Cooler memory foam?
| Has anyone found any memory foam that it is actually sleeps cooler than "normal" memory foam? I have 2" of Sensus memory foam, which I like, but it does tend to heat up. So far, I prefer memory foam over latex as the top comfort level, if it were not for the heat issue. I have not tried a wool topper. I just ordered a matress pad/cover that has wool tufting instead of polyester, so that might help a bit. The Sensus is under the cotton/wool mattress cover which should help too, but I still feel more heat than I would like. |
Re: Cooler memory foam?
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At least you will have the air conditioner cranking away next summer. I have a small portable A/C, but I rarely use it when sleeping. It will be intersting to see if the wool helps keep one cooler in summer. Hopefully. So far it is keeping up with the warmer in winter part of the bargain. I assume the latex heats up to roughly body temperature. Therefore, summer may not be that different, other than it being hotter above the mattress. That is handled somewhat with less or no blankets, a fan, or a/c. Although, the latex will reach body temperature more quickly in summer (since it starts warmer). I always find it harder to sleep on the hot summer days, and I am sure that problem will still exist. I am also wondering if the latex will be softer when in summer? It does seem a little firmer to me after it has cooled down a bit. I know memory foam is firmer when colder. |
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You make an interesting point about the latex softening when warmed up by the sleepers body. I have wondered about this myself, although the sensation is so slight that it's hard to tell. I would liken it more to a slight conforming of the latex to the body as it heats up. But not nearly as much as a memory foam would do. At least the few times that I have tried out memory foam. Quite frankly, I find it a rather pleasant experience. I think you're right about the summertime heat, at least I hope so. We normally keep our home in the 76°F range in the summertime with our air-conditioning. This keeps the humidity down, and the house quite comfortable for my wife and I. This message was modified Nov 18, 2009 by eagle2
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Eagle, after thinking about it more, the latex may warm up more (beneath where one is sleeping) in summer. Let's say in winter the latex below where one is sleeping warms up to only 85 degrees because the heat dissipates to the surrounding latex which is cooler (say 70 degrees). If the surrounding latex in summer is at 80 degrees, then the heat will dissipate more slowly. So maybe the latex below the body will warm up to 90 degrees. I assume it wil never get up to full body temperature, due to dissipation and the layers in between. This is just a hypothetical theory. I can't really know for sure without a way to test it. At some point I may try to put a thermometer probe in the top layer of latex to see what temperature it really does warm up to. This message was modified Nov 18, 2009 by sandman
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For those who are interested. I put a thermometer sensor in the top convoluted layer of latex below where I sleep the last 2 nights. The max. temperature it hit was 90.3 degrees (same for both nights). Room temperature was about 69-70. So, as expected, it approaches body temperature, but does not quite get there. The temperature above the wool cover will probably be different, so that may be the next place to measure. It was comfortable warm with just cotton/wool cover, cotton mattress pad and 200 TC cotton sheets. |
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sandman wrote: For those who are interested. I put a thermometer sensor in the top convoluted layer of latex below where I sleep the last 2 nights. The max. temperature it hit was 90.3 degrees (same for both nights). Room temperature was about 69-70. So, as expected, it approaches body temperature, but does not quite get there. The temperature above the wool cover will probably be different, so that may be the next place to measure. It was comfortable warm with just cotton/wool cover, cotton mattress pad and 200 TC cotton sheets. Sandman: Good job! At least now we're getting some empirical data. I am assuming that you're putting your temperature sensor under the mattress cover, and on top of the convoluted layer of 2" latex? Is this correct? |
Re: Cooler memory foam?
| Yes that is correct. I put the sensor in one of the perferation holes at the top of the convoluted layer, about where my stomach will be. It is attached by wire to the LCD readout. I put the cotton/wool cover over, but I cannot zipper it 100% shut due to the wire. The I put on the mattress pad, sheets as normal. |
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sandman wrote: Yes that is correct. I put the sensor in one of the perferation holes at the top of the convoluted layer, about where my stomach will be. It is attached by wire to the LCD readout. I put the cotton/wool cover over, but I cannot zipper it 100% shut due to the wire. The I put on the mattress pad, sheets as normal. Quite frankly Sandman, I want to commend you for this effort, as I do not believe that I have seen this kind of information anywhere else on the Internet. You would think that some of these niche market companies, who sell latex, would be willing to do some of this kind of research. Particularly when they offer unlimited or at least semi-limited exchange routines. With this kind of information they might conceivably save themselves some time and money in helping their customers. They are willing to put all kind of information on there website's, but nothing of this nature. However, I commend all niche market manufacturers of mattresses for being willing to be very specific about the contents of their mattresses as opposed to the big S brands that seem to do everything they can to keep their customers from knowing exactly what they're purchasing. I personally believe that websites like this one are invaluable. Simply because for all of my life when you went to purchase a mattress you had to rely exclusively on the reputation of the manufacture and the validity of what the salesperson told you. This used to be enough! You knew if you purchased at least a middle of the line, or a top of the line mattress from one of the big S brands that you were going to have a good mattress for a reasonable period of time. Some people, by following the manufacturers guidelines about flipping their mattress and rotating it, had good utilization of there purchase for 10 to 20 years. Good luck with your future investigation into your heating problem. No telling how many you may help with your experimentation. |
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Yes, but I am still not sure I have found any great solutions. I am not sure how that 90 degrees would compare to a memory foam surface of an innerspring surface. I may be able to test using 1" of memory foam I have as the top layer. The article below indicates that innerspring mattresses are the coolest, because they allow the body heat to dissipate the best. However, they did compare it to latex in that study. I think that is probably right. However, once you start adding latex or foam to an innerspring the same problem would probably occur. Might depend on the densities and properties of the materials added. So, there is probably a tradeoff between comfort and heat buildup. Just putting cotton padding over a plain innerspring does not sound that comfortable to me. It is possible that some of the lighter synthetic materials that they put in innerspring covers will dissipate heat better. I read that somewhere. Not sure what those material are though and whether they can be added to a custom mattress. The Outlast mattress pad did not seem to provide any benefit to me. Anyway, right now I would say that I am comfortably warm at night. Not sure what warmer weather may bring though. http://www.furninfo.com/absolutenm/templates/NewsFeed.asp?articleid=9057 |
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http://www.mcroskey.com/how_our_beds_are_made.shtml If you are into old time hand made innerspring and a matching box spring, then it looks like to me you want a McRoskey mattress. This is a San Francisco based company, that is a 111 year old family run business. However, be ready to get out your checkbook. A California King size like my FlowBeds costs almost $5000. Interestingly enough the innerspring mattress is half that cost, with the other half being the box springs. The web link that I have posted will take you to a page that will allow you to view a good video about this company. If you like old time type beds, this looks like the place. I can not afford a McRoskey. And at my age there is no way I could get the use out of it. Beside I love my Flobeds Latex for $2,800. Oh well, to each his own. I can turn up the air conditioning a little for $2,000 One other thing to note when you go to their website. They have no return policy. They do have a 30 day exchange policy with a 25% restocking fee, if memory serves. There warranty is fairly generous. It is 10 years non prorated. So it is a good thing to read all the fine print. This message was modified Nov 20, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Cooler memory foam?
| I have owned a McRoskey and can attest that it does sleep very cool. If you like sleeping on an overpriced rock with bonnell springs, you might like it. I hated it!! There are plenty of these mattresses for sale on craigslist in the San Francisco area at any given time so I'm guessing many people find them to be too firm. |