The matters you choose will determine your sleep quality and how comfortable you will be when sleeping. When buying a mattress, you should ask what you consider most important, between comfort and durability or a combination of both.
There are different materials and types of mattresses, but many people find themselves debating between memory foam and latex mattresses.
While both are comfortable and provide adequate support for your body and spine, there are some differences between the two.
Latex Vs. Memory Foam
What Are Natural Latex Mattresses?
A natural latex mattress has a more generalized hug and elasticity than memory foam mattresses, meaning they have more bounce and a faster response time. You can choose a synthetic, blended, or natural latex mattress.
Natural latex mattresses are created using rubber trees, while synthetic ones are made using styrene-Butadiene as the primary material.
Manufacturers make latex mattresses using the Talalay or Dunlop process, but they have the same firmness regardless of the manufacturing process.
What Are Memory Foam Mattresses?
A memory foam mattress is made using polyurethane foam and other added materials to give them malleable and viscoelastic properties. They usually have several foam layers with different densities and sizes.
When you apply pressure to memory foam mattresses, they hug and contour to the specific pressure you apply but have a slow response time. Therefore, if you share a bed with someone, you will hardly feel them toss and turn.
Memory foam mattresses also use your body heat to absorb and mold your impact, creating a perfect cushion for aching joints.
The different types of memory foam mattresses are:
Traditional foam
These have polyurethane foam which adapts to your body and a closed-cell structure to trap heat.
Open-cell foam
The open cells allow air movement within the mattress, making it less dense and softer than traditional foam.
Gel-infused foam
These have gel pods that give the mattress added comfort and support and make it bouncier.
Plant-based foam
These mattresses are made using plant-based oils, making them more breathable.
Key Differences
Motion transfer
Since memory foam mattresses are firm and have a slow response time, it means that no matter how your partner tosses or turns, you might not feel their movements. However, latex mattresses’ bounciness and fast response time make you feel the movements more.
Conformity
Memory foam mattresses are known to mold themselves according to the contours of your body and hardly change shape. However, latex mattresses allow for compression and sinkage.
Heat retention and transfer
Latex mattresses have less heat retention, which is better for people who want heat regulation.
Sinking
Memory foam mattresses tend to sink more into your bed, making movements hard. However, latex mattresses bounce back as soon as you move, meaning that you remain over the mattress.
Edge support
Because of the slow response time, memory foam mattresses give better edge support, while latex mattresses could make you feel like you are rolling off when you sleep at the edge of your bed.
Pros And Cons
Memory foam Pros
• Pressure relief
• Motion isolation
• Less noisy
Cons
• Traps heat
• Less bounce
• Can sag over time
• Hard to move around
Latex mattress pros
• Minimal to no off-gassing smells.
• They are cooler, which makes you sleep better.
• More durable
Cons
• Noisy
• Heavier
• More expensive
• Poor to no pressure relief
If you want more bounce, faster response time, and a cool mattress, a latex mattress is the best for you. However, if you want pressure relief, slow response time, and a less bouncy mattress, memory foam is the mattress for you.
When looking for a mattress, look for reputable brands like Naturepedic, which makes their mattresses from the best materials.
