Memory Foam vs Latex MattressesIt seems we want everything when looking for a new mattress. Will it be comfortable enough? Is it durable, good for your health and if that wasn’t enough, is it good value for money? This means manufacturers have a pretty hard crowd to please, but it’s not impossible. As you know, my website is all about memory foam mattresses and this is because I happen to think they’re the best type on the market right now. However I’m not here to make the decision for you. I realized that some people may be considering a latex mattress instead of memory foam, so what better than to add a page telling you the pros and cons of both? This type of mattress has been around for some years now. In fact, they have been available since the mid 1950’s and they are considered to be one of the healthiest mattresses you can buy simply because latex is a natural substance that comes from the rubber tree. Latex mattresses are also incredibly durable. In fact some models will last as many as 15 years or more, and again this is because of the material used.
If you prefer a firmer mattress, latex might be the answer because although it will conform to your body’s natural curves, it won’t give you that “sinking” feeling that memory foam does. A mattress that contains (or is made of) latex will generally not give that “off gas” odor when it’s new. Heat is less likely to be an issue with a mattress like this although you may find it produces more heat than a traditional spring mattress. Pure latex is very expensive. In fact, if you want the very best and most natural latex mattress, expect to pay thousands for it. If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, be very careful when choosing a latex mattress. Some manufacturers are not very good at telling you exactly how much has been used. Where a combination of materials is used, expect to find more in the way of synthetics which negates the whole “eco-friendly” reputation. Don’t expect to walk into your local bed store and immediately find a latex mattress.
The reason for this is because the material comes from a natural source, it’s not that widely available (another reason why they’re also expensive). If you suffer from severe aches and pains when you sleep, a latex mattress might not be the right choice because they’re not designed with this type of support as a priority. There are a wide range of memory foam mattresses available on the market, and more choice means it’s easier for all types of people to find the right one for them. You don’t have to spend an inordinate amount of money in order to get decent quality because the technology used is widely available thereby making it cheaper. If you prefer a more plush type mattress, memory foam is probably better because they’re designed to cradle your body while you sleep. Some have even been designed with this in mind. For instance, you can take a look at the Ultimate Dreams 13″ Gel Memory Foam Mattress (see here) which is perfect for those nighttime aches and pains.
If you’re constantly woken up in the night because your partner is an “active” sleeper, most memory foam mattresses will eliminate this problem because of the way they’re designed. Memory foam will conform to your natural shape much more efficiently than latex which helps to support the major pressure points over your body. Foam mattresses are constructed from synthetic materials. However, these days’ manufacturers are careful to make sure this is not a danger to your health. Just be sure to look out for the CertiPUR-US certificate. If you tend to feel warm when you sleep, a foam mattress won’t help (although there are models on the market that use various airflow technologies and some even include layers of gel to help keep you cool. The Ultimate Dreams model I mentioned above is a good example of this). Expect to get anything from a slight to fairly strong odor when you first buy a foam mattress. This is because it has to expand into the right shape and certain harmless gases need to escape.
A memory foam mattress probably won’t last as long as latex but again, there are models that offer 20 year limited warranties. Hopefully the information above has given you an idea of which type of mattress will suit you better. As you can see both have the pluses and negatives but ultimately, the decision is yours.#1 in Sleep Product Research Millions Served Since 2008 Ratings >> Memory Foam > Memory Foam Vs Latex Unbiased Comparison Based on 8,485 Consumer Experiences Memory foam and latex are commonly used materials in mattresses that have important similarities and differences. The ratings below show how the two materials compare and contrast. The findings are true for the materials in only general. Consumer experience data suggests that memory foam and latex can be similar in their "feel" in general ways. Both tend to be considered soft but supportive, and both at least somewhat conform to the contours of the body resulting in above-average (back) pain relief and minimization of pressure points.
There are important differences in feel, however. Memory foam tends to have a sponge- or pudding-like feel which can result in a floating, cloud-like sensation. Latex, by contrast, tends to feel more solid with a springy or somewhat rubbery characteristic. In addition, memory foam – unlike latex – can be at least somewhat temperature sensitive. This means that memory foam can be firmer in cooler temperatures and softer in warmer temperatures or when in contact with a person's body. The temperature sensitivity of memory foam can provide effective contouring support. But it can also result in a person sinking substantially into the foam, making movement on the mattress somewhat difficult and restricting air circulation. The sensation of lying on memory foam can vary significantly based on several factors including the density of the foam: See memory foam density: higher vs lower. The sensation of lying on latex can also vary based on several factors. See latex mattresses for details.
Mattresses that contain at least 1.5 inches of either material tend to perform similar in owner satisfaction. It should be noted that of the 41 people in our research who say they have owned both latex and memory foam (mattress or topper), the majority prefer latex. The main durability / longevity complaint for memory foam is that it can become excessively soft over time or sag, resulting in poor comfort and support. The main durability / longevity complaint for latex is that it can develop body impressions or indentations where people sleep. Latex can also become excessively soft with use. Latex appears to provide somewhat better support. Pressure relief is a strength of both materials, but memory foam edges out latex. At least 30% of memory foam mattress owners report significant pressure relief, that is, relief from pressure points to the hips and shoulders especially. About 20% of latex mattress owners report the benefit. Memory foam (especially higher density) does somewhat better in regard to pressure-point relief likely because it tends to contour more strongly to the body than does latex resulting in more equal distribution of a person's weight on the mattress.
Pain relief is a strength of both types, but memory foam somewhat edges out latex. About 20% of memory foam mattress owners report significant relief from pain, including back pain. About 15% of latex mattress owners report the benefit. The more expensive brands/models (those mattresses that use a substantial amount of latex or higher-density memory foam) tend to relieve pain somewhat better than less expensive, lower-density brands/models. Memory foam as well as synthetic latex (usually not all-natural latex) can give off an initial gas or odor when they are new. About 12% of memory foam mattress owners and about 6% of latex mattress owners report significant initial off gassing. Off gassing is usually just a temporary annoying odor to those owners who notice it. In some cases, however, the odor is strong enough to prevent the owner from sleeping on the bed initially. And some memory foam mattress owners report feeling ill as a result of the off gassing. Learn more: memory foam off gassing.
Latex has far fewer complaints than memory foam (especially high-density memory foam) in regard to difficulty of moving on the bed or getting up off of it. This is mainly because latex tends to not contour as strongly to one's body and recovers instantaneously. However, if latex develops significant body impressions or indentations, then the bed may become difficult to move on due to "peaks and valleys." "Responsive" refers to how quickly memory foam and latex return to their original shape after being compressed. Latex quickly returns to its original shape, while memory foam can take several seconds or even minutes to do so. (In other words, memory foam has greater "memory".) Also, the higher the density of memory foam, the longer it tends to take for the foam to return to its original shape. Fast response is often preferred by consumers as it allows for easier movement and less resistance to changing positions and getting up off the bed. However, consumers who seek a mattress that strongly molds and contours to their body tend to be more satisfied with slow response (such as that found in high-density memory foam).
Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress keeps motion on the bed localized. The benefit of motion isolation is that one person's movement on the bed will be absorbed and not travel to another person on the bed to possibly disturb him or her. A mattress with good motion isolation, in other words, is often considered couple friendly. Memory foam universally does well on this issue, while latex overall performs somewhat worse. Dunlop-processed latex tends to provide mostly good motion isolation, while talalay-processed latex tends to provide no better than fair isolation. A bed sleeps hot if it acts as a heat trap for the sleeper's body heat, resulting in an uncomfortably warm sleepAbout 10% of memory foam bed owners and about 7% of latex bed owners report a sleeping hot problem. Memory foam, especially higher-density foam, has a significant number of complaints by owners regarding its suitability on this issue. Complaints for latex are fewer due mainly to it having more bounce potential.