Month: August 2013

Different Types Of Innersprings

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So you’re shopping for an innerspring mattress but don’t know the difference?  This article is all about the different types of innerspring mattresses on the market.  The goal of this article is not to tell you which is better, rather it is so that you know the type of innerspring mattress you are purchasing.

 

Bonnell Coil

Bonnell coils are among the oldest as well as most common coils found in innerspring mattresses.  It was first adapted during the horse and bonnel-coil-1carriage days of the 19th century to provide support in the seat cushion. Bonnell coils are hourglass shaped and knotted at the end. This type of coil is typically found in less expensive mattresses and are the simplest to produce.

 

 

Continuous Coil 

 

 

This type of innerspring is configured where the rows of coils are connected with one piece of metal. The piece of wire continues throughout the mattress usually from head to toe, hence the name continuous.  This type of coil is more likely to be on the firmer side of the spectrum.  Like the Bonnell coil, you will typically see this coil Innerspring-1in a lower cost mattress due to the low cost to manufacture this type of innerspring.

 

Marshall Coil

 

Most commonly know as the pocketed coil, was created in 1900 by James Marshall who thought a mattress should have internal independent springs to provide both support and comfort.  A Pocketed coil system consists of individual coils wrapped in a fabric encasing. To keep them from moving out of line the fabric is either glued or sewn together whereas all pocketed-coilother coils are held together with spirals of wire called helicals. One of the benefits of this is that the pocketed coil does not transfer movement to your partner. Also, the Pocketed coil contours to the shape of you body better than the other types of innerspring.  You will typically see a Pocketed coil mattress in the medium to higher priced models.

 

Offset Coil

 

Similar to the Bonnell coil, the Offset coil is also of the hourglass shape.  The shape of the coil at the top and bottom has flat sides (looks like a square) rather than being completely rounded.  The Offset coils provide better support and contours to the body beddingcoilunit1012.5better than both the Bonnell and Continuous coil.  It can also be made firmer than the Pocketed coil since the coils are held together by helical wire.  You will typically see the Offset coil in the medium to higher priced mattresses.

 

The choice is yours

 

So now that you know the difference between the types of coils used in an innerspring mattress you can decide what is most important to you.  Of course this isn’t all you need to know about innerspring mattresses.  To find out what coil count means and what’s the difference between the gauges of wire used in the coils read our article here.

Talalay Latex VS Dunlop

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dunlop-vs-talalayIf you are in the market for a latex mattress the biggest question you probably want to know is what’s the difference between Talalay and Dunlop.  I am sure you have already went over to the google machine and started some research of your own.  If you have, you may be getting conflicting information about which is better.

 

On one hand you have all the Talalay supporters stating their case why they think Talalay is better and on the other side you have the Dunlop supporters saying Dunlop is better.  While their argument is going on you are caught in the middle of them just trying to find out what are the differences between the two. From the sound of their arguments you would think they were talking about their preferred political party or some pressing social issue.

 

I don’t blame you if you have second thoughts on buying a latex mattress since I am sure you don’t want to be associated with those Latex freaks.  Well, before you reconsider I am here to give you the differences between the two and also share the advantages and disadvantages of both.  At the end, I will also go over which method I prefer.  So let’s get started.

 

Talalay Latex

 

Talalay is one of the processes in which a Latex mattress is made and should not be confused with synthetic latex or all natural latex.  It is a seven-step process, which makes it more complex than that of Dunlop. The steps of the Talalay process are:

 

1)    First it is whipped into a frothy liquid

2)    Next the liquid is poured precisely by robotic arms into the mold

3)    Then the mold is closed and gets vacuum sealed so that the Latex gets distributed evenly

4)    It is then chilled to -20 degrees

5)    After which, CO2 is introduced to gel the Latex foam

6)    It is then heated to 220 degrees to cure the Latex final shape

7)    Lastly it is washed and dried

 

 

Advantages of Talalay

 

  • More breathable than Dunlop due to the manufacturing process
  • Wider range of ILDs. However, Talalay is still softer than Dunlop even if they are both labeled as the same ILD.
  • Conforms to the body better since it is more “airy”
  • More consistent feel throughout the mattress
  • Usually better having Talalay in the comfort layer due to its “pushiness”
  • Softer

 

 

Disadvantages of Talalay

 

  • More expensive than Dunlop
  • Softer
  • Less dense

 

 

Dunlop Latex

 

The Dunlop method has been used since 1929.  The Dunlop process is about four times quicker to manufacture than Talalay.  The steps of the Dunlop process is as follows:

 

  1. First the Latex liquid is emulsified
  2. Next it is poured into the mold
  3. The mold is then closed and gets cooked evenly
  4. Finally the Latex is removed from the mold and is washed and dried

 

Advantages of Dunlop

 

  • More dense
  • Less Expensive
  • Usually better used as the support layer in the mattress due to its density
  • Firmer

 

Disadvantages of Dunlop

 

  • Not as breathable
  • Inconsistent feel throughout the mattress due to the particles settling at the bottom
  • Firmer

 

Although it looks like Talalay is the better method of the two, you have to find out what is best for you.  You may like the firmer feel and choose to go with the Dunlop process.  My preferred combination is having a Dunlop core with the comfort layers being Talalay.  The reason I like it that way is because Dunlop is more dense it gives me that firmer support while I can still benefit from the plush feel of Talalay on the top layers.

Latex Mattress Overview

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natural_latex

So you want to learn about latex?

Latex is one of the older and also newer types of mattresses. Latex has been used in mattresses since the 1920’s but within the last decade have made a huge resurgence. Latex has the reputation of being one of the most durable and supportive mattress types around. Long before memory foam became popular latex was the gold standard for foam mattresses.

 

So what exactly is latex?

Latex is the white milky substance very similar to sap, that comes from the rubber tree which is harvested very similarly to the way maple syrup is taken from trees. The great thing is the trees are not harmed in any way. A thin layer of the bark is removed and the trees are “tapped” and the milky substance is dripped in buckets and barrels and shipped across the world to large rubber factories to be processed.  A typical rubber tree produces enough sap to make about four pounds of rubber per year. 

Contrary to popular belief, latex is really not foam at all, rather it is a different form of vulcanized rubber that has gone through a different process.

 

Natural-Latex
Latex Extracted from a rubber tree

Latex History

Latex was first used for mattresses and was invented in the 1920’s by a Scottish man named John Boyd Dunlop. It was said that the British Royal family was the first to use latex mattresses.

The latex process was refined and three brothers Leon, Joseph, and Ansil Talalay invented a process of latex mattresses that is more consistent and durable than the older Dunlop process by vacuuming all the air out of the latex mold and freezing it which stabilizes the cell structure.  

During WWII, latex and the entire rubber industry took a huge hit because the Japanese controlled approximately 90% of the rubber tree plantations.

After WWII Latex mattresses made a huge comeback in the 1950’s and 60’s and became the preferred choice for mattresses among U.S households.

However, plastics start gaining in popularity and Polyurethane foam became the material of choice by mattress manufacturers because it is cheaper, lighter, and much more easier to produce than latex. As polyurethane became more prevalent, mattress longevity declined and consumers began going through mattresses at a much higher rate, replacing their mattresses every 5-8 years where before they were only having to replace their mattress every 15-30 years with latex.  

 

Latex Today

Today latex is once again making a resurgence, and in this section you will learn all you need to know about latex.

You will learn the different types of latex, which types are better for different circumstances.

The pro’s and cons of latex. And also if latex is even right for you.

What Is A Latex Mattress?

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What_is_a_Latex_MattressWhen I am asked about latex mattresses often times people are curious on the feel and the process on how a latex mattress is manufactured.  Is it funny to think you can sleep on the same thing that is worn on the hands of doctors?

A latex mattress is an all-natural rubber that is tapped from the rubber tree and made from the milky liquid that comes from the tree. An all-natural latex mattress consists of pure latex without the use of synthetic chemicals and is the greenest type of mattress in the market.

Latex can also be made from synthetic material from a chemical called Styrene-Butadiene also known as SBR. Although they are different they are typically made using the same methods known as Dunlop and Talalay.

Dunlop

The Dunlop process is a denser form of latex. This is an older method and has been used in the latex mattress industry since 1931. The Dunlop process is pretty difficult to make in a softer version of latex because during the manufacturing process, it takes time for the liquid to set into a solid latex mold. The Dunlop latex process is best used as a support or core layer of your mattress or for those who prefer a firmer mattress.

Talalay

The Talalay latex process is more complex than the Dunlop process. It is first whipped into a foamy liquid and then poured into the mold. Once it is poured it gets vacuumed sealed so that the latex gets distributed evenly. After it has been vacuumed it is then chilled to -20 degrees. Freezing it prevents gravity from the particles to settle at the bottom giving you that more consistent and “airy” feel. This process is best used as the comfort layer since the desired softness or firmness is rather simple to produce as opposed to the Dunlop process.

Final Thoughts

Although a lot more goes into the Talalay process, it does not mean a Dunlop latex mattress is inferior. It all depends on the individual’s preference and what they are looking for in a mattress. The two differences you will notice are the difference in feel and also the difference in price. Talalay tends to be pricier because it is a more complex process.

When looking for a latex mattress, be sure you know what it is you are looking at. If the sticker on the mattress says “100% latex” then you are more likely than not looking at a blended latex mattress rather than a 100% all-natural latex mattress.