Hi.
I thought I had a chance to pick up a great bargain, but now I’m not sure. A neighbor is selling his king-sized Sleep EZ 13000 for just $500. I have wanted a latex mattress for a while and eagerly went to take a look at it tonight. The label said it was manufactured in November 2009. The neighbor said he only used it for ~1 year before switching to something else. The mattress seemed almost new, with no visible signs of wear on the latex or the cover. But when I laid down, it felt extremely firm.
I looked at the layer configuration and found it was as follows, from top to bottom: split medium, split firm, split extra firm, non-split base layer without a label. I asked the neighbor about the base layer, and he said it was extra firm. So the mattress has two extra firm layers on its bottom.
Given the great price, I am thinking about buying the mattress, getting rid of one of the extra firm layers, and replacing it with a soft layer on top. But I’m just not sure, and I’d be taking a big risk with no return possible. Do you think it is worth the risk for the cost of the used mattress and new layer? To what degree would the layer change make the mattress softer and more comfortable?
Thanks,
Todd
Hi toddking2,
If you are comfortable sleeping on a used mattress and it’s in good condition then it certainly is a good price.
The top layer of a mattress will have a significant effect on pressure relief and on how it feels so adding a soft layer on top would make a very noticeable difference.
A thicker mattress would be a little softer than a thinner mattress though even with a medium layer on top so it may be worth trying it as it is for a while (a week or two) before making any changes and then using your experience to decide on whether adding a soft layer would be suitable for you.
A high percentage of people do well with a soft layer on top and then with progressively firmer layers underneath it.
Only you can answer if it’s worth the “risk” to you but from a value perspective it certainly seems like it’s well worth the price and at worst you have many options for re-arranging layers and fine tuning if all you need is a softer top layer.
Phoenix
Thanks for the reply Phoenix. No I don’t mind that it is used, because it looks about as close to new as possible. On the other hand, the mattress is definitely way too firm for me. I could tell this right away, upon laying on it. I would need to order a soft layer, no sense in belaboring the inevitable. It was set up on the floor without a foundation, with the extra firm-extra firm-firm-medium configuration. Is there any chance that the floor was what was causing it to feel so firm?
Thanks again,
Todd
You could get a sense of how it feels a bit less firm by putting the two medium pieces on one side, on top of a firm layer and then the base layer. Lay on that side and try it out. If that feels better to you, it’s likely that your plan of going to a soft-medium-firm-extra firm layering configuration would feel even better if it’s a softer feel you’re after.
FWIW, I have a configuration of extra soft-soft-medium-firm that feels great to me. If I swap the soft and medium layers, that small change makes the bed feel too firm to me. So layer changing can make quite a difference.
If you decide to buy it (that’s a great price) and get a soft top layer, it would be better if that layer was not split like the current configuration is.
-Dan
Hi toddking2,
No … the floor would be similar to having a firm foundation under your mattress and with 12" of latex above it you would be feeling the mattress not the floor.
danielrhalls advice is also very good because two medium layers would be softer than medium over firm and could be a good pointer.
If you are in an “average” weight range and aren’t an exclusive or mainly stomach sleeper (who tend to do better with a thinner firmer top layer) then I think a 3" layer of soft latex would probably be all you need and would certainly give you all the options you need to find your best layering configuration.
Even with the purchase of a new layer … the price is certainly right 
Phoenix