The New Latex Mattress

We all know about traditional spring mattresses and memory foam mattresses, but latex mattresses are relatively new. They are rapidly becoming more popular in Europe and marketing plans are being made to make them a hit in America as well. So what exactly is a latex mattress?

Latex mattresses come in two forms, natural and synthetic. The natural is made from the sap of the rubber tree, while the synthetic is a laboratory replication of the natural product. There is not much difference between the two, except that the synthetic is usually slightly cheaper. Many mattresses are made of a combination of both. There are two different methods of producing a latex mattress, the Dunlop method and the Talalay method. In both methods liquid latex is whipped into a foam and then poured into a mold of the mattress. The Talalay method is a newer and more complex method, removing air from the latex to create more uniform open cell structure and flash freezing to prevent the cells from moving. This creates a firmer but lighter mattress and is usually done with synthetic blend latex. Dunlop method mattresses are somewhat springier. Most buyers do not find a significant difference in comfort between the two methods, but you should test the mattress for yourself. Both mattresses will have a number of small holes cut into them for softness. Most are uniform, but some have different concentrations in different areas, allowing your mattress to be softer in in the areas you would like.

Latex mattresses have a number of the orthopedic benefits much like memory foam. However, they are much less able to relieve pressure points. Also like memory foam, the mattress may have an unpleasant chemical smell when first purchased. However, latex mattresses are better at conducting heat, meaning they will not be as hot in the summer.

For a good quality latex mattress you will probably end up spending at least a thousand dollars, although they can be found ranging from $300-$3000.