{"id":11666,"date":"2019-10-24T12:04:35","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T19:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/?p=11666"},"modified":"2024-01-05T11:01:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T18:01:10","slug":"latex-vs-memory-foam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/latex-vs-memory-foam\/","title":{"rendered":"Latex vs Memory Foam Mattresses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Memory foam and latex mattresses are often compared to one another. They\u2019re both foams but they have distinctly different characteristics and feels. You can also find mattresses that contain both, allowing you to enjoy the characteristics of each.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the market for a new mattress, you\u2019ve got some great options in both the memory foam and latex categories. We\u2019ve done mattress comparisons<\/a> of each material, so you can see how these foams are different and what you can expect from a mattress that includes them. Hopefully, our guide steers you towards the best mattress<\/a> for your needs\u2014 whether it’s memory foam, latex, or a hybrid model.<\/p>\n

\"latex<\/p>\n

Latex Mattresses<\/h2>\n

The term latex can describe any liquid with tiny polymer particles suspended in it. Latex mattresses<\/a> are made using either natural latex that\u2019s derived from the rubber tree or synthetic latex that\u2019s composed of manmade materials. Some mattresses contain both natural and synthetic latex in different layers or combined together.<\/p>\n

Natural vs Synthetic: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h3>\n

Natural latex is found in the milky white sap of the rubber tree. Latex functions as a sealant that protects the tree. After harvesting, the sap must be processed fairly quickly as it can thicken into chunks if left in the open air for too long.<\/p>\n

After the latex has been extracted from the sap, it goes through one of two processes\u2014 Dunlop or Talalay<\/a>\u2014 to be turned into a mattress. Natural latex mattresses made of either type are made of sustainable resources, making these mattresses some of the most eco-friendly options available.<\/p>\n

Instead of coming from plant extracts like natural latex, synthetic latex is derived from petroleum products and synthetic materials. Most synthetic latex used in mattresses is made from styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). It then goes through the same Dunlop or Talalay manufacturing process to create a latex mattress.<\/p>\n

Dunlop vs Talalay: All Latex Isn\u2019t Processed the Same<\/h3>\n

Natural and synthetic latex have to go through one of two processes before they become a mattress. The first and older of the two is the Dunlop process. A researcher at Dunlop Tyre and Rubber Company discovered the process in 1929, though the first Dunlop latex mattress didn\u2019t come out until 1931. Of course, the process has gone through updates and revisions since then, but it still produces excellent latex.<\/p>\n

This process starts by stirring the latex extract into a froth, which is then spread into a mold. The mold bakes in an oven to remove moisture. Next, the latex is removed from the mold and washed. Finally, it\u2019s baked again to get rid of any remaining moisture. During this process, sedimentary material tends to settle at the bottom of the mattress so that one side is denser than the other. Consequently, Dunlop latex mattresses tend to be firmer and denser than Talalay models. Comfort or support layers can be made of Dunlop latex, but because of its higher density, it\u2019s more common as a support layer.<\/p>\n

When it comes to Talalay and Dunlop latex foam mattresses<\/a>, all-natural Dunlop latex mattresses are more eco-friendly than Talalay mattresses. While Talalay latex mattresses are all-natural, the Dunlop process uses fewer steps and resources, making it more eco-friendly in and of itself.<\/p>\n

Three Russian brothers Leon, Joseph, and Ansil Talalay invented the newer and more complicated Talalay process. The process starts like the Dunlop process by injecting latex extract into a mold, except the mold is only partially filled. Then, the latex is vacuum-sealed so that it expands to fill the rest of the mold\u2019s available space.<\/p>\n

The mold is then flash-frozen to push carbon dioxide into the latex until it fully solidifies. This part of the process helps the latex remain light and aerated. The mattress is then baked and removed from the mold. It still has to be washed and dried again before it\u2019s finally done.<\/p>\n

The process may be more laborious, but it creates a lighter mattress with an even density. Talalay latex is lighter, softer, and bouncier than Dunlop, making it more appropriate for comfort layers. Both processes can be altered to create mattresses of different firmnesses. However, in general, Dunlop latex is denser, firmer, and less conforming than Talalay latex.<\/p>\n

You can find all-latex mattresses, latex hybrids, and mixed-foam mattresses that contain latex layers. Latex is more breathable than memory foam, but it can trap body heat. Many mattress manufacturers aerate their mattresses by creating aeration channels in the foam while still in the mold.<\/p>\n

Latex mattresses don\u2019t conform to the body the way memory foam does, although they do cushion and hug body curves. They provide an experience that\u2019s more like sleeping on rather than in the mattress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Memory foam and latex mattresses are often compared to one another. They\u2019re both foams but they have distinctly different characteristics and feels. You can also find mattresses that contain both, allowing you to enjoy the characteristics of each. If you\u2019re in the market for a new mattress, you\u2019ve got some great options in both the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":13289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11666"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11666\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sleepjunkie.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}