What is a 100% Natural Latex Mattress?

What a 100% Natural Latex Mattress Is:

A "100% natural" latex mattress is made entirely of botanical latex, sustainably harvested from the rubber tree plant, Hevea brasiliensis. This versatile material is used in the manufacture of a broad range of items from medical-grade surgical gloves to truck tires. One of the most practical yet luxurious uses for botanical latex is the creation of premium natural bedding.

Natural latex is obtained by harvesting the botanical liquid from rubber trees, usually grown for large-scale production on sustainable rubber tree estates. The techniques that are used to produce the airy, resilient latex mattress structure out of this thin and unassuming liquid have been around since the turn of the 20th century.

Contemporary cutting-edge engineering improvements have built a modern latex matrix that some feel is superior to synthetic alternatives such as memory foam. Natural botanical latex provides a long-lasting, supportive, cool, and body-contouring sleep environment that you must experience to understand.

What a 100% Natural Latex Mattress Is Not:

The "natural latex" label does not imply that your natural latex mattress is organically grown or organically manufactured. The term confirms that your mattress will have the distinctive characteristics of botanical latex – unparalleled strength and resilience, immediate spring-back for the best body-contouring support, a cool sleep environment, and long-lasting construction.

But 100% organic harvest and production of latex mattresses is improbable if not impossible. The "100% natural latex" label refers to the fact that your mattress is built of 100% botanical latex from the rubber tree plant.

Blended Latex

Any mattress represented by the term "blended latex," is not 100% botanical latex. Rather, in contrast to the purely botanical 100% natural latex, blended latex incorporates a mix of synthetic, lab-derived latex compounds with natural botanical latex.

Synthetic latex can be produced under laboratory conditions using artificial chemical components. Despite a century of attempts, the synthetic latex versions have not managed to match the "real thing" for bouncy, springy support that cushions and supports the body at night while returning to its original shape so consistently.

Blended latex mattresses usually offer a sleep surface of natural botanical latex over a synthetic latex core. These blended options can approximate the comfort of natural latex mattresses quite nicely.

100% Natural Latex Mattress vs. Blended Latex Mattress

With a 100% natural latex mattress, you know that you’re purchasing an all natural bed made of entirely botanical latex. These natural beds hold their shape and consistency for years. The open cell structure of natural latex yields a mattress that "sleeps cooler," even compared to a blended latex alternative. Natural latex has an inherent resilience that can’t be matched by synthetic or blended options, though there are some pretty good imitations out there.

"Blended" mattresses, on the other hand, are derived from a mix of synthetic and natural latexes – but they are still at least all-latex mattresses. They may not be all natural, but you still know that you’re getting a high-quality mix of softness and support that sets latex mattresses apart from their competition.

100% Natural Latex Pros

• One of the best sleeping experiences on the market.
• Body-contouring support for the relief of pressure points and back pain.
• Bed that "sleeps cool," without changing its characteristics due to temperature changes.
• A wide range of support options. Two different manufacturing processes, known as Talalay and Dunlop, allow engineers to construct mattresses in a range of options from very soft to very firm.
• Generally lasts longer than synthetic latex.

100% Natural Latex Cons

• Lifespan may be short compared to some other premium beds. The method of construction can ameliorate this concern. Look for beds with a long-term warranty of 10 or 20 years to ensure that you’ll get your money’s worth out of your investment.
• Premium price point for premium bedding. You get what you pay for, but these all natural beds aren’t cheap.
• "All natural" doesn’t mean "organic."

If natural, sustainable bedding options are important to you, a 100% natural latex bed is one of the best choices on the market. Natural latex has a resilience, motion control, and springy support that no other mattress can match. You'll pay a premium price, but you'll get one of the most luxurious sleeping surfaces available. For a snapshot reminder of how a natural latex mattress compares to the other latex mattress formulations, reference Latex Mattress Reviews.