Monday, December 31, 2018

Tuft & Needle Mattress Review

I recently tried out the TUFT & NEEDLE Mattress (the original), and slept on it for 10 nights. Who
hasn't heard of Tuft & Needle? Everyone has!!! Well, it can seem that way, at least, as it's the most reviewed mattress over $500 on Amazon. But you wanna' know what I think, right!?! Read on!




Watch my video review here, or read on for more details!
Mobile user? Click Here to watch the video directly on YouTube.

I won't go into lots & lots of detail on the construction, (because you can read about it yourself on their website), but I'll give the basics.

It can be found on their website ^ or on Amazon.

T&N has a very simple 2-layer design.

The top layer is 3 inches of adaptive foam that is very responsive. This is designed for pressure relief. The bottom 7 inches is a base layer, to provide a nice support base to hold everything in pace. Obviously, the while thing is 10-inches thick.

I slept on a queen-size T&N for 10 nights. To you you some quick overview thoughts, I think of T&N as the "OK for everyone, and offensive for no one" mattress. So while I can't say there's anything all that wrong with it, it certainly wasn't my favorite ever. Now, some people might really love it. Shortly after my sleep trial ended, a couple upper-elementary age boys came and slept on it, and really liked it. Then, a few days later, my 8th grade niece slept on it for a few nights and loved it.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most firm, I would rate the Tuft & Needle to be a 5-6 on the "softness" scale. Having said that, the "softness scale" is just 1 piece of the puzzle for rating a mattress (read on for details). Your response is going to vary, and, as we all know, comfort is highly subjective and everyone will respond differently. I weigh in the neighborhood of 200 lbs. and carry most of my weight around the middle.


Having said that . . .

HOW MANY STARS?


I will rate each category on a 5-Star Scale, where 5 is the best.


Construction: 4.25 stars

The construction of the Tuft & Needle mattress is nothing special, but nothing problematic either. That's OK, because once you put on a mattress protector and sheets, you don't notice any "fancies" anyhow. It's a totally flat top.

Noise: 5 stars


There is no noise.


Smell: 4.25 stars


Like most mattresses that come compressed and rolled up, there was a little bit of odor that I refer to as "new mattress smell." There was no offgassing, and within 3 days the odor was gone. I did let it air out for a full 24 hours before sleeping on it or putting any bedding on it.


Feel: 3.5 stars

The cover has a very simple feel -- plain but nice.

Tuft & Needle is an all foam mattress, so the feel is pretty much what you might expect. The mattress is NOT a slow-reacting mattress - it's an instantly reacting. Despite being all foam, it's instantly responsive, so don't think of the "tempurpedic" style.

Like many mattresses of this style, it feels very nice when you first get in bed.



Motion Transfer: 4.25 stars

It's "pretty good" at motion transfer -- certainly better than most hybrid or innerspring mattresses, but within the world of all-foam mattresses, it's not the best. But it's OK.

This is largely because it's not made of memory foam, it's made of "adaptive foam" (somthing proprietary to T&N: they say it "provides great pressure relief without feeling too soft or like quicksand."  This is a fast-reaction foam.

Having said that, this should be more than serviceable for all but the very wiggly sleepers with a sleeping buddy.


Support: 2.0 stars


"Support" does not mean the same thing as firmness. This gets into tricky-to-describe territory, but means things like keeping your spine in alignment; does the firmness feel even, as opposed to lumpy or firm in spots without being firm in other spots? Do you sink in too much and "overcome" the top couple inches? This is always subjective. I am a back sleeper primarily but also sleep on my side some.

This is the biggest shortcoming of T&N. Bear in mind, this will impact each person differently and your weight and build will substantially impact this area. I am about 5'11" and weigh in the neighborhood of 200 lbs.

I experienced a "hammocking" feeling when back sleeping. In other words, it felt like my hips and buttocks dipped into the mattress slightly more than than my legs and shoulders. My theory is that since I carry a fair amount of weight in my middle, there just wasn't enough there to overcome that weight distribution. Because of this, I essentially sank through most of that top layer of pressure relief foam and it was too compressed under my middle. It seems like that top layer just isn't "dense enough" to handle my body type completely. It certainly wasn't the worst night of sleep I've ever had, but there are better choices for a 200+ lb. back sleeper with a lot of weight in the butt and gut areas.

When I slept on my side, I didn't notice this AS much, but sometimes my hips still felt like the top layer just wasn't quite dense enough for my build.

On the other hand, a lighter person (or two lighter persons) likely wouldn't have this issue. If you are under 170, and not obese, you're probably fine.


Pressure Point Relief: 4.0 stars


Very good for the most part. It filled the space in the small of my back nicely. As above, the only issue would be like when I slept on my side, my hip would feel like it was all the way through that top layer, so it didn't feel very "cradled."


Conformity: 4.50 stars


What am I looking for in conformity? I want something that feels firm where it's supposed to feel firm, and soft where it's supposed to feel soft. That's a tall order (or a $5,000+ mattress), but let's at least get as close as we can. I want something that conforms to my body locally, but not globally. In other words, I want to sink into my mattress just a bit -- maybe an inch or two, but I don't want a giant valley to be formed while the mattress tries to accommodate my whole body.


Very good conformity! My body wasn't exactly "floating on top" (like on a very firm mattress), but it also wasn't "sunk in." -- it hit that happy medium just right.


Customer Service: 4.75 stars

I ordered my T&N off Amazon, and it arrived in 2 days. I have nothing to complain about, and the reviews look pretty good when it comes to customer service.

All T&N mattresses are made in the USA.

Shipping:


I don't give a star-rating to shipping, but shipping is free. It is delivered by UPS, FedEx, etc. It comes in a large roll, compressed. There is no cost to you if you decide to return it during the trial period.


Other info worth mentioning:

Warranty: T&N has a 10-year warranty, and (in my review), it's one of the 10 best online mattress company warranties (see my article on that very topic!). It also has a 100-night, risk free in home trial period. Edge support, like with most all foam mattresses, is lacking.



OVERALL SCORE:



4.05 stars

(out of 5)




Summary:


PROS:

- Very good pressure point relief

- Little in the way of motion transfer

- 100 night no-risk trial period with free shipping

- Appropriately priced


CONS:

- If you are over 200 pounds, there will probably be better choices out there

- Does "OK" at many things, but if you're looking for 1 particular thing (like support for a bad back), you may not like it that much


Final Thoughts:

Since you have a risk free trial period of 100 days, there's really no risk in trying out a Tuft & Needle. Everything I've read is that they have very good customer service. If you (and your sleeping buddy, if applicable) are under 200 lbs, you'll probably like this mattress. However, much over 200 lbs, and my best guess is that you'll think it's "not for you."


Prices & Info:

If you decide to try out a Tuft & Needle mattress via Amazon, I would really appreciate it if you use one of the links on this page, as it helps out my blog and YouTube channel just a bit! You can also buy Tuft & Needle on their own website.

I like that T&N just gives their price, and doesn't play the "find the discount" game. Here are the price points:


Twin: $350

Twin XL: $395

Full: $495

Queen: $595

King or Cal King: $750


(Note: Prices were updated as of 12/24/2018. Always check prices on the manufacturer's web site as prices can change.)


What do you think? Feel free to share any comments! If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try my best to answer.




I do not have a direct affiliate relationship with Tuft & Needle -- I paid for my own on Amazon. However, I do have an affiliate association with Amazon. If you use one of my links to and subsequently buy (and keep!) the mattress, I earn a small referral fee which helps to support this blog and my YouTube channel. This costs you nothing. All opinions are my personal reviews and preferences, and do not represent the opinion of any particular company. Thanks for your consideration.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Luna Mattress Protector Review & Waterproof Test

Let's take a look at the Luna Waterproof Mattress Protector! I bought one and did a waterproof test by pouring water on it. Watch the video (below) to see how it went!


Prefer to watch directly on YouTube? Click Here.


 . . . As you can see, it passed my simulated "accident" testing with flying colors!

The Luna can be machine washed (just follow the care instructions carefully!) and machine dried on the lowest setting (gentle).

B+ for comfort - it conforms nicely, and doesn't change the feel of the mattress, and a little more taught than either the SafeRest or Lucid.

A for fit - It's just fine, and should work on very thick mattresses.

Actual footage of Dugroz testing the Luna Mattress Protector!
It passed both the basic and
 advanced waterproof tests!



Where you can buy it:

Amazon.com -- CLICK HERE

(there may be other places -- This list is not exhaustive. Check around as prices can and will vary.)

The Luna Protector is available in all standard sizes and has a 15 year warranty (slightly better than some others).

My other mattress protector reviews:
Lucid Mattress Protector
Purple Mattress Protector
SafeRest Mattress Protector


I paid full price for my Luna Mattress Protector. The above links are affiliate links. Please see the disclosure a the bottom of this web page.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

The 10 Best Online Mattress Company Warranties

What are the best warranties out there in the burgeoning world of direct-to-consumer online
mattresses?

I looked up as many as I could, and here are the results! Note that I only looked at mattresses that have a risk-free trial period of at least 75 days, and can easily be returned for free if you don't like it within that trial period.

One of the most important factors in a mattress warranty is how "deep" of a permanent indentation (sag) is considered to be a defect. In fact, I would say that's more important than the overall duration of the warranty, as long as it's at least a 10 year warranty -- in my opinion, you should replace your mattress at least every 7-8 years anyhow, if you sleep on it regularly, due to the "ick" factor. I won't consider a mattress that defines a defect as a sag of anything over 1.5 inches. 1.5 inches is "OK," but some are better. You may also want to note that I think mattress companies should have all the details of their warranty on their web site. I won't even give one consideration if it doesn't. I was somewhat surprised to find a couple major companies that said they had a warranty of a certain length, but didn't have any details on their web site. A customer shouldn't have to call you or email you to see what you offer in the year 2018.

Keep in mind that there were a lot of mattresses that didn't make this list!

This post is not for the purpose of ranking the comfort of a mattress, it's just for the purpose of reviewing their warranties. I don't even go into detail about the type of mattress! (Memory Foam, Hybrid, or Latex, etc.)

Prefer to watch & listen to me talk? - Here's the YouTube video on this topic.

DISCLAIMER:  I have tried my best to provide accurate information ; however, this list is intended to provide general information only, and is not guaranteed to be up-to-date. Details on mattresses can - and do - frequently change. I am not able to provide legal advice. Please check each mattress company's web site for details. Thanks.

With that said, here we go!


I put these two together because their warranties are exactly the same!

Both Nectar & DreamCloud mattresses feature lifetime warranties, broken down into two segments -- For the first 10 years, they will replace the mattress at no cost to you if there is a defect. For the remaining life of the mattress (so long as you're the original owner) they will replace OR repair the mattress if there is a defect, at their discretion. During this "second phase," you will incur a transportation fee of $50 each way, but that fee will be waived if the defect is found to be legit.

They define an indentation of 1.5 inches or more to be a defect. That's acceptable, but not amazing. They would be much higher on this list if it was 1.0 or 0.75, because all other parts of their warranties are amazing!


Bear has a 10-year full replacement warranty. If a mattress needs to be replaced due to a defect, Bear will cover any shipping cost to get the replacement mattress to you (though their web site doesn't explicitly state who pays to get the defective mattress to them). An indentation measuring 1.0 inch or more is considered to be a defect.


Pacific Mattress Company has a 10-year replace-or-repair warranty. An indentation measuring 0.75 inches or more is considered to be a defect. Their web site doesn't explicitly state who covers shipping costs in the event of a warranty claim.


Each Tuft & Needle Mattress, whether you buy it on Amazon or on their web site has a 10-year replace-or-repair warranty. An indentation measuring 0.75 inches or more is considered to be a defect. Their web site doesn't explicitly state who covers shipping costs in the event of a warranty claim.


Doze has a 10-year replace-or-repair warranty. An indentation measuring 0.75 inches or more is considered to be a defect. In addition to a normal replacement or repair for a defect, if you have a valid warranty claim, they give you the option of replacing your defective mattress with a more expensive one as long as you pay the difference in price. Their web site doesn't explicitly state who covers shipping costs in the event of a warranty claim.


Voila has a 10- year replace-or-REFUND warranty (which is a little better than "replace or repair" - I
mean, I'd rather just get my money back than have a repairman come out or ship it somewhere for repairs!). An indentation measuring 0.75 inches or more is considered to be a defect. Shipping costs associated with a warranty claim are the responsibility of the purchaser.

#4: Spindle Mattress

Spindle has a 10-year replace-or-repair warranty. An indentation measuring 0.75 inches or more is considered to be a defect. Their web site doesn't explicitly state who covers shipping costs in the event of a warranty claim.

Spindle also has a "25 year Comfort Life Program." At any time during the first 25 years of ownership (for the original purchaser), you can buy a new comfort layer of latex for an automatic 30% discount from then-current prices directly from the manufacturer (this mattress features a top layer of latex). So, in addition to a pretty decent warranty, you can refresh your mattress a few years in for a very reasonable discount! (They also have a 365-night trial period.)

#3: Saatva Mattress

Saatva features a non-prorated 15-year warranty. This 15-year warranty has two phases:

- During the first two years of ownership, if a defect is present, they'll replace your mattress completely for free.
- During years 3-15, if a defect is present, they will completely repair and re-cover your Saatva. In this instance, the only cost to you will be a transport fee of $99 each way. (An indentation measuring 1 inch or more is considered to be a defect.)

That's OK, but here's where it gets better:

Saatva offers a "Fairness Replacement Option" -- in order to avoid any dispute, you can exercise this option anytime after the end of year 2. In this option, you can keep your original mattress and purchase a new one for this % of the original price you paid:

- Years 3-5: 30% (ie, a 70% discount)
- Years 6-10: 50% (ie, a 50% discount)
- Years 11-15: 75% (ie, 25% discount)

In essence, Saatva is trying to give you a major incentive to be in the Saatva club for a long time! Save that receipt!

#2: Layla Mattress

Layla has a lifetime replace-or-repair warranty. An indentation measuring 1 inch or more is considered to be a defect. You may need to pay a shipping fee of $50 if you have to send your mattress in for warranty service.

That's it! A really simple lifetime warranty, with protections against sags of 1 inch or greater.

#1: Alexander Mattress by Nest Bedding

To me, Nest Bedding (which includes all of their adult mattresses, including the all-foam Alexander Signature and the Alexander Hybrid) has the best warranty out there in the world of direct-to-consumer online mattresses . . . and in the eyes of this author, after checking out all of them, it's really not even close.

Nest Bedding has a lifetime replace-or-repair warranty. An indentation measuring 1 inch or more is considered to be a defect. Their web site doesn't explicitly state who covers shipping costs in the event of a warranty claim.

"OK, well, that's pretty good," you say, "but why did you say "it's really not even close?"

Great question, potential consumer . . . here's where it really gets good . . . read on!

In addition to the warranty itself, Nest offers what they call the "Lifetime Comfort Guarantee." Just like almost all direct-to-consumer mattress companies, they have a risk-free trial period; in this case, 100 nights. So, during the first 100 nights of ownership, you can return the mattress scott free and get all your money back, and not have to pay shipping, if you're dissatisfied for any reason.

But after the 100 days is where Nest really sets themselves apart. For the rest of the life of your mattress ownership, you can buy a different Nest mattress for a 50% discount, guaranteed! This would apply to a different size, or a firmer or softer model!

Say after 6 months -- or even after 20 years -- there is nothing defective but you just want to get a firmer or softer bed, you can for 50% off! Basically, over the life of ownership, you get 2 mattresses but only pay for 1.5! (Yes, you can only exercise the Lifetime Comfort Guarantee once per "purchased" mattress.)


Happy Mattress Shopping!





Some (but not all) of the above links are for mattress companies with which I have an affiliate relationship; that is, I earn a referral fee which helps to support this blog and my YouTube channel if you visit one of these websites and subsequently buy (and keep!) the product. In addition, other links on this blog are considered to be "affiliate links" (such as the links to products through Amazon) and I am paid a referral fee if you click one of these links and subsequently make a purchase. This costs you nothing. All opinions are my personal reviews and preferences, and do not represent the opinion of any particular company. Thanks for your consideration.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Zinus Tuscan Metal & Wood Platform Bed Review

We recently decided to change up the platform bed (bed frame) that I use for mattress reviews, so let's take a look at the Zinus Tuscan Metal & Wood Platform Bed!

The Tuscan Metal & Wood Platform Bed! (Mattress not Included)

This bed frame is a platform bed (as the name indicates, of course!) -- i.e., it is designed for mattresses that do not require a box spring. The vast majority of modern mattresses don't require a box spring, so this fits the bill in almost all situations -- but if it doubt, check with your mattresses manufacturer.

See my video for the assembly:

Mobile user? Click here to watch directly on YouTube!

The Tuscan Metal & Wood Platform Bed (from here on I'll, just call it "the Tuscan") sits 14 inches
high. The most common mattress height that I review is about 11-12 inches tall, so the surface of the mattress will be about 25 to 26 inches off the ground. The under-bed clearance is 12" from the side, and a bit shorter from the foot of the bed. There's a fair bit of storage space underneath, if you're into that sort of thing, but note that there are 3 vertical center supports, so you can't fit one very large object under the entirety of the bed . . . for example, you couldn't store a full-size mattress underneath the queen size Tuscan.


The Tuscan is quite easy to assemble, it requires no tools outside of what comes in the box (other than a box cutter or scissors to cut things open). However, the ratchet tool that comes with it is pretty small, so if you have your own ratchet with the ability to attach a hex bit, that's better. I started assembling mine with the included tool, but gave up and got my own out part way through to make my life a tad bit easier. My actual assembly time was 36 minutes. It's not quite as fast as the Zinus QuickSnap, which I reviewed about a year ago, but it's still easy enough that most able-bodied adults would be able to do it.

It weighs 76 pounds altogether, and comes in 1 box. In my case, I was taking it to a 2nd story bedroom, so I opened it on the first floor and carried the components up stairs separately.






The assembly was what you see in the video (at "regular human speed," of course!!!). The instructions are easy and intuitive. Everything attaches with screws. The screws come in a nice packet that makes it very unlikely that a screw would be missing. There are a couple extra screws they give you just incase, which I appreciate.

For the price, this is a really good value. It's not the fanciest thing in the world, but it does the job. The headboard and footboard are made from composite wood, not one peice of natural wood. If you look closely you can tell, but it doesn't distract too much. It feels very sturdy and in my limited use so far, doesn't squeak at all.

I highly recommend it.



Vital Stats:
Available in King, Queen, Full, and Twin
Height: 14"
Under-bed clearance: 12"
Wooden Slats? - Yes (they Velcro in place in a really neat way!)
Space between slats: 2 1/2 inches approximately




Click below to view it on Amazon now!


You can also purchase it on the manufacturer's website -- see it here.




Preferred by 4 out of 5 Tuscan Raiders!


The above links are affiliate links; please see the disclosure at the bottom of this web page. Note that I paid full price for all products unless noted otherwise; all opinions are my personal reviews and preferences. Thanks for your consideration.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

DreamCloud Mattress Review

I was fortunate to be able to try out the DreamCloud mattress recently. In short . . . sleeping on it was
a dream for me! Read on to find out more . . .



Watch my video review here, or read on for more details!
Mobile user? Click Here to watch the video directly on YouTube.

The DreamCloud - my bedroom isn't QUITE as nice!
The DreamCloud Mattress is a very luxurious hybrid mattress. At 15" thick, it's one of the thickest mattresses available that' shipped directly to your home (compressed, in a roll - see my unboxing video here).

The DreamCloud has a wealthy-feeling cover that's made from a cashmere blend. It's hand tufted even though in the past I've been leary of tufted mattress tops, this one works. And it works well.

Below that is a your standard hybrid setup -- that is, about half comfort layers, and half pocketed coils. I'm not exactly sure of the makeup (although you can see that on their website), but I know there is some gel foam, regular memory foam, and latex in there somewhere. It's roughly half comfort layer, so that's a lot of comfort! The total thickness is 15" regardless of the size (Twin, Queen, King, etc). Note that because it's about 4-5" thicker than most other mattresses, you'll want to make sure your mattress protector and sheets are sized appropriately (most mattress protectors are set for this kind of setup, but some extra big sheets may be nice).

DreamCloud comes in one firmness level. On their website, they describe it as "luxury firm," with a chart showing that it's a 6.5 (on a 10 point scale of firmness, with 10 being the most firm). I would say that's about accurate -- it could be anywhere from a 6 to a 7 depending on your body composition and sleeping position. Of course, firmness is subjective to personal preference and sensation.

I tried out my DreamCloud for 15 nights, and pretty well loved it. Having said that . . .



HOW MANY STARS?


I will rate each category on a 5-Star Scale, where 5 is the best.


Construction: 5 stars

The construction is the best I've seen in a bed-in-a-box/roll (see unboxing video HERE). Everything about it screams "quality," and there were virtually no loose threads (OK, I found 1!) It comes shipped in a big roll -- like a large tent might come in -- with handles! As a guy who moves mattresses around his house a lot, I sure wish other companies would add handles! The handles are flat and sturdy.

The website states that the cover is hand-tufted, and each mattress takes 1-2 hours for the tufting process alone. They're also made in fairly small batches. It shows, too. Care was certainly taken in the construction of the Dreamcloud. Perfect score here.

Noise: 5 stars


There is no noise.


Smell: 4.75 stars

The traditional "new mattress smell" from all compressed mattresses was present, but very, very minimal. It had dissipated 90% within 24 hours, and was totally gone within 2-3 days. Now, after 2 weeks, if my nose is right up against it, I don't smell anything,


Feel: 4.75 stars

The cover has a nice feel. It's sturdy. It's taught. It's kind of like something a king would sleep on.

Feel is so subjective -- but, to me, it felt great. The tufting just works. It's kinda hard to describe.

The bounce is "just right" for me -- not too much, not too little. I don't like the "quicksand" or "getting stuck" feel you get with some memory foam mattresses. There's none of that here. I rest on the bed with just a wee bit of sinking in. It cradles my body rather than "hugging" or "enveloping" it.


Motion Transfer: 3.75 stars


Ah ha! You knew there had to be something that was less than perfect!

When my wife and I slept on the mattress together, and one of us would change positions, the other one could feel it. Now, it wasn't that bad, but it was noticeable. If we were sound asleep, we wouldn't feel anything if the other one moved. But, if I was still awake and my wife was just nodding off, and I changed positions, she could feel me move. My theory is with that nice, wonderful, thick comfort layer on top, it radiates movement laterally just a little because it's not so firm that the movement is totally halted (see the video for a better explanation). Note that my wife and I experience this on most mattresses, so this isn't out of the blue. It's fine . . . it's just not perfect. The only way we've been able to get rid of motion transfer is by using a firmer mattress.


Support: 4.5 stars


"Support" does not mean the same thing as firmness. This gets into tricky-to-describe territory, but means things like keeping your spine in alignment; does the firmness feel even, as opposed to lumpy or firm in spots without being firm in other spots? Do you sink in too much and "overcome" the top couple inches? This is always subjective. I am a back sleeper primarily but also sleep on my side some.

So, with this really hard to describe thing, how'd the DreamCloud do? It did really pretty well! When I was on my back, it came up to meet me and said, "hello, Doug's back. I see you need some softness but  also supportiveness [is that a word?] . I'm here for you." Back sleep was amazing. When I slept on my side, it was also amazing. My hips sank in just the right amount to keep my spine in alignment. It somehow knew that my butt needs to sink in more than my mid-back does. It just knows. Somehow. I think it has to do with what they call a 5-zone support system. I have no idea how it works, but it's awesome. It's a big deal for me, because my hind-end sticks out quite a bit more than the small of my back when I lie flat.

So why not a perfect 5 stars here? It's minor, but the edge support is a little different. For sitting, it's fine. But, the coils don't go all the way to the edge, and whatever foam they use to run all the way around the edge of the mattress isn't dense enough to handle my 200+ lb. frame when I slept right on the edge. Mind you, I'm talking about the outermost 2-3 inches. If, for some reason, you needed to sleep at the extreme edge of the bed, you might feel like it's slanting outward & downwards just a bit. I did it on purpose just for the trial purpose (you know, so I could tell you folks about it!). I could maybe see if you sleep with a pet or a child in the middle of your bed between you and your sleep partner, that could be an issue. Maybe. But not a big issue. For me, the issue was fixed by moving toward the middle 2-3 inches. No biggie.

The guts of the DreamCloud . . . there's a lot in there!


Pressure Point Relief: 5.0 stars


Other than a 100% memory foam mattress (ie, Tempurpedic style), I can't imagine better pressure point relief. Say goodbye to hip pain. Seriously, if you have chronic hip pain, get this mattress. Lower back pain? Yep, helped with that too. Shoulder pain? Yep, helped with that too. And none of the hotness or "stuck" feeling you can sometimes get with an all-foam mattress.


Conformity: 4.75 stars


What am I looking for in conformity? I want something that feels firm where it's supposed to feel firm, and soft where it's supposed to feel soft. That's a tall order (or a $5,000+ mattress), but let's at least get as close as we can. I want something that conforms to my body locally, but not globally. In other words, I want to sink into my mattress just a bit -- maybe an inch or two, but I don't want a giant valley to be formed while the mattress tries to accommodate my whole body.


I kinda gave it away already, but the mattress conformed to me just the right amount. I didn't sink in too much, but I sank in enough. I think 1-2 inches of sinkage when on your back is about right, and it was pretty close to this (I didn't have anyone measure while I laid there).


Customer Service: 4.0 stars

This is a hard one to grade, because I have only 2nd hand or 3rd hand reports to go off of. I never actually spoke to anyone at DreamCloud, but I did exchange some emails with them. They were very responsive.

The reason I can't give a perfect 5 stars is because of multiple reports of shipping delays. Their website states in the FAQ section to expect a shipping time of 1-5 days, but I've seen several people on Facebook, etc. say it's been more like 2 weeks. That's not a big deal as long as you don't have a reason to need the mattress in exactly 1-5 days. So just be aware it might be a couple weeks and roll with it.

[UPDATE - DEC. 2018: The FAQ section on the website states that once you order, it takes 5-7 business days to ship out. Then, the shipping itself is 2-5 business days. Altogether, that's 7-12 business days, or anywhere from a week and a half to two and a half weeks, roughly. I'm gla they're making it known up front. Must be popular.]

My theory is that since the mattresses are on the high end of the direct-to-consumer spectrum, and they make them in small batches (that's a good thing, as it leads to more attention to detail, at least in theory), it can be hard for them to predict when they're going to have a run. If there are a bunch ordered at once, they have to get them here -- they're manufactured in China (as it says on the tag) but the company headquarters is in the US.

If I hear reports of the shipping time improving, I will revise my rating.

Shipping:


I don't give a star-rating to shipping, but shipping is free. It is delivered by UPS, FedEx, etc. It comes in a large roll, compressed, which they will leave on your doorstep. There is no cost to you if you decide to return it during the trial period.

You have the option to choose "white glove delivery" for an extra $150. This means that someone will deliver it in person instead of via UPS or FedEx, and that person(s) will carry it to your room and set it up for you. That extra fee also includes haul-away of your old mattress, if you choose (depending on your state, a mattress recycling fee may be required).


Other info worth mentioning:

Let's talk about the warranty -- it's a "Forever" Warranty. You can read the details on the DreamCloud web site, but I'll summarize here -- for the first 10 years, if there is a defect, they will replace the mattress (this includes indentations of 1.5 inches or more -- which is very standard in the mattress industry) at no cost to you. Beyond the 10th year, they will either replace OR repair the mattress at the company's discretion.

Once in the lifetime of your mattress ownership (after the 1st year), the company will pay for your mattress to have a professional cleaning! (Up to a $300 value)

Also once in the lifetime of your mattress ownership (this time after 5 years of ownership), the company will pay for the cover to be reconditioned at no cost to you.

Even more impressive is the 365 day trial period! To me, this is the #1 reason why you should try it. There is nothing to loose other than a little inconvenience if things don't work out. Go ask the guys at the mattress closeout store in your town if they'll agree to that (but don't hold your breath!).



OVERALL SCORE:



4.61 stars

(out of 5)




Summary:


PROS:

- Amazing pressure point relief

- Amazing support & comfort

- Just the right amount of "sinkage"

- Would be an excellent choice for someone with chronic hip or shoulder pain

- 365 night no-risk trial period with free shipping

- Extras like a free cleaning and a free cover reconditioning


CONS:

- A little difficult to sleep within 2-3 inches of the edge

- If two people share the bed and one moves a lot, it may not be the #1 choice

- Shipping times (at current) seem to be running 2 or so weeks.



Final Thoughts:

It's the nicest mattress I've slept on in my adult life. I guess that pretty much says it all. I really, really like it for all the reasons I mentioned above. What more can I say? I know there are other good mattresses out there, but I think this one has to be near the top. I know it's not one of the cheapest online mattresses, but this is one of those times in life where you get what you pay for. You spend a lot of time in bed . . . get one you like! I do realize comfort, firmness, and lots of other factors are matters of personal preference, but with a 365-night risk free trial period, what do you have to lose?

Prices & Info:

If you decide to try out a DreamCloud, I would really appreciate it if you use one of the links on this page to get to their website, as it helps out my blog and YouTube channel just a bit!


DreamCloud has been offering a discount of $200 for as long as I've known of its existence. There is no discount code needed, it's automatically included at checkout.

The prices below first list the "raw price," and then the net price after the discount.

Twin: $699 [net $499]

Twin XL: $899 [net $699]

Full: $1099 [net $899]

Queen: $1199 [net $999]

King or Cal King: $1399 [net $1199]


(Note: Prices were updated as of June 2019. Always check prices on the manufacturer's web site as prices can change.)


What do you think? Feel free to share any comments! If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try my best to answer.






I was provided with a DreamCould mattress in exchange for my review. If you use one of my links to get to their website, and subsequently buy (and keep!) the mattress, I earn a referral fee which helps to support this blog and my YouTube channel. In addition, other links on this blog are considered to be "affiliate links" (such as the links to products through Amazon) and I am paid a small referral fee if you click one of these links and subsequently make a purchase. This costs you nothing. All opinions are my personal reviews and preferences, and do not represent the opinion of any particular company. Thanks for your consideration.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Signature Sleep Contour Mattress Review

The Signature Sleep Contour 8 Inch Reversible Independently Encased Coil Mattress (phew! That’s a mouthful!) is the 2nd most reviewed budget mattress on Amazon, with over 8,600 customer reviews! (By “Budget Mattress” I mean a queen size is generally under $500.) Does this make it the 2nd most popular mattress on Amazon? Well, that's hard to say, but I slept on it for 3 nights (plus several naps) so I'll give you my impressions!


Watch my video review on YouTube, or read on for more details!


Composition

Under the cover, we find the top comfort layer -- 1.6 inches of foam. Since it’s a reversible mattress, the comfort layer is the same on both sides. It’s not a memory foam feel, it’s more like a moderately dense poly foam -- somewhat responsive.

In between the dual comfort layers are independently encased pocketed coil springs. These are sometimes known as Marshall Coils. The Amazon listing doesn’t say how tall the coils are, but we can just do the math to figure it out = 8.0 - 1.6 - 1.6 = 4.8 inch tall coils.


The overall composition leads to a mattress that feels somewhat firm and quite a bit bouncy, but not too much of either. Firmness is really subjective, but if you forced my hand, I'd say this mattress comes in at about 6 to 7 on the firmness scale, where 10 is the most firm. In my humble opinion, this is the ideal range.

Overview
Somewhat bouncy, but not too much!

This is not an expensive mattress. In life, the old axiom of "you get what you pay for" generally holds true. But with that in mind, I would describe it as “pretty good.” I actually liked it better than the Zinus Green Tea Mattress (see my review of that mattress here). It must be said that because of the mattress’ makeup, the motion transfer is pretty significant. Couples may have a hard time on this one. When I laid on it with my wife, I felt her move quite a lot. This would be a good choice for a solo sleeper.

In my ratings below, you are going to see that I rated some categories well, and some non-so well. Please understand that I don’t rate mattresses “on a curve” -- I give you my raw rating, and figure you’re smart enough to do the “cost vs. quality” calculation in your head.

With all of that said, you're probably wondering . . .


HOW MANY STARS?


I will rate each category on a 5-Star Scale, where 5 is the best.


Construction: 3.5 stars

There were no major obvious flaws (no rips, unattached items, etc) on one hand, so that would be a good rating. On the other hand, it’s a plain Jane. Very basic, and feels kind of underwhelming. The box is really plain but that's no big deal. As for the cover itself, it's nothing to write home about, but it's fine.


Noise: 4.75 stars

For all intents and purposes, no noise. If I’m pushing real hard and listening, I can hear the coils. Not an issue unless you have Superman level hearing.


Smell: 4.5 stars

Very little smell at first, and just the standard “new mattress smell.” With 3-4 days, the smell dissipated completely. That makes sense, since it’s only about 40% - 50%  foam, with springs in the middle. This likely helps with cooling, too.


Feel: 3.75 stars

It feels pretty nice for that initial contact. The style of the cover, although basic, is inviting.


Motion Transfer: 2.0 stars

The motion transfer is pretty bad. Just watch the video for a demonstration. This is a fairly bouncy mattress (duh). While I like a proper amount of bounce, a great mattress will have the bounce but still have layers to dissipate the impact. This one doesn’t have those layers.


Support: 4.5 stars

"Support" does not mean the same thing as firmness. This gets into tricky-to-describe territory, but means things like keeping your spine in alignment; does the firmness feel even, as opposed to lumpy or firm in spots without being firm in other spots? Do you sink in too much and "overcome" the top couple inches? This is always subjective. I am a back sleeper primarily but also sleep on my side some.

The Signature Sleep Contour feels like it comes up to meet you almost just as well as a $1,000 mattress would. In my sleep trial, there was no place where I didn’t feel supported. That was the biggest pleasant surprise of them all!
The support rates at 4.5 out of 5.0!


Pressure Point Relief: 2.50 stars

I would describe the pressure point relief as average. I’ve had worse, I’ve had better. This mattress is good for side sleepers or back sleepers (I never sleep on my stomach, so can’t really comment on that), but likely a little bit better for back sleepers. I say this because it doesn’t have any memory-foam feel to it. Ideally, this mattress would be a little bit thicker (You can buy a 10” variety -- it raises the price quite a bit, but if you’re mainly a side sleeper, that may be worth it!) with more to the comfort layer than 1.6 inches on each side. This is something where body type makes a big difference. If you have a pretty average frame, you may not notice. If you have really bony hips and sleep on your side, that could be a problem. 


Conformity: 4.00 stars

The 'Ole Push Test - Pretty Good
Conformity is the idea that the mattress is even -- without lumps -- and is locally conforming to your body without it being a global conformity (see video for details). The mattress did fairly well here, at least relative to everything else. The corners didn't quite conform to the cover, but came close.

Here’s another category that I was pleasantly surprised by. You may know I love Hybrid mattresses (part foam, part coil) -- which this one “kinda” is (although it’s more of a innerspring mattress with a small comfort layer). I thought since it was so inexpensive there would not be much conformity, but that little 1.6 inches of foam does great for what it is! I slept nicely on it, all things considered. I would be a bit concerned about the foam giving out after 2-3 years (see comments below on the Warranty).


Customer Service: 2.5 stars

In full disclosure, I didn't interact with customer service at all (I ordered it online and never spoke with any humans and never had to email anyone). I had no issues with the delivery, it came in the usual 2-day time frame. So, I had to rely on online opinions and Amazon reviews.

I see a lot of satisfied people, and a few very angry people. That's not too uncommon. I unfortunately don’t see a lot of seller responses trying to make people happy. I also lose some confidence in the fact that there is apparently conflicting warranty information (see below). So, all I can say is “I don’t know” on customer service, and if I get comments about people with good experiences for exchanges, returns, etc., I'll be happy to raise that later.


Shipping:

Shipping is free via Amazon; it would come via UPS or FedEx. My purchase was on Amazon, and since I'm a prime member, it arrived 2 days after my order via UPS.


Other info worth mentioning:

The Warranty:

This is a very confusing warranty. I can say it's "at least" a 1 year warranty.

It will perhaps protect against abject, obvious manufacturing defects (like if a spring is poking through the side), but other than that, a 1-year warranty is only a touch better than no warranty at all. Having said that, it’s cheap enough that you can legitimately buy a new one every 2-3 years and come out all right. I’ve seen a few people say they’d rather buy a new $200-300 mattress every other year than get a $700-1000 mattress every 7 years. If you feel that way, you may want to go with this one!

Now . . . at the time I bought this, there were two different links to warranty pages on Amazon's product listing . . . and they have conflicting info. One place only refers to the standard 1-year warranty. The other link states it has a 2-year “full” warranty, and a 10-year prorated warranty. This isn’t spectacular, but it’s a bit better. Also, the 2nd link doesn’t specify how much of a sag is covered. The material that came with the mattress only speaks of a 1 year warranty. The manufacturer's warranty site speaks of a 1-year warranty on all products, and the 10-year prorated warranty on the Signature Sleep products, and refers to protections against sags of 1.5 inches or more. Which is right? I guess I have to assume the lesser until I'm shown otherwise. I don't love the fact that there is conflicting info, but again, that's likely not why you would buy an inexpensive mattress.


Warranty Info Included in the Box


Return Policy?

As you likely know, on Amazon you can return almost anything. I've seen a few reviews from people who returned a mattress. You have to buy a very large mattress box (you're not getting it back in the original box!) and then send it back the "regular way" with a pre-paid label. You will have to notify UPS or FedEx it's a large item, then arrange pick-up. Some places I've seen have said they will reimburse you for the special box, others said they won't, so I'm not sure on that. Obviously, most people just give up and don't bother. This has to be done within 30 days. If you buy via the manufacturer, you may have to pay a shipping return fee of up to $75. 


OVERALL SCORE:

3.6 stars

(out of 5)


Summary:


PROS:

- Inexpensive!

- Fast, free shipping available if you have Amazon Prime

- Supportive and firm, but not too firm

- The right amount of bounciness


CONS:

- Motion transfer makes this a choice for couples to avoid if you are sensitive to each other’s movement

- If you don't like coil (spring) mattresses, you won't like this one

- If you want to return it, you will have to box it up yourself

- Some negative customer service reports on Amazon


Prices & Info:

Prices can - and do - change frequently, so please see the widget below for the current price of a queen (other sizes are available). If you decide to try out this mattress through Amazon, I would really appreciate it if you use one of the links on this page, as it helps out my blog and YouTube channel just a bit! You can also buy it on the manufacturer's web site (though this was a bit more expensive last I looked), and there may be other options as well.




Available in these sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, and King. A 10" variety is available as well for an additional amount.

What do you think? Feel free to share any comments! If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try my best to answer.






I paid full price for my Signature Sleep Contour mattress. Some links on this blog are considered to be "affiliate links" (such as the links to products through Amazon) and I am paid a referral fee if you click one of these links and subsequently make a purchase. This costs you nothing. All opinions are my personal reviews and preferences, and do not represent the opinion of any particular company. Thanks for your consideration.





Saturday, January 20, 2018

Win a 2-in-1 Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow!

DUGROZ is having a giveaway!





Four lucky people will have a chance to win a Sleep Innovations 2-in-1 Ventilated Memory Foam & Fiber Fill Pillow. This is the pillow that I have used every night for nearly 3 years. Obviously it's my favorite! See my review video at the bottom of this page.

2 winners will be chosen through the Gleam giveaway (see the multiple ways to enter below -- it may take a few seconds for the spinning widget to load), and 2 winners will be chosen via a drawing on Amazon.

The Drawing for the 2 winners via the Gleam giveaway will remain open until 02/10/2018 (widget below).

The Drawing for the first winner of the Amazon giveaway finished on 01/26/2018. The Drawing for the second winner of the Amazon giveaway closed on 02/08/2018.

Sleep Innovations 2-in-1 Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow Giveaway

You can watch my review video here, or directly on YouTube.

Good Luck!


Important Stuff:

All entries will follow the YouTube Community Guidelines, which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/t/community_guidelines 
This promotion is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Blogger, or any of their affiliates.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram and/or Facebook.
This promotion will only be open to Residents living in the 50 United States. No APO's or non-US addresses will be shipped to.

I paid full price for my Sleep Innovations 2-in-1 Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow through Amazon. The above info contains an affiliate link. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you click on this link, and subsequently purchase the product, we earn a referral fee. This costs you nothing. Thank you!

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Review

The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress is the most reviewed mattress on Amazon.com, with over 23,000 customer reviews! Does this make it the most popular mattress on Amazon? Well, that's hard to say, but I slept on it for 4 nights (I got the 12" variety), so I'll give you my impressions!

Watch My Video on YouTube, or read on for more details!

Composition
See the layers on the mattress!


Under the cover, we find the top layer, which is 3" of memory foam. This is a "regular" memory foam, not gel foam, not latex, or anything like that.

Next up is a 2" comfort layer that is likely intended to be a transition layer. It really squishes down and helps with responsiveness a bit.

The next two layers are essentially the same thing, I think they just divide it into two layers for air flow -- regular, firm base foam.

(Note: you can get a lot more detail about the makeup of the layers elsewhere online, or on the manufacturer's web site, so I'm not going to go into those details. I'll focus on how it feels to me.)

The layers, acting together, make up a composition that feels "squishy" and a bit sinking at first, and gradually more firm as you lay on it. Firmness is really subjective, but if you forced my hand, I'd say this mattress comes in at 7.5-8 on the firmness scale, where 10 is the most firm.

In my opinion, this mattress is one where it can be soft in some aspects and firm in others at the same time. I think this is because of the makeup of the layers. See my video for a better explanation.

I should mention the "Green Tea" in the name indicates that the bed is infused with "Absorbing green tea extract and ActivCharcoal so you wake up smelling less like sleep and more like fresh." I didn't notice any benefit to the freshness/smell from this aspect, but maybe it's present after several months.


Overview

Side View: Me, Zinus Green Tea Mattress
This is not an expensive mattress. In life, the old axiom of "you get what you pay for" generally holds true. Overall, I found this to be a mattress that could be described as "it's OK." Keep that in mind as I continue with this review.

Of course there are better mattresses out there. Those "better mattresses" cost multiple hundreds of dollars more. I know you're a smart consumer, and you have the ability to judge price vs. performance. If you bought a Kia Forte ($16,800), you wouldn't expect it to perform as well as an Audi A6 ($49,000). Much in the same way, you would not expect a mattress under $250 to hold up as well as one that costs $1,000+.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't seek a good deal -- of course you should!

In my ratings below, you are going to see that I rated some categories well, and some non-so well. Please understand that I'm not saying that Zinus is a bad company . . . I actually have had a really good experience with their Low-Profile Foundation and their Quicksnap Platform Bed.

With all of that said, you're probably wondering . . .

HOW MANY STARS?

I will rate each category on a 5-Star Scale, where 5 is the best.

Construction: 2.5 stars

I'm not exactly sure how to rate this category. There were no major obvious flaws (no rips, unattached items, etc) on one hand, so that would be a good rating. On the other hand, there is a bit of a "cheap" feel. The box is really plain but that's no big deal. The corners don't quite fit perfectly in the cover, and didn't "square off" 100% upon expansion, but that's also no big deal. As for the cover itself, it's nothing to write home about, but it's fine.

This seems like the place to mention that although I followed the instructions for allowing 48-72 hours for expansion, the mattress never expanded to the full 12 inches. It reached between 10.5 and 11 inches, depending if you include the cover or not.

I'll go right in the middle with 2.5 stars.

Noise: 5 stars

There is no noise, of course! It's nothing but memory foam and fabric!

Smell: 1.75 stars

Gotta dock the Green Tea Mattress pretty heavily here. The smell lingered after the unboxing. I left it alone (without sleeping on it) for 2 days to let it air out and fully expand -- for those 2 days, going into the room with the mattress was pretty overwhelming and there was some offgassing (I tried it in a very cold late December & early January, so opening a window wasn't an option!). After 2 days it was just a moderate "rubbery" smell. By then end of the week it was manageable, and mostly gone. The "rubbery" scent got into the sheets too, but they wash.

If you are very sensitive to smell, don't plan on sleeping on this mattress for the first 3-4 nights.

Feel: 4 stars

It feels pretty nice to the touch. The top layer is fun to squish your hand down into, and it's a true memory foam / classic Tempurpedic-style feel (this can be a pro or a con - read on).

Motion Transfer: 4.75 stars

You may not want to get out your glass of your favorite beverage and put it on one side while jumping on the other side -- but you just about could. This thing barely moves from one side to the other.

Because I ended my sleep trial after 4 nights, my wife and I didn't sleep in the bed simultaneously for any of the 4 nights, but we did lie there once and I changed positions several times -- she couldn't even feel me moving. The bowling ball & sledgehammer tests went well, too.

Bottom line, there are no issues with motion transfer. If you sleep with a bed mate, they most likely won't feel you. (But make sure you have a sturdy base or platform bed -- Zinus makes a good one!).

Support: 2.25 stars
Poking the top layer. It's the squishy one.


"Support" does not mean the same thing as firmness. This gets into tricky-to-describe territory, but means things like keeping your spine in alignment; does the firmness feel even, as opposed to lumpy or firm in spots without being firm in other spots? Do you sink in too much and "overcome" the top couple inches? This is always subjective. I am a back sleeper primarily but also sleep on my side some.

If you read through the Amazon reviews, you can get real frustrated real fast, as some people say this mattress is way too firm and some people say this is way too soft! How can that be? Well, I think it has to do with the type of foam used in the top layer (I'll opine on that more in the next category).

I can only talk about it from my point of view -- as a full-sized guy - and I have a fair bit of curve in my back. I didn't find it to be supportive enough. It would feel good for the first 15-30 seconds, but then my butt would "bottom out" as that top layer compressed. The middle layer is soft enough that I think I was feeling the 3rd & 4th layers -- the base foam -- which is quite stiff, so that's not good. I felt like I was sleeping in a shallow "U" shape when laying on my back -- feet and shoulders up, with my hind end sunk in too much.

A lot of this is my weight and body shape. I think the ideal sleeper for this mattress would be 130-170 pounds, tall and skinny, without much curve in their spine/backside/hips. That person would sink in enough that they could get some comfort, but without bottoming out. The fact that everyone is different is likely why there are such varied ratings.

According to a post by the seller on Amazon, this mattress should not be used by couples with a combined weight over 450 pounds.

Pressure Point Relief: 1.75 stars

Not great. Again, this is just me, and I give my take based on how it impacted me, not how I think it will impact everyone. When I slept on my back, the pressure point relief was "meh" -- when I slept on my side, it was just not my cup of tea (Green Tea???). After the last night (the 4th) on the bed, I woke up with hip pain that I don't normally have - I have some mild back aches all the time, but rarely hip pain. On my left side, I had an ache in my hip for the next 24 hours after that final night.

I think this is because of the way the top layer of inexpensive foam compresses down to a very dense mat under the body parts that cause the most downward pressure, and the middle layer doesn't do enough to help. If you are heavy around the belly or hips, you will feel that base layer, and it's not great. At least, I felt it, and it wasn't great.

Again, this is for 200 lb.+ individuals. I think a lighter sleeper would be better off. I can only rate that which I experience.

Conformity: 4.50 stars

Conformity is the idea that the mattress is even -- without lumps -- and is locally conforming to your body without it being a global conformity (see video for details). The mattress did fairly well here, at least relative to everything else. The corners didn't quite conform to the cover, but came close.

It's a total memory foam experience, so I would expect good conformity. It can adjust around your body without moving much else, so good in that regard.

Customer Service: 2.5 stars

In full disclosure, I didn't interact with customer service at all (I ordered it online and never spoke any humans and never had to email anyone). I had no issues with the delivery, it came in the usual 2-day time frame. So, I had to rely on online opinions and Amazon reviews.

There are a large handful of "major complaints" out there on the interwebs about people who wanted to return the mattress but could not reach anyone, never got a reply to their emails, etc. I guess I need to balance the good with the bad, and I'll go right in the middle here at 2.5. If I get comments about people with good experiences for exchanges, returns, etc., I'll be happy to raise that later.

Shipping:

Shipping is free regardless of a purchase via Amazon or via the Zinus website. My purchase was on Amazon, and since I'm a prime member, it arrived 2 days after my order via UPS.

If you order on Zinus.com, it says to allow 2-3 business days to prepare the shipment and then it is shipped via FedEx ground -- that probably translates into 4-7 business days total.

Other info worth mentioning:

Let's talk about the warranty.

One thing that I found a bit confusing is that the warranty language seems a bit different depending on where you look it up. On Amazon, there is a PDF you can look at with the Warranty info. It's only 3 paragraphs long, and doesn't explicitly state that the warranty is for 10 years. It just says "limited warranty." On the Amazon post, it does state that the warranty is for 10 years, but I would feel more comfortable if it was on the actual document. Now, on the manufacturer's web site, it does state that it's a 10 year limited warranty at the top.

There is also a slight difference in the Amazon PDF version and the manufacturer's web site version of the warranty:

The Amazon version says, if a defect appears, "we will, at our option, either repair or replace the mattress at a handling cost to be paid by the purchaser."

The Zinus web site version says "Your mattress will be replaced or you will receive a pro-rated refund, at our option."

If I have to proceed with a warranty claim, is there a chance I will have to pay a "handling cost" to get the mattress back to Zinus? Or will I be offered a pro-rated refund? I would prefer something a little clearer.

Return Policy?

- Via Amazon:

As you likely know, on Amazon you can return almost anything. I've seen a few reviews from people who returned a mattress. You have to buy a very large mattress box (you're not getting it back in the original box!) and then send it back the "regular way" with a pre-paid label. You will have to notify UPS or FedEx it's a large item, then arrange pick-up. Some places I've seen have said they will reimburse you for the special box, others said they won't, so I'm not sure on that. Obviously, most people just give up and don't bother. This has to be done within 30 days.

- Via Zinus.com

Zinus now offers a 100 night trial! (I think this is new -- but I'm not sure). You also have to get it in a big box and contact Zinus customer service for a pre-paid label if you desire to return it, according to their site.

OVERALL SCORE:

3.2 stars
(out of 5)

Summary:

PROS:
- Inexpensive!
- Fast, free shipping available if you have Amazon Prime
- Little to no motion transfer -- great if you sleep with a "wiggly" person
- Some people love the "hug" from the memory foam feel
- Good conformity means this will be a good choice for people with a large weight disparity (ie, one person weighs a lot more than the other)

CONS:
- Not intended for sleepers with a combined weight over 450 lbs.
- Depending on your size and body shape, you may not experience enough pressure point relief
- If you don't like traditional memory-foam mattresses, you won't like this one
- If you want to return it, you will have to box it up yourself
- Some negative reports on Amazon



Prices & Info:
If you decide to try out this mattress through Amazon, I would really appreciate it if you use one of the links on this page, as it helps out my blog and YouTube channel just a bit! You can also buy it on the manufacturer's web site, and there may be other options as well.


What do you think? Feel free to share any comments! If you have questions, feel free to ask and I will try my best to answer.






I paid full price for my Zinus Green Tea mattress. Some links on this blog are considered to be "affiliate links" (such as the links to products through Amazon) and I am paid a small referral fee if you click one of these links and subsequently make a purchase. This costs you nothing. I also participate in a refer-a-friend program through Zinus that allows me to earn gift cards if certain purchases are made. All opinions are my personal reviews and preferences, and do not represent the opinion of any particular company. Thanks for your consideration.