Latex is becoming a very popular category in the mattress industry. It is a great sleeping surface that is really starting to catch onto the mainstream. There are a ton of benefits to latex mattresses, but as more models come out, people are wondering what the top latex mattress complaints are. I’ll go over the main ones in this article.
Quick Note: Not All Latex Is Created Equal
Consumers should know that there are different types of latex mattresses. There are natural latex mattresses, where the latex actually comes naturally from a rubber tree. Synthetic latex is human made. Blended latex is a mix of natural and synthetic latex. Also, some mattresses contain all-latex, while others have just one layer of latex and then the rest is another material.
If people are looking at certain models, they should make sure to know exactly what type of latex mattress they are getting.
Bounce
If someone were to push their hand into the mattress and then lift their hand away quickly, a “bouncy” mattress would snap right back to its original shape immediately. With memory foam, the opposite happens and the mattress very slowly returns to its original shape.
Some people want bounce in their mattress. It really comes down to personal preference. Latex mattresses can be very bouncy, with all-natural, all-latex mattresses being very bouncy. People really need to asses whether they like bounce before purchasing a latex mattress.
RELATED: Memory Foam vs. Latex Mattresses
They Are Heavy
Whenever I receive a latex mattress, especially a natural latex mattress, I am a little scared to lift them because the mattresses are incredibly heavy. The mattresses are very dense, which on a positive note means they are also very durable. If someone ever has to move their mattress around, then this is definitely something to note.
In this video, I assemble an all-natural latex mattress. It should be easy to tell how heavy each individual layer is. I definitely could not lift the mattress anywhere by myself if it’s all in one piece. This mattress is a Spindle.
Cost
The process to get natural latex is very time-intensive and costly. As a result, natural latex mattresses are expensive. There is no way around it. There are a lot of benefits in getting a natural latex mattress, but those benefits come with the tradeoff of a higher price tag.
Synthetic latex mattresses are much more affordable, and they are so prevalent because of how difficult the process of getting natural latex is.
Off-Gassing Of Synthetic Latex
If someone gets a natural latex mattress, there should be no off-gassing or chemical smell when they get their mattress for the first time. If someone gets a synthetic latex mattress, however, there is the chance that there will be some off-gassing. This typically isn’t a big deal and the smell will go away within a couple of days, but it is something that happens with some synthetic latex mattresses.
This also brings up latex mattress allergies. Some people with extreme latex allergies could have issues when they are sleeping a latex mattress.
Some Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is basically when people can feel the movement of their partner on the other side of the bed. Memory foam mattresses are really good at isolating motion, and thus they are a great choice for those who sleep with a partner. Latex mattresses do fairly well in this category, but for most models there will be some motion transfer. Latex generally doesn’t perform as well as memory foam in this category.
This video shows an example of motion transfer for an all-natural latex mattress.
Overall
Many of the common complaints about latex mattresses are either minor or just a matter of personal preference. It is still a great sleeping surface that most consumers should definitely be taking a look at.