Hi Mike
The lago is 3.5" of sculpted natural talalay over 6" firm talalay. The comfort layer is sculpted which would make it softer than it’s actual ILD. You mentioned that it was 24 ILD over 40 ILD but the comfort layer would likely be closer to 22 ILD (N2 natural) over 38 ILD (their firmest all natural latex) unless they are using custom ILD’s. The OMI website now says it is 3" but most of the retail sites say 3.5" so I don’t know if they are measuring from the bottom of the sculpting and the retail sites are measuring from the top of the sculpting or if it has changed. You also mentioned in a previous post that it was a little on the firm side. It has a wool quilting which would firm up the latex a bit but the sculpting would also soften it so these may balance out. The extra 1/2 inch over the other choices may also make up for the fact that the core of this one is firmer.
The Savvy Rest you liked had the soft talalay (probably 22 ILD again) over soft Dunlop (around mid 20’s) over Medium Dunlop (mid 30’s). Again we have 22 ILD with wool quilting but a softer core (or at least transition layer). The thinner layer here would allow you to feel the core a little more but the core is softer so again it would balance out.
The Pure Latex Bliss Balance is 3" of 19 ILD over pocket coils. This is even softer latex with no quilting but over an innerspring which would be a different feel but still “relatively soft”.
All of these suggest that you may do well with 19 ILD - 22 ILD over the 33 ILD core which Ken suggested given your preferences and what they likely point to. The layer is a little thinner than the Lago but again the core would be a bit softer to “make up” for it.
While 19 and 22 are very close … and 19 is blended LI and the 22 could either be LI natural or Radium … I would make my choice based on gut feel and whether you want to be a very little bit safer (firmer) or a little bit softer (for the wife and maybe you too). For her height and weight and because women usually prefer a little softer … I would normally recommend the 19 (assuming Ken has it) as it’s more in her “typical” range. Bear in mind too that while we are talking as if the ILD of latex is exact … it really isn’t and there is a range across the surface of the mattress and a 3 ILD difference is very small.
In terms of blended vs natural talalay … besides the articles on the main site here there are a few more detailed posts such as post #2 here, … post #10 here, … and especially post #2 here (which also has a bunch of links to some more technical information if you are so inclined). In my mind most of the “controversy” at least regarding blended talalay vs natural talalay (not including Dunlop in this comparison) doesn’t take all the available information into account which seems to clearly point towards the fact that natural is a little less durable in the lower ILD’s.
I think that most of the people who believe that natural is better are mostly correct but would more likely be talking about Dunlop which is much denser and has a different cell structure which would make this much more true. It’s also true that overall, NR is a better material than SBR in most “performance” categories. Talalay is a little different animal though and the qualities of the NR or SBR content is not the only factor which determines relative durability in the case of Talalay. I can’t help but like the natural though and I can understand the draw towards it. There’s just something about it that “seems” better … even if it can’t be backed up with factual evidence.
Hope this helps … and I know the feeling around making the decisions about all the final details. Sometimes that’s the hardest part of all but I think that regardless of how you choose you will do well as all your options seem to be good ones. There’s a lot to be said for gut feel once you know that all your choices are between “good” and “good”.
Phoenix