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Used in Japan for literally thousands of years, the thin, layerable sleeping mats called shikibutons (pronounced "shick-ee-boo-tahn" or "shkee-boo-tone" with equal emphasis on all syllables - try it, it's fun!) are one of the best ways to experience natural sleep at its most pure.
Choose from three basic styles: Cotton, Cotton & Wool, and Classic Latex.
* Cotton. Lay a single Cotton Shikibuton out on the floor or on a tatami mat and you're about as close to a traditional Japanese bed as you can get. The Cotton Shikibutons are about 3" thick, and they provide just enough cushion for folks who prefer a very firm sleep surface. Then they can be folded away in the morning.
* Cotton & Wool. For the same very firm support with a softer feel, the Cotton & Wool Shikibutons are about 4" thick, and the outer layer of wool not only feels nice and soft, it helps regulate body temperature and deters dust mites.
* Latex. The Latex Shikibutons are about 3" thick, and they're a great modern interpretation of the classic Japanese sleeping mat. They provide a softer, more resilient sleep surface while still offering the kind of shallow, firm support that appeals to even futon & shikibuton purists.
About Layering:
Here at Soaring Heart, we think that for both durability and ease of maintenance, one of the best ways to approach the assembly of a natural bed system is to stack several thin shikibutons on top of one another, sometimes in conjunction with a wool topper for extra softness. Plus, this way a system can be added to over time whenever a new layer is desired.
The combinations we've found to be most popular over the years are:
* One Cotton Shikibuton underneath one Cotton & Wool Shikibuton. This combination is pretty much identical in its firm support to our 8" Cotton Futon, but with a touch more softness because of that outer layer of wool.
* One Classic Latex Shikibuton underneath one Cotton & Wool Shikibuton. This pairing maintains the firm, solid support of sleeping on cotton, but it allows for a gentle contouring to the body unique to latex.
* One Cotton Shikibuton, one Latex Shikibuton, and a 4" Wool Topper (what we call the Three Layer System). Originally suggested to us by one of our customers, this versatile setup feels like no other. It combines the firmness of cotton, the contouring quality of latex, and the cloudy softness of wool - it's like getting a little bit of everything we make all in one bed. And depending on what feels best to you, the bottom two layers can be arranged however you like: for a firmer bed, try putting the latex layer on the bottom and the cotton layer in the middle; for a softer bed, place the cotton layer on the bottom and the latex layer in the middle (the wool topper should always be the top layer).
Available made with either conventional or organic cotton batting and fabric. It should be noted that organic cotton batting starts out feeling much fluffier than standard cotton, but it will compact down and become pleasantly firm and dense after sleeping on it for a little while. Because they don't have the protective wool layer or any boric acid powder added as a flame retardant, our organic all-cotton Shikibutons are one of the few items we sell that require a prescription from a physician to purchase (per Federal regulation 16 CFR 1633).
The Classic Latex Shikibutons are made with blended natural & synthetic Talalay process latex and conventional cotton fabric, and Natural Classic Latex Shikibutons are made with all-natural Talalay process latex and organic cotton fabric.
And as always, be sure to use a natural fiber mattress pad on top of your Shikibuton to keep it fresh and clean for years to come.
*Extra Long Singles are 5" longer (39" x 80") than the standard singles (39" x 75").
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