FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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Hello all, you've all been so helpful since I've joined the site, I wanted to ask another question. I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on an FBM mattress and have to choose between the "medium" firmness (26-32 ILD) and "firm" firmness (32-38 ILD) for my core. I'm 6 foot 3 and weigh 220 pounds but have read that there is not too much difference between the two options. Any feedback from those who own these mattresses or those who are so well versed in these areas would be most appreciated. I also wanted to check in about the quality of the latex foam from FBM. I've read through many threads in my short time on this site and have read claims by some that FBM is selling a "sub standard" synthetic latex. Yet there website says that it is 100 % natural talalay latex. Does anyone have any definitive information regarding this? Thank you so much for your input, it is vitally important, given that what we truly have to go on is each others actual experience with these things. Jay |
Re: FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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Jimsocal, I think you mean BillB. Enlighten, here's BillB's post with pictures and review: http://www.whatsthebest- From more recent posts, he seems to be still happy with the setup, though he got it over 10 months ago. I keep reading that post of his and looking at the pics, and it gives me hope that I'm heading in the right direction. It just takes me a while to make up my mind sometimes. :) ---Amy |
Re: FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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jimsocal wrote: First of all, I'd say go with the firmest core.<BR>Secondly, I'm no expert but as I see it, each latex manufacturer says their latex is the best. My guess is that all of them are "about" the same. And the only real way to find out which is "Better" (Because "better" is always a subjective experience in terms of how it FEELS to you) is to try them all. So I'd start with the cheapest one and hope I like it. That's my take on it. FBM seems to have the best prices, so I'd try it. One guy here I remember posting a few months ago, bought it and liked it just fine. Do a search on FoamByMail or Foam By Mail or FBM and see what comes up. I guess I'm hung up on whether the latex is botanically derived or if it's synthetic. From what I'm reading and hearing, the natural or botanical latex lasts longer. Thanks for your input Jim. |
Re: FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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enlighten:Like you it is my understanding that botanically grown latex is a superior product to the synthetic variety. While the green aspect of botanically grown latex is important to me, it is not the end-all be-all of latex foam, as far as I am concerned. If somebody could prove to me, through scientific testing, that a blended product was superior, in so far as usefulness,IE longevity, comfort, and cost. Then I might very well want the blended product. But no one, that I'm aware of, has done this. So, the all natural botanically derived latex will remain superior in my mind, until somebody can prove to me differently. There are all kinds of synthetic foam all around us. I have lived with it all my life (72Y). Some of it has been quite durable and useful. For instance the seats in my 1992 Honda Accord are just as good today as they were the day I purchased it brand-new. I feel sure they are synthetic foam. The drivers side seat had a sheepskin seat cover on it for a good many years that was rather tightfitting. When I finally took the old seat covers off, one corner of the seat was squished down and it never did recover its former shape, this makes me believe that the foam is synthetic. I have an old "Spring Steel" couch that is still going strong. Now the cushions are rather heavy, and might very well have a great deal of natural botanical latex in them. I just do not know. I only know they have lasted very well for at least 35 years. I do know that we once had a couch that had 100% natural rubber cushions. You couldn't wear them out. We had three children and they thought that couch was their personal trampling. It wore like iron. On the other hand the office chair that I'm currently setting on I have had for about 10 years. It was one of the better chairs at an Office Depot. The seat cushion is made out of some kind of synthetic foam. Over the last two or three years it has broken down. I am currently using another foam pillow over its cushion to get a small degree of comfort. I need a new chair! So it all depends. What is the quality of the manufacturing process and the raw materials going into the foam? I'm betting my money on botanically grown natural latex manufactured by a quality manufacturer, Latex International, and sold by a quality distributor FloBeds. So take your pick!  This message was modified Sep 22, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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Well, there's cheap "regular" foam (often polyurethane) and latex foam (sponge rubber). And then there's synthetic rubber (latex) and natural rubber (latex) and a blend of the two. There's a lot of discussion about the pro's and con's of various forms (natural/synth/blend) of latex foam, but I think that there's no question that all latex foam lasts longer (keeps it's resiliency longer) than polyurethane foam. I suspect that natural foam (sponge rubber) is the "oldest" form of cushioning foam, which might be why the old rubber (latex) couch cushions lasted for decades while the new office chair (probably not latex foam but cheaper and lighter polyurethane) died rather quickly. ---Amy This message was modified Sep 23, 2009 by Amy1
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Re: FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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eagle2 wrote: <span style="font-weight: bold;">enlighten</span>:Like you it is my understanding that botanically grown latex is a superior product to the synthetic variety. While the green aspect of botanically grown latex is important to me, it is not the end-all be-all of latex foam, as far as I am concerned. If somebody could prove to me, through scientific testing, that a blended product was superior, in so far as usefulness,IE longevity, comfort, and cost. Then I might very well want the blended product. But no one, that I'm aware of, has done this.<BR><BR>So, the all natural botanically derived latex will remain superior in my mind, until somebody can prove to me differently.<BR><BR>There are all kinds of synthetic foam all around us. I have lived with it all my life (72Y). Some of it has been quite durable and useful. For instance the seats in my 1992 Honda Accord are just as good today as they were the day I purchased it brand-new. I feel sure they are synthetic foam. The drivers side seat had a sheepskin seat cover on it for a good many years that was rather tightfitting. When I finally took the old seat covers off, one corner of the seat was squished down and it never did recover its former shape, this makes me believe that the foam is synthetic. I have an old "Spring Steel" couch that is still going strong. Now the cushions are rather heavy, and might very well have a great deal of natural botanical latex in them. I just do not know. I only know they have lasted very well for at least 35 years. I do know that we once had a couch that had 100% natural rubber cushions. You couldn't wear them out. We had three children and they thought that couch was their personal trampling. It wore like iron.<BR><BR>On the other hand the office chair that I'm currently setting on I have had for about 10 years. It was one of the better chairs at an Office Depot. The seat cushion is made out of some kind of synthetic foam. Over the last two or three years it has broken down. I am currently using another foam pillow over its cushion to get a small degree of comfort. I need a new chair!<BR><BR>So it all depends. What is the quality of the manufacturing process and the raw materials going into the foam? I'm betting my money on botanically grown natural latex manufactured by a quality manufacturer, Latex International, and sold by a quality distributor FloBeds. So take your pick!<img alt="" src="/components/FCKeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/teeth_smile.gif"/> Great post eagle, as per usual. Very thoughtful and informative. I checked out habitat futons as you suggested and found the videos on latex very informative. My only concern regards the firmness of their mattresses, it seems that their firmest mattress is 26 ILD. I just don't know if this will be firm enough for me. It also brings up another question, does a dunlop mattress feel firmer than a talalay mattress regardless of the ILD? Thanks again, Jay |
Re: FBM core foam choice, medium or firm?
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Jay: Your concerns regarding the firmness of the habitat bed are mine as well. It does seem rather soft doesn't it? But they claim that this firmness level suits 80% of the people. And they just do not want to mess around with exchanging layers and putting up with all that is required to have a variety of firmness and layers of latex. They have the most simplistic approach to selling latex beds of anybody outside of the big S. brands. I believe they get away with it because they do use Dunlop as the base six-inch core of their bed. For a very long time, in fact until the first part of this year, they only had two beds. The base 6"core Dunlop with a cover on it, and this same six-inch Dunlop core with a 2 inch Talalay topper. Then they added the same base core with a 3 inch Talalay topper for there third offering. It is my understanding that while Dunlop may have the same ILD has Talalay for any given firmness, it will actually be a heavier piece of latex do to the way it is manufactured. They have a totally different approach to making Dunlop as opposed to Talalay. In the process of manufacturing Talalay they actually use less latex, but due to the methodology for manufacturing it will have the same volume in the mold. Therefore when it comes out of the mold it will measure the same as a piece of Dunlop, it just will not be as dense. I have heard Dunlop compared to Talalay this way. Dunlop is like poundcake and Talalay is like angel food cake. Not a bad analogy actually given the difference in manufacturing methodology. It was my concern in the beginning, and it is still my concern, that Talalay, while being quite an exotic product, may not give me the kind of base level firmness, or I should say feeling of firmness, that I desire. We will just have to sleep on it, and find out. My bed is due to arrive next week. So I will be sure to post back and let everyone know what my experiences are. Jay I was just re-reading your initial post where you question FBM quality of latex. From the reading that I have done, and if my recall is correct, someone posted some pictures of the latex they receive from FBM. Jay: I will add this PS: I looked up the pictures I referenced regarding FBM. BillB posted these excellent pictures of his FBM purchase. Give it a look and read. http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/my-foambymail-8-latex-mattress-actual-setup-pictures/4091-0-1.html This message was modified Sep 25, 2009 by eagle2
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