Mattress Forum

How do you like it so far? I've been searching for something thin and waterproof that is not polyurethane. This may just fit the bill. Thanks for posting that as I had not run across it. 

Also, thanks to the OP for the great photos. 

Thanks so much for the pics and explanation of your choices.

Still awaiting your decision on what you'll go with for a top cover. We'd probably want to sleep as cool as possible.

Do you happen to have a pic of laying on the bare latex and how it compresses in each layer with a person's weight?

Any problems or noise with the foundation you chose?

Thanks again!

Appreciate all of the positive comments!  Glad the pics are helpful.

mattman, sorry I didn't get any shots of my wife laying on just the latex.  I would offer to do it, but the terry cloth cover is a pain to zip on and off.  We have no noise problems at all with the foundation.  As I mentioned, I did screw in all of the slats in 3 places while the instructions called for only the first and last slats to be attached by screws.

need2sleep, I didn't get shocked when installing in our bedroom.  However, we moved our old mattress set into our daughter's bedroom temporarily just for her to have fun jumping on, and I moved the soft topper in there to see what a latex topper felt like on a spring mattress.  When I went to collect it and move it back, I don't think I've ever been shocked so hard by static electricity.  Ouch!

The mattress continues to sleep great with no additional topper.  I was tired early last night which is rare for me, so I slept a solid 9 hours last night without waking.  I awoke with no pains or twinge in my low back as I sometimes might have in the past.  The featherbed will arrive Friday, so I'll report back after we try it.

In continuing my search for a pad or topper, I narrowed down my search to wool fill pads.  From reading, wool seems clearly superior certainly to snythetic fibers and even down.  Before going with the Dormier, I at least would like to try a wool pad with some cushy, softness to go over the latex.  I'm sleeping very comfortably now, but still would like a little more of a cush, plush feel.

I've spent probably hours pouring through various sites.  Besides wool being pretty expensive, most sites that had a pad that I would like to try had a no return policy for their mattress pads.  Well I just stumbled on this pad at Sierra Trading Post (I use STP often for gear or outdoor clothing, and didn't realize that they have bedding):  http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,2786T_Downtown-Mattress-Pad-King-Merino-Wool-Fill-Anchor-Bands.html  Using the one day site coupon of 20% off, I've got this coming to me with shipping for $167.  Unfortunately, it looks as if I bought the last one.  There were more reviews for the queen size, and they were all very positive.  Here is the manuf. website with more details:  http://www.downtowncompany.com/matress_pads.html (hover over the middle left picture to see detail, click for description - 100% merino wool obtained from free range sheep, 100% cotton cover).  Looks to be about 1.25" thick.  I'm excited about this find for that price, and best of all it is returnable with STP if I don't like it.

I ran across 2 pads in my research that seem interesting - one as a possible Dormier alternative at a lower price, and the other as an expensive, but high quality thick pad.  Here is the inexpensive one:  http://www.gatewaymattressfactory.com/30.html (quilted wool with cotten cover, $119 queen, $139 king).  Here is the really nice one:  http://www.gatewaymattressfactory.com/27.html (cotton/bamboo blend cover, quilted wool, .8" layer of latex, 2" total thickness, for $289 queen and $359 king).  If it weren't so expensive (and probably non-returnable), I would love to try this pad.  It looks really nice.

I'll report back on the DownTown wool pad when we receive it.

-Cliff

How difficult do you think it would be to move that mattress with just the terry cloth cover if you had to? Do you think you'd have to break it back down to do so?

I'm also trying to decide on what cover to put over the latex layers I end up buying - looking forward to hearing your results.

I would definitely break the mattress down to move it.  If for no other reason than the total weight of the thing is 167lbs (101+33+33).  It would be a beast to move, and the 2" layers might get torn.

We did notice a little bit of a smell, but it wasn't unpleasant.  And we've slept on it every night since we've had it without a problem.  I think someone described the new latex smell as a "vanilla cake" smell.  I would say the smell of ours is pretty close to that, and we can still smell it a little bit when we lay on the mattress.

My understanding is that the ILD's in reality are more of a small range with the stated number a kind of average.  With these 2 being just 4 ILD's apart, it would make sense that they would have a similar feel.  I didn't really A-B compare the 2 with that thought in mind, but I did lay on each layer as I "built" the mattress.  I do recall that the 32 ILD on top of the 6" core felt a bit softer, but not by much.  I don't know if that helps any, but that was my experience.
 

Sleep well my friends sleep well :)

I wanted to give a 6 week update.  I am sad to say that my new mattress has resulted in one major problem - I am now keenly aware of how awful most hotel mattresses are and have a harder time sleeping while travelling.  Seriously, a latex mattress is so unique in the feel that it has that it is not replicated by other mattresses.  Fortunately, I don't travel that much, so this isn't that big of a problem.  We continue to love our latex mattress! 

As chronicled above, we tried out a number of toppers before settling on the one we are now using.  I reported above on the Down Town wool topper that I ordered from Sierra Trading Post.  They are not stocking anymore, but I found it here:  http://www.finelinenandbath.com/store/down-town-pillows-and-comforters/product/down-town-wool-filled-mattress-pad/   A little more than I paid for it, but still a nice price at $209 for a king size.  Here are some pics of the topper:

This pad has been great.  It is only about .75" thick so it doesn't change the feel of the latex too much.  I think another thing that helps is that the pad is slightly oversized, so I intentionally put it on without stretching it tight so that it can give more with the latex.  The pad gives the latex just the right amount of plush feeling.  The latex itself is plently soft enough and sleeps great, but to me it lacks a "luxurious" feel to it.  With this topper, the mattress has that.  And it is great to be sleeping on natural wool fibers.  In our 100 degree Mississippi heat, it is sleeping cool!  The one knock some might have on it are the anchor bands, but I think this is an advantage to not fitting the pad too tight to the latex.  We have not had any problems with it moving on top of the FBM terry cover.

-Cliff

Also, anyone know if the foam bed bridge at FBM works? I'm thinking of a split king. This may let me have a two piece top.

FBM does sell a 10" terry cloth cover, they just don't have it on their website.  Be sure to call them when you place the order to let them know you need the 10" instead of the 8".  The cost is the same.

Can't help on the bed bridge.