Advice Needed: Switching to Latex Mattress & Pillow for Better Sleep

Hi everyone,

I’m in the middle of reevaluating my entire sleep setup and would love some guidance from this community. I've been sleeping on a traditional innerspring mattress for the past several years, but lately, I’ve noticed increased pressure on my hips and shoulders (I’m mostly a side sleeper). After doing some reading, I’m considering switching to a latex mattress for better pressure relief and durability.

What really interests me is the natural aspect — no synthetic foams or off-gassing. I've read that latex mattresses can offer both firm support and a bit of bounce, which sounds ideal. However, I’m a bit unsure about choosing the right firmness level. I’m about 170 lbs and sleep hot, so breathability and temperature regulation are important to me.

In addition to the mattress, I’m also thinking of replacing my old memory foam pillow with something more breathable and supportive. A natural latex pillow https://www.plushbeds.com/collections/latex-pillows seems like a great complement to the mattress, especially since I often wake up with neck stiffness. If anyone here has experience with these, I’d love to hear your thoughts — is it a big improvement over memory foam? Any tips on loft height or firmness?

Here are a few specific questions I’d appreciate help with:

For a side sleeper who gets hot, is a medium or medium-soft latex mattress more suitable?

Do all-latex mattresses really sleep cooler than memory foam or hybrid models?

Any key things to look for when choosing a natural latex pillow (e.g., shredded vs. solid core)?

I’m trying to make a one-time investment in better sleep, so any insights from people who’ve made this transition would be super helpful. Thank you all in advance!

Looking forward to learning from your experiences.