What to do - bad back AND shoulders

[phoenix]

Hi sleepless in wi,

I do think there is something to the “pushback” phenomenon that some people report with latex - but by putting just that little bit of extra wool between me and the latex, it made a huge difference… just the right combination of soft and supportive. Could still feel the latex pushing me up but under the wool it becomes more of a pleasant buoyant feeling instead of uncomfortable rubbery feeling (Like sleeping on a giant pi nk rubber eraser - ouvh!)

Yes … this is one of the main differences between sleeping directly on latex with a thinner stretch cover or having a quilted cover (or topper) that has a more relaxed and less resilient feel (see post #12 here and the posts it links to). Some people certainly prefer one and some prefer the other.

is there such a thing as a 1 or 2 inch topper made of wool?

Yes … there are some good sources listed in post #3 here. There is also more about the “feel” of wool toppers in posts #3 and #6 here. Wool can “soften up” firmer latex layers and it can “firm up” softer latex layers underneath it.

Wonder if I should just let my body decide - which one gives me the best feel right out of the box. Guess Im a little weary of trying to engineer something that may… or may not… work.

If you are doing some careful testing on different types of mattresses, materials, and layer combinations, I would put a great deal of weight on what your body is telling you

Phoenix