Choosing between Latex and Memory Foam

Not all foam mattresses are the same. When shopping for a new mattress, it’s important to know the differences between the two main types of foam.

Latex

Latex foam mattresses come in a synthetic, blended or all natural form. Blended foam contains chemical additives that may prove harmful to your health whereas natural latex foam is derived from rubber tree sap. However, no latex foam mattress is 100% additive free, so natural beds may still contain trace amounts of chemicals.

  • More elasticity than memory foam
  • Latex overwhelmingly offers more bounce than memory foam
  • Latex offers a lighter feel
  • Latex foam hugs your body less
  • Latex contours quicker but is less exact to your body type
  • More breathable and cooling
  • Slight motion transfer
  • Doesn’t relieve as much body pressure
  • Heavier material

Memory

Memory foam is a type of polyurethane foam that contains some added chemicals and materials that give it that viscoelastic property. All memory foams are polyurethane foams, but not all polyurethane foams are memory foam. While most or all additives aren’t harmful to health in top quality foam like that used in Eight mattresses, there is not such thing as natural memory foam.

  • Slower to respond than other foams
  • More support than bounce
  • Offers an excellent hugging feel
  • When pressure is applied, it slowly contours to your exact body shape
  • Depending on the quality of foam, some tend to sleep hotter and have less airflow
  • Little to no motion transfer
  • Relieves body pressure
  • Lighter than latex

For the best of both worlds, look for a mattress that combines both types of foam. The Jupiter+ from Eight has four different layers of foam. The two inches of reactive foam respond like latex and lay above the two inches of supportive and contouring memory foam.