How firm should i go with my latex mattress
May 25, 2011 3:56 PM
Joined: May 25, 2011
Points: 5
Hello all,

I've been looking for a firm mattress for a few months now.  At first I was only looking for innerspring mattresses, but couldn't find anything firm enough for me or my wife.  We both like very firm with no sinking feeling.  I would not say firm like sleeping on the floor, but close to it.

While at a 1-800-mattress store, we tried a latex mattress and liked it the most out of anything we tried.  The mattress was Sleep Options Classic Sleep Destiny 8-inch Firm Latex Foam Mattress. It felt firm enough, although both of us would've preffered a bit more firmness.

So, i came to this site to research on latex, chose SleepEZ based on reviews and prices being below Flobeds.

What I liked was Select Sleep Model 13000, 100% Natural Dunlop  in the Firm-Xfirm-Xfirm-Xfirm (bottom) configuration.  But as a newly educated (thanks to this website) consumer, I checked the specs on the Classic Sleep bed we liked and was shocked that the ILD on the top layer was only 20.  That is more like a "soft" layer at SleepEZ. 

Does anybody have any recommendations or advice?  I really don't know what to do at this point.

 

thank you!

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #1 May 25, 2011 5:14 PM
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: May 13, 2011
Points: 170
Are you back sleepers?

I like a firm bed too, but I seep on my side and needs some give.  I tried a Savvy Rest Firm Firm Medium which was great for stomach sleeping.  It didn't sag at all.  But it was a but hard for side sleeping.  Replacing medium with soft was perfect.  I could not tell the difference between dunlop and talalay in the FFM configuration.  But I believe the wisdom is that soft in talalay is generally softer than dunlop.  With the FFS config, the bed had a "thud" feeling to it.  I think the idea is that you want the core to be rock solid and the top layer soft for comfort. YMMV.  Did you actually try a SleepEZ?  Spend 10-15 minutes on the bed you are going to buy and if it works for you, you should buy it. I think the SleepEz is good value.

I found this in another post, but I wouldn't want to put any money on it being correct.

 

They [Savvy Rest] don't publish their ILD's but I found one post that thought the soft = 30, medium =35, and firm = 40.

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #2 May 25, 2011 7:22 PM
Joined: May 25, 2011
Points: 5
We are both stomach sleepers.  The only latex bed we ever tried was the Sleep Options Classic Sleep.  I just don't want to get something that would be too soft either right away or over time.  I'm going to go to sleepy's and see if they have any latex mattresses to lay on, just to see what density is firm enough for me.
Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #3 May 25, 2011 9:46 PM
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." ..... Albert Einstein
Joined: Mar 18, 2011
Points: 29
One of the first things that I learned is that Sleepy's salesman have only a casual aquaintance with the truth. I also asked to see latex matresses on the floor and was directed to various brands and models that had a very small percentage of latex in their construction. I'm not sure if this is a big concern for you or not, but it's worth noting. I also noticed the following construction of your mattress mentioned above:

 Mattress Build (Top to Bottom)

  • Ribbon Knit All Around 
  • Non-Quilted Zipper Cover 
  • 2" 4lb. 20 ILD Dunlop Latex
  • 6" 2lb 40 ILD Base Foam

This seems to put the amount of latex at only 2" of the total 8". I'm guessing that the base foam is not latex or else they would've stated it as such. Look for similar situations with other brands, i.e. Dr Breus etc....

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #4 May 25, 2011 11:00 PM
Joined: Mar 20, 2011
Points: 71
Well if 40ILD is any where close to firm as 50ILD, then you will have one hell of a firm mattress. I ordered a 2" 20ILD talaly topper and a 5" 50ILD base foam and it was waaaaaay to firm for me. I have to put 8 inches of medium foam between the base and to topper just to soften i up. I also have a 2.5" cuddlebed and I'm still gonna order another 2" 20ILD talalay topper.
Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #5 May 26, 2011 4:37 AM
Joined: May 10, 2011
Points: 21
GK99 wrote:

Hello all,

 

I've been looking for a firm mattress for a few months now.  At first I was only looking for innerspring mattresses, but couldn't find anything firm enough for me or my wife.  We both like very firm with no sinking feeling.  I would not say firm like sleeping on the floor, but close to it.

While at a 1-800-mattress store, we tried a latex mattress and liked it the most out of anything we tried.  The mattress was Sleep Options Classic Sleep Destiny 8-inch Firm Latex Foam Mattress. It felt firm enough, although both of us would've preffered a bit more firmness.

So, i came to this site to research on latex, chose SleepEZ based on reviews and prices being below Flobeds.

What I liked was Select Sleep Model 13000, 100% Natural Dunlop  in the Firm-Xfirm-Xfirm-Xfirm (bottom) configuration.  But as a newly educated (thanks to this website) consumer, I checked the specs on the Classic Sleep bed we liked and was shocked that the ILD on the top layer was only 20.  That is more like a "soft" layer at SleepEZ. 

Does anybody have any recommendations or advice?  I really don't know what to do at this point.

 

thank you!


If I may highly steer you away from the Sleep Options, especially the 8" firm latex. I have the 11" plush, and it's a rock. It also has a 3" 20 ILD dunlop top layer, but I sure don't feel it. The bed in the showroom was no where near as firm as this bed. My back pain was so severe, and I couldn't get comfortable on the bed. I had to spend $173 on a 3" 20 ILD talalay topper from Foam By Mail to soften the bed up. 

Also, the sleep options is mostly polyurethane foam, which is another huge disappointing factor. There was also an awful chemical odor that needed to be aired out everyday for the first week. It's still there, but not as strong, now I don't have to strip the beds when we wake. Sadly, I was locked into purchasing another mattress from Sleepy's, so I didn't have the luxury of going to Sleepez or Flobeds. 

Now IMO, the 3" dunlop layer on the SO mattress has a very different feel than a 3" 20 ild talalay topper. The dunlop is by far much firmer, the talalay has a little wiggle to it, and makes room for my hips. Could you go back to the store and lay on the various models of a Pure Latex Bliss? If you can and find one you like, learn about the configurations of the model you loved and duplicate that with SleepEZ or Flobeds. Which would save you loads of money. Also, if your not worried about imperfections in your latex, FBM or also known as The Foam Factory, sells talalay cheap. You could save a lot more by doing a DIY utilizing them. 

Good luck, keep us updated! 

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #6 May 26, 2011 8:19 AM
Joined: Mar 20, 2011
Points: 71
serehya wrote:

 Also, if your not worried about imperfections in your latex, FBM or also known as The Foam Factory, sells talalay cheap. You could save a lot more by doing a DIY utilizing them. 

Good luck, keep us updated! 



 

 

I strongly agree with this option.

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #7 May 26, 2011 12:41 PM
Joined: May 25, 2011
Points: 5
Thank you all so much for your replies!  Thanks to this forum, I know better than to buy a mattress from Sleepy's or 1800mattress.  But since those two are the only stores in my area (brooklyn, ny), I wanted to check out the latex mattresses they have for no other reason than to see what different ILD's would feel like.  Unfortunately, 1800mattress only had the SO mattress, and I'm yet to visit the Sleepy's store.  I guess it's difficult to move from the innerspring world, where i always wanted the firmest mattress i could find.

I also used the Firmness Advisor from Flobeds, and it gave me the following config:

Me: X-firm - X-firm - S-Firm

My wife: Soft - Medium - Firm

I couldn't find what their ILD's were, but that sounds like I'd be sleeping on the rocks.

I will try to visit a Sleepy's store in the next few days and will update with my findings.

 

Thank you.

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #8 May 26, 2011 1:32 PM
Joined: Mar 20, 2011
Points: 71
IMO, really Firm or realy soft shouldn't be a problem, it trying to find the right combination of soft and firm that can be difficult. If you want firm close to the feel of the floor shouldn't be too hard to find.
Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #9 May 28, 2011 5:49 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
In my opinion one should always have a softer layer on top, to avoid pressure points unless you sleep on your back or stomach 100% of the night. Anyone who sleeps on their side even for only an hour or two needs a softer top layer to avoid pressure points. I'd guess at least 28ILD, minimally, optimally something softer.

20ILD Dunlop processed latex may not be soft enough. I have a 32ILD Dunlop layer and I know from experience that it feels more like a 40ILD Talalay or HR Foam layer. So a 20 ILD Dunlop layer is probably more like a 28ILD Talalay layer. I think for a top layer one should use Talalay, something like a 18-24 ILD firmness.

I have to admit that I believe Talalay is a much better latex for sleeping than Dunlop, in general. I think Dunlop can be okay for a base layer (I am using one now) but for the top 2-3" one needs Talalay. However I know some are sleeping on all Dunlop and like it. So it's up for differing opinions. I don't know how many of those "all Dunlop" people sleep on their sides or have any pressure point issues. I would guess that people who sleep on their sides and have issues with shoulders or back are going to prefer Talalay at least in the top 2-3" of their mattress.

Re: How firm should i go with my latex mattress
Reply #10 May 28, 2011 9:50 PM
Joined: Mar 20, 2011
Points: 71
jimsocal wrote:

In my opinion one should always have a softer layer on top, to avoid pressure points
 

I totally agree. I'm a side sleeper and a soft top layer is a must. I have a 2" 20ILD talalay topper with a 2.5" cuddlebed and it relieves pressure points quite well.