Hi Checkmate,
Almost all of the comments you have made accurately identify the pros and cons of each mattress but there are a few which may need to be clarified which may make your choices easier. Your final choice is easier because as you mentioned none of these are in the “best available value” group but since this is not an issue for you it’s really a matter of clarifying a few things and once this is done I think your choices will become more clear. I should mention as well that I don’t consider any of these mattresses to have any “weak links”.
1. Natura Twilight: Mostly Talalay with some Dunlop
Your concerns with the bankruptcies of this manufacturer and their supply problems are valid IMO but they are now owned by Spring Air / Sommex (NOTE ADDED: They are now owned by Rev Sleep which in turn is owned by Sommex … see here) which should give it more stable ownership. In addition to this I personally put more faith in the quality and durability of the materials than I do in a warranty anyway.
As you can see in the construction details here that you linked to … they do have different layers that have different densities / firmness levels (a 6" core with two separate layers above it) … but this is also true of all the other mattresses you are considering. Even if the 6" base layer was made of two 3" layers laminated together (which isn’t indicated in the description) I wouldn’t have any issues with using say two 3" layers or a different density/firmness level rather than a single 6" core of latex to achieve the design goals of the mattress. This would just be part of how mattresses are made and designed with different levels of comfort and support and is not a “negative”.
I also wouldn’t consider the settling of thicker wool quilting layers as a negative or sign of breakdown. I should also mention that when wool compresses it becomes firmer not softer. Wool layers will compress and have impressions over time to differing degrees (up to about 30% of their thickness) depending on the type and grade of wool used and on how they are compressed, quilted, tufted, or layered and this is just part of how wool reacts over time and part of how it conforms to the body. This is also not a negative and is certainly not a sign of the wool breaking down as it would be with a similar polyfoam layer. In effect … softening and impressions in foam is undesirable and a sign of the foam breaking down. The same thing with wool is desirable and is part of the normal properties of a wool quilting layer, comfort layer, or topper. This is how wool is supposed to work.
There is also no polyfoam in the quilting layers of this mattress as far as I’m aware (and it would very much surprise me if there was because they do a good job of listing the contents of their mattresses and don’t “skip” layers). The warranty exclusion would normally reflect that there was a thicker layer of wool on top which was expected to compress to some degree and would typically be 1.5" instead of a more typical .75" for a mattress where you were directly on the latex.
Based on your comfort / support comments this would seem to be a good choice.
2. Greensleep Ergo Hevea Dolcezza:
I think you have identified all the pros and cons for this one accurately. It appears that your “best” layering would be one you hadn’t tested and you would need to factor in your your confidence about whether an untested layering would be suitable and add the additional risk in to your “value equation”. Good quality as well and has the benefit of a side to side split and custom layering options that can be changed out down the road should that be necessary. Also has the benefit of the dowel foundation which can also be customized if you need it (and if that is how you tested it).
3. OMI Lago
Again I’m not sure why this is a concern of yours but this isn’t a solid slab of latex anyway. The 6" layer is one piece and the 3" comfort layer is on top of this. I don’t believe this has the additional 1" layer you are mentioning. While this is a two sided mattress which can be a benefit … the benefits in this case would be questionable because all the layers are internal which means there would be a firm side and a softer side and most people would only use one side. Some people may choose a design like this with two twin XL mattresses and use them as a split king with a different firmness level mattress on each side which would be the most practical use of this style.
4. OMI Duo:
A comfort layer is just the softer layers that are on top of firmer support or transition layers and are there to “allow” you to to sink into the mattress and provide pressure relief. All mattresses have a “comfort zone” (which may or may not be a separate layer or layers) which is the amount that someone sinks into the surface of the mattress to form a pressure relieving cradle. Even a mattress that used a single 6" core of latex would have a “comfort zone” which would be the depth of the pressure relieving cradle even though it wouldn’t be a separate layer. In most cases though a separate layer or layers are used to enhance the softness of the top few inches of the mattress. In the Duo the top 3" layer would be the comfort layer, the middle layer would be the transition layer, and the bottom layer would be the support layer. The bottom two layers together would normally be considered the support layers although none of this terminology is “exact”.
As you can see in post #15 here … unglued latex layers don’t usually present any kind of a problem at all because they are very “sticky” and adhere well to each other. Even individually covered layers that are a little less sticky would normally be fine. If for some reason they do shift it’s very easy to open the cover and “wave” them back into position and the benefits of loose layers and a zip cover would outweigh having the layers glued IMO. They are not a durability issue.
I should also mention that all Dunlop and Talalay latex cores made in a mold have pincores (the holes in the latex) which are used to cure the latex (Steam going through the aluminum pins provides the heat that is used to cure the latex internally) and they have a side benefit of providing additional ventilation to the latex core. All of the mattresses you have mentioned all use latex layers made in a mold and all of them have pincores. The only latex that doesn’t have pincores (sometimes) is Dunlop latex that is produced on a moving belt and is usually blended Dunlop made in thinner layers that don’t need pincores for internal curing of the latex (although Mountaintop which is the manufacturer that makes latex cores for Sealy can make continuous process Dunlop layers up to 7" thick and does have pincores). In many cases even these have pincores punched into them so people will believe it’s really latex because latex without pincores looks “fake” to many people who don’t realize that some continuous pour Dunlop is made that way.
If this is the only “down side” to this mattress then this should remove it as a concern. As you can see on their direct information page here as well for the Duo … they also allow layer exchanges after a purchase if you need to customize it further after a purchase and their prices have been reduced (hopefully this is still current) as they “compete” with Savvy Rest which is another higher priced manufacturer which makes 3 layer latex mattresses very similar to the Duo.
Hope this helps since it seems to remove the concerns about the one you were leaning towards and seems to have the best combination of PPP and flexibility of design both before and after the sale and hopefully has lowered prices as well.
Phoenix
I should also point out that I believe that the previous poster’s comments were meant to help you and had good intent (and I also had the same thoughts as they did). I have provided this same caution to many of the members here when they cross the line into overanalysis or being more technical then may be necessary and I don’t think the harsh tone of your response was really called for. Perhaps a simple thank you for the reply and the effort to help you based on their own experience would have done just as well.