Latex is a material derived from the sappy extract of rubber trees. When processed into a foam for mattress layers, latex contours gently and feels naturally springy. This makes latex an intriguing alternative to people who don’t enjoy the close “body-hug” of memory foam. Latex also absorbs a minimal amount of body heat and sleeps fairly cool, and the material resists the deep body impressions that often plague mattresses with foam layers.

A latex mattress with high-quality materials often costs a bit more at the outset, but because it lasts longer, it can provide a better value over time.