Hi lucyinthefknsky,
Sorry to hear of the painful sounding experience with your ‘cheap memory foam hybrid’ mattress…quite a unique fix for your pains - the ‘vampire solution’!
As you probably know, any mattress you choose should be based on your Stats (height, BMI, sleeping position(s) and any underlying health conditions) and your PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences). As you can see by comparing the Mattress Specifications You Need To Know to the Mattress Durability Guidelines, latex is one of the most durable mattress materials you can have. Memory foam, if of insufficient density or composed of cheap ‘filler’ does tend to break down prematurely leaving ‘ridges’ and ‘valleys’ which can cause aches, pains and alignment issues as you are experiencing. If you like the feel of latex, a latex hybrid of compatible firmness and support for your body profile could be the perfect solution, providing a sleep solution that will last many many years.
As you have found, many of the online ‘big brands’ are surrounded by marketing hype, and a lack of transparency in their materials and construction, which makes it difficult to assess their suitability for any sleeper. For a higher BMI side sleeper, it’s even more vital to find a good mattress that’s not only comfortable, but adequately supportive for you. Also different types of latex rubber have different ‘feels’ - Talalay is considered a ‘bouncier’ latex ( the difference between angel food cake and pound cake is a good comparison), which is something else to keep in mind. Your post title mentions a DIY build…while this can be the most ultimately rewarding, in that a consumer can ‘dial in’ their ideal comfort and support options, it’s certainly not a project to be taken on lightly, as it can require much consideration and exchanging/rearranging of layers to find the ‘sweet spot’. If you do want to try a DIY, Arizona Premium Mattress can provide components for DIY builds, and DIY Mattress can provide both the coil units as well as latex in any thickness. I agree that organic is not a strict necessity, though many consumers do prefer the peace of mind a ‘greener’ mattress provides. Also, you should avoid the softest latex as a top layer, as higher BMI sleepers may find it ‘breaks down’ much faster for lower ILDs or densities and you can end up ‘bottoming out’ on the layer below, causing aches. Pains and alignment issues.
Many of the Trusted Members of the site carry a variety of latex hybrid mattresses that have consistent quality, transparency in materials and components, and great customer support as well as generous exchange and return policies; Custom Sleep Technology, for example, has a Body Profile Questionnaire which they utilize to construct a customized modular latex or polyfoam/latex combo mattress, while SleepEZ, Biosleep Concept, Flexus, European Sleep Works, and Latex Mattress Factory, among others, all carry a number of latex hybrid mattresses with quality ‘top line’ innersprings at in different configurations and price points, which you may want to review.
Also. it’s probably best to stay away from the ‘bed in a box’ big brands completely, as the potential for wear and strain on components from long-term compressed storage can affect the condition of the components and mattress as a whole. For general major online brands, the operative concept of ‘Caveat Emptor’ - let the buyer beware - is one to keep in mind. Shopping at a smaller manufacturer, like our Trusted Members allows them to assist you in finding a customized sleep system within your budget that will allow you to forego the ‘Dracula Pose’ for good!
~ Basilio