What Makes a Latex Mattress Good?

If you are shopping for a latex mattress, chances are you’ve wondered what you should be looking for to get the best bed. While the idea of one “best mattress” might be a little ambiguous, there are quantifiers available which allow you to ensure you get the healthiest bed, and the one most likely to lead to happy sleep. Overall customer satisfaction with latex mattresses rank them at the top, right by memory foam, but don’t be fooled by a label that reads 100% latex. This can refer to natural latex, synthetic or a blend, and as shown in this article there is a significant difference between these different types and what might be hiding under their covers.

Sleeping on a 100% natural latex mattress will provide a resilient support that is unsurpassed by any style of mattress. Two different methods are used to create latex, the Dunlop and Talalay. Talalay includes the step of vacuuming sealing and flash-freezing latex to provide an even texture throughout the entire product. The Dunlop allows the material to settle naturally, creating an uneven texture. For this reason, high quality latex mattresses will be created using the Talalay method.

The Best Latex Mattress According to Reviews

Mattress blog BestMattress-Brand.org collected over 650 owner reviews to determine what makes a latex mattress good based on a vast set of criteria. Overwhelmingly, the results showed the number one most important factor was getting an all-latex bed, one that does not have any blended or synthetic foam layers. The comparisons of all natural latex versus latex blend over foam, and their results, ranked from a high of A to a low of D are as follow:

• Owner satisfaction of natural latex was rated an A, while blended ranked C.
• Life span of natural received an A, with synthetics receiving a B rating.
• A significant difference exists between back pain relief, with all-latex receiving an A, but blends only ranked at D.
• Natural materials which are used to create each style to protect consumers from breathing chemicals while they sleep. The difference in ranking here included natural latex receiving an A, while the blend received a C.
• No off-gassing differences between the two reveal that natural latex is ranked at an A, with synthetics ranked at the lowest D.
• Sleeping hot has been a concern reported by owners with synthetics which ranked the heat holding ability of synthetics at a C, while natural latex mattresses received an A for heat release.
• Warranties vary from company to company, however when comparing the average of natural latex versus synthetics, natural wins hands down with an A ranking compared to a B for synthetics.
• Return policies are important for consumers as they provide consumers a variety of options. Here the rating differences between all-latex and synthetic/blends are significant as natural receives an A while blends receive a C.
• Prices of latex mattresses tend to be higher than those made of other materials as they are considered a luxury mattress. All-latex beds averaged around $2500, while blended/latex over foam averaged around $1500.

What to Avoid When Looking for a Latex Mattress:

Just as there are positive attributes consumers should search for when purchasing a latex mattress, or any mattress, there are also negatives which should be avoided. Protecting one’s health is important, especially as more information continues to be released showing the dangers posed by chemicals we breathe. As most people spend an average of one-third of their day sleeping, the composition of mattresses and bedding is a concern that should be addressed. A recent post from BedEd.org about what to avoid in latex mattresses covered this more in depth, but here are the highlights:

• Chemicals as a whole should be avoided, particularly in the bedroom. These include the ones found in flame retardants, synthetic foams, fungicides and pesticides which may continue to release dangerous fumes for years.
• Synthetic covers may be used without realizing that they negate the benefits of owning natural and organic products. Synthetics are created using chemicals in the manufacturing process as opposed to naturally occurring products such as organic cotton.
• Petroleum fillers in blended latex and poly-foam fillers are synthetics created from petrochemicals that can potentially release VOCs for the life of the product.

Owners who have purchased mattresses with the above mentioned “avoids” have reported the following problems:

• Lower rate of overall satisfaction.
• Lower lifespan and durability
• More back pain
• Significant off-gassing
• More heat retention
• Shorter warranty
• Minimal return policy and trial period

Quick Look at Latex Mattress Brands

The above table offers a brief insight into six top retailers. Astrabeds.com’s all natural talalay latex mattress line complies with all of the above guidelines and offers the best value and warranty, making the brand a great choice to consider when comparing.