Hi all,

I just placed an order yesterday for a sleepEZ 10,000 100% natural Talalay with xf/f/m on both sides for me and hubby, but I'm torn if i should change the order to the 8500. I probabably need to do this asap before it ships out. I dont know how to decide. Shawn said it was mostly a matter of preference. here are our stats Husband 6'3" and 230 - mostly stomach sleeper and me 5'3" 140 and stomach/side sleeper.

I'm looking to create a bed with pretty firm support but a little cushion on top (like a "plush" or "cushion" model in an innerspring). I do have occassional low back pain. Hubby seems to prefer a softer bed, but I'm concerned he needs support as a big guy and stomach sleeper.

I've been reading threads on the 8500 vs. 10000 and can't seem to come to a conclusion. Some say the thinner top layer of the 8500 is not good for a side sleeper, that you need something thicker for pressure point relief, but it is good for a stomach/back sleeper since if you want that top layer to be soft, you don't want it to be too thick and soft which could mean not enough support.

Help! one decision factor is maybe price. if i get the 8500 and then need to add layers I can do so, rather than pay more for the 10000 and then have to pay more to add layers to it.

how can i make this decision? is there an advantage/disadvantage to one or the other?

thanks in advance!!! its nice to have others input even if its all subjective. we know we may have to swap out layers once we try the bed, but i just want to try and get the best choice at first and reduce the churning as much as possible.

At this point, I think I would go with the 8500 and keep in mind that you can add layers of 1" or 1.5" or 2 " later if you can't get the 8500 to work.  I think the flexibility is there with layers that you wouldn't have with the 10000 unless you add more and end up with a really fat mattress.  You could even buy a 14 or 19 ILD to add on if you need something softer than you are getting.

I don't think their "soft" is really that soft if i recall correctly (22-24?) and you might want to add a 14 or 19 instead.

Thanks Sall. I just called and changed my order to an 8500, but I kept all the layers the same firmness for now.

Shawn said the 8500 is more for support and the 10,000 is more for comfort. I guess I sort of get that because the 10,000 has thicker layers of latex, but its confusing since it sort of implies you can't get both support and comfort from either the 8500 or the 10,000?  what do you think of this comment? i think most people probably want a combination of support and comfort in a mattress...

I don't mind having to swap out a layer or two and even having to purchase one additonal topper if needed, but I don't want to end up spending a lot of extra money trading layers back....

This is so confusing...

alopex wrote:

There is a fine line between support and comfort and you are trying to find the balance point where you have both.  Otherwise, without the support, you may eventually have or develop back pain.  With too much firmness without enough of a comfort layer, you could have shoulder pain or limbs falling asleep.  That's why transitioning between support to comfort means that you have to stop when you get to that balance point and have enough support and are feeling comfortable.  That's why adding layers in 1" or 1.5" increments would be my recommendation.  Start with a firmer surface, and then add comfort layers until you have both...if that makes any sense.  If you go too much towards comfort, you may miss that balance point and end up with something that feels comfortable when you lay down but ends up with back pain in the morning.  Sometimes side sleepers may actually need zoning where it is softer for the shoulders (or widest part of the body) and firmer for other parts of the body.

Thanks Sall. that does make sense as I have done a lot of reading on this forum. so getting that balance is what can drive some people nuts I guess. :)

 

can you help me choose a set of layers?

Some background info:

We previously ordered a SleepEZ 13000 and it was fine, except some days my lower back was throbbing when i woke up and he felt "achy all over". we didnt really play around with layers much (got busy, lazy) and ended up sending it back since the 90 days was running out (Shawn just told me we could have called and they would have extended it. wish we had tried that, since now prices have gone up!!)

I really like the idea of an all latex mattress though and want to see if we can make it work, so have ordered the 8500 to try again.

Here is what we had before in the 13000, 100% natural talalay:

        my side: Soft/Medium/Firm/Firm - 5'3" 140 side/stomach sleeper
        husband's :Medium/Firm/XFirm/Xfirm - 6'4" 230 - mostly stomach sleeper

My question: Given the problems we had w/latex before and our sleeping preferences, what layers do you recommend for our 8500? was my top layer too soft causing me low back pain? and was his side too firm?

Thanks for any advice!!!! I'm so confused. i want to try and get the config right the first time. Shawn was nice, but he threw a lot of info at me and then basically said its preference. I didnt feel he was that useful in helping me choose (which was disappointing since their website says they can help you choose the right layers). Right now I chose xf/f/m for both of us..

Another confusing comment from Shawn was he said we would only feel the top two layers anyway, even my husband at 230, so its really the firmness of the first two layers that matter....i was surprised that someone at 230 would only feel the top two layers

thanks a bunch!

I can feel all three of my layers and my topper. Whenever I switch any of them around, I know and feel the difference.

We just got our SleepEz mattress today.

Went with their 8500 model, 100% natural talalay, with m/f/xf on hubby's side and s/m/f on mine. I'm still not sure if the 10,000 model would have been better or if the layer firmness will work for us, but you have to start somewhere I guess, right?

I'll post an update after we've tried it out for a few nights. I will be so happy to have this work out finally and not think about mattresses for awhile!!! :)