Editorial · July 24, 2014
Mattress Buying Guide: Foam, Latex and Coir Compared
Mattress buying guide basics: pick the material first, then test the feel in the shop, then check how it handles Vietnam's damp weather. A mattress is a bed you use every night for years, so it is worth an hour of care before you pay.
This guide compares three materials you will see in Vietnamese shops: foam, latex and coir. It sticks to what is easy to check in the product specification and on the shop floor.
Foam: soft and shaped to you
Foam mattresses use foam instead of coil springs. Memory foam, also called viscoelastic foam, is the best known kind. Memory foam and latex foam both respond to touch and temperature.
Quality varies a lot, and so does price. Two foam mattresses of the same thickness can feel and wear very differently. Ask the seller for the foam type and density, and for the maker's written warranty. A seller who cannot name the foam is a warning sign.
If you share a bed, test the mattress together. Some makers offer a softer side and a firmer side, or adjustable firmness, for people who share.
Latex: springy, and made from rubber
Latex foam is made from rubber. Ask the seller how much of it is natural rubber, because the word latex alone does not tell you.
Vietnam matters here. According to figures from the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries, Vietnam produced about 1.043 million tonnes of natural rubber in 2013. That was up 20.8 percent on 2012 and made it the third largest producer in the world, behind Thailand and Indonesia. Rubber is grown close to home, which is one reason latex bedding is easy to find in the country.
Try a latex mattress in the shop before you buy. Latex mattresses can be heavy, so check that you can move and rotate one on your own.
Coir: firm support from coconut husk
Coir is a coarse fibre taken from the outer husk of the coconut. The shorter, finer fibres are called mattress fibre. Makers press the curled fibre into pads and cut them to fill a mattress. Some makers bond the fibre with latex. This is often called rubberised coir.
Coir pads feel firm. Some mattresses add a layer of foam or latex on top, and that top layer changes how soft the bed feels. Ask how thick the top layer is.
Ask the seller whether the coir is bonded with latex, and whether it is one block or several layers.
Humidity and upkeep
Vietnam is warm and often damp, so moisture is a real concern. Moisture can cause mildew in any mattress. Do not soak a mattress, and clean it with a vacuum or a slightly damp cloth. A mattress protector helps keep off stains and spills.
Both latex and memory foam are described as resistant to mold and mildew. That does not mean you can ignore the room. Keep air moving, open the curtains on dry days, and do not leave a mattress flat against a damp wall.
Use a firm, solid base so the mattress does not sag. Rotate the mattress about every three months. Flip it twice a year only if it is two sided, and do not fold or bend it.
What to check before you pay
Lie down in your usual sleeping position for several minutes. A common rule is that firm mattresses suit stomach sleepers, soft ones suit side sleepers and medium ones suit most back sleepers. Treat it as a starting point and trust your own comfort.
Ask for the material of each layer in writing, the thickness of each layer, the warranty length and what the warranty excludes. Ask about delivery, and about returns if the bed turns out to be wrong for you. Check that the size fits your frame and your bedroom door.
A good mattress is often said to last about 8 to 10 years, a figure credited to the Better Sleep Council. Replace yours when it stops supporting you, or when you see permanent sagging, lumps, visible springs or loud squeaks.
This is general information only. Back pain that lingers after you change your mattress is a question for a doctor.
Sources
- Vietstock, "VN rubber bounces to third place," 12 March 2014: https://en.vietstock.vn/2014/03/vn-rubber-bounces-to-third-place-970-170301.htm
- Wikipedia, "Mattress," static copy of the 2007 to 2008 edition: https://wikipedia2007.classicistranieri.com/m/a/t/Mattress.html
- Wikipedia, "Coir," static copy from about 2007: https://wikipedia2007.classicistranieri.com/c/o/i/Coir.html
A place on this register is not for sale.