The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Nov 19, 2007 2:06 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
Okay, as you may have noticed, I've been obsessing about a perfect foam mattress design, and I think I finally have it. It is made of multiple 2" layers of very dense foams for longevity and versatility (1" layers are very delicate). One can arrange the layers in a number of different orders to achieve the feel they are looking for. This some what limits the risk out of buying on-line (of course there is the risk that FBM gets your foam wrong the first time.) But you should not have to abandon a layer. This is a 10" mattress, which leaves 2 additional inches you could add if you need to soften it up and maintain a 12" maximum thickness (even deep pocket sheets do not fit if thicker than 12".) I think that by mixing dense PU foam and latex, you could achieve the support and softness that some people have not been able to achieve with latex alone. Also, if you find that you do not like the springy feel of so much latex, you could move some of the PU further up, dampening the "jiggle". One could order all the layers in split sizes except for the memo foam top, which should be single piece. This would allow each partner to arrange his/her side independently. Here goes.

2" Isoform memo foam (5lb dense, 17-19ILD - said to be more firm than most memo and more breathable, got highest ratings on epinions) $150

2" FBM 20ILD talalay latex  (placing this next to the memo foam topper may work as a heat sink, helping to further ventilate the memo foam.) $160

2" FBM 36ILD HQ foam (2.5 lb dense base foam) $111

2" FBM 32ILD talalay latex  $170

2" FBM LUX HQ foam (2.9 lb dense, approx 50ILD base foam) $115

All prices are for king size, shipped (except Isoform, which may charge $20 shipping or so. I've heard you can call and get free shipping.)

Again, one should weigh, individually, the HQ foam form FBM to assure that they sent the correct density. I would also consider calling them and placing the order by phone, letting them know you will weigh the foam when it arrives -- got to keep 'em honest! Feel free to recommend changes to the "perfect" foam mattress.

This message was modified Nov 19, 2007 by donw
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #1 Nov 19, 2007 3:04 PM
Joined: Oct 28, 2007
Points: 69
Can you tell a big difference between the 20ILD and 32ILD latex? Also, how do you like the Isoform? I'm still considering sending back my 3" Sensus (seems too soft) and going with 2" of firmer memory foam and 2" of latex (possibly 32 or 26ILD) for my top layers, but I want to wait to try the Sensus when I get my LUX and HD36 layers.
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #2 Nov 19, 2007 3:20 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
Steve, I have no personal experience with FBM latex - or Isoform, for that matter. This is just a theoretical solution. Haysdb has two 1" toppers of 20 and 32, respectively and says he can't tell a difference. I have a feeling that it could be because of the thickness. I would think you could tell the difference if they were 2" thick. The order I am showing in my post above is with the 32 placed between the 36HQ and the 50 - I think that would be a great place to start, as the 36 would provide support to the 20 latex and Isoform. You could move the 32 up if you wanted it softer.
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #3 Nov 19, 2007 3:49 PM
Joined: Oct 28, 2007
Points: 69
I just wish it would be easier to test out some of these configurations - ordering and returning can get expensive in shipping charges. I do think the 2" memory foam + 2" latex would be a good combo. I like the pressure relief of latex, but I didn't think the few beds I have laid on with a latex cores would be supportive enough me. I have this funny feeling that my mattress will end up being mostly PU foam with a little latex in it somewhere by the time I get it figured out.
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #4 Nov 19, 2007 7:14 PM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
I am confused

Isn't everyone saying that FBM is a bad place that falsely advertises their foam specs?
Why would you now use them??
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #5 Nov 19, 2007 7:31 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
Novahelp, FBM can be very misleading. They flat-out lie about their 5.5lb pink memo foam - it is really 4lbs. And they do not have any more dense memo foam. Their other foams are better. While their latex is a step down from LI, it is said to be pretty good by many purchasers on this forum. I believe they intentionally send the lower density PU foam to the unsuspecting consumer, hoping they won't weigh it. From what I understand, they do sell both the lower density stuff and the higher density - one must fight with them to have UPS pick up the wrong stuff and send out the right. Or, like I mentioned above, call them and place your order by phone, warning then that you will weigh the foam and demand they replace it if they send the wrong weight. If they were a smart company, especially in this computer-savy age, they would simply be honest with their customers.
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #6 Nov 19, 2007 8:07 PM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
donw wrote:
Novahelp, FBM can be very misleading. They flat-out lie about their 5.5lb pink memo foam - it is really 4lbs. And they do not have any more dense memo foam. Their other foams are better. While their latex is a step down from LI, it is said to be pretty good by many purchasers on this forum. I believe they intentionally send the lower density PU foam to the unsuspecting consumer, hoping they won't weigh it. From what I understand, they do sell both the lower density stuff and the higher density - one must fight with them to have UPS pick up the wrong stuff and send out the right. Or, like I mentioned above, call them and place your order by phone, warning then that you will weigh the foam and demand they replace it if they send the wrong weight. If they were a smart company, especially in this computer-savy age, they would simply be honest with their customers.

I guess. Just not sure why you would want to order from an untrustworthy place and support their business?
 Isn't this using up a lot of your time?
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #7 Nov 19, 2007 9:36 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
The problem is that, for most of the pieces, the next best seller is nearly twice as much. Here are some competitors. PerfectFit is the most reasonable, but one would have to find out the cost of custom sizes.

PerfectFit is an upholstery supplier, and the foam sizes listed are not quite large enough for a king-size bed, but they say that other sizes are available. Looks like reasonable prices.

Foam On-line does custom sizing, but seems expensive.

Simple-pedic has a price calculator and seems very expensive.

Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #8 Nov 19, 2007 10:48 PM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
donw wrote:
The problem is that, for most of the pieces, the next best seller is nearly twice as much. Here are some competitors. PerfectFit is the most reasonable, but one would have to find out the cost of custom sizes.

PerfectFit is an upholstery supplier, and the foam sizes listed are not quite large enough for a king-size bed, but they say that other sizes are available. Looks like reasonable prices.

Foam On-line does custom sizing, but seems expensive.

Simple-pedic has a price calculator and seems very expensive.


But if you're not getting the quality foam you're paying for, how is it really a good deal?
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #9 Nov 19, 2007 11:18 PM
Joined: Sep 3, 2007
Points: 167
That's just it. With their PU foam, supposedly, you CAN get the right density. They do sell both HD and HQ foams. A good test of this will be Steve2u's order. Let's hope he gets what he ordered. And their latex is pretty good. Their pink 5.5lb memory foam is really 4lb...and it's a good 4lb foam. In fact, it's a good price for a good 4lb foam. It's just not 5.5 like they claim...and they do not have any heavier.
This message was modified Nov 19, 2007 by donw
Re: The perfect Memo Foam/Latex/PU mattress for $706
Reply #10 Nov 20, 2007 2:04 AM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
donw, the sample of FBM pink foam I have is a 5 lb foam or pretty close. I'm basing that not so much on weight as just the feel. There is no mistaking a 5 lb foam for a 4 lb foam.

I think the only conclusion we can really draw from your topper is that the density may just very a lot. I don't know, for example, how the density of a "bun" varies from top to bottom or end to end. Maybe the topper you got was from a lower density section. We need a few more "data points" before we can really say the FBM's memory foam is a 4.0 foam.

But it's also true that if the density truly does vary by up to 30%, it becomes a real crap-shoot what you'll get. I don't think I would order memory foam from them knowing I might get a 5.0 foam and I may get something significantly less.

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