You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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I am operating under the assumption, for now, that my HR foam layer in my mattress has given up its support qualities to a degree that is causing me back pain. So, I am going to replace the 1" of HRfoam with 1" of either Talalay or Dunlop latex. Since I don't know what ILD the HR is that I have used - and at times I've used Firm and Medium with success - I am not sure which ILD to buy to replace it, so would like opinions from those who are sleeping on latex or familiar with it. Here's how the build will be (what has worked before): Springs on bottom (Englander 12.5 gauge) Next (over a very thin 1/4" or so layer of memory foam just to keep the foam from being damaged by the springs): the Talalay or Dunlop I'll be buying (1")(?) 3/4" of soft Talalay (I already have; 20-28ILD?) That might be all. I have found that using 2" of base foam instead of 1" seems to negate the feel and support of the springs; at least that was my feeling from having tried it with 2" of HR foam. This may or may not be true, but that seemed to be the case. I am open to other suggestions but for now something similar to this configuration is what I want to try. At times I put memory foam in the mix but I think I'm DONE with memory foam now! It seems to just cause back pain for me. So perhaps I could use another inch of latex to replace the inch of memory foam I was using before when it worked for me... Now, the question is, which ILD or Talalay or Dunlop (or both) should I buy? Here are my choices: Sleeplikeabear has : Talatech Talalay 1" layers of ILD 32, 36 and 40 among others, at $113 including shipping. (TWIN) I am thinking 32 or 36. Which? Sleepez has Dunlop 1" layer of 30-32 or 38-40, for $70 but they seem to charge $49 for shipping which I think is WAY too high and I am going to call them and ask about that. In any case, the bottom line price of $119 is not too bad. Here, it seems to me, the 30-32 is the only choice because the other would probably be too firm for me. But I'm open to discussion on that. So let's say I'm going to buy 2 - one for me, and one for my wife, which we can change out after a time so we each get to try each one. (Her configuration is different than mine.) What ILD's would you buy for that bottom layer(s) above springs? (I'm 5'10, weigh 180 but big around the middle.) |
Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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Jim; One thing about your mattress conformation that you might want to address is that there is no insulator layer between the springs and the foams. In a good mattress, made the old fashioned way, there is at least one insulator layer of either burlap or a special wire mesh, that keeps the springs separate from the foam. (Bill's beds have both). I cut open a bed before that which had no insulator layer...individual coils glued to about 6" of supersoft p/u foam, that was it. What if you tried removing the memory foam piece and put the old mattress top over the coils? That would serve as an insulator layer and add a bit of cush, but not too much. In my bed I have a layer of several inches of cotton batting over the insulator layer, then the foam. You know how a little tiny change can affect the feel of the bed, maybe try this? Just a thought. Kait |
Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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Kait wrote: Jim; One thing about your mattress conformation that you might want to address is that there is no insulator layer between the springs and the foams. In a good mattress, made the old fashioned way, there is at least one insulator layer of either burlap or a special wire mesh, that keeps the springs separate from the foam. (Bill's beds have both). I cut open a bed before that which had no insulator layer...individual coils glued to about 6" of supersoft p/u foam, that was it. What if you tried removing the memory foam piece and put the old mattress top over the coils? That would serve as an insulator layer and add a bit of cush, but not too much. In my bed I have a layer of several inches of cotton batting over the insulator layer, then the foam. You know how a little tiny change can affect the feel of the bed, maybe try this? Just a thought. Kait Hi Kait, and thanks. Actually there is a layer of some kind of black synthetic material on top of the springs, it's like a thick burlap-type cloth but appears to be synthetic. Originally I had the mattress without anything on top of that, but recently - after I began having problems - added the 1/4 layer of memory foam that was originally on top of the springs on my old Sealy. As to the mattress cover that I cut off my Englander, I threw it in the trash, so can't use that. If the new layer(s) of latex don't solve my problem, I will begin to try various other things, like this, and like putting it on the floor instead of on the box springs, tightening up the mattress as someone suggested by strapping it together tighter, etc.. The more I think about it, the more I think the HR foam is simply old and lost its support and latex should solve the problem. I hope! |
Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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Jim, one other thing you have to consider in pricing is that sleeplikeabear will charge sales tax, but I don't think sleepez will (they are based in Arizona). So, that will probably add about $10 to your 1" from sleeplikeabear, making it more than sleepez (even with a high shipping charge). If you buy 2 1" pieces, sleepez will look even cheaper. Also, you can get 100% natural talalay from sleepez (for a 10% premium) if you are worried about dunlop. I would definitely pay the 10% premium (over the blended talalay) for the extra weight, density and support of 100% natural, based on what I know now. Especially for a lower layer. I believe their talalay (blended and 100% natural) are made by Latex International, but you would want to verify that. This message was modified Jan 13, 2010 by sandman
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Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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Hi Jim, I am kind of surprised nobody at this forum has mentioned the o-stock.com ECO latex mattress toppers. They are $75 for twin XL 1.5 inches of natural latex, $100 for queen, $133 for King; they also have 2 inch toppers. No they will not tell you what density it is, most reviews say medium firm (I agree) but I believe they are seconds, or factory rejects. I am not sure. But they are no more flawed than the ones I have seen pictures of FBM (I had one that was truly flawed, but I had extra latex and stuffed latex pieces in the 2x6" hole). The density or ILD is not labeled nor will they tell you what they are. But if you are just starting out on latex toppers ($2.95 shipping) it may be worth checking out. I have been using these for almost a year now, switching them around because they are different ILDS/density. But I believe they are dunlop, can't verify for sure. It seems to be a grab bag, once I got talalay lol. But since I didn't know what I wanted in terms of ILD it was what I was willing to do and since I couldn't afford the pricey stuff......Just a thought for those of us on a tight budget, but need something latex! I have been moving the layers around again, and I pitched the memory foam (which I think was causing my leg pain). I was sinking in too much so I removed the 24ILD piece from the hip area and put the firmer dunlop in place. Last night wasn't bad. This is a continual science project! But my back has been happy with the firmer latex. I have 24ILD at the shoulder area and have been happy since doing that (zoning). This message was modified Jan 13, 2010 by Leo3
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Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
| Re Overstock eco mattress, I tried the 2" and had to return what they sent me. They accidentally sent me the 1.5", but more problematic was that the latex was torn significantly in some places with gaping holes missing entire chunks (as in several inch chunks) of latex and there were black/grayish stains that were in the shape of big man footprints, no joke. Also, a seam down the middle as they had attached two pieces to make a queen size. But what was interesting was that the one I got was marked with an L.I. sticker along with ILD -- in the 26 range. So Leo, I think you're right -- it's a grab bag of factory seconds and/or returns. But to Overstock's credit, the customer service rep was (or at least sounded) mortified when I told her and they took it right back for a full credit. Their customer service seemed great from that one interaction, and they sent me a follow up form email afterwards asking me to rate the interaction on several key metrics so there is clearly some level of accountability at the individual rep level. |
Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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I also had one labeled L.I. 24 ILD KK, but I could tell right away it was not the medium/firm latex like the others. I felt the medium firm pieces were Dunlop, because one side was different texture, shiny like and seemed softer. The 24ILD I used to make zoning pieces, so I worked around the flaws and put that part at the pillow end. I had to contact customer service many times and didn't get good response many times. I did complain about the different ILD not being the same as the others, and I was told there is no description of the firmness. When I complained about the flaw holes they said I could return, but I tossed the boxes because the enclosed letter in the box said no returns. So I asked for a discount, after pics were sent. Mine were all clean, except the last one had 2 dirty spots, but water and a cotton cloth clean it right off. I don't believe (I hope not) they are returns (gasp, I am a germafob). I was thinking it was latex pieces used to make mattresses that the bed maker decided they didn't want because of various flaws. My label had KK on it (KingKoil?) so that was my feeling. But as I said it was the only way I could afford to buy latex. Mine seemed consistent on thickness, and I do like it for my back. Did you keep any of the latex? Even though I seem to be complaining, I am still happy with the latex pieces being in my budget. I think they should just be up front about it being a grab bag and seconds. I also thought since the latex was rolled and folded in a plastic bag that appears to have used a machine to fill it that meant it wasn't returned and came direct from the plant. Guess that is like someone said about the air being sucked out of a bag they thought that meant it was not returned, but that I know anyone can do. I did return Brylane home natura latex mattress toppers because they were obviously returned, they were very dirty. I did keep one that was clean. This message was modified Jan 14, 2010 by Leo3
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Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
| Leo, I only ordered one and I returned it. I only conjectured it was returned - it was packaged well, so you're probably right that it was a factory second. |
Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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I couldn't get through to sleepez all afternoon on Friday so am waiting til Monday to try again. I rejected sleeplikeabear because they only have blended Talalay, and no Dunlop. At this point I am pretty sure I'm going to buy 1" of 32 ILD Dunlop and 1" of 32 ILD Talalay. My wife and I can both try them that way, and I can see if I notice any difference between the two. So I'll report back here when I do finally get some latex and try it. Might be 2-3 weeks from now... |
Re: You get to help choose my latex - (please play along!)
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As I posted in my 0ther thread, I did end up buying from SleepEZ last week. They were out of one of my latex layers so they had to wait to get it. So I just found out they shipped today! Not sure when it will get here, but at least it is shipped! Yay! 1.5" Dunlop natural medium and 1" Talalay natural medium. This message was modified Jan 25, 2010 by jimsocal
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