I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Jan 10, 2010 4:14 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
I know I could do a search. I know I've done so before. Right now I am just soooo not in the mood to go back and look for and read latex info.

I want to buy 1" or 2" of Dunlop latex (because I've slept on Talalay and never Dunlop; want to try the Dunlop). Can someone remind me who has it cheapest? I know I investigated this 4-5 months ago but I have completely forgotten.

I took all memory foam out of my mattress last night and slept better than I have in weeks. Still woke up with a sore back, but much better. The only other time I tried it without the memory foam was when I used 2 x 1" of my soft latex and I think that was too much soft foam for me. Now I'm back to 1" of soft latex without the memory foam and it's better, but I do guess that my HR foam has crapped out, so time to replace it with latex.

What ILD do you recommend for my bottom layer(s) over my springs? When my bed was working for me, I only had 1" of HR foam over the springs so I am guessing that should do it with the latex as well. I think the ILD I used was about 32, so with Dunlop I might want to go with 28? or would that be too soft? (as I recall, Dunlop is naturally firmer than Talalay so you use a lower ILD, no?) Also, I'm not sure - maybe I can find this in my receipt somewhere - the HR foam might have been as high as 36ILD. I had 3 ILD's one firm, one medium and one very firm, and I used the medium sometimes and the firm sometimes, but don't recall the exact ILD's.
This message was modified Jan 10, 2010 by jimsocal
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #59 Jan 18, 2010 2:22 PM
Joined: May 3, 2008
Points: 827
Jim,
I just thought I would mention my experience with the Natura 1" talalay latex, it already has indentations from my hip area.  It hasn't been that long I have been using it, it sat in my closet for quite some time.  Some people wouldn't see it if they have the indentations because if it is in a zippered cover you would have to completely uncover it.  I just have a blanket over it for protection and I take it off all of the time to switch layers around.  Just thought I would mention as Budgy mentioned 1" layers will break down faster.  I will stick with thicker layers from now on.  I have 1 1/2" for the rest which isn't that much thicker, but those haven't broken down yet.
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #60 Jan 18, 2010 4:35 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Leo3 wrote:
Jim,
I just thought I would mention my experience with the Natura 1" talalay latex, it already has indentations from my hip area.  It hasn't been that long I have been using it, it sat in my closet for quite some time.  Some people wouldn't see it if they have the indentations because if it is in a zippered cover you would have to completely uncover it.  I just have a blanket over it for protection and I take it off all of the time to switch layers around.  Just thought I would mention as Budgy mentioned 1" layers will break down faster.  I will stick with thicker layers from now on.  I have 1 1/2" for the rest which isn't that much thicker, but those haven't broken down yet.

Hmmm, I was just about to order 1", now I wonder if I should buy 1.5" or 2".

Thanks for reminding me of that post of Budgy's above: he wrote:
"thinner sheets of latex will typically break in/down a little bit faster than a thicker core, much in the same way that shredded rubber pillows although very comfortable do not stay resilient for as long as a solid core pillow.   Realistically I don't know if adding another piece on top will really prevent the core from breaking down as quickly, although it will certainly provide a buffer from the inconsistencies in the other piece (assuming the new piece is perfectly consistent).  Just keep in mind that every single layer in your whole mattress has to absorb your full weight, when we lay on top of a mattress our weight is added to the total of the bed and every layer will absorb this mass in some function or another all the way down to the floor the bed is on.  At best you can hope an additional layer to do is simply redistribute that weight over a slightly larger area. "

The reason I was going to buy 1" is that when my mattress was working for me, I used a 1" layer of HR and that is what I am replacing with the latex so I thought it would be best if it were the same as what worked. I tried using 2" of HR on my mattress and I found that, then, it kind of canceled out the feel and support of the springs.

By the way, just to make note here, I currently am using only 1" of HR over my springs and then 3/4" of some soft latex on top and that is working better than anything else recently but I still get back pain after 7 hours or so (presumably due to the HR having worn out; that's why I'm buying latexJ).

But just before this configuration,I had the same set up, only with my wool topper ("2 inches"; though, of course it mashes down to about 1/2") and that caused my back to hurt pretty bad. I love the feel of the wool so much, I am always "trying it again" to just see if I can tolerate the non-supportive layer it provides. I guess the answer is "no". No matter how I configure my mattress, the wool seems to cause back pain for me! This really confounds me because you would think just a thin layer like this should not affect the mattress enough to cause extra pain. This strikes me as amazing, that the wool layer hurts my back. I've tried it a number of times usually with the same results. I think once I used it for awhile and it worked but I don't remember the configuration and at some point I must have determined it was hurting my back and so took it off, just like now.

Budgy's endorsement of Latex Green is making me swing back towards Rocky Mountain whatever it is, and I could just buy one to try it instead of having to buy 2 at once. I'm going to go look at that web site again. I do recall something about their web site turned me off, though: it seems like one of those very slick, commercial sites where they don't provide much real info, just tell you how great their product is - all fluff and no real info. But maybe I'm wrong, that was just my first impression. I'll look again.
This message was modified Jan 18, 2010 by jimsocal
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #61 Jan 18, 2010 4:55 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
Jim, if you end up going with 2" you may want to look at Rocky Mountain again.  Their 1" 100% natural Talalay is $115, but 2" only goes up to $170 (I believe free shipping and no tax).   They finally got back to me and said Latex International makes the Talalay.  If you want a firm dunlop, you would probably have to have them special order (which they said they can do).  The firmest one they stock is 26.
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #62 Jan 18, 2010 5:19 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
hard to say what the functional life difference between a 1" or 2" layer will be if they are the exact same quality.  It might not even be a measureable difference.  Just thought I would throw that out there in the interest of being thorough, I know that when it comes to pillows the shredded rubber ones do not last nearly as long as a totally solid core, and that is the only basis I truly have to measure this on. 
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #63 Jan 19, 2010 7:22 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Thanks guys.
I would have placed my order today with SleepEZ if they had agreed to give me even a LITTLE price break on shipping but they refused...
So now I have to think some more...

Thanks for the clarification on the thickness issue, Budgy. Also, this will not be a topper, I will almost certainly use my 3/4" soft latex layer as the topper. (though I'll also probably try it without the topper).

Even though I just dont' get warm fuzzy feelings from SleepEZ (not at all! They remind me more of a Seinfeld "Soup Nazi" episode  type place)( that's just me, my opinion, my experience...), I may end up ordering two layers from them. I really only wanted to buy one right now but if I"m going to pay $49 shipping I may as well get 2 because we'll probably end up wanting another one later, anyway, and this way I can get my Dunlop and Talalay in 32 ILD as I have been wanting to do all along. [and I realize I am playing right into their shipping policy by giving them more $, which also irks me...) But maybe I'll just go ahead and order 2 x 1" layers, that way I can try it with both layers with 2 different feels by switching the order in which they are applied, one on bottom, one on top. And if I like it with just one, my wife can use the other.
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #64 Jan 19, 2010 7:52 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
You better be nice to the "Sleep Nazi" or it will be no topper for you.   Their policy is a bit crazy, but I think they charge pretty good prices for the pieces and build in profit margin and handling costs into the $49.  It might be better if they bumped up their prices a little and lower the fixed cost, but somehow they decided this is the best way to run the business.  It works out pretty well if you are buying a number of different things.

In the end, you will be best served by getting what you want even if it costs a little more.  Hopefully whatever you end up getting will work out for you.

Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #65 Jan 19, 2010 8:43 PM
Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Points: 64
Jim, 

You know you really want both of them anyway........and this way you can let us know about any discernible differences in the two pieces, and, Sleepeze sells two pieces of foam.  Seems like everyone is happy. 

Philip

Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #66 Jan 19, 2010 11:25 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Philip wrote:
Jim, 

You know you really want both of them anyway........and this way you can let us know about any discernible differences in the two pieces, and, Sleepeze sells two pieces of foam.  Seems like everyone is happy. 

Philip


Ha! That made me smile, Philip! I detect some ulterior motives on your part, though...

But that is the way I have to look at it: Get what I want, and really the prices aren't that bad.

It's just that I have my 6mo. car insurance due, just had my annual car registration hit me pretty hard, dentist bills and so on, so I really wanted to just buy ONE x 1" layer, for now... and that's probably what I should do. But their stupid $49 one price shipping makes me want to buy into their strategy and buy more than one...
So now it's just down to buying what I really want to buy.
I will probably do what you have suggested, Philip.
Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
Reply #67 Jan 20, 2010 1:18 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
TJ12 wrote:
Don't want to put a damper on things...but if you click on the BBB link on their website...it says the following:

This business's BBBOnLine participation has lapsed for one of the following reasons:

  • Non-payment of the annual BBBOnLine license fee or BBB Accreditation dues;
  • Failure by the business to maintain its BBB Accreditation, or abide by the program standards or dispute resolution requirements of the BBBOnLine program

    For a current business Reliability Report, visit www.bbb.org. For other questions or concerns, please contact BBBOnLine at infringement@council.bbb.org


  • We were ready to buy quickly yet, they never called us back either, which is what convinced us to go with FloBeds....their rating was very high and up to date.  No regrets there.  Haven't seen customer service like that in years, if ever!  Just something to keep in mind.


  • Just for the record, SleepEZ's internet BBB link now says this:

    BBBOnLine Participation and BBB Accreditation
    Confirmed For SLEEP EZ

    SLEEP EZ meets all BBBOnLine participation and Better Business Bureau accreditation standards and is authorized to display the BBB Accredited Business seal.

  • This business has been operating since 01/01/1974
  • This business was accredited by BBB on 05/20/1999
  • This business was approved as meeting BBBOnLine standards on 08/01/2006


  • The BBB Accredited Business seal, and the commitments that it signifies, pertain only to SLEEP EZ. The seal does not pertain to any organizations that may be listed, featured or advertised on this website, including independent franchises.

    To confirm legitimate participation in the BBB's program check the location (address) box. Make sure that the URL of this page begins with "https://www.bbb.org/". If not, please contact BBB at infringement@council.bbb.org.

    Have a problem or a complaint with a BBBOnLine program participant? Tell us about it here.

    ---------------
    Further checking (by clicking on the" BBB Report on Business" link above, says that they have an A+ RATING.
    Re: I am just plain lazy today ;-D - I need some info from latex buyers/users
    Reply #68 Jan 20, 2010 3:46 PM
    Location: L.A. area
    Joined: Jan 18, 2008
    Points: 1161
    Okay, folks, thank you for all your info and suggestions and support!

    I finally made the plunge and ordered from SleepEZ:

    1" twin 32ILD Natural Talalay layer (LI, I think) $78
    1.5" twin 32ILD Natural Dunlop layer (Latex Green) $105
    +49 shipping

    There is no exchange on "components" as they call them (I call them layers) unless they are part of a whole mattress order.

    They did not have the 1.5" Dunlop in stock so they said they'd get it on Friday and would ship on Monday.

    I can't wait to try it and see if it helps my back ache. My back ache during the night and morning have gotten better since I got rid of the memory foam, but I'm still having it and my theory - and the reason for the order above - is that I believe my HR foam layer has crapped out.

    We will see.

    I may or may not post much here until I get and try the layers above, but I will post about them when I get them and try them.

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