Let’s talk about Latex mattresses - which is fast becoming popular amongst a segment of users. I’ve been trying out the Latex mattress Morning Owl sent to me for the last few days.
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PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF LATEX MATTRESSES
Before we talk about the pros and cons of Latex mattresses, let me share my experience of using a latex mattress as compared to a memory foam mattress,
I have a personal preference for firm mattresses - possibly because I’m predominantly a back sleeper. I also prefer very firm pillows as well (probably the reason I don’t like hotel beds and pillows). Compared to the memory foam mattress I use, the latex mattress is a lot firmer - which I find more beneficial for my back in particular. In general - latex mattresses are known to be firmer than foam mattresses. We don’t collapse into the mattress like some other foam mattresses.
Bangalore has been a lot hotter this year than other years. In my regular mattress, I could feel a prickly heat on my back due to the heat dissipated from the mattress. I did not feel the same in the latex mattress.
I toss and turn quite a bit in my sleep - which can be quite disturbing for your partner. Memory foam mattresses are known to have limited motion transfer - which means less disturbance for your partner. My husband felt like this latex mattress had even more.
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BENEFITS OF LATEX MATTRESSES
Other than the comfort based benefits I spoke about, what are the other benefits from natural latex mattresses -
Very useful for people who suffer from allergies - Rubber is naturally antimicrobial - which means that it repels harmful bacteria, mold and dust mites - which is a common occurrence in other mattresses. So you will not see this problem in latex mattresses.
Low maintenance - since it repels dust mites and mold, natural latex foam mattresses require lesser cleaning and maintenance compared to other types of mattresses.
Very useful for use in hot areas - like I shared my experience, many foam based mattresses are obviously synthetic and the chemicals used retain heat - whereas natural latex allows for air flow through the latex foam. The open-cell structure of latex mattresses allows it to be a lot more breathable.
Very useful for people who have a preference for organic or natural - the skin is the largest organ in the body as we all know. Considering that we typically spend one third of our lives in bed, why would we want to expose our largest organ to unnatural substances, if we can avoid it? Many chemical based mattresses release toxic gases which we may be breathing in every night. These toxic gases can be linked to health issues such as cancer, infertility, and developmental brain disorders.
Lot more eco-friendly - it is made from the milk-like-sap of a rubber tree. This is then processed into natural latex foam.
Expected to be more durable - now this one is to be seen because latex mattresses are just coming in vogue in India right now. Internationally - it has been shown that they are expected to last longer than foam mattresses - 12-20 years compared to 8-10 years of other types of mattresses. But when was the last time you saw someone getting rid of an old mattresses :D It’s expected that we do it, but we rarely do it. The main reason why we typically get rid of old mattresses are
If it has gotten mold - which is not the case with latex mattresses
If it has become saggy - which is expected to take longer in latex mattresses compared to other mattresses as the material bounces back to its original shape after use.
Since both of these are not applicable for latex mattresses, the durability is much longer.
LATEX MATTRESS IDEAL FOR?
What type of sleepers is a latex mattress ideal for?
Stomach or back sleepers as it is much more firm than a memory foam mattress
Heavier people may prefer latex again as it is more firm and the sleeper will not sink into the mattress
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CONS OF LATEX MATTRESSES
So is it all good then? Not at all. No product is perfect and there is always room for improvement.
Yes - Latex mattresses are much more expensive than other mattresses. Amongst them - all natural latex mattresses are the most expensive as the entire mattress is made from natural rubber. If you are getting a lower priced latex mattress, it would mean either:
It is a synthetic or blended latex - which means part or all of it is not natural OR
It only has a latex topper or top layer - which is 1-2 inches of latex to give some of the benefits of latex mattresses
But considering the durability of almost double and other benefits I spoke about earlier, the higher price could more than justify it - if you have the budget for it.
It is heavier than other types of mattresses like memory foam - if you like to move / rotate your mattresses frequently - then these can be lot more heavier as natural rubber is denser than memory foam. Well I could move it and rotate it - but I can also do 75kgs deadlifts ;)
A little bit about our sponsor for the video - Morning Owl. Morning Owl mattresses are completely made in India. Their mattresses are the only brand in India which have passed high standards of scrutiny - certified by Eco-INSTITUT & OEKO TEX - which should make you rest assured that the mattress is absolutely safe for you and your family. To reaffirm the durability of the mattress, their mattresses come with a 15 year warranty on the mattresses - one of the best in the market.