Bamboo Mattress: The New Kid on the Block

Mattresses have come in all shapes, sizes, and materials ever since the earliest days of rope-framed beds and goose down. While some bedding ideas have proven to be a great success there are others that have totally flopped. One of the new kids on the market, at least in terms of commercialization, is the bamboo mattress. While it's true bamboo mattresses have been around for quite a long time they haven't been in the mainstream until recently. Now that they are, it's amazing to see how quickly they have taken off.

To be clear, a bamboo mattress is not made entirely out of bamboo. As you might guess, trying to use bamboo as a filler material would result in a very uncomfortable sleeping experience. Instead, a bamboo mattress is really a conventional mattress core covered with bamboo fabric. Bamboo fabric is made from certain elements of the plant and is very soft, supple, and comfortable. There are also some other benefits to bamboo fabric which we'll get into later on.

The Mattress Core

In 9 out of 10 cases, the person who purchases a bamboo mattress is doing so for one of two reasons. Either he has allergy problems that are only made worse by his current bedding, or he's seeking an environmentally friendly bedding option. Sometimes it may be a combination of both. Either way, both of these reasons dictate that you probably will not find mattress cores made from synthetic latex, memory foam, or coil springs. Most of the time the core of a bamboo mattress is natural latex foam.

Sometimes you'll see a combination mattress which utilizes both natural latex and memory foam. The reason behind this lies in the fact that memory foam does a better job at conforming to the natural shape and pushing back against the body at the same time. This provides the maximum comfort and support all in the same package. A blended mattress of this type often is a solid block of natural latex foam with a memory foam topper. Other times, it is a memory foam core encased in a block of natural latex rubber.

On the outside chance that you are able to find a coil spring mattress with bamboo fabric it will probably consist of a layer of natural latex between the coil springs and the fabric casing. But because this combination is a bit more difficult and costly it is not done by very many manufacturers.

The Benefits of Bamboo

Allergy sufferers are most likely to use a bamboo mattress. That's because bamboo grows so well in its natural environment there is usually no need for pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals. If you have allergies with a traditional mattress associated with such chemicals they will not be present in bamboo. In addition, bamboo is naturally resistant to bacteria, fungus, and many natural pests - all things which can aggravate allergy symptoms. A small number of people may be allergic to bamboo itself, but they'll also be allergic to other similar natural substances too.

Another big advantage of bamboo is that it is very good at absorbing moisture and regulating temperature. Many people choose cotton mattresses because that material also wicks away moisture very well. But then they try a bamboo mattress which does the same thing but at a rate that can be as much as four times greater than cotton. Because of that, bamboo sleeps much cooler and is more comfortable; especially on hot summer nights.

Along those same lines, bamboo also is easier to clean and keep clean because of its natural resistance to bacteria. Where accidental bed wettings and spills can lead to bacteria growth in a traditional cotton mattress or featherbed, it's usually not a problem for a bamboo. If you deal with the spill as soon as possible, in order to relieve the stain, you'll also be cleaning at the same time and there should be no bacteria issues.

Bamboo is Very Sustainable

For those who are concerned with buying a mattress using sustainable materials, you need look no further than bamboo. Bamboo is a very hearty plant that grows extremely well - and quickly too. In fact, it is among the world's fastest growing plants. Under the right soil and water conditions bamboo can grow as much as 100 cm per day. Depending on how high farmers want their bamboo plants to grow, they could replenish their fields completely in a matter of a few weeks.

Growing and harvesting bamboo is also incredibly simple. It doesn't require harmful chemicals, the plants are not prone to disease, and it doesn't require a lot of pollution-generating equipment just to process. It is an eco-friendly material in every sense of the word. In combination with natural latex rubber, the bamboo bed is probably the most "green" sleep system on the market.