Bed mattresses made up of materials like memory foam and gel foam draw heavily from chemicals to create the experience of the bed molding to your body’s shape. Memory foam reacts chemically to your body’s temperature and creates that experience of support and comfort. However, if you’re like other consumers, you may want a mattress you can lay down on and not fear for the types of chemicals you’re inhaling or coming into contact with. Natural latex mattresses offer the same experience as memory foam but utilize an organic ingredient. Three models within the market are the Essentia Tatami Queen, Lifekind Trio and the Astrabeds SerenityBed. Natural latex is created from the sap of rubber trees specifically planted and maintained for latex and rubber production. These trees are tapped to create a regular and sustainable resource akin to maple syrup harvesting. The end result is a type of mattress support that doesn’t require the use of dangerous and toxic chemicals to create a long-lasting and always-springy bed.
Many different types of mattresses exist, and latex is among the least common of these types. The unique manufacturing process, in addition to the high price tags, makes such beds difficult to happen upon in most mattress stores. These beds aren’t as widely available as memory foam due to their rigorous manufacturing process. However, the difference of materials ultimately lends toward the mattress’ strengths and makes comparing it against regular memory foam mattresses an even more sensible process. One of the main appealing factors of the organic latex mattress over memory foam is the absence of chemical off-gassing. When you first purchase a memory foam mattress, you’ll likely notice a very strong chemical odor that reportedly fades with time, a by-product of chemical off-gassing. Latex mattresses, on the other hand, are often made without toxic chemicals or hazardous additives and thus don’t smell. In addition, due to their organic nature, the mattresses are also hypoallergenic and mold resistant, maintain their springiness after years of use and remain among the most durable mattresses on the market.
When picking a latex mattress, the design of the mattress is typically the same for any bed. Each layer is designed with holes throughout to encourage air circulation, heat reduction and moisture removal. However, the more comfortable and desirable mattresses are typically those with three or more layers of latex foam. This allows you to create varying levels of foam density for higher levels of comfort and support. While latex by itself is a natural and healthy alternative to memory foam, creating a 100-percent natural latex bed is incredibly expensive. To offset the cost of latex, many bed manufacturers create material blends that leverage the organic nature of latex with low-cost alternatives like synthetic latex, blends of natural and synthetic, and blends of natural and botanical latex. While a fully-organic latex bed may be the epitome of natural, healthy and earth-friendly mattresses, many latex beds will blend materials to create an alternative to all-natural. The best materials found in latex mattresses are that of Dunlop and Talalay latex.
The Dunlop process entails whipping rubber sap into a froth, pouring it into a mold, and then baking it. The natural materials found in rubber often settle to the bottom, resulting in latex layers being heavier on the bottom. The Talalay process adds two steps to Dunlop. After the latex is poured into a mold, the material is put in a vacuum chamber and flash-frozen before baking. The result is a latex more consistent in structure and more expensive. Of all the types of bed mattresses available to you, latex beds are reputed as the most long lasting of all mattresses. Due to the durable and breathable nature of latex, the mattress is better able to circulate air, retain spring and remain comfortable for a minimum of 10 years on average. Warranties help in protect you against product failures that might decrease the lifespan of your bed to anything shorter than that. The warranty of the mattress you choose should be sufficient to protect those first 10 years of use. The all-natural latex mattress simulates the same experience as memory foam, contouring to your body and helping reduce back pressure.
These mattresses respond instantly to your body’s position, allowing you to easily change positions in the night. The result is a good night’s rest and a longer-lasting mattress.A top choice for its highly durable memory foam, which offers plenty of therapeutic support and comfort. Praised for its unique coils, which work independently to provide the best possible weight distribution. Generates much enthusiasm for its universal comfort level, which ensures proper support and body weight distribution. An ideal choice for virtually any type of sleeper thanks to its firm support, which helps to relieve pressure points. Distances itself from competitors due to the fact that it ensures an odor-free mattress by using plant oil for freshness. Has a firmer construction, so if you're looking for something super soft, we recommend going with another one. Comes bundled up in a duffel bag for added convenience. However, you need to give it at least 24 hours to expand once it's removed from the bag.
A handful of consumers wish that the sides of the mattress offered a bit more support, as they tend to be a bit harder than the rest of the product. Several owners caution that this mattress is better sized for a trundle than it is for a traditional twin bed frame. This mattress is a bit firmer than most, which tends to be most noticeable among side sleepers. Anyone who's in the market for a high-quality mattress with ample support will really appreciate this mattress. Hands down the best mattress on the market. If you don't mind waiting an extra day or two to use your mattress once it arrives, this product is an excellent choice for the price. Definitely the best overall bang for your buck. You'll pay a bit more up front for this mattress, but satisfied owners agree that the added expense is well worth the comfort and support, not to mention durability over time. If you're looking for a reliable second mattress or want to get a mattress for a younger child, this product is a great choice.
While it's a great choice if you need a firmer mattress, those seeking a softer mattress should consider other products. Best of the Best Best Bang for the Buck We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers. Is your mattress conducive to a good night’s sleep, or do you toss and turn every night? Finding a mattress that’s comfortable, durable, and affordable can be somewhat of a balancing act. What’s more, mattress manufacturers routinely introduce new technologies to lure customers away from the competition. It can be tough to separate the hype from reality. Before you jump into a new investment, let our handy shopping guide help you answer your most pressing questions about buying a new mattress. Mattresses don’t last forever. If yours is over 10 years old, consider buying a new one. Mattresses collect dust, human skin cells, and body fluids over time. Some people try to revive their old mattress with a professional deep cleaning or a new mattress topper.
These temporary solutions are stop-gap measures at best. Here are some situations in which it’s definitely time to replace a mattress: The top is so worn that the inner springs are exposed. As mentioned above, a topper only masks this problem. Exposed springs threaten your comfort and support, and they’re definitely a safety hazard. The mattress has developed structural problems. Older mattresses may sag in the middle or collapse on the sides. Some people try to adapt to these inconveniences, but the fact is, an unsupported mattress puts unnatural stress on the body. Other warning signs that you may need to consider a new mattress include the following: You’re experiencing chronic stiffness or back pain, especially in the morning. You’re not sleeping well at night. You’re experiencing increased nighttime allergy symptoms. You notice that you get better rest in other places, such as a couch, chair, hotel, or friend’s guest room. Hundreds of internal metal coils support the sleeper on an innerspring mattress.
The ideal innerspring perfectly aligns the spine and fully supports the extremities. But since different parts of the body exert different amounts of pressure on the springs, this type of mattress may or may not provide adequate support. Your comfort depends heavily on the total number of coils your mattress has. A cheap mattress with 400 coils might not feel very comfortable, whereas a pricier model with 900 coils might feel so fantastic that you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. That said, the total number of coils is not always an indicator of mattress quality. A mattress with 800 coils might use an inferior grade of metal, whereas a 500-coil mattress might incorporate coils of top-quality steel. Memory foam mattresses are made of dense foam with heavy viscosity. These models incorporate a solid foam support system rather than a failure-prone set of internal coils. Memory foam conforms to your body contours, creating the appropriate highs and lows for ideal comfort and support.
For many people, the urge to assume to new sleep positions throughout the night is greatly reduced with a memory foam mattress. However, there are some drawbacks to this type of bedding. Memory foam mattresses are expensive, and they’re typically available only in specialized bedding stores and online. Furthermore, because the thick foam provides little ventilation, they tend to retain heat. Some memory foam mattresses include a gel layer that adds a bit of cooling comfort, but the gel is often buried too deeply within the mattress to be of much use. A recent development in mattress technology is the adjustable air/memory gel hybrid. With this type of mattress, you dial in your desired level of support, and air bladders inside the mattress inflate or deflate to match your command. (Note: the pumps that control each air bladder can be noisy, so middle-of-the-night adjustments are not advisable!) The obvious benefit is that two sleepers with different firmness preferences can share a bed comfortably.
These mattresses tend to be quite pricey, but satisfied users say the cost is worth it. A bit of advice about sleep number beds: while firmness level plays a role in your overall comfort, it’s wise to avoid extremely high or low settings. A too-soft mattress could cause problems over time because it doesn’t support the spine enough; an ultra-firm mattress that holds the body in rigid suspension all night could also cause problems. When it comes to mattresses, size matters. The smallest size available for adult sleepers is the twin, although it is barely large enough to support one average adult. Twin beds work best in a child’s room or a spare guest room. Two adults would likely not feel comfortable sharing a twin bed for long! The next size up is the full mattress. It’s the smallest size that can reasonably accommodate two average adults. Because of its relatively narrow width, there can be a lot of transferred motion if one sleeper leaves the bed or climbs back in.
Full mattress are available in an extended length for tall sleepers. Sheets, blankets, and pillow cases for the full-size bed are easy to find. Many people find contentment with the next largest size, the queen. Two adults can sleep comfortably on a queen-size bed without making incidental contact. If you prefer a few inches of separation between you and your partner, this could be the size for you. Transfer of motion is also less of an issue with this size than it is with a full. The ultimate mattress size is the spacious king. Size variations exist among king-size mattresses, such as the California King and the Split King. It’s a popular size in the hotel industry, because sleepers can maintain a comfortable distance if necessary. People who prefer a lot of independence while sleeping enjoy the benefits of a king. Notably, a king-size bed’s sheets, blankets, and pillowcases are larger and tend to cost more. If you’re considering a king-size mattress, be aware of this additional investment.
Before buying, it’s also wise to make sure your room’s dimensions will accommodate this larger bed. Innerspring mattresses with decent coil counts, independent spring designs, and thick padding should not cost more than about $1000. Pricier innerspring models do exist, but the difference in quality is often negligible. Memory foam/gel mattresses are generally promoted as high-end models, so customers should expect to see price tags of $1500 or more. Manufacturer financing is sometimes available, but the interest rates can be considerably higher than average. Adjustable air mattresses with memory foam or gel can also cost a lot. A price tag of $2000 to $2500 is not unusual for such a bed. People with health issues related to poor sleep may want to make the leap to an adjustable sleep number mattress, but others may conclude that the adjustable nature of this mattress doesn’t outweigh the initial investment. If you’re currently experiencing aches, pains, stiffness, or difficulty sleeping, a new mattress may help.