Mattress Forum

I think you are probably better trying things over your memory foam (which you seem to like) than replacing it.  Although, I guess you said you could still return it?

I think you need a wool layer on top, maybe 2.  Like the wool topper or the wool filled mattress pad.

Latex will be more supportive and possibly cooler than the mem-cool, so I don't really like the idea of going with too much mem-cool.  2" at most, and for some people they would find that not supportive enough.  1" is probably better with some latex.  Most likely the mem-cool will not be as supportive as the memory foam you currently have.

As I have said all foams heat up, so you need something breathable over them.

Yes, I believe the Natura is 7 oz. per square yard, which is less than half the density of my current (returnable) polyester fill pad.  So I'm wondering if even though wool is "cooler", the Natura still won't insulate me from the heat from the MF as much as the much denser polyester.  On the other hand, maybe it's not a question of insulating me from the MF, maybe it comes down to dispersing my body heat BEFORE it reaches the MF?  Not really sure how this works.

And yes, I can return my current MF topper.  I've actually gotten rid of the egg crate that was over the topper, so now I'm sleeping with just the polyester pad on top of the MF. The MF feels much better without the egg crate over it - I'm now pretty happy with the comfort, and it's actually not really hotter than when I had the egg crate.  But it's still hotter than I'd like. 

So that's basically my objective at this point, to reduce temperature.  I could just go for 3" mem-cool, but as you point out, that's probably less dense than my current MF topper, so there may be support issues.  But support aside, I'm wondering: how much cooler will 1" mem-cool over 2" latex be versus just 3" mem-cool?  And again, how much better (or possibly worse) would a thiner wool pad be than a thicker polyester one?

Thanks!

Are you sure yours is 16oz per square yard?   That would be very thick for polyester.

Anyway, polyester really does not absorb moiusture, while wool does.  That is probably the main factor.   I think alot of the heat is really trapped humidity.  Breathable foams can help, but they don't absorb the humidty.   Based on the laws of physics, anything you are sleeping on will warm up towards your body temperature and get warm.  I am not sure if the different memory foam will totally solve that problem. 

My experience is that 3" of mem-cool  probably would not be supportive enough either, but everyone is different.  If you really want to try, I would suggest 1" and then (if you have a large bed) you might be able to fold in half to see what 2" is like. 

Also, the softer and more you sink in, the warmer it will be, because your skin has less area to breath.  Kind of like wearing long sleeves vs. short-sleeves.  That may be one of your issues.

So, I am inclined to add wool first.  You might consider the 1.5" wool topper from walmart.com as well. 

Also , what are you using for sheets, blankets, etc.  I use low thread count egyptian cotton sheets, and cotton blankets (unless fairly cold).   That has helped me as well.

These all are just my opinions.  Maybe someone cares to add some advice?

I just got a reply from the Therapedic and apparently the 3" MF I've been using is only 2.5 lbs!  I found this surprising, but I have nothing to compare it to.  Assuming this is correct, I think the 4 lb mem-cool would probably be supportive enough.  As I use the current topper more, I appreciate its comfort but am realizing it's not quite supportive enough, but it doesn't seem like it needs to be drastically more supportive.  So I think I'll start by trying 2" mem-cool. 

In terms of the cover, I actually don't know what the 16 oz refers to - I assumed it was per square yard but it doens't explicitly state that, so who knows?  So I think I will try a wool topper.  I'm leaning toward the Costco one, but I am a bit concerned that the fact that it's waterproof means it will be hotter.  Any thoughts on this?

2.5lbs is pretty low.  However, support is also a function of how it is made.  I believe the more open breathable ones provide less suppport than the more traditional types.  At least that has been my experience.  I have an older piece of 3.6lb density that seemed more supportive than the 5lb (breathable) Aerus.

Most seem to agree that lower density does not last as long.  So, yours may be okay for support now, but might lose in a few years.

I am not crazy about the waterproof aspect, but not sure if make a noticable difference.  All else equal, I would get one that was not waterproof.  You can also buy washable (non waterproof) Natura ones.

 

Or a few months in many cases at densities this low.

I am still a big believer that "support" in a real sense does not come from the memory foam layers no matter what type of memory foam is in the layer. This is why there are no pure memory foam mattresses on the market (to my knowledge). Having said that, I believe the denser memory foams will create a "sense of greater support" since they will often (depending on brand and specs) have a "firmer" feel feel to them when they are "unmelted" by body heat and pressure. You would tend to not sink in as far in a denser memory foam layer (again this would depend on brand) and this I believe can "translate" into a sense of greater support depending on the layers underneath. I believe that true support (the ability to keep your spine aligned through some form of pushback) comes from the layers under the memory foam. Someone would need to be really lucky to get correct support from a memory foam layer (correct spinal alignment at the depth the memory foam allows you to sink in) and even then it would probably only be correct in a particular sleeping position and for a limited time as each different position (or the length of time spent in one position) would change the characteristics of the memory foam (different heat/pressure distribution for each position or length of time).

The top layers of memory foam are more about comfort and pressure distribution and how easily they allow you to sink in/through to the supportive layers underneath. In other words, I believe that firmer memory foam comfort layers do not offer greater support but they do offer a firmer "feel" by not allowing a sleeper to sink in quite as far.

The thinner the memory foam layer and the closer to your body it is, the more easily you would go through it (again depending on brand and density) and the greater the influence of the layers underneath on the perceived feel of the memory foam itself.

Phoenix

I would say that memory foam provides some support, but not a lot.  No support to me would mean that you would sink in the full amount of the thickness of the foam.  I am fairly confident that is not the case.  I am pretty sure that if you slept on a 10" piece of memory foam, the maximum compression would not be 9.999".  Therefore, it is providing some level of support. 

However, it is possible that in some memory foams, when warmed up, you might sink in 80% or more in the heaviest areas.  It would be interesting to have a measure of how far you sink it sinks in at a higher temperature and after a certain amount of time.  A firm piece of latex would sink in considerably less than the 80%.

I also think there is some difference in the amount of support in different memory foams.  Although I have no way to measure it, I don't think I would sink in as far on a 3" piece of 5lb Senus as I would in a 3" piece of 5lb. Aerus.

I posted some of my thoughts/beliefs about this in a new thread.

Phoenix

I wouldn't get too hung up and say one thing provides support and something else doesn't.   It is a relative thing, and let's just agree that memory foam in low on the support scale.  However, for comfort and proper alignment, you do need your hips and shoulders to sink in more than the rest of your body (for most side sleepers at least).   So, some foam with low support can actually work.  In your own case, you seem to prefer and have less back problems with the memory foam than without it (if I have read your posts correctly).   Plenty of people are happy with Tempurpedic mattresses and memory foam toppers.

So, the real key is to find the right level of support and comfort.  Some do that will all latex, some do that with just memory foam, some do it with a combination (my case), some do it with other methods.   Ultimately, each one of us will have a different preference.

That is part is why I advocate use small increments of memory foam and latex, to be able to fine tune, and to be able find out what works for you.  Unfortunately there is no way around the trial and error.   Some people are lucky on their first try.  Some are very tolerant of almost any combination. 

I also advocate wool filled toppers and/or mattress pad to help with overheating.  That helps for many people, but there is no gurarantee it will work for you.