We just did a fitting at a Savvy Rest retailer. Not sure if we’re going with them or switching to a more affordable Latex option (fairly sold on modular latex though).
I’m also looking at SleepEZ, and SleepingOrganic. (Any others I should look at?)
What I really want is a sanity check on my layer config. In store, I liked the following:
3" Wool Filled Topper
3" Soft Talalay Topper
3" Soft Talalay Comfort Layer
3" Medium Talalay Support Layer
3" Firm Talalay Support Layer
I’m 6’6" and 375 lbs. So my preference here seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom. The sales guy initially thought I would need firmer, but then said I actually looked pretty aligned. (Is that something they can actually eyeball)?
The only possible explanation I can give is that my weight is more evenly distributed head to toe than most folks who are this heavy. My butt is big, but so are my legs, my gut, my torso, all of it. In our current mattress, when my wife gets close to me, I feel like her butt actually creates a bigger relative divot than mine despite her being hundreds of pounds lighter.
Obviously, layer exchange is an option, but it seems like I’m WAY off the recommended path, and may find myself wanting to exchange multiple layers. Our guest bedroom has a firmer mattress, and I do at times feel like it improves my back pain, but it also hurts my shoulder and hip (at least when I first lay down). Our current mattress has gotten REALLY soft, long overdue, so even the above setup will be more supportive.
Am I crazy for starting with that setup for such a large guy?
@Sleep_EZ
@TheCleanBedroom
@FloBeds
@CST
@Arizona_Premium
Hi Jamestalmage.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum. 
I don’t think so! I see we have some experts tagged here that I do hope chime in. But I’ll add my two cents as well.
Yes, alignment is definitely something you can identify just by seeing how someone is laying! Now, whether they know exactly what they’re looking at is another story.
Well, recommended paths are just that - recommended. However, every (literal) body is different and what YOU need may be different than the general recommendation. Personal preferences are a huge component in a DIY! And many people follow the recommendations and still end up in a battle of layer exchanges so recommendations aren’t guarantees.
Ultimately, what you need is durability. And, you’re going to get that with your latex setup.
I’ll let the experts chime in with their more experienced and technical opinions, but I hope this helps!
NikkiTMU
2 Likes
Hi James,
What matters most is your comfort.
If both of the toppers are outside the mattress cover, you have an option if you find it is too soft. You could simply remove one or both of the toppers and go with that.
A 9-inch mattress may feel more firm than a 15-inch, so if you need to adjust, it is possible you could do that without exchanging. The only exchange I would foresee is perhaps swapping a medium support layer for a firmer one if you think you would need that.
And yes, they can see if your spine is aligned when you are sleeping on your side.
2 Likes
I probably won’t be able to remove a layer… My wife is next to me, with a setup that works for her… I might be able to do it for a night or two if it’s possible that it would give me insight into the correct setup.
Ah, agreed. We tried that (removing a layer on one side) and it is not a long-term solution.
If I could just chime in real quick: 1st, as everyone has said, there’s no wrong way to set up the mattress as long as you’re comfortable. I have personal experience with customers over 300 pounds that just need or prefer several soft layers in the mattress.
2nd, please keep in mind that even if you lay on a mattress for hours in a showroom, you still won’t know if it’s right for you until you actually sleep on it and allow your body time to adjust. As such, the best thing you can do is pick the setup that has the best chance to be successful for you and adjust from there (if needed). Having a mattress with a zippered cover like ours can go a very long way in ensuring you get a mattress that works for you, just in case you need to adjust the comfort level of the mattress.
3rd, regardless of the company you purchase from, I would expect to have to replace latex layers (hopefully just the top layer) every 5 - 10 years, because that is a very soft setup for someone at your weight and I just wouldn’t realistically expect you to get the full 15-20 years out of each of the layers.
3 Likes
Awesome! This gives me confidence…
I posted another topic about toppers vs thicker mattresses in this same forum category. Once I get clarity on that, I’m ready to order!
1 Like
