absolute need. That said, I do not take trialing beds lightly. I do NOT want to return another bed. I will say, had I had the opportunity to lie on the Concerto I would not have trialed it. The problems with the Leesa did not present upon initial feel - it felt very comfortable. That’s why I have been so frozen. I do not want to make another mistake.

I believe that I would like a memory foam hybrid vs a complete foam bed, for both airflow purposes, support and longevity. And yes, thank you for acknowledging my wish to buy something that is as non-toxic as possible with no harmful chemicals, fiberglass socks or strong off-gassing.

I so appreciate you taking the time to write. I look forward to your suggestions.

1 Like
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Hello again!

For memory foam hybrids, I think you’d have luck starting here:

The @BrooklynBedding line up - you can see those here.

The 12" and 14" @BackScience hybrids (listed here)

@HelixSleep has some really nice pillowtop hybrids that I think may offer some of the balance with comfort + support that you’re looking for but of course/

And then the @NestBedding Signature Hybrid also fits the bill.

I’d recommend reaching out to all or whomever you decide you may be interested in purchasing from to explain what you’ve shared here, too, so they can expertly assist you in picking the mattress they feel will best fit your specs.

NikkiTMU

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It is great to see you narrowing down exactly what works for your body. You have made a very keen observation: Memory foam is often the superior choice for pressure related hip pain, especially for side sleepers who are sensitive to the “pushback” of latex or the rigid feel of certain coil systems.

As a Doctor of Chiropractor and mattress designer, I want to address your specific concerns about zoning and airflow, and explain why a Tempflow mattress might be the exact solution you are looking for, even though it is not a hybrid.

1. Why Memory Foam (Specifically Tempflow) Fits Your Needs You mentioned that you disliked zoned beds, since they cause too much pushback on the hips and in general latex beds have caused to much pressure with the shoulders. Tempflow solves this differently. Instead of relying on rigid, pre-set zones, we use high-density, proprietary Biogreen® memory foam. This foam naturally auto-adjusts to your unique shape and weight. It allows your hips and shoulders to sink in exactly as much as they need to for pressure relief, while the supportive underlying layers contour to your lumbar spine and still offers a very good overall support, thanks to it’s higher density structure that doesn’t just let you sink through.

2. Addressing the “Hybrid for Airflow” Myth You mentioned wanting a hybrid for airflow. While coils do allow air to move, traditional memory foam can trap heat. However, Tempflow is unique because it features our patented Airflow Transfer System™. We use a perforated surface coupled with channeling in the base layer that creates actual air circulation through the foam (up to 100x more breathability than standard foam). This gives you the cooling benefits you associate with a hybrid, but without the pressure points or motion transfer of coils.

3. Safety and Toxicity You asked for non-toxic materials. Tempflow is an industry leader here. Our Biogreen® memory foam mattresses are Greenguard Gold Certified (a step above standard CertiPUR-US®) for ultra-low emissions.

My Recommendation: Given your sensitivity to pressure and need for alignment without rigid zoning, as well as being mindful of you pricing concerns, I would recommend looking at the Tempflow Elite Conforma Hybrid. It is designed specifically to provide the deep contouring required for side sleepers to relieve hip pain, while maintaining the spinal alignment you loved in your previous setup.

Trial and Returns: We understand that a trial is imperative. We offer a 120-Night Sleep Trial. If it doesn’t work out, we handle the return process to ensure you aren’t stuck stuffing a mattress back into a box yourself.

Feel free to check out the models at www.Tempflow.com or call us at 800 667-1969 if you want to discuss your specific alignment needs.

As a valued member of The Mattress Underground, don’t forget to use the code TMU10 at checkout for an additional 10% off your purchase.

Dr. Rick Swartzburg, D.C.
Founder and Head of Product Design

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