|
hi. i'm in the process of looking for a latex mattress for the futon frame i'm going to be buying shortly. my studio is small so i plan to get a futon which i'm going to fold and unfold into and from a sofa/bed every day. i've never owned a latex mattress before, so i'm wondering what you experienced folks on this forum would recommend: getting one 6" dunlop core or two 3" cores? also, from those of you who own dunlop mattresses, do you think the mattress will be easy enough to fold into a couch every day in the first place? btw, i'm a fairly light and lean guy at around 5'7" and 130 lbs., so if you also have some recommendations for what you think may be good ILDs for me that would also be greatly appreciated. i tend to like a softer mattress, but that is also supportive (i sleep in every position. side, stomach, back - just depends on the night) i've read through a lot of posts on this forum and you folks seem extremely knowledgeable. a latex rookie like myself would greatly appreciate as much advice from you guys as possible. thanks! =) This message was modified Mar 29, 2008 by brownbrian
|
|
Brownbrian, I would always recommend at least two latex cores with the bottom latex core being much firmer than the top to make sure you have good support. I tried a Dunlap Latex topper and found it too hard to be a topper and too soft for support so I sent it back and now I have a Talalay topper over my three latex cores from FloBeds. I have heard that Dunlap latex cores make a good firm base and I feel it is always better to err on the side of too firm since you could always add a softer thin topper for cushion. Since you like soft mattresses that are also supportive, maybe have the bottom core a higher ILD than the top core and see if that is comfortable for you. I would go to stores and lie on the latex beds and ask what the firmness and ILD's are as you read for at least 15 to 30 minutes in each bed. When you think you know which firmness you like, then I would go back to that bed and lie on it like you are taking a nap for no less than 15 minutes and preferrably for at least 30 minutes to decide it it is starting to feel too hard or too soft. Always make sure the frame you are using is a firm supportive frame with not too much room between the slats but some room for the latex cores to breath. Sorry it took me so long to reply but I am in the middle of crunch time with less than 2 weeks of tax season to go. I try to read posts as I am eating meals at my desk or checking emails int between clients. I try my best to help others like they have helped me but sometimes I am busier than other times. |
|
I am "third-ing" what Cloud9 and Lynn said. I think you definitely have to go with layers to make latex work for you. We bought a latex mattress that had a 6" medium (around 36 ILD) core with some quilting in the cover and found that it was neither firm enough to be supportive for our backs nor was it soft enough to relieve pressure points in my hips. We tried it for a month and couldn't make it work for us. We ended up returning it for an innerspring mattress. For the record I am also 5' 7" and 128 lbs. One thing I'm wondering about though, is how the latex will stand up to the everyday folding and unfolding inside your futon frame. It's a little more fragile in nature than regular foam. I would call Flobeds or some place like that and get their opinion before dropping your $$$ on the latex. - Kim |
| Kim, Without my 44 ILD on each side of my bed, my 39 ILD and 36 ILD latex cores would not be firm enough for me. I need a 3/4" latex topper for cushion. My Brylane Latex Topper is 1" but I wish now it was only 3/4" but it fits my bed well so I am workign with it. I am sleeping much better now with the set up I have. If you had a 44 ILD latex core under the 36 ILD latex core with a soft thin topper above them, I think you would have been comfortable. But I am glad you found a set up comfortable for you. To me latex needs layers for support and comfort. |
|
lynn2006 and kimmcgov, thank you very much for both of your input! i didn't think there were going to be any more responses, so seeing your replies was a nice surprise! =) after reflecting on all the words of advice i've received so far, i definitely think i'm going with the layering. and i think the plan right now is to shoot for a firmer 4" dunlop core with a softer 2" talalay topper. (this sounds ok, right?) i don't know where i'm going to buy from yet, but i have to say that this mattress search process has been very draining and tiring (as i'm sure many others here can attest to). i am looking forward to the day i get to actually sleep on the mattress... anyway, thanks again you two! |
|
Lynn2006 wrote: Kim, Without my 44 ILD on each side of my bed, my 39 ILD and 36 ILD latex cores would not be firm enough for me. I need a 3/4" latex topper for cushion. My Brylane Latex Topper is 1" but I wish now it was only 3/4" but it fits my bed well so I am workign with it. I am sleeping much better now with the set up I have. If you had a 44 ILD latex core under the 36 ILD latex core with a soft thin topper above them, I think you would have been comfortable. But I am glad you found a set up comfortable for you. To me latex needs layers for support and comfort. Lynn, Yes your set-up makes perfect sense. Too bad I did not find this forum until after we had spent our money. We are sleeping really well though at the moment (with the Brylane topper over everything). It's amazing that you would be able to tell the difference between 1 inch and 3/4 inches of latex. You are like the princess and the pea :-) |
| Thank you Kim for agreeing with me that my set-up of my latex cores makes perfect sense and for lettign me know you also like the Brylane Topper and are comfortable now which is what matters. My back has always been a little sensitive due to my small amount of Scoliosis I have but now it is very sensitive since the car accident and it is amazing how a 1/4" of extra padding can feel so different. I just like the quality of the Brylane Topper and after cutting it to fit my Queen bed, it is a perfect fit while the less thick Overstock Topper was falling apart and a little short for the bed. |
|
I have to reiterate--there is a BIG difference between the way Dunlop feels and the way Talalay feels. I can't stress enough how important it is to try each type of latex out before you make a choice if at all possible. Don't assume that trying out a Talalay mattress will provide an accurate idea of what a Dunlop mattress will feel like or vice versa, because it won't. As you can see there are two latex camps here--those who prefer Talalay, like Lynn, and those who prefer Dunlop like me. It's all subjective. I think good quality Talalay is a very consistent material and it's certainly "prettier." But it has certain quirks and characteristics I found impossible to sleep on. On the other hand, having slept on Dunlop for many years, I know for a fact that it provides very good support at soft ILDs, something that can't be said for Talalay. Which latex will suit you best? Well, if you like a springy extremely resilient foam that pushes back against your body you will probably prefer Talalay. Dunlop is more passive and probably takes less getting used to. It's more like lying on a very comfy couch. Kim wondered how latex would take to folding up on a daily basis. Actually it should do quite well. Latex mattresses are recommended for use with those adjustable beds so it should be fine on a futon frame. But keep it inside of a cover. Latex is fragile in an unprotected state. Talalay, perhaps more so than Dunlop because of all the air whipped into the latex. Dunlop is denser and a little more sturdy. You want to keep it protected from UV light. Latex is biodegradable. Protected it will last a good 20 years or more. Unprotected, as little as 3. So yeah, I'm biased, but I think that since you are basically sleeping on a futon, not an actual bed, Dunlop is still the right way to go. You will need less of it to build a comfortable mattress. Talalay really requires three 3" cores and possibly a thinner topper to get it right. With Dunlop you could do it with a mere 6 inches--something to consider when you are folding it into a couch every day. Latex is heavy! Since you like a soft bed, go with a soft and a medium core. You can always add a 1" soft Talalay topper, but I really don't think you'll need to. Good luck, and let us know what you ended up with--where you bought your foam and how you like it. This message was modified Apr 7, 2008 by cloud9
|
| Cloud9, I never slept on a Dunlap latex mattress and it sounds from your description, very comfortable. I just prefer Talalay latex toppers since that is all I have experience with and I did not like the Dunlap topper. Thanks for always sharing your knowledge and experiences. |
| Lynn, I wondered what the ILD was on the Dunlop topper. It might have been too firm to accomplish what you wanted. My feeling is that if you can sleep comfortably on Talalay why not? My problem with it was that when it was firm enough to be supportive it made me ache all over. Soft enough to be comfortable (for the first two hours) and I got no support. Plus, I just didn't like the pushy feeling. I seemed to be jiggling all over the mattress unable to settle securely and comfortably into it. For me Dunlop latex just has that "aahhhh" factor. |
| Cloud9, the only way Talalay Latex is comfortable for me is with a 44 ILD on the bottom and no less than a 39 ILD under a soft topper that is no more than 1". But this set up seams to be the best for me right now. I am sure I would be comfortable with either a Dunlap Latex Core on the bottom or a Talalay Latex core on the bottom of the mattress if it is at least a 44 ILD. The Dunlap topper was too thick at 1.5" and not soft enough for me and made me ache all over. I really love the way soft Talalay Latex feels underneath me. My bed is not jiggly since I have the set up to be very firm which I like and need. After all, if it wasn't for the dust closer to the floor and how uncomfortable it is to get up on and off the floor, I would have just continued to sleep with my Overstock 1" topper on my carpeted bedroom floor since it was so comfortable for me. I am glad you found what works for you. I may have not had a soft enough topper that was too thick not knowing I could not handle more than a 1" topper. |