Hi, We have a new innerspring mattress (probably firm plush) that has good support but is a little too firm for me. I am a side sleeper and am still feeling a soreness in my hips. We also have a Natura wool and cotton mattress pad (looks a little like sheepskin). My question is: would one inch of latex under the wool pad add enough cushion to relieve the pressure point in my hips? And would 32 ILD be the right firmness or should I go a little softer? OR... do I really need 2 inches (and what density)? I'm afraid of it being TOO cushy as right now we are using a 2 inch memory foam topper that I think is not very good quality as I end up in a sink hole by the morning with my back just killing me. I am 5 foot 7 and 130 pounds. Also recommendations for the most reputable company and one with best customer service that sells such toppers. Sorry -- I know this issue has been discussed before, but I still have questions. Thanks in anticipation.

I have 1" talalay latex layers in varying ILDS and I use the 1 inch 32 ILD as a topper under my 2"; 4 lbs. memory foam topper. Over that I have a CuddleBed (fiber bed type topper from Costco.) I've also just used the latex topper, but I prefer the feel of the memory foam and latex TOGETHER.

How much cushy stuff do you think is built in to your mattress?  I think plush usually has 1-2" of cush built in.

I think most side sleepers usually end up with 3-4" of total cushiness on top of their firm support.  That would be a reasonable goal for you.

I think 32 ILD will feel too firm for you.  I would shoot for the low to mid 20s with ILD as a guesstimate for your height & weight.  Maybe someone else will offer their opinion too.

I'm not sure about a reputable company with good customer service who sells latex.  I hope you find one, because I am always looking for that myself.  I have used:  memoryfoam.com, foambymail.com, and foamsource.com  Of the three, I think foamsource.com was the best that I dealt with.

Good luck.

Another company I have used is www.monstermattress.com

I think a 22ild 1 inch might do the trick myself.

Well, this mattress has a couple of inches of cush on top in Eurotop form, so I guess I need one or two more inches . I did look at monster mattress and their 1 inch Talalay topper only comes in 14 ILD while the 2 inch only comes in 28 ILD. 14 definitely sounds too soft. Would 28 be still too firm? I have also seen Talatech latex online. Is there going to be a different feel with the same ILD in Talalay vs. Talatech?

This seller - Sleep Like a Bear - has a lot of choices in Latex toppers. I don't have any experience with them but they do have a good rating on eBay. They seem to have reasonable prices and free shipping.

http://sleeplikeabear.com/talalay_latex_toppers.html

On eBay:
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=trufoxybear&&ftab=FeedbackAsSeller&sspagename=VIP:feedback:2:us&iid=160193400730

Talatech is the brand name for Latex International's blended Talalay. Talatech is high quality, American made, blended Talalay.

http://www.latexinternational.com/index.php?did=10

I ordered/received 3" Talatech topper from sleeplikeabear and all went well. Prices in the same ballpark as foamsource and a couple of others, and it is Talatech (latex international). They have many ILDs and thicknesses, which is advantageous.

Thanks so much for everyone's input. I'm especially confused by the ILDs and how different retailers present them. For example Sleepwarehouse has a 26 ILD latex topper that they call medium firm, while a 24 ILD topper from SleeplikeaBear is labeled Plush. They sound worlds apart for only a couple of density points difference. Also I e-mail FloBeds and they sell their 2 inch convoluted latex topper which they say is about 14 ILD. Sounds really soft --anyone have an opinion? I want to get this right the first time (and have that sleeping on a cloud feeling) as I know packaging one of these things up and mailing it back is going to be a huge pain (not to mention cost).

Latex International's talalay ranges from 14 ILD to 44 ILD

I have slept on 44 ILD, 36 ILD, 32 ILD, & 14 ILD

44 is very firm.  Too firm to sleep on by itself.

36 is firm.  I would only sleep on this if I were a stomach only sleeper.

32 ILD is medium/firm  It is OK for back sleeping, and good for stomach sleeping.

14 ILD is very soft.  It is like sleeping in a cloud.

I think you want something between 14 & 32 for side sleeping.  My guess is that 24 ILD might be a good balance between softness and support for you.

Good luck.

Seems like I should go for somewhere in the 24 or 26 ILD range then. The companies that have this choice of firmness seem to be Sleeplikeabear.com and FoamSource. Can anyone tell me the difference (feel) between the blended Talatech latex and the 100% Talatech latex sold by foamsource.com? The blended is rated 24 ILD while the 100% natural is rated 22 - 26 ILD. The difference in price is only $30.00. Sleeplikeabear doesn't say on their website if their foam is a blend or not. Choices, choices...

The blended and 100% natural talalay are very similar products.  I own both, and my next purchase will be blended.  Blended has a longer warranty by the manufacturer.  It also has less of a smell.  I also like the feel better.  The 100% natural feels more like I am sleeping on Jello.

I would think sleeplikeabear.com is a blended talalay.  The 100% natural would be mentioned to attract certain types of people, if they had it.  The 100% natural is also more rare since it is made in lower quantities compared to the blended.

Thanks for all the great information Meqonjim. In my quest for information (I'm asking EVERYBODY), I called Shawn at Sleepez. What a great guy. No hard sell there - he even suggested I call Flobeds to see what options they might have! Anyway, he can get me a 1.5 inch Talatech (from LI) topper in a 20-22 ILD which he thought would be great combined with my wool pad. It's softer though that the 24 - 26 ILD that folks here have suggested. So it's Shawn's suggestion vs. a 2 inch Talatech topper in 24 ILD from Sleeplikeabear. 1 inch is probably not going to be enough thickness, so I think I'm abandoning that option...

I tried a 2 inch 26 ILD on top of a very firm mattress and it was too soft. 

I found out a 2" soft topper is too soft for me. A 1" soft topper is comfortable to me only over very very firm latex cores.  I think 3/4" is the best size for me but I am living with the 1" Talaly latex topper I got from Brylanes Homes right now over my FloBed very firm and super firm latex cores.  The topper that came with my Flobed latex kit was 2" and too soft for me.

Kim you're right to worry about adding too much cushiness.  Your mattress already has built in foam layers. Adding more can undermine support and give you a backache-- exactly what you are experiencing with the 2" of memory foam. My "luxury firm" mattress was lacking in cushiness but putting 2" of memory foam on top only gave me a backache. 1" worked just fine though, Just enough... not too much.

I have the 1" Brylane topper Lynn mentioned. I estimate it's probably a 26-28. It's not particularly cushy compared to the much softer memory foam. But I do like it under the visco, since it seems to add a level of support and resilience the visco alone lacks, but I prefer a softer foam directly under my body. If your objective is to relieve pressure points, you'd probably be better off with something like a 24, or if you like a really soft topper a 20, and I would stick with the 1" especially if you're using a wool topper besides. You can alway add another layer, but there's nothing you can do if the foam is too thick to begin with--except return it.

And since hitting it just right might require a bit of tweaking make sure you can return or exchange it if necessary without incurring a restocking fee.

FloBeds had sent me a 1.5" soft latex topper and it was too thick for me not supporting my back. I  had to send it back.  Dave at FloBeds tried to help me find a topper that would work for me.  I can't handle more than 1" of a latex topper over my firm latex bed.

I think it depends on the individual, but in general I would think that 2" COULD be too much for a very soft topper.

Maybe if the latex is 24 ILD or above it might be okay, but softer than that your back will probably sink too much.

Memory foam - unless it's VERY firm memory foam - is almost always going to be too soft for a 2" topper in my opinion.

A good 24 ILD or so latex topper might be enough to relieve the pressure points under your back.

It's good that your mattress is too FIRM and not TOO SOFT. That allows you to adjust it to your liking. If ti's too soft then your only hope is to get rid of it or do surgery on it.

You might try one of the JC Penny Olmifon (?) or whatever it is toppers which are about 1.5 inches and pretty firm. I'm using that AND a 1" latex topper and that is not too soft for me because the JCP topper is not that soft.

This is something I posted a while ago and which just got resurrected for some reason. I DID figure things out. We are using the Brylane 1 inch latex topper that a few other people here have and it feels just right. I had a hard time initially believing that one inch (of latex) would be enough, but it adds just that little extra cushion without causing us to sink in too much.

Again thanks to everyone for all of the great advice and sharing your experiences...

kimmcgov, I am glad you also like the 1" Brylane Latex topper which to me feels good also and anything thicker would be too soft for me.

   Hi all

I'd like to resurrect this one more time please.

I used to be able to sleep on concrete and awake feeling great, but with age (and more weight, I'm afraid) I find my shoulder and hip bothering me in the morning.  I was going to buy a new mattress with a 2" pillowtop, but after visiting this site, I thought I might try a 1" topper first to see if that's enough.  I see the Brylane mentioned, but I'm not sure which one it is...can anyone help?  Is it the Comfort Creations 1" topper for $40?

Any benefit in latex or latex blend over memory foam at 1" thickness?  Memory foam tends to be softer?

Thanks for your help!

bonesdad wrote:

What I got was the Natura topper:  It's only available in Twin now; I think it was available in other sizes at one time but twin happened to be what I wanted. With Brylane, btw, one can usually find a coupon code to get extra money off - google Brylane coupon.

http://www.brylanehomecatalog.com/decor/Natura-Latex-Mattress-Topper.aspx?PfId=94697&DeptId=15184&ProductTypeId=1&PurchaseType=0

Philly888

I got the Talalay Latex Natura Topper in the Queen size and I really love the quality of it and how good it feels as a little bit of cushion as long as I have very firm latex cores underneath it. I used a 25% of coupon.  It also didn't really outgas but I aired it out anyway for a week before use and it now has no smell at all. 

Thanks.  I'm a little concerned about the possibility of being too hot, either with a latex or memory foam topper, what is your experience with this?  Do some of the styles with holes in them make any diference?

Any other good brands of 1 or 1.5" toppers out there?

anyone?

I can only speak for the latex topper, no it does not sleep hot.  I guess I can speak for memory foam, but remember I slept on 5" of the stuff and I hated it, it was hot!!!  Other people like 1" memory foam, but I can't speak for them.

My 1" latex topper, 20 ILD doesn't sleep hot either...it came from Foam by Mail on the net.

I realize this thread is a bit old but it generated so much great feedback I thought I would give it a try. We are going to buy a topper for our American Leather comfort sleeper mattress. It has a 4" foam pad (synthetic, not latex). As this is a sofabed, I plan to roll up the topper when not in use since the sofa bed is already quite high to use as a sofa due to the extra space required for mattress storage. What I am trying to choose between is a 1" or 2" 100% latex topper from Foam Factory. They offer both 32 and 20 ILD and I am leaning towards the 32 since our most frequent guests do not like a very soft mattress. Which combination do you recommend 1" or 2" and 20 or 32 IDL? I am also going to put on a wool mattress pad and bamboo sheets. We live in San Diego and find that memory foam retains too much heat.

Thank you!

socalgail wrote:
Hi Socalgail, If you weigh the worse case scenarios, viz., not enough support vs. too hard, not enough support might result in back pain vs. too hard which will result in more tossing and turning, I'd say get a 2" 32ILD topper. I think back pain would be worse.

If the mattress isn't that hard a one inch topper might do fine. If it's clearly hard, go for the 2", either way I'd still default toward the 32ILD.

I put two 1" 32ILD latex toppers, also from Foam Factory, over the springs of my Sealy Posturepedic, and it is fine. I wasn't able to compared with the 20ILD, but I will get back pain if I don't get enough support so I defaulted toward the firmer of the two.

Matt