Hi energizedchris,
A hybrid generally means that there is a combination of materials or components in the mattress. It’s generally used to describe one type of material used for a support system and another used in the comfort layers. A latex/polyfoam hybrid for example would typically have latex in the upper or comfort layers and polyfoam in the support layers. A latex/innerspring hybrid would typically have latex in the comfort layers and an innerspring for the support layers. These are general descriptions because there can be many “hybrid” variations.
The materials in the Pure Latex Bliss Vitality are …
2" ActiveFUSION Fast Natural Talalay
2" Natural Talalay Latex
7" Bonded Foam/Latex
So there are 4" of Talalay latex over a bonded foam core that includes 10% latex and 90% polyfoam pieces which are bonded together.
So this would really be a latex / rebond foam hybrid since there is no innerspring. You can see the details of the rebond foam in post #6 here. While the foam used here is rebond which is somewhat unusual … it’s mostly polyfoam so this would be most closely comparable to a latex/polyfoam hybrid.
An innerspring / latex hybrid would have an innerspring of some kind and then one or more layers of latex over the innerspring for the comfort layer. You could even have a hybrid that used an innerspring for the support system and then a mixture of different types of foam in the comfort layers (such as latex and memory foam or memory foam and polyfoam). Anything is possible and each combination of materials creates a different “feel” and performance but it all boils down to which mattress design is the best “fit” for your body type and sleeping positions in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences).
The choice between different types of materials in a support system or in the comfort layers are a matter of preference and budget. Every material or component has lower and higher quality versions and the goal is to find the highest possible quality of the materials and combinations you like best that is inside your budget range. Since a mattress tends to soften and break down from the top down … the quality/durability of the comfort layers especially will have the biggest effect on the useful life of the mattress regardless of which materials you prefer.
Phoenix