| Overstock has a Serta 2-inch 4lb density memory foam topper that is billed as a 'cool' memory foam. Does anyone know if this is any different from other MF toppers, if it's any cooler? I was all set to buy the Serta 3-inch 4lb that is *not* listed as being 'cool' but the possibility of a truly cooler foam topper has me second guessing my decision. Does anyone know if this 'cooler' topper is formulated differently, or if it's supposed to be cooler just because it has an inch less depth to it? |
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2" of Celsion (1" folded in half) on top of 1" of mem-cool on top of 6" of latex heated up to 89.6 degrees last night. Virtually identical to the 3" of memory foam. Not as high as some of the all latex reading I have recorded, but the weather is colder as well. At this point, I can't really reject the hypothesis that the talatech latex, the Celsion and the memory foam that I have are all the same heat wise. Certainly the differences are quite small. The Celsion did record the lowest temperature by an insignificant amount. My perception is that it is slightly better, maybe because it takes a little longer to heat up. I can't really record a timeline, to be sure. Folding it in half may also affect its ability to dissipate the heat out of one side. It is also possible that measuring the temperature the way I am, does not capture the total aspect of heat build up. Probably more temperature readings for different (more spread out) locations and different depths would be necessary to get a more accurate picture. Alas, that is beyond my capabilities right now. However, the aspect that does seem to bother me is the feeling of having a heat pad right below the midsection of my body. I do think I am capturing that aspect pretty well, because that is the location where I am measuring. I have demonstrated that the top layers of foam heat up from about 68-70 degrees to 90 degrees after a few hours. I think I will put the Talatech layer on top again tonight to see how that compares with similiar room temperature. |
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I went back to the convoluted blended latex topper last night, and it heated up to 89.6 degrees. Exactly the same at the 2" of folded Celsion. 0.2 less than the 3" of memory foam. So, it does not seem to be much difference between the 3 types of foams at the top comfort layer. My perception was that the blended latex was slightly warmer than the Celsion, but maybe that is just in my head. Maybe their is a difference in the time to heat up and how wide spread the heat is. It is hard to measure the first, but I would not that after a couple of hours (when I have checked) the temperature was around 85-86 in most cases. I may try to measure dispersion by moving the temperature sensor to a different location. It might be interesting to put it one layer lower as well to see how much that is heating up. My conclusion seem to be that is probably much more important what is under the comort layer (air filled springs will probably disperse heat better than "solid" latex or foam). Possibly what covers the comfort level is important as well (cotton vs. wool vs. polyester vs. whatever else). However, it seems like there has not been a lot of research on this, so I am just guessing. One study I have seen says that innersprings disperse the heat better. Based on my experience that seems to be the case. However, it may have to be a firm innerspring, and it may be just the fact you are sinking in less. Right now the heat is not a huge issue for me (at least in the cooler weather), but I definitely would prefer less of it. It mainly seems to bother me when I wake up after being in bed 2-3 hours. It is possible I will wake up like that on any surface, so hard to say how much it is affecting me. Worried what summer might bring though. Anyway, I have to decide soon if I want to go back to try an innerspring. It seem like that is the only potentially cooler solution (beside a water bed which is not in the cards for me). I am leaning in that direction, but I am getting tired of having to keep dealing with this. Hardest purchase of anything I have made in my life. |
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Sandman: I know you have a FlowBeds, I'm sure you probably already know this but I will mention it just the same. FloBeds also sells waterbeds, and thus the name FlowBeds, this is how they started. With a waterbed you have a great deal of control over the temperature of the bed. If you want it cool, no problem. Just turn down the thermostat. I'm sure Dave Turner would be willing to work something out with you. |
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Thanks eagle. I cannot have a waterbed where I am living right now. I am sure that would be a great option temperature wise, but it is not in the cards for me a the moment. I am not totally sure if an innerspring will solve my problem. It is possible that the ones I have slept on the past have been cooler because they just had a thin layer of cheap low density padding. So, they are not the most comfortable. Upgrading to higher quality more dense foams might bring the heat issue right back. Trial and error may be the only way to find out. This message was modified Dec 12, 2009 by sandman
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sandman wrote: Thanks eagle. I cannot have a waterbed where I am living right now. I am sure that would be a great option temperature wise, but it is not in the cards for me a the moment. I am not totally sure if an innerspring will solve my problem. It is possible that the ones I have slept on the past have been cooler because they just had a thin layer of cheap low density padding. So, they are not the most comfortable. Upgrading to higher quality more dense foams might bring the heat issue right back. Trial and error may be the only way to find out. Sandman: One other thought. FloBeds also sells air beds, if memory serves. I think you need to take your concerns to them and let them work with you as they are pretty broad in their selection of bedding. On top of this Dave Turner is something of an inventor and really, kind of enjoys the challenge of working out problems in the area of mattresses. It's worth a shot anyway. Good luck. |
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Hi Sandman, I know you've tried lots of things for the heat issue, but I can't remember if you've tried a THICK wool topper, i.e. not a fleece pad such as snugfleece but the type that has several layers of wool fleece encased in a cotton shell, so the whole thing is 3-4". In my experience that type feels very different than the wool fleece pad. It would affect the feeling of the latex though. As you may know from my posts, I find even the fleece pad makes the latex feel firmer, so I have taken mine off, as I prefer the feel of the latex without it. I've never used the thick wool topper on my Flobed; it came with my old bed which had a very thin piece of latex and then the wool pad. But it was interesting that that bed never felt hot (but it was way too firm for me). Good luck with your decision-making. I was relieved to finally be done with it when I decided to keep my Flobed! When I was away for a week, I slept on a very firm innerspring mattress (old, flipable kind with no extra padding) on which I put my convoluted latex topper (doubled) and my wool fleece pad in order to even be able to sleep at all (bed was way to firm for me). I think it felt cooler than my Flobed but far less comfortable. It's hard to really assess temp temp-wise as it's all so subjective, and undoubtedly depends also on the weather/temp in the room/bedding, etc. I probably won't be back on this forum much, but still hope to check in now and then. And if anything changes significantly in my experience, I'll post then. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's a great resource, and I hope my posts have also been of benefit to some people. Linda |
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Thanks Linda. I have not tried a thick wool pad. I did try a snugfleece, and that did not seem to make any difference. I think you are right that there is a tradeoff between comfort and warmth. A firm innerspring with minimal padding will be cooler, but not that comfortable. I went and tried a few innerspring today, and I don't like them as much. If I add more comfortable layers, latex or memory foam, I may be back to where I am right now heat wise. The last few nights I wake up around 1-2am and feel a bit warm, but then I go back to sleep and I am fine. Even with my old bed I would probably would wake up around the same time. So, I am not sure if the innerspring will make much difference, except possibly in summer. I am going to add a thicker mattress pad this week to see if that changes things at all. Also, there is something called a bedfan, which blows some air under the sheets to keep you cooler. Sounds kind of weird, but it does work for some people. In summer that might be something I could use. |
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Sandman: after having read all your trials and tribulations with heat problems vis-à-vis matters, it just seems to me that you need a waterbed so that you can control the temperature with a thermostat. I know you say where you currently live that this is not acceptable. Then I would seriously consider moving somewhere that would allow a waterbed since you're having so much trouble getting to sleep due to heat build up. There are some very good waterbeds on the market that will sleep very comfortably. It is true you need a very firm foundation under them because water weight is 8 pounds per gallon, so in my California King soft sided waterbed, with me in it, there was approximately 800+ pounds to contend with. But one thing's for sure, you can turn down the thermostat and make the mattress quite cool! Think about it!  This message was modified Dec 13, 2009 by eagle2
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sandman wrote: What kind of mattress do you have?
but if i had the budget, it would easily be a p-grade stearns & foster in ultra firm. their lowest model that has the dual spring setup- smaller tighter coils within larger taller coils, so dual action shock absorption & 2x as many in the same area. all marvelux & high performance/high density foam on top & more of it than the sealys. just too expensive & too beautiful to butcher now or later for any reason. unless a toddler were somehow trapped in there or something else highly unlikely. they do feel incredible though. i just have to wait until the costco sale is over or runs o.o.s. because it's hard to buy anything else while that's an option. you can hardly buy 6" of raw dunlop latex without a cover for what they're charging for their 10" queen. |
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That's intersting because I was/am considering the cushion firm of of the Sealy Reserve line. Probably my favorite thing I tried for $1500 or less was the firm S&F estate (no pillowtop). I have read about problems form S&F with sagging, etc., so that scares me a bit. Yes, I would hate to cut into it (at least for many years). I also saw that foamsweetfoam has 3" strips of 100% natural talalay latex for $400 (queen). No cover though (you can buy a cheap terry cloth at sleeplikeabear), so if you don't want dunlop they are not a bad way to go. Can't compete with the Costco price though. From what I can tell the Celsion does not seem to be any cooler than the Talatech. Maybe in summer it would make a difference, but I am skeptical at this point. |