Hi zkimmer,
[quote]Thank you Phoenix, your posts are both informative and helpful. The owner of the establishment I am dealing with provided the same information. This increases my confidence in him. He was patient, helpful, and informative, but the different numbers through me off. I used the conversion chart on the Eco-Latex.com website to compare what I had been taught on the “Underground Mattress” with the numbers Colin gave me:
eco-latex.com/Latex%20foam%20sheet%20&%20Block%20Catalog.pdf[/quote]
There is also some information about 100% natural Dunlop and corresponding ILD ranges that may be helpful in post #2 here.
I would be very cautious though about using ILD to compare the softness or firmness of different types or blends of latex (see post #6 here)
[quote]“Where did you buy your mattress?”
In Calgary, Alberta at the “Sleep Boutique”, formally called “Labbe Bedding”. It was a family owned company, and has been bought by private owner, Colin, who recently changed the name. He was at the establishment both times we were to provide advice. We live 3 hours out of Calgary, but have children there. Colin accommodated our schedule, allowing us to pick up our mattress on his day off.[/quote]
I have had many conversations with Colin and as you know Sleep Boutique (formerly Labbe Bedding) is a member of the site which means that I think very highly of them and I believe they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, and transparency. He is very knowledgeable about his mattresses and the materials he uses and would certainly give you accurate information.
The most reliable way to choose would be based on your own testing in the store because anything else is just “theory” that can’t be as accurate as your own experience. Colin will also be able to give you some good guidance.
I don’t know if it would be more versatile but Talalay is generally available in softer versions than 100% natural molded Dunlop and there are probably more people that prefer Talalay comfort layers than Dunop comfort layers (although each person will have their own preference). It also “feels” a little different than Dunlop. There is more about the difference between the “feel” of Talalay and Dunlop in post #7 here but once again the best way to know which type and blend of latex you tend to prefer would be based on your own personal testing and experience.
I would trust your experience more than “ILD specs” because ILD isn’t the only factor which affects how firm or soft a layer feels and ILD specs by themselves can often be as misleading as they are helpful unless you have a lot of experience in testing many different types of layering combinations with different types, firmness levels, and thicknesses of latex because most people don’t have enough reference points that can “translate” specs into meaningful information about how any particular combination of materials will feel to them (regardless of how the same combination may feel for someone else).
Phoenix