Hi Yogimama,
While I can certainly help with “how” to choose … It’s not possible to make specific suggestions or recommendations for either a mattress, manufacturers/retailers, or combinations of materials or components because the first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, health conditions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more reliable than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).
I normally advise against picking a mattress with a topper, as you’re mixing two variables at a time, but when you’re able to test the product in person the risk of a purchase like this is minimized, as opposed to ordering online.
That certainly is an expensive topper, and they don’t offer any information on their web site about the density/ILD of the latex used. While the materials used are higher-quality, you’d certainly want to make a value comparison with your own PPP for a topper in this price range.
The Winslow Plush uses a 6" Dunlop core from Lien A that rates out at a density of approximately 4.7 lb. Most latex companies would rate this as a “medium” level of plushness, comparable to a mid- to upper 20s ILD range. The Wallingford Plush uses 6" Dunlop core from Lien A that rates out at a density of approximately 5.3 lb. Most latex companies would rates this as a “firm”, comparable to a mid 30s ILD.
It is generally more common for latex brands to use support cores in the mid-30 to low 40 ILDs, and it’s also common for them to recommend a higher ILD core for individuals of a higher BMI. Of course, your personal comfort preference will be the ultimate decider after careful testing, and the use of the topper will offer the largest noticeable difference in comfort, as the layers that are closer to your body will have the greatest impact in surface comfort. The good news is that you’re considering products using very high quality and durable materials.
I hope that information is helpful!
Phoenix