Latex Mattress Facts

7 questions you should ask before making a latex mattress buying decision

Shopping for a latex mattress isn't as easy as it might seem. Below we have outlined 7 reference points along with questions to ask your latex mattress retailer to better guide you through the buying process. With so many self-proclaimed mattress experts touting their product as the best on the market, it is important to have some sensible guidelines to follow in your buying decision:

1. Not All Organic Cotton Covers Are the Same

Knitted Covers vs. Woven Covers

The 2 primary types of fabric used on mattress covers are woven fabrics and knitted fabrics. They are made differently and have very different material properties.

Woven Organic Cotton Fabrics

In woven organic cotton fabrics, the stitches can only stretch in one direction parallel to the weave. Strands are tightly packed together and several criss-cross over one another, offering minimal elasticity or pressure relief. Typical woven materials include denim, tweed and canvas. Woven fabrics do not stretch because their fibers run at 45-degree angles to one another.

Knitted Organic Cotton Fabrics

Knit fabrics are different from woven fabrics in that the strands of yarn are looped together as opposed to being straight. Knitted fabrics can stretch in any direction because the stitches are in loops and can bend in any direction without stressing the knitted fabric, offering much more "give" and elasticity over woven fabrics.

Elasticity in a latex mattress cover is crucial because allows the fabric a natural way to be wrinkle resistant and stretchable without becoming permanently distorted, which in turn allows the layers of latex underneath to give optimal pressure relief. This is important as reduction of pressure on the surface of the mattress reduces the constriction of blood flow to the neurological system, providing a deeper undisturbed sleep, thus optimizing regeneration and restoration that comes naturally from sleep itself.

2. Not all Latex is the Same

Natural Latex Mattress vs. Blended Latex Mattress

Several retailers on the web and otherwise make the claim that their latex mattresses are produced with 100% latex; however, even man-made synthetic latex can be considered "100% latex". Just as you probably know there is a lot of leeway given in the labeling of food ingredients, the same holds true in the advertising of latex mattresses. There is a difference between blended "100% latex" and pure 100% natural latex however. 100% natural latex is known to be inherently more elastic and resilient, expanding and better conforming to the various levels of weight and pressure it is exposed to.

While blended latex (a combination of natural and synthetic latex) is what is mostly used in mattresses, the feel is a less-lively one that doesn't have the same "kickback" or resilience, but instead provides less response to pressure and weight aside from passively absorbing it. Blended latex is also widely perceived to be less durable and more prone to break down over time. In most cases blended latex contains about 30-40% natural latex, with the remaining 60-70% being synthetic latex and/or fillers. You may be content with a blended latex mattress, but when shopping, be sure you're comparing apples to apples.

Talalay Latex Mattress vs. Dunlop Latex Mattress

Which type of latex is better, talalay latex or dunlop latex? The relevant question is not as much about which is better as it is about where and how it's being used in the mattress. When latex is derived from the hevea brasiliensis tree, it has the consistence of maple syrup. There are 2 primary processes used to transform it to the latex foam used in mattresses; the talalay process and the dunlop process.

To spare you the technical details, the dunlop process produces a latex foam that is more dense, while the talalay process produces a latex foam that is lighter and has more air in it. If we use cake as an analogy, dunlop would be like pound cake and talalay would be like angel food cake. If you were to weigh each as latex cores, the dunlop would be heaver because it has more latex in it.

As a top comfort layer of a mattress, talalay is typically preferred because it is less dense which provides better pressure relief. As a mattress core however, dunlop is preferred because it's dense cell structure will hold the shape of the mattress better over time & will be less prone to sagging or indentations.

Nine out of every ten "natural latex mattresses" advertised are made solely of 100% dunlop latex, which is fine if you're a back sleeper and prefer a firmer feel; however, studies show a top layer of talalay latex does a better job of relieving trigger points in your hips and shoulders, especially if you're a side sleeper. The optimal latex mattress design would be a 100% natural dunlop core, which is denser to prevent sagging, with a 100% natural talalay top layer for better pressure relief.

3. Not all Latex Mattresses are Constructed the Same

Where's the Latex? - There's no law that states how much latex must be in a mattress for it to be referred to as a latex mattress. Many of the latex mattresses sold in retail mattress stores contain a thin layer of latex and other "mystery foams", which are cheaper to produce, and can break down quicker. Be on the lookout for "soy-based foam", "smart foam", or "special pressure-relieving material." While these might contribute to a nice mattress, they are typically not latex.

Hybrid latex mattresses (latex on the top layer with a foam core) can still be great mattresses, and are optimal for people on a budget who want to experience sleeping on latex; however, when shopping, just make sure you know what you're comparing.

To Glue or not to Glue - Some companies glue their latex layers together. While they claim un-glued layers shift around, we have not found this not to be the case, as latex is very abrasive material & layers will naturally grab each other. A disadvantage of gluing layers together is that if for some reason your mattress is either a little too firm or a little too soft, your only option is to return the whole mattress, whereas if the layers weren't glued together, you might be able to conveniently exchange a layer of a different firmness with the manufacturer.

4. Not all Latex Mattress Warranties are the Same

Warranties are designed to protect against manufacturer's defects and most latex mattress warranties protect users against excessive sagging. Typically warranties on indentations larger than 1.5" over the life of the mattress are acceptable. Most warranties start with a full replacement for an initial period of time, and shift to a limited warranty as time progresses. On a limited (pro-rated) warranty, the consumer is responsible for a percentage of the replacement mattress cost. Considering that the cost of latex consistently rises every 3-6 months, you're "pro-rated" cost to repair or replace your mattress could be as high as what you initially paid for the first mattress within as little as 3-5 years. In comparing latex mattress warranties, we've seen full replacement warranties for as little as 2 years and as high as 10 years.

5. Not all Return Policies are the Same

Hopefully you'll choose the right latex mattress the first time around, and will sleep happily ever after. But what if you don't? What are your return options? What are your return costs? Will the company tell you up front? How many days do you have to try the mattress (60 days is acceptable, 90 would be better)?

Does the company have a comfort exchange policy or is your only solution to send the mattress back? Will the company come and pick up the mattress or are you responsible for shipping it back to the company? Many companies tell you they will "take the mattress back" within a certain time period, but fail to mention that it's up to you to get it there. It typically costs $300-$475 to ship a used mattress one-way across the country.

Are you responsible for just the return shipping or the shipping costs both ways? Is there a cap on what those costs are? What does "like new condition" really mean, and is it possible to be in "like new condition" after sleeping on it for 30 nights?

Read the fine print, as what seems too good to be true, usually is. There's an old adage, "What the bold print giveth, the fine print taketh away". While you should never expect a complete refund if you damaged a mattress you're returning, look for fine print that leaves the amount of your refund to the discretion of the company, as there have been many occasions where customers are charged hundreds of dollars because of ordinary use being claimed as mattress damage. Expect to pay something for returning a mattress. Anything that promises otherwise might be too good to be true.

6. Not all Free Bonus Gifts are the Same

Free gifts with a mattress purchase have almost become the norm in the mattress industry, and while not every company offers them, the ones that do ultimately factor their cost into the price, so each mattress needs to be evaluated with the overall value you're receiving. In saying this, it's common to see "2 free latex pillows + mattress protector". While it's a nice touch, many of these bonus gifts are of the cheapest quality available, considering they are "free". Here are some factors to evaluate when looking at bonuses:

• Are the pillows also natural latex or blended (synthetic) latex?
• Are the pillows dunlop latex (hard for pillows) or softer talalay latex?
• What size are the pillows? Can they be upgraded?
• Is the mattress protector polyester, terry cloth, or 100% cotton?

7. Not all Latex Mattress Companies are the Same

Just as important as the quality of the mattress you're buying is the quality of the customer service and company you're buying it from. Nobody enters into a product relationship expecting problems, but if problems do arise, you want to be sure there's a company who stands behind their products who can resolve them.

Don't just compare mattresses; look deeper to the companies selling them as well. Some companies can offer tempting prices, but the writing is on the wall for the service you can expect even before your initial purchase.

1. Does a live person answer the phone and in an attentive, pleasant way?
2. Are their associates willing to answer your questions gracefully without pressuring you through the process?
3. Do you feel like they're trying to help you or sell you?
4. Are they an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau?
5. Does their reputation and their disclosure (as well as your gut-feel based on your interaction with them) tell you post-purchase issues will be dealt with fairly and in an efficient manner?
6. Do they have positive feedback in the form of independent, 3rd party ratings, reviews, and testimonials from past customers that you can sort through and read?