OK, so maybe I will get a FloBed
Sep 11, 2007 10:47 AM
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Points: 12
OKOK.. So I just posted about wanting to walk into a store and buy a ready-made latex mattress..  But, let's say I went the FloBed route.  Can soemone help me configure?

Me:  Stomach/5'7"/165lbs - Prefer med/firm bed, but nothing too firm.. I like some cushion on top.
SO: Side&Back/5'5"/110lbs - Prefers a pillow top feeling..  generally prefers things on the softer side, but still wants some support.

Flobeds online rec:
Me: Medium/Firm/X-Firm
SO: Soft/Soft/Med (if i use Side setting) or Soft/Med/Med (if I use Back setting) 

The Soft/Soft/Med really sacres me, based on reading this forum..  Should I firm her side up and get a soft topper?

How important is the topper cover or mattress pad to overall comfort?

Thanks again for the help.  I feel like I'm getting more confused rather than finding some clarity!
Re: OK, so maybe I will get a FloBed
Reply #9 Sep 15, 2007 1:31 PM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
Lynn, you "scare me." If a person less than half my weight needs the firmest available latex, what chance do I have, a 240 lb guy, to ever be happy on latex? My ILD 40 core will be here on Monday, so I will soon know.
hatsdb- so maybe I will get a FloBed
Reply #10 Sep 15, 2007 5:12 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 793
haysdb, I used to sleep on a board on the floor with my mother when I was little and we were at our rental home and the mattress was too soft. I have not yet met anybody who likes the bed as firm as I used to sleep on. My friends love my bed just the way it is except one friend who tried it out feels it is too firm for him. My friends are much taller and weigh a lot more than me and some are female and some are male.  So I am just unique in that I like a very firm bed. All of the Kingsdown beds in the stores including their firmest one, was too soft for me when I was initially looking for a conventional mattress. But after sleeping directly on the floor and finding that I wish I had a little cushion, I ordered the 1" latex topper from Overstock. That is when I learned that some cushion and some confirming was better for my back than rock hard and then I started to see I needed a little give in my new bed despite wanting firmness. 

I have two clients that told me about FloBeds and the lighter partner sleeps on the 2" convoluted topper over medium over medium (28 ILD density) over a platform bed while the taller bigger partner sleeps on the same soft topper with firm (32 ILD) over extra firm (36 ILD) over the platform bed.  Since they only have two layers, it is much firmer their way than if they had three layers of latex.  They had one latex exchange for the Firm 32 ILD (exhanged a 36 ILD for a 32 ILD) since it was too firm over the platform bed for them.

When I had two 36 ILD's over the slat box, that felt perfect for me but I wanted a fatter mattress so I added a third 36 ILD and that made me realized I needed to go with a 44 ILD blended latex to get the support my particular body likes since not many people like beds as firm as me with my small height and weight.  It is my scoliosis. I do not like the small amount of my s-curve to curve anymore since it puts pain in my back and that is why I like it firm. But a carpeted floor actually was too hard for me without the soft topper.
This message was modified Sep 16, 2007 by Lynn2006
Re: OK, so maybe I will get a FloBed
Reply #11 Sep 16, 2007 12:26 AM
Foam Nerd
Location: USA
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 605
Thanks Lynn. That puts it in context for me.

When my son was in his early teens I built a home theater in my basement. I used the densest foam rubber pad I could find under the carpet. My son was a skater and would have a bunch of his friends over to watch skate movies on the big screen. I'd go downstairs and there would be half a dozen boys crashed out on the floor. I'd go around and throw blankets on them and they we there till morning. Amazing how a thin layer of padding can make even a concrete floor comfortable for some people.
Re: OK, so maybe I will get a FloBed
Reply #12 Sep 16, 2007 10:52 AM
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Points: 12
Another question (which I'm sure has been addressed before)..  Can you feel the dividing line in the middle of the bed when you get a FloBed since it's seperated (and seperately customizable)?
Re: OK, so maybe I will get a FloBed
Reply #13 Sep 16, 2007 3:33 PM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 132
blaupunk wrote:
Another question (which I'm sure has been addressed before)..  Can you feel the dividing line in the middle of the bed when you get a FloBed since it's seperated (and seperately customizable)?


Well the 2" topper is glued together into 1 piece (40" + 20" in the queen for example). As I stated earlier we're not using the topper and we still can't feel the split. Keep in mind the cores are really packed into the case. Even without the topper the zipper is a snug fit all around. There's no room for the cores to slide around either.

I think you would probably notice it if 1 side was 20 ILD ande the other was 44 ILD but with only minor differences in firmness we don't feel the split. Vivetique and some other companies offer split sides as well so it's not only a kit thing.
Sharing my new FloBed Latex Bed configuration
Reply #14 Sep 23, 2007 11:47 AM
Joined: Aug 31, 2007
Points: 793
Since I had some time yesterday to take out my latex cores to exchange the old cover for the new zippered up new bed cover Dave at FloBeds sent me, I thought I might as well move the 44 ILD in the middle of my two 36 ILD cores with my 1" topper  on top. This was perfect!  the new cover feels wonderful and I was ready for this new firmness combination.  I never knew a 36 under a 44 ILD would give a nice feel until reading posts on this list. I thought having it on the bottom would be the best foundation.  I had asked for a new cover a few months ago due to when it arrived, this was a rip in it around the zipper area and another part inside.  He told me it rarely happens but as soon as I am was sure I was keeping the latex bed and I had moved around all my latex pieces, he would send me a new cover.

So my final latex bed set up is a 1" soft topper to cushion my pressure points since I sleep on my side, over a 36 ILD (averages out a little over 37 ILD it says on the side) over a 44 ILD (averages a little over 45) over a 36 ILD over the pine slat box with 10" legs so I can store things underneath. I attached my iron headboard using the headboard brackets Dave sent to me.  This is my side. I have not tried out the other side that is duplicated except the 44 ILD averaged out only a little over a 44 ILD density so the top 36 ILD is a little less than 37 ILD.  I can't feel any dividing line.

My 36 ILD 3" cores are 100% Natural Talalay Latex and my 44 ILD 2.8" latex cores are blended Talalay Latex.  I have allergies to chemicals and after always airing out the cores over my banister for a few days before putting them inside the zipped up cover, I never have any allergies to my bed like I did to the polyurethane Simmons Bed I had bought at Rockaway Bedding In February and sent it back.

I do find the blended latex is sturdier and seems to have more consistency in the same level of firmness throughout the cores.  I had initially wanted 100% natural latex since I had an allergy reaction to a synthetic latex pillow that was not made with the Talalay Processing when I bought the pillow over one year ago.  I gave it to a client whose wife loved the low profile very firm latex pillow from Vitalex. 

I am currently sleeping a standard natural latex pillow from Overstock.com but soon will find a low profile softer Talalay Latex Pillow. My 6" height and medium firmness on my current pillow just feels a tiny bit too high and firm. I love soft latex pillows that have less loft/height due to my petite size despite sleeping on my side.

Hoping my sharing will help others before the order any latex bed that maybe they need firmer than they think an maybe they need a less thick topper.  I have scoliosis and I woke up with no back pain. The other configuration with two 36 ILD's over a 44 ILD felt good but having the 44 ILD feels slightly better to me with the 36 ILD under the 44 ILD. I will let others know if I am still comfortable sleeping with this configuration after several more days.

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