Here's an option for your bed that I recently bought and assembled: The "Joseph" by Zinus! The official name is really long, it's "Zinus Joseph Modern Studio 10 Inch Platforma Low Profile Bed Frame / Mattress Foundation / Boxspring Optional / Woos slat support." Phew!
Mobile user? Click here to watch directly on YouTube!
This is kind of a distinctive, modern design. It also has a frame that contacts the ground all the way around, so it's a little easier to move around.
In terms of assembly, it's really not too hard. It took me about 24 minutes to assemble it myself, start to finish. You don't have to be too terribly handy to put it together -- maybe if you're horrible with assembling things, you should look for help, but otherwise, you can probably handle it. See the video for details.
Vital Stats:
Available in King, Queen, Full, Twin and Narrow Twin
Height: Available in 6 inch, 10 inch, 14 inch, and 18 inch heights. (My video shows the 10 inch)
Cross-support: Wood slats
Click the image below or this link to check it out:
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.
I'm always on the lookout for new or different ways to support a mattress. Enter the Zinus Lisa 14 inch SmartBase! This is a platform bed -- i.e., it is designed for mattresses that do not require a box spring.
EDIT: Some time in early 2019, Zinus changed the name of this product from "Lisa" to "Shawn." I have no idea why. So, anything you see on this blog referring to the Lisa is now the Shawn. Thanks.
Sometimes this kind of thing is called a "box spring replacement" -- I don't love that name, because it's replacing both the box spring and the frame.
All you need is this product and a mattress.
Nearly all mattresses made within the last 10 years don't require a box spring, so this fits the bill in almost all situations -- but if it doubt, check with your mattresses manufacturer.
The most common mattress thickness is 10 inches, so the combined height would be around 24 inches -- a very normal, comfortable height for getting in and out of bed. It goes without saying that if your mattress is 12 inches thick, the combined height would be 26 inches (well, but I just said it anyhow, didn't I???).
Assembly is very easy. There are no tools needed, everything goes together with small bolts and wingnuts. You may wish to wear gloves while assembling simply to prevent finger pain. It comes in a box (see the video for dimensions) which weighs almost exactly 40 pounds for the queen size.
I wanted something that would be quick and easy to assemble, so this fits that bill perfectly. In addition, I wanted something that could be disassembled without too much of a problem, and this fits in that regard too. Something that has a good amount of clearance underneath? Yep.
See my video for the assembly:
Mobile user? You can also click here to view directly on YouTube.
The assembly time, my first time, was just over 12 minutes. I think I could assemble it in less than 10 minutes now.
With a Mattress on the Lisa SmartBase
Almost everyone could assemble this, unless you have severe arthritis, neuropathy, or a similar condition.
I used it for 4 days (sleeping on it) and never heard any squeaks.
The version that I tried was the standard version. There is also a deluxe version and an elite version if you need a little more support. (The elite version has been renamed the "Demetric" recently.) If I were planning to use it on a semi-permanent basis, I'd strongly consider either the elite or the deluxe if for no other reason to have the legs recessed slightly. It would make the odds of stubbing your toe smaller.
If you want something with no "edge-center" support leg, consider the QuickSnap platform bed instead, which I reviewed here.
Vital Stats:
Available in King, Queen, Full, Twin XL, Twin and Narrow Twin
Height: 14" (just under)
Under-bed clearance: 12.5" approximately based on my measurements
Cross-support: Metal wires
Space between wires: 4"
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.
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!
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.)
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.
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.
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.)
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NOTE: On March 7th, 2018, I received an email notification that the TUCK mattress affiliate program has ended. I don't yet know if TUCK will be available for purchase after this date or not. Until this matter is resolved, I can't recommend a purchase of this mattress. Please consider this review to be for informational purposes only. Thanks.
The TUCK mattress is a true-hybrid mattress that is custom built just for you. How will it stack up? I tried it out for over 10 nights. Here are my thoughts!
My Tuck mattress review video! Watch this, and/or read on for full details . . .
Tuck is a hybrid . . . and you likely know I'm a big fan of the hybrid mattresses! But, so far, and as far as I'm aware, Tuck is the only mattress that is a true hybrid AND is customized to fit you perfectly! If you head on over to the Tuck website, you will see that you can give lots of inputs which will output a mattress that's just right for you. It will include some kind of copper-infused gel foam, micro coils, poly foam, and/or latex. Of course, every model has the pocketed coils that hybrids are known for.
Tuck Mattress with Mr. Bowling Ball
In addition, for queen size or larger, you have two options for how to handle the preferences of you and your sleeping partner. One option is to have the "Tuck computers" balance out the two preferences and make one blended mattress (ie, the same feel all the way across). The other option is to "split" the preference -- this is what we did. We got two sides with to different compositions! (See the video or the pictures at the bottom of this post for how that works.)
Well, I slept on our Tuck for over 10 nights (I stopped keeping track after that, I think it was actualy 12 or 13 nights . . .) and my wife joined me for part of that time. How did it do? . . .
Time for the rankings!!!
HOW MANY STARS???
I will rate each category on a 5-Star Scale, where 5
is the best. Construction: 4.75 stars
We found the construction to be very nice. There were no noticeable flaws. The edge support was very good, too. The only thing holding me back from giving a perfect 5 star rating here was that if you sat right on the corner, it did kind of collapse on me --- but, keep in mind, (a) I'm around 200 pounds, and (b) no one really sits right on the corner of their mattress, do they? :)
Noise: 5 stars
There is no noise. None.
Smell: 4 stars
There was no off-gassing or chemical smell, but the "new mattress smell" did last about 2 days after the unboxing. After that, there was no smell. That's normal for almost all bed-in-a-box style mattresses.
Feel: 4 stars
The feel is quite nice. The top of the cover has a very nice, cottony feel. I also understand that a portion of the cover is made from recycled bottles! That's kinda cool. I like a mattress with a flat top.
The side that was designed for me felt really good when laying on my back. It had just the right amount of sinkage -- a bit, but not a lot.
This is as good of a place as any to mention that the side designed for my wife, Debbi, didn't turn out quite like she was hoping. She prefers a firm mattress, and to accomplish that, it appears that the Tuck "system" put in a 2 or 3 inch thick layer of fairly bouncy latex. This made it a bit too bouncy for her preference, and she actually ended up liking my side better! In hindsight, I think we should have gone with the blended setup instead of splitting the feel down the middle so that we wouldn't fight over the "preferred side." Of course, there's no way to know in advance that something like that could happen, so we both spent a little time on the other person's side.
The top layer, which was a copper-infused gel memory foam, felt really good!
Note with the Tuck you should be using a thin, flexible mattress protector. If you use a quilted protector, you are actually taking away from one of the best aspects of what this type of mattress brings to the table.
Motion Transfer: 4.25 stars
There is some motion transfer across the surface of the mattress, but not all that much. I change positions frequently, and my wife, Debbi, said I didn't bother much her during our time on our Tuck.
Support: 4 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? This is always subjective. I am a back sleeper primarily but also sleep on my side some.
When I slept on my back, it was great! No complaints at all. When I slept on my side, I felt like there wasn't quite enough give. Now, I feel that way on a lot of different mattresses. This is the curse of being built like me -- if it's supportive enough to take care of me on my back, sometimes it's a little too "push backy" on my hip. I'm still not complaining, because I think it was good overall.
Of course, this is an area where different people will feel things differently.
Pressure Point Relief: 4.25 stars
You can sink a little, but not too much!
I need my hips and shoulders to sink in some, but not too much. Tuck did a good job with this, and was comparable to many other hybrid mattresses. I would say it's most comparable to the Voila mattress, among those I've already tried.
Conformity: 4.5 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. The goal is a happy medium between sinking in and floating on top.
This is a big deal for us because I weigh quite a lot more than Debbi.
I can't complain here either. We were both satisfied with how we felt and how we "stayed put" in our places during the night. We didn't roll into each other, so I would say the top layer (that wonderful layer of copper-infused gel memory foam ... man can I just buy that!!!) held us where we were meant to be.
Customer Service: 5.0 stars
I have only had a little bit of interaction with a representative from Tuck, and that interaction was fully positive. I've also not seen any horror stories online or tales of bad service, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt here and give 5 stars.
Shipping:
I don't give a star-rating to shipping, but shipping is free. It is delivered by UPS or FedEx, it only took 3 full days to arrive in my case. It comes in a box, compressed, like almost all direct-to-consumer mattresses nowadays. There is no cost to you if you decide to return it during the trial period. Other info worth mentioning:
Tuck Mattress has a nifty side panel design.
Tuck gives each mattress they sell an 11 year, 1 month, and 1 day warranty. (Yep, their website actually says that!) The warranty protects against indentations of 1 inch or greater, which is good. (The industry standard in 1.5 inches, so Tuck is a bit better than the average in this department.)
In addition, like any mattress worth trying, Tuck has a risk-free trial period. In their case, it's 145 days, 12 hours, and 53 seconds. (Again, that's what it actually is! I wonder if they track that from the second the order is placed, or the second it's shipped out . . . hmmmm....) Give it a try! If you don't like it, you get all your money back, and there's no cost for return shipping, so you're out nothing! Well, only a little time.
There is no proprietary foundation, you can place it on any solid surface, a sturdy foundation, or a bed that comes with slats like a platform bed. We used ours on the Zinus Quicksnap Platform bed -- which I reviewed separately here.
Tuck is made in the USA in Tupelo, Mississippi. It's right on the tag.
OVERALL SCORE:
4.5 stars
(out of 5)
A quick disclaimer . . .
I feel like I need to state that this review is different and harder than most, because this mattress was customized just for us! Most Tuck mattresses are going to be around a 5-7 on the firmness scale, based on the inputs you provide (ours was, I'd say, about 7 for me and 7.5 for Debbi). You may experience a different feel, different level of support, or . . . it may seem completely different! That's what makes this review difficult. Having said that, I doubt the variety is gigantic, so I feel you can still glean something from this review.
Summary: PROS:
- The "hybrid feel"
- A good choice for someone who doesn't really know what they want, but want to start somewhere. Start here!
- A good choice for couples with different preferences.
- It's very sturdy -- I feel like it could handle large individuals.
- 145 (plus) night no-risk trial period with free shipping
CONS:
- You don't know exactly what you're getting. This could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. In other words, you control the input but not the output. (As an aside, it would be cool if someday, there was a company that let you "build" your own mattress before ordering -- ie, put a layer of coils here, a layer of latex here, a layer of gel foam here . . . :) I think it would be awesome, but I have no idea if it would be a viable business model or not) If you want to control the exact composition of your mattress in advance, this won't work.
- I don't think this would be a good choice for someone that wants no bounce at all. I like my mattress to have a little bounce, and this one does. If you want next-to-no bounce, try the Nectar Mattress.
Final Thoughts:
I had a lot of fun trying out out Tuck mattress! I think it's a company with a bright future, and they make a quality mattress. They get it right by offering fast & free shipping, a very generous 145 days sleep trial, and a good 11 year warranty. Their materials are sturdy and of good quality (see my video for details). Give it a try!
Prices & Discount Info:
If you decide to try Tuck (hey! that's the name of their website!) please use my link and you will get an automatic $75 discount at checkout. If you do, not only will you benefit by getting a discount, it also helps out my blog and YouTube channel just a bit!
The first number below is the "raw price" and the number in brackets is the net price after the $75 discount:
(Note: Prices were proper as of 12/08/2017. 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.
Maybe you don't think this one is for you? Don't worry, there are a bunch of companies out there that sell direct-to-consumer mattresses that have a risk-free trial period of at least 75 days, and a warranty of at least 10 years . . . see my "master list" here and check some others out!
"my side"
"Debbi's side"
I was provided with a Tuck mattress in exchange for my review. This information applies prior to March 7th, 2018: If you use my link, and subsequently buy - and keep- a Tuck, I earn a small referral fee which helps to support this blog and my YouTube channel. As of March 7th, 2018, I have no affiliate relationship with Tuck. 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.
Gopher Tuna, bring more tuna, statue of big dog with fleas.
