>>Skins0815 wrote:
>>As background, I have a herniated disk and a sensitive back. Back in 2005, I had to cycle through 4 beds before I found one that was the right firmness -- a plush, non-pillowtop Simmons Beautyrest. That bed died on me, and my wife and I decided to go to a king latex. I'm a side sleeper although sometimes I end up on my back or rarely my stomach during the night.
What is your height and weight?
Edit: I see... you are on the light side, so lower firmness ratings would suffice, particularly to allow sinking in to achieve cradling/pressure relief.
Tweaking 100% Latex could be more troublesome than finding a built mattress that suits your particular needs. Going King-size complicates the cost and handling.
>>The firm mattress that I bought from the Natural Mattress Store was:
Top Layer: 3" FIRM Talalay Latex - (ILD range is 30-35 for Firm Talalay)
Center Layer: 3" X-Firm Dunlop Latex - (ILD range is 40-49 for X-Firm Dunlop)
Bottom Layer: 3" Medium Dunlop Latex - (ILD range is 25-30 for Medium Dunlop)
As I see it, this is a progressive 3x3" kit in a differential configuration with a too firm comfort layer and a too soft transition support layer hidden on the bottom. The surface looks hard. The cradle looks firm and shallow. The support firmness progression is out of natural order. Sinking in/Pressure relief looks poor. Sinking down/Neutral alignment looks poor.
I would prefer starting with a 3x3" kit that looked more like this where the softer ratings are for a lower weight per area sleeper (and for the upper body zone, if zoned) and the firmer ratings are for a higher weight per area sleeper (and for the lower body zone, if zoned):
3" 14-28 ILD Talalay comfort layer (zone second, if zoned)
3" 24-36 ILD Talalay (or Dunlop) transition support layer (zone first, if zoned)
3" 36-44 ILD Talalay or Dunlop support layer
Given that the 3" comfort layer is similar to the average side sleeping gap, the transition support layer provides less comfort layer/cradle assist and more support layer support, so it should favor the firmer ratings, and would benefit from Dunlop compressing firmer sooner for quicker support/less sinking down.
Note that a 2" comfort layer would require more comfort layer/cradle assist from the transition support layer for the same sleeping profile. And would yield a cradle with a more progressive firmness... cradle tuning that could suit some better than others. And would be a reason to add a fourth layer to deepen the support core layer.
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Let's see where theory would have taken this...
Given the initial purchase... too firm:
Top Layer: 3" FIRM Talalay Latex - (ILD range is 30-35 for Firm Talalay)
Center Layer: 3" X-Firm Dunlop Latex - (ILD range is 40-49 for X-Firm Dunlop)
Bottom Layer: 3" Medium Dunlop Latex - (ILD range is 25-30 for Medium Dunlop)
And your profile:
5'-10 and 155 lbs... taller but lighter so about average weight per area... i.e. not at any extremes... on the light side. Layers could be 'relatively' thinner and/or softer... if not, then know to expect a corresponding response from them, particularly the comfort layer.
And a theoretical starting point:
3" 14-28 ILD Talalay comfort layer (zone second, if zoned)
3" 24-36 ILD Talalay (or Dunlop) transition support layer (zone first, if zoned)
3" 36-44 ILD Talalay or Dunlop support layer
Theory's first adjustment to the initial purchase would have been to try:
25-30 ILD Dunlop comfort layer
30-35 ILD Talalay transition support layer
40-49 ILD Dunlop support layer
It would be preferable to have the Talalay on top, but the comfort layer firmness is more important; and having the progressive support firmness in the middle transition support layer is also more important. Did you try this combination before doing your first comfort exchange?
As I see it, theory has proposed a first adjustment with existing materials that could have then been refined with a comfort exchange, if required. With your weight, I see pretty good support depending on the actual numbers for the 30-35 ILD. I would be concerned about the cradling/pressure relief offered by the 25-30 ILD... 30 is feeling hard... 25 is trending soft but would still feel firm under the cover... and your slight build may tolerate the firmer feel. The thing to watch is how the cover and comfort layer firmness affects the cradle for your build... 3" is thick... a too shallow of a cradle can keep you from reaching the support below.
Moving on to the first comfort exchange... sore back and butt:
25-30 ILD Talay comfort layer (via exchange)
25-30 ILD Dunlop transition support layer
40-49 ILD Dunlop support layer
Theory's next first adjustment would be:
Unfortunately, theory thinks you are going to miss that 30-35 ILD layer you sent back. Perhaps you can get it back in a Dunlop flavor. 6" of 25-30 ILD is going to keep you bending and hurting. You will need to move the 40-49 ILD up into the middle to keep you supported, or just remove the 25-30 ILD Dunlop for now, but what will be left will be pretty firm.
Here's a quote from The Natural Mattress Store website... very typical of kit builders:
"The Awareness is a layered latex mattress comprised of three 3" layers of both Talalay and Dunlop latex. It is available in extra soft, soft, medium, firm and extra firm. Having a layered latex mattress with a zipper cover allows you to change the firmness in your home by simply repositioning the layers. You may never do this, but because our bodies change over time, it's great to be able to do so if you wish.
Our proprietary combinations of different densities of latex are designed to provide superior comfort and support in whatever firmness you choose."
3 layers of foam in a sack... shuffle them around until your heart's content. I need a little more theory than that.
zzz