A latex mattress uses natural rubber that has gone through a process that transforms it into a supportive, springy foam. It’s a non-toxic mattress option that cradles your body while helping you regulate your body temperature. There are numerous benefits to using a natural latex mattress over other types, including comfort, durability, and health.
Latex Mattress Benefits
Latex mattresses have many benefits. They offer pressure relief, breathability, and limited motion transfer. Plus, they’re safe for the environment and your health.
Very Comfortable Compared to Other Mattress Types
Latex mattresses have a distinctive firm but bouncy feel. They make you feel as though you’re slowly sinking into a supportive, fluffy cloud. They can be combined with innerspring and other layers to optimize relief on pressure points and minimize back pain. Latex mattresses are often ideal for any sleeping position, whereas a memory foam mattress may only be comfortable for certain types of sleepers.
Natural Latex is Eco-Friendly
Natural latex comes from rubber tree sap. It doesn’t contain toxic chemicals, as synthetic latex and other latex foam mattresses do. The most ethical companies source the rubber from sustainable sources.
You Can Go All Natural
You may improve your indoor air quality by choosing a natural mattress. Dunlop latex and Talalay latex come from the rubber tree. They’re used to make organic latex mattresses and don’t contain harmful chemicals. This type of latex doesn’t off-gas or emit VOCs.
Limited Motion Transfer
Latex features contouring for your body and doesn’t shift when someone on the other side of the bed moves around. Natural latex foam can even be made with varying firmness levels on each half. A new mattress that contains latex could ease your sleeping difficulties if you frequently wake when your partner moves.
Extremely Durable
Whereas traditional mattresses typically last 6 to 9 years at the most, latex mattresses are more long-lasting. They stay comfortable for more than 10 years. Although the latex does soften over time, it doesn’t sag as quickly as many other types of mattresses.
No Off-Gassing
As long as the mattress uses all-natural materials, it won’t emit volatile organic chemicals, or VOCs, into the air. Natural Talalay and Dunlop mattresses don’t off-gas. They may have a distinctive scent, but that’s just the fragrance of the natural rubber.
Super Breathable
The latex manufacturing process creates a foam that’s filled with air pockets. As a result, latex mattresses offer plenty of ventilation and enhance your comfort level. They also keep you cool because your body doesn’t sink into the contours as it might in a memory foam mattress.
Cons of Buying A Latex Mattress
Because high-quality latex mattresses use a lot of premium materials, they generally cost more than traditional mattresses. The natural materials also make the mattress heavier than synthetics.
You May Pay a Premium
It seems as though you can find a traditional innerspring mattress at dirt-cheap prices these days. That’s because they often contain substandard materials. You get what you pay for. When you buy a high-quality latex mattress, you’re investing in durability, comfort, and reliability. Even though some traditional mattresses may cost more than latex mattresses, they may not offer the same level of performance.
Some Mattresses Can Be Heavy
Depending on the type of latex, some latex mattresses can be heavy. That has to do with those natural materials. Man-made materials are often optimized to be lighter weight than those you find in nature.
That shouldn’t be a problem unless you plan on moving your bed a lot. It will benefit you in the long run because the denser construction of a latex organic mattress provides a sleep surface with plenty of cushioning and pressure relief.
You Have To Do Your Research
There is lots of marketing speak that can make it difficult to confirm the claims that some companies make when talking about their brands. Many companies use terms such as “natural” even when their products aren’t 100-percent natural.
Terms such as “blended latex” or “latex memory foam” imply that there are synthetic materials in the product. Even if a mattress claims to contain all-natural latex, it may also contain other layers of materials that leach VOCs.
Most respectable mattress companies want you to know exactly what you’re sleeping on. There’s no better example of that than Birch Living.
Birch mattresses aim to showcase transparency and reliability through certifications, like the GREENGUARD Gold Certification. Materials are sourced sustainably and all mattresses are eco-friendly.
Birch organic mattresses are a great fit for stomach sleepers, side sleepers, and back sleepers.
You can test it out in any position for 100 nights. If you don’t like the mattress, it is disposed of responsibly and ethically, and you don’t have to pay for it. It’s a really strong opportunity if you’re looking to make the switch.