One of the first mistakes people make when they’re beginning to look at new mattresses and cushions is assuming memory foam and latex foam are the same material. While both are premium bedding products that offer one-of-a-kind comfort and support, there are major differences that separate the two.

The main ingredient in latex foam is natural latex rubber, tapped directly from trees. A mix of the latex and other ingredients is poured into special aluminum molds containing vertical pins, which produce the holey, Swiss cheese appearance that provides latex’s unique aerating capabilities. As a result of that pin-core design, and its open-cell structure, latex foam’s most unique trait is its cool feel and breathability. Latex foam has a springier, more gelatinous feel than memory foam. Even with that kind of feel, it is a very supportive material that immediately forms to the curvature of a body’s contours and responds to movement for constant support. Latex is typically firmer than memory foam as well.

Memory foam meanwhile, is made from a traditional polyurethane foam mixture containing visco-elastic polymers that give the material temperature-sensitive body-contouring characteristics. This liquid formulation is poured onto belts where it expands into massive buns of foam, which are then sliced and manufactured into familiar products like mattresses and pillows. Unlike latex foam, memory foam’s texture and appearance is virtually the same as conventional polyurethane foam types. What sets it apart however, are those visco-elastic polymers that were added to its formulation. When a body warms the mattress or cushion, the foam softens and contours to the individual, distributing weight and pressure as it creates a cloud-like surface for the body.