Mattress Forum

anyone? Thanks.

If you want latex, then you have to decide between dunlop and talalay.  Talalay is a bit softer, and tends to be better for side sleepers.   You don't seem to like the dunlop Sams club one, so my guess would be that you might prefer talalay.  I think dunlop is better on the lower support levels, but I don't really like it on the top comfort levels (especially if you are a side sleeper that doens't like it too firm).

If talalay, then you have to decide between blended and 100% natural.  There is probably not a huge difference between the 2.  100% natural is more expensive and perhaps a bit more springy.  The blended might have a bit more of a chemical smell, if you are sensitive to that.  I am okay using either one.

I would suggest that you get one that you can customize & exchange layers.  Sleepez, Flobeds, Foam sweet foam come to mind.  Arizonia mattress might have some good pricing as well.  Flobeds probalby has the best service, and probably the most expensive as well.

As for firmness, that is a very personal decision.  You are fairly large with possible back issues, so I would think the bottom 6" would be X-firm to firm (in the range of 32-44 ILD, probably at least 36 ILDthe bottom 3").   Whoever you buy from will have recommendations as well.  I weigh around 213, and a Flobed I tried I used 3" 36 + 3" 36 + 3" 32 (under hips, softer under shoulder with their vzone) + softer convoluted top layer.

Not sure what size mattress you are getting, but if queen or larger, it will probably be split in the middle.  So, you can get one side a bit firmer than the other, and have the ability to switch layers around to make it softer or firmer.  

Your neck and head ache issue are probably related to your pillow.  If you are now using a much firmer mattress, you probably need a different (most likely higher loft) pillow.   Since you are not sinking in as much, your head is higher off the mattress.   As a temporary measure, you might want to try folding up a towel and putting it under your pillow. 

Good luck.  The only way to know what is going to work will be to try some different things.  What have you used in the past that has worked well for you?

Well, nothing has worked yet. I have tried 2 tempurpedics and that did not work, tried the spring beds - sealy posterpedics and tossed and

turned all night on them. So tried this Sams club bed after reading something on this forum and this has turned out to be worse then the

tempurpedics.

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Some questions:

1.  Out of these companies selling online - Sleepez, flobeds, foam sweet foam which one has the most liberal return/exchange policies?

2.  Also You mention that Dunlop would be okay as base.

Say how many inches of base would I need and in what ILDS of Dunlop? (considering my proportions)

3. How tall a mattress would be more suitable for me?

4. And if I use Dunlop as base latex and then use Talalay latex , would I be able to feel/notice the hardness of Dunlop core layers when I sleep on mattress?

Thanks so much sandman.

I believe Sleepez and Flobeds have similiar return & exchange policies.  90 days to return and/or exchange layers.  There will be shipping costs to you and when you return something.  I think both have unlimited exchanges, but you should verify that.

I believe Foam sweet foam allows 1 exchnage within 30 days, and return has to be within 60 days.  So, they are not as good.

Dunlop is okay a base, but talalay is okay as well.  Dunlop generally provides firmer support.  But you can get very firm talalay as well.   Sleepez is the only one of the 3 that sells dunlop.

Length will depend in part on how you sleep.  Ideally you don't want you feet hanging off the end.  If you tend to bend your knees while side sleeping, then that is usually not an issue.  I would say 80" or longer. 

I think you would feel some difference between a dunlop core and a talalay core.  Of course it will depend on what firmness you get for each.  Are you looking for a fairly firm support level or not?   If you go with sleepez, you would have the option for dunlop or talalay. 

I would recommend you study all of their websites and maybe call with questions and ask for recommendations.

Thanks sandman. I weigh almost 225 lbs, am 6 feet 2 inches tall, Sidesleeper, with low back pain.

I don't want to sink in to the bottom of the mattress so do you think I require a firm base? On top I want a soft sleeping surface not the firm one like this Sams club latex mattress is giving now.

Could you give me an idea about what Dunlop ILDs and what Talalaay ILDS arranged in layers would be suitable for me?

What kind of arrangement would be good?

In sleepEz do I need a 13000 mattress or a lower height one?

Thanks sandman.

I am almost thinking you should get all talalay, based on your Sam's club experience.  Let's assume that it is 3" of 24 dunlop over 6" of 32 dunlop, and you really hate it because it is too firm.   In terms of talalay, I would almost say that is on the softer side for someone your weight, so I am concluding that maybe the dunlop does not work too well for you.  Maybe the ILD ratings are wrong, which means we would have a bad data point.

You said earlier that the Costco one felt softer.  Did you own that?  If so, what was wrong with it?  What didn't you like about the tempurpedics?  How do sleep on innersprings at hotels?

As I said before, firmness is pretty subjective, and hard for someone else to say what exactly will work for you.  The best way of course is to try some different things to figure out what works for you.  

If you are getting a queen or larger 10,000, I would probably order the 2 sides a little different so you have some flexibilty to experiment.  There are 3 pieces on each side for a total of 6.  If you are getting talalay, I think you want at least 1 soft piece, 1 medium piece, 1 firm piece and 1 extra firm piece (that's 4 out of 6, for the extra 2 I would consider another medium and another firm).  If you really want have some dunlop the maybe get the 2 extra pieces (M & F) in dunlop.

With that you could go pretty soft (S/M/M) or pretty firm (F/F/XF) and a lot of possiblities in between.

The 13,000 of course has even more possibilities and you probably for sure want XF on the bottom (if talalay - that might similar to firm in dunlop).

 p.s.  The flobeds have 3 3" layers and a softer 2" convoluted layer on top.  So, a bit thicker than the 10,000.  Nicer cover too.

p.s.s. Some other poster on here (Mark) had a dunlop mattress that was too firm, so he ended up adding 3" of soft (22-24?) from foam sweet foam and 1" of 5lb. Sensus memory foam on top.  He is pretty happy with it now.

Thanks sandman. some more questions.

1. Would you suggest a dunlop 6 inch base or a very firm talalay 6 inch base? should it be 6 inch or can it be say 3 inch?

2. would these split layers in queen "feel disjoined or split" when I lay in the middle of the mattress? Wouldn't that be kind of annoying?

3. why did you return your flobeds v zone mattress?

4. About returns - how can one use a vaccum to suck air out of the layers? Must be really hard.

and can a layer that you want to return fit in the back of car? where do you drop it off to have it returned? (must be a big big hassle isn't it?)

Thanks sandman.

I am not suggesting that you use dunlop, but it is an option if you want a firmer base level.  Firm talalay works well for many people, and you don't seem to like dunlop that much.  Therefore, I think I would stick to all talalay or just 3" of dunlop on the bottom.  Of course it will also depend on which model you get.  With the 10,000 you might not want any dunlop.  I think the 13,000 allows a bit more flexibility and depth, but of course it costs more.

Only trying it will let you know which you prefer.   Everyone likes something different, so don't expect someone else to be able to figure out what will work best for you.

I think it can feel a little softer at the split.  I don't think I would say disjointed, since the latex stays in place pretty well, if it is in a fitted mattress cover.   I always sleep on one side, so I don't think it was ever an issue for me.

I was having heat issues with the Flobeds, and I didn't think I liked the feel off all latex.  I think I solved the heat issues later by changing sheets, blankets, not using down, etc.  So, I don't think that was a flobed problem, but it was hotter than a normal innerspring.   I also like a little memory foam thrown in, and I think I prefer a spring base instead of a latex base.   So, I ended up doing surgery on fairly new Sealy, adding some latex and memory foam and a wool topper.

It is some work to return pieces, but not that hard.  The pieces come in cardboard boxes that can be shipped via Fedex or UPS.  I was able to fit 4 of the boxes in my car, when I returned the flobed.  A bit of a hassle, but that is the cost of customizing it to something you like.   Better than being stuck with something you hate.