Sleep is an essential issue, and nothing regulates your mind and body like a pleasant night's rest. As humans, we spend a large portion of our lives sleeping, so getting the excellent mattress ought to be a priority.
You must have heard about the latex mattress vs memory foam mattress debate and now you are thinking of purchasing either of the two options. The right mattress does not only perform a crucial role for individuals who experience body pains and aches, but also for a superb night’s rest which would, in turn, enhance your heart function, body cell repair, and hormonal balance.
Are you experiencing serious difficulty analysing all of the mattress fuss? Or on the other hand, you are still contemplating on choosing which mattress is perfect for you? You are definitely not alone. For the majority of customers, the process of purchasing a new mattress is strenuous, frustrating and absolutely complicated. However, reading through this information, you will understand the differences between latex and memory foam mattresses - which will assist you in making a better decision during your purchase.
Let’s dive in….
Latex Foam
You have most likely heard about latex foam either from a colleague who just purchased a brand-new latex foam mattress that they cannot quit ranting about or from television commercials. Either way, I bet you are interested to know what all the fuss is about.
Latex mattresses are made from purely natural, synthetic, or a mixture of both synthetic and natural materials. These foams are highly durable and also resistant to bacteria, dust mites, mould and mildew which makes them a healthful alternative for mattresses.
Natural latex foam mattress: This kind of mattress is made from natural latex which is gathered from rubber trees and basically processed to create the latex foam core layers. Natural latex foam mattresses are admired for their durability as they tend to last a lot longer than any other sort of mattress. If you are a lover of sleep just like me and you want a natural mattress, then the natural latex mattress is the best option for you.
Synthetic latex foam mattress: The synthetic latex is basically made from styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). This mattress is similar to the pure natural latex foam when felt. However, the major difference between them is that the synthetic mattress is less bouncy and less durable than the natural mattress.
Whether choosing an all-natural, synthetic or a blend of both, there are two methods the latex mattress can be processed with; which are the Talalay and Dunlop processes. The two processes, in fact, produce very similar quality mattresses despite the marketing around them. The main difference is that Talalay undergoes more processing and as a result is less environmentally friendly. Although Talalay is meant to be softer in nature due to the excess air in the material during the manufacturing process used to expand the latex, Dunlop latex can be made the same softness by adjusting the density.
PROS
➢ Latex foams, if made naturally, contain no petrochemicals and there are no harmful chemicals entering into your body over the years spent sleeping on them (especially important for young children)
➢ Latex mattresses are the most able to breathe of all foam mattresses making them very pleasant. Contrary to the memory foam which absorbs a great deal of warmth (heat), the latex enables air circulation without restriction through the material, which keeps you feeling good throughout the night.
➢ Latex mattresses are repellent to dust mites, bed-bugs, mould, mildew and different types of bacteria.
➢ The softness and solidity of latex foams are fit for individuals who experience bodily aches and pains. This is due to the fact that it has the appropriate density and is likewise springy so it provides adequate pressure relief against the body, giving soft comfort and support.
➢ Since it is made from natural substances, it is extremely durable and excellent for sustainability of the environment (you can have a very comfortable sleep with latex for over two decades and this lowers the number of mattresses thrown away into landfill every year).
CONS
➢ They are usually quite expensive
➢ They are a bit on the heavy side.
➢ Sometimes people choose a latex mattress that is too firm
(Note: Peacelily has created a Latex mattress that is priced very affordably and also has 2 firmness levels which can be changed by simply flipping the mattress over!)
Memory Foam
A lot of individuals state that memory foam mattress has assisted them to soothe back pain, making them have a cosy sleep. Is that true? Is memory foam really great? Or perhaps it is just a trick made by sales representatives to boost their sales!
How about we dig a little further, shall we?
Memory foam, also known as the viscoelastic foam has been in existence since the 1960s. This special kind of foam is a high-density polyurethane foam which can be created for different levels of solidity and allowing for moulding around the body shape.
Memory foam frames around your body responding to heat and weight. The mattress assists your body weight to be rationed smoothly but gradually springs back to the initial shape as soon as you get up from it.
PROS
➢ Memory foam mattresses are hypoallergenic and can provide a great choice for individuals who have fabric allergies.
➢ Memory foam mattresses have very low partner disturbance, so body movement on one part of the bed doesn’t affect the other part of the mattress.
➢ The memory foam mattress is great for providing pressure relief to people who sleep on their side.
CONS
➢ Circulation of air is not effective in a memory foam mattress, making it less appropriate for warm humid atmospheres.
➢ As time goes by, the memory foam loses its capacity to 'spring back'. So, the bigger a person is, the quicker a memory foam mattress would sink and create indents on the mattress.
➢ Once you newly purchase a memory foam, there is always an unpleasant smell emitted by it. However, this off-gassing smell of the memory foam mattress can be harmful to the body.
If you’ve gotten to this point, and you’re still feeling a little confused trying to decide on the perfect mattress to purchase, the facts below would surely help you decide without any doubts. This I’m 100% sure of.
What mattress should I purchase? Latex or Memory Foam?
Knowing how good both mattresses work, the Latex mattress is definitely a much better choice than memory foam not just for me, but for a lot of other people as well. Though the memory foam might be awesome for side sleepers, it causes more harm than satisfaction.
The latex mattress, on the other hand, offers a lot of extra benefits, such as excellent airflow, mildew resistance, nature-friendly, great comfort, high durability, and lots more. Even if it might be a little expensive, you would absolutely get top-notch satisfaction for what you purchase.
Verdict
When making the choice of a latex vs memory foam mattress, quality and comfort are the two most important factors to consider. Purchasing latex mattresses, you would get all the comfort and protection that you could desire. However, with the trend of most memory foam companies having their mattress-in-a-box style, the Australian market is getting better and more advanced with the latest latex mattress-in-a-box, Peacelily Mattress, which is providing great health benefits due to its natural materials; making it one of the best investments you would ever make into your comfort and health-life.
