If you are shopping for a new mattress these days, latex and memory foam are two of the most popular mattresses to be had, but which is better?

The truth is they are both excellent mattresses, one is foam and the other is rubber. 100% All Natural Latex Mattress, Is It Foam or Rubber? When comparing the overall durability of 100 percent all natural latex to memory foam I would have to say that latex wins the toughness battle hands down after all one is used to make car tires while the other is not.

Comparing an all natural latex mattress to memory foam in the usage of chemicals.
When putting a 100% All natural latex rubber mattress side-by-side to a memory foam mattress, you must first determine what model you are comparing. At this time memory foam is not available in an all natural or organic versions, so most latex mattresses will beat memory foam because latex includes very few chemical. There are some eco friendly memory foam mattresses that use plant based oils like soy, but these generally speaking are still loaded with chemicals. All though the name might imply something different, some all natural latex mattresses are made using a synthetic latex blend mixture of about 70/30. However the winning edge still must go to latex mattresses, which is widely available in a 98 to 99 percent pure form, this according to virtually every manufacturer of all natural latex mattresses. Side note: most consider these to be organic latex mattresses.

Which is more comfortable memory foam or latex?
Feel is very subjective to the sleeper, we would recommend trying them for yourselves and making up your own mind. Memory foam is often a love or hate feel. More people initially respond with a more positive first impression to all natural latex mattresses. With that said memory foam still out sells latex mattresses across the country. In fairness memory foams larger sales volume is primarily due to the significant advertising campaign on the part of companies like Tempur Pedic, the largest producer of memory foam mattresses in the world.

3 questions about same rubbery latex mattress material, but really what is it.

1. Is it 100% all natural latex a foam?
2. Is it  100% all natural latex it a foam rubber?
3. Is it 100% all natural latex Is it simply just rubber?

Lots of confusion concerning what this stuff really is. Here is the simple to understand explanation of what is 100 percent all natural latex really is.

Plain & Simple: All Natural Latex goes by 3 names:

100% all natural latex foam
100% all natural latex rubber
100% all natural latex foam rubber

Understaning the 3 common terms used very loosely by the mattress industry.

The correct and true name is 100% all natural latex rubber. It is made from the sap of a rubber tree and is processed until the point where it ends up as a finished sheet of latex rubber ranging in thickness from one inch up to 6 inches thick. These sheets of rubber are then inserted into an all natural latex mattress or become part a of the growing number of organic mattresses on the retail market today.

Here is where the confusion begins.

The finished sheet of all natural latex rubber is commonly inserted into a mattress just like a sheet of polyurethane foam. Many manufacturers use the common term “sheet of foam” when describing or talking about the innards of a mattress and working in the mattress industry. Really by default these mattress gurus just started calling it foam rubber because it was easy, and it was being used in the identical way that we use a sheet of polyurethane foam. In quick industry lingo they were and are really just one and the same even though it was and is totally incorrect.

Polyurethane foam is commonly purchased by mattress manufacturers in varying thicknesses, just like all natural latex rubber.  Polyurethane foam or PU, is the most commonly used foam product in a mattress and boxspring today. However polyurethane foam is petroleum based and is not all natural. PU Foam is not made from a trees sap but is actually made from an irreplaceable natural resource, oil. Memory foam commonly recognized in the world under names like Tempur Pedic, the famous handprint, and being designed and developed by NASA. An important fact about memory foam is that this type of polyurethane foam is petrol based.  Because of that nearly 100 percent of all Memory foam isn’t considered to be anything close to organic or all natural, but is commonly more durable than traditional polyurethane foam.

Contact us if you have more questions about all natural latex rubber?

Whether you’re a big time tree hugger, an SUV driving gas-guzzling Hummer driver, or someone in between, an organic mattress made from all natural rubber is a smart purchase and has something for all of us.

Really you say? Everyone wants a safe, durable, comfortable mattress and from our experience latex rubber meets and exceeds all traditional mattresss criteria.

· Mattresses built from rubber are more durable than those built from polyurethane foam.
Natural rubber mattresses do not take the set that traditional spring mattresses get. Almost immediately body impressions appear in regular mattresses, this is what we call a body impression. Over time like anything a mattress can loose its resiliency, but with all natural latex rubber its elasticity is its trademark. Similar to a rubber car tire latex rubber mattresses are not only flexible and durable but return to their original shape.

· Latex mattresses are good for the environment because they save much needed landfill space.
This is because all natural latex rubber mattresses last between 15-25 and years resulting in fewer being thrown into landfills and dumps. There are only a handful of mattress recycling programs in the USA so most mattress and boxsprings end up in these landfills within 5-8 years. Even worse is that mattresses use up more landfill space than nearly any other household item combined.

· Latex mattresses are environmentally friendly because they are naturally biodegradable.
When a mattresses useful life has been exhausted and needs to be disposed all natural mattress materials decompose at a faster rate than regular mattresses and boxsprings. Their decomposition will not leach the poisonous toxins into the environment often found in common mattresses. Think of it like cheap particleboard furniture vs. hand crafted oak furniture. Which will end up in the dump first?

· Latex mattresses can be custom built to your desired firmness for the best feel and support.
You can also swap out softer and firmer rubber layers to change and customize the feel, which can be very important as your body changes 5,10, or even 15 years down the road.

·Organic latex mattresses can be individually customized for each sleeper.
Dual firmnesses are available so one sleeper can have firm while the other snuggles up to soft.

· All natural latex mattress components are not derived from non-renewable oil.
That’s right latex mattresses are built from sustainable and renewable resources. The rubber tree is the primary resource for this mattress type with a life cycle of about eighteen years. After the first three years the tree will grow to maturity and start to produce the rubber sap the mattresses are built from.

· Organic rubber mattresses are safer and healthier mattresses because of the extremely limited amount of chemicals used to make them.

Dunlop latex is about 90 to 95 percent all natural rubber. The vulcanization process requires curing factors, such as fatty acid soaps (1-2 percent), zinc oxide (2-3 percent), sulfur (1-2 percent) and sodium (1-2percent). The last stages of this latex fabrication process washes out these added chemicals and the water is then recycled for a nearly all naturally chemical free mattress and clean waste water.

· What about the fabric covers are they really safer?
Our Land and Sky latex mattresses use certified organic wool to comply with new mandated fire safety laws. Some companies use undisclosed chemicals to comply with the Consumer Product Safety Commissions mandate FR1633 for fire retardantcy.

· Over their useable life latex mattresses are cheaper than regular coil spring mattresses.

At the time of this blog a queen latex mattress if it only lasted for 15 years priced out at $1500.00 which would cost about $100.00 a year to own. A regular $600.00 mattress and box spring normally last for about 5 years costing about $120.00 a year. Now add to that the waste of resources such as steel, oil, fabric, foams and landfill space wasted in that same 15 year time period.

· It does not require as much energy to produce an all-natural latex mattress.
Lets not even get into the technical details. It would take at the very least twice the raw materials and resources to get a conventional spring mattress to last as long. So why don’t mattress companies build them to last. $$$ They don’t want them too.

Conclusion:
Latex is cheap, durable, and comfortable. The only way to find out for sure is to test drive one for yourself. Find an Organic and All Natural Mattress near you. Are Green Organic Latex Mattresses Any Good Or Just a Sham?

Tell us what you think.

Read more about Latex Green

This is a follow-up to our Top Ten Benefits of Latex post from a few weeks ago.

1. Latex Mattresses are expensive.
   If you look at it from an up front cost this is true however if you consider how much longer latex beds last compared to other mattress types especially mattress and boxsprings which typically only have 20-30 percent of the life, these quality mattresses will pay for themselves.
2. Natural rubber Latex Mattresses do not hold up.
   This statement could not be more false. Latex is a byproduct of the rubber tree. The natural sap is converted into a solid form and is extremely resilient. It may very well be one of the most durable mattresses on the market.
3. Latex beds are too firm.
   Actually just like any other mattress on the market latex beds are offered in various firmness levels. Latex is measured by its ILD. If the number is higher then the mattress will be firmer and if the ILD is lower the rubber mattress will be softer.
4. Latex Mattresses Smell bad.
   First off every mattress has a smell whether it be a conventional spring mattresses, memory foam, waterbeds or yes even latex. This is similar to a new car or anything else that is brand new. This has really has been blown out of proportion yes some latex mattresses have a stronger odor than others like any mattress can. We recommend asking for a sample of the latex and take a sniff. Be sure to smell the latex mattress you are testing. Every mattress will need a short period of time to air out when first removed from its plastic bag.
5. Latex Mattresses are not good for a bad back.
   We really do not get this statement at all. Like any good quality mattress it is designed to support your back properly. It is flexible enough to support your back yet resilient enough to stand the test of time. Before you take the lead in statement as gospel, know this we would suggest learning the background of the person who made the statement and determine their level of knowledge about mattresses. Many doctors and chiropractors know little more about mattresses than you know about back surgery.
6. Latex mattresses are bad for the environment.
   Considering that the average coil spring mattress lasts only 6-8 years and a real all-natural latex mattress can last 20 years plus. We should see fewer latex mattresses in landfills. Dunlop latex is biodegradable.
7. Latex mattresses are responsible for the depletion of our forest.
   The Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), or the rubber tree is able to produce a sap that is harvested like maple syrup. The tree produces up to 25 years or so and is replenish able unlike other mattresses claiming to be all natural and are derived from our depleting natural oil reserves and takes less energy to produce just an addition thought in the going green movement.
8. Latex Rubber Beds are just another fly by night mattress fad.
   In 1931 the first latex rubber mattress was built. In 1931Richard Pieris and Co. Ltd., started building the Dunlop process of latex foam in 1952. It simply gave way to the invention of a cheaper to produce material called polyurethane foam. Today people have asked for a more durable alternative to cheaper foams and chemical laden mattresses being produced today.
9. 100% Natural Latex mattresses sleep hot.
   All forms of latex mattresses have a pinhole design that allows air to move around freely creating a cooler sleep environment. Something with can be a much more significant cause of heat is using mattress pads and sheets that have material that do not breathe properly.
10. Some people are allergic to latex so why buy a mattress made of it?
    First less than 1 % of the public is allergic to latex and this includes all classes of individuals and allergy types. There is considerable literature on reactions between those who have been diagnosed as latex sensitive. Most of this is related to the medical industry not the mattress industry.

1. Do All Natural Latex Rubber mattresses break down?
   Every mattress will take some kind of “set”. A set is permanent impression that has been left in the mattress after something or someone has been on it for an extended time period. 100% Natural Latex Foam Rubber is not “Foam” at all it is rubber but is used like a foam for various applications including beds. It is naturally elastic and is designed to rebound back. The idea of using it for tires has stood the test of time; people will come around to the idea of its logical place in a mattress as well.
2. I Keep Hearing 100% Dunlop or Talalay Natural Latex, what is natural about it?
   Unlike other so-called natural based products such as memory foam which is petroleum based and strips the earth of its precious resources, latex mattresses have a very green story in comparison. It begins with a 5-6 year old tree, the derivative natural rubber sap and a nearly organic composition. The sap can be extracted for up to 26-30 years and the rubber trees can be replenished unlike crude oil.
3. Are Latex Mattresses Healthy?
   Naturally healthy it will not support dust mites nor will it sustain mildew, mold, and bacteria that many people are allergic to. This makes latex mattresses a fit environment for most individuals who are sensitive to such things and additionally it can aid those people who are chemical sensitive as well.
4. Does a Latex Mattress Have To Be Flipped Over And Turned?
   Most manufacturers agree no is the answer. One reason is that latex in the Dunlop Process especially is very heavy and pliable. A latex rubber mattress is nice and flexible for tight turns and staircases. However it is not pleasant to flip on regular basis, like mattresses and boxsprings, which must rotated and or flipped regularly. Nevertheless due to its untypical durability these mattresses are just fine laying in the same position month after month and year after year. That’s right, latex mattresses are virtually maintenance free.
5. Is a latex mattress good for my back?
   Sure latex like any mattress may not be for you, so be sure to visit a store and test rest one. Latex takes the shape of the body’s natural curves helping to properly distribute body weight while at the same time reducing pressure and increasing blood circulation, a vital component to an undisturbed night of sleep and proper body support.
6. Do All Natural Latex Mattresses sleep Hot?
   There are many factors that can cause a person to sleep hot, but sleeping on a latex mattress is not one of them. Extraordinary breathe ability through correct airflow is a fundamental key to a great night of restful sleep. In a latex mattress the air circulates via pinhole sized core holes and open bubbles that result in a mattress that sleeps cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter months.
7. Are Latex mattresses just another fad?
   Not hardly. The Latex mattress segment of the mattress industry is the most rapidly growing component that grew last year a staggering 239% and is actually growing at a faster rate than the more popular memory foam. This is primarily to due to mattresses ability to be so many things to so many people including durable, which is the key frustration of so many brand name mattress and boxspring owners.
8. What other materials are place on top of latex rubber mattresses?
   We hope natural materials such as organic cotton and organic wool. Some companies use polyurethane foam and other synthetic materials, this defeats the intended design of the more organically designed latex mattress, but it does ultimately reduce customer cost while maintaining a high quality bed.
9. Do natural latex mattresses reduce disturbances throughout the night?
   We would encourage you to test one for yourself we were impressed. The reduction of motion transfer between couple’s increases the quality of sleep. There is no doubt that a latex mattress could pass a bowling ball test or wine glass test whichever attention-grabber is being used these days.
10. Are All 100% Natural Latex mattresses expensive?
    The answer is no in comparison to other type’s mattresses and boxsprings that typically only last 6-8 years. Latex rubber mattresses can stand the test of time. It is common to hear stories of mattresses lasting up to 30 years while averaging 20. If you were to dollar cost average a 20-year life expectancy you have already spent less money. Some mattress manufacturers offer bed kits or sometimes called mattress kits in which the covers can be simply replaced when they become worn over time instead of purchasing a whole new complete bed.

View our entire selection of latex mattresses