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What is a Latex Mattress?

In this guide, we have used all of our expert knowledge to give you everything you’d need to know before purchasing your very own latex mattress.

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Home / What is a Latex Mattress?

Latex Mattresses

Latex is an excellent material when used as a comfort layer within a mattress in comparison to synthetic materials.

However, there are so many different types and blends it can get confusing for a customer to find the quality versions. This guide will help you approach latex mattresses with fresh eyes to ensure you go home with the very best product.

What is Latex?

Latex is found in the Brazilian native para rubber tree, which goes by the Latin name ‘hevea brasiliensis’.

The para rubber tree takes up to 7 years to mature. Only then can it be harvested for its latex.

In its most natural form, it is a milky substance which manufacturers must extract from the rubber tree. It is then made into a foam for use in mattresses and other products. It is comfortable and supportive, with its long-lasting durability, making it the ideal foundation material for luxury mattresses.

Other Mattress Types

Pocket Sprung

Pillow Top

Natural

Combination

What is a Latex Mattress?

A latex mattress is a luxurious option made from organic materials.

At Winston’s Beds, our mattresses use a pocket spring unit with a blend of luxurious natural fillings and 5cm of 100% latex on either side of the mattress.

Latex mattresses are made from one piece of foam that is consistent all the way through. Unlike other retailers, we do not use cheap reflex foams. In our mattresses, natural fillings are the support and the comfort layers.

They are advanced and highly effective mattresses for people with back or hip injuries as their significant support is excellent for pressure points. Unlike memory foam, our mattresses do not need heat to shape to your body’s contours.

Mattress choices have become confusing, where you may think you are getting a 100% latex mattress. Still, in reality, it is a synthetic version that should cost no more than a budget mattress. Retailers are looking to save costs, and so by mixing synthetic materials with the natural, they can save money without you even noticing.

What are the benefits of a latex mattress?

There are many benefits of a latex mattress which make it a popular material for users.

There are a range of unique properties which separate it from the rest. If you’re looking to change to a latex mattress, you can expect to benefit from the following;

Durability – One of the most durable mattresses available, a latex mattress will last for a many years

Eco-friendly – This natural mattress is fully organic, perfect for the environmentally conscious

Hypoallergenic – If you suffer from allergies and reactions to dust mites, a latex mattress is a great choice to combat these irritants

Low Motion Transfer – If you sleep with a partner and are looking to limit roll together, latex mattresses keep motion transfer to a minimum, ensuring an uninterrupted night’s sleep for both of you

Types of Latex we use

100% Natural

This is the most expensive type and the best quality. It provides the best comfort and support compared to other types. It should feel super supportive and comfortable as you mould into it. It’s highly breathable and does not suffer from off-gassing issues.

What are the key features of natural latex besides its remarkable lifespan?

  • 100% natural.
  • Heat retentive.
  • Rapid response rate, meaning it will return to its original shape very quickly, without retaining indentations made by users.
  • Hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial and dust mite resistant.

The demand for latex is growing year by year.

Consumers are beginning to realise the benefits of this advanced foam. They would rather spend their hard-earned money on a more durable, supportive and comfortable natural product over synthetic human-made foams.

Firstly, it has a rapid response rate, thus, recovering as soon as you move to a different area of the mattress. Whereas memory foam will retain the indent and settlements your body made until it cools down.

Unlike memory foam, latex does not need to be warmed up to function. It also does not have the heat retentive properties of its industry rival, memory foam.

At Winston’s Beds, we believe latex is the perfect sleeping surface, with lifespan well over 15 years. The only people who will have problems using a latex mattress are those who are allergic to it.

Latex vs memory foam

Marketing in the mattress industry often creates confusion about which material, latex or memory foam is the most premium.

In short, there is no definitive answer around which is better. So, what we have done is look at both through a variety of comparisons, to help you to determine which ticks the most boxes for you.

  • Material Differences
    Latex is a superior material because it is natural and breathable—it scores higher against other foam mattresses both in durability and comfort. Memory foam takes longer to return to its original shape, linking it to a slower rebound rate when warm and also to a firmer consistency when it’s cold.
  • Firmness
    Memory foam is temperature-sensitive, whereas latex has a more consistent firmness level.
  • Cost
    You will find memory foam to be much cheaper than latex. This leaves customers facing a choice between balancing their budget, preferences, lifespan and desired quality for their mattress.

Separating the real from the fake!

Retailers are always looking for ways to include latex in their labels and price tags, without actually providing you with the benefits of it.

Let’s consider for a moment a ‘latex’ mattress marketed by a standard retailer. As a buyer, you may see this and believe you are going to enjoy the benefits of latex we have discussed above. Upon further research, you find that the mattress in question has only a layer of synthetic latex, covering only 2cm in depth.

Any layer less than 4cm has no practical use or benefits, due to the compression amount of at least 2cm. What this means is that when it compresses, which all-foam mattresses do, that 2cm becomes completely unusable.

In short, the mattress may contain a premium material.

Still, the application of it and how its added to the mattress renders it completely useless. Yet, with the addition of ‘latex’ on the label, you will likely have paid a premium for it.

This is the sales tactic employed to sell part latex filled mattresses, with many only spanning a depth of 2cm, or else made with 100% synthetic rather than natural.

What do you mean by synthetic?

Synthetic is something entirely human-made but has the consistency and feel of its natural counterpart. It is worth mentioning that the majority of products marketed as natural will have a proportion of synthetic within them.

Synthetic latex is firmer than its natural counterpart providing a firmer feel even when you wanted a medium. The result is you end up with a product what will not cater for your individual sleeping needs.

Summary

The best mattresses will be 100% natural, double-sided with 2cm to 2.5 cm of latex on either side.

Here at Winston’s Beds, we are one of the very few UK suppliers of 100% natural latex mattresses. If the label says “100%” this could mean it is 100% synthetic – make sure you check.

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