Mattress
Ratings >> Latex
Mattress Ratings
Advantages and Disadvantages of Latex
Mattresses → Based
on Data From Over 450 Actual Owners
Page last updated Feb 2, 2010
Advantages
Comfort
Latex mattresses currently score about as well as any other mattress type, according to our research. This is mainly due to latex offering a good compromise between softness and firmness / support.
Motion Isolation
The independent cell construction of natural latex provides
good motion isolation. In other words, movement you make on
the bed will be significantly absorbed so that your partner
does not feel it.
Pain relief
Over 13% of owners report significant relief from pain, including back, hip and shoulder pain.
Limited
Off Gassing
Unlike owners of most other mattress types, latex bed owners have not complained
significantly about substantial off gassing (the chemical-like smell a bed
can give off initially), according to our research.
There are some complaints, not surprisingly, about the beds
having a latex smell.
Not temperature
sensitive
Latex can usually provide the same pressure-point-relieving comfort
and support of memory foam, but without the temperature
sensitivity. In other words, you won't have the "melting
in" feeling or as much difficulty moving around on latex
as you may have on memory foam. In addition, latex will maintain
a fairly consistent firmness, regardless of temperature, unlike memory foam.
Disadvantages
Not as proven as other types
Innerspring, memory foam, air and water beds are owned by many
millions of people and have long track records by which to accurately
judge them, especially their durability / life span. Latex mattresses have not yet established themselves
as the others have, at least in the United States. In other
words, you should consider yourself a bit of a pioneer if you
buy one.
May sleep hot
About 6% of owners report that their mattress traps their body heat, often resulting in an uncomfortable sleep environment.
Heavy
After waterbeds, latex mattresses, especially those made using
the Dunlop process, are likely the heaviest type of bed. This,
of course, can make moving the bed or making it up difficult.
Glued seams
The Talalay method produces latex in
sections which then must be glued together. This can hurt the perceived quality of the mattress. In addition, a seam can potentially be uncomfortable if lying directly on it.