Which is Better: A Latex or Memory Foam Topper?

May 21, 2021

The decision to buy a mattress topper for your bed is an important one, and is one of today's mattress trends as people continue to look to customize their mattresses. Making the right choice can extend the life of your existing mattress by years while providing you with a more comfortable and supportive overall sleep experience.

One of the big questions you may face in the search for your ideal mattress topper is that of whether a memory foam topper or a latex topper is the better choice for you.

Latex vs Memory Foam

This guide explores the ins and outs of both a latex topper and memory foam topper, so you can make a better-informed buying decision.

What is Memory Foam?

Essentially, memory foam is a viscoelastic polyurethane foam that is sensitive to pressure and temperature. In a mattress or topper, it is known to mold to the shape of your body to provide a cloud-like sleep experience.

If you’re in the market for a mattress topper, memory foam is one of the popular options available today. Before you make your decision to buy, though, it’s a good idea to explore a few of the benefits and drawbacks a memory foam mattress topper has to offer.

Benefits of a Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Below you will learn about the various benefits of choosing a memory foam vs latex topper for your mattress. Many claim it makes you feel like you have a new mattress for a fraction of the cost. It is certainly more wallet-friendly than buying a new mattress, if it can add a few years of life to your existing mattress.

Outstanding Pressure Pain Relief

When it comes to pressure points, you’ll have a hard time finding mattress toppers that are more effective than memory foam mattress toppers. While Talalay latex foam toppers can be as effective, many feel it’s a tie between the two when it comes to cradling joints and relieving pain in your pressure points, including your hips, shoulders, and knees.

Isolates Motion

Partner movements throughout the night can be extremely disruptive to your sleep efforts. That is why a mattress topper that is widely known to isolate motion, like the memory foam mattress topper, is a good investment for many people who have partners who get up frequently in the night, or who toss and turn.

Molds to Body

Memory foam is made of specialized foam that conforms to the shape of your body as your body heat interacts with the foam of the mattress. This means that it literally wraps you up, and cradles your joints and other pressure points while you sleep.

Costs Less than Latex

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of memory foam mattresses toppers for the average consumer, though, is the wide range of prices at which you can find memory foam on the market today. You’ll find highly affordable memory foam options as well as those that are costlier.

However, you should note that you almost always get what you pay for when buying memory foam mattress toppers. Better quality often comes at a higher price.

Drawbacks of a Memory Foam Topper

Below you will learn a few considerations you’ll want to keep in mind when exploring your mattress topper options. Memory foam isn’t all sunshine and roses.

These are a few of the drawbacks.

Trap Heat Close to the Body

Because the memory foam mattresses molds to your body the way it does, it also happens to trap your body heat close to your body. If you live in Alaska or somewhere that is cold more than hot, this might be a good thing. For the average person, though, it can be disruptive to a good night’s sleep.

Sinking or Quicksand Feeling

Another common complaint among memory foam mattresses topper owners is that the memory foam isn’t as supportive as they’d like. In fact, many people complain of feeling “sucked in” to the mattress in a way that makes it difficult to move, and that diminishes any spinal support the mattress beneath might offer.

Sags Over Time

People have a tendency to sleep in the same position night after night. With memory foam mattress toppers, you are likely to create permanent indentations in the mattress topper that match your body shape. This means the mattress topper is already breaking down, and makes it far less durable than other options on the market today.

Difficult to Maneuver

Memory foam isn’t exactly a lightweight material. Unfortunately, memory foam can be quite cumbersome to maneuver around. This means that if you’re someone who moves frequently, or rearranges furniture habitually, you might face a few challenges with a memory foam mattress topper. Especially if you choose a thicker mattress topper for your bed.

Less Resilient

When compared to a natural latex mattress topper, you’ll find that memory foam toppers are far less resilient. This means they aren’t likely to bounce back into shape as quickly, and can reduce the life expectancy of your new mattress topper, or how long it will extend the life of your existing mattress in the process.

What is Latex Foam?

Latex foam, if you’re dealing with 100 percent natural latex foam for your mattress topper, is made of botanical foam derived from the tree sap of the Hevea Brasiliensis tree.

The sap is then whipped into milky substances that are poured into a mold, and manufactured into foam using either the Dunlop or Talalay process of manufacturing. Talalay latex is not as dense as Dunlop latex. For this reason, it is often Talalay latex that is used to make latex mattress toppers. There are quite a few benefits as well as a few potential drawbacks to consider with a latex mattress topper. Learn more below.

Benefits of a Latex Topper

These are a few of the benefits an organic latex mattress topper over a topper made of memory foam has to offer. Keep them in mind as you compare your options, so you can make better-informed buying choices.

Unsurpassed Support

While the memory foam mattress topper is known for its plushness, the Dunlop latex mattress topper is known for its superior support. However, the Talalay mattress topper offers varying degrees of firmness, and the same support the latex is widely lauded for offering.

Sleeps Cool

Latex foam is made with open cell construction that is highly breathable. This means warm air doesn’t get trapped close to your body, keeping you cool and dry while you sleep, unlike memory foam.

Eco-Friendly

Natural latex mattress toppers are eco-friendly investments you can make in the quality and the quantity of the sleep you get. Not only can it extend the life of your existing mattress, keeping it out of landfills longer, but it is also made of earth-friendly materials, and in an earth-friendly manufacturing process.

Plus, it’s healthy to expose your family to it because there are no petrochemicals used to make the latex foam in your latex topper.

Durable

Latex mattress toppers can easily last five years or longer. In fact, some come with a five-year warranty from the manufacturer. If this doesn’t let you know that the manufacturer believes in these mattress toppers, nothing will.

No Off-Gassing

Because latex toppers aren’t made with petrochemicals, there is no chemical off-gassing when you open the packaging. While some identify a vanilla-like smell, that is the sap that is used to make the mattress, and are not harmful toxic chemicals you’re smelling.

Plus, it will dissipate quickly, allowing you to enjoy worry-free sleep throughout the night.

Outstanding Comfort

Choosing a Talalay latex mattress topper delivers outstanding comfort night after night, so you can sleep soundly, and get the rest you deserve.

No Sinking Feeling

What you won’t experience with a latex topper, that is far too common with memory foam mattress toppers, is that quicksand sinking feeling that so many complain about. The latex foam is designed to provide effective support from day one, until the very last day you own your mattress topper.

Hypoallergenic

Natural latex is a hypoallergenic material. It is also resistant to mold, mildew, and other microbes for added safety for you and your family.

Drawbacks of a Latex Topper

These are a few potential drawbacks to consider as you explore your mattress topper options. Latex toppers have the following drawbacks you might want to keep in mind.

Heavy

Latex mattress toppers are made with dense foam that is heavy to move around. While the foam is quite durable, it can be damaged if you move the mattress topper frequently, and do not properly protect it in the process.

More Expensive

In most cases, you can find other mattress toppers, like memory foam, that cost less than latex mattress toppers. However, the quality of a latex mattress topper is often far superior to the other options available.

What to Look for in a Mattress Topper?

People look for different things when buying mattress toppers, whether they are looking for a memory foam or latex topper. Mostly, it depends on your personal preferences. Some of the things you might wish to consider include the following:

• Firmness
• Support
• Comfort
• Thickness
• Warranty
• Cost

One thing to keep in mind is that you’re trying to extend the life and usefulness of your existing mattress by making it more supportive, or a little plusher. It’s a good idea to find a topper that corresponds to those desires.

Differences Between Latex and Memory Foam

Memory foam and latex mattress toppers are different in many ways. These are a few of the most notable differences between the two:

Motion isolation. While both mattresses do isolate motion, memory foam wins the battle in this category as the natural bounce and resilience of latex allows for minimal motion isolation and motion transfer.

Ease of movement. Because memory foam has a quicksand feel to it, most people find that latex mattress toppers offer greater ease of movement throughout the night. It can make memory foam mattresses more difficult for people who frequently change positions, or climb into and out of bed.

Heat retention. The nature of memory foam uses your body heat to help it conform to the contours of your body. This means it holds heat closer to you than latex, which sleeps much cooler because of its open cell technology.

As you can see, there are some important differences between the two.

Similarities Between Latex and Memory Foam

There are also quite a few notable similarities between the two. Understanding the difference and similarities can make your buying choices easier.

Pressure point and pain relief. Both mattress toppers offer substantial pressure points and pain relief. This means you can enjoy a more comfortable night’s sleep with either option.

Warranties. Both offer similar lengths in warranties and guarantees for mattress toppers. This means you can expect similar durability, though some feel that latex is slightly more durable than memory foam.

Cost. Both mattress toppers have similar price points. While you can find some memory foam mattress toppers that are cheaply made and priced, they are usually far inferior. You usually get what you pay for when purchasing memory foam mattress toppers.

Why Buy the Eco Terra 100 Percent Natural Latex Topper?

The Eco Terra Natural Latex Topper offers a 100 percent natural Talalay latex topper that is available in most standard mattress sizes. It comes with the option of two-inch or three-inch thickness, and in three firmness levels:

• Soft
• Medium
• Medium-Firm

It is made in the USA with single-source natural latex that is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Eco-Institut certified, and has an organic cotton cover that is certified by the Global Organic Textiles Standard.

The eco-friendly natural latex mattress topper comes with a five-year warranty, offers outstanding pressure point relief, and has no chemical off-gassing.

Try the Eco Terra Beds Natural Latex Mattress Topper today, and enjoy cushioning comfort night after night. 

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