Innerspring vs Memory foam vs Latex mattresses - Which is best?
When it's time to upgrade your mattress, you're doing yourself a favor by comparing the different types available so that you can make an informed investment.
24/09/2020
We all know that being well rested is tremendously important to health and well being. Not getting your forty winks at night can lead to more than a few mishaps the next day.
If it's time to upgrade your mattress, you're doing yourself a favor by comparing the different types available so that you can make an informed investment. Read on as we explore the differences between latex, innerspring and memory foam mattresses.
How To Compare Mattresses
What makes a great mattress? Is it the price tag? The way it feels? How about the company's reputation? While all of these variables are important, the following criteria is the gold standard when it comes to testing and comparing mattresses.
• Edge Support
This is important to
consider because you want to know that you'll be
supported when sitting or laying on the edge of
the bed. Also, if you're sleeping on the bed
with your significant other, you want to be
confident knowing that you can maximize the
sleeping surface of your mattress.
Memory foam doesn't offer the best edge support
and it can sometimes feel like you're rolling
off the bed when you find yourself on the edge.
Innerspring and
hybrid mattresses (combination
of memory foam or latex and springs) and offer
great edge support.
• Responsiveness
If you're an active sleeper that tosses and
turns on the bed, you want a responsive mattress
that allows you to move freely at night.
Latex is a responsive material that works
with your body and makes it easy to move from
one side to another without waking you up. On
the other hand, memory foam doesn't do a good
job of helping you to move around the bed when
you're sleeping and while innerspring mattresses
are responsive, they do get noisy over time.
• Breathability
Sleeping hot is one of
the biggest disruptors of sleep. That's why
breathability is important.
With memory
foam, your body heat is unable to escape from
the mattress and instead radiates back to you
which can be a problem for someone that sleeps
hot.
Latex and innerspring mattresses on the other hand, allow for body heat to escape so the bed feels a lot cooler overall.
• Eco Friendliness
There's growing concern about
the harmful compounds that are found in most
memory foam mattresses, such as toxic flame
retardants and formaldehyde, which can alter
hormones and increase risk of obesity,
infertility and cancer, not to mention its
piercing chemical odor.
Latex is a
naturally derived material and it's
non-allergenic. It deters mites and mold and is
ideal for allergy sufferers. Not only that, but
natural latex mattresses are fully
biodegradable.
While innerspring
mattresses aren't particularly toxic, disposing
of them is not as easy.
Innerspring vs Memory foam vs Latex Mattresses- A Comparison
Having taken into consideration our testing criteria, here's a breakdown of how each mattress fairs in comparison to the other.
• Latex
One of the most popular options, latex mattresses are known and trusted for their natural construction, durability and comfort. If you want a more traditional feel and the ability to flip and turn your mattress, then latex is the answer.
Pros
• Latex is a
naturally porous and breathable material, which
means that it sleeps cool.
• Natural latex
(what latex mattresses are made of) is
made from rubber tree sap which means it's
an all natural product.
• Because it's more
responsive, latex is better for alignment.
•
Latex is naturally resilient and offers more
support.
• With latex, you can sleep on the
edge of your mattress comfortably if you want,
thanks to its excellent edge support.
•
Natural latex doesn't have any chemical smells
or odors.
• Latex mattresses alleviate
pressure while providing support to relax the
muscles while allowing for optimal blood
circulation.
Cons
• Latex Mattresses
are notoriously expensive, but well worth the
investment.
• Latex Mattresses can sometimes
be too responsive for ultra-light sleepers.
• Memory Foam
Memory foam is a hybrid
polyurethane foam that responds to your body
temperature and pressure. It was developed in
the 1960s by NASA and it's made from
petrochemical inputs.
Memory foam takes
an imprint of your body shape to isolate
movement and vibration. This means that even if
your partner is moving around in the bed you
won't feel a thing.
Pros
• Memory foam
mattresses offer excellent pressure relief.
• They're accessible and convenient, with most
brands offering to deliver them straight to your
door ready to use right away.
•
They're better with pressure relief compared to
innerspring, especially for side sleepers.
•
Because memory foam takes the shape of your
body, it's a comfortable option for back
sleepers.
• Memory foam mattresses help
with pain better than latex because of their
ability to help the body maintain stability and
form.
• You can't flip and turn memory foam
so it's great for anyone that prefers a
stationary mattress.
Cons
• Memory
foam mattresses give off an initial chemically
smell when you first get them.
• It's not
comfortable to move around on a memory foam
mattress.
• The cellular structure of memory
foam mattresses collapses after a few minutes,
causing a sinking sensation.
• Memory foam is
not breathable and can be uncomfortable for
those that sleep hot.
• Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses have been around since the 1800s and are made up of a cool system that makes them bouncy and responsive, making it easy to switch positions at night.
Pros
• Innerspring mattresses have an internal
spring system that provides optimal support.
This means that foam isn't doing all the work
(as with memory foam) so you get to enjoy
support throughout the mattress.
• They have
more natural materials incorporated into them.
• Allows you to sleep cool due to optimal
airflow design and they don't trap heat at all.
Cons
• Innerspring mattresses are often heavier
and costlier thank their latex and memory foam
counterparts.
• They don't offer as much
pressure relief as a memory foam mattress.
• The older they get, the noisier
they become.
• Not ideal for anyone that
sleeps with an active sleeper because you'll be
able to feel their movements.
Which Is Best?
It's really a question of what makes you feel
better. Innerspring mattresses are very
supportive, responsive, and cooling.
Memory foam mattresses cause a sinking feeling
that contours to the shape of your body. But,
they're perfect for side sleepers thanks to
their fantastic pressure relief and they handle
motion transfer well.
Lastly, the latex
mattresses are breathable all rounders that
cater to different types of sleepers and they're
made from a natural material.