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I have a latex mattress with a 6" Blended talalay core 32 ILD. On top of the latex core, I have tried a) 2" and b) 2" + 2" of all-natural latex ILD toppers (for clarity, two different configurations: 6" 32 ILD+ 2" 21 ILD.... or 6" 32 ILD + 2" 21 ILD + 2" 21 ILD). The cover is a stretch knit. No mattress protector yet. From a hip / spinal support point of view, I find the 6" + 2" configuration too hard. With the 6" + 2" + 2" configuration, I find that hip / spinal support starts to suffer. Based on how these two configurations have felt, I suppose a 6" 32ILD + 3" 21 ILD configuration would probably be optimal in terms of hip / spinal support for me. But I have problems with how the mattress feels for my shoulders / arms. In both configurations, the mattress feels hard on my shoulders / arms. As a result, I toss and turn. I miss the pillowtop feeling of my former innerspring matters (although the support was poor for me). Does anybody have recommendations for creating more of a "pillowtop" feeling for the latex mattress and improve pressure relief for shoulders / arms? I have read that some of you have tried zoning and have experimented with memory foam and latex 14 ILD, over the other latex layers. Have you found those strategies to be effective? Just FYI, I am an average body side sleeper. So shoulder / arm comfort is important in the mattress. Thanks very much.
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Tessie:
The symptoms you describe are very similar to mine. So hopefully, we can get some advice from the forum members to solve these problems.
I have done some research on prior entries, and some members have experimented with configurations. These are some examples I found in the forum:
Sandman (from top to bottom): 1" 19 ILD latex 1" 5.9lb memory foam 1" 24 ILD latex 2" 32 ILD latex Firm innersprings
I also read a recommendation from Sandman in the forum, recommending: 1" 14 ILD latex or memory foam 1" to 2" 19 ILD latex 1" to 2" 24 ILD latex Maximum 4" total comfort layer, over support layer
Shovel99 (Paul) (from top to bottom): 1" 20 ILD latex 1" 20 ILD latex XFirm innersprings
Prior entries from Shovel99 (Paul) indicated that he also tried
1" 4lb memory foam 1" super soft foam 1" 20 ILD latex 1" super soft foam Firm innersprings
and....
2" 14 ILD latex 2" super soft foam Firm innersprings
Sall (from top to bottom): 1" 14 ILD latex 3" 22-24 ILD latex 6" 32 ILD latex
If I understood some entries correctly, Sall would prefer: 1" 14 ILD latex 1" 19 ILD latex 1" to 2" 22-24 ILD latex 6" 32 ILD latex
GKdesigns has a 3+3+3 configuration and was experimenting with zoning, but I am not sure I understood the current ILDs in the configuration.
Sandman, Shovel99 (Paul) Sall and GKdesigns: I would appreciate if you let me know if I understood the entries correctly, and therefore, if I quoted your configurations correctly.
We would appreciate your recommendations on how to fix the comfort layers in our mattresses while presserving good spinal support. Thanks. |
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Sounds like you might need 1" of something soft on top instead of the 2". Might be worth trying 1" of memory instead of the extra 2" latex. Plus a softer zone under your shoulders would help. One thing you are missing from my configuration is that I cut out the portion under my shoulders of my base latex layer, and put in a softer piece there. That helps with the issue you are talking about. I got the idea from the flobeds vzone, if you have looked at that. So, from bottom to top I have firm sealy springs, 2" 32 natural talalay latex (with shoulder area cut out and replaced with slightly thinner 17-19 blended latex), 1" 19 blended talalay latex, 1" 24 natural talalay latex, 1" 5.9 memory foam, wool filled mattress pad. I occasionally switch the layers around, but this is the configuration I tend to like the most. It feels fairly cushy , but still supportive. I don't feel like my shoulder is jammed, like I do on other mattresses. I am a side sleeper. It took a lot of experimentation to get to this. Still, I don't always sleep the best due to other issues, but I dont blame the mattress. I pretty much feel comfortable and don't get any unusual pains. Good luck!
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Sandman: Thanks very much for your reply. I think your recommendation sounds very good and I will get some memory foam to try it. Just to make sure I understand correctly, my config will look like this (from top to bottom): 1" memory foam (instead of the current layer of 2" 21 ILD latex) 2" 21 ILD latex 6" 32 ILD latex If this does not solve the problem completely, I will also attempt zoning, similar to your configuration. Let me ask a question on your configuration. Is the 24 ILD latex below the 19 ILD latex? Thanks very much! |
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Yes, that is the configuration I was suggesting to try. MF is a little better at pressure relief than latex. Denser is better, so hopefully at least. 4lb density. It probably won't totally solve your shoulder problem though. Hard to do that without zoning. It also seems that 2 " would probably not give you enough support. I have the 24 above the 19. A little too soft the other way around. Unfortunately the only way to figure things out is by trial and error. What works for me might not work for you , and vice versa. Good luck. What size is the mattress? |
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Toto wrote: I have read that some of you have tried zoning and have experimented with memory foam and latex 14 ILD, over the other latex layers. Have you found those strategies to be effective? I can recommend one thing to *avoid*, and that's 14 ILD Talalay latex. It's useless, except for children or small pets. Any adult will sink right through it. I'm built similar to Tessie, and I wasted a fair amount of money on 2" and then another inch of natural 14ILD (bought from a local mattress manufacturer). Don't go softer than 19ILD. I also tried 2" of 5lb memory foam from FoamByMail.com, and had to sell it because it felt too soft and I woke up so freakin' HOT. (Worth noting, possibly, that the foam I received was not actually 5lb density. I did some measuring & math, and the foam was closer to 4.7 or so.) Still considering trying some 5lb ventilated memory foam (Overstock.com has some), but I'm leery. My current mattress is a Simmons Beautyrest with 13-gauge pocket coils. I think those coils might be a little too sturdy for me.... (My previous mattress, locally made, used 14.5-gauge offset coils, and for some odd reason they were not supportive enough, even though I'm on the thin/light side. I'm still inclined to stick with an innerspring of some kind, but am not sure which kind would work best for me.) Wish I could help more, but I'm still trying to figure this out, too. (My Simmons was OK, with my toppers, for a while, but for the past month or so, my shoulders have been crunched again and I'm waking up with numb hands.) It would be lovely if I didn't have to choose between lower back pain and numb arms.... This message was modified Nov 6, 2013 by Catherine
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Sandman: Thanks for the advice! The mattress is king size. I may try the changes on one side first. I am side sleeper, 175 lbs. My wife is happy with her side of the bed, although her arms fall asleep during the night every once in a while. So the change to memory foam towards the top of the comfort layers may be good for her side of the bed too. Catherine: Thanks for letting me know about the problems with the 14 ILD latex. I hope you can find the balance between springs / latex that works for you. I will share my own finding as I implement Sandman's recommendations and experiment with different layers.
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I tested a few toppers yesterday in NYC's The Clean Bedroom. I did not like the soft talalay as a topper and from reading Catherine's post here and on another forum, I have crossed it off my topper list. I read your posts Catherine on the other forum. I felt your anguish as well. I have ordered a fiber bed topper seen here: https://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Candice-Olson-Luxury-300-Thread-Count-Down-Alternative-Fiber-Bed/7213229/product.html?fp=f&CID=212975&token=212975-2129752013110613837448180554569683038578232544-1-b93faa It should arrive Friday and I'll let you all know how it is. I wanted to try this because of the good reviews and I am exploring other options, meaning latex might not work well as a top layer for lighter weights. If I like it, I still have the option of adding maybe an inch or two of soft dunlop, 14 -19 or so under this fiber bed. Puralux in the less dense form, which I believe is around 20% natural dunlop 80% syn. is sold here on ebay. He also sells covers for it : http://www.ebay.com/itm/LATEX-MATTRESS-TOPPER-Cushion-2-Thick-QUEEN-SIZE/200622007364?rt=nc Many people have told me that the more natural a piece of latex is, the harder it will feel, (more push back as I call it). This is what I am trying to avoid. I think at the top, I want cushioning but I do not want to feel the hardness where my body ends in the sinking process. Not sure if I am explaining this correctly. There is also some nice looking soft dunlop that is mostly synthetic, maybe 10% - 20% natural, made by mountain top. I believe this is a newer product. Spindle Mattresses carries a 3" zoned topper seen here: http://www.spindlemattress.com/products/3-latex-foam I talked to a Mountaintop salesman and he said that the company can cut this in a 1" or 2" which is more what I am interested in, but he was unsure how I could purchase it. I like the zoning idea at the top. In theory, this seems like a nice soft topper with a little support... can't try it out anywhere though. Here is the Mountin top site: http://www.mountaintopfoam.com/our-products/ I'll be back with thoughts about the fiber bed. Tessie
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P.S.: I do want to stay away from memory foam as well... too sensitive to chemicals/odors and I think it has the similar hard feel of talalay when you reach the bottom of the body sinking process, (for lack of a better word). Tessie |
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Memory foam is somewhat controversial. Some like, some don't. I had one 4lb piece that I sank through too easily, but another 4 lb from Costco that I liked. 5 lb sensus was pretty good, and the denser piece I have now I like even more. I have gravitated to using just 1". More will hurt support, unless it is on a very firm mattress. A wool filled mattress pad can help with heat issues. I am somewhat heat sensitive, but fine with current configuration. Occasionally in summer I might put 1" latex on top, but never as comfortable that way. I have the softer shoulder zone on just one side of my queen. I notice less shoulder jam on that side vs the other, even with 3" of foam above it. In your case, it might help if you cut out and put a softer piece in the shoulder area of the 2" 32 latex. You would have to make sure it is in the right location and no guarantee it would work. You would probably be able to put back the cut out piece, if you don't like the zone. Flobeds vzone chart . This message was modified Nov 6, 2013 by sandman
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| Just as FYI, I did read somewhere else, that if you are going to do this type of mattress surgery, that cutting the foam with an inexpensive electric meat carver is among the easiest ways of getting a clean cut. |