advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Mar 29, 2008 8:26 PM
Joined: Mar 26, 2008
Points: 4
hi.

i'm in the process of looking for a latex mattress for the futon frame i'm going to be buying shortly.  my studio is small so i plan to get a futon which i'm going to fold and unfold into and from a sofa/bed every day. 

i've never owned a latex mattress before, so i'm wondering what you experienced folks on this forum would recommend:

getting one 6" dunlop core or two 3" cores?  also, from those of you who own dunlop mattresses, do you think the mattress will be easy enough to fold into a couch every day in the first place? 

btw, i'm a fairly light and lean guy at around 5'7" and 130 lbs., so if you also have some recommendations for what you think may be good ILDs for me that would also be greatly appreciated.  i tend to like a softer mattress, but that is also supportive (i sleep in every position.  side, stomach, back - just depends on the night)

i've read through a lot of posts on this forum and you folks seem extremely knowledgeable.  a latex rookie like myself would greatly appreciate as much advice from you guys as possible.  thanks!  =)

This message was modified Mar 29, 2008 by brownbrian
Re: advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Reply #11 Apr 9, 2008 5:48 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
Lynn, I wondered what the ILD was on the Dunlop topper. It might have been too firm to accomplish what you wanted. My feeling is that if you can sleep comfortably on Talalay why not? My problem with it was that when it was firm enough to be supportive it made me ache all over. Soft enough to be comfortable (for the first two hours) and I got no support. Plus, I just didn't like the pushy feeling. I seemed to be jiggling all over the mattress unable to settle securely and comfortably into it.  For me Dunlop latex just has that "aahhhh" factor.
Re: advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Reply #12 Apr 10, 2008 9:43 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 793
Cloud9, the only way Talalay Latex is comfortable for me is with a 44 ILD on the bottom and no less than a 39 ILD under a soft topper that is no more than 1". But this set up seams to be the best for me right now.  I am sure I would be comfortable with either a Dunlap Latex Core on the bottom or a Talalay Latex core on the bottom of the mattress if it is at least a 44 ILD.  The Dunlap topper was too thick at 1.5" and not soft enough for me and made me ache all over.  I really love the way soft Talalay Latex feels underneath me. My bed is not jiggly since I have the set up to be very firm which I like and need.  After all, if it wasn't for the dust closer to the floor and how uncomfortable it is to get up on and off the floor, I would have just continued to sleep with my Overstock 1" topper on my carpeted bedroom floor since it was so comfortable for me.  I am glad you found what works for you.  I may have not had a soft enough topper that was too thick not knowing I could not handle more than a 1" topper.
Re: advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Reply #13 Apr 11, 2008 5:10 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
Lynn, I think I would actually have liked the feeling of the soft Talalay(20 ILD) core over a 38 and 44-- if there had been less of it. 3" was too much and it undermined the support of the firm layers beneath. Half of that, possibly even just 1" would have been much better, but I know what you're talking about. I do like that 1" Brylane Talalay topper, which is probably more like a 26-28 ILD, but only with the 1" Overstock visco topper over it. That combination comes close to approximating the feeling of my old Dunlop mattress. The latex provides resilience and the visco provides the soft cradling quality I like. And no jiggles!
Re: advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Reply #14 Apr 24, 2008 6:20 PM
Joined: Mar 26, 2008
Points: 4
cloud9,

just wanted to tell you again that your opinions and advice were much appreciated when i was looking to buy my latex!  and just to give you an update, i've finally received most of the pieces to my bed (the major pieces at least).

i got a 4" medium firm (26 ifd i believe) in 100% natural dunlop and i just got my 2" 100% natural talalay topper 2 days ago (22 ifd).  it feels nice so far (granted i've been sleeping on an inflatable air mattress for the past month so anything would feel nice to me at this point), but the latex is actually a bit firmer than i expected (even the talalay topper).  i guess i was expecting it to be really, really soft.  but fortunately, as a few people have wisely helped me remember, is that i can always make my bed softer, but i can't make it firmer - so i have no regrets so far and do not expect to. 

and the folding of the futon is working out alright.  it folded pretty easily with just the 4" piece, but once i added the extra 2" it takes a little more effort to fold - but it all still stays nicely folded in place.

and just fyi regarding the other parts of my bed:  i also ordered a 100% natural organic futon mattress cover, a buckwheat pillow, a kapok pillow, and a 100% organic cotton sateen fitted sheet.  so my bed is pretty much as natural and eco/health friendly as can be!  haha.  (although i haven't gotten the kapok pillow and sateen sheet yet)

anyway, thanks again everyone for all your help and input!  it was all very much appreciated!  ^.^

Re: advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Reply #15 Apr 24, 2008 10:49 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 793
Brownbrian, we all are happy for you that we were of help and you now have a Dunlap/Talalay Latex combination bed.  Please keep us updated. 
Re: advice please! dunlop latex for futon... one 6" core or two 3" cores?
Reply #16 Apr 25, 2008 5:29 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
Brownbrian, glad my advice was helpful. Your mattress sounds so comfy. You really do like a soft bed if you find the 22/26 combination a bit on the firm side! I'm guestimating that the Dunlop mattress I slept on was probably a 26 and it always seemed really soft to me. Some vendors still sell super soft 16 ILD Talalay, but  most of them have stopped carrying it because it has a tendency to compress after awhile--just in case you're tempted to go even softer on top. I think you'll find that the latex will soften up a bit in time, and once you get used to the new sleep surface it will probably seem perfect to you. Here's to many years of great sleep!

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