| Most mattresses these days are made using | | | | Typical synthetic latex blends vary in density from |
| innersprings with various foams and fibers layered on | | | | about 1 pound/cubic foot to about 2.5 pounds per cubic |
| top. The innersprings themselves are durable, of | | | | foot. Memory foam varies from about 3.0 pounds to |
| course, as they are made of steel. However, the | | | | about 7.0 pounds. Bigger numbers mean more |
| foams and fibers are vulnerable to fast deterioration. | | | | durability; lower density generally means lower quality |
| There are three underlying problems: | | | | and less durability. |
| - Most consumers are unaware of what goes into a | | | | Other than foam density, however, there is no widely |
| mattress: that is, what determines quality and durability. | | | | recognized or standardized test that measures the |
| - It’s easy to make something last a long time if | | | | durability of mattress materials. |
| it’s hard. An asphalt mattress would last 1000 | | | | The most durable material available today is made into |
| years; a cloud mattress wouldn’t last 10 seconds. | | | | natural latex mattresses. Typically, natural latex |
| The challenge is: how does a manufacturer make | | | | mattresses are advertised as “all natural,” but |
| something soft and supportive that is also durable? | | | | many actually contain 20% - 40% synthetic materials |
| - Manufacturers have been incredibly successful at | | | | or fillers such as ash or clay, which will degrade rapidly. |
| keeping secret what goes into a mattress. Slick | | | | Sometimes they are even referred to as organic latex |
| marketing has manipulated buyers into believing that | | | | mattresses, which is misleading. A mattress’s |
| price has a relationship to quality. Manufacturers use | | | | casing materials can be organic, but there is no official |
| fancy fabrics and cushy foams that they know will not | | | | organic certification for latex rubber itself, which is |
| hold up, but make great showroom impressions and | | | | derived from tropical trees. |
| sell well. | | | | If you are looking for a very durable mattress, be sure |
| Even in the alternative mattress industry, many kinds | | | | to get high-density foam or natural latex. If you want |
| of memory foam and latex (which is also in the foam | | | | the best material there is, a natural latex mattress will |
| category) are simply not made with durable materials. | | | | outlast one made with any other material. |
| One measure of foam’s durability is its density. | | | | |