So which latex mattress did you choose?

I have a few friends who might argue about whether Latex is a design element.

I can attest to the longevity of a latex mattress. I've had mine for at least 30 years and it's still very comfortable. There are a couple of bonus benefits to it too. There is never any noise if you move in your sleep and it is lighter than a spring mattress if you are like me and want to turn and/or flip your mattress fairly frequently. I even prefer a latex pillow for a good night's sleep.

So are these bad boys massively more pricey than a box spring? What would be a approximate price range?

We have a natural latex matress and one that is natural cotton and wool wrapped coils with a latex topper. We both prefer the coils + latex model. By the time we get around to replacing our toxic king I'll have a lot of experience buying natural matresses.

6 years ago I house-sat for friends and, after a few nights on their bed, I pulled up their fitted sheet to find out what kind of mattress I was sleeping so comfortably on; it was latex. After a year of savings and some research, I finally ordered my own locally-made latex mattress and I could not be happier. While it's a bit of a financial investment upfront, I've had it for 5 years now and it looks and feels as good as new. I added a latex pillow a year ago (a gift from my parents, who are new latex devotees) and have never known better sleep.

All that said, I'm not sure I would have been comfortable buying a latex bed from an on-line source. If at all possible, try to find a store close-to-home so you can actually lay on the mattress before putting down the money.

We bought a natural latex mattress from http://www.omimattress.com/. We have only had if for 3 months, but it is amazingly comfortable. I had back issues with our old mattress...gone.

we've had our latex mattress for three years now after going through much of the same considerations mentioned above and have been extraordinarily happy with it. there is nothing quite as wonderful as collapsing on the wonderful pouf underneath at the end of the day. waaaaay more comfortable and its longevity already has us impressed. our previous spring mattress had shown serious signs of wear and much less comfort by year three. looking forward to sleeping on this one for another 20+ years. savvy rest was out choice. :)

Wow, not sure what kind of latex mattress JUDY IN TO has but I can't move mine without another person to help, and even then it's tough!

I am mildly allergic to latex. Would this be much of a problem with most latex mattresses or is there enough of a barrier to avoid this problem?

Please, friends, we LIE on our mattresses, we do not LAY on them. Lay is something you do to something (or someone) else (the origin of the sexual slang), therefore it requires a direct object. I could correctly say, "Lay your clothes on the bed to get out the wrinkles after you unpack your suitcase," "Lay the baby in her crib for a nap," or "I lay carpet for a living." But when we get in bed we LIE down, as in, "I'm tired. I'm going to lie down," "The cat is lying in wait for the mouse," or "We are lying on our mattresses for one-third of our lives." Thank you.

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000233.htm

I've had my latex mattress for 16 years, and it is still the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on - it sits on a good-quality slatted base. I am light, and my partner is heavy, but we both sleep well at the same time. There is no dipping or sagging when the heavier person rolls around. It cost a lot at the time, but has been worth every penny.

Bravo Jukesgrrl!

I've had my spring mattress for 10 years so far, and it's still really comfortable and showing no signs of wear. It might have been a top end one, but I don't know, because I bought it (for $50) second-hand (from a friend of a friend - so I had someone to vouch for their hygiene). I believe they had it for at least 5 years before they sold it to us (because of moving overseas. I would find it hard to let myself spend thousands on a mattress when there are options like this out there.

You know Jukegirl I really have been wating decades to get a concise answer the difference between "lie" and "lay". You did a great job of explaining it. I thank you.

I just have never really been able to tell much difference between mattresses. I wish I could. I want to make an educated decision as I love my lying in bed time.

I have to offer up a contrary opinion. About 8 years ago I bought a natural latex mattress. My mattress has compressed over time and now has shallow divots in both sides on both sides (I've flipped it every which way). I spent about $1200 on my mattress -- maybe more expensive mattresses wouldn't compress so much. I'm not a tiny person, but I'm certainly not a huge person either and I think my mattress should have lasted longer.

My husband and I love our latex mattress! We needed a firm matress, but did not want the fumes associated with traditional foam mattresses. It came out of the wrapper smelling like nothing - fabulous! 2 years later, my back feels tons better and the matress is holding up very well.

I've had an IKEA latex mattress for the last 7 years and it is by far the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. It hasn't changed at all (no dips), and as a bonus it comes with handles sewed on that makes moving it very practical. I'm planning to move overseas in about a year and my plan is to buy another IKEA latex one there. I'll never go back to a boxspring or a futon.

I bought my latex mattress from www.foamsweetfoam.com about 3 years ago. I'm in love with mine because of how comfortable it is to sleep on. It was expensive (and it looks like prices have gone up) but worth every penny.

I bought a latex mattress two years ago when we upgraded to a king-size bed.

Pros: no development of hills and valleys (granted, neither of us are very heavy), absolutely no disturbance to the other person when one of us rolls over, and improved comfort.

Cons: doesn't "breathe" well, despite all the other bed "accessories" (mattress protector, sheets, duvet, etc.) being 100% natural fibres like cotton, linen, and wool. I get night sweats thanks to some medical treatments that I'm currently undergoing, and they are worse when I sleep on this mattress. When I'm in the spare room, which has an inner spring mattress, they don't seem to bother me as much.

For those who have questions about the types of latex, for those who complain about their's, this site has explanations that seem to answer all those questions. Apparently there are differences in types of "100% Latex", and it matters how your mattress is constructed.

This may not take you directly to the info page, so look around:
http://www.latexmattress.org

For those with allergy questions same site as above, but here: http://www.latexmattress.org/latex-allergies.php

I loooooooooooooooooooooove my organic latex mattress. I bought the one from PureRest, which is the highest-quality one you can get (and therefore the most expensive). There is definitely a difference between natural latex and manufactured latex. However, I moved and can't have a King-size anymore. So it's for sale, if you're interested. It's worth $4000 and I'm selling it for $850. I'm going to buy the same mattress in a Full size!
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/fuo/2928242059.html
I'm in Chicago.

And by the way, for those of you out there who are worried about bedbugs and dustmites, those things can't live in latex!

Please tell me if you are planning on keeping it for 30 years you invested in an airtight cover for it. Otherwise, your mattress is going to get infested with dead skin and dust mites and all sorts of whatever.

I think they say a mattress doubles in weight every 2 years from that? And that you should replace them every 5 years because of it, for health reasons.

I have a latex mattress with a pillow top I purchased on sale from Ikea. It's amazing. Legitimately amazing. I don't ever want to buy another mattress.

My wife and I have had a medium-stiffness latex mattress for about 5 years now. It WILL stain; don't let anyone tell you it won't. However, I don't look at the bare mattress very often, and I NEVER WANT TO SLEEP ON ANYTHING ELSE EVER! This mattress is sooo comfortable! As yet, no hills and valleys have developed...

Just this week we started looking at and researching wool/rubber mattresses for our new apartment so perfect timing on the article.

Does anyone know where we might find a comprehensive list comparing the quality & price of natural latex mattresses? Also, what would be the next best thing for someone who can't fork over two grand? Is there a middle ground between conventional and natural mattresses that makes sense both environmentally and health-wise that won't send me under?

Thanks!

We've had natural latex mattress for four years. We bought it locally at mulligan mattress (portland, oregon). We paid around $2,000 for a queen. It is worth every penny.

Allergies: I get hives when I touch natural latex, this has a thick organic cotton cover and I have had no issues.

Airtight covers : not an option - latex needs to breathe. buy a thin mattress pad and wash it often.

Flame retardants: I got a note from my naturopath recommending a chemical-free mattress, no big deal.

WE LOVE OUR MATTRESS. When we come home from vacations, even at nice hotels, we are so happy to be back on it. It has no lumps or bumps. A great investment.

THE most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on/owned. I don't toss and turn and it cushions my hip joints. I recommend getting a firm supportive layer of latex followed by a soft latex layer that is covered in (organic) wool. Sustainable, naturally flame retardant materials without chemicals - a mattress worth every penny.

We definitely agree about the latex mattress. Across many months, we checked out every type of mattress. The Sleep Number felt like an air bed and that's what it really is, right? We have family who rave about the Tempurpedic but just don't understand the appeal, especially considering the price. With the Tempurpedic, it's very hard until it warms up.

We wrote up our journey in a blog post called The Joy of a Latex Mattress for an Aching Back and hope it will be helpful for others. Thanks as well for your article! If you go with a local shop, you can probably get the mattress for even less. Maybe about $1,500 for the queen mattress (not the set).

In the end, we felt that the latex mattress was the best balance of comfort and price. This can be easily seen by going to a store that has both innerspring and latex mattresses and going back and forth. Most likely you'll agree that the lack of springs make for a much different feeling.

Hi, could anybody suggest some good stores in NY to buy a latex mattress?
I had one in Italy and I loved it. It was medium soft and had different density zones.
I payed it around 500€. Unfortunately that company doesn't sell in the US.

I just bought one mattress online and it is just terrible. It is too hard and we both have strong back pain in the morning. Never ever will buy mattress on line.

Thank you. I appeal to you to apply for a grant to promote the use of proper English among U.S. citizens.

To clarify, latex can be either all natural, all synthetic or a blend of the two. All natural latex is made from the sap of the rubber tree. Synthetic latex is a petroleum polyurethane foam that is made to look and feel like natural latex, but it off gases carcinogenic fumes.

Most mattress manufacturers use chemical fire retardants because they are cheap. Wool can be used as a fire retardant, but it is more expensive.

Studies have proven that the toxins from mattresses including the chemical fire retardants does absorb into your body.

I'm a retailer with experience and knowledge of the materials used in mattresses and I have my own daughter on a natural latex mattress with wool as the fire barrier.

My shops are in CT just outside of NY, but I'm happy to provide advice to anyone, even if you are not one of my customers. Feel free to pick my brains. I enjoy it.
Jeff Klein
www.organicsleep.com
Jklein@organicsleep.com

We have a king sized latex Savvy Rest mattress and love it. It is pricy, but I also believe in buying something to last 20+ years. Three years prior, we purchased a "traditional" mattress for $2500 and it wore out with in 2 years! Savvy Rest was pricy ($3500 for king) but worth the money. It is so comfortable!