Mattress Forum

Reflecting on what you've said, I think the top priorities are durabilty and comfort. Convenience, appearance, and allergies are less important. Durability is a priority both for budget and ecosystem. So latex is not the right option if it is likely to tear under this usage. Synthetics also weren't durable in my experience, but I'm willing to be convinced. 

Featherbed:

- A quality featherbed is over $200, so the same ballpark as latex.  

- I do worry about they geese they get these from, wonder how that works...  No problem with allergies that I know of. 

Latex:

- Is there any type of latex where tearing is less likely?

- I will need to store the topper.  If I get a twin size piece, I can store it without folding or rolling it.

- I can be careful, but if it is likely to tear anyway when being moved so much and used by guests, then it is not a good choice.  

Synthetics:

- I'm not sure how cushy synthetic fill toppers are. I have a syntethic duvet and it completely compresses if you lie on it. I suspect memory foam or egg crate might be more comfortable than this.

- I'm concerned about foam drying out too soon. Our home gets very dry and warm in the summer. The last foam topper I bought (several years ago, for grandma's house but similar conditions) was dried out and falling apart within 4 years. Not acceptable. Perhaps we didn't have it under the right kind of pad? Or buy the right brand? (I think it was from Overstock)

Other options ???

Going really out of the box.... 

Doublewide camppad:

Will declass the experience for sure, but I don't mind too much.

-- either an open-cell solid foam camp pad like this

--or a self-inflating airmattress with open cell foam like this.   

- Pro: can use it camping too. Most of our current camp gear is light-weight (read: less comfortable) for backpacking, so this would be a welcome comfort for car camping.

Thanks again for all your feedback. Welcome more input about durability & experience, but you all have been so helpful already. At this point, I'm still thinking featherbed ... or camppad .. but willing to consider other ideas / experiences. I really wanted to get latex as sort of a preview on redoing our own bed in the future. 

Pros:

• It helps. More comfortable than sleeping on top of my comforter.
• My guest slept OK, a bit fitfully. No back problems.

Cons:

• Not a plush, sink-in feeling that I have seen others report about featherbeds.
• It compresses a lot. 
• Bulky. Perhaps there are featherbeds that are even more plush, but then they will be even bulkier.

My recent guest has gone. Next time, I will try something else. Maybe an open-cell foam air-mattress.