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Hi, I have a 4 inch memory foam that I got at overstock about 8 years ago, it has I believe, broken down. It rips easy now and there is a big depression in the center where I sleep that no longer will recover. My lower back is complaining again and I am no longer getting a good sleep. I also have a bad rotator cuff from a recent accident that hurts more if I sleep without the memory foam. I have a gold bond extra firm mattress as a base for the topper that is less than a year old. I have been looking at the following products: Aerus Natural 4.0 lb. Plush 2.5” Memory Foam 2.5 inch I saw at samscluba wool topper that has 8.33 lbs of wool from naturaworld also debating a latex topper.
I was looking at the wool topper as I perspire alot at night, maybe due to the heat of the memory foam or just the fact that I perspire more normally than normal. I hear the wool is very good at wicking and keeping heat at reasonable levels in both winter and summer. I was not sure if the wool topper alone would give me the needed pressure point relief that the memory foam does. I also think the foam I am currently using is not dense enough; I think it is 2 lb. Reading some of this forum the aerus sounds pretty good without too much off gassing... I am not sure if my allergies are affected by the current topper or not but they may be worse with it .. so I was thinking along the lines of a better setup with less fumes. I know samsclub has the aerus and if I went with that would I need to double it up for 4+ inches ( put two of the 2.5 together?) Would I be better off with something like a thinner wool pad and the foam? i know this is highly subjective but would the 4 pound aerus and a wool topper give me a fairly firm feel but soft enough to relieve pressure? I am a side and stomach sleeper so I can never get perfect, I just want some setup that is softer than the extra firm base and not as soft as the 2 lb foam with some breathability. I haven't looked into latex toppers yet, the aerus seems to be within my budget though and it claims to be free from off gassing? I have no clue here. Thank you, Bob This message was modified Dec 22, 2010 by BobKat
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It is really difficult to compare memory foam with latex in terms of firmness. The feel of latex comes from it's ILD (how much weight it takes to compress the top 25% of a layer) and it's "sag factor" (how much weight it takes to compress it to 65%). The feel of memory foam comes from it's ILD (usually in the range of 10-16) and the temperature (which lowers it's ILD as it turns more into a "liquid" that flows instead of compresses). Often memory foam will feel much "firmer" than it's ILD indicates when it is cooler. The closest "approximation" between memory foam and latex would be super soft latex of around 114 ILD but this is only an approximation as they act much differently when you sleep on them. Latex also offers much more support in all ILD's than memory foam which has very little in any "version". How soft something feels is often a function of how well they conform to your body shape and distribute pressure and memory foam and latex do this in different ways. Memory foam does this by turning into a "liquid like" state with heat and pressure and latex does this through "point elasticity" (the ability of a very small area to compress without affecting the surrounding area). Soft and very soft latex is very similar to memory foam in it's ability to "form a cradle" and feel soft. Some say latex is better ... some say memory foam is better. It would depend on the person, the ILD of the latex, and the chemicals used in the specific type of memory foam in it's manufacture. If memory foam is over a firmer layer and someone sinks through it over the course of the night as it heats up, then it will even feel much firmer than soft latex as they would be feeling the "support layers" under the memory foam. Like the difference between honey and water, denser memory foam doesn't always feel firmer than less dense and can even feel softer. Will look for outlets in Central Conneticut and post them here as a PS but I know there are a few as Conneticut is where LI is situated. Phoenix This message was modified Dec 24, 2010 by Phoenix
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I found the info on what I have now but doesn't tell what brand it is. I was mistaken as it's only a 3 inch http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Memory-Foam-3-inch-Mattress-Topper/884135/product.html This message was modified Dec 24, 2010 by BobKat
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Here are a few in Conneticut but I will leave you to determine which (if any) are near enough to you. A few of these are among the best value latex mattresses in the US IMO. http://www.thecleanbedroom.com/Showrooms.htm Retailer. Have a wide range of latex mattresses including layered make your own versions that would be a good testing ground. http://www.allyouneedforsleep.com/index.htm Retailer. Carry Restopedic mattresses which are great value and would also be good testing grounds http://www.manta.com/c/mmjfn7g/restopedic-inc Manufacturer. These are the actual manufacturer of Restopedic and sell factory direct. Don't have a website but they do have great value. Was impressed when I talked with them. http://www.norwalkmattress.com/ Manufacturer. Also manufactures a range of latex mattresses http://www.columbiamattressuph.com/findcmu.html Manufacturer. Their website says they have latex but I don't know any details about whether they make all latex or not. http://www.comfortss.com/location.html Manufacturer. Makes a range of latex mattresses. http://www.mybobs.com/locations/ Retailer/manufacturer? Focuses on memory foam but including them for the sake of completeness in case someone else looking for memory foam sees this list. http://www.customsleepdesign.com/ Manufacturer. Makes custom layered and zoned latex mattresses using an approach that I believe is very accurate. Was also impressed when I talked with him and he is a former VP of latex international. All of the latex manufacturers in this list may very well sell you a topper at a very good price should you need one. They would certainly provide excellent testing grounds. Conneticut doesn't have as many manufacturers as other states but they are among the best. If there are stores like Sleepy's near you, then the Pure Latex Bliss line of mattresses would also be excellent testing grounds. They are a "subsidiary" of Latex International and while they are more than the manufacturers listed here, their mattresses and toppers do give you a chance to test out different comfort layers and thicknesses. Phoenix PS: based on the overstock description it is probably chinese memory foam. They say "rated at" 4 lb which usually means absolutely nothing and usually means it actually isn't 4lb. Without knowing who manufactures the memory foam there is no way to tell how it will "act" in actual use or what it really is. The 2 year warranty also indicates that it is probably "lesser" memory foam as well. This message was modified Dec 24, 2010 by Phoenix
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Thanks for the fast reply and all the wonderful help. I will check around and test one out next week. According to the link cowboy gave the video on the rejuvenite that the seller has says that they are manufactured by international latex in their connecticut factory under the rejuvenite name. |
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Yes. Rejuvenite is a Latex International brand and comes directly from them. The Pure Latex Bliss line of mattresses is also a "LI subsidiary" and they have a latex topper that is 14 ILD. Pure latex bliss is fairly widely available at places like Sleepys and other mass merchandisers. They are a great testing ground for soft latex layering and thicknesses. Phoenix |
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I tried out the latex bliss at sleepys. They had a soft and a firmer one there but no way to know what the ild was on them. The soft was really soft. I liked both the soft and firmer one there and now it is going to be a tough choice which I want ... the rejuvenite 19 or 28. I am still leaning toward the soft I think at 19 ild with the rejuvenite since I am a side sleeper This site claims the ild in the 20's is better ? http://www.plushbeds.com/latexmattress.html
I think I'll have to go try the latex bliss again. This message was modified Dec 31, 2010 by BobKat
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Latex Bliss makes both a 2" and a 3" topper and each of their mattresses is also constructed differently. If you go to sleepy's to test them out make sure you get the details of which topper you are testing and which mattress it is on as what is underneath it will make a difference. Here is a general idea of some of their mattress constructions with and without a 2" topper http://www.mattresssave.com/index.php?mattress/shop/brand/6 The 28 ILD and the 19 ILD would probably feel quite noticeably different on a firm mattress but testing it on something "soft" may distort the results of what you are feeling. I would test them on as firm a mattress as I could (like yours) and make sure you know how thick the version you are testing is as 2" and 3" could also make a difference. My answer to anyone who makes those kind of "definitive statements" about soft and firm is always ... for who? It's too personal IMO to make blanket judgements about ILD or what is "best". There really isn't any difference in feel between 20 - 22 and 19 ILD anyway and they seem to think that "21" is OK lol. Phoenix This message was modified Dec 31, 2010 by Phoenix
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I went to two sleepys so far, one had just two mattresses of latex bliss, the other had three. Place today had a nutritional and a sorrento and I think a nature model. I thought the 3 inch topper on the nutritional was comfortable. I didn't think of moving the topper to a firm bed there. I will have to go back and try that. Is the latex bliss topper about a 14 or 19 ild? |
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To my knowledge, the latex bliss topper is 14 ILD. Sorry if I created any confusion in the last post which was referring to the Rejuvenite ILD's. Testing it on a very firm mattress would give you a much clearer idea of how it reacted to you. The more you can "isolate" a comfort layer (or topper) in your testing the more accurately you can get a sense of how it works for you. Sometimes even testing it on a hard surface like a floor can give you an accurate picture of "how much" it feels like you are going through it and tell you how much "give" you would need under it to make it work best. If it felt closer to laying on the floor itself (a "sharper feeling" of being too hard), then you would know you needed more softness immediately under it. If it felt just "a little too hard" ... a more "dull" hardness, on your "pointy parts" like your hips, then you would know that it would be good on a firm mattress (which is softer than a floor). Phoenix PS: you can see from the latex bliss constructions (softer over soft, thin firmer layers over soft, and different thicknesses of layers) how sophisticated their understanding of latex and layering is. This is not surprising since their "parent" company makes it. I believe it's an attempt to "show the industry" how to use latex "more correctly" and while they are more expensive than "doing it yourself" or other options (they don't want to "cut the throat" of smaller or even larger manufacturers who already understand what they do and buy their latex), it is why I believe they are "among the best" of the "national brands". With their different toppers and the different thicknesses and ILD's of their different models, they are much closer to a "make your own" approach than most (if you take only their 4 basic models and the 2 toppers, there are 12 different variations of construction). I also believe it is partly an effort to show the industry the value of using very soft latex instead of the cheap soft poly that most mattresses (including most extra firm ones) have in the very top of their construction. It's a very smart strategy IMO. They win if other major manufacturers don't copy them (they sell more Latex Bliss) and also if they do copy them (they sell more latex). This message was modified Dec 31, 2010 by Phoenix
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Phoenix The info on Latex Bliss mattresses is very interesting, so I went out to look at their site (unfortunately it doesn't look like they are for sale in Washington?). Anyway, the thing I wanted to ask about is their "stabilization" layer. Each of their beds seem to have 1" of poly foam at the bottom, for stabilization. Do you know why they do this and what it really does? Thanks... Steve |