last updated: Jan 25, 2017What's most important to you? We decided to compare latex and memory foam mattresses and let you decide for yourself.After all, who better to help you figure this one out? We Essentia, do make some of the best latex mattresses in the world.A) Memory foam mattresses are known for their pressure relief and comfort...but are made with some pretty harsh chemicals.B) Latex mattresses are known for being durable, natural and healthy but aren't known for comfort. LatexMemory FoamNatural Memory Foam Made using certified organic & natural components, no metals. Reduced VOC exposure, not exposed to harmful chemicals. Heat dissipates through the mattress and away from the body. Eliminates negative space, ideal for proper spinal alignment. Eliminates numbness and soreness. Evenly distributed body weight allows for increased blood circuNatural, latex based memory foam is NEW and has been featured on Dr.OZ, Tiny House Nation, O Network, Rachael Ray and many more.
Because people demanded a more comfortable latex mattress, we Essentia spent 3 years developing a unique and patented latex mattress.You can learn more about how our mattresses are made.Latex mattresses used to be sold at Sears! They've been around since the 50's and are some of the healthiest and most eco-friendly mattresses available.However, their comfort, leaves much to be desired since the more natural they are the firmer they tend to be.Memory foam mattresses outperform latex mattresses in all tests which measure comfort, like proper blood circulation. Pressure point relief is a clear sign of comfort. A memory foam mattress offers your body the best sleep surface on the market, with better blood circulation and contouring support being big pluses.BUT, most memory foam is made using harsh chemicals. Petroleum based memory foams are made using known carcinogens and have been linked to itchy eyes, respiratory issues, headaches etc.Making the healthy choice (natural latex) or comfortable choice (memory foam) is a dilemma for consumers.
Keep in mind you could always get the benefits of both with our natural memory foam. <-- It feels AMAZING.Latex foam is a type of foam designed to outlast traditional spring mattresses. It can be made using natural or synthetic (manmade) ingredients.There are 3 different types of Latex foam: Natural latex foam is processed Hevea milk (rubber tree sap). It's rare to find natural latex in brand name mattresses since it's expensive and durable, lasting 15+ years. Big box companies will usually only include 1 - 2 inches of natural latex on top so they can promote the mattress as “natural”. In reality, the bed is made up of more synthetic materials than anything else. Be suspicious when companies don't mention the percentage of natural content in their latex.Keep in mind that it's just not feasible for any mattress under $1500 to be made entirely of natural latex due to the costs.Sap from the Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is collected and processed into latex; the finished product is used in mattresses and pillows.1) Talalay ProcessThe Talalay process of making latex results in a softer feeling foam.
Synthetics and air are always added to achieve this. 100% Natural Talalay does not exist and most Talalay on today’s market is heavily blended, if not 100% synthetic.2) Dunlop ProcessThe Dunlop process of making latex creates a firmer feeling foam.Both Dunlop and Talalay latex can be made 100% synthetic.People often say that Talalay is the superior latex. This is false and here's why.Dunlop latex foam was put to market in the 1950's. The goal was not to create natural foam, it was to create a longer-lasting, consistent feeling product than other foams on the market.Talalay latex foam was then invented. It felt better than Dunlop foam since it was softer, more durable and had a more consistent feel. To do this, 50%+ of the natural ingredients were replaced with synthetics. Remember "natural" was of no concern back then, it was all about the properties of the foam.As technology improved, Dunlop latex evolved and caught up in terms of performance, durability and consistency.Today, Talalay is still the softer latex foam but it remains highly synthetic.
That's why you can't and will never find GOLS certified Talalay latex because it exceeds the quantity of synthetic ingredients tolerated by the GOLS or Global Organic Latex Standard certification.A latex mattress roughly provides comfort equivalent to that of a spring mattress, but with extended durability (10-30 years).The main difference between the 2 types of mattresses is component quality. Companies manufacturing natural latex mattresses tend to opt for environmentally friendly materials; natural and organic wools and cottons. Traditional spring mattress manufacturers tend to use synthetic foams and chemically treated synthetic fabrics etc.For more information, please visit our Learning Center.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.