Latex Vs. Coil Mattresses

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When deciding which kind of mattresses to purchase, one of those decisions you must make is to purchase latex, coil or innerspring. The differences in their structure lead to the various levels in comfort and support, and to differences in price, performance and durability. Understanding these differences — and your own preference in how a mattress needs to feel — will assist you in making the right option.

Makings of a Latex Mattress

Manufacturers utilize natural latex, which can be derived from the sap of the rubber tree, to make a foam mattress; additional mattresses are made with synthetic a blend of both natural and synthetic. The liquid latex is crushed into a froth and poured into a mould, then refined, rinsed and treated. The simplest model of the procedure, known as “Dunlop” latex, results in a dense foam block. The more complex procedure, called “Talalay,” results in a more expensive foam with controlled density. Some manufacturers offer latex mattresses topped with extra layers of stuff like quilted wool and encase them in a fabric cover.

Inside a Coil Mattress

A coil or innerspring mattress consists of a selection of coiled steel springs covered with layers of cushioning fabric and a quilted fabric cover. In old mattresses, the coils have been linked with them, but in modern mattresses, the coils are almost always encased in separate fabric sleeves to provide more comfy support. Some coil mattresses have been called “pillow-top” since they have a thick top layer of various cushioning substances beneath the outer fabric cover. When the pillow-top layer is made from latex, the mattress is sometimes called a “hybrid” mattress.

Latex Pros and Cons

The normal lifespan of a latex mattress is 10 to 12 years; for quality mattresses, the producer should offer a 20-year warranty with full coverage up to 10 years. Natural latex mattresses are somewhat more costly than coil mattresses, but some synthetic latex mattresses tend to be less costly than low-end coil sorts. The documented consumer fulfillment rates of 80 to 85 percent are far greater than for coil mattresses. Natural latex is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and mould, but synthetic latex does not make this claim. One disadvantage of latex mattresses is that their density makes them heavier than innerspring mattresses, which can be important for people who want to transfer or change their bed position. Additionally, some users don’t like the company support supplied with a latex mattress; those sleepers are generally more comfortable with an innerspring mattress.

Innerspring Pros and Cons

Innerspring mattresses are comfortable and widely available, with a variety of price points like some that exceed the cost of a comparable latex mattress. But coil mattresses offer a number of firmness levels and cushioning materials to accommodate individual preferences, particularly for sleepers who favor a “bouncy” feeling in their mattress, or who don’t like the company support of a latex mattress. The normal lifespan of a coil mattress is six to seven years, and manufacturer’s warranties permit for a higher level of sagging than for latex mattresses.

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