Confused about Dunlop and Talalay? The two types of latex are named after the different manufacturing processes used to make them. Savvy Rest uses both types in our GOTS-certified organic mattresses and toppers. For further details on how Dunlop and Talalay latex differ and factors that can help you choose, this post on the Savvy Rest blog will be useful.
The traditional Dunlop process has been used in latex manufacture since 1929. The thick rubber sap, or serum, is whipped into a froth in a centrifuge, poured into a mold, covered, and steam baked. Natural sediments in the mixture settle to the bottom of the mold. This makes every Dunlop layer slightly firmer on its bottom side.
The Talalay process adds two steps. After the latex is poured, the mold is sealed and the process is continued in a vacuum chamber. The mold is then flash-frozen before it’s baked. Talalay latex has a more consistent cell structure from top to bottom and edge to edge. It is also more expensive than Dunlop. All Talalay pieces wider than 40″ (Full or larger) are seamed with a safe, natural latex glue. Seam locations will vary.
Dunlop is denser, which makes it a bit firmer overall than Talalay. Talalay is a good choice if you’d like a pillowy-soft surface “feel”. What matters is which type, or which combination, will create the right comfort and support for your needs. Both make a fine mattress and are extremely pure in comparison to conventional mattress materials.
Although Talalay has a wider range of firmness grades, Dunlop is generally heavier. If you like a very soft surface, you will want Soft Talalay for the top layer of your mattress or as a pillowtop. If you have children who mistake their beds for trampolines, we’d advise choosing a Dunlop latex mattress for them.
The texture of Dunlop latex is quite close to pound cake. It has a denser feel than Talalay does. Dunlop is resilient and responsive to your body, but not bouncy. When people say, “I really like the top to be soft, but I don’t want a ‘sinking’ sensation,” we usually suggest Soft Dunlop. Using Medium or Firm Dunlop in layers below the surface will give excellent stability for the spine.
The vacuum and freezing steps create a very even consistency. Soft Talalay is very like the texture of angel food cake. (Angel food cake that lasts for decades, that is.) You won’t sink like a stone lying on Talalay, but it does yield more around your body than Dunlop latex does. Another characteristic of Talalay is a “springier” feel.
