Every decade or so, you have to bite the bullet and buy a new mattress. This is quite an important event, not in the least because your choice will dictate your levels of comfort for the next decade. There are lots of decisions to make, but perhaps the biggest one is what type of mattress construction you want. You should spend time reviewing all your different options, reading articles such as Nectar Sleep mattress reviews. The problem is, however, that all those reviews make each option look like the best option out there.
Latex or Foam?
The generally accepted consensus by consumers and experts alike, is that polyurethane, latex, and memory foams are the best types around. However, there seems to be little agreement about which really is the best. Hopefully, the information below will give you the knowledge you need to make the right decision.
- Pros and Cons of Polyurethane
The pros are:
- It’s affordable.
- It can be topped with a memory foam or latex topper.
The cons are:
- It’s not very comfortable if used regularly.
- It can “off gas”, which can last for weeks and may cause health problems.
- Pros and Cons of Memory Foam
The pros are:
- It is based on NASA space technology.
- It is free from springs.
- It molds itself to the shape of your body, which is why it is used in the healthcare field, including in burn units.
- It dampens motion transfer, which means people move less.
- It perfectly aligns the spina thanks to its open cell foam.
The cons are:
- It can off gas.
- It can be of poor quality if the density is not high enough.
- It can be expensive to purchase high density mattresses.
- It can be hot.
- It can take some time to get used to.
- Pros and Cons of Latex
The pros are:
- It does not off gas, so long as it is truly 100% natural.
- It is hypoallergenic.
- It has less motion transfer than polyurethane models (although more than memory foam).
- They are highly durable.
The cons are:
- It can be expensive.
- Depending on how it is made, the mattress can feel too firm.
- It contains animal protein, which some people are allergic to. This also makes them unsuitable for vegans.
So which one is best? It seems the jury is mainly out on the memory foam versus latex debate, and this is understandable. The benefits of both are quite substantial, and the disadvantages are few and far between. Essentially, it is down to your personal preference to determine which benefits weigh heavier for you. Unfortunately, it is common for people to opt for polyurethane, despite its many disadvantages. The reason for this is the cost factor. Both memory foam and latex are expensive materials, and although it is certainly true that they will last you for at least a decade, it still means that you have to have a substantial amount of money ready to spend.
