Latex vs Memory Foam – These two premium mattresses builds offer two very different feels while providing full body support. Latex mattresses offer a premium top layer that’s much firmer and bouncier than a memory foam mattress that offers a cradled support feeling.
When it comes to finding the perfect mattress, we need to ask ourselves, what’s the most important aspect? Is it comfort, durability, or a combination of both? Although there are several mattress types being sold today, most people choose between latex vs memory foam to help give them a good night’s sleep.
Latex vs Memory Foam – Understanding The Differences
Latex and memory foam beds are often considered by mattress buyers because of their comfort, and better sleep quality they get from these types of mattresses. But how did they arrive at this conclusion? Let’s find out how these two types of mattress differ from one another.
Latex Mattress
Latex foam is designed to last longer compared to that of a traditional innerspring mattress and can be made from natural or even synthetic materials in the case of hybrids. Natural latex foam is made from the rubber tree sap; hence this kind of mattress is considered a luxury type of bed. It is definitely on the expensive side. There are some companies that will simply add about 1 to 2 inches of natural latex foam on their mattresses, but the bulk is made from synthetic.
Dunlop process
This process allows manufacturers to use natural rubber sap but leverage a production process to double the amount of production reducing the strain on natural resources.
Talalay process
This manufacturing process is designed to create a latex foam that is softer and makes use of air and synthetic rubber to achieve it. Natural Talalay latex is renowned as luxurious.
Although latex models provide you comfort that is comparable to an innerspring type of mattress, the former can last you years longer. The difference between the two is the quality of the components used. Mattress manufacturers that sell natural latex mattresses often use materials that are environmentally friendly such as organic wool or cotton. Spring mattress; on the other hand, make use of synthetic foams, as well as synthetic fabrics that have chemical additives.
Memory Foam Mattress
A memory foam mattress is made from polyurethane and other types of materials to create a mattress that has a viscoelastic function. Basically, when you apply pressure on this type of foam, the mattress will follow the contour of the pressure placed on it. The response time, or how fast the mattress changes based on the pressure, depends on the type of memory foam. However, memory foam, in general, has slower responsiveness when compared to other kinds of mattresses. One thing you need to keep in mind about memory foams is that they are all polyurethane foam, but not all polyurethane foam is the same thickness which may affect the quality of the mattress.
Here’s what you need to know about memory foam
- It can partially or even be fully infused with various materials such as gel and gel beads to name a few.
- It has different response times for your body ranging from slow to average.
- There are various levels of firmness to choose from.
- Their design usually has channels in the bottom, holes on the top, with other designs put in place.
Here are some popular types of memory foam mattress available on the market
Gel infused memory foam. Traditional memory foam tends to have a problem with heat retention, which is corrected in gel memory foam mattresses. When you lie down on your gel memory foam bed, the heat will be absorbed quickly and be wicked away — hence there is a cooling effect.
Plant-based memory foam. This type of memory foam mattress is often overlooked. The manufacturing process that takes place for this kind of mattress is replacing the petroleum needed to create regular memory foam mattress with oils that are plant-based. This helps with the breathability and frees your mattress from various chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalate, and CFCs, just to name a few. This is considered as an eco-friendly mattress.
Air cool memory foam. As the name suggests, this type of mattress is designed to deal with the heat retention issue in traditional memory foam beds. With regards to response time, this mattress tends to respond quickly to your body heat, which speeds up the softening process of your mattress, while getting rid of the excess heat for a more comfortable sleep at night.
If you are in the market for a new mattress, you may also be interested in reading – what is a hybrid mattress?
Latex Vs Memory Foam – Main Differences
We all want to have a great night’s sleep as much as possible, but when our mattress is no longer giving us enough firmness to support our body’s weight, then our comfort is already compromised. This is when most people start looking for a new mattress to replace their bed. That being said, when it comes to choosing the best mattress for our needs, we often find it difficult to choose between latex and memory foam. Now that you have an idea of what these two mattresses are all about let’s find out what their main differences are.
Motion transfer.
Memory foam is better at preventing motion transfer compared to latex because memory foam has a slower response time. This means that if you are sleeping with your partner, no matter how often they toss and turn in bed your sleep will not be disrupted. However, if you go for a latex mattress, they perform only average when it comes to motion transfer. Due to its bouncy feel, it has a quicker response time, which means that you may be disturbed by your partner with this bed if they toss and turn a lot.
Conformity
Another major difference between the two is conformity. We all know that a memory foam mattress has the ability to mold itself on the contours of your body. However, in the case of latex, the material will simply compress and bounce back which means that it will only follow the general outline of your body.
Feel
When you lie down on a memory foam mattress, it feels as if you are resting on a cloud because of the spongy feel to it. A latex mattress, on the other hand, has a more solid feel to it with a spring-like bounce.
Heat Conduction
Between the two mattresses, when it comes to heat transfer, latex is much cooler compared to regular memory foam beds.
Sinking
A memory foam mattress may cause you to sink too much into your bed, which can make moving a bit difficult. Plus, the heat gets trapped which can disrupt your sleep. This shouldn’t be as much of a problem with latex because it is solid. Note that body weight can also be a factor when it comes to sinking.
Latex vs Memory Foam – Pros And Cons To Consider
Pros and Cons of Memory Foam
What are the advantages of choosing memory foam? The biggest benefit of buying one of these mattresses is that they mold to your body. So if you are looking for pressure relief, especially if you often have aches and pains, this may be one of the reasons why you should consider this sort of mattress. It also helps isolate movements so that your sleep is not disturbed by your partner when they are tossing and turning in bed.
The downside of this type of mattress is that it can trap heat when you lie in bed. As was mentioned before, when introduced to heat the mattress tends to soften, which can make you sink deeper into it. This sinking feeling causes more heat to get trapped in your bed, which can cause discomfort as you sleep. Depending on the type of memory foam that you purchase, you can get a mattress that is made with cooling materials to ward off mattress heat while you sleep.
Another downside to using memory foam is the off-gassing smell. There are some people who are sensitive to smell who may have issues with the smell being released from this mattress. Off-gassing can cause the sleeper to not be able to sleep on their mattress initially until the room properly airs out.
Pros and Cons of Latex
When it comes to latex mattresses, they are known for their antimicrobial as well as hypoallergenic properties. If you don’t need an eco-friendly bed, you can choose between synthetic or natural materials. This type of mattress has minimal off-gassing, so this shouldn’t be an issue with this type of mattress. Compared to memory foam, latex tends to be cooler, which can help you sleep better at night. And although this bed is firm, it still does have the ability to alleviate the pressure on your body. The best part? Latex mattresses can last up to 10 years or more which makes them quite durable.
With regards to the downside of this type of mattress, the problem is the price. Compared to memory foam, or other types of mattresses, latex is more expensive. Also, latex mattresses are much heavier than traditional mattresses which means you will need help to move it.
Latex vs Memory Foam – Which One to Choose?
Buying a new mattress is both exciting and challenging at the same time. The prospect of getting a new bed is exciting for sure, but with all the options in the market, it is sometimes difficult to decide which type of mattress to get.
If you are still unsure which of these two you are going to get, why not take these factors into consideration to help you make the best possible decision:
- Motion disturbance. The first thing that you need to consider when shopping for a new mattress is motion disturbance. After all, you don’t want to find yourself rolling towards the heavier side of the bed when you are sleeping with someone.
- Durability. There is no doubt that when it comes to durability, these mattresses are comparable to one another. However, latex may last a bit longer compared to memory foam, but this depends on how well you are taking care of your mattress.
- Sinking feeling. Another factor that you need to take into account when hunting for a new mattress is the sinking feeling. There are a lot of buyers who prefer the sinking sensation offered by memory foam mattress, and there are some who find it uncomfortable as it hinders their movement. Those who want a mattress with more bounce may opt for latex instead as it is more solid and has a spring to it.
- Comfort. Since memory foam conforms to your body’s shape, it can help alleviate pressure points. However, latex mattress also offer great comfort and support for those who don’t like the sinking feeling.
It is understandable for you to take your time when shopping for a bed, especially when you want to get the best value for your money. Use this as your guide to decide which type of mattress works for you and get you the bed you deserve. Good luck and happy sleeping!
