First, the Rejevenite. We received this pillow free with our MyComfort bed purchase. My wife has been sleeping on it and loves it. I tried it and found it near perfect, too. It is hard to believe it is a firm, however, since your head sinks so readily into it. It has a loft of about 6.5"-7", but my head sinks to near the bottom. This is not too much of a problem, as I could "scrunch" up the pillow and it would remain scrunched. It doesn't feel like it is pushing back too much like other latex pillows, yet it has that great latex support when bottomed out, and slight bounce when head is lifted. Although I could use a little more loft to place my head higher when bottomed out, I would not want this pilow harder - I love its softness. Just a note, we received this pillow off the floor (not in plastic), so I actually question if this is a firm (the pillow could have been switched out of its cover which is labeled.) I would probably buy one like it for me, but I can't find one for less than $89. So...

I bought a JCPenney zoned latex after reading about it here ($35). Presumably, it is made by LI, as LI lists JCP as a retailer on their website. It looks just like LI's picture of their zoned - with smaller holes around the edge and larger ones in the middle. I did not find the center to be that much softer than the edges. In fact, for a pillow labeled medium, this one was extremely firm. My head would have had to weigh twice as much to sink to a level that was comfortable. Both on my side and on my back, I felt like my head was too high, leaving my neck angling slightly up - ouch! I didn't make it through a whole night. Also, comparing the two, the JCP weighs a lot more.

Looking for something in between the two, I have ordered the Simmons Beautirest talalay firm latex from Amazon for $40 shipped. The reviews said it really isn't very firm - I'm hoping that is true. I'll have it in a couple of days and will report.

The JCPenney zoned latex is indeed made by Latex International.  I have one of those.

If you want another one made by LI,

http://www.memoryfoam.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MFMLATPILLOWP

Has them.  Authentic Talatech in factory LI packaging.  The Soft version is softer than the JCPenney zoned latex.  I'm not sure how the Medium or Firm versions compare.

I would make that a link above, but it is too complicated on this new forum.

Jim, I saw quite a bit of posts from you while searching old pillow threads. Did you ever find the perfect pillow for you?

Sheesh! What a mess my post ended up looking like! I had posted a link to HomeVisions Natura Dream Mate Granulated latex with a wool outer. But, it came up looking sloppy! :(

<BR>You might want to try this:  http://www.homevisions.com/hvprod/prod_display1.asp?Product=52484&CMB=&CP=00&pp=yes&afsrc=1    It's a nice compromise between the firmer latex pillows and a down/feather pillow. I preferred the Standard size. The Queen size was too springy and lofty for me. Almost felt like a solid latex pillow. The Standard allows me to scrunch up the granulated latex easier and it conforms to my head the way I want.<BR><BR><BR>
donw wrote:

Beddey, I saw all your post regarding that pillow. Did you ever do surgery on it? My only concern with it was that a couple of people said it used rather firm latex. I'd like to try one like it with soft latex. Heck, if the Simmons doesn't work for me, maybe I'll feed it to my food processor, and make my own soft shredded latex pillow!

donw wrote:

I really like the LI soft pillow for back sleeping.  For side sleeping I would want something firmer.  Firmer than the JCPenney pillow as well.

I also have this pillow as well:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_096DM016000P?vName=For+the+Home&keyword=latex

The Natura DreamMate is firm enough for side sleeping.  Maybe even a bit too firm.  Since it has bits of latex inside, you can conform the shape and make it stay in that form, if you are interested in that.

Jim, I think it was your comment I saw in a previous post regarding the DreamMate being a bit too firm that kept me from trying that one next instead of the Simmons. If the Simmons is not perfect, I seriously may end up shredding it with my food processor to make my own soft granulated pillow. My only concern would be if there would be enough latex to fill the cover, since the solid pillows have holes, which take up space. According to reviews on Epinions, the Simmons is supposed to be rather soft.

I once made my own latex pillow like that.  I did not try the food processor.  The best i could do was shred with a scissors, which was a tedious task.  I remember that the latex smelled bad when I was cutting it.  I also remember it being difficult to cut.  I hope it doesn't wreck your food processor.  If you have an old food processor, try it in that one.  Another method I used was pulling it apart, bit by bit, and then pulling the bits apart to make them smaller.  That was tedious also.

I have bought a lot of stuff over the years to try and get comfortable.  All sorts of pillows.  Memory foam, down, poly fill, latex, you name it.  I have also purchased a lot of different toppers and cores to build my own mattress.  I think I have tried all of the materials available, except this intelligel type stuff.  I have had inner springs, waterbeds, air beds, memory foam, latex, imitation latex (poly in disguise), feather beds.  I guess I haven't tried a wool topper yet.

What a hassle.  Oh well, I guess in the end it is worth it.  I decided it was worth the effort since I spend about a 1/3 of my life in bed.

So, how was your home-made shredded pillow? (and was it soft latex to begin with?)

I didn't have enough soft latex to make mine.  I had a 1' X 1' square that was 3" thick.  It was 14 ILD talatech.  It seemed promising, but it was too hard to tell with that little material.  The material was just a sample I purchased from a seller of latex.

Let me know how yours works out, if you do it.