Best Latex Mattress

Mattress buying guide for latex mattresses

If this is your first time shopping for a latex mattress, you’ve probably got some questions about this extraordinary mattress material. While there’s no way to describe the unique feeling of latex (or any mattress material, really), it helps to have a guide of useful information to narrow down your selection as you shop. Here are a few helpful pointers and some things to consider as you explore the exciting world of latex mattresses.  

Who should buy a latex mattress?

Latex is a comfortable choice of mattress material for all sleep preferences. If you have been sleeping on a memory foam mattress your whole life, it’s fair to anticipate an adjustment period. Latex is especially popular for people looking to minimize the effects of hidden foams and chemicals in their homes – and people looking for the health benefits which come with this natural material. Latex is also breathable with natural cooling abilities, making it a great choice for hot sleepers.

In terms of feel, latex is very responsive. This means it is springy rather than sinking – and you move across the surface of these beds with relative ease. It’s also hardier than many foams so, if mattress shopping is an exercise you’d rather not repeat too soon, latex could be the answer.

The pros of latex mattresses

Durability

Latex is more durable than many memory foams, which is attractive for many buyers. By its construction, latex is less inclined to sag and deteriorate like most memory foams.

Responsiveness

While this is very much a matter of opinion, there are some widely acknowledged benefits to more responsive mattresses. For restless sleepers – or anyone who changes position regularly during the night – the responsiveness of latex removes that stuck feeling you feel with traditional memory foams. It’s also easy to change position during intercourse – something many couples appreciate.

Temperature

Latex is naturally temperature regulating, which means most people sleep at a comfortable temperature during the night without overheating. It doesn’t hold heat the way many memory foam mattresses do. Some brands have enhanced the cooling abilities of their latex comfort layers by introducing a ‘pinprick’ design for ventilation. Together with the open design of coils in hybrid models, latex is a great choice for cooling.

Health

Unless you have a physical reaction to your mattress materials, there is no knowing the silent effects of sleep materials on your health. Opting for natural materials like latex can have very positive health benefits and, by virtue of being so pressure relieving, can help to alleviate existing aches and pains too. Dust mites and mold also have a kind of aversion to latex, which also contributes to wellness.

Cons of latex mattresses

Weight

Latex is quite a dense material and so can be a heavy piece of furniture. This only matters when you are moving or flipping a mattress – something most people won’t do often.

Price

Latex has a reputation for being too costly for many people’s budgets. Indeed, you can expect an elevated price tag attached to mattresses in the natural and latex class. However, if you aren’t a purist when it comes to natural materials, there are some blended materials available which usually dilute the price.

Feel

The feel of latex is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Some people simply never become accustomed to the unique feel and responsiveness of latex.

The different types of latex mattresses

There are different types of latex, which can almost be classed into grades for shoppers on the search for natural materials. There is all-latex, synthetic latex, and blended latex. Natural latex is tapped from rubber trees, while synthetic and blended latex is made through chemical processes.

You have also probably come across Dunlop and Talaylay natural latex mattresses. These are two types of natural latex varieties. The difference comes down to how they are processed. The differences between the two are not very pronounced. In fact, most people won’t tell one from the other. Dunlop latex is a little denser and heavier than Talaylay, which means it is slightly less aerated than the latter which has more free-flowing movement of air. It is used in all elements of construction, but is a better choice for support layers than Talaylay. It is also a little less expensive than Talaylay.

Latex vs memory foam

The main difference between latex and memory foam is that the one is natural and the other is synthetic. This mostly matters to green and health-conscious shoppers. These days, while traditional memory foam is still resoundingly popular, foams of yesteryear have evolved. This means more responsive, almost latex-like memory foams exist – without th green and health benefits of latex.

Latex is also an open-cell material which moves air around the mattress with greater ease than memory foam – and is more durable too.

Memory foam is the more affordable material between the two, but it also usually isolates motion more effectively than latex. This is important for light sleepers or anyone disturbed by a restless partner at night. It’s also hard to beat the pressure relieving abilities of traditional memory foam, although this comes down to the foam.

How long does a latex mattress last?

The longevity of any mattress depends on the materials used and the quality of construction. Latex is, however, the most durable mattress material on the market. While latex hybrid models last in the region of six to seven years – which is the norm across the industry – high-quality latex mattresses can last eight years or more. While many view latex mattresses as out of their budgets, the value of extra years of use is certainly worth considering when taking price into account.