Comparing the Benefits of Latex and Memory Foam

Consumers looking for a more comfortable sleeping surface have been considering the benefits of both memory foam and latex mattresses for quite sometime now. Both materials are known for their ability to distribute body weight and relieve pressure points. As the baby boomer generation ages, they have begun to look for more comfort than is generally offered by conventional inner-spring mattresses. It is very common to see both latex and memory foam utilized as plush toppers by many of the major mattresses manufacturers, and some have even begun to produce full foam or latex mattresses, without inner-springs.

Tempur-Pedic mattresses have led the way in introducing consumers to mattresses that replace inner-springs in the core of the mattress with foam. This configuration creates a mattress that is much more effective in distributing your body weight smoothly over the surface area of the mattress. Add to that the pressure relieving qualities of a layer of memory foam and you have a mattress that is much easier on our aging joints. However, memory foam is not without some drawbacks that can influence the purchasing decisions of some consumers.

The single biggest concern about memory foam mattresses is that they sleep hot. The fact that your body sinks into the mattress surface makes it harder for air to circulate and the compressed memory foam absorbs body heat. Memory foam also depends on the ambient air temperature to be warm enough for it to respond effectively. In a cold bedroom, memory foam can be very firm and will take longer to respond to body weight and heat. That being said, the popularity of memory foam mattresses is no surprise, as they will gently cradle your body and relieve pressure points, an experience that is hard to achieve in conventional inner-spring mattresses.
A latex mattress has much the same quality as memory foam when it comes to distributing body weight and relieving pressure points. The similarities end here, as latex has some distinct advantages over memory foam. All natural latex is a sustainable resource harvested from the sap of the rubber tree. Natural latex is anti-microbial, resists dust mites, mold and mildew and is the most durable of all sleeping surfaces. Latex is available in a variety of firmness levels, rated by an ILD number, making it easy to fine tune firmness levels for different body weights and sleeping positions. With the current concerns about toxic chemicals used as fire-retardants in mattresses, an all natural latex mattress, covered only with cotton and wool, is the perfect solution for chemical-free safe sleep.

Coil inner-spring mattresses first became popular around the turn of the century and have been refined many times in an effort to provide body support that also conforms to body shape. Pillowtops are widely used to provide an additional conforming layer to add to the comfort of conventional inner-spring mattresses. The motion transfer associated with inner-springs is good indications that it's much more difficult for these mattresses to individually conform to body weight and sleep position. Foam mattresses, either a latex mattress or memory foam mattress, have very little motion transfer, for the simple reason that they are much more effective in isolating their response to individual weight and sleep position. It goes without saying that an individual response creates much more comfort, whether you're a couple or sleeping alone.

There is a very distinct difference in the feel of the core of a conventional inner-spring mattress and the feel of a "plush" or "pillowtop" created as a conforming layer for that mattress. More and more manufacturers use foam, memory foam or latex in their pillowtop layer due to the high level of comfort provided by these materials. Pillowtops are not necessary with either a latex mattress or a memory foam mattress.

In a latex mattress the core uses the same material as the conforming layer, making the entire mattress more effective in evenly distributing body weight and gently conforming to body shape and sleep position. Usually a core of about 6 inches is comprised of firmer latex, while a softer layer of about 2 inches is sufficient for a plush feel on the surface. Rather than having two distinctly separate layers, composed of different materials, the two layers of latex both work in harmony to create a unified feel to the latex mattress. A quality latex mattress is unmatched in durability, and maintains the same firmness level for the life of the mattress, unlike inner-spring mattresses which slowly breakdown over time. Latex and memory foam provide the best choices in modern mattress materials.

KC Ennis - Marketing Manager -
http://www.foamsource.com - http://www.naturesbedroom.com
Foamsource, offering innovations in restful sleep since 1985, is a direct manufacturer of latex and memory foam mattresses, toppers and pillows.

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