Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Apr 1, 2010 1:36 PM
Joined: Apr 1, 2010
Points: 4
First post here. Didn't find this site until I'd already decided to "make" my own mattress. I just got the final pieces yesterday, so have only spent one night on the bed. Here's what I have, from bottom to top: King box springs, 4" of LUX HQ foam (IFD=45-55), 3" of HD36-HQ foam (IFD = 32-38), 3" of Sensus Memory foam. I plan on giving this setup more time to adjust to it, but my initial impression is that it's going to be slightly too firm for me, and way too firm for my wife (I haven't asked her about it yet). I purposely went for a firm feel because I was having back pain, and I figured it'd be easier to make it softer later if it was too firm. My question is: What's the best way to add some cushion to the mattress? I have no experience with latex matress toppers. Would a 2" talalay super soft topper reduce some of the pressure on the bony areas? What else might I explore? Thanks!
Re: Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Reply #2 Apr 1, 2010 4:15 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
IdahoGem wrote:

First post here. Didn't find this site until I'd already decided to "make" my own mattress. I just got the final pieces yesterday, so have only spent one night on the bed. Here's what I have, from bottom to top: King box springs, 4" of LUX HQ foam (IFD=45-55), 3" of HD36-HQ foam (IFD = 32-38), 3" of Sensus Memory foam. I plan on giving this setup more time to adjust to it, but my initial impression is that it's going to be slightly too firm for me, and way too firm for my wife (I haven't asked her about it yet). I purposely went for a firm feel because I was having back pain, and I figured it'd be easier to make it softer later if it was too firm. My question is: What's the best way to add some cushion to the mattress? I have no experience with latex matress toppers. Would a 2" talalay super soft topper reduce some of the pressure on the bony areas? What else might I explore? Thanks!



I would think that 3" of memory foam is more than enough of a soft layer on top.  Probably what you need is something intermediate firmness between the HD36 and the memory foam.  That will make it softer overall and reduce pressure a bit while not giving up too much support.  You are probably bottoming out through  the memory foam and hitting the firm layer below.  Probably 1-3" of 24-28 ILD talaly latex.   As Jim said, 1" increments would increase your ability to fine tune.  The tradeoff might be higher cost.  You could add some soft latex on top (15-19), but I don't think I would recommend that over 3" of memory foam. 

Rockymountain mattress has pretty good prices on 100% natural talalay 24 latex toppers. 

You may just want to stick with what you have a little longer to see if you adjust to it.

Re: Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Reply #3 Apr 1, 2010 5:04 PM
Joined: Apr 1, 2010
Points: 4
Thanks for the replies. A little more info: I sleep on my side and back, but my wife predominantly on her side. Once I convinced her I could build a mattress a lot cheaper than buy one, and have some flexibility in configuring it, I reached a compromise of 3" of Sensus. I probably would've gone with 2", but I thought she'd appreciate more. But here's the kicker, even though I typically like really firm beds, even I'm surprised at how firm this configuration turned out (again, 1 night thus far). One other piece of info: We put our existing crappy mattress pad (cotton blend, I guess) over the stack. And, we keep our room cool in the evenings, so maybe the Sensus isn't warm enough to be conforming? If I had to describe my initial impression, I'd say that I like the overall support just fine, but it just doesn't seem conforming enough, meaning that my weight (I'm 6'1", 175) isn't being evenly distributed and my hips shoulders, etc bear too much of my weight. If that makes any sense.
Re: Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Reply #4 Apr 1, 2010 5:38 PM
Joined: Nov 4, 2008
Points: 223
IdahoGem,

check out my topic thread "I love my bed"! It's the same base as yours, but with a couple of softer PU foam layers in the middle, and a 1" soft latex on top. I really love how it feels--supportive, yet cushiony on the top. I tried memory foam but couldn't stand the 'sinking' feeling and the heat.

Re: Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Reply #5 Apr 1, 2010 6:53 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
sandman wrote:



I would think that 3" of memory foam is more than enough of a soft layer on top.  Probably what you need is something intermediate firmness between the HD36 and the memory foam.  That will make it softer overall and reduce pressure a bit while not giving up too much support.  You are probably bottoming out through  the memory foam and hitting the firm layer below.  Probably 1-3" of 24-28 ILD talaly latex.   As Jim said, 1" increments would increase your ability to fine tune.  The tradeoff might be higher cost.  You could add some soft latex on top (15-19), but I don't think I would recommend that over 3" of memory foam. 

Rockymountain mattress has pretty good prices on 100% natural talalay 24 latex toppers. 

You may just want to stick with what you have a little longer to see if you adjust to it.


Just to clarify - I probably didn't say it the way I meant it - what I meant was that soft latex could REPLACE the Sensus. Also, I now realize I mis-read the first post as I thought there was a medium layer in between the firm and the Sensus. I would definitely recommend at least 1"  or maybe 2x1" layers of 32ILD natural TALALAY latex (like from Rockymountain or SleepEZ) in between the Sensus and firm layer below it.

If the Sensus isn't causing you lower back pain then it is probably okay. But if you begin to get lower back pain it will probably be because the Sensus crapped out. (If you read between the lines you can see that I am not a fan of memory foam, even though I keep trying it here and there because I have it.)

Re: Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Reply #6 Apr 1, 2010 8:20 PM
Joined: Apr 1, 2010
Points: 4
  electracat, I read your thread.  Sounds like we're definitely on a similar track.  I'm into my mattress for about $450 right now, and I'm

willing to spend a few hundred more to make it "just right".  One saving grace is that I have kids and an RV with twin beds, so I

can always utilize any extra mattress "components" upgrading other beds. 

 

  jimsocal, in retrospect, I probably would've used 3" of med firm latex in place of the HD-36 foam middle layer.  I may still do that if I determine that the comfort layer isn't an issue.  At any rate, I'm not going to do anything until I've spent a few weeks sleeping on this configuration. 

Re: Softer comfort layer for new mattress?
Reply #7 Apr 7, 2010 3:57 PM
Joined: Apr 1, 2010
Points: 4
Ok, a week into the new mattress now. I've definitely adjusted to it more. My wife isn't complaining, so that's good. It still feels firm in some ways, but it's really been pretty comfortable overall. I've not had the nagging back muscle pain that was a daily occurance with my old mattress. I may still get an inch or two of latex down the road a bit, but for now I think I'm pretty satisfied. I'll update again after a while or if I have further questions. Thanks for the advice given.

Recent Posts