Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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Hi Folks, Thanks to all on this forum who share their insights on getting a better bed combo/night's sleep. I have been through 16 mattresses and 30 toppers in all combinations to try to build a bed my 5'3" 110 lb back sleeping wife (likes firm) and I (170lb 50/50 side and back sleeper (medium)... with lower back pain... can sleep on. And both of us are hot and hate the heat aspect of foam mattresses and padding. We are a tough case. But my back has been killling me for 4 years, such that I had/have to do something. At least 1500 hours logged in mattress blogs, mattress stores, and swapping them and giving away toppers. We spent 4 years and thousands of dollars and hours chasing "sleep separation".... "conforming mattresses" ( Beautyrest, separate coils, memory and latex foam) ... before Iearned in the last month n Peter Cancellis blog that my back injury needs an interlinked coil system. (Sealy, Stearns) It was a light going off... I slept well on every cheap hotel mattess... much better than my home bed. So I have bought a Stearns and Foster Luxury Firm, which is pretty darn good on its own, even with some hip and shoulder pain when on my side. I bought a "soft" 2" topper from Foam By Mail.... marketed as "Talalay" Natural. (I have bought at least 3-4 toppers from them over the years before I figured out that I needed them on this interlinked spring mattress.) But here is the point... the supposed "talalay" was not... it is Dunlop... very dense (don't believe 20 ILD) ... not a lick softer than the firm bed top. This stuff has the large holes (perhaps 1/4 to 3/8 in size), and in the past toppers like this were "natural" (Dunlop) "Dunlop" in the past had more imperfections, was firm, and was cooler. This is very firm, cooler, has imperfections. FBM swears it is "soft" 20 ILD, shipping weight was 32 pounds. (Queen) In the past, I have tried what I believe is 100% "talalay" (talatex)... which had the small holes (maybe an eight inch or a little more.) The Talalay had no perceptible "airholels" in the rubber material, was noticeably softer feeling (per ILD)... and felt "warmer." My back so badly needs a solution (which I believe is a 2", softer top sitting on the very firm mattress itself) that I am sleeping in a separate room on a separate bed than my bride to get what I need without screwing up her nights sleep also. The dropping dollar value and apparent shortage from the disease killing Latex trees and skyrocketing demand is driving the price out of sight. Can anyone recommend a reasonable source for True 100% Talalay.. or do you think I can get away with "blended" and where? Thanks in adance for your help. shovel99 |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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My vote would be for Flobeds.com. Others would vote for Savvy Rest.com, yet others would vote for SleepEz. Some might vote for Habitat. Still others Foam Sweet Foam. And there are others of course. So take your pick. But in 1500 hrs. I'm surprised you have not already discovered these folks. |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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I believe sleepez.com has 100% natural talalay toppers. Might only come in 3". Not sure who makes them, so you should call them. Latex international seems to have a good reputation for quality. It might be made by them. Sleeplikeabear.com has various inches and ILDS, but only in blended Talatech and Celsion. If you call some of the places, they may be able to order what you want even if they don't normally stock it. Try flobeds, sleepez, or sleeplikeabear. A number of people have complained about the foambymail latex. They also have questioned the accuracy of the product description. Good luck. Sorry to hear you have had so many problems. from sleepez.com website: "Only the finest latex is used for our latex mattresses and latex mattress toppers. Our suppliers are the largest and most respected in the world: Latexo, Latex International, Dunlopillo, Radium, and Latex Green. We give you a choice of blended talalay, Dunlop 100% natural, blended Talalay, or 100% Natural with additional 10%. Free shipping in Cont. US and washable zipper velour cover." This message was modified Dec 11, 2009 by sandman
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Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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Thanks so much for your help and quick reply. Do you think a soft 100% talalay on top of the 2" dunlop (firm feeling) 20 ILD as described by FBM will work, or do I need to get at least 2" of the softer Talalay? The 2" piece I have now feels as hard as the mattress comfort layer, and I have heard that if the topper is as firm as the mattress top you aren't gaining any softness by stacking them up. Or would the effect be additive? I can save a few bucks with a 1" piece, but after the first $4000, another few bucks isn't the issue. The new, softer 2" could relace the firmer one and not be so tall. At least the S&F mattress isn't one of the huge tall ones. Thanks in advance! shovel99 |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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From what I have seen, most of the Stearns and Foster have indidually wrapped coils. I think they are different than the Sealys. Are you sure the one you got is interlinked? Anyway, it seems that the 2" of firm dunlop is probably a waste on top of the 4" or so of foam that the S&F probably already has. I would think that just 2" of something softer would be the way to go. Only can tell by trial and error. You might want to order 1". See if it is enough (with and without the dunlop), and order another inch if necessary. The 2" dunlop might come in handy eventually, if/when the S&F foam eventually goes bad. You may want to cut off the top and put in your own foam starting with the 2" dunlop. p.s. the blended Talalay Talatech I have has holes about 1/4-3/8". It might vary a little bit depending on what side you are looking at and what the firmness is. |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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Thanks! Shovel99 |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
| newer S&F mattresses are NOT interlocked coils only the sealy is. What did you buy? Have been reading peter's website as well |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
| Did you ever try a wool topper on the latex? Just curious if that helped with the sleeping too hot problem. |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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I bought a 2" Organic Wool topper that turned out to be too hard for me. it sits in a bag in the closet. I too have been chasing the right combination of latex for about a year now. hate to add up all spent. At the moment, I have 3" of 19 ILD LI from sleeplikeabear and actually want even softer, i think it has a lot to do with what is under that of course, the original foundation/bed was Land and Sky and that didn't work out. I am stuck with the Land and Sky foundation i guess, on the hard side. the 3" 19 ILD is incased in the original zipper cotton/wool cover from Land and Sky that seems to be ok, does add some firmness to it. Under that is the "Medium" 3" topper that was sent to me from Land and Sky that they wouldn't take back - MUCH too firm for me, but it helps mask the hard foundation, so it in the sandwich. The Sleepwarhouse topper turned out too firm for me also, a friend ended up with it when they would not take it back . FBM sample did not impress me, they only sent one and it was very firm for the rating of "soft". Next i will try 14 ILD SLAB 3", or possible 2". |
Re: Help with softer Latex topper than FBM "Soft" 20 ILD on top of firm Stearns Foster Luxury Firm?
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HI Folks, Some more twists and turns. When I wrote this, I had the S & F English Meadows Luxury Firm ( think this is Macys version of base model S&F which I bought from the good folks at mattressbarn.com in atlanta). I tried an Ikea TVEIT topper which is a 1" latex... 20% natural 80% synthetic topper in a nice zippered cloth bag... thinking I could return it if I didn't like it. It felt more like 2 inches of folded fabric and was not supportive. When I got it back to IKEA, they refused a return and gave me store credit. Desperate not to lose $200... I took their 2 3/8 inch memory foam topper called Tajford.... $250.... which felt great in the store... very firm, supportive. Turned into a nightmare in less than 2 hours.... the usual memory foam problem... deep hole, hot, hard, slow recovery that I bump into as a restless sleeper. I did convince them to give me store credit on return of the first one if the second didn't work. I then swapped the firm S&F for a the Plush tight top version of the same mattress which was softer. I at least I could sleep on it, but still a bit firm for me... some arm/hip firmness ( Male weigh 170 60% side, 40% back) and going to sleep. I then put the Foam By Mail 2" "Natural Talalay Soft 19 ILD" on the new mattress. This is the one that felt too firm on the Luxury Firm S & F. On this mattress, it was a slight improvement in combination with the sofer top on the Plush S & F. This is still a fairly firm, supportive mattress. It may indeed be separate pocketed coils, but firm enough to provide solid support. ccmattress.com Peter Cancelli sells a version of this mattress and would be a recommended source. mattressfirm.com sells this mattress as Camdenhurst Luxury Plush S & F... and you could buy it from Peter online at considerable savings. I will probably give this combo a couple more days before "going the last mile." Hey, what's another $172? SLAB told me that their Talalay 19 ILD is significantly softer than FBM's 20 ILD Natural. Scares me a bit to go all the way down to their 14 ILD but feel I may have to go to the bottom... softest available anywhere and firm up from there. I am only looking for soft layery at this point. Last choice is to soften up the surface with a 1 " 14 ILD Latex Talalay Talatex topper made by Latex International and sold by Sleeplikeabear.com who will ship it delivered for $172. This is money back GTY. IF I have to return it from Atlanta, I pay them their $36 shipping to me (included in the $172) plus my own shipping cost back to them. But I will have then bracketed the problem: the softest one I can find...and will then firm up from them. If this is too soft, I can bump up the ILD, or thicker, or both. I am inclined to put the 1" on top of the 2".. but it may be just enough on the mattress. Good luck and thanks for the input, everyone. |