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 #55 Nov 29, 2010 9:13 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Just to clarify ... firmness/softness in the upper layers and support are two different things. Support is more about targeting "upwards pressure" and comfort is more about distributing "downwards pressure". The mattress pad may make things firmer and add to "downwards" pressure issues but this firmness wouldn't contribute to support since there would be no "targeted" upwards pressure. The main part of the support needs to come from the springs (or the core in an all latex construction). The upper layers "help" by affecting how much you sink in and to a degree where and how much along your body the springs "push back". If the upper layers are also resilient ... then they can also add to support in the lumbar or recessed areas but a passive material like a pad or memory foam couldn't help much at all as they have little to no resilience.

In other words the core can "help" the upper layers distribute downwards pressure and improve comfort and the upper layers can "help" the core to target upwards pressure and improve support.

The "progressive" resilience qualities of either the springs or the core materials along with the ability to "target" pushback through "point" compression as opposed to "broad" compression are key parts of how different mattress constructions provide support to different sleeping styles and body weight/measurement distributions.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 29, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #56 Nov 30, 2010 6:09 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
I was told to check out the toppers at Ikea. Risk free, since you have 45 days to return it. I went there and checked out the wool/latex (too firm), polyester (not supportive enough), latex (too soft) and this 2.2 lb 2 inches PU foam one:

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/70163102 which felt not too soft and somewhat supportive.

150$ for the queen size. I brought it home and will try it along with the latex (took off the quilt and egg crate foam). Should I put the latex on top or under?

Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #57 Nov 30, 2010 6:26 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
For reference I also received a reply from Literie Laurier on their prices as follows:

"As request topper Talalay latex ILD 40

Queen topper 2 inches 189.00

Queen topper 3 inches 269.00

Queen topper 2 inches with cover Bamboo quilt with wool 249.00

Queen topper 3 inches with cover Bamboo quilt with wool 329.00"

Their prices seem very reasonable indeed (especially when you consider lower shipping, no exchange, and no cross border hassles) and they would probably be the same or similar in other ILD's and similar value in other sizes. I am impressed with their cover and pricing there as well. This is one of the few times where I've seen better value in Canada than an equivalent in the US.

As far as latex on top or under the poly I'm not sure as I would need to know the ILD, density, and quality (HR, HD, or something else) of the poly and the "real" ILD of your latex to give a more "thought out" suggestion. I would "probably" try the poly under the latex first though and give it a couple of days before you switch.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 30, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #58 Nov 30, 2010 6:43 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
I agree, not too expensive. 

Just made the bed and I set it up with the poly under. Still feels firm but a tad softer than before. Strangely enough, even though the latex foam feels softer than the poly, it seems to give more "pushback". If my arm goes numb again, I'll switch and see. I could also try the poly along with the egg crate. Hours and hours of fun....

2.2 lb foam, this should last how long?

This message was modified Nov 30, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #59 Nov 30, 2010 7:14 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
I should have gone to the site and looked first before I replied :)

If it really is 2.2 HR poly and made by a good manufacturer ... it should last you a long time ... meaning years. It would last longer under something else than it would on top of the mattress.

The only thing missing in the description (unless I missed it) is the ILD. This in combination with not knowing the ILD of your latex (which from foambymail is always unknown) makes it a little difficult to "theoretically predict" what layering would be best so we'll just have to go with your personal experience here. Typically though the HR denser poly that you more commonly find has a higher ILD although it is available in much softer ILD's as well ... it's just a little harder to find.

The next option I would try after a couple of nights on this one and depending on your "sleep all night" or at least your "sleep part of the night" experience would be the eggcrate over these two layers.

Phoenix

This message was modified Nov 30, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #60 Dec 1, 2010 10:07 AM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
First experiment didn't go so well, I was only able to sleep 5 hours last night and my numb arms woke me several times as there was a lot less give for my shoulders. Worst part, there wasn't any real improvement for my hips. I don't have much hope to see this work but 'll try putting the latex under tonight. I seem to have enough foam as it is and realize now that I should have looked for more real softness. If I end up returning the pillowtop, I'll be thinking of soft memory foam or perhaps, a light wool or fiber bed topper.
This message was modified Dec 1, 2010 by ZZZZ
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #61 Dec 1, 2010 11:28 AM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
OK ... we need a reference point. We are working with 2 pieces of unknown foam in terms of ILD and ILD is the most important thing we need to know. I am going to guess that they are both firm (the poly is probably over 30 ILD and could easily be higher) and the latex is probably firm as well. If your layers are too firm it will lead to pressure problems from the material itself. If your layers are too soft ... it will also lead to pressure problems as you will go through them and the springs will cause the pressure. We need to find out what you have or at least an estimate as otherwise we'll just be working with random chance which is both frustrating and expensive.

If you go with poly you need information like this ... http://www.foam-futon.com/foamspecs.html. As you can see from the specs on the 1.8 poly, it can range from soft to firm with the same density. If you go to foamdistributing.com (foam by mail) you will see everything there that would be suitable is mid 30's and higher. Same with foamorder.com. Without knowing the ILD of a polyfoam you buy it's pretty safe to assume it will be in the 30's or higher.

What i would suggest if you can is to take a trip to literie laurier (not sure exactly how far it is from you to montreal) and lay on their 3" 19 ILD over 40 ILD mattress. This will give you a sense of what an accurate 19 ILD over a firm (like your innerspring) 40 ILD core feels like and will give you a way to know if what you have is softer or harder. They probably even have latex over springs which would be even better. You need known quantities as reference points to make real progress. I would try to spend at least an hour there so you can also try other ILD's and thicknesses they may have. If you lay on this combination (or others they may have) for at least 10 minutes in your normal sleeping position as relaxed as you can be, you will likely get a sense of how close a combination is and get a much clearer sense about what might work than any random assortment of layers where you don't know exactly what you have. They may also have good memory foam which would give you a chance to try that as well. I also suspect that they would give you some good feedback if you take your time there and tell them what you are facing.

In the meantime for tonight ... and given what you have said ... I would go as soft as I could which probably (guessing here) means the eggcrate over the poly over the latex.

If by soft memory foam you mean low density like 3 lbs over your springs ... it would destroy you unless it was on top of something else. You would go right through it. Higher density memory foam can actually be just as soft or even softer (distribute pressure much better) than low density (like polyfoam which it really is). You want honey (denser) not water (less dense) to distribute pressure..

A cuddle bed is just a soft puffy layer that needs to be on top of something as well. By itself on your springs it would also probably destroy you.

More than anything you need reference points ... either by buying known quantities or preferably by going somewhere and laying on known quantities first which would likely be the fastest way to get to what you need.

Phoenix

This message was modified Dec 1, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #62 Dec 2, 2010 8:09 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
Turns out the bed is quite different with the one inch of latex under the 2 inches pillowtop. Not perfect, still a little too hard to be labeled as comfortable but I was finally able to sleep the whole night and for the first time, I noticed a little improvement with my back today after being in total agony the day before. Only problem is that my arms were still asleep pretty much the whole night. I'm going to try to add the old quilt tonight and see if that helps. Bed is now way too high, I'll have to find a solution for that as well. 

It's strange how the layering can make such a difference. I have come to realize that while the latex does a much better job at redistributing weight than regular foam, it may not be ideal as a top layer in my situation. Under the foam, it acts more like a suspension on a car.

Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #63 Dec 2, 2010 10:43 PM
Joined: Oct 3, 2010
Points: 809
Good news.

I would be a little careful about reacting to one nights sleep or making any assumptions based on a single night though. 2 nights on a particular layout would be much better. I would especially not make any assumptions based on a single inch of latex. The foam on top is HR foam which means high resiliency and given that it is thicker and may have higher resiliency and/or sag factor even than the latex (some HR foams do) this could be what is giving the effect you are describing. If you make any changes based on believing that an inch of latex can cause "springiness" then it is likely that the next step you take could make things worse again.

I would go very slowly and make sure you really know "why" something is happening before taking another step.

Did you have the eggcrate on top of this?

Phoenix

From page 4 here: http://www.pfa.org/intouch/pdf/ntouch51.pdf

The very minimum requirements for a foam to be regarded as HR is ... Density of 2.5 lbs/cu ft, Resiliency of 60%, and Support factor (also called sag factor or compression modulus) of 2.4 - 1. They can be any ILD from very soft to very hard.

These numbers are the very minimum and while these are still below latex, many HR foams are higher than latex in resiliency and/or sag factor.

This message was modified Dec 2, 2010 by Phoenix
Re: Simmons BackGuard
Reply #64 Dec 2, 2010 11:00 PM
Joined: Oct 30, 2010
Points: 45
No, I didn't use the egg crate. I tried it but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference if any, other than adding to the height of the bed. It's real cheap foam and I go through it instantly.

I know I'm ahead of myself but I'm so desperate right now that any positive sign is a welcome blessing that lets me hang on. I don't wish for anyone to go through the pain and the despair I've encountered. The pain was so great at times that I even considered ending my life on some nights. LIfe is miserable when you can't sit, lay down or stand without hurting. I've vowed to lose 100 lbs. and so far, I've lost 18.

If I add the inch of foam inside my mattress, I'm currently sleeping on 4 inches over the coils. Is that an average amount? I know it depends on the type and quality of foam but how much is usually needed for someone my size?

This message was modified Dec 2, 2010 by ZZZZ

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