Just bought a new Flobeds
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I just purchased a new FloBeds. It is the 100% natural Talalay 4 layer mattresses. The top most layer being a soft egg crate 2" piece of Talalay. I purchased the following configuration. On the left side of the bed I have a median top layer, firm middle layer, and extra firm bottom layer. On the right side the top layer is firm, the second layer is extra firm, and the bottom layer is extra firm. I felt that this should give me an opportunity to switch the layers around and come up with the configuration that will work the best for my 6' 2" 210 pound frame. It has been quite a wrestling match, reading all the different descriptions that various people like, when it comes to firmness layers. You also run into this with some of the websites. No two people seem to consider this the same way. So I'm just going to have to experiment. This is one of the main reasons that I went with FloBeds. They have the most liberal exchange policy coupled with a generous return policy. They definitely get more money than some of the other sites. But when you're purchasing something this expensive from the Internet, and cannot lay on it, feel it, look at it, and even smell it, it's good to have a situation where you can make corrections at a nominal expense. Given the fact that FloBeds has an excellent reputation with the BBB, and Dave and Dewey Turner are excellent people to do business with, it just seemed to make good sense to me to consider the extra cost as an insurance policy. One last point I would like to make. I just realize that I have been misspelling FloBeds name. I had been misspelling it "FlowBeds." Wrong! It is spelled FloBeds.com. I hope I have not misdirected anyone. It will probably take about a week to get this bed in my home, set up, and slept on. When I have had an opportunity to do this I will be sure to post back and let you know what my experiences are, as I know how confusing this kind of a purchase can be. This message was modified Sep 22, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
| My Flobed shipment did arrive today! I opened the three boxes to verify all the contents were there and what we ordered. Unfortunately, I had a new foundation delivered yesterday and it came damaged. Sooo . . . . I refused delivery and I'm waiting for them to deliver a new foundation this evening. Can't put the bed together till the foundation arrives. I'm looking forward to it. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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KimberlyH wrote: My Flobed shipment did arrive today! I opened the three boxes to verify all the contents were there and what we ordered. Unfortunately, I had a new foundation delivered yesterday and it came damaged. Sooo . . . . I refused delivery and I'm waiting for them to deliver a new foundation this evening. Can't put the bed together till the foundation arrives. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully the new foundation will arrive soon and in good shape, and you'll have a good nights sleep. Give us an update post at your earliest convenience. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
Another night, another good nights sleep! Patty and I went ahead last night and changed out the one top layer of soft Talalay on the right side of the bed. I then installed the medium layer. There is definitely a difference when sleeping on medium rather than soft. The soft layer has an ILD of 22, the medium layer has an ILD of 28. So, if my calculations are correct, that is an increase in firmness of approximately 27%. Not an insignificant amount, and I could definitely feel it. It is interesting the increase in ILD between the soft layer and the medium layer is considerably more than the other firmnesses. For instance the percent difference between a medium piece at 28 ILD and a firm peace at 32 ILD is only approximately 15%. The difference between firm and extra firm (32 to 36 ILD) is approximately 13% increase in firmness. So the most significant increase in firmness is between the soft layer and the medium layer. If there are some folks out there that are much better at math than this poor student, please correct my calculations, if need be. I think I’m going to like this configuration, of course only one night is totally inadequate to draw any concrete conclusions. So to reiterate. The right side of the bed is currently configured like this. Top layer medium, middle layer extra firm, bottom layer extra firm. Left side of the bed, firm/firm/extra firm. I like having two different firmness levels on either side of the bed. What I have found is that when I first go to bed a softer surface feels better. But as the night wears on I very well may want a firmer feel. This type of configuration allows for that. It all depends on how the body is feeling due to the preceding day. Has it been an exhausting day? Does this exhaustion come from mental strain, or physical strain,or both? The point being, there are so many different intervening variables in our lives that we never know how we are going to actually feel at the end of the day. So it really makes it nice, if you have the room for it, to have a King size bed with a split firmness value for the two different sides. I think I’m beginning to get the hang of this thing, and am developing a database of experiences in sleeping(if you want to call it that) that will allow me to make choices that will provide for me the best sleeping surface for the future. This message was modified Oct 16, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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eagle2 wrote: The problem with all of this flexibility is the fact that we humans go through quite a psychological process with any new experience. We first must build a small database to adapt to the new experience. Once we get used to this new experience our old experiences tend to fade somewhat. This can make the process of determining what is the best firmness configuration of this type of latex mattress more difficult. If you want proof of this, read some of Jimsocal's frustrations with trying to find the proper bed. He went through the FloBeds experience, and many layers of FBM in trying to find that exact satisfactory mattress configuration. He has not posted in some time but my assumption is he is still working at it. Hey Eagle2 - glad to hear you're sleeping better with your new flobed. Usually when I don't post it means I either am super busy or am sleeping really well. In this case it is both. I have still been tweaking my mattress a little here and there. I have always found that every time I get it "perfect", after a few nights it becomes not so perfect. I can't account for that. I am using quality foam, the springs certainly are not wearing out... so it must just have to do with how I sleep, or what I've done to cause my body to be "out of alignment" that day .. or, who knows? In any case, the tweaking is minor because I'd say since I did mattress surgery and installed my own foams, my sleep has improved about 80%. I was hurting EVERY morning and night before, getting up with back pain and stiffness. Now , sometimes - when it's "perfect" - I have NO back pain and NO stiffness. Other times, I have a little back pain and a little stiffness. I have now incorporated my old Omalon topper into the mix. I took off the Venus memory foam because it felt too soft and now without it, it feels too hard. I am the Prince and the Pea!  Anyway, I actually want to make a post and get some feedback so I'll be back around here soon. p.s. By the way, just for the record, I have never bought anything from FBM (foambymail). All of my HR foam has come from a local foam distributor who cuts it up from huge mountain-like blocks of foam and sells it mostly to furniture manufacturers. I don't think they're supposed to sell to us, but they do, and cheap. I also got my one piece of latex from them, super cheap because it was just a "remain" they had laying around. Then, my store bought foam like my Venus and my Sensus has come from Overstock.com. My omalon came from a JCP closeout a few years ago. This message was modified Oct 16, 2009 by jimsocal
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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Hello Jim! I was wondering where you had gone, I thought you had fallen off the edge of the earth. Glad to hear you're okay and still "tweaking" your mattress. Jim you need to face the fact. Tweaking your mattress is one of your favorite things to do, and seems to have become one of your important hobbies in life. Oh well, we all need something to keep us occupied in our spare time. It's good that it's something that is valuable to you, like the pursuit of the perfect nights sleep. My experience with my FloBeds is turning into quite an educational experience. Quite frankly, I have a better appreciation for where you are at with your mattress experiences. Jim I really feel that one of the principal problems with this whole process is psychological. Our bodies were made by the good Lord to be adaptable. It's a wonderful thing and we couldn't function without it. But therein lies the rub when you're trying to find the right mattress by continually changing different layers around. Your body is trying to adjust and we kept changing the rules of the game by installing different layers and flavors of foam. I know I'm doing it, and I will probably continue to do it for at least the next 30 days or so, since I'm in my 90 day window of free layers from FloBeds. But I'm determined, just like you, to get the best sleeping surface that I can. You're just doing it for a lot less money than I am!   !!!Stay Well, and good luck with your quest. Don This message was modified Oct 17, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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I'll make this brief for a change. The bed is sleeping quite well. Firmness levels as follows, left side, F/F/XF, right side M/XF/XF. I'm still enjoying having two different firmness levels from which to choose. Still like softer side to begin with, but towards morning seem to enjoy firmer side more. I am calling the side with the medium top layer the softer side. This message was modified Oct 19, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
| Eagle, I am finding that I probably prefer memory foam on the top layer, instead of the convoluted. I am still waiting for the right size convoluted, but when I used the wrong size one I found that using all latex can feel a little hard in highest pressure points (mainly hips when side sleeping). Even with a softer configuration (which also starts detracting from support). So I switched out the top layer for now, and I am using 2" of memory foam over firm/medium vzone (medium hips and shoulders), over firm, over xfirm. The memory foam seems to distribute pressue a little better, (which, I think, is what it is known for). The memory foam might make the bed a little less bouncy feeling as well, which I also prefer. The main downside would be if it runs too hot. I am hoping with the wool cover and temperature balancing mattress pad, that heat will not be a big issue. I need an upgrade to a better piece of memory foam, since mine is several years old and not the best quality. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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sandman wrote: Eagle, I am finding that I probably prefer memory foam on the top layer, instead of the convoluted. I am still waiting for the right size convoluted, but when I used the wrong size one I found that using all latex can feel a little hard in highest pressure points (mainly hips when side sleeping). Even with a softer configuration (which also starts detracting from support). So I switched out the top layer for now, and I am using 2" of memory foam over firm/medium vzone (medium hips and shoulders), over firm, over xfirm. The memory foam seems to distribute pressue a little better, (which, I think, is what it is known for). The memory foam might make the bed a little less bouncy feeling as well, which I also prefer. The main downside would be if it runs too hot. I am hoping with the wool cover and temperature balancing mattress pad, that heat will not be a big issue. I need an upgrade to a better piece of memory foam, since mine is several years old and not the best quality. sandman: My experience is quite different from yours, since I have the deluxe model without the zoned layer. One thing I am finding is that you need to spend at least several nights, and preferably at least a week on the same configuration before making any changes. This is of course if the current configuration is anywhere near a comfortable nights sleep for you. You kind of go a little "silly in the head" if you began to change layers, or in your case, configuration too soon. Our bodies, thank God, are quite adaptable. If we do not give ourselves enough time to adapt to your current configuration we will never know whether or not it may have worked for us. Pretty soon we are like a dog chasing its tail, never getting to a final satisfactory conclusion. What started out feeling "To firm" has over time, become almost just right. I sure am glad that FloBeds gives us 90 days to figure it out, with relatively inexpensive exchanges. I have not slept on memory foam. I did lay on a Temprepedic (SP) and it felt okay, but the price was definitely a turnoff for me. Based on what I have read on this forum, and other websites, I do not believe that I would care for memory foam. It is a highly individualized choice however. One other point that I should make that I feel is very important. I had heard that 100% natural botanically grown latex has a tendency to soften up over time. What I am finding is that this statement is true, as long as I have a more clear definition of what "softening" is. The feeling that I have is that the latex becomes what I would call, "more receptive". When I first crawl into bed at night the sheets are rather cool,( I keep my bedroom at around 70 to 72°F) but within a couple of minutes the latex has warmed from my body temperature and it becomes very comfortable. As I just stated, it has a feeling of being more receptive to my body profile. This feeling is particularly pronounced as I am a side sleeper. My bed has never felt "bouncy," Depending on the ILD of the latex used it can feel "softer" but I have never experienced any "bounciness." Even with a soft layer as my top layer and I weigh 210 pounds. If I were to configure my mattress using all extra firm latex that had an ILD of 36, for me it would feel extremely firm. Now possibly over a period of several days or weeks I might adapt to it and I might even like it. But based upon my experience so far the configuration I currently have is working out very well. So far, I am very pleased with my FloBeds. I'm glad I bought it, and I am sleeping well on it. I awaken in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to go. That's the highest accolade I can give for any mattress. This message was modified Oct 19, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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I think that the rubber element of latex gives it what I would call some bounciness. Maybe that is not the best way to describe, but I can give you an example. If you drop something on the latex bed (like I accidently did with a 15 lb. barbell), it will bounce on the bed. If you do that on a pure foam bed, it will land with a thud and sink in. <BR><BR>Innerspring beds have some bounciness as well, due to the springs. Now, I am not complaining, since I like to have some bounciness as opposed to none (like in a pure foam bed). That is one reason I am intested in Latex. A mattress with all foam tends to sink in too much, and you end up in a rut.<BR><BR>As far as the memory foam goes, that is probably a matter of personal taste. I have used a MF topper for many years now, so I guess I am somewhat use to it. It does have some qualities that I like (as a comfort layer), so for me the best overall feel might be latex for base and support and some MF for comfort. Still too early to tell though, since I have not really had a chance to try the right size convoluted layer. This message was modified Oct 19, 2009 by sandman
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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Sandman: I tried your bounced test with a 10 pound barbell. You're right. It bounced. It bounced more on the firmer side of the bed and less on the softer side of the bed. I dropped it from a height of about 2 1/2 to 3 feet and it bounced once about 2 inches on the firm side, and about an inch on the softer side. That's about as scientific as I can get. When you described latex as "bouncy" I thought in terms of the human body feeling a bouncy sensation when you crawled into it, are rolled over on it. Which I never feel. |