Latex mattresses have been available for over 80 years. While new to most of us in North America, natural latex foam is a proven performer with several fantastic advantages. Like many products, there are many good examples of latex mattresses and, of course, many poor ones. Even if you read only a portion of this page, you'll arm yourself with an expert amount of knowledge on latex mattresses and sleep products.
We originally published this guide in 2008. We have updated and improved this informational guide over the years. We made the latest revisions in September 2026.
What is latex foam?
Latex foam is an excellent choice for those seeking a durable, supportive sleep surface. Latex foam conforms to the body's shape, providing proper support throughout. Latex mattresses have a well-deserved reputation for exceptional durability when made to a high-quality standard by brands such as Berkeley Ergonomics and Obasan.
Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene (polyisoprene), and is sourced from the milk of the rubber tree. High-quality natural rubber typically contains a few percent of other materials, such as proteins, fatty acids, resins, and inorganic materials.
Synthetic latex foam in the mattress industry is made from oil-derived styrene-butadiene. This means synthetic latex differs greatly from natural rubber. Because most latex sold in Canada is synthetically blended, it's important to understand the differences when comparing. While it is technically possible to produce polyisoprene from petrochemical sources, and this would indeed be similar to natural latex foam in many respects, this is simply not the case with respect to what is available in the market.
What is natural latex?
Natural latex is made from the milk of the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). The common abbreviation is NR, for Natural Rubber. Natural rubber resists dust mites and other allergens that can build up in common polyurethane foams over time. Natural rubber is a renewable resource.
Natural rubber is significantly more elastic than fully synthetic or blended latex. This means it can stretch more without breaking and rebound like a steel spring, creating a more responsive, supportive foam. This elasticity is the basic foundation of what makes natural rubber so desirable in many applications. Natural rubber conforms better to body shape and resists compression, making it more durable than synthetic or blended latex. Natural latex foam is typically 3-4 times denser than the standard polyurethane foams used in mass-produced mattresses (except for certain higher grades of polyurethane).
Mattress & Sleep Company offers 100% natural rubber from Berkeley Ergonomics, DreamStar and Obasan.
What is synthetic latex?
Synthetic latex is created from petrochemicals. It is known as Styrene-Butadiene Rubber, commonly abbreviated as SBR. Sleep products feature either natural or synthetic latex, or a combination of both; the most common blend is 30% natural and 70% Synthetic.
Because natural latex is a polymer of polyisoprene, synthetic latex differs significantly from natural latex. Thus, synthetic latex performance is not comparable to natural rubber. Synthetic latex foam is springier and more elastic than standard polyurethane foam. However, it is simply inferior to pure natural latex.
Most latex sleep products sold in Canada are synthetic or synthetic-blended. Our offerings are either 100% natural rubber tree latex or a blend of rubber tree latex and synthetic latex. We clearly mark every latex product to show the difference. As of this writing, we offer only one pillow with blended latex. Everything else is 100% natural.
How is latex foam made?
With the Dunlop Process, air is mechanically mixed into the liquid Hevea milk to form the wet foam. This material is then steamed to vulcanize the rubber. The foam goes through a thorough washing and drying process. Arpico (Richard Pieris Natural Foams Ltd.) in Sri Lanka makes the organic Dunlop rubber used in Obasan products.
In the Talalay process, the basic foam is cast into a partially filled aluminum mould. The aluminum mould is then closed, and a vacuum is created. The foam is then frozen to -30 degrees Celsius, which preserves the round cell structure. This creates a consistent, open-cell structure that ensures durability and allows airflow. It then goes through a similar washing and drying process as Dunlop latex. The roundness of Talalay cells creates more responsiveness and is more elastic than Dunlop rubber.
Many foam makers tout Talalay as being "new". The Talalay process has been around since 1940, nearly as long as the Dunlop process. Radium in the Netherlands produces the highest-quality Talalay latex in the world under the trade name Vita Talalay, and we use it in our Berkeley Ergonomics mattresses.
What are the advantages of latex?
- Instantly responds to body shape, ensuring proper conformance and support.
- Excellent air circulation.
- Excellent breathability, better with the Talalay process than with the Dunlop process
- It is not heat-sensitive and performs well at any normal temperature.
- Pressure relief; less tossing and turning, resulting in rejuvenating sleep.
- A high-quality natural rubber mattress can last 10 to 20 years comfortably. A synthetic or synthetically blended latex foam mattress will last less.
- Environmentally friendly; biodegradable. (only 100% natural rubber tree latex)
- High-quality natural rubber is inherently anti-microbial, dust mite resistant, and hypoallergenic.
What are latex fillers?
Latex fillers are fine particles of chemically inert materials such as calcium oxide, China Clay (Kaolin clay) or titanium dioxide. They are used in low-quality latex foam production, as they can greatly reduce the cost of producing latex foam.
Using fillers destroys latex's hypoallergenic properties, which severely limits the health benefits latex foam normally provides.
None of the high-quality Berkeley Ergonomics, DreamStar and Obasan products available from Mattress & Sleep Company contain fillers.
Price is typically a very good indicator of what you're getting when comparing latex options. When in doubt, ask the salesperson or store for documentation on the latex composition.
Myth: Dunlop latex is firmer than Talalay latex
As with many myths, there is an element of truth to this. We still call this a myth because, like all foam, it comes in an enormous range of firmness and density options. So you can have a very firm-feeling piece of Talalay process foam and a very soft piece of Dunlop process foam.
This myth comes up because the cell structure of the foams differs. Technically, all upholstery foams become firmer as they are compressed. This is known as the foam's compression modulus. The higher the compression modulus, the faster the foam will become firmer as it is compressed.
There are 2 reasons for this difference in perceived foam comfort.
First is the shape of the cells that make up the foam. With the Talalay production method, vacuum pressure creates the foam's cell structure by expanding the liquid rubber inside sealed Talalay moulds. Even vacuum pressure creates very round, similarly sized cells (which is why it is referred to as 'more consistent'). With the Dunlop method, air is mixed in mechanically, creating a wider variety of cell sizes and shapes.
Second, the freezing process in the Talalay production method bursts the foam cells before the final curing process. This openness dramatically increases breathability, which not only helps with temperature and humidity but also prevents air from becoming trapped in the foam's rubber cells. Some air gets trapped in less breathable foams and then pressurizes as the mattress is compressed.
Simply put, Dunlop feels more progressive, stable, and less bouncy than Talalay; Talalay has a more linear firmness and a more buoyant feel than Dunlop Latex.
For the above reasons, we also avoid listing the ILD or IFD specification of the latex layers in our mattresses, as it does not accurately describe a mattress's firmness or comfort on its own. A mattress's character and comfort go beyond firmness, which is only one aspect.
Myth: All Talalay latex is synthetic
This is untrue. Talalay simply refers to one of the processes for creating latex foam. The source material can be natural latex, synthetic, or a blend of both.
Most Talalay latex is synthetically blended. The blend percentage is often around 30% natural rubber tree milk and 70% petrochemical (styrene-butadiene). Berkeley Ergonomics uses Vita Talalay latex made from 100% rubber tree milk.
Myth: All Talalay latex is natural
Ironically, the other myth we commonly encounter is that all Talalay latex is natural. This is again untrue. Most Talalay latex is a blend of styrene-butadiene and rubber tree milk. There are, of course, options such as the Berkeley Ergonomics previously mentioned, where the entire polymer content is made up of rubber tree milk, meaning this would be considered natural. When rubber tree milk is blended with styrene-butadiene, even in small percentages, we simply do not consider this a natural foam.
Concern: I’m allergic to latex.
Although latex allergies are cause for concern, the type of latex used in mattresses and pillows is incredibly safe. Latex is a touch allergy, which means you have to come in direct contact with it to have a reaction. All of the natural latex products we offer are covered, ensuring no direct contact. We have also had customers who are nurses and doctors with legitimate latex allergies to products like latex gloves, and they can handle the raw latex foam without issue.
Another type of latex allergy is extremely rare and directly affects the respiratory system. It is more serious, but incredibly rare, and there is no link between an increased risk of this allergy developing and the workers who collect raw latex from the trees.
If in doubt, we recommend buying a latex pillow for an allergy test. We will deduct the pillow's price from the mattress price if the test is successful, and we will refund the pillow if there is strong evidence of an allergic reaction.
Which is better, synthetic or natural?
In most cases, a strong case can be made for natural latex as the superior product.
Although synthetic latex somewhat mimics the feel and comfort of natural latex, it offers fewer of the same health benefits and is less durable. Natural latex contains proteins which severely limit the ability of dust mites and other bothersome allergens to congregate in your mattress.
Natural latex is desirable for its unique ability to stretch without breaking. Synthetic latex doesn't offer the same elasticity, which leads to a less durable, less supportive product.
One of the primary benefits of sleeping on a latex mattress is its ability to conform properly to your body shape. Because natural latex cells are more elastic and stretchable than standard synthetic latex, higher natural latex content makes it easier for the mattress to conform to the body's complex shape.
When it comes to synthetic latex, the primary advantage remains price. Unfortunately, we don't have rubber trees in North America, so anything made from this material must be shipped long distances. Natural latex is more expensive to produce because harvesting is relatively slow to ensure the trees' sustainability. For those who cannot justify the cost of 100% natural latex, a blend of natural and synthetic latex can keep costs more reasonable. As of the latest update to this article (September 2026), Mattress & Sleep Company does not offer any synthetically blended latex products.
Vita Talalay Latex
Simply put, Vita Talalay latex is the highest performance latex available today. Because this material has several unique properties and advantages over other varieties of latex, Mattress & Sleep Company has created an entire page devoted to Vita Talalay.
