Avena Foam vs. Latex Foam and FAQs

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If you’re a regular Sleepopolis reader, or you’ve been following my reviews of the new Leesa mattress, then you probably have already seen and read a bit about Avena foam. Avena foam was used as the comfort layer of the Leesa in its original design (though they have recently switched to LSA200 foam.

So what is Avena foam exactly?

Avena foam is a trademarked and patented foam intended to be an alternative to latex foam. It’s been around since the 1990s and it’s designed to have the same overall feel, comfort, and support you get in a latex foam mattress, but with much better overall durability.

Attributes of Avena Foam

  • Allows for constant airflow throughout the night, so the mattress always sleeps cool
  • Hypo-allergenic
  • Won’t crumble or crack
  • Improved durability over latex
  • Reduced compression over time (so you won’t develop a “sunk” spot on your mattress)

How is Avena foam made?

Avena foam is manufactured the same way as other mattress foams, it’s poured on a continuous line. Avena is similar to latex in many ways, but uses a different formulation during construction. Avena foam (like latex and virtually all poly foams) is 100% recyclable.

Other Avena foam specs

  • CertiPUR-US Certified
  • Density:  3.6pcf
  • Indentation force deflection:  20-26
  • No ozone depleters
  • No PBDE flame retardants
  • No mercury
  • No lead
  • No other heavy metals
  • No formaldehyde
  • No phthalates
  • Low VOCs
  • 100% recyclable

Logan Block

Logan is the former content director of Sleepopolis. As content director, he reviewed new mattresses every week and curated the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. Logan perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.

138 thoughts on “Avena Foam vs. Latex Foam and FAQs”

  1. Hi there! I have read a lot of reviews, but few address lightweight sleepers. I’m 5’4″ and about 115lbs. I’m a side sleeper, preferring a bit of a soft feel but not a stuck/sinking/hug feel (I have not liked memory foam in the past, though I am open to newer types). I tend to sleep warm, like a little bounce. I have pain in my mid/upper back.

    Reply
  2. Hello Sleepopolis! We currently have a memory foam mattress from Costco. It may be 12 years old plus. Lately it seems to make to many pressure point spots giving me shoulder pain and hip pain. I am a side sleeper and so is my husband. We are both this. We are looking at the Saatva soft. Do you think this would solve those issues? I ideally think I would like more of a pillow top soft feel. But have not tried and other types of mattresses besides what we currently own. Does the latex have a soft feel good for side sleepers? Any suggestions would be more than helpful!
    Thank you,
    Nikki Haile

    Reply
    • Hi Nikki,

      As a mattress gets up on in years, its performance can drop, which may be the reason you are having some pressure point issues. So if that’s the case, I wouldn’t necessarily rule out memory foam if you generally like the sleeping experience.

      That being said, if you’re looking for a different experience, the Saatva or similar brand is a quality mattress for sure. If you want more middle ground between the memory foam and innerspring (Saatva), you might check out some hybrids as well, which generally have more sink and cushioning than innerspring.

      Latex has a great feel as well! I wouldn’t say all latex mattresses (or any general type of mattress) is good for side sleepers, but there are some latex options out there that are great for side sleeping!

      Best,
      Logan

  3. Great website and very helpful reviews even for the UK . Keep it up! Any recommended waterproof covers to protect the mattress and still retain breathability?

    Reply
  4. Hi Sleepopolis, I don’t have a question – just want to thank you for your reviews and comparisons. We have been in need of a new bed for a few years and you have helped me decide that the GhostBed is the one for us. Thanks again.

    Reply
    • Thank you very much for you kind words, Sallie! I’m so happy to hear Sleepopolis was able to help you find the right mattress for you.

      If you ever need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask. I’m always more than happy to help.

      Happy sleeping :)

    • Hi Walter,

      Unfortunately, this is the first I’ve heard of the Cozy Pure mattress.

      I apologize for the inconvenience :( Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

    • hi Sleepopolis,

      I’ve been searching high and low for a comfortable mattress for me and my spouse. I am a side sleeper who is short (5′ 1″) and heavy (195 lbs) and has chronic hip pain. In a nearby store, I lay on the “Pure Talalay Bliss” Beautiful mattress — and loved the plushness. However I haven’t seen any reviews of the mattress on here or on Sleep Like the Dead. Do you have any knowledge of the mattress or the company?

      Thanks SO much for any feedback!

    • Hi Kate,

      I have heard of Pure Talalay Bliss, but have not yet tested them. That said, it sounds like you’re a fan of latex. Therefore, I would recommend taking a look at the Zenhaven, PlushBeds Botanical Bliss, and SleepOnLatex mattresses. All of these are well built latex mattresses and could be a great fit for you.

      If you’d like to read up on these mattresses a bit more, check out my Best Latex Mattress page here: https://sleepopolis.com/mattress-reviews/latex-mattress-reviews/

  5. Hi Sleepopolis,

    Thanks for all of the research you’ve put into this site.

    Here is our situation. I’ve had a fair amount of back pain in the past year so we decided to switch out our 9 year out traditional mattress. After doing some research, mostly on your site, we decided to try the Leesa. I’ve still been having problems with back pain and when sleeping on my side my hips begin to hurt. My wife is a side sleeper and I am a side/back sleeper. I’m about 175 pounds. She is less than that.

    I wanted to get your thoughts on what might be a better option for us.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Matt,

      Thank you for your kind words!

      I’m sorry to hear the Leesa isn’t working out for you. I would be happy to help you find something better suited to your needs:

      Just a few questions to make sure I’m recommending the best different options for you:

      How firm do you think the Leesa mattress is on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm?
      What is your ideal firmness on a scale of 1-10?
      Do you like the thin cover of the Leesa or would you prefer a traditional padded quilted cover?
      Do you like the level of sinkage on the Leesa or would you rather have more / less?

  6. Hi Sleepopolis, thanks for all the time answering people’s questions! I am mostly a side sleeper, light (110lbs) and over 60. I had a Stearns & Foster pillowtop for several years that started to give me hip pain, so I switched to a Nest Love Bed (the 2nd version with latex-alternative top layer). This bed is also giving me hip pain. I feel like it’s bottoming out – maybe conforming too much? So now I’m looking to return it and try something else. Do you have a recommendation?

    Reply
    • Hi Barb,

      I’m sorry to hear the Love Bed is not working our for you. Have you heard of Nest Bedding’s new Active X mattress? This mattress does not sink anywhere near the level of the Love Bed. In fact, most sleepers tend to float on top of the Active X. Therefore, I believe you could actually stay within Nest’s company and find a mattress that works best for you.

      If you want to do something different than Nest Bedding I’d recommend you take a look at Helix – https://sleepopolis.com/mattress-reviews/helix-mattress-review/ – it can customized to get the exact firmness, feel, and sinkage that you need.

  7. Hi. Such great info on your site! We are looking for a new mattress. We have a memory foam from Costco that is 12+ years old. My husband loves it but it is too firm and to warm for me sometimes. He weighs 170 I weigh 103. Can you recommend a mattress that is organic or as organic/natural as possible while still in a good price range? The info out there is hard to trust!
    Thank you for your time.
    Nikki

    Reply
  8. Thank you so much for all the hard work you’re doing! I’ve been sleeping on the Tuft and Needle for about a month, and I’m waking up in a puddle of sweat every morning! I’m also having some mid-back pain (possibly unrelated?). I generally prefer something on the firm side, although that could just be a preference for good support. Any thing you’d recommend for good cooling and support?

    Reply
    • Happy to help, Sarah!

      I’m sorry to hear the Tuft & Needle isn’t working out for you. I would be happy to help you find something better suited to your needs:

      Just a few questions to make sure I’m recommending the best different options for you:

      How firm do you think the Tuft & Needle mattress is on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm?

      What is your ideal firmness on a scale of 1-10?

      Do you like the thin cover of the Tuft & Needle or would you prefer a traditional padded quilted cover?

      Do you like the level of sinkage on the Tuft & Needle or would you rather have more / less?

      Any other specific attributes you like / don’t like about the Tuft & Needle?

  9. Hi Sleepopolis,

    Thank you for all the work you put into this site. I think I’ve read every review in search of the best mattress for us. I’m about 250lbs. Husband is 170lbs. We are back/side sleepers. I love soft for side sleeping, but need support for back sleeping. I don’t like when my hips sink much lower than the rest of my body while on my back. I’m intrigued with Purple but concerned about chemicals and the mystery powder they won’t disclose what it is. Loom and Leaf seems to be my next best option, but I really prefer something more responsive and with bounce. No real preference on the firmness scale so long as it’s supportive enough for back sleep but also provides pressure relief for side sleep. Is there anything that checks those boxes and is more natural (low VOC/plant based/no formaldehyde/etc)?

    Reply
    • Have you considered the Saatva mattress? Saatva is an innerspring mattress and is also the sister company to Loom & Leaf. Therefore, the materials used are a bit more natural than most others on the market (they use natural thistle as the fire barrier, organic cotton cover).

      Additionally, this mattress has a responsive feel due to the innerspring construction and still offers very good pressure relief and support. In my opinion, I believe you two would be very happy with the Luxury Firm Saatva mattress.

  10. I purchased a king size bed from Leesa. After a couple of weeks, my wife and I have low back pain in the morning and we both think the bed is too firm. As an experiment, we used a 3″ featherbed from another room as a topper on the Leesa mattress. After a couple nights of using the topper, the bed felt much better and the back pain was gone (but the featherbed was hot). So, I’m considering returning the Leesa bed and ordering the soft bed from Brooklyn Bedding. I would like to stay in that price range. We are both side/occasional back sleepers. I’m about 180 lbs; she’s about 120. Are there other good options?

    Reply
    • Hi John,

      I’m sorry to hear the Leesa isn’t working out for you. I would be happy to help you find something better suited to your needs.

      Just a few questions to make sure I’m recommending the best different options for you:

      How firm do you think the Leesa mattress is on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm?
      What is your ideal firmness on a scale of 1-10?
      Do you like the thin cover of the Leesa or would you prefer a traditional padded quilted cover?
      Do you like the level of sinkage on the Leesa or would you rather have more / less?
      Any other specific attributes you like / don’t like about the Leesa?

    • I would put the Leesa at about a 6-7 firmness. After sleeping on the Leesa mattress, I would prefer something slightly softer, in range of 4.5 to 5. I’m not real picky about the cover, but I’m more used to a quilted cover. I would prefer a little more sinkage than the Leesa.

    • Based on this information, I would recommend the Helix, Zotto, and Amerisleep Liberty as potential options for you. Each of these mattresses are softer than the Leesa but still provide very good support, pressure relief, and overall comfort.

  11. My wife and I purchased the Loom and Leaf in the softer option about a month ago. We are generally happy with it except perhaps that it is hotter than we had hoped . . . and its winter now so I am somewhat concerned about how it will be come summer. What would you recommend that might be cooler?

    Reply
    • I have a Leesa nd get the feeling it sinks too much for a back sleeper. I am thinking of returning it for something with better alignment like a Purple or maybe Helix. What might you suggest? I am average build and about 160 so fairly average weight as well.

    • I’m sorry to hear the Leesa isn’t working out for you. I would be happy to help you find something better suited to your needs.

      Just a few questions to make sure I’m recommending the best options for you:

      How firm do you think the Leesa mattress is on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm?

      What is your ideal firmness on a scale of 1-10?

      Do you like the thin cover of the Leesa or would you prefer a traditional padded quilted cover?

      Do you like the level of sinkage on the Leesa or would you rather have more / less?

      Any other specific attributes you like / don’t like about the Leesa?

  12. Your site is so helpful!!! We have been sleeping on a sterns and foster for years – too many years. Hubby is a back sleeper who snores and I am a side and back sleeper. We always love the Marriott mattresses. Went into a brick and mortar to try some things last night. Liked some quality hybrids with ind. coils and foam on top. Tried a Temperpedic (would never buy but wanted to try) and they felt a little weird. Didn’t love the slow response time. Low to ZERO transfer of movement is very important. Looking at king sized. Would really like to buy online. I had been thinking of the Leesa but trying the temperpedic made me leary of all foam because of the slow response time. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Thanks for your comment, Teresa!

      So first up, you don’t need to be too worried about all foam mattresses. Tempur-pedic is sort of the extreme as far as slow response goes. It is one of the most traditional memory foam mattresses on the market.

      Based on your needs I think foam or a hybrid could work, we just need something with more response. I would recommend one of the following for you (in no particular order):

      1) Leesa – good balance of both hug and response, much faster response with Avena top layer, 6 out of 10 firmness, great value
      2) Nest Bedding Alexander Hybrid – memory foam layers on top of a coil base, great choice if you want that cloud like feeling of comfort, but with the addition of, 5.5 out of 10 firmness
      3) Saatva – if your really wanting to stay away from all foam I’d recommend the Saatva, which is a coil on coil with a pillow top, traditional design and feel and a great value at $899 for a Queen. Avaialble in soft, medium, or firm

      Please let me know if there are any other questions I can help with. Thanks!
      -Sleepopolis

  13. Thanks for all your info. My husband and I, are looking into 100 percent natural latex bed. We’re both heavy, with back, shoulder and knee issues. I’m a tosser and Turner, so we need a bed that doesn’t transfer my movement to his side of the bed. We both sleep hot. Our last bed was a Temperpedic, but we want something that has a longer life span. What would you suggest, we like a 7 firmness with bounce.

    Reply
  14. Good evening
    Thank you for all the time that you have put into your site and online reviews. It has been very very informative.
    I am however looking for maybe a bit more direction and maybe a recommendation. I am concerned about the chemicals in memory foam and am more interested in 100% natural latex. Organic products would be ideal.
    Beds that I am considering would be the essentia, the Zenhaven and the Brooklyn. I was wondering g what your thoughts are and if you can make more specific recommendations. I guess I should add that I like more firmness around the 6.5 range.

    Thank you thank you thank you!!!
    Buying a new mattress is such an overwhelming undertaking

    Lana

    Reply
    • Hi Lana,

      Thank you for your kind words!

      Based on everything you’ve shared, I would recommend the Zenhaven mattress. Brooklyn Bedding makes a very good mattress, but their latex is not 100% natural. They do have a mix of some synthetic latex in their mattress as well. Additionally, Essential ran into some issues with the FTC a few years ago. According to the FTC: “Essentia made unsubstantiated claims that its mattresses do not contain VOCs, are chemical-free, have no chemical off-gassing or odor, and are made from 100 percent natural materials. Moreover, the complaint alleges that Essentia claimed that tests show that its memory foam is free of VOCs and formaldehyde when, in fact, tests do not support these claims.” Based on their FTC issues I’m having a hard time trusting them as a company.

      That said, the Zenhaven is a very good mattress and is actually flippable, therefore you will be able to choose between the two firmness levels, if you wish to do so.

  15. Hey Sleepopolis, I’m looking at 5-6 different mattress brands. Loom & Leaf, Essentia, Casper, Live and Sleep, Tuft and Needle and Satvaa(which owns Loom & Leaf I think). Which one of these mattress brands have the lowest amount of chemicals and will leave me comfortable and with a good nights sleep. I like a mattress with very little bounce, soft and a firmness of 3-4/10.

    Thankyou for your time!

    Reply
    • Loom and Leaf is going to be the best in this list, and one of the best online. Is it perfect? No, but it does a lot of stuff right, while still keeping the price point pretty good. L&L uses organic cotton, natural thistle fire barrier, and a percentage of the foams are plant-based (as opposed to petroleum based). Saatva would be the next best option, but may be the overall better option for you due to wanting a little bit of a softer feel.

      If you just look at softness / feel, the best option on this list is the Saatva in the soft firmness. The others are going to be too firm for you.

      You also should consider the Nest Bedding Alexander Signature Select in the soft firmness – see here – https://sleepopolis.com/nest-bedding/alexander-mattress/

  16. Can you give an opinion on the durability of a winkbed? I like what I read but everything seems to point to faster sagging of innerspring beds. I’m 230lbs with the usual assortment of bak and hip pain issues. I love the feeling of a soft or plush mattress, but they can’t seem to give the support I need for proper alignment. At my weight, I’ve sort of accepted I’m not going to get mush mileage frp\om anything? Could the winkbed possibly be as close as I can come?

    Reply
    • Hi Bob,

      Sure thing!

      So Winkbed has really gone way beyond what they needed to put in to make a good coil mattresses. Winkbed is a coil-on-coil pillow top. This means they use two layers of coils. This is an important distinction, as it improves longevity, durability, and overall performance. The Winkbed pillow top also uses higher density foams and a euro-style cover. These attributes further improve overall durability and longevity.

      If you like the feel of spring / coil mattresses I think you’re really hard pressed to find a mattress with better value / performance for the money than Winkbed.

  17. Thanks for the awesome review. Would this be an okay mattress for me (I weigh 255lbs and have back pain).

    Thanks,
    Michael

    Reply
  18. I am 5′ 112 lbs. a side sleeper with joint problems. what would the mattress to best work for me?
    Thanks for all your helpful information :)

    Reply
    • Hi L,

      I need just a little more information from you:

      What is your preferred firmness on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm (and as hard as the floor)?

      Do you have a price that you need to stay under?

      What size mattress are you looking for?

      How much do you weigh? (this is important for sinkage, especially as it relates to cooling)

  19. HI Sleepopolis.

    Thanks for such a useful website.

    We’re looking to replace a 12 year old coil spring. We’re both side/back (very rarely stomach) sleepers. I’m 165lbs and 5’8 and she’s 125lbs and 5’4″. I do suffer from restless nights as well as stiffness in the mornings which lasts. I know this is due to our current mattress so I’m very keen to see it gone.

    Either organic or very VOC’s are incredibly important to us as we have a 10 month old baby who on occasion sleeps in our bed. After a long day of research I was/am leaning towards SleepEz Organic latex or Room and Board latex due to this alone. It’s not just about buying cheap for us but we’re also not looking to spend money if it doesn’t need to be spent so I’m looking for options as there’s about a $1000 price difference between foam and natural latex.

    I notice that you haven’t reviewed any pure latex mattresses. Is there a reason for this or can you provide me with a recommendation?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • With regards to 100% latex mattresses, I have reviewed the Plushbeds Botanical Bliss mattress. While the Plushbed is a little pricier than most I have reviewed, it is indeed 100% latex and a very good mattress. They offer 4 different firmness levels with this mattress and all around great support. Unfortunately, I have not reviewed many of the cheaper all latex mattresses, but I hope to do so in the very near future.

      My full review of the Botanical Bliss can be found here: https://sleepopolis.com/mattress-reviews/plushbeds-botanical-bliss-mattress-review/

  20. Hey Sleepopolis,
    I am torn between the Leesa and Ghostbed. Have you heard anything concerning the durability of the Leesa? Someone on another site mentioned the 3lb memory foam in the Leesa as being a weak link in the mattress concerning durability. The ghostbed uses 4lb memory foam but might be too firm for me as a 165lb side sleeper. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Sleepopolisiel,

      Personally I have not heard of complaints regarding the Leesa’s durability. Now with regards to the PCF (pounds per cubic foot) of the Leesa and GhostBed’s foams, both are very good quality. While the GhostBed does use a higher PCF, the Leesa is still at 3+ pounds. I would consider anything above 3 pounds to be in the very good category. While PCF is a good indicator of foam quality, it is not the only indicator. The company who pours / cuts the foam and manufactures the actual mattress is just as, if not more important.

      Over the last 2 years I have seen foam from almost every manufacturing in the US. You can take the 3 pound visco memory foam from two different companies and you will side dramatic differences.

      The Leesa and Ghostbed are quite similar in many ways, but I would not say the GhostBed is better in terms of durability based only off of the PCF.

  21. Thank you, Sleepopolis. For us, the Loom and Leaf felt like about a 5. But the problem was that we “bottomed out” in the hip area the very first time we laid on it.

    I think that we would prefer about a 7 level of firmness, but we may need to go firmer because of our weight.

    We’ve been considering buying a basic, firm spring/coil mattress and then adding a latex topper. Our assumption is that the coils — if they are good, strong ones — would probably support our weight just fine. Then we would replace the latex topper a couple of times a year, as we’re assuming it will develop indentation in the hip area about every six months.

    Does this approach make sense? Is there something better? Thank you very much for your help & advice.

    Reply
    • That is one route to go, but it would really depend on the latex topper and the mattress itself. Lots of factors at play.

      I think the best mattress for you may be the Helix. The Helix personalization allows you get the exact level of support and firmness you need and it is tuned specifically for your weight and body type. The biggest problem I think you are going to find is getting that firmness you’re looking for. You sit a little bit in a firmness gap…most mattresses are going to either be too soft or too firm for you. The Helix is the best at meeting your exact firmness and support needs.

      I’d recommend giving it a try first.

      $50 Helix coupon – https://sleepopolis.com/helix

    • Sleepless in Arizona
      I’m wondering what you purchased and how you like it. I’m also struggling with what to buy, partly because of my size – 6’1 and 220lb

  22. Thank you for this great site – so full of helpful information.

    We have a mattress crisis. In 2009 we bought a latex mattress from EZ Sleep in Scottsdale AZ. It was fantastic for two years. Then it developed an imprint/dip in the hip area that caused pretty serious back pain for both of us. We returned to the manufacturer (we could do this since we live in the area) and they replaced the mattress, partially prorating cost. After that, we had to replace the mattress approximately every six months. Each time, we were charged a prorated amount.

    We kept saying, “Why was the mattress great for two years, but now we have to replace it every six months?” It seems clear to us that there was a drop in quality of the latex that this manufacturer is receiving from their supplier. But EZ Sleep wouldn’t acknowledge this.

    Finally we gave up on EZ Sleep and we bought a Loom & Leaf. It was very soft, causing such bad back pain that we couldn’t even sleep on it for even one night. Back it went.

    Then we bought a Simmons Beauty Rest. It is traditional spring/coil with some foam on top. At first it was very comfortable. But after 3 months, the foam has compressed and there is a big dip in the hip area. We will now return it, and we don’t have the faintest idea what to buy next!

    Both husband & wife are heavy, each weighing around 225 lbs. We realize that we will need a firmer mattress because we’re heavier than most people, and we also know that our mattress will need replacing more frequently. But three months?!!

    Can you recommend anything that will work for us? Thank you.

    Reply
    • I’m sorry to hear about your mattress woes, but I’d be happy to help you find something better.

      Regarding Loom & Leaf, on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm and would be as firm as a carpeted floor, how firm would you rate the Loom & Leaf?

      What is your ideal firmness rating on a scale of 1-10?

      Once I have this information I can help you zero in on a better mattress based on your needs.

  23. Thank you for responding. The BB soft firm seemed to be the correct choice for primarily side sleeping at my weight. Initialy upon lying down it feels comfortable. However, I do wake after several hours with some slight hip and shoulder discomfort. As I mentioned before the Casper did not suit me. I gather from your response that I would have a similar experience with the Leesa? I just want a comfortable mattress suited for side sleeping. Would Loom & Leaf be any better? As far as firmness it seems so subjective but I would say probably the 5 to 6 range. The cover thickness doesn’t matter.

    Reply
    • The Leesa is similar to the Casper in terms of firmness. So I don’t think that would be the right choice.

      Loom & Leaf has more cushion in the cover and is a little bit softer at a 5.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. It might be helpful for you to go try a Tempur-pedic Cloud Prima & Cloud Supreme. Those are both similar to Loom & Leaf.

  24. Hi Sleepopolis,
    Great website. Your input is most helpful. Mattress comfort is so subjective. I initially bought a Casper and eventually had it picked up and got a refund without any hassle. I am a side sleeper weighing 160 pounds. I found the Casper to be too firm after a few hours of sleeping on my side. I would get discomfort in my shoulder waking me up. I then did much research and concluded that the Brooklyn Bedding “Best Mattress Ever” in the soft firmness would be a good choice. I bought it, and now have been sleeping on it for several weeks. I still am waking up with shoulder discomfort. It doesn’t matter if I sleep on my right or left side. My alternate choice would have been the Leesa. In your opinion, would the Leesa be any different than BB regarding comfort as far as side sleeping?

    John

    Reply
    • Hi John,

      Sorry for the slow reply. This one slipped by me.

      If you were dissatisfied with the Brooklyn Bedding this probably means you wouldn’t like the Leesa either. The feels are similar.

      Did you like the firmness level of the BB mattress?
      If you rated the BB on a firmness level from 1-10, where 10 is as hard as the carpeted floor, how firm would it be? What is your ideal firmness?
      Did you prefer the thin cover of the Casper or the padded cover of the Brooklyn Bedding mattress?

  25. Hi Sleepopolis,
    I love your site: So much great information!
    We need a new bed. Our Duxiana (15 years-old) with a memory-foam topper (5 years-old) is begging for retirement. I suffer from back problems and struggle with night sweats. After reading everything you’ve written on it, I’m sure I’d be happy with a Leesa. However, I live in Germany; I have talked to the folks at Leesa, and they have no idea when they’ll be delivering to this country. :(
    So I’ve started looking at German alternatives – online mattress start-ups are springing up on a daily basis here, too. I’ve found one called emma (https://www.emma-matratze.de/) that seems similar in construction and materials to the Leesa. But I’m not the expert, so I thought I’d ask you for your opinion. Here are the specs on the emma:
    Progressive Latex (4cm)
    Viscose-Memory-Foam (4cm)
    High-density, supportive cold-foam (17cm)
    Polyester/Elastan cover (Top and sides: 98% Polyester, 2% Elastan; Bottom: 100% Polyester; Tricot: 100% Polyester)
    Does it seem from the specs like it might be similar to Leesa? The big difference seems to be the latex, instead of Avena, top layer. Does latex sleep a lot “hotter” than Avena? The emma’s latex layer does have holes in it for air circulation, and they claim it does a good job of keeping things cool. But you are the expert. What do you think?
    Thanks in advance for your advice on this oddball question!

    Reply
    • Thanks for your kind words! I’m glad Sleepopolis has been helpful to you.

      This mattress looks pretty solid. It’s design and specs are very similar to the Leesa. I would expect a similar performance, provided the material and build quality is there. Latex and Avena have very similar performance, the only difference is the Avena has a longer life span. But in terms of cooling they are the same.

  26. Sleepopolis, Love the site — lots of really great information, both objective and subjective but always impartial — hard to find anything like it, thank you. My wife and I are in the market for a new mattress and I’ve been pouring over your site trying to narrow it down, I’m hoping you can help by lending some insight. I’m 5′ 11″ 170# and a side sleeper with extremely bad back problems. My wife is 5′ 2″ 125 (or so) and also a side sleeper but no health issues. We are currently on a 10 year old King size sleep number bed that is not up to the task. Added a topper to see if it would improve matters but …. no luck. I’m convinced I need a firmer mattress, she is indifferent but doesn’t want it too firm.

    Lately I’ve had the chance while traveling to sleep on a few different beds and found that I’m really quite a bit more comfortable on a firm (but not too firm) mattress as compared to our sleep number so I think I agree with your observation that a med/firm is the right fit. After much thought I’m trying to decide between either the Leesa or the Brooklyn Bed (medium).

    *Leesa: from yours and other reviews Leesa sounds a bit firmer than the Brooklyn which might be better. I also think that perhaps the Avena foam might be more durable than latex against long term breakdown or sagging. I do like the 4″ of comfort foam. I’ve read on other sites that some find the Leesa too firm and have resorted to an additional topper to get more cushioning.

    *Brooklyn: attracted to the aesthetic and like the idea of a thicker, softer cover (more traditional). I also believe the consensus that latex is in general more comfortable than memory foam – another plus for BB – and that owning their own factory results in a superior technical product with more value than those (like Leesa) who do not manufacture. My main concerns are that the greater bounce that you report will detract from addressing the back pain – which is the main reason for buying a new mattress – and that the BB medium will not be quite firm enough.

    Cost wise its pretty much a wash and I know that we can always return for a refund and try again, but I’d like to get it right and not have the additional bother. I’d be very interested in your thoughts — Leesa vs BB OR ?????

    Reply
    • Hi Lane,

      Thanks for your kind words! I’m glad Sleepopolis has been helpful.

      I would say your initial instincts here are spot on. Both Leesa & Brooklyn Bedding are solid choices. Your break down on the differences is also on point. Here’s what you’ll want to consider:

      At 125 your wife is very light, so light that she likely will not sink very much into the Leesa. This may create a higher degree of firmness for her on the Leesa. At 170, your right in the sweet spot. You are heavy enough to sink, but not so heavy you put any undo pressure on the mattress. For you, it’ll be an ideal medium firm 6 out of 10. For your wife, it’s likely to be closer to a 6.5’ish, perhaps slightly higher. In this respect, she may like the Brooklyn Bedding more, simply because it has the traditional padded cover. This is going to create more immediate softness, since it doesn’t require any type of sinkage / hug to create the pressure relief for lighter sleepers like your wife.

      With regards to the bounce, both are effectively the same. It doesn’t create a performance difference. I would expect the BB medium will feel very similar to the Leesa at a 6 out of 10 for you, and likely a 6 out of 10 for your wife also.

      Whether you go BB or Leesa or something else the traditional padded vs. thin cover is going to be the biggest factor in medium firm foam mattresses. For you, it won’t make much of a difference, but it will change your wife’s perspective and feel without question.

  27. Hi Sleepopolis. Your articles always give useful, and important information to me. Thanks a lot. And I just wonder about ‘Avena’. Does it mean a kind of plant ‘Avena’? I mean, avena foam is plant-based?

    Reply
    • No, sorry for the confusion, Kim. Avena foam is not plant-based and has nothing to do with the avena plant. It is a synthetic foam designed to behave like latex.

  28. Hi Sleepopolis, This site is fantastic. The mattress industry is so difficult to navigate and the startup of online mattresses makes it even tougher.

    My wife and I bought a Dormia memory foam mattress about 11-12 years ago and for the first 5 years, it was amazing. We loved it. But the memory sort of went away and we’re left with this very squishy mattress that we can’t stand. I believe Dormia is now another mattress company (Classic Brands?).

    Me: 5’10”, 170 lbs (medium build) – stomach sleeper. Ever since the current mattress got squishy, I have had lower back pain. To remedy, I no longer use a pillow – this seems to work pretty well. I sleep very hot – I live in maine but only use a sheet all winter long. And I love when the bedroom is freezing cold because our foam mattress gets pretty firm and is more comfy to me.

    Wife: 5’2″, 125 lbs (bottom heavy) – side sleeper with lower back pain ever since the current mattress got squishy. She’s the one in pain daily. She’s always cold and sleeps with a fleece jacket on =)

    I’m interested in a Helix because of the customization, and price. But I’m definitely open to other suggestions. My wife is extremely skeptical of buying a internet mattress site-unseen. She wants a tempurpedic because of the name and also because we’ve tested them at the store, but $5k for the mattress she wants is not going to happen.

    Can you help us decide on a mattress?

    Reply
    • Hi Ross!

      Thank you for your kind words. I would be more than happy to provide you all with a mattress recommendation. The Helix is a great option for the customization feature. If you two enjoy completely different feels, this mattress is a good option. On the other hand, if you two are able to sleep on a balanced mattress, there are several good options. Since your wife is a fan of the Tempurpedic line, I would recommend checking out the Loom & Leaf mattress as well as the Novosbed. Both of these mattresses are comparable to Tempurpedic. Great support, comfort, cooling, and excellent customer service. Not to mention, you’ll be saving a few thousand dollars with one of these mattresses.

    • Thanks Sleepopolis. Typically, what kind of firmness (out of 10) would a stomach sleeper prefer? The Loom and Leaf is interesting to me – would that 6/10 firmness be enough for a stomach sleeper (i read somewhere on here that you are a stomach sleeper as well)?

      thanks again

    • I would say anything between a 5-6.5 is generally ideal. That’s certainly my personal preference as a stomach sleeper.

      Some are able to get as low as 4 or perhaps as high as a 7.

      The big thing is avoiding overly soft. This is where you can get into trouble in terms of your spinal alignment and create issues.

    • One more thing – can you compare/contrast the Loom & Leaf to the Nest Alexander? They look pretty similar. Thanks again!

    • Sure thing!

      They are both similar in many respects…quilted traditional cover, thicker overall profile, memory foam, gel memory foam, etc.

      The biggest differences are as follows:

      1) Nest Bedding has a thicker padded cover, this creates a more rounded contouring hug vs. Loom & Leaf, which has a more pronounced classic memory foam hug. This is due to L&L’s thinner quilted top, which is only 5/8″ thick vs. Nest’s 1.5″ thick.

      2) Loom and Leaf uses a few choice natural materials in their mattress including natural thistle as the fire barrier, 100% organic cotton cover, and a percentage of plant-based material within their foams

      3) Nest is available in 3 firmness levels, L&L only medium and firm.

      There are a few smaller construction differences, but the biggest areas of difference are above. I really think #1 is the most critical difference between the two, as it really separates them into two distinct feels.

  29. Hi Sleepopolis,

    First of all, color me impressed by this site. Seriously, I can’t believe you’ve compiled all of this information. So now I’ve come to you to hopefully be my sherpa in the mattress-buying process.

    Backstory:
    I bought a platform bed and ikea mattress from my friend who had used it for two years. The mattress seemed alright to me, but in wanting a bit more softness, I bought a faux-down topper and gel memory foam topper in an attempt to make it feel more luxurious. While it definitely was softer, I’ve developed some really bad hip pain (already had low back pain, which has continued) and I’m wondering if the mattress toppers might be partially to blame.

    SO! I’ve decided to buy a new mattress. I was very resistant to the idea of any type of foam because I want there to be some bounce in the mattress. I don’t want it to be difficult to get out of it in the morning and I prefer the edge to be more solid. Also, I don’t like when it’s difficult to switch positions, as I do frequently while settling down.

    I’m currently trying to decide between the much more cost-effective tuft and needle and leesa vs the saatva, and though it’s more expensive and is more difficult to return, I’m drawn towards saatva because of the coils while I have in my head will give the support I need.

    I’m 5’2″ and am about 150lbs, pretty evenly distributed although I guess a little more bottom heavy. I just want something that is good for ALL mattress-related activities, as I tend to live on my bed a little – sleeping, working, wink wink nudge nudge, all that stuff. If there are any other mattresses aside from the ones I mentioned that sound up my alley, please let me know! Would really appreciate your help!

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Thanks for your kind words, June! I’m glad Sleepopolis has been helpful.

      Also, thanks for this background information. This is very helpful. I’d love to help you find a great mattress for you…I just have a few more questions for you:

      1) Are you absolutely opposed to all foam, or just foam that lacks bounce?
      2) On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is as hard as the floor, how firm is your ideal firmness?
      3) Do you have a budget in mind?

  30. Hi Sleepopolis,

    MY girlfriend and I recently went to a retailer to try out different bed feels. We both enjoy firm support, with slight cloud “hug” feeling. Our #1 in the store was Tempur-pedic (surprise) Contour elite (second most firm of contour line). #2 was the Tempur-pedic cloud prima (most firm of cloud line).

    I tend to sleep hot on my back or on my side, she sleeps on her side and always bundles up for bed. We are on a budget so I’ve been looking at Casper or Leesa, but now I’m worried those will not be firm enough for us. I’m thinking we want ~7/10 firmness with great support. Off-gassing is understandable but we’re willing to endure it if we can get our other needs met for the price we can afford.

    Me: 6’2″ 220 lbs, neck/shoulder pain
    Her: 5’6″ 130 lbs, low back & hip pain

    Reply
    • Thanks for all of this background information. This is very helpful.

      For starters, I would say stay away from Casper. It’s going to be too squishy based on your needs.

      The Leesa could possibly work for you. It’s fairly close to the Cloud Prima (maybe just a bit softer). The Leesa is one of my favorites and offers great overall value. If you’re looking for a great price for an amazing build / material quality it’s hard to go wrong with.

      If you think it just doesn’t sound firm enough then you might consider the Loom & Leaf Firm, Helix, or Tuft & Needle. All of those are going to be a good bit firmer and can get you closer to the feel from the Tempur-pedic Contour Elite.

    • Hi Glenn!

      In our mattress shopping we had both the TP models you mentioned and the Leesa.
      I found Leesa to be as Sleepopolis said just a little softer than the TP models you talking about but as a stomach sleeper it still provided me with a great support, motion transfer etc.
      My personal issue was that the sleeping hot – while Leesa does sleep much “cooler” than TP, It still retain some heat and i could feel it.
      We decided to try not the Loom and leaf. Hope it helps.

  31. Trying to decide between the Leesa and Nest Alexander. I’m new to memory foam and looking for a durable mattress that sinks just a little but sleeps cool, isn’t packed with chemicals and is made in the USA. Nest and Leesa seem pretty similar but being on a budget, does the Nest warrant the additional cost over the Leesa?

    Reply
    • Both the Leesa and Nest Alexander cover all of your primary needs and desires. The biggest difference simply comes down to the cover…the Leesa has a modern Tempur-pedic style thin cover. The thin cover allows you to more directly feel the foam layers and they are able to create a more pronounced contour and hug around your body. The Alexander has a more traditional quilted padded cover. It has 1.5″ of soft foam within the foam. This acts almost like a mini pillow top, creating more of a cloud-like type of a comfort with lots of cushion. I wouldn’t say there is a “best” choice in this area, as it really is personal preference. If that thick padded cover is important, go Nest Alexander. If you’d rather have the thin Tempur-pedic style cover, go Leesa.

  32. Hi Sleepopolis, thank you for the reviews! I am currently test driving (test sleeping?) the Leesa and loved it the first few weeks. However, I am now feeling a little sinkage and warmth in the hip area towards the morning, resulting in sore hips on one side. I am a back or side sleeper, and while I move back and forth a lot in the night, I do not move from my away from my spot at night. I got the Leesa primarily because of lower back pain and neck/shoulder pain and while my lower back pain has completely gone away, my neck and shoulder stiffness is still there but this hip soreness is new. I am wondering if I should keep at it for another month or try a different brand. Are there any other brands that you recommend that will be more firm, or have less hug? I prefer the mattress on the cooler side, have a cal king and budget and bounce do not matter. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Sheena,

      Couple of questions for you.

      1) How many weeks have you been sleeping on the Leesa?
      2) How heavy are you? (this is important for deep compression support)
      3) Can you describe your body type for me? Similar build from top to bottom? Do you carry your weight in your mid section? (important for support, especially in a side sleeping position)

      Feel free to email me directly if you’d prefer to keep these responses private. https://sleepopolis.com/contact/

  33. Great reviews. Thanks tons. We are shopping for 3 queens. Two queens: for guest bedrooms (our children are grown but come home to visit). One queen: for our own bed. Please steer me in the right direction. I may be wrong for what we need, but we’re thinking of Leesa for the two guest bedrooms. Sounds like it is an affordable choice for guest bedrooms, plus high ratings overall.

    For our own bed our needs are specific. Husband needs soft to medium support to alleviate neck pain (bulging disks in spine). If his shoulders can sink into bed it helps relieve pain. He is a side and stomach sleeper. He weighs 175. I don’t mind soft to medium, but I dislike feeling enveloped and unable to shift positions easily. I weigh 130. The Alexander sounds like a possible option. What do you think? Am I overlooking an option that would be a better fit for our specific issue? Maybe the Leesa would also be fine for us. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

    Reply
    • Forgot to mention: I have severe chemical sensitivities, so we need to avoid a bed that smells strongly of fire-retardant or other chemicals. Cheers!

    • Hi Gwen,

      I just sent you an email with a few questions. If you could answers those they will help me to provide you with the best mattress recommendation.

  34. Hi. I noticed that in your review of the Leesa mattress you refer to memory foam as supportive. I have always felt that memory foam is not supportive because it tends to sink the most under the heaviest part of the body. Although the surface cushioning is good, I end up feeling like I’m sleeping in a hammock. As the memory foam warms up, it sinks more and that gets on my nerves because just when I get comfortable, then it changes again. Maybe my definition of support is different than yours, could you elaborate?
    From reading this article, I see Aveena foam is a poly foam? I might actually like that better than memory foam, although I wonder if the memory foam underneath it in the Leesa mattress would end up giving me that hammock feeling? I want something that is soft on my aching bones but that supports my spine so it doesn’t sag, what do you recommend?

    Reply
    • Hi Lisi,

      Your experience with memory foam is accurate, but more reflective of the older generation of memory foam. Leesa, and many of the new online mattress companies, use a more modern memory foam that better provides support and does not retain heat as significantly.

      Additionally, by layering the Avena on top of the memory foam the mattress is able to deliver great support and pressure relief, without that intense hug and sinkage.

  35. Great website and reviews! I was originally leaning towards T&N just because of budget but now reading your website I am leaning towards either Love Bed or Brooklyn Bed (Leesa is out because of the softness and gassing). However, I need your inputs:
    – Male in my late 30’s
    – Height 5’6″; Weight 135lbs
    – Mostly back-sleeper with occasional side
    – Previous mattress was a Sealy firm with cushion top which I purchased in 2004. Was okay.
    – I do not prefer soft mattresses where I sink.
    – Prefer no gas/chemicals.
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Hey Sean, thanks for your kind words! Glad to help provide some suggestions for you. Just a few more questions for you:

      1) What firmness do you prefer on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm?
      2) How much hug do you like in a mattress? Lots? some? very little?
      3) How important is bounce in a mattress? Very? somewhat? not that important?

    • I’m thinking of either buying a Leesa or a Casper mattress. I had not come across Avena foam yet.
      As I understand till now, is that mattress foams are made either by using natural materials (latex, soya etc) or chemicals (memory foam). Does Avena foam use natural materials or chemicals or mix of both. How does it compare with latex (Talalay or Dunlop)?

      Thanks for the information!

    • Hi Robert,

      Couple of things here.

      1) As you said, there are both natural and synthetic materials. Latex comes in both natural and synthetic versions. As does memory foam.

      2) Avena foam is a synthetic foam, like most latex foams are. It is something akin to a cross between Talalay and Dunlop. It has the consistency of Talalay, but the durability of Dunlop (it’s actually a bit better in terms of overall durability)

  36. Sleepopolis,
    What would you say is the biggest differences between the LoveBed and the Leesa (other then the latex vs avena)?

    Reply
    • I would say the biggest difference (other than construction) is the Love Bed has a bit more sinkage / hug and a slightly softer feel in the medium firmness (which is the most comparable to the Leesa). However, I do think the Leesa provides better support in general than the Love Bed. The 4″ of comfort foam vs. 3″ of total comfort foam gives it a little better support, deep compression support, and pressure relief.

  37. Hi Sleepopolis,
    Highly impressed with the quality and comprehensive reviews on your site.

    My wife prefers a warmer bed. I understand top latex layer allows the normally warm foam bed to stay cool. Unless you want the bed to stay warm. Which one would you recommend if warmth is more important while not sacrificing air flow. I was thinking the Leesa would work really well, or would you recommend a different one?

    Thanks,
    Marzban

    Reply
    • Hi Marzban,

      Thanks for your kind words!

      Warmth and coolness are tricky things because they are highly subjective. Latex does sleep cooler than memory foam. But it’s the type of coolness that really just means…it doesn’t retain heat. The construction of latex allows it to breath more easily than the vast majority of memory foams.

      Innerspring mattresses don’t generally heat up because, like latex, they do not retain a significant amount of heat. So, if you’ve been sleeping on an innerspring and find it comfortable, then you would likely find latex comfortable. The Leesa’s layer of Avena acts very similarly to latex. So if you were trying to avoid a latex feel the Leesa would not be the right choice.

      All that said, I don’t think your wife would find the Leesa so cool that it would be uncomfortable for her. It offers good breathability and airflow and reacts similarly to a traditional innerspring mattress in terms of temperature.

  38. Hi! Wow this is a great site–amazing to that you respond to all these questions. I’ve been procrastinating getting a new mattress since March when I should’ve just been reading up here.

    Anyway, my question is: have you heard any horror stories about any of these companies not following through on the return period? It struck me that since these are internet based, mattress only companies, it would not be difficult to give consumers to cold shoulder if the mattress was not comfortable to them. Are any of these distinguishing themselves as better or worse than others when handling the returns?

    I am leaning towards Leesa if that helps. My only hesitation is that I don’t know if a 6 will be the right firmness or if I need something much softer. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Thanks, Bud! I appreciate your kind words.

      I will say that some are definitely better than others, but I have not heard of a single story in which a refund was denied. These online start-ups know how important that piece is and I don’t think a single one would dare risk the negative PR that could result from denying a legitimate refund claim during the trial period.

      Some of the mattress companies will ask that you try it for at least 30 days before returning. This is because it typically takes 3-4 weeks for your body to get 100% adjusted to a new mattress. However, even in these cases if you are insistent they will generally process the refund before that 30 days.

      Firmness is always a tough one to gauge because it’s so subjective. I will say the majority of sleepers prefer that 5-6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. If you aren’t sure what you’ll like I would recommend just giving it a try. Worst case scenario it’s not right, you get a refund, and then find a softer mattress that’s more suited to your needs.

      I have personally gone through the refund process (with Tuft & Needle). It’s very easy. With T&N they helped arrange for the Salvation Army to come pick the mattress up for donation, I took a pic of the donation receipt and sent it to T&N, that was it!

      Let me know if there are any other questions I can help with.

  39. Great site! so many mattresses- how to decide. I sleep on back mostly but prefer my side. I have pain/arthrits all over my body. On my side my shoulder goes numb and sore, hip and knees get painful. I use 3 support pillows: between legs and for my arm and neck. On my back i get some lower back pain and other joints. I currently have a SpringAir all latex from Costco. it’s less than 1 year old and permanently sunken in the middle. I’ll return it for credit. I’m male 210 and 6′ and 63 yrs old and sleep alone. I’m thinking either Leesa or Brooklyn any advice?

    Thank you very much!

    Reply
    • Hi Paul,

      Thanks for providing this background info. Before I make a recommendation I think it would be helpful to get a little more info about you.

      If you could please answer the following questions these will greatly help me to provide the best recommendation based on your preferences and needs:

      1) What is your preferred firmness on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm?
      2) Do you like lots of hug? some? or very little?
      3) Do you like lots of bounce? some? or very little?
      4) How important is cooling in a mattress? Very? Somewhat? Not that important?
      5) How important is price?
      6) What size are you looking for?
      7) How much do you weigh? (this is important for sinkage, especially as it relates to cooling)

      If you’d prefer to keep these responses private please email me directly via my contact form here: https://sleepopolis.com/contact/

  40. Any thoughts on the use of covers/protectors and how they might effect the feel of foam/latex mattresses? Also if you use a cover/protector is their a particular brand you’ve found works best (holds up to use/cleaning etc)

    Reply
    • Most mattress protectors are not going to dramatically effect the feel of the mattress. My wife and I use this one: http://amzn.to/1UuHgEY It’s simple, but gets the job done. Doesn’t change the feel of any mattress we’ve slept on, isn’t noisy, and doesn’t cause any type of heat build up.

    • Historically this has been true. Many of the more traditional memory foam mattresses have a fairly lengthy break-in period and will slowly soften over time. However, many of the newer memory foams coming out do not have this break in period and maintain a consistent softness. It just depends on the memory foam.

      All memory foams are not created equal.

  41. Sleepopolis,
    So you like the Nest Alexander over their LoveBed?
    Is it due to it being thicker then the LoveBed or is there another reason altogether?
    And you list the Leesa, Brooklyn Bedding, Nest Bedding’s Alexander, and Loom & Leaf as your personal favorites….would this be in order of preference (and just curious, but out of all the ones you’ve been able to test so far, which mattress is Mrs.Sleepopolis’s favorite?)

    Reply
    • Those are not in any particular order. I like each of them for different reasons. Leesa is a great feel with great overall value, Brooklyn Bedding has amazing bounce and all latex comfort layer, Loom & Leaf is one of the coolest (temperature) foam mattresses I’ve tested and has good overall feel, and the Nest Alexander has a great feel, comes in 3 firmness levels, and has a really nice / thick quilted cover. Depending on what you really prioritize in a mattress will likely make one of these the better choice…though there are others that may be better for you. Ex. if you want something where you sleep more on top of the foam with very little hug and a firmer feel the Tuft & Needle or Endy would be the right choice.

      Each mattress does something a little better than most others.

      Regarding Nest Alexander vs. Nest Love Bed. The Alexander just has a more luxurious feel. It has more comfort foam, which gives it better support and a more balanced sinkage / hug. For these reasons I think it’s the better mattress between those two.

      My wife loves Leesa, the Amerisleep Colonial (I also like this one), and Nest’s Alexander (in the soft option).

  42. Thanks so much Sleepopolis!

    Yes – it does sound like Leesa will work better than the Love bed for my husband especially since he is a back and stomach sleeper. Is the base poly foam the same density for the love bed vs the leesa. Also does the fact that the foam is convoluted in the love bed add much?

    After reading your review and the previous poster’s comments, I was also looking at the brooklyn bedding? Is there a reason you find the Leesa more comfortable than the BB? Is it the memory foam in the Leesa?

    Thanks so much for answering my (many) questions. I was this close to buying a mattress over the july 4th weekend and then stumbled upon casper and then your blog. So glad!

    Reply
    • The convoluted foam definitely adds support. If you were to compare Love Bed vs. Casper, both which use 3 inch comfort layer on a 7 inch support base you would find that the feel, support, and deep compression is better in the Love Bed. Leesa’s support is a smooth base, but they do have a convoluted type foam in the layer of Avena (which provides a similar effect). This combined with an extra inch of comfort foam results in the better support.

      BB and Leesa are very close for me. Personally, I gravitate a bit more towards the Leesa, but I will say it’s a slim margin. The BB is an excellent mattress and is still one of my top picks overall. I’m not sure there’s any particular reason, just something about the comfort dynamic from the foam layers feels a little better to me.

      Leesa, Brooklyn Bedding, Nest Bedding’s Alexander, and Loom & Leaf are my personal preferences. Each has a little different feel, but all 4 are extremely well made, sleep cool, and have a great feel. I think you’d be hard pressed to go wrong with any of these.

  43. We are in the market for a king sized bed and came upon your website while researching the Casper mattress. Thanks so much for your reviews. I was trying to decide between the Casper, Leesa, Love bed and the Alexander. After reading the various reviews I’ve been leaning toward either the Leesa or the Love bed.
    I am a back and side sleeper and usually prefer medium firms (I am between 115-120lbs- 5’3″ and my husband is around 175-180lbs and 6′ 2″). Which of these would you recommend?
    I know your favorite is the Leesa- but how does the Love bed compare to it in terms of support and comfort?

    Reply
    • Hi Lavanya,

      Both the Leesa and Love Bed are similar in terms of comfort. The Love Bed has a little deeper sinkage…which makes it a bit better for side sleepers. However, the Leesa has better overall support, which makes it better for stomach and back (unless you happen to like the deeper sinkage). The Love Bed also has a bit more bounce (but not drastically more). The Leesa is going to have better support and deep compression support. It has an extra inch of comfort foam, which I think gives it a slight edge in this area (especially for heavier sleepers, like your husband, whose weight will really cause him to sink into the Love Bed).

      Let me know if there are any other specific questions I can help with.

  44. Thank you Sleepopolis, I decided to go with the BB mattress. Even though Leesa is your favorite of the lot I like the idea of BB offering 4″ of blended latex versus Leesa’s 4″ of foam. BB’s base foam layer is also of higher quality and I save $100 for the King as well. If after a couple of months the best-mattress-ever turns out not to work well with my back, I will consider the Leesa. Meanwhile I will continue to monitor your web site for your commentary and reviews. Happy 4th!

    Reply
    • The Brooklyn Bedding is a great mattress with a lot going for it (especially in terms of construction, design, and materials). It’s definitely among my favorite overall mattress choices. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with your decision. Definitely keep me posted on how you are liking it once it arrives.

      And of course, if there are any other questions don’t hesitate to reach out.

  45. Hello,
    I was wondering how the Leesa compares to the LoveBed in regards to hug, bounce, firmness (in the medium level) and how cool they sleep.

    Reply
    • Hug = they are similar, however the Love Bed has a little bit deeper contour than the Leesa
      Bounce = very similar, Love Bed has slightly more bounce
      Firmness = effectively the same, 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale (where 10 is the most firm)
      Cooling = effectively the same

      Let me know if there are any other questions I can help with!

  46. Hi Sleepopolis,

    Glad I discovered your site, it is by far the best site on the internet in terms of content and quality of mattress reviews. I too just found myself in the market for mattress replacement and my budget is no more than $2K for a Cal King. I am a side sleeper who often suffers from lower back pain and after reading your comments I chose to order the Casper due your “softer” description.

    I haven’t got the Casper yet but I have continued my research while waiting for it. One think I just discovered is that from all the zero-risk-to-try internet mattress makers, it looks as if Brooklyn Bedding use the best materials in their mattress. With 2 inch Talalay latex on top of 2 inch Dunlop latex underneath, at least on paper their materials appear to be of higher quality than say Casper and Leesa who use a lot more synthetic foam. Furthermore, they offer an even better price than the others. Can you offer your opinion on this apparent paradox? Is it simply that they are not good marketers or is their mattress flawed in some other way? Thank you for responding. -John

    Reply
    • Hey John,

      Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m glad you have found my site to be helpful.

      Brooklyn Bedding is definitely one of my personal favorites and their materials are on the higher end. Both in terms of quality and quantity (with respect to inches of comfort foam).

      I wouldn’t say that Leesa or Casper’s foam quality is dramatically different from Brooklyn Bedding. Casper and Brooklyn Bedding use a similar type of latex foam (both Dunlop, Casper just uses the softer version of the standard Dunlop pour and BB uses a firmer one). Likewise, Leesa’s Avena foam is a well-made and quality product every bit on par with latex, and superior in some respects. The memory foam in Casper and Leesa is fairly average, but seems to be well made. Brooklyn Bedding’s support foam is definitely an improvement over the support foams from Casper and Leesa. They use a convoluted core which provides better cooling and deep compression, so that’s a nice extra there.

      Regarding the cover’s aesthetics and textile choices, you could slice this 100 different ways. There are many pros and many cons to each of these. But I don’t think any of the 3 are so good or so bad that they really make or break the purchase decision.

      Brooklyn Bedding is a little bit newer to the game, where as Casper and Leesa have been in the market for a while longer. Now, this isn’t to say that BB is new to the mattress industry (as a company they’ve been operating in the mattress market since 1995), but just new to the online factory direct mattress market. For this reason they are still picking up steam and really zeroing in on their marketing. Regarding their price being a bit lower, that’s in part due to the fact that they own their own factory. This is an advantage they have over many of the other guys out there and the reason they are able to keep prices a bit lower.

      All things considered, I think all 3 of these are quality mattresses in their own right. My personal favorite is Leesa, followed very closely by Brooklyn Bedding, and then Casper. However, at the end of the day a mattress is a personal choice. The best mattress is the one that you sleep best on and at the best price.

      Let me know if there are any other questions I can help with.

  47. I am torn between Leesa and Leaf and Loom mattress. My wife and I suffer from back pain.
    Do you have a recommendation for us?.
    Thanks in advance for your reply.

    Reply
    • Hi Victor,

      I’d be happy to help. To make sure I offer the best recommendation for you, could you please answer the following questions? These will help ensure I can align your preferences to the correct mattress.

      1) What is your preferred firmness on a scale of 1-10? Where 10 is the most firm
      2) Do you like lots of hug? some? or very little?
      3) Do you like lots of bounce? some? or very little?
      4) How important is cooling in the mattress?
      5) What is your preferred size?
      6) What is your budget?

      If you’d prefer to keep these answers private feel free to email me directly via my contact form.

  48. I received my Leesa Queen a week ago and am delighted with the side sleeping comfort. Unfortunately, the mattress exudes a strong odor, almost chemical in nature. I have been trying to eliminate the odor by airing out the mattress with no cover in the open air, but without much success. Any suggestions? Can the odor be masked with linen spray or the like?

    Reply
    • Hi Claus,

      Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Leesa. In my experience the Leesa had 2-3 days of fairly strong smell, but then began to dissipate. After a week there wasn’t much of an odor at all with mine. How many days have you had your Leesa?

      If you’re past the 1 week mark you might consider trying baking soda. I haven’t had a reason to do this, but I have read and heard from many people that you can sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the cover and let it sit over night. Baking soda absorbs many smells and should do the trick. Simply vacuum the baking soda up the next day.

  49. Hi Sleepopolis, I am considering buying either a Leesa or a Yogabed. I strongly prefer the responsive feeling of Latex to the sinking in of memory foam. I thought that based on that the Yogabed would be most like Latex of the two due to the”instant response” layer. However, you comment that you get more hug in the Yogabed than you do in the Leesa makes me lean towards the Leesa. I don’t like a lot of hug. I like about a 6-7 in firmness. I don’t want to lay on top of foam with no cradling. Would the leesa or the yogabed feel less like traditional memory foam? I don’t like traditional memory foam but do like the feeling of latex. I don’t care about whether it sleeps cool or not. Which would be a better choice for me?

    Reply
    • Hi Summer,

      While there may be slightly more hug with the Yogabed vs. Leesa, it’s very slight. When you look at the 2 vs. traditional memory foam, they are very comparable. Both are about a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, so very similar there in terms of firmness also. The responsiveness feel between the Leesa and Yogabed is also similar. Neither the Leesa nor the Yogabed are similar to memory foam.

      I saw that you sent me an email directly. I just replied there with a full response.

  50. Thanks Sleepopolis! On the Casper website it mentions the following:

    The Casper does not contain any flame retardant chemicals. Instead, the mattress is wrapped with a proprietary flame retardant sock made of woven silica. In the event of a fire, the sock melts on itself and suffocates the oxygen needed for the fire to burn.

    Nothing about halogenated material so would it be safe to assume the Casper is free of that? Thanks!

    Reply
  51. Hi Sleepopolis, perhaps you can help me with this new Avena foam. I’ve read it is “inherently flame retardant”. Does this mean perhaps while manufacturing this type of foam, flame retardants are added into the mix?

    I do not want any type of flame retardant chemcials in my new mattress at all. On Leesa’s website they state they use a proprietary blend in the sock. Can you explain what exactly this blend is? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi John, sorry for the slow reply on this one. It took a bit of investigating to confirm 100%.

      Regarding the Avena. No flame retardants are added to the Avena foam at any stage in construction. So you’re good to go there. In terms of how it is “inherently flame retardant”. That is due to its ability to pass the TB 117-2013 and FVMSS 302 tests. Those are standard government tests that determine fire management. Since Avena was able to pass those tests without the use of a flame retardant it can be labeled inherently flame retardant.

      Next, regarding the fire sock. It does contain a small amount of halogenated fiber material (less than 10%), but there is no liquid fire resistant system added to the sock. Basically…the sock is designed to melt in the event of a fire and smother the flames, all while doing so without any chemical based flame retardants. I’m still trying to confirm the other materials, but if it’s like most other fire socks…it’s probably constructed from fibers created from wood pulp and silica (sand).

      Let me know if there are any other questions I can help with!

  52. Useful info. Fortunate me I found your site unintentionally, and I am surprised why this accident didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.

    Reply
  53. I’d really love to get a 2-3 layer all latex mattress. But they’re over 2k for a queen. Did you consider latex as well? I’ve never slept on latex, but from
    what I’ve read it’s amazing -but expensive. I slept on the kind of memory foam that leaves an impression of your hand for example before slowly reforming which I didn’t like. Is Leesa like that?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Adam,

      I have not had the chance to fully sleep test and review a 100% latex mattress, but it’s on my list.

      Leesa does not act like the 100% memory foam mattress you’ve described. Leesa is a hybrid mattress. The combination of Avena foam and memory foam helps to creates a “best of both worlds” situation. Yes, it’s not exactly like a 100% all latex mattress, but you get a similar feel, while reducing the negative attributes of memory foam, all at a price that’s dramatically lower.

      Check out my review the Leesa here for more info on the feel, Leesa Mattress Review

  54. Hi Adam,

    Leesa has become my preferred mattress. It has a very balanced feel, great comfort / support / cooling. It just checks all the right boxes for me.

    This isn’t to knock Casper, Tuft & Needle, Yogabed, or others. They all have their place and are great mattresses in their own right.

    But all things considered, Leesa is my favorite and a good choice for most sleepers.

    You can see my full write up on Leesa here: https://sleepopolis.com/mattress-reviews/leesa-mattress-review/

    Reply
  55. In your opinion which mattress is bouncier or would be better for sex, the Leesa or the Casper mattress? I can’t decide which mattress to buy. Which one do you prefer? I currently own a memory foam bed and do not like it. I weigh 110 pounds and my husband weighs 180 pounds. Your review on both the Leesa and the Casper mattress is excellent and I learned a lot about mattresses from your website.

    P.S. I shared your website with several of my friends that are looking for a new mattress too.

    Reply
    • Hi Kathy,

      Thanks for your kind words and sharing Sleepopolis with your friends!

      Comparing the Leesa vs. the Casper for sex I would definitely pick the Leesa. The Casper has more sinkage and is a little bit softer, so it can feel a bit more like your traditional memory foam mattress in that regard.

      The Leesa uses more Avena foam (similar to Casper’s latex). This top layer of Avena results in more bounce and not as much sinkage (which I prefer for amorous activities). Additionally, the edge support of the Leesa is better than the Casper. Making it a better option to use for varying positions on the edge.

      Let me know if there are any other questions I can help with!

  56. Congratulations, Jimmy! I hope it works out.

    Definitely send me an update with your thoughts once you’ve had a chance to test it out.

    Reply
  57. Well….. I took the plunge for the Leesa. Hopefully, this all works out. My back is killing me on our current bed! Will let you know……

    Reply
  58. It’s definitely something to consider. Both companies are quite young in the grand scheme of things. I do know that while Leesa is only a couple months old, they have been developing their mattress for a good chunk of the last 2 years.

    I feel like both companies have good leadership and funding behind them. I’m sure you’ve seen the huge funding coming in to Casper via news and other blogs.

    I have personally spoken with the CEO and others at Leesa and have been really impressed with their experience, knowledge, and passion for their product.

    I feel fairly confident in thinking that they’ll be around for some time to come.

    Reply
  59. Sleepopolis,
    Thanks for the quick reply. Sound like either way I go it will be good. However, I did find out that Leesa just started after Thanksgiving so they’re only about 5-6 weeks old as a company. That causes me to “pause” as a warranty, etc is only as good as the company backing it. With no history it seems a small cause for concern. Casper was started back in April of 2014.
    Decisions. Decisions.

    Reply
  60. Honestly, Jimmy…it’s a really tough call for me at this point. Both mattresses are extremely nice and very similar in many areas. At this point I really just need to get a couple of months sleep on the Leesa to have the sheer hours to know how it’s going to effect me in the long term.

    At this point, I’m torn between both of them.

    That said, whether you go with Leesa or Casper, I think you’ll enjoy the mattress.

    I will say the Leesa is just a slight bit firmer than the Casper, but not significantly. Both sleep very cool. Both use similar types of foam. The Casper is ~$50 cheaper.

    I am working on my Casper vs. Leesa contextual and video review this week. So that’s something that will be out soon and will have the full break down of the spec and other feature differences.

    Reply
    • Hi Sleepopolis, I am researching on natural latex mattresses, I came across Botanical Bliss by Plush beds. Have you come across of that at all? Thanks:)

    • I have. In fact, it’s sitting in a box in my kitchen right now :) It’s on my list to review. I’ll be testing it this next week. Look for it soon on Sleepopolis.

  61. Hi Sleepopolis, Thanks for the reviews and updating the information on the Avena foam. Still trying to decide between a Casper and Leesa. Currently have a 15 year old coil spring that is concave in the middle. Thus, the need for a new mattress. Do you have any other insights since your first month test of the Leesa or Casper. In the end, which did you like better?

    Reply
    • Sleepopolis, can you comment on the “break-in time for an avena latex mattress? I have read reviews that suggest 1-2 weeks but most businesses push a month or more thus the 100 night quarantee. Thanks

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