I am the victim of S brand mattress that has turned into a hammock after less then two years.  Even though the mattress looks good, when I lay on it my middle bottoms out and I get a strained lower back and I wake up hot, sweaty and tired.  During my many nights of waking up at 3 in the morning I usually go to the computer and do mattress research.  This forum has been the greatest help by far.

Because of my research I have decided to go with a:

• Latex Internation  blended talalay - strong reputation and least likely to compress over time
• SleepEZ  Select Sleep 10000 - Same Latex International latex and about $500 less then the other guys

I am 6'1" 200 lbs     back sleeper
My wife is 5'6" 150 lbs back / side sleeper.
Both of us are in reasonable shape and both of us also suffer from lower back issues

What we are looking for is the firmness of a Westin Heavenly bed and the feel of a Costco memory foam topper.  I like to lay flat with the pillowy layer on top.  I realize that latex has a different feel but this maybe gives you a general idea of what we want. I gave SleepEZ a call and Shawn recommended a Firm / Medium / Soft mattress on both sides.  I would buy a Natura mattress locally but the cost would be roughly $3000. Because I live in Canada and the added expense of shipping I want to order and get it right the first time:

Here are my questions:

1. Does Firm / Medium / Soft sound right.  Would like a second opinion.
2. If I was to put the soft layer under the medium layer does the mattress "hammock"?
   

I can say yes, if you place a too thick (over2") soft layer under a firm layer (under3") you will get a hammock effect. Read my post on "make your own "Hybrid" mattress." The understructure has got to be solid.

Based on your height, weight, and back issues I would not recommend that setup.    I would go with "extra firm, firm, medium" to start with.   Your wife might be okay with "firm, firm, medium".     Check the firmness calculator on the "Flobeds" web site for your height and weight.   As a heavy person I "bottomed out" on my first "medium" latex mattress.   You are smart to go with at least 10 inches or more of latex if 150 lbs or more.   Just my opinion.........it is all so PERSONAL in preferences.

I would be careful to check the ILD ratings for the different merchants firmness levels when you compare their recommendations.  I think a Sleepez firm might be equivalent to a Flobed extra Firm (both around a 36-40 ILD). 

Thanks Sandman.  Where do I find the ILD for Flobeds.  It looks like the Posture Deluxe (minus the convoluted topper) is the same bed as the SleepEZ Select Sleep 10000.  If I can match up the ILD of the two companies I will get my second opinion on what is the right bed for me.

Here is what I found on the Flobed website.  Note that most places have a range, so there will always be a little variance.

http://www.flobeds.com/mattspec.htm

Standard Hardness Specifications for Mattress Cores

Hardness Range	(ILD= Indentation Load Deflection)
Soft	19-22 (natural=20-24) ILD
Medium	26-30 ILD
Firm	30-34 ILD
Extra Firm	34-38 ILD
Super Firm	42-46 ILD (blended only

If I were you, what I would do is go out and find some latex in your area and see what these different ILDs feel like to you.  I would tend to agree with SleepEZ's firmness recommendation as you have talked to him, and he asked you the pertinent questions and made that recommendation. He's a professional, sells alot of beds and knows what works and what doesn't.  I don't think you need anything super thick at your weights.  Your wife, being a side sleeper may want something a little softer than you. Side sleepers need some softness to sink into.  

Again, I would go out and find some real latex to touch and get a feel for what these ILDs represent. Resist the urge to have to buy something right now, the more knowledge you gain, the better decision you'll make. I don't know how many people I have seen come on here and they read for a few days and think they know what they're doing and make a mistake.  It takes awhile to digest all of this info.

We have a Natura dealer near us that I will go back to. Natura I think will be a little harder to find out their ILD and who makes their Talalay.

Hey Tug,

I also live in Canada ... sounds like you live close to Toronto as I.  The Natura and Obasan products are nice but cost a small fortune ... shame really as I would like to support a Canadian company, but will look to the USA for a better price.

I am also considering SleepEZ and possibly something from www.foambymail.com BillB has done an excellent and I believe non-biased review of his purchase from them.

As you know, after calculating the shipping, and duty, and taxes and conversion rate it gets pricey!

I recommend looking at www.foamite.com which is in Vaughan, ON just next to Toronto.  He has MANY models you can go and flop on all of the beds and get a mattress made for you.  I would consider buying something from him if he had a sale ... but at least I was able to lie down on a bed or three and get an idea of ILD's.  Good to know that ILD will vary from manufacturer.

You might also want to look at the "Euroslat" to put your bed on.  Your wife and your height/weight are close to my wife and I and she always feels movement when I roll over because my S brand has also hammocked.  This will give you further support where you need it and I believe isolate more motion transfer.

Jazzsinger777 wrote: Thanks Jazzsinger,

Yes I would like to support Canadian but haven't found a similar company to SleepEZ or Flobeds in Canada.  I looked up the company's you mentioned and yes the price is to high and I just don't trust a lot of the latex manufactures enough to order sight unseen.  The beauty of this forum is that you have the feed back of other people who are in the same boat and have experienced the sleeping on a Latex International bed.  I am going to go back and lay on the Natura beds and try and find out the ILD's and the source of their beds.  By the way I live in Kelowna BC.  A little father from Toronto.  I will keep you up to date.