Mattress Forum

The lower the ILD of latex, the more it will conform to your body and the less support it will give.  Latex also springs back quickly, while memory foam springs back slowly.  So, your 20ILD latex will feel firmer and more supportive than your 4.5lb memory foam.

You are probalby best going with mainly latex and possibly adding a little memory foam for comfort if desired.  I use 1" of memory foam (5.9lb.), 1" of 19 ILD latex and 1" of 24ILD latex as my top 3 comfort layers.  I weigh about 210 and sleep on side, so I like it somewhat on the plush side.   Most people only figure it out by trial and error, and it is good to keep the top layers to 1-2" so it can be fine tuned better.

Are your top 3 comfort layers in the order in which you posted them? if not, what is the order of the layers? Does that setup provide a good deal of conforming with some support or support with some contouring? Is that setup good for 65% side and 35% back sleeping?

Sorry if I'm coming across as a pain to deal with, but I don't have any stores to test latex and different options of memory foam and I'm sure packing this stuff up to ship back is a big hassle.

Are you a side sleeper?  YES  (the correct pillow height for my neck and shoulder also was necessary fro me)

What is the ild of your soft topper?  Brylane Homes said it was 24 ILD but I feel it is softer which is what I wanted.  If I was taller and therefore heavier, 2" of a soft latex topper would have been better for me but I needed only 1" to sink in enough to feel the firmness underneath but still get some cushion for my pressure points.

Is there a difference in feeling of naturall Talalay latex and blended one?  I could never handle manmade latex (tried a pillow and had to give it away due to my allergies and it was much too firm) so I was surprised that the Talalay processing created no difference to me in the natural or blended latex.  I had bought my latex kit from FloBeds but none of their toppers they sent me were to my back's liking so I bought my own from Brylane Homes which had a queen size on sale with no seam.  (this also answers another poster's question).

I have from top down I am currently using: 1" 19 ILD latex, 1" 5.9lb. memory foam, 1" 24ILD latex, 2" 32 ILD latex, 782 Sealy coil system (fairly firm, I would estimate at least 40 ILD compared to latex).   I have a 100% cotton mattress pad over all of that, and a wool filled mattress pad over the cotton one.  The type of mattress pad you use will affect the feel and firmness a little as well.

I sleep almost 100% on side.  I would guess my setup would be a bit too soft for back sleeping or someone that ways a bit more than me (both seem to be true in your case).  Of course it will depend on whether you have back issues and how soft you like it.  I don't have back issues that often, and tend to like it a bit on the softer side for comfort.

I would say it is fairly comfortable and supporting for me, without the feeling of sinking in too much over night (like when I have used more than 1" of memory foam).   It does feel a little softer after it warms up (in a good way).  The additional benefit is I can always make it firmer by taking off 1".   So, a good setup might be something a bit firmer than you might like, with 1" increments on top that you can adjust to the right comfort.   Some people are able to get it just right with thicker pieces, but that has not been the case for me.

How you layer it will affect the feel as well.  For me, putting the memory foam on top and the 19ILD below it gives a bit softer feel.

Bottom line is that almost everyone here ends up with something different, so only your experience and trial and error will get you were you want (if you are fairly picky).  

Lynn - the last answer is very confusing.

I am sorry but your posts are confusing.

what are you saying? That blended latex seeps off chemicals?

Are you saying that blended latex that you got was firm ILD andf therefore all blended latex is unsuitable? I am thoroughly confused.

Then you contradict yourself immediately and say that talalay latex blended and natural are same?

Your posts have me baffled more.

Latex in softer ILD's will conform pretty well to your body but not the way visco does. In my view visco or memory foam does not provide "hardly any" support, especially if it is low density (under 4lb). Latex even in low ILD does provide some support.

In my view what you want is a strong higher ild latex on your base layer and increasingly softer latex towards the top. In full disclosure, I have not tried low ild latex (under 24ild). But I believe in theory - and from reports here - that it does provide support and makes a great top layer. I have used 5 or 6 different memory foams as top layers - between 1-4" in thickness - and all it does for me is give me a back ache. I acknowledge that it does work for some people though. Personally I think only 1" or so is practical and it should be high density.

Although I'm about 55lbs heavier than you sandman, it seems we share a lot of sleep habbits. I have no back issues other than those caused from sleeping on a hard stiff surface like my old mattress. Although I love the feel of memory foam, I'm a big guy and generate a lot of body heat quickly, so I'm looking for something that is not heat responsive, thats why I'm looking into latex. @Lynn -  I'll surely keep you posted. I'm thinking of getting the 5" firm base instead of the 3". It sure would be easier if I had a shop to test various latex options.

I had bought a 100% manmade latex pillow thinking 100% latex meant natural. It was too firm and bothered my allergies so I gave it away. This is before I bought a latex bed.  Hence, when I ordered the latex bed from FloBeds, I paid more for 100% nautural Talalay Latex to be sure my allergies would not be affected. But then I found out I really needed two Super Firm (44 to 47 ILD) latex cores on the bottom of the bed to make my bed as firm as I needed it after the car accident and that would mean I would have to buy blended Talalay Latex. I was amazed at when the two latex cores arrived that they had just about no smell just like the natural Talalay Latex.  I still aired them out over the banister for a night like I do with anything that is new that I can't wash or anything that comes in a plastic bag to be safe since some plastics and other packing materials bother my allergies.

I also tried out many toppers and one Dunlap Topper that was 2" and too firm had a slight smell and another 1.5" 100% Natural Talalay Latex smelled so bad and it took several days for the smell to go away.  Out of all times to have it delivered was when I had a guest come by to sleep over and they could not stand the smell.

They 1" Brylane Homes Talalay Latex topper had no smell and my FloBed Talalay Latex cores also do not outgas to my knowledge since I don't have any allergies to them and I did not have any allergies to the 2" convoluted natural latex core that came with the bed that I sent back since it was too thick for me for a soft topper due to my height being less than 5" tall.  But again, the 1.5" sent to me that Dave was trying to accommodate me with and find a soft thinner topper, amazingly smelled. I wonder if it was stored with memory foam that I can't handle either due to my bad allergies unless it is sealed really well. 

My business petite chair has some memory foam in the seat that has no smell and does not bother me.  But I know I would be allergic to a memory foam bed from my experience in trying them out in the store.

Hope this clears up the confusion.