natural latex mattressNatural Latex Mattress

The difference between a natural latex mattress and one labeled organic, is sometimes just the certification.  Why a company would opt out on getting certified could be because of the cost.  Even if the product is produced in the same manner as an organic one in their line, by skipping the organic certification process, and the costs this incurs, they save money.  That savings, in turn, is able to be passed down to the consumer.  Ultimately, a natural latex mattress is not an organic mattress though.  They can be produced differently and therefore do not meet organic standards.  So, that could be one reason the product isn’t certified.  In terms of the way they feel, as long as the ILD (Indention Load Deflection) is the same, they should feel exactly the same.  That means a firm natural latex mattress will feel just like a firm organic mattress.  So, if you want to save some money and buying organic isn’t a priority, natural latex can be a smart way to go.  There are a few things to look out for when considering a natural latex mattress and we go into that further below.  We also share a 100% natural latex mattress option and discuss it in more detail.

 

Natural Latex Mattresses: What to Look For

There will be serval things you’ll want to view prior to making a decision on which natural latex mattress is best for your needs.

  • ILD/IFD Rating
  • Type of Fire Barrier
  • Measure of Natural Latex Composition
  • Type of Natural Latex

 

Natural Latex ILD

You will notice on natural latex mattress packaging and advertising an ILD or IFD rating.  Usually, a product will have one or the other, though they both measure the firmness of the latex.  ILD is a measure of force (in pounds) required to cause an indention of 25% into a four-inch layer of latex.  Basically, the higher the rating, the firmer the latex.  Firmness ratings are indicated in a range because latex composition is not consistent throughout due to the production process.  It can also be impacted by the temperature of the room and other factors.  Basically, when comparing two products with different but similar ratings, there may be no difference in the way they feel.

 

Natural Latex Fire Barrier

Legally, mattresses must have some sort of fire protection.  This generally impacted mattress production since 2005, though federally it went into effect in 2007.  At this point, mattresses produced prior to 2005 should not be used as they don’t meet these mattress regulations.  Many mattresses will use chemical fire retardants to meet the regulations aimed at reducing flammability of mattresses.  As an alternative to chemicals which are effective but can have adverse reactions, wool can be used as a fire barrier.

natural latex mattress by valley mattress foamValley Foam Natural Latex Mattress

Natural latex mattresses can consist of Talalay or Dunlop latex.  Dunlop tends to be more durable and holds up better over time.  The Valley Foam Natural Latex mattress is a 10-inch mattress with an organic cotton cover.  Wool is used as a fire barrier in this adjustable multi-layer mattress.  The advantage to having three layers of latex inside is that you can adjust the firmness of this mattress.  Each layer has a differing ILD/IFD (firmness) rating; one soft, one medium and one firm.  Users can stack the latex layers according to comfort and desired surface firmness.

Valley Mattress Foam Latex Mattress
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100 % Natural Latex Mattress

Just because a product is called a natural latex mattress, that doesn’t mean it is made up of 100% natural latex.  A 100% natural latex mattress will not be made with any synthetic materials.  Common ways that natural latex mattresses are produced is with a cotton cover and wool fire barrier then natural latex inside.  Often times, a 100% natural latex mattress will have layers of latex versus one large block.  That’s because adjustable layers allow for more comfort customization.  There is no certification that proves a mattress has 100% natural latex makeup.  Unlike certified organic mattresses, you must be able to trust the information provided is correct based on company reputation, etc.

 

Adjusting Firmness of a Natural Latex Mattress

When a mattress comes with three layers of natural latex, you get to pick the best configuration.  That’s one of the perks to choosing the Valley Foam option.  Adjusting the firmness is easy and can be altered as needed through years of ownership.

  1. Unzip the cover.
  2. Move the layers around to the preferred comfort.
  3. Zip the cover back up.
  4. Sleep in comfort.

 

Advantages to a Natural Latex Mattress

Avoiding synthetic latex and choosing a 100% natural latex mattress, such as the Valley Foam, has multiple benefits.  The adjustability means that over time you can modify the level of firmness as your needs change.  Specifically having a soft, medium and firm layer is ideal because our bodies change and down the line you may need a firmer or softer option.  This will keep you from having to replace a mattress before it has reached the end of its useful life.  Latex mattresses also regularly outlast synthetic and poly mattresses.  Additionally, the natural properties of latex lead to many health and sleep benefits of sleeping on latex.

 

Jesse Crow
Jesse Crow graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. As a life-long participant in sports and motocross, he suffered considerably from joint and back pain. It wasn’t until he purchased his first quality mattress that he found any relief. After having studied and tested hundreds of sleep products, as well as visiting manufacturers both overseas and in the U.S., Jesse established Rest Right Mattress. His approach is based on assessing the individual needs of each customer, and meeting those needs through expert knowledge of sleep products.