Hi Folks,

Thanks to all on this forum who share their insights on getting a better bed combo/night's sleep.

I have been through 16 mattresses and 30 toppers in all combinations to try to build a bed my 5'3" 110 lb back sleeping wife (likes firm) and I (170lb 50/50 side and back sleeper (medium)... with lower back pain... can sleep on.  And both of us are hot and hate the heat aspect of foam mattresses and padding.  We are a tough case.  But my back has been killling me for 4 years, such that I had/have to do something.

At least 1500 hours logged in mattress blogs, mattress stores, and swapping them and giving away toppers.

We spent 4 years and thousands of dollars and hours chasing "sleep separation".... "conforming mattresses" ( Beautyrest, separate coils, memory and latex foam) ... before Iearned in the last month n  Peter Cancellis blog that my back injury needs an interlinked coil system.  (Sealy, Stearns)    It was a light going off... I slept well on every cheap hotel mattess... much better than my home bed.

So I have bought a Stearns and Foster Luxury Firm, which is pretty darn good on its own, even with some hip and shoulder pain when on my side.

I bought a "soft" 2" topper from Foam By Mail.... marketed as "Talalay" Natural.   (I have bought at least 3-4 toppers from them over the years before I figured out that I needed them on this interlinked spring mattress.)
But here is the point... the supposed "talalay" was not... it is Dunlop... very dense (don't believe 20 ILD) ... not a lick softer than the firm bed top.  This stuff has the large holes (perhaps 1/4 to 3/8 in size), and in the past toppers like this were "natural"  (Dunlop)  "Dunlop" in the past had more imperfections, was firm, and was cooler.  This is very firm, cooler, has imperfections.  FBM swears it is "soft" 20 ILD, shipping weight was 32 pounds. (Queen)

In the past, I have tried what I believe is 100% "talalay" (talatex)... which had the small holes (maybe an eight inch or a little more.)  The Talalay had no perceptible "airholels" in the rubber material, was noticeably softer feeling (per ILD)... and felt "warmer."

My back so badly needs a solution (which I believe is a 2", softer top sitting on the very firm mattress itself) that I am sleeping in a separate room on a separate bed than my bride to get what I need without screwing up her nights sleep also. 

The dropping dollar value and apparent shortage from the disease killing Latex trees and skyrocketing demand is driving the price out of sight.  Can anyone recommend a reasonable source for True 100% Talalay.. or do you think I can get away with "blended" and where?

Thanks in adance for your help.

shovel99