Mattress Forum

I am not sold on the all latex concept, so a PU and Latex mattress is what I building.  I am not concerned with it being 100% natural.  The latex I bought is 100% natural, but if Foam by Mail had blended latex, I would have bought that.

From what I have read, it is difficult to tell the difference in ILD between the soft, medium, and firm for 1 inch thick pieces of latex.

Dunlop is firm, so you may need 32ILD over that, and then the 24ILD of the natural or blended talalay on top.  See if you can get samples.  I didn't get samples of Dunlop and it is firm.  I did get samples of natural and blended talalay and now have layers of both, and they are totally different from Dunlop.  Dunlop is okay for bottom layers but not top, at least for me it is too firm.

Since I am still working on getting the comfort layers right, I can't say what REALLY works.  It is a guessing game, and it all does not work the same for every person.  Some people love latex, and some people hate it.  Only you can tell.  It is long lasting stuff, but you have to be happy with it, or it isn't worth 2 cents.  You may need wool on top, or something else for more comfort.

If I had it to do over again, I probably would order from Sleepeze or Flobeds, but I already have 5 layers of latex, so onward I go.  I didn't want to spend thousands, and I haven't yet.  Have you checked out Rocky Mountain Mattress for cheaper 24ILD and 32ILD natural latex?

Good luck, let us know what you do and what works or doesn't.

I'm not sure how they package toppers when they send them, but if each is individually shrink-wrapped, I would probably try just the 2" toppers first and leave the 1-inchers sealed. It's possible that 2" of 24 ILD on top of 2" 32 ILD on top of the base layers would be okay. If that's too hard, then I could open and add one or both 1-inchers as desired. If I don't need to add one or both, this would make it easier and cheaper to return, since they'd be still unopened and thus compressed.

I think I am going to get 32ILD, the 24ILD is really quite soft, and am not sure why people want softer than that.  But I am 175 lbs, so I squish the 24ILD real easy.  I might be happier with 32ILD on top, but not sure since I don't have a 32ILD piece.  I have a 32ILD sample piece, but hate to say it I can't tell much difference in the 28ILD sample, and really can't tell much difference til you get to 34ILD sample piece.  So it isn't fool proof figuring out from samples what to get.

I have a 15ILD (I think) of Latex Green Dunlop and it is so firm, that I would put that on the bottom, that is how firm dunlop is.  Maybe some people can use it for a top layer, but not my painful pressure hip point.

I am not sure what their exchange policy is though.

The latex I received from them looks like the pictures here:

http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/my-foambymail-8-latex-mattress-actual-setup-pictures/9029-0-1.html

You probably already saw this post, but just in case you didn't:

http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/perfect-latexpu-foam-mattress-766/1335-A-1.html

I'm definitely getting closer to deciding. Will probably order something Monday.

I also think if you are picky on latex and want the "best of the USA" then Latex International is the best IMHO, and only MHO.  I have never tried FBM, some people love it and others say it is no where near LI quality.  Do searches on this forum for Foam by Mail, they don't tell you where it is made.  Good luck.  Latex Green Dunlop 15ILD is really beautiful and good quality latex, just firm... I put that on the very bottom layer.  It probably is like the firmest Talalay blended latex.  I use 2" layers or 1 1/2" layers.  I can't imagine moving 3" layers of queen size around. UGH.   If you are using twin size for each side that would be lots easier to move around.

I finally had to get remove my wool on top mattress pad after trying it over the 24ILD 2" natural talalay I got from RMM, by the way it is very nice quality from LI.    I did not have as bad of hip pain as before, so no more wool pad for me.  I am back to looking for soming not stiff that has wool.  I hope this works for me now.  As I said, it is all trial and error.  You could be one of the lucky ones, or like me still working at it.

Thanks

RockyMountain has Talalay natural medium firm and medium plush:

http://www.rockymountainmattress.com/talalaylatextoppermediumplush-p-86.html

Leo, you say your FIFTEEN ILD Dunlop processed latex is so firm you have to use it as a bottom layer? Yikes! Then, you can imagine why I hate my 32 ILD Dunlop so much. Feels like a rock to me! But hey, some people love the firmness of it.

I don't really agree with you that LI is the best latex. From what I have seen and heard, most latex is about the same quality. LI might be more perfectly uniform in the way it looks - evenly placed holes, etc.. maybe. Don't get me wrong, I think LI is a good company, I'm just not sure their latex is really any better than anyone else's, I just think they have the best marketing campaign.

I believe it was Budgy who stated that Natural latex is better than synthetic or blends like Talatech, and from what I have seen and heard I think that might be true. Or it may be that all are pretty close to equal in terms of practical usage. In terms of uniformity and "looking nice", LI might be the winner.

So you are saying that your 24ILD Natural Talalay from RMM is very soft? And so you think the softer Talatech 14ILD from sleeplikeabear would be too soft (for me, I mean)? I am using a 32 ILD Talalay natural as my top layer sometimes and it feels too firm to me. Yet if I put the wool over it sometimes then I get lower back pain. So maybe the 24 is what I want? I'm just concerned that it might not be soft enough... that's why I was going to try the 14ILD; also someone in the foam industry recommended I try the 14ILD.

You say the 24ILD from RMM is LI? I thought it was Latex Green... not sure though. Does it say on the site it is LI?

Sorry to detour the thread, but this response of Leo's stimulated some questions and comments.

Yes, the RMM natural talalay is definitely LI.  Their dunop is LG.   Several people have ordered it and have it and it does have it stamped on the latex side.

Again, in MHO 24ILD is as soft as I want, this is my opinion and only for me.  Some want softer, if it were any softer it would be smashed and of no use to me.  I almost thought 24ILD was too soft after doing my hand test, LOL.  But when your body weight is spread over the entired mattress with lots of Dunlop layers underneath it I now am happy!!!  I hope this is not temporary like you have had Jim, and like I have had with the wool on top for a while.

I took the Natura (Brylane Home) Dunlopillo soft blended latex off (I think it is 14-18ILD) and that really didn't do much for me.  So now I am either going to have to find a soft cushier mattress cover, or keep using the plush polyester blanket still.

So I would consider your wool pad could be a culprit of problems.  But you are different from me, and my opinion may be of no value to some here.

P.S.  I have 1 1/2" of 24ILD LI blended talalay and 2" of 24ILD LI natural talalay, and I think I do like the natural better.  Time will tell, and it smells just like my LI pillows, yummy.

P.S.S. I forgot your question first time round, the LG 15ILD is marked as such, and yes I can see why you would not like the 32ILD of LG way too firm.  But the 15ILD is fine as bottom layer.  The other layers I have from OS was not marked and I do believe it is LG from the same similarities, and it is a bit softer, but it could be because if is thinner.  The thinner the latex the softer it is, again IMHO.

Disclaimer, LOL, this is only my opinion.......

Mostly I was thinking of buying 2" and 1" 24 ILD toppers plus 2" and 1" 32 ILD toppers from SleepEZ, opening only the two 2" toppers and leaving the 1" toppers in their unopened, vacuum-packed "compressed" state. If after a week I find I'd like more softness, then I could open one or both of the others and add them. If I'm happy with just the two-inch layers, it would make it much easier to return the 1" layers. Yes, I'd be out the shipping charges for returning them, but it wouldn't be too bad, since they're only 1" and they'd be still "compressed" (i.e., smaller than if they had been opened and then repackaged).

Regarding their return policy, SleepEZ has a 30 day money back guarantee on their toppers: http://www.sleepez.com/mattresscomponents.htm.

Free shipping on toppers at SleepEZ if your order is $275 or more.

Over the mattress and latex is just a plush blanket and jersey sheet.  Most people here just don't agree with anything I have here.  But that is why I say we are all different.  What works for me, doesn't work for you (perhaps but probably not).  I can't find a mattress pad that I like, and yes it does change the whole feel of the mattress.  Mine now feels like memory foam without the sinking in like quicksand feeling.

 I also would not use 1" layers, yes some people here would, but my theory is 1" is softer than a 1 1/2" or 2" of the same density.  Others have agreed with this theory, others have not.  But I do believe this is true.  To me 1" (which I have in the closet now) is useless.   Please understand this is only my opinion.  I have been trying to fix my mattress for 2 years now.  I have now tried every mattress pad available, okay not the Dormier, but I hate stitching lines.  I am super picky, I believe I am the princess and the pea, LOL.  I can't take wrinkles, or stitching lines, or stiff backing on mattress pads.  There is my short story.  Use what you like, and leave the rest.

I believe my hip pain is better now with 24ILD on top and no stiff mattress pads.  No back pain either.  I need to find a wool or cotton soft blanket, since my plush polyester blanket will be too hot in the summer.  I am so outside of the box, that most people will think what????  That is okay, if it works for me I am happy.

Very helpful... thanks! You are close in size to my wife (she's 5'10", 163 lbs.), and she also has hip pain. Are you a side sleeper like she is?

I'm still trying decide whether to go with 2" or 3" on my top layer. And if I go for 3", I may opt for it in one 3" topper rather than a 2" and a 1", based upon what you've said.

jimsocal — You're right, LI definitely pours it on with the marketing, don't they? They claim superiority to the European and Asian imports, with "very stringent durability testing to compare its latex to competitive materials". Hmmmm.

Budgy — Why do you believe all-natural Talalay to be superior to blended Talalay (like LI's Talatech)?

I went with 2" thinking I would not use the 1 1/2" under it, but  it turned out I liked the 3  1/2" of 24ILD.  If I end up having back pain, I will remove the 1 1/2" layer.

Take into consideration what you are covering the mattress with, it will make it firmer depending on what you use, as well as your base for the foam.   It really is a hard choice to make and unfortunately it is trial and error (boy is it).  There are so many variables to consider.

When I bought medium foam at a local upholstery shop that was 2" I loved it.  Then I went back and got 3" for a different chair, and I hated it, it was so firm I couldn't use it.  I made sure it was the exact density too, so it really is tough to get it right the first time.  Also shows you if you buy the exact density of foam at 2" and 3" they are not the same at all.

If you and your wife are finicky like me, maybe you need to try once piece of latex at a time and see what you think.  Have you asked for samples of latex to give you an idea of what you think of it?

Good luck and keep us posted on how it all goes for you.

same reasons I believe natural dunlop is superior to blended. 

1. natural rubber is more elastic

2. natural rubber contains proteins that are responsible for its hypoallergenic properties.

3. natural rubber is not made from petro chemical byproducts like synthetic latex.

Good luck with getting it right the first time in a week, LOL, it took me over 2 months to finally decide the wool on top mattress pad was causing me hip pain after I added 2" of 24ILD and still had hip pain.  So it sometimes takes longer to figure it out.  But you could be one of the lucky ones and get it right the first time.  Maybe the 1" incremements will work for you, just not for me, just note it PROBABLY will be softer than the 2" and if you get 3" of the same it will PROBABLY be firmer.  All in my own humble opinion, for what it is worth.

P.S. It is time for me to find a new hobby, this mattress making deal for two years is enough already!  Hope you find your solution faster than I did.

Thanks for the reply!

No, haven't done that. Not sure I could really tell much from samples.
 

Hi pianoman. You might be able to at least tell the difference between the density, weight and "feel" of the different types of latex. I could tell.

If SleepEZ now has 30 day return privilege on toppers, then they've changed their policy. That's good.

However, rockymountainmattress has free shipping on any topper so their prices are better UNLESS you plan to buy $275+ at Sleepez. And I do not know if rmm has a return/refund policy. I think not unless it's defective or something. But don't go by me, check to see. I will check if I have time and edit this if I'm wrong or if someone points out that I am wrong on that.

30 Night Satisfaction Guarantee **

**The 30 Night Satisfaction Guarantee is not available on adjustable frames, pillows, accessories, and mattress toppers. These items are non-refundable.