Talalay vs Dunlop latex: the two ways rubber foam is made, and which to buy
Latex is rubber foam, and there are two ways of turning liquid latex into a mattress layer. The names, Dunlop and Talalay, come up on spec sheets as if everyone knew the difference. Here it is.
The two processes
Dunlop. Liquid latex is whipped with air, poured into a mould, and baked. The sediment settles as it sets, so the bottom of the layer is denser than the top. The result is a dense, firm, springy foam. It is the older process, simpler and cheaper.
Talalay. Liquid latex is poured into a mould that is only partly filled, sealed, and a vacuum expands the foam to fill it. It is then flash-frozen so the cell structure locks evenly, carbon dioxide is pumped through to gel it, and only then is it baked. The result is a lighter, more consistent foam with a more open cell structure. Talalay layers are usually pin-cored, with rows of holes through them from the mould pins. It is a longer process and costs more.
What they feel like
| Dunlop | Talalay | |
|---|---|---|
| Density | Higher | Lower for the same firmness |
| Feel | Firmer, denser, more solid | Softer, springier, more buoyant |
| Consistency | Denser at the bottom | Even top to bottom |
| Breathability | Good | Better: open cells and pin holes |
| Pressure relief | Good | Better: it gives more at the shoulder and hip |
| Durability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Best used as | Support and transition layers; firm cores | Top comfort layer |
Neither is better; they do different jobs. Talalay on top for feel and cooling, Dunlop underneath for support, is the classic combination in an all-latex mattress. In a hybrid with springs, a single Talalay layer on top is the usual choice.
Natural, blended, synthetic
Both processes can use natural latex (from the rubber tree), synthetic latex (styrene-butadiene rubber, made from petroleum), or a blend.
- Natural: the most resilient and open, the most expensive. "100 per cent natural latex" should mean the latex is all natural; ask for the percentage, because "natural latex" on its own can mean 20 per cent.
- Blended: typically 30 per cent natural, 70 synthetic. Cheaper, slightly less lively, still cool and durable. Most mid-market latex is blended.
- Synthetic: firmer, denser, closer to a conventional foam. Fine as a support layer; less good on top.
For cooling and feel, natural or blended Talalay on top is the best; for a firm support layer, blended Dunlop is good value.
Why latex at all
Latex is the longest-lasting comfort material in a mattress: it does not take a body impression the way memory foam does, it is naturally open-celled and cool, it springs back so turning over is easy, and it is resistant to dust mites. Its drawbacks are cost, weight, and a bounce that some people who love the stillness of memory foam do not like. For hot sleepers it is the answer; see latex vs memory foam.
Reading the spec
Ask three things: Dunlop or Talalay, natural percentage, and density (kg/m³). Talalay for a top layer is typically 65 to 75 kg/m³; Dunlop support layers 75 to 95. A spec that just says "latex" has left out the three things that decide what it is.
How we use it
The Hot Flush has 3 cm of pin-cored Talalay latex at 70 kg/m³ as its top layer, because it is the coolest and most pressure-relieving top material we know. The Hotel Bed has a Talalay layer under its natural fibres and plush memory foam. Our Soft Top topper is offered in Talalay as well as memory foam.
The short version
- Dunlop: poured and baked; denser, firmer, cheaper; support layers.
- Talalay: vacuum, frozen, baked; lighter, springier, cooler, pricier; top layers.
- Natural is best, blended is good value, synthetic is a support material.
- Ask for the process, the natural percentage and the density.
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