Mattress Forum

3" Medium Dunlop.

2" "firmer Talalay (or Dunlop)

3" Sleepez Talalay

With possibly 1" memory foam either over or under the soft Talalay.

What I am hoping for here is that the 2" layer is actually firmer Dunlop (a FBM error that worked in your favor) and this would give you about 5" of supporting layers with the 2" layer acting in a dual role (about 1" of softness) which would give you 4+" of comfort layers. This would give you 8-9" mattress height ... would fit in your cover ... and may work. This is still not a 6" core and would not have quite the flexibility range of a 6" core but it could be close ... assuming the 2" layer is suitable.

if the 2" layer does not work for this (is too soft to use as a "dual purpose" support layer) then your best bet I also believe would be to order a 3" layer of firm Dunlop (or even very firm Talalay) which could be used either over or under the medium Dunlop depending on which worked the best for you. There is a possibility that 6" of firm would work better but I believe from the testing that medium over firm (or firm over medium) would work well and would give you a little flexibility and save the probably unneccessary expense of buying a 6" core and then having a 3" core that you couldn't use. The materials you have left could still be used for 2 part zoning (comfort layers) if you found you were one of those who benefited from this but the "better core" would be necessary anyway.

The difference between the Dunlop and Talalay would be that the Dunlop would start initially with the same "softness" at the top 25% and then get "firmer faster" than a similar ILD Talalay and would give you the benefit of slightly greater support which it appears you need for best alignment. The advantage of Talalay would be that it would feel a little bit "springier" and perhaps a little closer to an "innerspring" feeling.

So unless the "low probability" layering suggested above nails it, then yes I would buy a 3" layer of firm Dunlop.

I think this has been a really worthwhile exercise (and I had a lot of fun with it) and I am very hopeful that this "long journey" can finally lead to better sleep for you :)

Phoenix

Been sleeping on (bottom to top) [dunlop-med / dunlop-med / mem-foam / tal-soft] the last 2 nights. It doesn't really feel bad, but I think the mem-foam definitely still acts like mem foam even down a layer. In other words by morning I feel like its just squished flat and I am sinking in more than I would if it was latex. I'm gonna take it out tonight and just try the 3 sleepez layers again.

If I want a soft 1" layer of latex, do I order like a 15 ILD piece? Or will a 20 ILD piece feel softer in a 1" layer? And where would you suggest I buy this?

Also, would you suggest I order the firm dunlop from Sleepez?

Steve

PS - Happy holidays Phoneix! Thanks again for all your help...

Reading thru some of your other posts got me to wondering if I should consider an adjustable slatted foundation (like the flobeds Euro system). My mattress is on a solid wood platform now, that has to be contributing to the firmness, right?

Steve

In general, what they are good at is tweaking alignment. They are on the bottom so they would help control "lower firmness" or support ie. how far certain parts "sink down" to help spinal alignment.

They would have little if any effect on "upper firmness" which comes more from the ILD and sag factor of the comfort layers and is more about how well a material allows parts of you to "sink in" and conform to your body shape to distribute weight and relieve pressure.

In other words they could help make up for choices in support layers that were slightly off but they wouldn't really make up for choices in comfort layers that were slightly off.

If I was ordering a 1" soft latex layer to add to a comfort layer, I would probably tend towards 20 ILD range given your weight. With the testing we have done it seems that it would be fine for comfort. Thinner layers in general "act" softer than thicker layers of the same ILD ... and their effect is more dependent on the relative ILD and thickness of the layers above and below. For example a firmer ILD thin layer can help you sink into a softer layer under it a little less and yet still feel "relatively" soft. This is the case with my mattress where the 1/2" quiltable latex is firmer than the 22 ILD Talalay right underneath it and (in combination with the "down alternative" fiber) results in slightly less sinking in to the softer layer below yet still feels soft. The tradeoff here is slightly less "point elasticity" or weight distribution/pressure relief in the softer layer. 1" layers can have quite a large effect in certain layering and ILD combinations.

In general, I tend to use two "reference points" when I am comparing different places for buying latex. This is because they both have a good combination of pricing and materials available. Neither of them may be the least expensive for a particular layer someone may want to purchase (although one or the other of them often is) but they are usually a good starting point for good comparison. They are both very open about what they are selling and knowledgeable about latex in general. They also both often have other choices available besides what is listed on their website so it would be well worth calling them to see if they had exactly what what you wanted even if it wasn't specifically listed on their website.

These are ...

http://www.mattresses.net/index.html and

http://www.sleepez.com/

There are a lot of other places as well with very good value but they will often not have the same wide selection. SLAB has the widest selection of Talalay including Celsion available but not Dunlop and you pay a little more. Foambymail is good if you really don't care how accurate what you get is but I wouldn't go there if what you need is more specific ... a little risky IMO. Overstock is also good for prices but risky in terms of what you actually get. Costco, Sams club is also great if they have what you want or need but they are way more limited.

I plan to update the "toppers" thread when I get the chance to include a bunch more sources but haven't had the time so for now these are probably your best bet for toppers and/or cores and I would choose between them based on who had the best price for the specific type and ILD layer you were looking for since they both sell quality stuff.

Phoenix

I'm thinking if I order a dunlop firm I might as well order a full layer and convert my 9" mattress to 12". So 2 questions on this:

1) I don't especially like the sleepez mattress case, as it has wool and /or cotton that seems to be getting impressions. I'd rather buy a plain thin case and add my own wool or cotton topper. Do you know of anyone that sells super plain mattresses cases? 

2) With these 2 new layers I would have 2 dunlop firms, 2 dunlop mediums, 2 talalay mediums, and 2 tal softs. I'm guessing I'd probably want something like (top to bottom): 1-2" new soft talalay over [tal-soft / dunlop firm / dunlop firm / dunlop med]. Do you think that would work? Or would I be better sticking with just the soft over firms (no medium)? Or do you have another suggestion?

Thanks again! 

Steve

These are 4 places I know where you can get a zip mattress cover/encasement. I know of about 4 or 5 more possibilities that may sell them but I've never followed up with them and when I called today they weren't open. I'll call them tomorrow (for my own information as well) and if they do sell them I'll add them to the list.

Leo, what do you have on your foam if not a zippered case?
 

I am back to my plush (thin) polyester blanket.   I have tried every mattress pad available in my area, and some mail order, and Costco Cuddlebed (the worse).  Stitching is disaster for me, as well as tufting.  I am not sure if you are as sensitive as me

So you just have a blanket wrapped over and around the latex? I sort of thought latex had to be protected better than that? Do you have any pictures?

And, no I guess I'm not that bad, although my wife thinks I am crazy...

Phoenix

I was peeking at some of the other threads and I think I will try the 2 stores in the Seattle area you mentioned before I order anything else. I've been sleeping on Soft over 2 dunlop mediums and its just miserable. I'm gonna add the 2" soft on top to see if thats any better, if not I will go back to the 2" over the soft over medium.

But the truth is I've never really liked an all-latex mattress (the only ones I liked turned out to have "cheap" soft non-latex foam on top - now I know). So if I can't find a new one that feels soft in the store I might change direction and start looking for something new. Maybe latex over springs. I know Dux makes a mattress like this, and I think its probably pretty good altho they have no returns and are expensive. I dont know of any others designed like that but I'm sure they are out there. 

I actually think I like the separate core / separate topper approach that Dux does, and it looks like Seatlle Mattress does the same thing. Was it their own SMC brand that you were recommending, or another brand they carry?

Anyway, thanks for all the advice and support. I'll let you know how the visit goes...

Steve