What to Look for in Reading Latex Mattress Reviews

October 05, 2022

Buying a new latex mattress is a big investment. Not only are mattresses not a small purchase, but if you choose the right one, it should last you for years, possibly even decades if it’s a high-quality latex mattress. Furthermore, getting a latex mattress that does not meet your needs and preferences can leave you with poor sleep, and an overall lower quality of life.

To get a good night’s rest every night, and feel energized in the morning, you need a mattress that supports and comforts you in the right way. Therefore, to ensure that they choose the right latex mattress, many people do research and read mattress reviews.

While we recommend that everyone does some research, and looks at mattress reviews, not everyone knows that just like the mattress itself, reviews are not all equal. Reviews can be misleading, subjective, opinionated, or biased, so it’s important to know what to look for when it comes to reading latex mattress and latex foam reviews. In addition, it’s essential that you pay attention to latex mattress labels, and understand what different descriptions mean.

Below, we’ll dive into everything you need to know when reading the best latex mattress reviews.

How to Spot Untrustworthy Mattress Review Sites

You may be surprised to learn that not only are there dozens of untrustworthy mattress review sites, but many of them come to the top of Google when you search for mattress reviews. Furthermore, since they masquerade as honest sites, they can be difficult to spot.

What Makes a Mattress Review Site Untrustworthy

Many mattress review sites claim to be objective and unbiased when it comes to ranking and reviewing latex mattresses. However, some sites are secretly supported by certain mattress brands or offshoots of mattress manufacturers. In addition, reviewers will claim they’re unbiased when they are really acting on behalf of a mattress company. Therefore, with these sites you will never find an honest review; instead, it’s more of a shady sales pitch to buy one or more specific mattress brands.

How to Identify an Untrustworthy Latex Mattress Review Site

If you know what to look for, then spotting a biased mattress review site isn’t too difficult. Look for the following next time you’re on a mattress review site to see whether or not it’s legitimate:

They’re Connected to a Mattress Company

If the site is tied to a specific mattress company, then the real purpose of the site is to promote and advertise for that company’s brand, rather than provide you with an unbiased review. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for review sites to either be owned or affiliated with a mattress company. Furthermore, they may not make that affiliation clear because they want to keep their bias hidden. Goodbed.com, a trusted mattress information site, provides a great list of mattress review sites that are connected to mattress companies here.

They Rate Latex Mattresses

While you may think that you want a review site that rates latex mattresses, there are many bad ways to rate a mattress. For example, if a site gives a numerical rating, chooses a favorite, a winner, or a best overall mattress, they’re probably full of it. This is because there is no mattress in the world that is the best mattress for everyone. Different people have different needs and preferences when it comes to selecting the best mattress for themselves; therefore, any site claiming a favorite or best mattress is probably promoting that brand.

They Rate Mattresses for Comfort and Support

This may be another surprising red flag for some people. You think that some latex mattresses are more comfortable and supportive than others, right? The truth is that comfort and support are both highly case-sensitive. What is supportive for one person may not be for another. The support you receive from a latex mattress can depend greatly on your size, shape, sleeping position, and other factors; therefore, you can’t rate latex mattresses for support across the board.

The same is true of comfort; it’s highly subjective. If you need a firm bed for a good night’s sleep, you may find a plush bed extremely uncomfortable, and vice versa. Therefore, comfort varies greatly from person to person. So, if you see a site that rates for comfort, you may want to avoid it altogether.

What Makes a Mattress Reviewer Trustworthy?

Now that you have some tips to spot an untrustworthy mattress reviewer, what makes a trustworthy one? There are two main factors that make up a trustworthy mattress reviewer (or a reviewer of any sort): objectivity and expertise.

Objectivity

As we discussed, a biased or nonobjective mattress reviewer is not an honest reviewer. To be a trustworthy reviewer, they need to be completely objective. This means that the reviewer or site cannot be affiliated with any mattress bands whatsoever.

In addition, a good reviewer is objective in that they don’t let their personal feelings affect their review. Rather than saying something like, “this mattress isn’t comfortable at all”, an opinion, they will talk about the physical attributes of the mattress, and state what kind of sleepers the latex mattress may be good or bad for.

Expertise

While it’s good to read reviews from average customers, you should look out for expertise in any reviews you read. Expert mattress reviewers understand the different preferences and requirements for various sleepers, and can judge how a given latex mattress will suit different types of sleepers.

Types of Latex Mattress Labels

If you’re looking for a latex mattress, then you should be aware of different latex mattress labels, and what they mean. Just like in a grocery store, shoppers can be tricked into thinking a product is more healthy than it really is by some clever wording and advertising. The same is true for mattresses, specifically latex mattresses.

There are different types and qualities of latex mattresses, and knowing what the mattress is made of, in each and every latex layer and latex core, will help you to find a higher quality material that is more durable, supportive, and healthy.

Below, we’ll explain what these latex mattress labels actually mean, and how they relate to mattress quality.

100% Latex Mattress

“100% latex mattress” just means that the mattress is pure latex. While this may seem like a positive label, it is often indicative of a lower-quality mattress. This is because it can be completely synthetic latex, or blended latex. These are often lower quality because natural latex is a higher quality, and a much-preferred ingredient to synthetic latex.

Blended Latex Mattress

A blended latex mattress means that it is made out of natural and synthetic latex. Usually, there is more synthetic latex than natural latex involved. Blended latex mattresses are often considered lower quality than all natural latex mattresses.

100% Natural Latex Mattress

This label means that the mattress is made from completely natural latex foam. Natural latex is latex that is harvested from rubber trees. However, this label only tells you that the latex is harvested from a plant source (i.e. rubber tree), not the type of natural latex used.

Organic Latex Mattress

The “organic latex mattress” label is frequently abused in the eco-friendly mattress industry. Sometimes, all it may mean is that the rubber trees that produce the latex is grown organically, and while the mattress is being manufactured, other non-organic and potentially harmful chemicals like fire barriers, glues, and styrene butadiene rubber are used.

A truly organic latex mattress uses organic latex in combination with other organic materials that make up the eco-friendly mattress.

Natural Latex Mattress Types

When it comes to natural latex mattresses, there are two types of natural latex mattress material that dominate the market: Talalay latex mattresses, and Dunlop latex mattresses.

Natural Talalay Latex Mattresses

Talalay is a type of natural latex mattress that is considered to be softer, and has a more cloud-like feel. A natural Talalay latex mattress label means that the mattress is made from natural materials.

Natural Dunlop Latex Mattresses

Dunlop latex is usually more firm, resilient, and durable than Talalay latex. Like Talalay, Dunlop is made from natural latex harvested from rubber trees.

Latex Memory Foam Mattresses

Latex memory foam mattresses are mattresses that combine latex and memory foam to give the benefits of both mattress types in one.

Hybrid Latex Mattresses

A hybrid latex mattress is a term that is used to describe an eco-friendly mattress that is a mix of latex and any other type of mattress. An example of another type of hybrid besides a latex memory foam mattress is a hybrid latex innerspring mattress.

Choosing the Right Latex High Quality Mattress

Once you have a good understanding of what to look for, and what to avoid when reading latex mattress reviews, you’ll want to do some more research to learn about different types of latex foam, and how it relates to your sleep preferences and needs.

As we discussed, everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to latex mattresses and mattresses in general. Therefore, to choose the best latex mattress for you, you need to find mattress attributes and qualities that match these preferences.

Types of Latex

Since you’ve already made the decision to choose a latex mattress, you must have some questions after reading the earlier section about the types of latex mattress labels.

Synthetic Latex

First of all, it’s important to know that you always want to avoid synthetic latex. While natural latex is completely safe, synthetic latex is made from synthetic foam from petroleum, which contains a variety of chemicals that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are toxic, and sleeping on a synthetic latex mattress may have consequences on your health. Therefore, avoid 100% latex mattresses that are not natural, and avoid any blended types as well.

Natural Latex

Instead of synthetic latex, opt for a 100% natural latex mattress. All natural latex mattresses do not contain the same toxic chemicals that synthetic latex does. And, if you want to ensure that no toxic chemicals are hiding in glues or fire retardants, look for certified organic latex mattresses made of natural materials.

Organic Latex Mattress

As we mentioned, some organic latex companies use organic rubber trees to harvest organic latex, and then pack in other toxic non-organic chemicals elsewhere in the mattress. Therefore, if you want to ensure that a latex mattress is truly organic, look to see what organic certifications it has, like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

For example, if you go on the Eco Terra website, you will see our latex mattresses are global organic latex standard (GOLS), and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, and that we guarantee our products contain no toxic chemicals, or polyurethane. So, if you see a company states their latex mattresses are organic, look into what they actually mean by organic.

Getting the Right Comfort and Support

Now that you know to look for either 100% natural latex, or truly organic latex, you need to pick a mattress that will support you, and give you comfort throughout the night. Pay more attention to your mattress at home or friends' and family members' latex mattresses that you know you really like or hate.

For example, did you notice that you get the best night’s sleep in your friend’s guest bedroom? Do you like a firmer mattress? After more consideration, you may realize that their mattress was a little bit softer than your current mattress. Try to pin down the ideal level of firmness to help you decide on what your body needs to achieve the most rest and support. Then, look for latex mattresses that meet those needs.

If you sleep best on soft, pillowy latex mattresses, for example, a Talalay latex mattress on the softer side may be a great option for you. Then, shop around and look at reviews, online forums, BBB ratings, independent reviews, and multiple companies. If you think you’ve decided on a company, then read the fine print to make sure you didn’t miss anything.

Durability

Another thing to consider is durability. Durability is the measure of how a mattress stands up against wear and tear. Mattresses with little durability may last for only 8 years, whereas durable latex mattresses can last for 20 years, or longer. Luckily, if you’ve made the decision to buy a latex mattress, your mattress will likely last longer than other types of mattresses. However, the lifespan of latex mattresses can vary greatly depending on the material and quality of the ingredients.

Additional Latex Mattress Buying Tips

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind and look out for when reading latex mattress reviews.

Comparative Terms

Prioritize reviews that use comparative terms to review latex mattresses. Because everyone is different, people have different views on what constitutes “firm” and “soft”, for example. A moderately soft bed to someone who prefers a firm mattress may feel extremely soft to them. Therefore, look for reviews that compare latex mattresses, and the firmness of latex foam, so you can better gauge their relative level of firmness of them.

Reviews are Written by People with Similar Body Weight, Height, and Sleeping Position

It’s important to keep in mind the relative body weight, height, sleeping position, and preferences when reading reviews. For example, if you’re a 200-pound, 6 foot 6 man who sleeps on your side, you’ll likely have a different preference than a 100-pound 5 foot one woman who sleeps on her stomach. Therefore, when reading reviews, keep in mind who is writing them, and look for reviews that are made by someone with similar body size and sleeping position to you. Similar body sizes may often prefer similar mattress types and firmness of latex foam.

Also, consider reviews that include other aspects of how you sleep. Consider hot sleepers, cool sleepers, stomach sleepers, side sleepers, people with back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and more to get the most suitable review for yourself.

Other Considerations

In addition to the specifications of the mattress you’re looking for, search the company's website for additional things like the warranty, delivery times, customer service, and free perks. If you want your mattress delivered within the week, and the mattress your looking at will take a month, it may be worth looking elsewhere. Also, check out to make sure the company offers free shipping. Mattresses are already a larger expense, and you don’t want to be blindsided by a company that doesn’t offer free shipping.

Furthermore, mattress warranties are incredibly important. Even with all the research you did online, you may still be unsatisfied with your bed. Therefore, make sure they have a decent warranty period of at least 60 nights. Then, look at reviews online about their warranty process, and make sure that people had no problems when it came to returning the bed.

Eco Terra Reviews

While this article is an honest overview of what to look out for in reading latex mattress reviews, at Eco Terra, we’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss why we think you should consider our latex mattresses. First of all, we should mention that we encourage you to look at our reviews online on a variety of independent and trustworthy sources.

Here are a few to get you started:

Sleep Foundation

Sleep Advisor

The Sleep Judge

We, of course, have done our own research about what is out there when it comes to our latex hybrid mattresses reviews, and we were unsurprised to learn that the majority of them are stellar, to say the least.

Eco Terra latex hybrid mattresses are ideal for those looking to have 100% natural latex and bona fide organic latex mattresses that are safe and eco-friendly. Plus, they are handcrafted, and made from high-quality latex foam and other natural materials that will leave you with a good sleep every night.

You may be thinking “didn’t you mention that no mattress is suitable for every type of sleeper?” While this is true, at Eco Terra we offer a hybrid latex mattress with two firmness levels that should accommodate most sleepers: medium-firm and firm. Also, our 100% natural latex and organic latex mattress come with an organic cotton and organic wool cover to keep you cool, comfortable, and healthy every night.

Also at Eco Terra, we offer a 90-night trial, plus free shipping. So, if you’re thinking of getting a latex mattress, check us out, and don’t take our word for it, look at all of our reviews online!

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