Latex Vs. Memory Foam Full Comparison Guide and Review (2022): Which One is a Better Mattress Choice?
Latex Vs. Memory Foam
Have you been a fan of latex mattresses? Or do you prefer memory foam? Whatever the case is – both types of mattresses have something to offer for every kind of sleeper. Find out which mattress type is best for you. Read our latex vs. memory foam mattress comparison guide here.
Foam mattresses are increasingly becoming popular in the market today. But do you know what kind of foam is best for you?
With both latex foam and memory foam available in the market, it’s hard to pinpoint where to start the comparison to help you figure out what would best suit your comfort.
Good thing, we’ve made this guide to help you take a look at latex foam vs. memory foams. In this comprehensive review, we’ll break down each type’s pros, cons, and characteristics.
Although both are the powerhouse foams in the mattress world, both still present two different feels that you need to know about.
Let’s begin and take a look at them in-depth, shall we?
What is a Memory Foam?
Let’s start this guide by getting to know what memory foams are.
A memory foam is known to be a human-made construction, which is built with polyurethane and other viscoelastic materials.
What’s great about this type of foam is that when pressure is applied to it, the foam immediately provides a hugging sensation and contour, which is good news for sleepers who choose this type of foam.
However, it may have a slow response time compared to other types of foam.
Generally, memory foams provide different levels of firmness and feel, which is great considering that each kind of sleeper has a varied preference for such. Thus, giving them the option to choose a memory foam with a firmness level to suit their comfort.
If there’s something you should remember about polyurethane foams: all memory foams are polyurethane foams, but not all the polyurethane foams are considered memory foams.
Here are some of the aspects that make memory foams stand out:
- Pressure Relief: What’s great about memory foams is that they present an excellent mold to varied body shapes, allowing them to offer pressure relief. This feature helps provide comforting features and reduce chronic pain to users. However, if you're suffering from chronic pain and you're not a big fan of memory foam, you can also see our top recommendations for the best mattress for joint pain.
- Motion Isolation: Another impressive feature offered by memory foams is its motion isolation. This type of foam prevents movement from transferring on the mattress, which is good news to users who sleep with partners on the bed. Now, you can finally say goodbye to restless nights, most especially if your partner moves too much.
- Hypoallergenic: Memory foams have a dense structure, which prevents them from accumulating any allergens and dust mites. This guarantees users who are allergic to wool get a good night’s rest when they choose to sleep on memory foams.
- Affordability: Memory foams are sold at reasonable price points, making them an excellent budget option mattress.
Although here are some mishaps you need to consider when choosing memory foams:
- Heat Retention: One thing you should consider about memory foams is that they tend to have difficulty dispersing body heat. Different brands and manufacturers handle this issue by designing memory foams with air channels or infuse conductive materials like memory foams.
- Off-Gassing: Another mishap about memory foams is that they tend to release a foul smell when newly unboxed. But, you can wait it out for a couple of days until the off-gassing dissipates. By any chance, foul smell from mattresses bothers you; you can go and check products that are CertiPur-US certified.
- Lack Of Edge Support: Considering that memory foams conform in nature, most of the memory foams give way to your weight, thus being relatively weak when it comes to edge support.
- Slow Responsiveness: Take note that some memory foams on the market have low response time than other brands. Memory foams with low response time tend to take time to get back to their original shape once pressure has been applied. Thus, giving the sleeper a feeling of being “stuck.” However, some good brands will provide you with better response time.
What Is A Latex Foam?
Latex Foam has more elasticity and gives a hugging sensation compared to memory foams.
In addition to that, it also presents an excellent bounce and fast response time, making it perfect for couples.
Latex in mattresses may come in either natural, synthetic, or blended type.
Here are some highlights that latex in mattresses presents:
- Excellent Springiness: What’s great about Latex is that it presents an incredible bounce, comparing it to memory foams. Thus, giving the users the sensation of being “on top” of the mattress.
- Durability: One good thing to remember about latex foams is that they present long-lasting durability that can last you up to 15 years of use. This is in comparison with memory foams that can last you up to 7 years only.
- Customizable Features: Mattress foam latex is built with zippers at the side, which you can easily open if you want to adjust your mattress's feel. This structure also makes it easier for you to clean your mattress than other types of foams that do not present this feature.
- Organic: Latex mattresses are available in 100% organic foam mattress latex-free from hazardous chemicals that may harm users and the environment. Many latex mattress brands utilize other kinds of materials, like wool and organic cotton.
- Cooling Features: Latex foams undergo the process of aeration, which adds to its breathability features. Foam latex mattresses are also built with cotton and wool, which adds to its excellent cooling.
However, here are some of the fallbacks of latex you need to consider before getting one for yourself:
- Offers too much bounce: It’s great news that latex foams offer excellent bounce. But, this may be an issue if you sleep with a partner on the bed since this material can’t absorb motion like memory foams.
- Rubbery smell: Initially, latex foams may emit a strong rubbery smell when newly bought. Or, it may even emit an animal-smell if it’s made with wool.
- Weight: Because latex is quite dense, it may appear quite heavy too. Thus, making it inconvenient to transfer it from one area to another.
- Availability: Latex foams are often available in online stores only and can’t easily be found in brick and mortar stores.
- Price: Many queen-sized natural latex mattresses may cost you around $2,000, making this one of the most expensive mattresses.
Memory Foam Vs. Latex Mattress
Construction
Latex Foam
Let’s look into the construction of latex vs. memory foam mattresses.
The construction of latex foam can be in the face of three different types. It can be classified into:
- Natural Latex
- Synthetic Latex
- Blended Natural and Synthetic Latex
Besides, there are several ways to manufacture latex, but the Dunlop and Talalay process is the most common.
Latex foam can also be classified according to its name.
For example, you can have either a:
- Natural Dunlop Foam
- Synthetic Dunlop Foam
- Natural Talalay Foam
- Synthetic Talalay Foam
Frequently, some manufacturers usually advertise the technique they used to build the foam, while others focus on the material they used to make the foam.
Let’s try and get to know some of the types of latex.
Natural latex is the type that uses raw latex coming from rubber trees. This is an excellent option for those looking for a 100% organic mattress. This kind of mattress is in its purest form and only has minimal off-gassing.
On the other hand, synthetic latex is a latex made from different variations of synthetic materials and constructed from styrene-butadiene rubber.
The feel of this latex is comparable to all-natural latex mattresses, although it provides a lesser bounce.
In addition, synthetic latex is also not as durable as all-natural latex.
Now, let’s proceed to two different kinds of latex according to its manufacturing process.
Dunlop latex is a kind of latex which is completely poured into a mold. The mixture is waited to settle, resulting in the foam having a denser feeling at the bottom and a softer feeling at the top.
Talalay latex, on the other hand, is latex that only partially fills the mold. Afterwhich, it goes through aeration that allows the mattress to expand and create a complete structure.
This technique makes this latex denser than Dunlop, but less durable too.
Memory Foam
The construction of memory foam consists of polyurethane and viscoelastic materials.
Note that memory foams are not considered one material, but is known to be a wide variety of similar foams.
Memory foams can either:
- Be virtually any firmness
- Be fully or partially infused with gel, graphite, or other materials
- Be built with a variety of densities (commonly with a PCF of 3.0-5.0
- Have a variety of response time (slow to average)
- Be aerated or convoluted
Feel And Comfort
Latex Foam
Let’s look into the feel and comfort of a latex mattress vs. memory foam.
Latex foams are built with excellent feel, bounce, and fast response time, making many users fall in love with this material immediately.
This material also offers a hugging sensation and a more generalized compression compared to memory foams.
Compared to memory foams, which tend to slowly contour your body to mold it into its exact shape, latex foams provide sinkage and compression.
Thus, it’s safe to say that latex foams and memory foams contour to your body differently.
Aside from it’s quick response time, latex also provides excellent breathability and generates less heat retention since they are integrated with air pockets during its molding process.
Memory Foam
Out of all the mattress construction of foams, the memory foam provides the most distinct and recognizable feel.
This type of foam provides excellent pressure relief giving a hugging sensation ideal for side sleepers who experience pressure-point discomfort while sleeping.
Although, the worst thing about memory foams is its heat retention, which doesn’t make it as breathable as latex.
Memory foam also has cooling issues because of its sinkage and contouring features, which may cause less airflow on the mattress.
Although memory foam mattress designers can prevent heat retention problems through using:
- Gel layers
- Gel-infused foam
- Convoluted foam
- Cooling fabrics
Although it’s good to take note that heat retention issues do not universally affect all memory foams since some brands offer designs handling heat retention problems very well.
Other features presented by memory foams include:
- Excellent conforming features to the weight of your body
- Slower response time, which provides better contouring and hugging sensation
- Pronounced sinkage
Memory Foam Vs. Latex: Which One Should You Buy?
If you’re wondering which type of foam is best for you, here’s what we recommend:
Latex foam mattresses are a perfect fit for those who:
- Like more bounce: Latex foams are bouncier than memory foams, which reduces the feeling of sinking or getting stuck. Also, latex foams are excellent for amorous activities like sex.
- Prefer a faster response time: Some sleepers may find a mattress with speedier response time more beneficial.
- Seeking natural mattresses: If you’re one of those looking for organic mattresses, then natural latex is a perfect fit for you. Aside from being free from hazardous materials, latex mattresses are hypoallergenic too.
Memory foam, on the other hand, is perfect for sleepers who:
- Prefer better compression support: Memory foams provide an excellent level of sinkage compared to a latex mattress, giving out contouring and hugging sensation to users.
- Want a slower response time: Those who like to sink deep into the mattress to experience a more profound pressure relief would enjoy the slow response time of memory foams.
- Prefer foam that uses varied materials: What’s great about memory foam is that you have a wide range of options to choose from. You can have a traditional memory foam, responsive memory foam, or even gel memory foams. All these foam types were created to suit the needs of any sleeper.
Deciding the Perfect Mattress Fit for You: Memory Foam Mattress Vs. Latex
Your mattress choice will always depend on your preferred comfort or the range of benefits you want to receive upon purchasing a mattress.
If you’re out in the market looking for a more affordable mattress, you can go for the memory foam mattress.
Although you can choose and get synthetic latex because it’s less expensive, you may experience durability issues. So, it would be better to go for high-quality memory foam.
If you’re looking into getting an eco-friendly mattress, we recommend you to go for the natural latex mattress. It’s impossible to get a 100% organic mattress with memory foams, blended latex, or even synthetic latex since all of these foams are built with petrochemicals.
We recommend you get latex foam for those looking for a softer mattress since it presents better firmness compared to memory foams.
If you want to get a bed that doesn’t sag, get the natural latex mattress. With its excellent durability, we guarantee it will last you for the next fifteen years.
Lastly, those looking for a sinking sensation should go for memory foams while those looking for “laying on top” feeling of the mattress can go for latex.
The Bottomline: Latex Vs. Memory Foam Mattress
At the end of the day, both latex and memory foam present distinct and excellent features compared to the other. The choice will always vary depending on the comfort preference of the user.
We hope you’ve learned something from our guide today and hoping you’ve finally decided the foam that’s best for you!
If you have further concerns, please leave us a comment, and our mattress experts will contact you shortly.
So what’s it going to be, latex or memory foams?
