Want cushiness with minimal butt-sinking

[phoenix]

Hi TalkingDog,

Thanks for that thoughtful reply.

You’re welcome!

First I need to correct one absolutely understandable misunderstanding. You believe I need a mattress that takes into account my using it to sit on as well as to lie on, but I don’t ever sit on it

Thank you. I am familiar with those lenses. Sitting or lying, you’re still spending quite a bit of time in the product and using it like a piece of furniture as well, so it’s important that you use durable materials, which with the latex you were considering before, you certainly were. The demands you’re placing upon the product are higher than “normal” use (about 2x more than normal), so this is something for you of course to take into account as you manage your expectations.

As for Dunlop versus Talalay… The soft layer from SleepEZ is always Talalay, so the middle layer in Firm-Soft-Medium was Talalay.

I’m not sure if you meant that your particular soft layer was always Talalay, or if you’re saying that SleepEZ only offers soft latex in Talalay (which isn’t the case – you may choose Dunlop in “soft” when you configure one of their mattresses). Regardless, thanks for that information.

It’s interesting you seemed to intuit I might do better with Dunlop. While SleepEZ’s owner thought my getting both Dunlop and Talalay to try them out was a good idea, the SleepEZ employees I talked to when I later called for advice seemed to think the difference between Dunlop and Talalay were of no consequence. I’m sure it was, however.

Deeper in the mattress there is less noticeable difference, but everyone’s sensitivities are different. If you like the feel of Dunlop, it’s probably best to stick with that.

I never considered a different topper. I think I didn’t consider it because I figured it wouldn’t be returnable and I didn’t know what direction to go with it, anyway. But maybe I should try exactly what you’ve suggested. If I do, do you think it matters if the bottom firm layer is Talalay or Dunlop? I would assume I’d want Dunlop. It’s also interesting that you’re suggesting a medium Talalay for the middle layer, rather than a soft layer or a Dunlop layer.

Your previous Fd, Md, Md was too firm on the surface for you, so the next logical was Fd, Mt, Md to see if that softened up the product enough for you without letting your hips sink in too much. If that wasn’t enough, using a topper that provided a bit more “surface support” in the Sd was a thought as that wouldn’t let your hips sink in as much as the Aerus topper would, but would still provide some contouring for your shoulders. This is all “theory at a distance”, as I’ve stated before, and nothing can replace your own opinions as you go through your own personal testing.

so, do you think the 2" plush Dunlop would offer enough additional cushioning (when substituted for the Aerus) to more than make up for a Medium in the middle where I had had a Soft

It would be more supportive than the Aerus, but I wouldn’t know if you would like it or how it would work with any system you test. Your results would be the only indicator of that.

(Also, I didn’t think there even was such a thing as soft Dunlop – the SleepEZ website, as I recall, says the Dunlop process can’t make a good soft-ILD product. Also, it seems SleepEZ specifically sells only 3" toppers, and I think you’re right that 2" would suit me better. (I have seen 2" Dunlop toppers elsewhere.)

At SleepEZ you can get a soft finished Dunlop topper in 3", and replacement foam layers in 2" soft in Dunlop. It depends upon how you are configuring everything (completed mattress or topper as additional piece).

I’d like your opinion on my just trying the above again. (I don’t know if SleepEZ would even want to sell to me again, or if I could find another similar seller for multi=layered latex mattresses of both Dunlop and Talalay.)

I’m sure they wouldn’t mind selling you something again, but they may not offer you an exchange program. Most manufacturers only allow people to take advantage of such programs once (understandably so) because of the costs involved. You can also consider the different vendors in the component post here.

Do you think the vZone arrangement might make irrelevant whatever the Dunlop advantage has been? Or should I stick with Dunlop?

I can’t feel what you feel so I wouldn’t be able to answer such a question.

Also, I wonder if I’d end up not liking the firm section under my butt once I experienced it: with the firmer mattress arrangements, I sometimes found my butt didn’t get the pressure relief I’d have wanted.

If you’re considering this course of action your next step should be a detailed phone conversation with FloBeds, at which time you should have all of your notes available so that they may provide their best guidance of what they think might work for you.

Are there other sellers offering vertically zoned mattresses? I haven’t found them.

Those were two that immediately came to mind. I don’t keep track (nor would it be possible to do so) of the various changing options that members here of the site offer. Obasan also offers a system with three zones. While it’s a bit of a departure, Reverie offers their DreamCell product that offers quite a bit of customization in their support layer (the also have their OSO sleep product with preconfigured DreamCells fixed in the shoulder region).

I’ve always had to sleep on rather firm beds or my back hurts in the morning – if I had a vZone-type layer propping up my mid-section, would I still need the rest of the mattress to be firm?

Again, that would be a question for your conversation with FloBeds. Unless you have a great deal of knowledge in mattress construction, foam fabrication and the physics of how these things work together (which would be an incredibly small percentage of the general population), I’d avoid getting too deep and trying to make complex comfort predictions based only upon specifications, which will eventually result in frustration. Instead, use the guidance of knowledgeable manufacturers and let them relate how their products might assist in what you are trying to achieve. It will give you the best chance at success.

You wanted to hear my final decision on the Saatva. I’m going to return it.

I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you, but at least you chose a product that allows you to return it.

my back almost never hurts in the morning, at least not a lot, but I just don’t find it very comfortable while I’m on it.

It sounds as if it offered enough support for decent alignment, but you didn’t necessarily enjoy the surface comfort.

Even at the beginning, it seemed firmer than advertised (and much less plush than Consumer Reports’ description of the mattress they reviewed, which was the same model as mine) but the support was good and has remained pretty good.

There is of course no consensus of what “plush” or “firm” feels like, so your own opinion is what really matters.

I’ve asked various salespeople and my wife to check my alignment on different beds, too, and they’ve always reported it seems fine,

The ability of someone in a showroom to tell you of your alignment, unless there was something drastically askew, would be quite difficult. This would require noting landmarks and a knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics, and even if you had “perfect” alignment, your own personal alignment is rarely “perfect”. Proper support for a “neutral” alignment is the first thing I would prioritize in selecting a mattress, but your own personal testing on the product would be the most accurate indicator.

Phoenix