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I just purchased a new FloBeds. It is the 100% natural Talalay 4 layer mattresses. The top most layer being a soft egg crate 2" piece of Talalay. I purchased the following configuration. On the left side of the bed I have a median top layer, firm middle layer, and extra firm bottom layer. On the right side the top layer is firm, the second layer is extra firm, and the bottom layer is extra firm. I felt that this should give me an opportunity to switch the layers around and come up with the configuration that will work the best for my 6' 2" 210 pound frame. It has been quite a wrestling match, reading all the different descriptions that various people like, when it comes to firmness layers. You also run into this with some of the websites. No two people seem to consider this the same way. So I'm just going to have to experiment. This is one of the main reasons that I went with FloBeds. They have the most liberal exchange policy coupled with a generous return policy. They definitely get more money than some of the other sites. But when you're purchasing something this expensive from the Internet, and cannot lay on it, feel it, look at it, and even smell it, it's good to have a situation where you can make corrections at a nominal expense. Given the fact that FloBeds has an excellent reputation with the BBB, and Dave and Dewey Turner are excellent people to do business with, it just seemed to make good sense to me to consider the extra cost as an insurance policy. One last point I would like to make. I just realize that I have been misspelling FloBeds name. I had been misspelling it "FlowBeds." Wrong! It is spelled FloBeds.com. I hope I have not misdirected anyone. It will probably take about a week to get this bed in my home, set up, and slept on. When I have had an opportunity to do this I will be sure to post back and let you know what my experiences are, as I know how confusing this kind of a purchase can be. This message was modified Sep 22, 2009 by eagle2
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| meth: Welcome aboard. There are several companies that make good latex mattresses. FloBeds gets my vote for the reasons mentioned in this thread. But look them all over and then decide. And good luck with your search. |
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Hi Eagle2 (and anyone else reading this blog... Well, I got my Flobeds on Thursday...sorry for the delay in responding and updating, been trying to get a handle on things. It's funny, when we first got the beds together, we passed out for hours immediately afterwards (at 6:15 at night)..I, on my husband's and he on mine...it was so amazing but nowI am having some problems adjusting. Also, I woke up with leg/thigh pains that night and the next day so I am not sure if falling asleep on my side with my legs elevated on my husband's "bed" (!) did it (yes, I know this sounds strange...but that adjustable bed is fantastic..really takes the pressure off of the lumbar area), or if it was my new mattress? What I ordered was the all natural/organic Talalay with VZone but they were out of the materials to complete the VZone layer and Dave insisted he ship me another layer at no cost to me (for returns either) until the VZone was ready this week, so that I would have something better to sleep on asap than on what I have now, as I was having a lot of hip and shoulder pains on my old mattress. This alone, for anyone out there reading this confirms what you (eagle2) have been saying..the service at Flobeds is simply amazing and for that alone I can't recommend them highly enough!! So..to the bed..I did tell Dave I liked a really firm mattress with a soft plushy feel on top..I had also purchased an adjustable base locally (Leggett & Platt) at Flobeds and SleepEZ's recommendation)...and tried a LI Talalay blended extra firm (6" 36ILD with 1" 24/soft on top and bottom - 8" total)..a pretty firm combination that seemed almost right...just needed to be plusher. With the multiple layers, Dave suggested I go for a VZone/M/F and my husband a VZone/Firm/XF (with the convoluted topper of course). In the meantime, we received two XF to add to our combo so we could have different variations to work with. My husband had put it together without me and so my bed ended up XF/M/F which was way too bouncy for me. He loved his XF/F/XF (even though I told him he should have made it as F/XF/XF!). I am 5'7" and 135 lbs and he is 5'8" and 200 lbs (very big boned rather than overweight so his 200 lbs is well distributed mattress wise.) When I finally kicked him off of his so I could try it per Dave's suggestion, I woke up with muscle pain in my lumbar area today. Ached all day. Tonight we, switched my XF to the bottom so that it is now (M/F/XF). I worry that with the XF off of the top layer, it will be even more bouncy but I am willing to try it. I am thinking that if this doesn't work, maybe I need F/F/XF...but I am open to any thoughts or recommendations out there. Apparently, the VZone comes in different firmnesses as well (based upon the firmness of the lumbar section I believe) and I would like to try to get that right if possible before it's shipped the first time. I think the intention was to send me a medium though. So, I'm wondering how much less "bouncy" a blended or a Dunlop would be for that matter . It seems that the few typical store selection latex mattresses I've seen are way less bouncy..I'm assuming they are probably Dunlop (and with tighter mattress covers as well i.e. not all natural fabrics)..and I did always want it a little more plush..but the way it was (until changing it tonight anyway) makes me wonder if I will keep sinking with time. Anyway, I welcome any input that anyone has to help me get through this process! Thanks! TJ12 |
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Quite frankly TJ I am at a loss to understand your description of "bouncy." My California King is setting on a very firm pair of boxes left over from my waterbed. They are not slats, has normally described, but rather a solid piece of Formica over slats. This sets on a steel frame that has not only the perimeter for holding the mattress and box's but steel running lengthwise down the middle and also a steel piece running across the middle of the frame, supported on nine legs. This was necessary because the waterbed, with me in it, weighed over 1000 pounds. The point being that I have a very firm foundation. Possibly your bounciness is coming from your support configuration for your bed not being solid enough. All I can tell you is I have never experienced any bounce that amounted to anything. As I have stated before I am currently sleeping with one side of my California King configured F/XF/XF and the other side F/F/XF. So I am wondering if you have not got your bed too firm, and your foundation to springy.Again I am 6 foot two and weigh 210 pounds This business of having your arms and legs go to sleep on you may have something to do with your adjustable bed. I cannot help you in that area as I have not slept on one except in a hospital in 2004. But one thing's for sure, you've got a good man in Dave Turner who has a lot of knowledge and a strong desire to make sure you are satisfied with your bedding experience. |
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Hmmm...spongy? :) Well, you are right about Dave, I have no doubts there....I would think the adjustable bed provides pretty good support ..I know it has steel supports..I will have to check what the rest is and let you know. But the XF/M mattress I tried locally was on the same adjustable bed model so don't think the foundation is an issue. Don't think my side is firm enough though...and so I use the word bouncy...doesn't feel firm or bed like...spongy might be a better word after all. I will try it tonight (this am?!) and let you know...if I ever get to sleep, that is! Thanks! |
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My first impression of latex was that it was a bit bouncy/spongy. In fact, I noted to Eagle once that I accidently dropped a weight on it and it bounced several inches. At first that bothered me a little, but I got use to it. It is a different feel from an innerspring, if that is what you are use to. I would not focus on that for now, since you will probably get use to that factor. As far as the vzone, I would probably not go with the medium unless you like a fairly soft bed. With the medium (at least the way they sent it to me), they put a soft piece under the hip area. I found that too soft. I even found medium too soft there, and shifted to a firm piece under the hips. I do like the fact that the vzone is softer under the shoulders. The trend seems for most people is that they end up liking a firmer configuration than they originally think. However, I think 100% natural XF on top for you (based on your weight) would probably be too firm. Lately I have been using XF/vzone (mainly firm)/XF. That is with blended latex though, which seems to have a lower support level from 100% natural. |
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Thanks Sandman. Yes, I am used to coils but have hated them at the same time for years. Many years ago when I was really young and poor :), I slept on a high density foam mattress and really liked that. I haven't been able to find a innerspring mattress since (tried two) that maintained their cushy feeling for any length of time after that. As far as bouncy, yes, I believe I came up with that term because I had read about your barbell test! I did change my config last night to M/F/XF and that was better. I thought it would get less firm moving that XF to the bottom but it got firmer which is good. And I actually like a firmer mattress, contrary to what most expect for my size, but Dave recommended I start a little less firm so I went with his recommendation. I like your comments about the VZone though...they were going to ship me a medium but I'm pretty sure I want a firm ...the question is whether I need a softer piece in the shoulders and hips. (My problem areas.) Part of the problem I don't like now is the feeling that my hips are sinking into the "bouncy" :) mattress. It's better now but still has some room to go. I'm thinking of getting rid of the medium all together. So, why did you put your VZone in the middle? I'm wondering if I did that if I could handle a completely firm VZone v. customining some parts to be medium. Any chance you can tell me the differences you noticed between having it as the 2nd layer v. the 3rd (counting the convoluted as the top layer)? Thanks for your input! |
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I put the vzone in the middle to try a firmer feel. I believe that XF over F over XF will be firmer than F over XF over XF. It does mute the benefit of the vzone, so that is a negative. If you get a firm vzone layer, they will put a medium piece under the hips. If you don't like you hips sinking in too much, you might find even that too soft (I did). However, you can switch the firm piece under you legs with the medium piece under the hips to get a firmer feel under the hips. I don't think the firmness under the legs matters that much. I like have a softer piece under the shoulders, because that is the one part that get undercomfortable (for me) with a firm bed. You can look at this chart to see how they structure the vzone. It is a bit confusing, but I think you will understand it you study it for a while. http://www.flobeds.com/pdf/vZoneSpecs.pdf |
| Good info Sandman! I did see the chart before but am studying it more carefully now...I think I want to custom pick how this goes. I will keep you posted. |
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It has been a while since I reported in on my FloBeds experience. So I thoughtI would post this experience and observation. I purchased a new protective cover for my mattress. My old one was over 10 years old and was wearing out. It was a very thin cover but did a good job. The new one I acquired is 100% cotton and slightly thicker and of better quality than what I previously had. One thing of note is it had a longer skirt that allowed me to pull the cover quite tight and tuck in the skirt on the bottom of the mattress. I was trying to smooth out any wrinkles from the storage that the cover had endured. The point is that this new cover gave me a new sleep experience. I thought this information might be helpful to those who are dealing with firmness levels in their mattress. I found it quite interesting that even this slight difference in top layer made quite a difference in the way my mattress felt. It felt quite a bit firmer. It was as if I had increased the density of the latex. I thought this might be helpful to those who are fighting to get the proper feel from their latex bed, or any other bed for that matter. Just this slight change made a considerable difference in the way the bed felt. In fact it's going to take a little bit to get used to it, as I appreciated the old cover. I actually felt like I was sleeping more on top of the mattress with the new cover than the way I felt with the old cover. There was less sinking into the latex it seemed to me. I am assuming this is due to the fact that I was able to stretch the cover quite tightly over the mattress. As a side note for those who are fighting their cheap P/U foam on their innerspring mattresses. I had an occasion this afternoon to have a rather lengthy telephone conversation setting in a chair that normally does not get used that much. It is a very solid wood chair with some cheap P/U foam for a cushion. I would say that the foam is not more than 2 inches thick and probably less, possibly an inch to an inch and a half. The point being that my butt went totally to sleep on me and I had a tough time standing up. So I guess the point I'm trying to make to folks regarding their mattresses is..... it does not take very much of a top later change to make a significant difference in how a mattress sleeps, and cheap P/U foam (as JimSoCal is constantly pointing out) is a terrible material to use for cushioning. I am still sleeping on the left side of my FlowBeds configured F/XF/XF, right side of bed F/F/XF. And the bed is sleeping quite well. The more I sleep on my latex bed the better I like it. This message was modified Jan 27, 2010 by eagle2
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Thanks for that update eagle2. Funny I have said my mattress cover made my latex topper unpleasant, I would get welts from them (very senstive). I would like to see the mattress covers you are talking about. Is there a link? Not sure what they are like. But I am finding with sheets even make a big difference. I tried jersey sheets (stretch) over a polyester plush blannket and am more comfortable that way. No it is not hot. I am not sure why, but it isn't. I tried every mattress cover the stores had to offer, they felt like concrete. Every time I try different sheets, like I tried cotton flannel the mattress felt totally different. Jersey sheets wear out in months though, but that is the price I am willing and have to pay. I am glad you figured your Flobeds and covers out. What sheets do you use? |