Pocket spring mattress or latex mattress?
If you are looking for a new mattress, you will certainly be confronted with various types of mattresses. Which type of mattress is suitable for which type of sleeper, however, is often not particularly clear. For this reason, we will introduce you in the following pocket spring mattresses and latex mattresses in more detail and explain the differences between these two types of mattresses.
The differences between pocket spring mattresses and latex mattresses at a glance:
| Pocket Spring Mattress | Latex Mattress | |
| Construction | Mattress core made of pocket springs, which are individually wrapped in fabric pockets and are thus completely separated from each other. | Consisting of natural or synthetic latex, which is produced using the Dunlop or Talalay process and has an open-pore structure. |
| Climate properties | Pleasantly cool and hygienic sleeping environment thanks to high air circulation. | Heat storage leads to a rather warm sleeping environment that is also particularly breathable and hygienic. |
| Point elasticity | Excellent point elasticity ensures high adaptability and dimensional stability, as well as long durability. | Particularly point-elastic, so that your body is optimally supported – no matter what sleeping position. |
| Support zones and firmness levels | Various models with a different number of support zones and freely selectable firmness levels. | Depending on the model, a different number of support zones and different firmness levels. |
Product recommendation:
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Pocket Spring Mattress vs. Latex Mattress
Regardless of whether you choose a pocket spring mattress or a latex mattress, you should make sure that the desired mattress meets the natural curvature of the spine. This means that shoulders and pelvis should always sink in further than the surrounding parts of the body. The latter should instead be supported more strongly, as this promotes ergonomically correct lying and thus a healthy body posture. In order for a mattress to fulfill this, you should take a close look at the construction and the resulting point elasticity. Support zones and firmness levels also provide information about whether you will be optimally relieved during sleep with the respective mattress. In addition to body support, it is also important that the mattress fits your subjective preferences. Therefore, also pay attention to the corresponding climate properties in order to find the perfect mattress for you.
Construction and production
Pocket spring mattresses consist of a spring core surrounded by various protective layers of foam. In the spring core itself there are a large number of springs (a good pocket spring mattress should be equipped with about 500 springs) that have been packed in fabric pockets and are completely enclosed by them. Because each steel spring is individually surrounded by such a fabric pocket, the respective springs are separated from each other and cannot touch each other.
Tip
Due to the springs, pocket spring mattresses are not as flexible as latex mattresses, which are even particularly elastic. Adjustable slatted frames are therefore only suitable for pocket spring mattresses to a limited extent.
Latex mattresses consist either of natural or synthetic latex. The former is extracted from the sap of the rubber tree, whereby the rubber content is extracted and stabilized. Synthetic latex, on the other hand, is made from petroleum. However, the actual manufacturing processes of the two latex variants are similar. A distinction is made here between two different processes: There is the Dunlop and the Talalay process.
In the Dunlop process, the viscous latex foam is supplemented with further additives and then foamed with air in order to create a stable foam and determine the firmness of the mattress. The foam is then poured into a mold with heating pins, which enable an even distribution of heat and create the shape-giving holes in the latex mattress (pin latex). The air bubbles that form in the process ensure an open-pore structure of the mattress and ensure good air circulation and rapid removal of moisture that forms during night sweats. Finally, the foam is baked using the pins and steam and removed from the mold, washed, spun and dried.
Synthetic latex is usually about 10% firmer than natural latex. It can also happen that synthetic latex is mixed with natural latex in order to combine the best properties of both raw materials. The mattress core then consists of about one third of natural latex. The following applies in principle: The more natural latex that has been processed in a mattress, the higher the quality.
The Talalay process is significantly more expensive and complex than the Dunlop process, but at the same time this process is also the highest quality: It represents a further development of the Dunlop process, as the Talalay process extends this by two additional production steps: In addition to the distribution of the foam in the mold, which also takes place in the Dunlop process, a vacuum is created in the Talalay process. This ensures that the foam is better distributed and trapped air bubbles are compressed. Another difference to the Dunlop process is the subsequent shock freezing of the foam: The mass is cooled down to about -30 degrees, which causes parts of the latex core to break open. This leads to the well-known, air-permeable structure of the latex mattress, which is also created using the Dunlop process. A mixture of carbon dioxide and air is then pumped into the mold to gel and solidify the latex. This so-called vulcanization takes place at approximately 120 degrees. The process is repeated until the latex has reached the desired consistency. The latex is then removed from the mold and the identical washing process (washing, spinning, drying) takes place, which also takes place in the Dunlop process. This is of crucial importance in both manufacturing processes because negligent cleaning leaves protein residues in the latex that can trigger an allergic reaction.
Tip
Due to the springs, pocket spring mattresses are not as flexible as latex mattresses, which are even particularly elastic. Adjustable slatted frames are therefore only suitable for pocket spring mattresses to a limited extent.
Sleeping climate and hygiene
Pocket spring mattresses impress with a pleasant, cool and hygienic sleeping environment, which is created by their special construction: There is enough space between the individual pocket springs and the surrounding protective layers, so that the mattress is extremely air-permeable. Thanks to the strong air circulation, heat and moisture that forms during night sweats are immediately transported to the outside, so that neither mites can settle nor mold can form. This also means that a pocket spring mattress is particularly suitable for allergy sufferers and for people who tend to get warm at night.
For those who tend to freeze at night, a latex mattress is a good choice: This type of mattress is perfect for “cold potatoes”, because latex mattresses have a rather warm sleeping environment. This is because a latex mattress absorbs and stores the sleeper's body heat instead of releasing it to the outside – as with pocket spring mattresses. Because you sink in relatively deeply with a latex mattress, the heat is retained all the more. Latex mattresses are also particularly hygienic, because thanks to the open-pore structure due to the incisions, this type of mattress is extremely breathable. Since this also counteracts the growth of mites, latex mattresses are very allergy-friendly. However, if you suffer from a latex allergy, you should of course refrain from buying such a mattress.
Point Elasticity and Durability
To ensure your body is adequately supported during the night and a healthy posture is encouraged, shoulders and hips should always sink in further than the surrounding areas (head, lumbar region, and legs), which should be more strongly supported. Incidentally, this rule applies regardless of which mattress you ultimately choose: if your body cannot sink in or be supported accordingly, your spine can become misaligned, which can lead to postural damage.
Since pocket spring mattresses have high point elasticity, they adapt perfectly to your body and optimally support the respective body parts. The pocket spring mattress owes its point-elastic properties to its construction: because each steel spring is completely encased in one of the fabric pockets, the individual springs are separated from each other and can thus react to pressure load at specific points. This means that with a pocket spring mattress, only the areas that are actually stressed give way, while the surrounding areas remain in their shape. For this reason, it doesn't matter which sleeping position you prefer at night, because the pocket spring mattress always adapts to it immediately and supports you optimally in that regard. Furthermore, this type of mattress immediately returns to its original state as soon as the pressure is removed from the respective area. Active sleepers in particular benefit from this property, as they are not restricted in their movements when they toss and turn at night. Thanks to the high recovery force, pocket spring mattresses are particularly dimensionally stable, so that the formation of sagging is prevented and long durability is guaranteed.
Latex mattresses are also extremely point-elastic thanks to their latex core and therefore also have a high degree of adaptability: they react very precisely to pressure and optimally support your body accordingly. For this reason, this type of mattress is suitable for all sleeping types, because the lying properties of a latex mattress are so good that it always supports or allows your body to sink in perfectly – no matter what sleeping position. Thanks to their point-elastic properties, latex mattresses promote ergonomic lying and thus counteract unhealthy posture.
Tip
When buying a latex mattress, also pay attention to the density (RG for short): the more air that is added during production, the lower it is. If the structure is too open-pored, the mattress is much more flexible and therefore no longer of such high quality. Expensive latex mattresses should therefore definitely have a high density to ensure the long durability and dimensional stability of the mattress.
As soon as a point is no longer stressed, the latex mattress immediately returns to its original state. For this reason, a mattress with a latex core is particularly dimensionally stable. Thanks to the high recovery force, latex mattresses are also long-lasting, because no sagging can occur due to this. However, a latex mattress is much more maintenance-intensive than a pocket spring mattress. So, if you want to benefit from the long durability of a latex mattress and want to use the mattress for as long as possible, you should clean as well as rotate and turn it regularly.
Support zones and firmness levels
Both pocket spring mattresses and latex mattresses have various models with a different number of zones. In order for you to find a mattress that meets the requirements for ergonomically correct lying and the natural curvature of the spine (lordosis), the desired model should have at least 5 zones. These are composed as follows: Because shoulders and hips should always sink in further than the surrounding areas (head, lumbar region and legs), this already creates 5 different zones. In order to also ensure that a mattress can be rotated, mattresses with 7 zones are the most common. With this type of mattress, the leg area is divided into further zones, so that the mattress is then mirrored in the hip zone and in this way there is a corresponding counterpart to each area: The head area is the counterpart to the foot zone, the shoulder zone is identical to the calf zone and the lumbar area matches the leg zone.
In addition to the choice of models with different zones, pocket spring and latex mattresses are available in models with different firmness levels. Which firmness level is best for you depends on your personal preferences – i.e. whether you prefer to sleep harder or softer. At the same time, you should make sure that the desired mattress is neither too hard nor too soft: If a mattress is too hard, some areas of the body such as the shoulders or pelvis cannot sink in far enough, so that your spine is misaligned. A mattress that is too soft, on the other hand, leads to your body literally "sagging", which is also bad for your posture.
Conclusion: Pocket Spring Mattress or Latex Mattress – Which is Better?
The question of which type of mattress is better is difficult to answer, as this always depends on both subjective preferences and individual body characteristics. The main difference between pocket spring mattresses and latex mattresses is the climate properties, which are due to the fact that the two types of mattresses are constructed differently or are manufactured differently: If you get warm quickly at night, a pocket spring mattress is ideal for you because it has a pleasant cool sleeping climate. People who get cold easily, on the other hand, should opt for a latex mattress because latex absorbs and stores heat – i.e. it ensures a rather warm sleeping climate.
Tip
When buying a latex mattress, also pay attention to the density (RG for short): the more air that is added during production, the lower it is. If the structure is too open-pored, the mattress is much more flexible and therefore no longer of such high quality. Expensive latex mattresses should therefore definitely have a high density to ensure the long durability and dimensional stability of the mattress.
Apart from the construction and the resulting different climate properties, the two types of mattresses are very similar in terms of their other properties: Both pocket spring and latex mattresses are particularly point-elastic and therefore optimally support your body. Thanks to their pronounced point elasticity, the two types of mattresses are extremely adaptable and thus guarantee a long service life. In addition, both mattresses are very hygienic and therefore ideal for allergy sufferers.
In addition, the two types of mattresses are available in different versions – i.e. various models with a different number of zones and different firmness levels. In the course of this, you should ensure that the desired model has at least 5 – ideally 7 – zones in order to support your body in the best possible way. Personal preferences play a particularly important role when choosing the right firmness, but at the same time the desired mattress should be neither too hard nor too soft.
Good to know:
Since the terms "pocket spring mattress", "barrel pocket spring mattress" and "spring mattress" are often used synonymously, this article not only provides information on whether pocket spring mattresses are better than latex mattresses, but also on whether you should choose a barrel pocket spring mattress or spring mattress instead of a latex mattress.
