Simmons BackGuard
Oct 30, 2010 12:47 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
Hi. Got a Simmons BackGuard last week after returning an NXG 250 Firm which turned out to be both too soft and too hard at the same time (butt sank too much, back was pulling while shoulders were in pain and arms went numb). The BackGuard has zones (thinner coils under hips and shoulders and very firm for lumbar support) that I can distinguished with my ribs when I lay on my side after a minute or so (I weigh 250 lbs). Every morning, I wake up in pain (shoulders, ribs, back) so I'm looking for a topper but don't want to go overbaord to avoid making it too soft. Budget is limited so I'm leaning toward Foambymail latex topper. Don't know if I should go for 20 or 32 ILD. Any advice? 

Also, does anybody know how bad will their topper smell? How long before it dissipates?

This message was modified Dec 7, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #25 Nov 24, 2010 4:07 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
Talked back to him today and he offers to replace the 2 x 0.5 inches of 2.2 lbs foam with 1.5 inch of Talalay latex, ILD 36 on each side. That would bring the price up by 360 dollars, so it would be 1200$. The only other thing in the mattress, except for the coils and the surface quilting is a full felt and and then another piece of felt for the center 1/3 of the mattress to reinforce the lumbar and center area. Obviously, I can’t try the mattress before it will be made so what do you think? Would that make it too soft, just right or still too hard? A mattress is already a blind purchase but a mattress that you can't even try is an act of faith! 
This message was modified Nov 24, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #26 Nov 24, 2010 4:33 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
I believe that is would be much more appropriate than what you were previously considering and it is unlikely that it would be too hard (36 is quite firm for an upper layer but there are people here that think it's perfect). If it was too hard it would certainly be much easier to fix with a topper since the base of this would not represent any "issues". It is pretty certain though that with only 1.5" of latex on top that you would be going through the top layer no matter how firm it was and that the springs themselves would be playing the major role in both your comfort and your support. This could be either "a good thing" or "a bad thing" depending on the type and quality of the springs themselves.

Having said that though ... you are in the budget range of an all latex mattress where you can choose your layers and exchange a layer at low cost if you don't "get it right". I believe also that you could probably do better than 1.5" of latex over springs in terms of cost ... even though it is 2 sided. If I was in your shoes, not really sure about "what was best" and considering purchasing a mattress I had never tried, then how easy and inexpensive it was to exchange for a different option would play a major role in my buying decisions. If you look in the thread "searching for a mattress in quad cities" you will see some options for an all latex mattress where exchanging either a layer or a whole mattress is a relatively simple and inexpensive process. I realize you are in Canada and "time is of the essence" but even with the extra shipping, exchange rate, and GST when it crosses the border outlets similar to these would probably represent better value for you.

Perhaps even more importantly, I would think based on what I have seen that there is probably better value available from some of the Canadian or even more specifically Quebec outlets I have seen. Sometimes though it is important to go with what you know in a more "urgent" environment and if the springs in this mattress are of good quality, strong, and suitable for you then it may be worth paying more as long as you know that you may very well need a topper over this.

I also believe that this would be a better choice than any of the "S" brands you were considering.

Have you phoned any of the others? I would be giving them a quick call and asking something like "I have some serious back issues etc ... here is my "statistics" (weight and body distribution), and I am looking for a mattress that either has 3" of latex over good quality springs, good quality HR poly, or an all latex mattress ... do you have anything like this and what would it cost me? Their specific answer to this (I don't mean a general answer like "Of course we do ... why don't you come in and take a look") would tell you a lot. You will very quickly find out who is happy too put their value up against anyone else and who depends on you being in their showroom to make a sale. BTW this applies to retail outlets as well. I would NEVER go somewhere I had not called first to find out what they knew and the level of advice and information they were willing to offer over the phone.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 24, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #27 Nov 26, 2010 4:48 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
In the overall scheme of things it may be a step in the right direction and it would probably help a lot financially as well. It has less poly (although still more than I would prefer) and the coils are better ... but I'm just not sure of the suitability of any of the Simmons coils in your case. I would personally not go with a Simmons beautyrest pocket coil at all if I was in your circumstances but it does at least seem to me to be better that what you had. You would likely need a topper with it for the pressure issues as well.

Phoenix

Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #28 Nov 26, 2010 5:06 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
Her husband delievered it an hour ago and you're right, it's much firmer. Even with my one inch latex topper and one inch egg crate, it's still a little too hard. What would be best to add? Another inch of latex or one inch of memory foam? At least, it's straight, so I can fix it.
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #29 Nov 26, 2010 9:21 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
I personally wouldn't use 1" memory foam as you will probably go right through it almost as if it didn't exist and it will likely wear out very quickly. I think in this case latex would be a much better choice both in terms of the overall construction and comfort and in terms of durability. Generally you need about 3" of good quality foam on top of firm springs to give good pressure relief (more or less depending on weight and sleeping style etc) so if 1" more of latex isn't quite enough then you can always add one more but it should be getting close with the poly underneath. I would probably also order the next layer with a slightly firmer ILD if you can (say about 24).

Phoenix

Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #30 Nov 26, 2010 9:26 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
I could also get 2 inches of good quality memory foam and use it with the 1 inch of latex I have. How should I layer them? Latex on top or under? 

Is there anything worthwhile at Costco? Anyone has first hand experience with gel toppers?

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=10339545&search=topper&Mo=10&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=topper&Ntt=topper&No=4&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

There's is also this one: http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=10319411&search=topper&Mo=10&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=topper&Ntt=topper&No=3&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

This message was modified Nov 26, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #31 Nov 26, 2010 9:44 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
I personally would not use memory foam at all in your case. You will also go right through 2" and probably 3" as well. You would also increase the risk of sleeping out of alignment with thicker layers of memory foam. If you did decide to go in that direction I would definitely put the latex on top of the memory foam to try to insulate it so it wouldn't "melt" as easily but then it may not be as soft as you want. Also if you go in that direction ... you would almost certainly need heavier density (preferably 5LB) and definitely not 3LB density. In your case I believe that latex is much more predictable and it is also more resilient so will help with support issues to a degree. Your tendency will be to sink in too far and memory foam will only make that worse. You may also feel good when you go to bed with a thicker layer of denser memory foam but sink in gradually over the course of the night and end up with a backache in the morning. I believe that memory foam would be a very "risky" option for you.

Phoenix

PS: I don't believe that either of the Costo options would be even close to suitable. This is not the "buckling column" gel that you may have seen discussed on the forum and has none of it's benefits. It's basically just inexpensive (don't want to say cheap) low density memory foam.

This message was modified Nov 26, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #33 Nov 26, 2010 10:43 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
I believe you would be taking a real risk given your previous posts in this thread with any kind of memory foam ... no matter how thick and no matter how dense.

If you really want to experiment with it then at least the overstock is cheap enough and good quality (if it really is Sensus 5 LB as what you get from them may very well be different from what they advertise) that you could buy 3" of it and see how it goes.

If you go with latex, you may get away with one more inch (that would give you 2" over the poly in your mattress) and you could then add another inch later. I suspect that you might need 2 more though.

Phoenix

PS: If you link to another mattress forum or a mattress magazine or discussion or rating site that allows advertising, your link and/or your post will get deleted (which is probably what happened with your post that had the link to the specs of your new mattress) as it is considered to be direct competition to this one ... just so you know. I found this out as well when I did the same thing in some of my posts.

This message was modified Nov 26, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #34 Nov 26, 2010 11:07 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
FWIW as well ... the foam in your "firm" mattress is actually quite soft as you can see by reading about the P34 here http://www.bedroomfurniturewhs.com/media/uploads/2010_FoamGuide_NEW.pdf

They do this to make a firm mattress by using soft foam that you will sink through more so you will feel the firmness of the springs more. They use the same or similar foam to make a mattress feel plush except they use thicker layers so you don't feel the springs as much and they also often use softer (thinner gauge) springs as well.

So even though there is much less poly here ... I would be wary about sinking in too far and use the least amount of layers on top that works for you.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 26, 2010 by Phoenix

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