Hi lwendell,
Here are a few comments about the Hawn Mattress …
6" Dunlop latex (in either firmness level): This is a good quality material but they don’t mention whether the Dunlop is 100% natural or a blend (which is a less costly version of Dunlop latex). The 4.5 lb ILD ratings apear to be in the range I would expect but I think the 5.5 lb density would probably be firmer than 26 - 28 but ILD doesn’t really matter when you are testing a mattress locally because you can tell from your testing whether the mattress is suitable for you in terms of PPP.
cover material 1/2 dacron fiber polyester: These are both synthetic materials. Polyester fabrics are generally less costly and don’t regulate moisture or temperature as well as fabrics that are made from natural fibers like cotton or viscose fabrics like bamboo. Dacron fiber also adds to the softness of the sleeping surface and is also breathable but not as costly as natural quilting fibers such as wool.
fire proof fabric layer - no chemicals: They don’t say what type this is but it’s probably a viscose / silica type of fire barrier which is non toxic and safe.
1/2" foam: This is added for surface softness and to change the feel of the mattress. They don’t mention the density of the polyfoam but it’s under the guidelines I would usually suggest of “around an inch or so” so it wouldn’t have a practical effect on the durability of the mattress.
sides and ends - 4 inches of polyester foam around edges of mattress to make edges stiffer. You can see some thoughts about using edge support with a latex mattress in post #33 here. I would want to know the density of the polyfoam because if it’s a lower density then it can soften faster than the latex if you use the edge of your mattress for sitting.
Outside of the unkown foam density of the edge support … overall there are no obvious weak links in the mattress and it would make a good quality choice if it was suitable for you in terms of PPP.
The value of any mattress purchase would be relative to what mattress you are comparing it to and the criteria that were the most important parts of your personal value equation. It would also depend on the size and on whether this was a “mattress only” purchase or whether it included a foundation or box spring as part of a set.
Phoenix