Hi TiredGirl.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum.

I'd like an innerspring mattress, but I'd also like a plush mattress. And I don't know if I can have both.

You can! You may find yourself needing to add a topper or looking into pillow top mattresses. Ideally a hybrid would meet your needs, but they do tend to be in a higher price range.

I am 5", 112-115 lbs, so a firm mattress would be too uncomfortable for me. I am a side sleeper and a back sleeper, both, though more often a side sleeper.

I understand why you are struggling with the "medium" foam. As you have a low BMI, you won't sink into the mattress as much, and as primarily a side sleeper, without an appropriate comfort layer, you end up with pressure points during the course of the night and could have symptoms of numbness, soreness (like you mentioned with your hips and knees), localized redness, or end up tossing and turning all night as your body tries to relieve the pressure.

Additionally, most side sleepers need 2" -4" of foam in their comfort layer.

ironically enough, the 70% memory foam mattress I bought didn't have a smell. It was the non-foam mattress that smelled, which made me wonder what exactly is in it to give it that funky odor

Without knowing the brand, it's likely you detected the scent of a polyurethane layer in the mattress.

I'm looking for a twin size mattress, preferably in the $200-$400 range

From our Trusted Member directory there is this mattress in your budget as well as this hybrid option . Nest Bedding allows their products to off gas prior to shipping, for what that is worth. This pillow top is also in your budget.

Ultimately, whoever you buy from should have the knowledge and experience to help their customers "match" a mattress to their specific needs and preferences so they are less likely to buy a mattress (even if it is great quality and value) that may not work for them.

I hope this helps.
NikkiTMU

Thank you! I'll check that out. Although I'm inclined to go with Flexus at this point - even though I've heard such great things about Sleep EZ and they've been very responsive to my questions. If they had a soft layer for their other hybrid mattress, I would certainly consider going with them.

Janet

Sleep EZ's sister company, also a Trusted Member, Latex Mattress Factory, is all DIY so you can select the type of top layers above the coil base. The price may be higher than Flexus, though.

I wish I could edit my initial post, but I just discovered another mattress that sounds perfect! Flexus's Quadra-Flex. This mattress would allow me to get the soft latex over pocketed coils that I want, but for a lot less money! It's just $895 for the full-sized mattress. I was wondering why the other companies didn't offer an option to get a top layer of soft latex.

My only concern is whether the soft latex (Talalay with this mattress, which is the only kind I've been able to find) is okay for someone with chronic lower back issues. At Gardner Matress, it was by far the most comfortable, especially on my pressure points. My shoulders and hips have been so uncomfortable with the Level Sleep mattress and at Gardner, the medium and firm mattresses were still not comfortable on those pressure points.

Janet

Hey Libby,

Welcome to The Mattress Underground ! Nice to see you and thanks for your question.

Hi All. This is my first post. I am so glad I found The Mattress Underground. I can't thank you enough for creating and actively maintaining this awesome site !! I have been reading the articles, but still need some help.

Thanks for your kind words and praise of TMU's forum, Libby! Good job on reading the articles, there are many resources here and it does take a bit of guidance to get started. We're happy to have you join in and will help in any way that we can.

I know that we want a mattress that contains Talalay latex, but am unsure of the best core for us. (As a side note, we have talalay pillows that we've had for about 15 years now - before we even knew what talalay was- and we absolutely love, love, love them. We are just now beginning to feel wear.)

Congrats on your new mattress shopping journey ! Talalay latex is a highly pressure-point relieving material and is preferred by those who like the buoyant, uplifting feel of "sleeping on" a mattress. Its open-cell design provides natural cooling, air-circulation and is prized for its "sleeping cool" temperature regulating properties. The choice of a support core would be based on (1) what you have known to work for you both in the past and (2) what best compliments the lively nature of Talalay latex as a comfort material. Happy to hear that you have enjoyed your Talalay pillows and not surprised that they have performed well for nearly 15 years as a good quality latex is a highly durable foam. If you are starting to notice wear however, you may consider replacing them with your new mattress to create a fresh sleeping environment.

About us: We are in our mid/late 50s. I am 5'6" and weigh about 180lbs, and my husband is 6'3" and weighs about 280 lbs. He has sleep apnea, wears a CPAP, and most often sleeps on his back. He tends to sleep hot. I am a side sleeper and dont think I sleep hot or cold (one leg out, lol).

Thanks for sharing your personal stats , Libby. As you likely know from your research, you will be asked about the mattress users' weight, height, body profile, sleep position(s), and any other special sleep considerations to help better understand what materials and constructions may be best-suited to the user's preferences. BTW, I like your "one leg out" cooling strategy; this method is more common than you may realize .

We currently sleep on a queen 16" Simmons Spring Air Four Seasons Heather mattress, with a 9" base. It sags now, with that lump in the middle. It has two topper layers. I would guess that it is medium-firm. We currently wake with the sore hips, shoulders, etc.

Thanks for including the pics of your Spring Air Four Seasons Heather mattress, Libby. How long have you had it? I found a similar model on Four Season's web site, the construction seems of multiple/ varying-thickness proprietary gel foams/ memory foams as comfort materials over a pocketed coil array. I'm sorry to hear that you're both experiencing sore hips, shoulders, and other pain; how long has this been going on?

We are interested in moving to a king size. After researching here on the site, I am not sure whether a wrapped coil base or dunlop latex base would serve us better. I'm wondering if a coil base will end up sagging after time. I dont think we would like the dunlop latex or a memory foam as a top layer, but think either may be okay as a core. I like a little bounce or liveliness, but also some nice, cradling give-in.

Congrats on the king upgrade ! It's always a luxurious feeling to have the extra sleeping surface, IMO. Are you located near any COVID safe showrooms for testing all-latex mattresses? Explaining the tactile support "feel" differences between an latex base and pocketed coils is somewhat difficult, the subject was covered recently in this post . Whether you choose to go all-latex or with a latex hybrid, you would want to ensure that you use an appropriate foundation to support its heavier weight evenly across the surface and avoid future sagging issues. As you are both fans of Talalay, you can rule out dunlop latex as a comfort material (denser foam/ firmer feel), as well as memory foam (sleeps hotter/ "sinking into" feeling).

Based on the 24" height of our current base and mattress, we are unsure about moving to a low-sitting mattress, but also wonder if an adjustable base may be helpful for my husband. I wonder, however, if the split king size is comfortable for cuddling in the middle (on the seam).

Either build of mattress you're considering will work well on an adjustable bed base, Libby. The split king adjustable base should be fine and provide an even surface for cuddling in the middle. As a back sleeper with sleep apnea, your husband may enjoy the ability to independently adjust his side separately from yours to accommodate a more comfortable position. However, with your side sleeping preference, you may find its use more appealing for reading in bed or binge-watching your favorite streaming content. Many people enjoy adjustable bed bases, and their use and popularity continue to grow.

I have looked at the trusted members pages of latex and foam providers but am still overwhelmed. Based on our body sizes and sleep styles, can you please give your opinion on which core may best suit us? And then, can you please suggest which of our trusted members might be able to provide what we think we are looking for?

You both are well-suited for either type of core, Libby. That probably isn't the answer that you expected, but some other questions for further consideration include: (1) budget, an all-latex mattress is an expensive purchase; (2) higher BMIs do better with thicker, firmer materials/ firmer gauge coils; and (3) sleep history, what type mattresses you both have used and enjoyed over the years.

Thanks for considering a possible mattress purchase from one of TMU's Trusted Members ! These fine manufacturers/ retailers specialize in the latex/ all-latex mattress category and would be happy to help you choose the cores and latex layering best suited for you:



Hope this helps you with a start to your research and looking forward to hearing more about your journey, Libby .

Thanks,
Sensei

Hi suspent.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum. It's always a challenge buying a mattress for ourselves, let alone trying to factor in the support needs and comfort preferences of another person, especially when that person has a very specific set of preferences!

We have had the Sealy Posturpedic mattress come up a few times in the forum. You can read Phoenix's analysis and review of that mattress here and you may also find this forum topic interesting/useful (especially some of the additional resources it links to as it pertains to selecting a durable mattress).

As you've likely read already on the forum, The major brands such as Sealy/Stearns & Foster, Simmons, and Serta all tend to use lower quality and less durable materials in their mattresses than most of their smaller competitors that will tend to soften or break down prematurely relative to the price you pay, which is why we would generally suggest avoiding all of them completely.

Quality Sleep Shop and Flexus may have options that you may find interesting. This isn't to sway you one way or the other; like you mentioned, Costco returns tend to be hassle free (I would double check though, with a mattress, as that's not just something they can take back/re-sell. They may have different policies) so if you and your mother think she'll like that mattress, you can always give it a go. If you find it's not.a fit, you can return it and resume your search. While we generally wave people away from these larger brand mattresses, they DO work for certain demographics of people, and we have no way of knowing if your mom is one of them.

I hope this helps!
NikkiTMU

Hey lantern71,

Thanks for your reply .

I don't know the full range but the ILDs are listed at 31 and 35 respectively.

Using Phoenix's ILD numbers, 31 is classified as medium and 35 as medium firm. The differences in ILD density is so minimal between these two that you likely will find it difficult to perceive one's slightly denser construction from the other. Is this your Flexus Comfort mattress?

Sensei

Hi Lexpoo,

I came across your post about your Flexus. I was wondering if the soft ended up working out for you. Did you go with dunlop or talaly?

I'm in a similar situation with a new latex/spring hybrid. I started off with the recommended soft talalay comfort layer but it was too soft. After a week of good sleep, reduced back pain and no pressure points my hips started sinking through it and it ended up causing hammocking. I dreaded going to bed. No position was comfortable.

I switched to a medium dunlop but it's really too firm for me with no cushioning while I lie on my side. I don't look forward to bedtime with the medium dunlop but I dreaded it with the soft talalay ...so I guess that's an improvement.

Hi Pannonica.

Welcome to our Mattress Forum. It is great that the information on TMU has proved useful to you and that you've narrowed down your mattresses to two great options!

You can find out what kind of base is recommended by viewing each respective website. In the Quadra-Flex case, the recommended base is a slatted wood base with slats that are less than 3" apart.
AZ Premium currently offers wood and adjustable bases, but sometimes also has metal offerings.

The things to consider here are:
1. Will using this base void your mattress warranty?
2. Will this kind of base affect the feel of the mattress?

I would recommend reaching out to both AZ Premium and Flexus and asking them their thoughts on using these mattresses with that particular foundation.

As for similar mattresses... the Alexander Signature Hybrid by Nest Bedding comes to mind as does the Hybrid 360 by Sleep EZ and the Natural Escape by My Green Mattress.

Of course, regardless of which mattress you ultimately select, I’d make sure to have a detailed conversation with your finalist retailer/manufacturer and provide them with your stats, body type, sleeping styles, general preferences and history, some general information about your current mattress, or what you have tested, and any other specific information or circumstances that could affect your choice of a mattress.

I hope this helps!
NikkiTMU

Hello,

I’ve been reading a lot of posts here to buy a new mattress. Thank you for all the great info!

I think latex/coil hybrid with push talalay may be the kind I’d like (5’4”, 120lb, side sleeper). I’m considering Flexus Comfort’s Quadra-Flex and the Ultimate Hybrid from Arizona Premium Mattress.

I am wondering if anyone could give advice on whether these mattresses would work with the Zinus Smartbase Super Heavy Duty foundation

I know Zinus foundations are not very popular here, but this one is pretty heavy duty. I already have the foundation, so I’d like to use it as is or with some modifications if possible.

I’d also love suggestions on any other similar mattresses.

Thank you in advance for your time!

empusa wrote:

Mattrebuild wrote:

ebs wrote:

Flexus Comfort said as of 4/2020 they are sourcing from Radium ( see here )

Just a word of caution, it seems like Covid has really wreaked havoc on the supply chain so if someone really wants a particular brand of talalay you really need to call and ask the manufacturer what they are currently using and what they have available.

Thank you Mattrebuild. Case and point, I opened my friends Avocado topper to find that it had a Talalay insert, when Avocado advertises GOLS Dunlop. Apparently, they are having supply chain issues, as well. I also understand that they are using synthetic fire barriers, batting, and adhesives... so much for their transparency. This can be an issue for some that have reactions to certain materials and really makes me wary of buying a closed mattress.

I just received my Avocado Green Hybrid mattress and separate topper in February 2021. This is really disturbing to read, especially since this was an expensive purchase made specifically because I wanted a non-toxic product. How would I know if I received a mattress with synthetic components? Or if my topper isn't GOLS Dunlop?

Mattrebuild wrote:

ebs wrote:

Flexus Comfort said as of 4/2020 they are sourcing from Radium ( see here )

Just a word of caution, it seems like Covid has really wreaked havoc on the supply chain so if someone really wants a particular brand of talalay you really need to call and ask the manufacturer what they are currently using and what they have available.

Thank you Mattrebuild. Case and point, I opened my friends Avocado topper to find that it had a Talalay insert, when Avocado advertises GOLS Dunlop. Apparently, they are having supply chain issues, as well. I also understand that they are using synthetic fire barriers, batting, and adhesives... so much for their transparency. This can be an issue for some that have reactions to certain materials and really makes me wary of buying a closed mattress.

ebs wrote:

Flexus Comfort said as of 4/2020 they are sourcing from Radium ( see here )

From a few posts on this forum, it appears that Sleep EZ, Flobeds, and Arizona Premium Mattress have sourced Talalay from both Radium and Talalay Global in the past, so they might be good candidates.

Savvy Rest says that they use Radium's Vita Talalay in their mattresses ( see here )

It looks like a lot of mattress retailers aren't exclusive to Vita Talalay or Talalay Global and switch back and forth based on various factors.

Just a word of caution, it seems like Covid has really wreaked havoc on the supply chain so if someone really wants a particular brand of talalay you really need to call and ask the manufacturer what they are currently using and what they have available. I called Flobeds yesterday about some deisgn questions (they are super helpful BTW) and we got to discussing the latex quality and characteristics. When I asked which talalay they used they said they are exclusively using Talalay Global right now because Radium was having issues servicing everyone's orders and they aren't accepting new customers right now either. Even with Talalay Global they said it's very hard to get the higher ILD (40+) layers because manufacturers are working through their backlog due to Covid shutdowns. I was told those layers won't be shipping until August of this year so it's something to be aware of anyway. It's not something to panic over but it certainly appears these disruptions will take some time to work through the system until all the products are fully restocked again.

Flexus Comfort said as of 4/2020 they are sourcing from Radium ( see here )

From a few posts on this forum, it appears that Sleep EZ, Flobeds, and Arizona Premium Mattress have sourced Talalay from both Radium and Talalay Global in the past, so they might be good candidates.

Savvy Rest says that they use Radium's Vita Talalay in their mattresses ( see here )

It looks like a lot of mattress retailers aren't exclusive to Vita Talalay or Talalay Global and switch back and forth based on various factors.

Sensei wrote:

Hey djdanko1,

Welcome back to the TMU forum and thanks for your question !

A few years ago I bought a Charles Rodgers mattress that is just too hard for my wife and I. We have tried toppers from kolhs and are still pretty stiff in the morning. Did some research on here, but still unsure.

We talked awhile last September about your Charles P. Rodgers St. Regis/ queen mattress's firmness, and how you had tried some toppers from Kolh's to soften its feel up a bit. I'm sorry to hear that you both are still experiencing morning stiffness and have yet to resolve that issue. We discussed a variety of topper options and materials previously in post #6 , but perhaps we can look at your question from a different angle this go-round.

From the Charles P Rogers site, the St. Regis is described as having either a double thick Natural Latex comfort layer or a premium memory foam comfort layer; which comfort layer does your mattress use? The mattress description states that on a firmness scale, the natural latex is rated closer to the firmest comfort feel, while the memory foam is rated more of a medium firmness feel. With your side sleeping preference and her combination sleeping styles, it sounds as though neither of you are getting the right amount of "sinking into" the mattress and a topper could help ease that situation.

Would something like LaNoodle Cuddle Top or a thicker Latex mattress be better for this needs? Any recommendations?

Mattress toppers are a comfort choice , so your preferences for components, fabrications, thickness, etc. all play into your selection. We didn't discuss your previous mattress before, but it would be helpful to know the type and brand of mattress you had before, as well as some of the qualities that you enjoyed about its feel and support. Do you like the feel of "sleeping on" a mattress or a mattress that has more of a "sleeping in" feel? Can you describe more on the constructions and types of Kohl's toppers that you've tried with no success? A LaNoodle Cuddle Top Latex Topper could be a good choice; you may find this thread regarding consumers' thoughts on the subject interesting. But again, it's important to better understand a bit more regarding your comfort preferences as a guide for your final decision. Hope these thought starters help a little and looking forward to hearing more as your research progresses.

Thanks ,
Sensei

Went through almost every trusted vendor and am still unsure what route to go. Something like a talay Latex 2-3in topper or one with shredded Latex. Any recommendations on either?