DIY advice for a Newbie? Is this TOO thin or firm?
Jul 6, 2012 9:07 AM
Joined: Jul 6, 2012
Points: 1
Hi All!

Super impressed with wealth of knowledge on the forum, but honestly overwhelmed with the amount of info and having trouble deciding how to construct my new mattress! (and honestly searching the forum is somewhat difficult) Hoping some vets could lend a hand. :)

I'm going for an all foam polyurethane (i.e. no latex or memory foam) mattress for feel and allergy reasons.   In the past, my most comfortable mattresses have been very hard mattresses with a thin (1/2") foam topper and 2-3 comfortors plopped on top but obviously under the fitted sheet). As a poor grad student, affordablity and mobility is key, while durability (longer than 3-5 years) is less important. Going for Queen size.

I see all these setups that are 12"+ total, but I'm not sure I understand having it that thick when Ikea has reasonably comfy foam mattresses that are less than 4 inches. Because I move often (by myself), I rather not have a mattress that weighs significantly more than me. That being said, I don't want to bottom out. :/

What I'm thinking:

- 2" LUX 50 ILD 

- 2" HD Reg. Foam ILD 36

- 1" Supersoft 12 ILD

 

Info about me that might be helpful?:

- 5'5"/116lbs woman, lean; very little fat, not very curvy, prominent shoulders

- Combination sleeper

 

Is the setup too thin?

For women with slight frames (or those who share a bed with one), does this seem TOO firm?

Any advice on my proposed setup would be greatly appreciated! 

Re: DIY advice for a Newbie? Is this TOO thin or firm?
Reply #1 Jul 6, 2012 11:10 AM
Joined: Mar 15, 2012
Points: 182
From my point of reference of 3x3" 28-36-44 Talalay Latex foam rubber (cushion firm):

  • 5" should be your minimum.
  • The 50 will be very/super firm so your comfort has to come out of the upper layers; 36 is still firm.
  • The 1" 12 seems too shallow and too soft.  Making it 2" 19-24 might make the lower layers tolerable.

Given a 5" minimum on a solid platform and the basic model being a 2" comfort layer on a core, that leaves a 3" core for target firmness.  So for your size, perhaps the initial build should be more like  2" 19-24 on 3" 36.  Then consider adding another 28-32 core layer above or a 40-44 core layer below the existing 36 layer, if desired.

GK