I have searched, and searched to be left uncertain of the validity my conclusion.
With respect to the Allegro 10 Inch talalay mattress here
The details state that the
Medium rirm has an ILD of 28
and
The firm has an ILD of 32
At first glance my instinct tells me that maybe those numbers are not correct, or on the contrary, maybe when 10 inches of the foam is combined together 28ild is actually medium firm?
Is it reasonable that 10 inches of Talalay Latex is medium firm?
I would like to get one of these, and there is no way to try them.
There is no specific definition of “medium firm” or any other mattress firmness designation between manufacturers or between people. What is too soft for one can be too firm for another. It can also be misleading because an overall designation is more about the overall “feel” of the mattress but almost all mattresses have several layers that are different firmness levels and perform different functions. What would be too firm in a comfort layer can be too soft in a support layer.
In general … most of what you “feel” on a mattress comes from the upper layers of the mattress and a 28 ILD layer would generally be considered to be in the medium range for most people and on top of a firmer support core this would generally be considered to be a “medium firm” mattress. A sleeping surface in the range of 32 ILD with a firmer support core underneath it would be moving into the firm range for many people. Thickness and softness also work together so a thinner top layer of softer material will also allow more of the firmness of the deeper layers to “come through” and will feel firmer than the same ILD in a top layer that was thicker on the same support core. ILD ratings apply to individual layers not to a mattress as a whole.
Of course if you were 300 lbs then a 28 ILD comfort layer would probably be soft and if you were 100 lbs then the same comfort layer would probably be firm but this would also depend on the thickness of the comfort layer and the firmness of the layers below it.
In other words … while thicker mattresses tend to be softer than thinner mattresses … thickness is only one of many specs that determine the firmness of a mattress (in either the comfort or support layers) and a 10" latex mattress could be anything from very soft to very firm depending on the perceptions of the person and the specific design of the mattress and the firmness of all the layers.
This is why “theory at a distance” and mattress specs can be misleading and it’s generally much more effective to go by your own testing and experience or if you can’t test a mattress in person then a more detailed conversation with a retailer or manufacturer who can talk to you about what you consider to be firm or soft in different mattresses you have tested or slept on and use this information along with their own knowledge and experience with their mattresses and your own personal “specs” as a reference point to help you decide which of their mattresses are the most likely to be suitable for your unique needs and preferences in terms of PPP.
Talalay latex is manufactured in 6" cores so it certainly wouldn’t be a single piece of latex but some combination of layers (either glued or unglued) inside the mattress.
If all of the mattress is only Talalay latex from top to bottom (outside of the cover and quilting) then there wouldn’t be any weak links in terms of quality or durability but you might find that some manufacturers wish to keep the “comfort specs” proprietary because they aren’t necessary to assess the quality or durability of the mattress and most people would have no idea how to “translate” the comfort specs of a mattress (such as ILD, layer thickness etc) to know for certain whether the mattress was a suitable match for them in terms of PPP until they have slept on it.
In cases like this where you are considering an online mattress that you can’t test in person then you would need to replace your personal testing with a more detailed conversation with the manufacturer who can use their knowledge and experience to help you choose which of their mattresses have the best chance of success. This and making sure you are comfortable with the options you have available after a purchase can be an important part of the “value” of a purchase just in case the mattress you choose doesn’t turn out to be the most suitable choice for you in spite of the spite of the “best efforts” of both you and a retailer/manufacturer.
Outside of whether it’s a good match for you in terms of PPP … it’s certainly a good quality choice in a good price range and there are no weak links in the mattress.
The ALLEGRO is 10 inches of solid Talalay. There are several layers that are laminated in order to form the proprietary 10 inch model. The top section of the medium-firm is a 20 ILD talalay latex, and the firm top section is a 30 ILD. The mattress is then covered with an organic blended cotton cover. The company is vague in releasing information about how the mattresses are constructed, but they assure me that it is solid Talalay and that their firmness selections represent an approximate medium and medium-firm.
