Does anyone else who frequents this forum sleep on a MEDIUM (24-28 ILD) top layer of latex?   It seems that most people who post to this forum have some sort of back, shoulder, or hip issues and prefer firm or extra firm latex layers as their top layers.  

I have no major back issues (knock on wood!) and have totally enjoyed sleeping on my new 3 inch medium firm top layer the past 2 weeks.  It's the 100% Natural Talalay latex and feels like I am sleeping on a cloud......supportive yet still soft and cushy at the same time.   Below this 3 inch medium layer I have 2 inches of "firm"-32 ILD, and 5.5 inches of "very firm"-40 ILD for support.  

I started this thread in case anyone without serious back problems is wondering what to include in their latex mattress.    I would also caution anyone over 250 lbs to be sure to get AT LEAST 10 inches of latex with some firm or extra firm layers on the bottom.   

Do you primarily sleep on your side, back, or stomach?

I usually start out on my side but end up sleeping mostly on my stomach.....sometime half on side, half on stomach if that makes any sense.    

markbnh1 wrote:
Mark, many would call a 24-28 ILD latex "SOFT", and many would call a 32 ILD "MEDIUM". Where did you buy your latex that they call 24-28ILD "Medium". I'm not saying that it's NOT medium, I'm just saying that 24ILD is approaching "soft" and I would never call 32ILD "FIrm" unless it is Dunlop, in which case, yes, I think "Firm" is more accurate than "Medium" for 32ILD.

But yeah, I think many people could sleep well on a 24-28ILD top piece, especially if it's not too thick. Your mattress configuration sounds very reasonable to me and not that different than others' on this forum.

Yes Jim, I agree that the firmness labels the different companies use are confusing!    My "medium" topper came from Foam Sweet Foam.    I believe their rating system is: Soft = 20-23 ILD,  Medium=24-28, Firm= 29-34 and Extra Firm=35-42.     My piece has a "medium" sticker on the side....so who knows?  All of their latex is the 100% natural which some say is a bit more supportive than the blended.      I notice that  SleepEZ calls 32 ILD "medium" so it's confusing.     My original mattress top layer is "32" and felt quite firm to me so that's why I went one step down for the topper.   I figure that I kind of got what Flobeds uses for the soft top layer on all their mattresses.

markbnh1 wrote:
And you're sure this is Talalay?
Those numbers reflect what one would expect from Dunlop process, not Talalay process.

It's funny - you'd think that since they have an ILD measurement, it WOULD represent accurately the feeling of the latex. But that seems to not be the case.

All I can say is that FoamSweetFoam advertises ONLY 100% natural Talalay latex from LI.   In fact, they go so far as to "not recommend" dunlop, though they say the "blended talalay" is a good product also.    It appears there is no set standard as to what "soft, medium, firm, and extra firm" are supposed to be.   Each company seems to pick their own ILD ranges as to how they classify the latex.

I've got all natural LI talalay from Flobeds. Queen size bed--one side is (top to bottom) soft (but the high range of their soft, i.e. 23-24 ILD), firm (32), firm (32) and the other side is medium (28), medium (28), extra firm (36). On top of both sides is a very thin layer of egg-crate foam (Flobeds says that while it's equivalent to a 14 ILD). This combination is good for me; I'm about 5'6" and 130 lbs, with lots of muscle and nerve pain problems. I need a soft top surface but with very good support underneath for my back. I prefer the soft, firm, firm side for side-sleeping and the med, med, X-firm side for back sleeping. Linda

I've got all natural LI talalay from Flobeds. Queen size bed--one side is (top to bottom) soft (but the high range of their soft, i.e. 23-24 ILD), firm (32), firm (32) and the other side is medium (28), medium (28), extra firm (36). On top of both sides is a very thin layer of egg-crate foam (Flobeds says that while it's equivalent to a 14 ILD). This combination is good for me; I'm about 5'6" and 130 lbs, with lots of muscle and nerve pain problems. I need a soft top surface but with very good support underneath for my back. I prefer the soft, firm, firm side for side-sleeping and the med, med, X-firm side for back sleeping. Linda

I so wish Flobeds would sell layers, even if they did not warranty them.
I would love to try one of those "14ILD" pieces. I have heard of very soft latex being made for sale but it seems very difficult to actually find it. I'm not looking right now, but I wish there were a store that sold Dunlop and Talalay latex in all ILD's in any thickness you want!

Hi Jim, Just to clarify re: the 14 ILD eggcrate topper from Flobeds. They say it's actually made from a piece of medium latex, rated at 28 ILD (which is indeed what my piece says on it, as per LI label), which is cut in half egg-crate style. But they say it's equivalent to a 14 ILD (due to thinness, and I don't know if the eggcrate shape has anything to do with it).

Actually I think the lower effective ILD is due to the convoluted shape.  When you lie on the "peaks" of the convoluted piece they will not hold you up as much as a solid piece would.   So, essentially you sink in more (from the peak) since there is less latex supporting you.