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Hello,
I'v been researching latex mattresses wanting to get away for regular coil one. A bit of history, we currently have Queen Simmons Burdock plush mattress, which is a bit on a firm side. There is nothing wrong with it and we've been getting a good sleep on it for years, but latex mattresses advantages have attracted me almost instantly. I've searched many sites for best deals and stumbled upon Sleep EZ where I ordered initially natural Dunlop 6" special, but quickly changed it Talalay blend Sleep EZ 8500 model. When the sales guy called I asked him what's recommended firmness and he gave me the same suggestion as to everyone else XF, F, S, but I decided to go with Medium for top layer). I am 175 pounds 5'9" and my wife is 125 pound 5'5" (she is also 20 weeks pregnant). We are both side sleepers. Last night was our first experience with latex. When I initially laid on it, it felt the same firmness as our regular coil mattress, although my wife said it felt a bit softer. I fall asleep fairly quickly, although I woke up middle of the night feeling hot and my arm getting a bit numb. We have micathermic heater about 3 feet from the mattress that's set to keep 69 degree temperature at night and apparently it warmed the mattress. I turned the heater off, opened window and went online to search about temperature dissipation of the latex and only found positive results. About 30 minutes of letting mattress to cool down down a bit and I was able to fall asleep just fine. The rest of the night I slept fine and woke up only at the sound of the alarm, but the problem was I felt sore in my neck and back and my wife also experienced sore back. That rarely happens even sleeping in cheap coil mattresses in hotels. I am a bit disappointed, but hoping that there is a solution to this. So, my question here Is there a "getting used" period with latex? I am also considering removing medium layer and getting 2" Wool topper, in order to get a bit more firmness, but slight plush at the top. This message was modified Jan 31, 2011 by klas
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Way to go on your testing. Your "preference" in each store is a bit "conflicting" though (at least in how you are "interpreting" it). The "soft over medium" at seattle mattress may have felt "too soft" but I doubt it was the "upper layer" because otherwise you wouldn't have liked the "soft latex over firm dunlop" at bedrooms and more. I would look carefully at "why" you liked the mattresses you did before making decisions. The casing at seattlemattress is also nice and stretchy but I would look carefully at the seams ... we (my other half who notices stuff like that more) noticed it was fraying in a couple of spots and said she didn't think it was "well constructed". bedroomsandmore also has Natura, OMI, and their own "layers" which would be a better testing ground than the Englanders (although the englanders there don't have poly on top). The son of the owner there is the most knowledgeable. What they told you about Talalay regarding durability is just not correct. The price at seattlemattress is almost double what is available online ... not counting tax. Phoenix This message was modified Dec 26, 2010 by Phoenix
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I should correct myself that 3" of IDL 19 latex seemed too cushy with either medium or firm bottom vs 2" wool topper with latex over firm. Medium IDL 28 by itself felt good though which might be just enough for us.
We tried bedroomsandmore "layers" as well, but all they sell is Dunlop there. I am also trying to find online that 2" wool topper with latex they used which I really liked. Forgot to ask what brand it was. It was $550 for Queen.
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It was probably one of these Phoenix |
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Although the picture make it look like it's thin I think this was it http://www.bedroomsandmore.com/images/products/toppers/englander-latex-wool-mattress-topper.htm Which I think is a too much $$$ for just the topper. This message was modified Dec 26, 2010 by klas
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What you would end up with by exchanging the Xfirm with a medium and adding a "softer" topper would be (from bottom up) is 3" firm (38-40 ILD) under medium (30 - 32 ILD) under 1.5" soft (22-24) under 2" "soft dunlop" Englander @26 ILD. I would be worried that your upper 6.5" is too soft for you (given your feedback) and you could "sink down" too far for proper alignment. The Dunlop 26 ILD Englander topper may also not be ideal over softer talalay in terms of pressure relief either in your top layer (less cradling) and a 2" Natura soft talalay topper with wool (or a similar online purchase to this) may work better. This layering is closer to the mattresses you "didn't like" (in the support layers especially) than the one you did. It may also "aggravate" the issues (seemingly pressure related) you posted about in your original posts (not sinking in far enough on your side and numbness). The fact that you liked 2" of softer over firmer support layers (the 6" Dunlop would be similar to what you have now) also indicates that going softer on top and remaining firm underneath may also work better. One of the most common mistakes is trying to make a mattress "feel" softer by changing the support layers instead of the comfort layers. I would personally test a 2" and 3" Natura (or non natura equivalent) over a firm Dunlop and lay on them for a while in all your sleeping positions (10 "relaxed" minutes each) to see how they felt before making an actual exchange. Having said all that ... no matter what i may believe ... let your experience be the guide. Phoenix This message was modified Dec 26, 2010 by Phoenix
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| Last night we finally got our Medium layer and configured our mattress Firm - Medium - 1.5 Medium. I slept considerably better this time and the morning I woke up without any back/neck pain, but my shoulder was sore. My wife said she slept good and did not have any issues in the morning. We'll give it more time obviously, but I am still concerned that it might be too firm at the bottom layer... |
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I thought you had changed out your original medium 1.5" layer of medium (Reply #9)?. Did you exchange it for another 1.5" medium and then decide to change a 3" core layer? Seems to me the problem is too firm and thin on top ... softening up the bottom layers could well add support issues to the existing pressure issues. Phoenix |
| So originally we got XF-F-1.5M and now it's F-M-1.5M. My wife said it seems soft when she sits, especially on the side, but it's fine when she sleeps. Another try to improve things would probably be exchanging bottom F for M. My lesson from all this so far, is that we don't like "firm" as we might have thought. |
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I believe you are headed for even more issues with your sleeping (on top of what you are having now) if you start changing the support layers for something softer in an effort to "soften up" the mattress. It is the top 3" or so of a mattress which is much more important in helping with shoulder and pressure issues. I believe that the top of your mattress is too firm and too thin from the symptoms you are describing. Given that the middle 3" layer is now medium, changing the top 1.5" for soft may solve the issue but I have my doubts as your comfort layer may still not be thick/soft enough to solve shoulder issues. In other words you are trying to solve issues that come from the top part of your mattress by changing the bottom parts and this usually leads to more problems than you started with. In general, the sides of all latex mattresses will compress more when you are sitting on them as your whole body weight is concentrated in a smaller area. Some mattresses put firmer and cheaper poly around the latex to "compensate" for this but it is only worth doing if sinking in to the edge when you sit on it is a really big issue as this replaces "useable latex" for sleeping with inferior and less durable materials. Phoenix This message was modified Jan 4, 2011 by Phoenix
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Ok, I'll keep things as is for a week or so and will report back. Might add cheap soft layer to experiment. Is this one good to try?
This message was modified Jan 4, 2011 by klas
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