Egg Crate Foam vs. Latex

Egg Crate Foam

Egg crate foam can be any type of foam where one side has an 'egg crate' shape. The purpose of this kind of foam is two-fold. It tends to be more responsive and distributes weight better than a thick layer of foam, and also it has cooling advantages because of the air flow that it provides.

Egg crate foam can be either memory foam or reflex foam, which are both blends of polyurethane foams and could be prone to off-gassing and odor.

The egg crate foam is generally found in the top comfort layers of the mattress, though they could be used in the base layer as well.

Pros: More response and more airflow than flat foam layers.

Cons: Comfort is entirely dependent on the quality of foam -- lower quality foams can be uncomfortable and break down faster.

Latex

Latex is made from the sap of a rubber tree. Over generations, people have learned how to tap the trees without having to cut them down. This means that it is one of the most eco-conscious and sustainable ways to create bedding.

After the latex is harvested from the rubber tree, it is treated to create foam. The two most common ways of treating latex for bedding is Dunlop and Talalay. The result is a high response and heavy piece of foam that can be used for bedding. By changing the density, the latex can be more or less responsive.

Those that are used to a memory foam feel (a slow response) will be surprised to know that most latex is highly responsive, meaning that although it will react to ones body, it has a natural bounce. Some sleepers prefer this, though others not so much.

Recently, there has been an explosion in latex bedding with the higher demand for eco-conscious foam alternatives. Though latex is natural, there are some that mix it with memory foam. For those that are looking for pure latex bedding, be careful to do your research on the entire bed.

Pros: High response, differing firmness options.

Cons: High expense vs memory foam, some don't like the latex responsive feel.

Learn More About Egg Crate Foam

Learn More About Latex

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Material Scores

Overall Score:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Latex: 9.7/10

Comfort:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Latex: 9.4/10

Softness:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.4/10
Latex: 9.4/10

Cooling:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Latex: 8.5/10

Hypoallergenic:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.6/10
Latex: 9.4/10

No Odor:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.6/10
Latex: 8.9/10

General Support:
Egg Crate Foam: 9/10
Latex: 8.8/10

Eco-Conscious:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.7/10
Latex: 9/10

Price Value:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Latex: 8.4/10