How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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I've had my new latex mattress for a little over a week now, and I have some questions for you other latex mattress users. I'm a side sleeper, tall and heavier than average. When I lie on my mattress, I find that I'm sinking into the mattress quite a bit (esp in the hip area). The 6" core is 32 ILD and there is 2" of soft latex on both the top and bottom of that. My back pain has for the most part gone away since I got the mattress, and my hip pain is totally gone, but the amount I'm sinking into the mattress is a little disconcerting and I'm wondering if I got too soft a core for my size. I'm also wondering if, due to the amount my hips are sinking in, whether my spine is really aligned . . . When you all sleep on your latex mattresses, are you finding that you're depressing the latex much, or are you mostly "floating" on top of it? Since there has been an improvement in my pain, I'm hesitant to call Custom Comfort and ask them to put a firmer core in, but if, on the other hand, I'm sinking more than I should be, maybe I would do better with a firmer core. Any thoughts? |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
| Yes, there is a 2" soft layer, then the 6" core in the middle, then a 2" soft layer on the bottom. This is because Custom Comfort constructs their mattresses to be double sided, to be flipped and rotated, for longevity of the mattress. |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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If you feel you're sinking in too much, then this setup is probably too soft for you. You might be able to get used to it, or you may start getting a backache from it after a few weeks. My feeling is that your intuitive hunch is right, the 6" core is too soft for you. Most side sleepers will take a somewhat softer mattress, and on paper your setup does sound right for you. But the 2" soft layer underneath it all, plus the mattress itself being on a regular foundation would add up to it being a bit softer than say a 6" medium core with a 2" soft topper would by itself. So with this manufacturer's mattress, a firmer core might do better. It might be good to wait awhile and see how it is after another week or so. You might just get used to it. Or as someone else suggested, try it on a flat surface to see if the sinking in feeling lessens. I think that your mattress should feel soft on the surface yet supportive while laying on it. If you're laying on your side you shouldn't feel undo pressure under your shoulder or hips, yet you should feel there's support at the same time. Too much of a sinking in feeling indicates not enough support to me. The core is the support. Good luck on this. |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
| Basically, if your back isn't hurting from the bed, then you're getting enough support has been my rule of thumb. As far as the sinking, you may want to put a firmer layer on top and a very soft directly underneath of it. That's what worked for me, the very soft on top was hurting my back. Good luck. |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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My guess is that the sinking is more of a problem in your mind than physically if you've been waking feeling better than before you got the latex. Perhaps have your husband look at your spine alignment when you're laying on your side. I don't think a mattress can fix back problems -- a good one just won't be making it worse. |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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Well I just am not happy with this sinking in feeling. I called Custom Comfort, and they told me I had a six inch, 28 ILD core sandwiched between two, two inch layers at 19 ILD. Considering that I am both tall and heavy, that confirms my suspicion that the latex is just too soft. When I was at the store, the sample core they showed me was 32 ILD and the two inch layers were 19 ILD. The floor model bed was definitely firmer. So, after talking with them, they are going to pick up the bed and exchange the latex for a 34 ILD core sandwiched between two 24-25 ILD pieces. I'm hoping that will give the extra firmness that will eliminate this caving in feeling. I'm still happy with Custom Comfort, the customer service has been great, the mattress is first rate quality, they are very polite on the phone, they use the same high quality LI latex as Flobeds and Sleepez, but I am now regretting that I didn't go with Flobeds or Sleepez so that I could just play around with the layers and adjust as needed to get it right. Also, as knowledgeable as Custom Comfort is about traditionally constructed mattresses, I'm not getting the feeling that all of their salespeople are as knowledgeable about latex as the Flobeds people are. I don't want to be obsessive about this, but now I'm worried that I'll get the new mattress and it won't be right and I'll have to have them pick it up all over again . . . actually, I'm thinking maybe I should just call Flobeds and talk to them about ILDs and call Custom Comfort back and tell them what to give me based on what Flobeds recommends. Anyway, they can't come until Thursday the 15th and they'll redo it and have it back to me Saturday the 17th, so I won't know until next weekend or later whether this new combination will work better. But I do feel better that I am exchanging for firmer layers. And miraculously, my husband didn't roll his eyes with exasperation when I brought up the subject of sending it back for firmer latex. |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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Kimberly: it sounds like you should be okay with the ILD's that they are mentioning for you. According to the chart that I have from FloBeds their soft is from 20 to 24 ILD, medium is 26 to 30 ILD, firm is 30 to 34 ILD, extra firm is 34 to 38 ILD. Latex International usually puts their ILD selections squarely in the middle of the range. At least my cores have come that way. They also list a blended soft Talalay from 19 to 22 ILD, and a super firm blended from 42 to 46 ILD. As far as what FloBeds would recommend for you, it is very easy to find out. Go to this URL and put in the proper numbers and you can get their recommendations. I have found them to be fairly accurate. Copy and past this URL. http://flobeds.com/firmness_advisor/index.htm I think you will definitely be happier with the firmer layers, both the core and the top and bottom pieces. It seems that most companies use different ILD ranges. For whatever it's worth, on the FloBeds chart, they claim that their ranges are measures based on the ASTM D-1055. Whatever that is. Best of luck on your mattress quest. This message was modified Oct 10, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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Eagle, can you post the link to that chart? Thanks :) |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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KimberlyH wrote: Eagle, can you post the link to that chart? Thanks :) I did! It is right there in my last post. Copy and past it into your browser URL location and hit enter. I do not know why this web site does not hot link when a url is listed, but all you have to do is copy and past the link I provided as I just indicated. It works, I tried it.. just now! |
Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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Eagle, I meant the URL to the Flobeds ILD charts that break down the ILDs considered "xfirm" vs "firm" vs "medium" vs "soft," but I went to the Flobeds website and found it. I've seen the firmness advisor chart, but I'm not sure that takes into account factors such as hip and back pain. I imagine I might want a little softer than what they recommend on their calculator, which is firm over xfirm. This message was modified Oct 10, 2009 by KimberlyH
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Re: How should my latex mattress feel when I lay on it?
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KimberlyH wrote: Eagle, I meant the URL to the Flobeds ILD charts that break down the ILDs considered "xfirm" vs "firm" vs "medium" vs "soft," but I went to the Flobeds website and found it. I've seen the firmness advisor chart, but I'm not sure that takes into account factors such as hip and back pain. I imagine I might want a little softer than what they recommend on their calculator, which is firm over xfirm. Kimberly: There's no way that FloBeds "Firmness Advisor" can take into account factors such as hip and back pain with any degree of accuracy. If you went to three different doctors, be they chiropractors, or ODs, you could very well received three different opinions about what is best to do regarding your hip and back pain. I am beginning to get the impression that the first two layers of a four layer bed are probably the most important as far as "feel" is concerned. Therefore FloBeds convoluted soft Talalay 2 inch top piece and the first 3 inch layer of what ever firmness level you choose, is going to give the greatest degree of impression on our physiology. But the next two 3 inch layers are the stabilizing and foundation factors that really matter over the long haul. At least that is my initial impression sleeping on my FloBeds mattress for two weeks come Monday. One thing I am experiencing is the strong psychological effect of several nights sleeping on differing core firmness levels. We humans are very complex entities. We are a giant electrochemical unit. And the philosophers, sages and theologians have argued for millennia that we also have a soul. Whatever you choose to believe, believe this. We are highly complex. Also consider this. We spend one third of our lives sleeping. So it just makes sense that the sleep surface that we utilize is a very large contributor to our overall well-being. What makes it maddeningly difficult, when you're trying to choose the proper bed, is the way our bodies adapt to things. Now adapting is a very good! We'd all be in a lot of trouble if we couldn't adapt. But this also complicates trying to choose what layers you want in a latex mattress. Just read some of JimSoCal experiences with building his own mattress. So make the changes that seem right to you, and then give yourself enough time to adapt to these changes before you make any final determination. Just the advice of an old guy trying to adapt and choose..... right now.  This message was modified Oct 10, 2009 by eagle2
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