Tuesday, July 5, 2016

LunaBed Mattress Review

LunaBed has gathered some attention for its very affordable mattresses, so I was excited to give it a try for myself.  I personally tested the LunaJoy 12 inch queen, which is the most expensive in their line, but still priced below $550.

Overall I liked the mattress, but had a few small complaints as well.  Read on for my full LunaBed mattress review.

You will love LunaBed if you…

  • Want great value – LunaBed offers a great sleeping experience at a fraction of the cost of other major mattress brands, even the most popular online options
  • Sleep with a partner – in my video below you can see that the mattress does great with motion isolation, making it a good option for couples.
  • Want a socially oriented company – LunaBed donates 1 mattress for every 10 sold, providing homeless shelters with a nice mattress upgrade.
  • Want a specific firmness – LunaBed has a few options to choose from, so you can hone in on your firmness/construction that suits your sleeping style (I think LunaJoy is a good option for side sleepers).

LunaBed Mattress Review

You may not like LunaBed if you…

  • Are looking for a luxury mattress – LunaBed is great value, but if you’re looking for a luxury memory foam mattress, you can get more elsewhere if you pay (a good bit) more.
  • Want a mattress with “bounce” – if you are used to a spring, latex, or hybrid mattress, know that LunaBed is really a pure memory foam feel, aka fairly slow to respond foam.

Firmness and Feel

As you can see in the video, LunaBed has the pure memory foam mattress feel.  It is slow to respond, but offers a great comfort/support tradeoff.

The LunaJoy 12 inch is a bit softer than average, I think it would be ideal for side sleepers.  Also available in the line are the LunaWonder, LunaDream, and LunaBliss – all with different thicknesses, firmness levels, and prices.

Motion Transfer

LunaBed is all memory foam, so as expected it performs very well in the motion transfer test.  A bed with great motion isolation like LunaBed is a good mattress for couples, especially if one (or both) are known to toss and turn throughout the night.

Construction

LunaBed is very transparent about their construction and foams, which is always a good sign.  The LunaJoy is 12 inches thick in total, and consists of:

  • 2 inches of 2.5 lb density open cell memory foam
  • 3 inches of 1.56 lb density open cell memory foam with breathable wave technology
  • 6 inches of high density reflex base foam

LunaBed Mattress Cover

The cover is quilted bamboo with blue microsuede side covering.

Other things to note

  • LunaBed is sold only online
  • The mattress has a standard 10 year warranty
  • They have a 110 night sleep trial (return any time within this window for a full refund)
LunaBed Mattress
4.2 Reviewer
Summary
LunaBed is a great memory foam budget option. The line consists of four mattresses varying in thickness, firmness, and price. Overall I think LunaBed is a great option if you're looking in this price range.
Comfort3.8
Support4.3
Value (Price)4.8
Doesn't Sleep Hot3.8
Motion Transfer4.7
Edge Support3.5
Materials/Durability3.5
Company Reputation4.5
Return Policy/Warranty4.8
Overall Sleep Experience4.3

Final recommendation

LunaBed is definitely a great value, and offered me a good night’s sleep.  There are very few good quality beds in this price range, so if you’re looking for a memory foam mattress in this budget, I haven’t reviewed a mattress better than LunaBed.

The post LunaBed Mattress Review appeared first on Mattress Clarity.

Switch Mattress Review

The Switch mattress is a bed-in-a-box option that takes customization to a whole new level.  You can switch the firmness on each side of the bed on the fly by flipping the foam inside, which makes for a pretty interesting experience.

Overall I liked the Switch mattress, and had a good experience sleeping on it, though I had a few complaints as well.  Read on for my full Switch mattress review.

You will love the Switch mattress if you…

  • Want customization – Switch allows each side of the bed to be switched to a different firmness (soft, medium, or firm).
  • Are worried about motion transfer – this mattress is memory foam and split, so it provides essentially no motion transfer issues
  • Want a great value – this mattress is made by a regional mattress store player, and is sold primarily online (and in their showrooms).  They are taking big advantage of the direct-to-consumer model with their pricing.

Get $100 Off Switch with coupon code “MattressClarity100” 

Switch Mattress Reviews

You may not like the Switch mattress if you…

  • Don’t sleep with a partner – Switch is designed for great customization for couples, but if you sleep alone, you won’t get many of the benefits of this mattress
  • You have average preferences – if you are not very particular about the firmness of your mattress and are fine with an average firmness level, the versatility of the Switch again may not be attractive to you.

Firmness and Feel

As you can see, you can easily switch the mattress to different firmness settings.  Shown is the medium and soft options.

I’d guess 90% of sleepers will go for the average firmness setting, but some side sleepers may opt for the soft setting and some stomach sleepers may opt for the firm setting.

Motion Transfer Test

The Switch mattress is both quality memory foam as well as a split mattress, so as expected it does very well in the motion transfer test.  I think for a variety of reasons this mattress would be a good mattress for couples.

Construction

The exact order of the foam layers will vary based on which firmness option you have set up on the mattress.  For the softest setting, the layers will be:

  • 4 inches of gel memory foam
  • 2 inches of transition foam
  • 4.5 inches of high density support foam

Switch mattress cover

For the firmest option, all 4 inches of gel memory foam will go on the bottom.  For the medium setting, there will be 2 inches of gel memory foam on the bottom and 2 inches on the top.

Other things to note

  • Switch mattress is made in the USA
  • It has a 110 night sleep trial (free returns in this period)
  • Free shipping and returns
  • 15 year limited warranty

Final Recommendation

The switch mattress is very interesting compared to other mattresses I’ve reviewed. The customization option is very unique, and though it may not appeal to everyone, I think for many people wary of buying online this mattress is an incredible option.

If you’ve made it this far, I’d say Switch is definitely worth a try.

Get $100 Off Switch with coupon code “MattressClarity100” 

Switch mattress
4.3 Reviewer
Summary
The Switch mattress is unique because of its level of customization. If you're sleeping with a partner, I think this is a great option for you each to get your firmness preference and minimize motion transfer. Overall I had a good experience with the mattress.
Comfort4.3
Support4.1
Value (Price)4.6
Doesn't Sleep Hot4
Motion Transfer4.9
Edge Support3.5
Materials/Durability3.8
Company Reputation4.3
Return Policy/Warranty4.8
Overall Sleep Experience4.3

The post Switch Mattress Review appeared first on Mattress Clarity.

Purple Mattress Unboxing

Watch the video below for step-by-step instructions on how to unbox the Purple mattress.

As you can see, it’s a very simple process.  The hardest part for me was cutting off the first layer of thick plastic, where I had to cut through a zipper and straps as part of the process.  For this, the cutter they provided me didn’t work, so I ended up just using some scissors.

The biggest thing to remember during the unboxing process is to not cut the mattress.  As long as you avoid puncturing the mattress, you can’t mess up the process.

Some people have mentioned an off-gassing smell, or baby powder smell, upon opening Purple.  Personally I didn’t notice either of those smells, and actually found it had less smell than most of the mattresses I’ve tried.

To learn more about Purple, check out my full Purple mattress review.

The post Purple Mattress Unboxing appeared first on Mattress Clarity.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Purple Mattress Review

I get a lot of questions about the Purple mattress because of their creative marketing, so I was excited to try the mattress for myself.  It’s made of a very unique material, so in some ways this mattress is difficult to compare to other popular options (see how Purple compares HERE).

Overall I really liked the Purple mattress, but I had a few small complaints as well.  Read on for my full Purple mattress review (and raw egg test).

You will love the Purple mattress if you…

  • Are looking for pressure relief – I found Purple’s unique material is actually great for pressure relief (that’s what they’re trying to show with the raw egg test).
  • Want the bed-in-a-b0x online business model – it’s hard to compare Purple to any other mattress (price-wise) due to the unique material, but the online-only business model still applies.
  • Sleep in multiple positions – I thought Purple is one of the few mattresses that is comfortable when sleeping on the back, side, and stomach.
  • Want to sleep cool – the Purple mattress definitely sleeps cool, cooler than almost any other mattress I have reviewed (and I tried it during the NYC summer).

Get the best deal on the Purple mattress

Purple Mattress Reviews

You may not like the Purple mattress if you…

  • Want a mattress you understand – Is it memory foam?  More like a latex mattress?  Definitely not spring.  It’s hard to categorize Purple, which may be difficult for some shoppers.
  • Want durability proof – it’s possible that Purple may be more durable than other materials.  However with a relatively new mattress, there’s really no way to tell, and traditional specs (eg foam density) don’t apply.

Firmness and Feel


Since the Purple mattress has a unique comfort layer material (hyper-elastic polymer), it’s no surprise it has a very unique feel.  Like a latex mattress, Purple springs back very quickly and sleeps cool.

In terms of firmness, it’s probably a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale – but it is also very pressure relieving as well, so I think the normal “firmness scale” isn’t as useful as it can be.

Purple Mattress Raw Egg Test

As you can see in the video, I had a good time with the raw egg test!  This isn’t a scientific test, or one that is even performed on mattresses regularly, so I don’t know if I “did it correctly” in either attempt.

No matter the results of a raw egg test, know that this test is meant to show that the mattress is very pressure relieving.  And from my experience sleeping on the mattress, I found this to be true.

Purple Mattress Construction

The Purple mattress is made of three layers:

  • 2 inches of hyper-elastic polymer
  • 3.5 inches of 1.8 lb polyurethane foam
  • 4.0 inches of 2.0 lb polyurethane foam

The top layer is really the story of Purple, with a very unique material that accounts for the bounciness, pressure relief, and sleeping cool.

Below is the cover, made of viscose (27%), polyester (69%), and polyester-lycra (4%).  I found the mattress cover to be nice to the touch and very breathable.

Purple Mattress cover

Motion Transfer Test

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Purple mattress in terms of motion transfer since it doesn’t fall into the typical memory foam, latex foam, and innerspring categories.

As you can see in the video below, the mattress performs quite well.  It isn’t as good as a high quality memory foam mattress in terms of motion transfer, but I think it is a great option for most couples.

Other things to note:

  • Purple is sold only online
  • They offer a 10 year warranty
  • Purple recommends stretchy sheets to get the full benefits of the mattress
  • They have a 100 night sleep trial period
Purple mattress
4.4 Reviewer
Summary
Purple is a very unique mattress! It's difficult to compare it to any other type of mattress, but I definitely enjoyed the sleeping experience. The best features are the pressure relief and sleeping cool.
Comfort4.2
Support4.4
Value (Price)4.7
Doesn't Sleep Hot4.8
Motion Transfer4
Edge Support4.1
Materials/Durability4.1
Company Reputation4
Return Policy/Warranty4.8
Overall Sleep Experience4.4

Final Recommendation

Overall I had a great experience sleeping on Purple.  The feeling is definitely unique, and a little hard to describe (sorry readers!), but I really liked it.  Great for sleeping in any position, definitely pressure relieving, and it sleeps cool.

It’s hard to know if you’re getting a great price, since there is really no competitor with similar materials, but I think the sleeping experience does compare favorably to other online-only mattresses sold at this price.

Get the best deal on the Purple mattress

The post Purple Mattress Review appeared first on Mattress Clarity.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Brooklyn Bedding Vs Leesa

Brooklyn Bedding and Leesa are two great mattress companies that have seen lots of recent success with their online-only business model.  They both offer a great value through eliminating retail stores and passing the savings along to consumers.  As a result, people can get a high-quality product at an affordable price.  

There are a few key differences between the two mattresses, and once you understand them I think it’s easy for most people to decide between Brooklyn Bedding vs Leesa.

Brooklyn Bedding vs Leesa Mattress

Key Similarities

  • Similar business model and value proposition
  • Both mattresses are all-foam (no springs)
  • Both include free shipping and arrive in a box
  • Both companies are known for their customer service
  • The height of the mattresses are the same (10”)
  • Sleep trial and return policies are both customer-friendly

Get 5% Off Brooklyn Bedding

Leesa vs Brooklyn Bedding
4.5 Reviewer
Comfort
Support
Value (Price)
Doesn't Sleep Hot
Motion Transfer
Edge Support
Materials/Durability
Company Reputation
Return Policy/Warranty
Overall Sleep Experience
4 Reviewer
Comfort
Support
Value (Price)
Doesn't Sleep Hot
Motion Transfer
Edge Support
Materials/Durability
Company Reputation
Return Policy/Warranty
Overall Sleep Experience

Key Differences

  • Leesa is $140 more expensive (although with a discount, this difference is smaller)
  • Leesa has one firmness option; Brooklyn Bedding has three
  • The comfort layer of Brooklyn Bedding is all latex; Leesa has Avena foam over memory foam
  • Brooklyn Bedding has a little more resilience/bounce to it.

Get $75 Off Leesa

Construction/Feel

The Leesa mattress consists of 2” of Avena foam (a latex-like foam), over 2” of 3lb. density memory foam, over 6” of 1.8 lb. density polyfoam.

The Brooklyn Bedding #bestmattressever consists of 2” of talalay latex, over 2” of dunlop latex, over 6” of high-density polyfoam.

The real difference comes down to the comfort layers.  Brooklyn Bedding has all latex, while Leesa has Avena foam over memory foam.  Aveena is latex-like, and it provides a nice little bounce and resilience to the mattress.  By having a memory foam layer, Leesa hopes to get the best of both worlds.  In my experience, it was a very balanced feel that conformed well to my body without feeling overly bouncy.  Brooklyn Bedding was definitely more bouncy.I have not tested either mattress for an extended period of time.  However, based on the material specs, I would estimate the Brooklyn Bedding will be more durable in the long run.  If you are planning on keeping your mattress for a very long period of time, then I would look into this more.

See the feel of Brooklyn Bedding

Vs the feel of Leesa

Which feel is better?  I can’t say because it really depends on personal preference.  Figure out which feel you would like better and make a decision from there.

Price

For a Queen, the Brooklyn Bedding is $750.  You can typically also get an additional 5% off.  

The Leesa Queen is $890, but you can almost always get $75-80 off, so the price difference between these two is smaller than it may seem at first.

Pick Brooklyn Bedding If:

  • You Want Firmness Options– Brooklyn Bedding has three different firmness options.  I believe Leesa will be a great firmness fit for a large portion of people, but if you know you want something that is extra soft or extra firm, then take a look at the extra firmness options from Brooklyn Bedding.
  • You Want More Resilience- The Brooklyn Bedding mattress is definitely bouncier / more resilient than the Leesa.  This can feel beneficial to some, but it comes with some drawbacks like more motion transfer.  If you are looking for more bounce, go with the #bestmattressever.
  • You Want To Save A Bit More– When you factor in available discounts, the Brooklyn Bedding mattress is still at least $50-75 cheaper.  If you are shopping on a budget, then that may be an issue to consider.

Brooklyn Bedding Mattress Review #bestmattressever

Pick Leesa If:

  • You Aren’t Overly Light Or Heavy– Leesa has one firmness option that should work well for people who aren’t overly light or overly heavy.  If you have average sleeping preferences, then you probably won’t need additional firmness options.
  • You Want A More Balanced Feel– The Leesa has a more balanced feel in my opinion.  You sink in a bit, but not too much.  It has a little bounce, but not too much.  If you want a more balanced feel, then Leesa might be the choice for you.

Leesa Mattress Reviews

Final Recommendation

These are two really great options.  I think they’ve both been very successful for a reason.  I don’t think you can really go wrong with either one, but if you know your own preferences I think it’s pretty easy to decide between them.  Learn more about each in my Leesa mattress review and Brooklyn Bedding review.

If you have any additional questions about which mattress is better for you, please leave a comment below and I will respond promptly.

The post Brooklyn Bedding Vs Leesa appeared first on Mattress Clarity.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Nest Bedding Alexander Hybrid Mattress Review

The Alexander Hybrid is the most asked about mattress from Nest Bedding, so I was excited to give it a try and see what the fuss is about. The mattress overall does deliver on comfort and support, but I had some complaints as well (see how it compares HERE). Read on for my full Alexander Hybrid mattress review.

You’ll love the Alexander Hybrid if you…

  • Want a foam mattress without the “sinking in” feeling – with both foam and pocket coils, the Alexander Hybrid has the comfort and support of a memory foam mattress without the “stuck in the mattress” feeling.
  • Want improved edge support – the Alexander Hybrid has pocket coils around the edge, giving it significantly better edge support than most foam mattresses.
  • Are looking for great value – this mattress comes from Nest Bedding, a regional mattress store that recently has gained notoriety online for their high mattress quality.  For many (including myself), the Alexander Hybrid is the best of Nest Bedding.

Buy Direct from Nest Bedding

Alexander Hybrid Mattress Reviews

You may not like the Alexander Hybrid if you…

  • Want firmness options – unlike most of the options from Nest Bedding, there is only one firmness option for the Alexander Hybrid (pretty average firmness)
  • Want an innerspring feel – when some people think hybrid, they think of a mattress that still has a strong innerspring feel.  This mattress has pocket coils, but it feels more like a foam mattress generally.

Firmness and Feel


The Alexander Hybrid has a unique feel since it has both pocket coils and foam. Overall the mattress feels more like a foam mattress than an innerspring mattress (some hybrids are the opposite).

The firmness is average (and there is only one option), I’d say a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. As you can see in the video above, the mattress regains shape fairly quickly for a foam mattress, certainly faster than a pure memory foam mattress.

Motion Transfer Test

The mattress has both foam and pocket coils, so as expected it performs very well in the motion transfer test. If you sleep with a partner that likes to toss and turn throughout the night, this may be a good mattress option for you.

Also relevant, this mattress has pocket coils around the perimeter, giving it much better edge support than the average foam mattress. This makes the mattress feel bigger (you can sleep closer to the edge comfortably), making it an even better mattress for couples.

Alexander Hybrid
4.4 Reviewer
Summary
Alexander Hybrid is perhaps my favorite mattress from Nest Bedding. It has both foam and pocket coils, make for a very comfortable and balanced sleep. This mattress is available both online and in the Nest Bedding showrooms.
Comfort4.2
Support4.4
Value (Price)4.7
Doesn't Sleep Hot4
Motion Transfer4.6
Edge Support4
Materials/Durability4.4
Company Reputation4.4
Return Policy/Warranty4.8
Overall Sleep Experience4.3

Mattress Construction

The points that stand out in construction is the copper-infused memory foam (which aims to help with cooling) and the pocket coil/foam combination.  The exact construction consists of:

  • 2 inch Quilted Cover: 1.5 lb density quilted foam with stretch fabric cover
  • 2 inch foam comfort layer: 3.5 lb density copper-infused memory foam
  • 2 inch transition layer: 1.8 lb density SmartFlow foam
  • 7 inches of pocket coils: 5 zoned edge support pocket coils

Add that up and you get 13 inches total of mattress.  The mattress also has additional edge-support pocket coils to improve edge support.

Alexander Hybrid Mattress Cover

Other things to note

  • The mattress is made in the USA
  • It has a 100 night free trial
  • They offer free shipping and financing
  • This is my favorite of the Nest Bedding mattresses (I’ve also reviewed the Alexander Signature Select, the Love Bed, and the Honest Beds)

Final Recommendation

Overall I really liked the Alexander Hybrid mattress, I definitely put it as my favorite mattress from Nest Bedding due to the comfort/support tradeoff.  I think it could potentially work for any sleeping position as well, which is a unique find.

Buy Direct from Nest Bedding

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Thursday, June 2, 2016

The Biggest Problem Buying a Mattress Online

It is the most common question I hear: “Will it be too firm or too soft?”, and it’s a difficult question to answer.

Read below for the “One-Size-Fits-All” vs. the new “Comfort+ adjustable firmness” from Novosbed.

Does “One-Size-Fits-All” Work for Everyone?

Many new internet mattress companies sell a one-size-fits-all “perfect firmness for everyone” mattress. This means that most (more than 50 now) sell a similar medium-firm mattress.

Generally, if you find their mattresses too firm or too soft, most companies will offer to send you an after-market topper. Unfortunately, this means that you may end up covering a $700-$1000 mattress with a $50 topper. If you buy a mattress through Amazon.com, you might need to spend extra for this topper (so it’s generally better to buy directly from the vendor’s website).

Uncomfortable Mattress

We find that “one-size-fits-all” is best for people who know they can sleep well on a wide range of mattresses.

If this isn’t you, you have some options:

Trials and Free Returns

Some people take advantage of multiple 100+ night trials, trying a few mattresses from a few different vendors, and returning the ones they don’t like. This has big disadvantages:

First, it can be a hassle to go through a few different mattresses and navigate different return policies.

Also, while most companies donate to charities when they can, some of these mattresses go straight to the dump or recycling plants. So there is a significant environmental cost to consider.

Mattress At Dump

The First (and the only) Adjustable Firmness Mattress

Novosbed, one of the pioneers of the online mattress business in 2009, introduced what they call their “Comfort+ System” in January 2016.

It’s an interesting concept: you buy a soft, medium, or firm mattress to start. If it’s too soft or too firm, Novosbed will ship you a free Comfort+ kit that consists of a new layer of firming or softening foam, and a cover extender. You zip the cover extender to your mattress, put on the new top layer, and zip on the cover. It integrates together seamlessly, and the mattress goes from 11″ to 13″.

Click Here for $100 Off Novosbed

Novosbed Mattress Reviews and Complaints

There is no floating topper, and the foam quality matches the mattress. Once installed your mattress is softer, or firmer as needed.

Novosbed offers the same long trials as everyone else, but are the first to actively promote a firmness adjusting system that fixes issues with the “one-size-fits-all” model.

Read my full Novosbed review for more details.

The post The Biggest Problem Buying a Mattress Online appeared first on Mattress Clarity.