The Best Organic Mattresses for Side-Sleepers

A sleep survey of nearly 4,000 adults found that nearly three out of four (74%) sleep on their side. You’d think, then, that it would be easy to find a non-toxic, eco-friendly mattress for side sleepers. Not necessarily!

Many mattresses offer too little support, especially for full-grown adults, or are too firm to be comfortable. And most mattresses are decidedly not eco-friendly and non-toxic, even if they offer the right kind of pressure relief for side-sleepers.

Here, we offer our top picks for the best truly non-toxic and eco-friendly mattresses for side-sleepers, including heavier adults, folks with back pain and joint pain, and anyone whose sleep partner has a different sleep style.

PlushBeds Botanical Bliss 12-inch Mattress

Leaf Score

Highlights: A great choice for side-sleepers of any weight (12-inch only). Dual-firmness options are available for side-sleepers with a partner who sleeps on their stomach or back. Made with organic latex, wool, and cotton with no innersprings. Requires home assembly, which is harder than it sounds.

View on Plushbeds website

At a glance:

• Pricing: $1,199 – $2,198 (Queen $3,299 – $1,699 on sale at the time of writing!)
• Materials: GOTS cotton, GOTS wool, GOLS latex
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, Eco Institut
• Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Medium / Medium-Firm / dual firmness option
• Depth: 9-, 10-, and 12-inch options
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split Queen, Split King, Split Cal King
• Best for: Side-sleepers of any height or weight

It’s very good. As a side sleeper who also needs a lot of back support, I can be a tough customer. I don’t wake up in pain anymore, and that is huge!

Trudy T., 2023

Much more comfortable than an inner spring. I like that I don’t “sink” into it like a foam mattress. Easy to shift positions. I’m a side sleeper and got the medium firmness for my side and hubby got firm for his (he’s a stomach sleeper). So happy we took a chance and got this bed.

Bryan D., 2024

The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is a great choice of non-toxic, eco-friendly mattress for side-sleepers. Available in medium and medium-firm, this mattress provides a soft sleep surface for pressure relief and excellent underlying support to maintain spinal alignment. We recommend the 10-inch or 12-inch models for heavier or taller adults, while the 9-inch will also suit smaller or lighter adults and children.

PlushBeds makes this mattress in the U.S. to order. It has a GOTS/GOLS certified factory and the mattress is GreenGuard Gold and Eco Institut certified, featuring only organic latex, organic wool, and organic cotton.

What’s in the Plushbeds Botanical Bliss?

The Botanical Bliss is an all-latex mattress featuring, from top to bottom:

• A zippered GOTS certified organic cotton cover in circular knit for added pressure relief
• A layer of British organic (GOTS) wool as a natural flame barrier
• Another layer of GOTS organic cotton to prevent the wool from bunching
• Two or three comfort layers made of Talalay and Arpico latex.

The Botanical Bliss is available in a 9-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch design. All three feature a 2-inch or 3-inch layer of Talalay latex plus a 6-inch Arpico latex core. The 12-inch mattress features an additional 3-inch layer of Arpico latex for greater support in the lumbar region (lower back).

As a rough guide, the three Botanical Bliss mattresses are intended for the following weights:

• 9-inch – adults weighing up to 225 lb.
• 10-inch – adults weighing up to 250 lb.
• 12-inch – adults weighing 275 lb. or more.

There is no synthetic foam, chemical flame retardant, polyester, nylon, or other synthetic or toxic materials in this mattress.

How it performs

For side-sleepers weighing 130 lb. or less, the medium Botanical Bliss is soft enough to sink into but supportive enough to keep your spine aligned. Lighter side-sleepers will likely find the medium-firm Botanical Bliss too firm to be comfortable.

For adults weighing more than 130 lb., the medium-firm Botanical Bliss maintains that soft and comfortable upper sleep surface but provides more underlying support for proper spinal alignment. Adults weighing more than 230 lb. will likely find the medium too soft to be supportive if they sleep on their side.

PlushBeds uses Talalay latex in the top layer of this mattress to provide a breathable, softer, more responsive sleep surface. For side-sleepers, this means your hips and shoulders sink in just enough to help your whole body relax.

Unlike with memory foam, you sleep ‘on’ the Botanical Bliss mattress rather than ‘in’ it. It doesn’t trap you in a hot and sweaty synthetic hollow, and you can easily move and turn to stay comfortable. If you like the cushioning of a memory foam mattress but often wake up with aches and pains, the Botanical Bliss is likely to be a revelation. This mattress supports natural movement and restorative, comfortable sleep, meaning no morning aches and pains.

The Arpico latex core provides the necessary support underneath the softer surface, with this ultra-dense type of natural latex resistant to sagging and indentation. For heavier adults who sleep on their side, this makes the Botanical Bliss a fantastic choice.

Because PlushBeds makes this latex mattress in a layered and zippered design, you can move the layers around to adjust the firmness to your liking. You can also switch out layers using PlushBeds’ Comfort Exchange program and 100 Night Comfort Guarantee. This makes for a much more eco-friendly mattress trial than returning an entire latex mattress!

The Botanical Bliss is also a top choice of mattress for side-sleepers with a stomach- or back-sleeping sleep partner. If this is you, choose a split size in medium / medium-firm and enjoy one mattress customized to both your needs.

We tested the Botanical Bliss and offer a full review here.

Downsides

The main downside of the Botanical Bliss is simply that the all-latex design makes it very heavy. If you’re getting a Queen size or larger, each layer is also very heavy and cumbersome. Unless you’re a real athlete with a long arm span, you’ll likely want help to move and set up this mattress. It’s also a smart move to set it up exactly where you want it. Otherwise, those layers may shift inside the cover.

In its favor, PlushBeds stitches four or six (size-depending) handles onto the Botanical Bliss. These are well-placed, very robust, and sit flush against the mattress, meaning they don’t bunch under sheets. Contrast this with the Naturepedic EOS (a similar design) that is just as heavy and has no handles!

Other downsides worth mentioning include a little less edge support on the Botanical Bliss than on innerspring mattresses with reinforced edging. This is pretty typical for an all-latex mattress, though, and not a criticism of PlushBeds itself. Note, too, that an all-latex mattress will provide more edge support than a synthetic memory foam mattress.

The all-latex design also fosters a tad more motion transfer than a pocket coil and latex hybrid. However, the difference is negligible and likely will go unnoticed except by exceptionally light sleepers with very restless sleep partners.

Packaging and shipping

Expect your Botanical Bliss to arrive in three, four, or more boxes, depending on your exact design. These boxes are all quite heavy and contain vacuum sealed latex layers. You can recycle the cardboard and, in some places, the plastic wrap.

PlushBeds offers free shipping in the contiguous U.S. but no white glove service. Shipping usually takes 7-9 business days from when you order, with all mattresses made by hand in California to order. Expect custom mattresses and split sizes to take an extra week to ship. How long shipping takes will depend on how far away from California you live.

Before you set up the mattress, watch the instructional video from PlushBeds, as this will help avoid any mishaps that could damage the mattress or make set-up harder than necessary.

Obasan Organic Mattresses

Leaf Score

Highlights: The most customizable mattress around and ideal for all side sleepers. Made with organic materials in a carbon-neutral factory in Canada. Customize both sides and zones, and then re-customize later if your sleep needs change!

View on Obasan

At a glance:

• Pricing: $2,459 – $6,499+ (Queen from $4,099)
• Materials: Organic latex, organic cotton, organic wool
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS
• Sleep Trial: 180-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Whatever you want!
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, King, Cali King
• Depth: 10-inch, 13-inch
• Best for: Everyone!

We slept happily on our first Obasan mattress for over 20 years, and now we are on our second. We also purchased Obasan mattresses for our elderly parents. Incredible materials and workmanship, matched by local manufacture. How can you beat that? The price is nothing to sneeze at, but the quality is superb. Since I spend a third of my life on a mattress, I might as well sleep on a Cadillac.

Mark F., 2020

Obasan has been a dream to order from! Not only is the mattress incredibly comfortable, but the customer service is without a doubt, the best ever. My fiance felt like he needed more support after a few weeks of sleeping on the mattress and Darlie John immediately sent a firmer substitute. Yes, this mattress is pricey, but our sleep quality and being able to actually talk with someone about it, makes such a difference!

Courtney B., 2022

If you’re an especially light or heavy adult side-sleeper, or just want the perfect customized non-toxic and organic mattress, check out Obasan. This Canadian company lets you customize both sides of the mattress, including zoning in the middle layer. You can also reconfigure the mattress as needed, even years later, if sleep needs change.

The Obasan factory is carbon-neutral and GOTS-certified, and all mattresses are handmade to order. Obasan also takes the guesswork out of choosing a mattress by offering an automated design tool on its website. Plug in your height, weight, sleep style, and body type (and the same for your sleep partner), and within seconds, Obasan will design a mattress to meet your needs.

What’s in it?

The Obasan mattress is entirely free of glues and adhesives, VOCs, flame retardants, and synthetic poly-foams. The encasements are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton Jersey fabric.

How it performs

The performance of your Obasan mattress will largely depend on the accuracy of the information you plug into the design tool. With the correct information, an Obasan mattress should be an ideal match for your needs.

For side-sleepers, the Obasan design tool typically suggests a soft top layer for pressure relief and comfort, with a zoned support layer in medium or firm, depending on your size and body type. For significantly heavier adult side-sleepers, the tool will usually opt for a firm base layer rather than a medium, to provide additional underlying support for proper spinal alignment.

While Obasan will usually suggest a design for both the No.1 (Classic) and Deluxe, we’d recommend the Deluxe build for heavier or taller adults who tend to sink more into a bed. The Deluxe offers more depth to provide greater comfort on pressure points, which is particularly important for side-sleepers where greater pressure is placed on the hips and shoulders. At a shallower depth, an all-latex mattress may not provide sufficient support or pressure relief for larger adults.

If you’re unsure whether the design created by the online tool will work for you, check in with Obasan directly. The company’s customer service is exemplary, offering tons of support to help you get the perfect mattress. This support continues after you get your mattress, helping you to move layers around or switch out layers as needed until you feel comfortable and cradled for a good night’s sleep.

All Obasan mattresses are more breathable and temperature-regulating than synthetic memory foam. They have a moisture-wicking, thermoregulating layer of wool and cotton on top and provide a cool but cozy sleep surface.

Because the Obasan mattress is an all-latex build, expect less overall edge support than a hybrid. The mattress is much quieter than classic innerspring mattresses, and the amount of bounce will depend on the mattress build. With firmer core layers, there will be a little less bounce and a little more motion transfer, though this is still very minimal due to the overall design and the softer comfort layer.

Downsides

The main downside of the Obasan is simply the price you pay for luxury-tailored comfort. A Queen-size Obasan costs around $1800 more than the Avocado Green, but just $800 more than the Naturepedic EOS, which doesn’t have quite the same degree of customization.

As noted above, expect less edge support with this all-latex mattress. Note, too, that the Obasan has no handles on its encasement. This is similar to the EOS, which is also self-assembly. In contrast, the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss has up to six sturdy handles to help you move the mattress around once assembled.

Note that Obasan doesn’t offer refunds unless there is a manufacturing defect or the product is unopened. While unfortunate, this policy makes sense, given the tailored nature of each mattress. The company also only allows that one-time free comfort exchange after you’ve slept on the mattress for six months. They’ll likely help you out much sooner, though, if you contact the company directly; Obasan is a family-owned ethical company that genuinely seems to care about its customers.

Packaging and shipping

Like the Botanical Bliss and EOS, an Obasan mattress comes in separate packages and requires home assembly. Each piece is vacuum-sealed in plastic and boxed for protection. Obasan is also working on a paper wrapping system to eliminate some of the single-use plastic currently required for shipping.

Expect your custom-made mattress to take a little longer than off-the-shelf mattresses. Obasan doesn’t offer specific delivery timelines, but a company representative told me that “production lead time is about 1-2 weeks for adult style mattresses. For kid’s and baby mattresses, these are typically in stock, so these can be shipped ASAP typically.” When sold out, they can take about a week to ship.

Obasan ships all orders over $400 for free in the U.S., except for its Foundations, which cost $400 for delivery.

Savvy Rest Serenity Spring

Leaf Score

Highlights: Impressive 12-inch hybrid mattress available with plush or firm coils and six choices of latex comfort layer! You can fully customize both sides, making this ideal for all side sleepers and their sleep partners. White glove set-up available, and a comfort layer exchange program!

View on Savvy Rest

At a glance:

• Pricing: $1,599 – $3,299 (Queen from $2,199)
• Materials: Organic latex, organic cotton, organic wool, recycled steel coils
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS
• Sleep Trial: None
• Firmness: Whatever you want!
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split-sizes
• Depth: 12-inch
• Best for: Everyone!

The Savvy Rest Serenity Spring mattress offers incredible customization. Side-sleepers can choose the firmness of the core coil unit and the latex layer, something not available for most hybrid mattresses. Thanks to the home-assembly design, you can also reconfigure the mattress as needed, making this a sustainable, flexible choice.

What’s in it?

The Serenity Spring comprises:

• GOTS-certified organic cotton cover
• GOTS-certified organic wool batting, quilted to prevent bunching
• 3-inch layer of Talalay or Dunlop latex in soft, medium, or firm, customizable on both sides
• 8-inch pocket coil layer, customizable in firm or plush and on both sides.

Savvy Rest makes the coil units in-house, wrapping each recycled steel coil in PLA (a plant-derived polymer), then heat-sealing the unit together for stability.

The Serenity Spring contains no glues, adhesives, chemical flame retardants or other synthetic chemicals. All of the Dunlop latex is GOLS, the Talalay latex is Cradle to Cradle Gold, and the wool and cotton are GOTS. And the whole mattress is made in the U.S. in Savvy Rest’s GOTS factory.

How it performs

Side-sleepers require a good degree of pressure point relief with robust underlying support. This is why hybrid latex mattresses are often a good choice if they get the balance right, don’t bottom out, and don’t allow the spine to go out of alignment.

Happily, the Serenity Spring is a great fit for most side-sleepers, including those who are lighter and heavier. Lighter side-sleepers may enjoy a plush coil unit and soft latex comfort layer. A heavier side-sleeper may prefer the plush coils with medium or firm latex or a firmer coil unit with soft or medium latex.

If your initial build doesn’t feel quite right, Savvy Rest can advise you on ways to reconfigure things at home. For instance, the Dunlop layers have a firmer and softer side, so flipping them upside down might just do the trick if things feel too soft.

If you still aren’t sleeping comfortably, the latex exchange window is 90 days, wherein you can swap a layer for free (you pay shipping and an upgrade fee if you switch to Talalay).

Side-sleepers who sleep hot will enjoy the impressive breathability of the Serenity Spring, thanks to those pocket coils, wool layer, and airy latex. The pocket coils also help to provide inch-by-inch support and minimize motion transfer for less partner sleep disruption.

Downsides

Savvy Rest doesn’t include handles on the Serenity Spring, which makes it hard to move once set up. The layers can also be heavy and awkward to move into place, but the company offers a white glove delivery service and set-up (unlike PlushBeds).

The main downside to the Serenity Spring, though, is that Savvy Rest doesn’t allow returns. The layer exchange can help you avoid disappointment, but we’d still like exceptions for when this pricy mattress just doesn’t work out for a customer.

Packaging and shipping

Savvy Rest ships its mattresses for free, with the Serenity Spring arriving in three or four boxes, depending on size. Make sure you have all the boxes before beginning set-up, and look for the color labels to guide assembly. Watch the video, too; it helps!

Avocado Green with Pillow-Top

Leaf Score

Highlights: Medium-firm mattress well suited to lighter adults who sleep on their side. Made in the U.S. by arguably the most sustainable mattress company around. Excellent edge support and zoned hip and shoulder support. Durable, affordable, top quality, hybrid latex, and innerspring mattress.

View on Avocado

At a glance:

• Pricing (with Pillow-Top): $1,799 – $3,199 (Queen is $2,499)
• Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic Dunlop latex, upcycled steel coils 
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Climate Neutral certified, FSC, Responsible Wool Standard, Formaldehyde Free (UL), Eco Institut, Fair Trade, 1% for the Planet, B Corporation, Sustainable Furnishings Council
• Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Gentle-firm (with pillow-top)
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double/Full, Queen, King, Cali King
• Best for: Lighter side-sleepers

I tend to sleep hot and my husband normal – and it’s the perfect temperature for both of us. I am a smaller than average an athlete and a side sleeper. I prefer a medium support my husband is heavier and prefers a firmer. We chose the pillow top to add a touch more softness to the medium firm mattress and it is perfect for both of us. 

Nancy B., 2018

Consumer Reports rated this as the best mattress for side sleepers. They didn’t explicitly say anything about it being good for big old fat guys, but you can kind of tell that’s what they were getting at. And they were right. I sleep great on my new Avocado Green.

Donald H., 2020

One of the best purchase decisions we’ve ever made! My wife & I generally like opposite things. We both LOVE our new mattress. We sleep all night, my wife no longer sleeps “hot” and swears it’s the best night’s sleep she’s ever gotten. I sleep comfortably whether on my back, side, or stomach. We’ve had our new mattress for a few weeks now and I doubt seriously that we will ever give it up! 

Michael L., 2023

Without the pillow-top, the Avocado Green rates about 7/10 for firmness, likely uncomfortable for lighter and smaller adults and teens. Add the pillow-top, though, and the Avocado Green rates around 6/10 for firmness, which should suit most side-sleeping older children and lighter adults very well.

Note: Order two Twin XL mattresses to make a Split King mattress.

Avocado is an industry-leading sustainable B Corporation, is Climate Neutral certified (and carbon negative), and is Fair Trade certified. It is also a 1% for the Planet member and will soon have the world’s first certified zero-waste mattress factory. If you’re looking for a sustainable mattress for side-sleepers, the Avocado Green is it.

This mattress is also one of very few to be certified Made Safe, meaning it is free of any and all toxic chemicals that could harm you, your family, the folks making the mattress, and wildlife and ecosystems or any kind.

What’s in it?

The Avocado Green mattress is an innerspring and latex hybrid containing up to 1,418 pocket coils. The coils are individually wrapped so that they move independently to offer inch-by-inch support. On top of the innersprings is a layer of two inches of GOLS-certified organic latex, with another two inches in the attached pillowtop. There’s also a one-inch layer of latex in the base to make this mattress more durable and sturdy.

Avocado uses upcycled 16 gauge perimeter coils for reinforced edging, narrower 17 gauge coils in the middle of the mattress, and wider 14 gauge coils at the shoulder and hip.

The mattress has a natural flame barrier made of organic wool and is encased in an organic cotton cover. Avocado hand-tufts the mattress together, meaning there’s no glue anywhere in this mattress.

Avocado excels at transparency and traceability with ethical sourcing of materials and labor. As the most vertically integrated mattress company around, Avocado uses latex from its co-owned cooperative farms in India and Guatemala and sources its GOTS organic wool from its co-owned farmer’s society in India.

Materials include:

• GOTS organic wool-certified to the Responsible Wool Standard
• GOLS, FSC, Eco Institut, and Rainforest Alliance-certified organic Dunlop latex
• GOTS-certified cotton
• Upcycled steel coils
• Steel rings to hold the mattress together.

The Pillowtop for the Avocado Green comprises an additional two-inch layer of organic Dunlop latex (D65) with organic wool and organic cotton.

How it performs

The Avocado Green mattress with pillow-top offers added buoyancy and plushness with the firm undergirding of the zoned gentle-firm mattress below. This combination avoids the pitfalls of an overly soft mattress that can actually cause back pain and an overly firm mattress that just doesn’t feel comfortable.

With the pillowtop, the Avocado Green is well suited to most side-sleepers. It offers pressure relief, zoned back support, and the kind of sleep surface you can sink into without feeling trapped. Folks who’ll love the Avocado Green with pillowtop include athletes, lighter side-sleepers, and anyone who enjoys the instant comfort of memory foam but not the sweatiness or lack of real joint and spine support.

Without the pillowtop, the Avocado Green is likely too firm for most side-sleepers. However, if you weigh considerably more than 130 lb., are very tall, or prefer a firmer mattress overall, the Avocado Green might work for you.

The Avocado Green is a zoned hybrid latex mattress with individually wrapped pocket coils. The high coil count and carefully chosen wire gauge in different zones make for a sturdy, supportive core that is responsive to your sleep needs. Expect excellent edge support, full use of the entire mattress surface, and very little motion transfer.

Downsides

As a ready-made hybrid latex mattress, the Avocado Green is hard to beat for sustainability, durability, affordability, and comfort. It’s also hard, nay impossible, to adjust after the fact. Unlike the Botanical Bliss, for instance, you can’t replace or move latex layers around for a different mattress set-up. You also can’t refresh a layer to add a few years of extra life to the mattress. And, as the pillow top is fully attached, you can’t remove that extra layer of soft latex, meaning you can’t quickly convert this gentle-firm mattress into a medium-firm mattress.

Note, though, that Avocado offers a 25-year warranty for this mattress. We want to see Avocado improve the number of handles on the larger mattresses, as there are only two on each long side. Adding a third on the queen and up would make it easier to move this all-in-one mattress.

Packaging and shipping

Mattress packaging is far from eco-friendly, but Avocado is trying to rectify that. The company now ships 90% of its mattresses in a recyclable plastic vacuum-sealed bag wrapped in paper instead of additional plastic. This saves up to 30 feet of plastic with each mattress. The sealed and wrapped mattress is protected by a cardboard box made of recycled material.

Avocado also ships its mattresses for free in the contiguous U.S. and all shipping is carbon-neutral (using offsets).

Naturepedic EOS Organic Mattress

Leaf Score

Highlights: An organic, non-toxic, eco-friendly hybrid coil and latex mattress made in Ohio. Fully customizable and ideal for side sleepers. Can be made vegan and latex-free!

View on Naturepedic

At a glance:

• Pricing (with Pillow-Top): $2,199 – $4,299 (Queen is $3,499)
• Materials: Organic cotton, organic latex (optional), organic wool (optional), pocket coils
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free (UL, Member of the Green Business Network in Green America, Organic Fraud Prevention Partner, 1% for the Planet, Rainforest Alliance, FSC
• Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Customizable (plush, medium, cushion-firm, firm extra-firm)
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double/Full, Queen, King, Cali King
• Best for: Everyone! (Including vegans!)

The most noticeable difference between the Naturepedic and my former mattress is that I slept coolly all night. As someone who tends to sleep hot, the company’s claim that the mattresses allow for air circulation appears to be true – or at least true in my experience. As primarily a side-sleeper, the firmness level and lumbar support seem just right. As a part-time stomach-sleeper as well, I had no issue. 

Charlton, 2022

We love this mattress — the feel, the materials, and the buying experience were all awesome. However, for a “sustainable” brand, they ship these in a SHOCKING amount of heavy gauge plastic film. In most places, this film is not actually recyclable and goes straight to landfill. Each of the four internal components has 8-10 layers of plastic, which for a king-size bed added up to more plastic than we could possibly even fit in our outside garbage bin — and that’s not even including all of the cardboard, which at least could be recycled. It felt TERRIBLE throwing this all in the garbage when we bought this brand specially to avoid creating another high chunk of future plastic trash. In short, I’ve quite literally never bought a piece of furniture that generated so much plastic trash. I appreciate that it’s a challenge shipping mattresses, and the vacuum packaging is part of what allows this product to be shipped. But the latex components in particular were barely compressed by the pounds and pounds of plastic that they were shipped in — just seems unnecessary and screaming for improvement. Please try harder, Naturepedic! Your product deserves better.

Clay, 2022

Naturepedic is a family-owned business based in Ohio and specializes in making non-toxic, eco-friendly mattresses (including non-toxic crib mattresses).

Naturepedic’s bestselling mattress, the EOS (Ergonomic Organic Sleep), is fully customizable and can be rejigged after many years. You can also customize both sides to suit wildly different sleep needs for you and your sleep partner.

What’s in it?

The Naturepedic EOS comprises:

• GOTS-certified organic cotton quilt – cotton grown in the U.S.
• Organic wool batting plus polylactic acid (PLA) comfort layer made from non-GMO sugarcane (for moisture-wicking)
• 3-inch comfort layer of GOLS-certified organic latex
• 8-inch layer of individually wrapped steel coils
• Organic cotton batting
• Organic cotton cover with solid brass zipper.

Naturepedic makes its coil contour layer in-house using steel coils and no glues or adhesives. The coils are individually wrapped to provide inch-by-inch support and minimize motion transfer. The coil layer has full perimeter reinforcement for excellent edge support.

The Pillow-Top EOS has an attached compartment in the top cover where you slip in an extra comfort layer for added softness.

In sizes queen and up, the layers of the mattress are split, allowing customization of both sides.

Naturepedic also offers the EOS without wool (with extra cotton batting) for vegans and without the latex layers for anyone with a latex allergy. In the latter, the company switches out the latex for an additional 3-inch pocket coil unit. The latex-free version is not available in extra-firm. All three options cost the same price regardless of firmness.

How it performs

The Naturepedic EOS offers a lot of scope for customization. This means that its performance depends largely on how you configure your mattress. In general, though, the design of the EOS allows for full body-contouring comfort and stable underlying support for proper spinal alignment. The plush and medium options are also excellent for isolating motion to minimize sleep disturbance.

The EOS also offers full edge support, with the greatest support noticeable in the firmer options. Expect more edge sinkage with the plusher builds and if you’re a heavier adult. Thanks to the coil layer and the latex layers, added to the wool batting, the EOS is much more breathable than synthetic foam and helps regulate body temperature. The EOS also has a good amount of bounce but not so much as to be disturbing.

There are five firmness levels to choose between: extra-firm, firm, cushion-firm, medium, and plush. The latex-free version isn’t available in extra-firm, however. Note that the plush option can make it harder to move around on the bed as it allows for so much sinkage. The cushion-firm or firm are the best choices for folks who find it harder to move around in bed. These are also the preferred choices to support active sex.

If you’re a side sleeper who weighs more than 230 lbs., skip the plush option, as this allows for too much sinkage and could actually cause back and joint pain. If you’re a side sleeper weighing 130 lbs. or less, avoid the extra-firm and firm options because these likely won’t allow enough sinkage for pressure relief.

Don’t worry if your first configuration doesn’t work out, though. Naturepedic offers a 100-day trial period, as with all of its mattresses. You also get a 100-day window for free exchanges of your comfort layers (using a prepaid shipping label, you get a full refund once Naturepedic receives the layers back undamaged). At a later date, outside of the 100-day period, you can also swap out layers for new ones that better meet any changing needs. This approach helps save you money and resources too.

Downsides

There are three main downsides to the Naturepedic EOS. The first is simply that this is a heavy mattress that requires effort and time to set up right out of the box. The second is that there are currently no handles on the encasement for the EOS. I got the impression from Naturepedic customer service that this may be something the company adds in the future, though there’s no official plan to add handles yet.

The third downside is that this mattress comes with a lot of single-use plastic that’s hard to recycle in most places in the U.S. Each latex piece is plastic wrapped in yards of plastic, so it would be great to see Naturepedic switch out some of that for recycled paper instead (like Avocado has done).

As with the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss, expect to need help to get the mattress layers lined up correctly and zippered up safely in the encasement. Set up the mattress in place, too. It will almost certainly be too heavy and cumbersome to move far once assembled, especially without handles!

Packaging and shipping

Naturepedic ships the EOS in three (or more) large boxes, with each piece heavily wrapped in plastic (see above). Each box is rather heavy, so expect to need some assistance moving these and setting up the mattress. Happily, Naturepedic labels one box ‘Open this box first’ to let you know which is the organic cotton encasement. The company also provides clear instructions and simple videos to help guide you in layering your mattress inside the encasement with color-coordinated pieces for convenience.

Naturepedic ships the EOS for free and offers white glove delivery and mattress removal for an additional fee. You have to pay return shipping if you decide to return the mattress.

Naturepedic offers a 25-year limited warranty with free mattress repair or replacement in the first ten years.

Savvy Rest Serenity

Leaf Score

Highlights: Mid-price, fully customizable layered latex mattress ideal for lighter to average-weight side-sleepers. Larger side-sleepers may find the 10-inch depth too shallow for full support. Made in the U.S. by a staff-owned B Corp!

View on Savvy Rest

At a glance:

• Pricing: $1,899 – $4,199 (Queen from $2,899)
• Materials: Organic latex, organic cotton, organic wool
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS
• Sleep Trial: 90-day Latex Exchange (no sleep trial or returns)
• Firmness: Whatever you want!
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split-sizes
• Depth: 10-inch
• Best for: Lighter to average-weight side-sleepers

The Serenity from Savvy Rest is a superbly customizable all-latex mattress that works well for most side sleepers under around 250 lb. With options of Talalay and Dunlop latex in three firmness ratings across all layers, this mattress can provide a perfect balance of spinal support and pressure relief.

Savvy Rest makes the Serenity in the U.S. in its GOTS-certified factory. This B Corp has a strong reputation for customer service and quality products and has a charitable side to the company, donating pillows to domestic violence shelters.

What’s in it?

The 10-inch all-latex Serenity mattress comprises:

• Organic cotton casing with brass zipper
• Organic wool batting (quilted to prevent bunching)
• Three 3-inch layers of natural latex (Dunlop or Talalay) in soft, medium, and firm.

With options to choose soft, medium, or firm, in either Dunlop or Talalay for each layer, the Serenity offers twice as much choice as most all-latex mattresses.

In terms of certifications, the Dunlop latex is GOLS, the Talalay is Cradle to Cradle Gold, and the wool and cotton are GOTS.

This mattress is free of glues, adhesives, chemical flame retardants, and synthetic materials and is put together by hand in a GOTS factory in the U.S.

How it performs

With options to customize all three latex layers and both sides of the Serenity, this mattress is a great choice for most side sleepers under 250 lb. If you’re much heavier than that, you may find that the 10-inch design bottoms out, putting pressure on your hips and shoulders.

Lighter side-sleepers may enjoy three Talalay layers in soft, medium, and medium. Average-weight side sleepers may prefer a slightly firmer build with soft Talalay on top, soft Dunlop below, and medium or firm Dunlop as a base layer. If you’re a little heavier, three Dunlop layers in soft, medium, and firm may work well, or two medium and one firm if you like a firmer feel overall.

Side-sleepers whose sleep partner has quite different sleep needs will enjoy not having to compromise as the Serenity allows for customization on both sides. This mattress is also very breathable, wicks away moisture, and helps you regulate your temperature, working well for both hot and cold sleepers across all seasons.

The one caveat with the Serenity is that at ten inches, it may not provide enough depth of support for adult side-sleepers heavier than 250 lb. This is because side sleepers tend to sink more into a mattress, given the higher weight-to-surface area ratio. Even with a firmer overall build, some heavier adults who sleep on their side might be able to feel the bed base under their hips or shoulders. Adding a mattress topper (above or below the mattress!) could add the extra few inches of support needed, however, so all is not lost if you get the Serenity and find it bottoms out for you.

Note that Savvy Rest only recommends using the Serenity on a rigid, slatted foundation or platform bed, not for a Murphy or adjustable bed. If the slats are more than two inches apart, use a bed rug, or Savvy Rest will consider your warranty void.

Downsides

Drawbacks of the Serenity include a lack of handles, which make it harder than necessary to move once set up. Like all all-latex mattresses, the Serenity is very heavy, though it’s nice to have split layers that are a little lighter than, say, the full layers in the Spindle.

Savvy Rest offers a white glove delivery service and set-up, so if you like the look of this mattress but are intimidated by the assembly, consider paying extra for someone else to put it together.

PlushBeds Luxury Bliss

Leaf Score

Highlights: A latex hybrid mattress available in medium-firm and medium (best for side-sleepers). GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, and Eco Institut certified. Excellent choice for reduced motion transfer and edge support, and for heavier adults.

View on PlushBeds

At a glance:

• Pricing: $2,399 – $3,598 (Queen is $2,999 – $1,499.50 at time of writing!)
• Materials: GOTS cotton, GOTS wool, GOLS latex, steel coils
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, Eco Institut (latex), GreenGuard Gold
• Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Medium / Medium-Firm / dual firmness option
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double/Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split King
• Best for: Side-sleepers (medium), stomach-sleepers and back-sleepers (med-firm)

Luxury Bliss lives up to it’s name! Super cozy especially for a side sleeper like me. It’s like sleeping on a cloud. Couldn’t be happier w it!

Kara B., 2021

I have been using this mattress for the last 2 years and I still congratulate myself for making a great purchase. I am a side sleeper and I used to have back problems. My partner is a back sleeper, tall and relatively heavy. The mattress is extremely comfortable for both, has the right balance of support and softness, and does not transfer movements from one person to another. It has excellent temperature and humidity regulation – latex does not feel hot, unlike the memory foam I had used before, plus it is natural). The quality and build are both excellent, we will be enjoying this mattress for a few good years.

Andra C., 2022

We love our Plush Bed! After being miserable for over a year on our Tempurpedic Cool Breeze, we took a risk and bought a bed online. Plush had so many 5-star reviews we felt we had a good chance of loving it. We are mostly side sleepers and this bed is perfect. we purchased the lambswool topper from Plush. Our bed is like a 5-star hotel now. Not too hot, not too soft. Just right. We love the organic, all-natural materials which was a big selling point for us as well.

Susan F., 2021

PlushBeds makes the Luxury Bliss with organic latex and pocket coils in both medium-firm and medium. The medium option is a breathable, supportive mattress ideal for many side-sleepers and suits heavier back-sleepers.

What’s in it?

Unlike the Botanical Bliss, the 12-inch Luxury Bliss is a hybrid mattress. From top to bottom, the Luxury Bliss comprises:

• 1-inch GOTS-certified organic cotton cover
• GOTS wool quilted layer
• 3-inch Talalay latex
• 8-inch fabric-encased coil core
• GOTS wool
• 1-inch GOTS-certified organic cotton cover.

PlushBeds uses GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified Joma New Zealand wool, which is naturally high in keratin (a protein) and provides a non-toxic flame barrier. As such, PlushBeds doesn’t use chemical flame retardants. This mattress is also free of glues, adhesives, and any other toxic chemicals or materials.

The coil unit in the Queen-size Luxury Bliss contains 1,057 individually fabric-wrapped coils. That’s more coils than most latex hybrid mattresses and provides more individual support. The Luxury Bliss also has more coils with a larger gauge at the edge for perimeter support.

PlushBeds stitches the wool layer into the cotton cover to help keep the mattress layers together without bunching. It also uses a circular-knit design for the cotton cover, affording more pressure relief and joint support.

How it performs

The Luxury Bliss is available in a medium-firm and medium. These are rated at 8/10 and 5.5/10 for firmness, respectively.

The medium-firm will be too firm for most side-sleepers, but the medium is a great choice for average to heavier adults (130 lbs. or more). The top layer of Talalay latex offers bounce and pressure relief, while the underlying coils offer excellent support for proper spinal posture.

If you’re a side sleeper weighing less than 130 lbs., the medium may feel too firm for you. Similarly, the Luxury Bliss likely isn’t a good choice for a lighter teen or child who sleeps on their side.

For sleep partners with different body types and sleep styles, the Luxury Bliss is available in a split design for Queen-size and up. If you’re a side sleeper and your partner sleeps on their back or stomach, consider getting a medium / medium-firm split to meet everyone’s needs.

As a latex hybrid mattress with airier Talalay latex and a taller coil unit, the Luxury Bliss is breathable and excellent for temperature regulation. It’s also lighter than the Botanical Bliss and the EOS and has four or six sturdy handles for ease of movement.

Downsides

The Luxury Bliss is a fantastic mattress made by a great company. The rub is that you pay a little extra for the luxury. This mattress is about $500 more (in Queen) than the Avocado Green Pillow-Top but about $500 less than the EOS and $300 less than the Botanical Bliss.

The advantage over the EOS and Botanical Bliss is that this mattress comes already assembled. This means, however, that you can’t switch out the layers to reconfigure the mattress firmness down the line. PlushBeds does offer a lifetime warranty, however, and a 100-night sleep trial.

Packaging and shipping

The Luxury Bliss arrives in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag and cardboard box. Shipping is free with no minimum spend in the contiguous U.S. The Luxury Bliss is much easier to move and set up than the Botanical Bliss or EOS.

PlushBeds makes the Luxury Bliss to order in its GOTS-certified California factory. Expect your mattress to ship within 7-9 days, or 14-18 days if you choose a custom or split size.

Avocado Eco Organic

Leaf Score

Highlights: A very affordable, eco-friendly, 10-inch, non-toxic mattress around! Best suited to lighter adults or teen side-sleepers. Made by an award-winning B Corporation with organic latex, wool, and cotton, with recycled steel coils and no toxic chemicals.

View on Avocado

At a glance:

• Pricing: $777 – $1,699 (Queen is $1,299)
• Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic Dunlop latex, upcycled steel coils  
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Climate Neutral certified, FSC, Responsible Wool Standard, Formaldehyde Free (UL), Eco Institut, Fair Trade, 1% for the Planet, B Corporation, Sustainable Furnishings Council
• Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Gentle-firm (5/10)
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, King, Cali King
• Best for: Lighter adults, teens, children

We absolutely love our Eco Organic Mattress! It is the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in. I am a side sleeper and my fiancé is a stomach sleeper and we both have been getting the best sleep since we purchased this a month and a half ago.

Ashley L., 2022

It came as described. No issues. No chemical smell at all. Very little smell at all right out of the box/plastic wrap it came in that went away in less than a day. It is slightly softer than I thought it would be. I do get a slight backache if I sleep on my back but I am 95% a side sleeper and it is great for side sleeping.

Mitchell S., 2022

If this is what sustainable sleep feels like, I’m not ever going back. Whether I’m sleeping on my stomach or on my side, I’m comfortable, which certainly wasn’t the case with my last mattress. My husband, someone who sleeps on his side or back usually, hasn’t complained about back pain after waking up once since replacing our old mattress.

Taylor H., 2022

If you’re a lighter adult side-sleeper or looking for a mattress for your growing teen or child, the Avocado Eco Organic is a fantastic affordable, non-toxic, eco-friendly option. Starting at just $777 for a twin and just $1,299 for a queen, this mattress shows that it’s perfectly possible to balance sustainability and affordability without sacrificing comfort.

Avocado makes the Eco Organic in its GOTS-certified factory in the U.S. The company is an award-winning B Corp, and the mattresses are Made Safe certified non-toxic. The Eco Organic is also tried and tested (and loved!) by the Leaf Score team, and is a touch softer than the comparably priced Kiwi and Happsy mattresses, making this a good choice for side-sleepers on the lighter side.

What’s in it?

The Eco Organic is a hybrid latex mattress-in-a-box. It comprises:

• GOTS organic cotton ticking for the cover
• GOTS-certified wool batting (as a natural flame retardant)
• 2-inch layer of GOLS certified organic Dunlop latex (D65 / 14-19 ILD)
• 8-inch double-tempered, recycled steel coil unit
• Organic wool batting
• Organic cotton canvas bottom cover.

The main differences between the Avocado Green and the Eco Organic are the coil units used in each and that the Green has the extra layer of latex in the base for sturdiness.

The Eco Organic has a simpler coil unit with fewer coils overall than the Green and the My Green Mattress Kiwi. That said, Avocado uses up to 988 coils and varies the gauge to maintain comfort and stability. It uses upcycled steel coils in a 14.5 at the edge for greater perimeter support and in a 12 gauge in the interior for comfort and support.

Avocado doesn’t use glues or adhesives and instead keeps the mattress layers strong and stable using steel rings.

Avocado goes above and beyond in terms of sustainable material sourcing (see the Avocado Green review above). For the same or less than a synthetic polyfoam mattress, the Eco Organic is certified non-toxic by Made Safe, and is free of chemical flame retardants or other toxic chemicals.

How it performs

The Eco Organic is a great option for lighter, younger, pain-free adults who sleep alone and favor side-sleeping, or for kids and teens under 130 lbs. who sleep in any position. With a medium firmness (5/10), the Eco Organic feels soft enough for pressure relief for smaller adults unless you have a pronounced hourglass figure.

This mattress isn’t zoned, meaning it doesn’t provide targeted support for hips and shoulders. For heavier or older adult side-sleepers, the Eco Organic is unlikely to provide enough support, which could exacerbate existing joint pain and back discomfort.

Expect a little more motion transfer with the Eco Organic because of the lower coil count compared to Luxury Bliss or Avocado Green. As such, the Eco Organic is unlikely a good choice for restless sleepers.

Thanks to the latex and coil design, plus the wool batting and cotton cover, the Eco Organic is very breathable and helps with thermoregulation. It’s also a lot lighter overall and easier to move than an all-latex mattress and other hybrids with more coils and latex layers. Avocado includes four handles firmly stitched to the two long sides for easy movement of this mattress once it’s out of the box and vacuum wrapping.

Downsides

As a budget option, the Eco Organic punches above its weight. That said, it definitely feels a little less robust than the signature Avocado Green and comes with just a 10-year warranty. The Avocado Green, in contrast, has a 25-year warranty, while PlushBeds offers a lifetime warranty for its Luxury Bliss hybrid latex mattress.

Thanks to the slightly lower coil count, the Eco Organic may cause a little more motion transfer than the Luxury Bliss or Avocado Green. The mattress is also not zoned and likely won’t feel comfortable for heavier adults or seniors needing more robust underlying support for spinal alignment.

Packaging and shipping

Avocado offers the most sustainable packaging and shipping of any mattress company, using a combination of plastic, paper, and cardboard. It also ships mattresses carbon neutral.

Spindle

Leaf Score

Highlights: Zippered 10-inch mattress ideal for lighter side-sleepers and some back-sleepers. Made with mostly organic and natural materials and free of toxic chemicals. Three-layer design allows for custom comfort and layer exchanges at a later date.

View on Spindle

At a glance:

• Pricing: $1,749 to $2,599 (Queen is $2,299)
• Materials: FSC/GOLS latex; GOTS cotton; GOTS wool; zipper with nylon teeth, a metal trolley, and metal pull tab; tiny amount of polyester thread (less than 0.1% of mattress weight); tiny amount of heat-resistant Kevlar thread (less than 0.001% of mattress weight)
• Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, FSC, Oeko-Tex
• Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Soft to firm (depends on configuration)
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, King
• Best for: Lighter side-sleepers and back-sleepers

Our new mattress has a great balance of both give and support. We are both back and side sleepers. Overall this Spindle mattress has improved the quality of our lives.

Zachary N., 2022

I was surprised after sleeping on Spindle for a couple of nights that my back/hip pain was almost gone (which is the reason we bought it). I was skeptical that it wouldn’t last, but now it’s been a couple of months and it has never returned! And not only that, but I had IT band issues that I thought had to do with running (and age); I had made an appointment to see a physical therapist – but surprise, surprise, Spindle “fixed” that problem, too! I was able to cancel the appointment and run pain-free for the first time in a year. Plus, I am able to sleep on my side again. My only regret is we didn’t buy Spindle sooner!

Paul B., 2018

The Spindle 10-inch organic latex mattress is a layered latex design that works well for lighter adults, especially those who sleep on their side or back. It’s a bit too soft for stomach-sleepers and not deep enough to support heavier adults (over 230 lbs. or so) or taller adults. Spindle doesn’t recommend its mattress for adults with a BMI higher than 31.

The standard Spindle mattress has three latex layers in soft, medium, and firm. You can then adjust these to your liking at home. If you’re looking for more customization, Spindle also offers a build-your-own option where you can choose, for example, medium-medium-firm or soft-soft-firm to suit your needs better.

Note that Spindle only offers Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, and King sizes, with no Cali King or split size options.

What’s in it?

A Spindle mattress comprises:

• GOLS-certified organic latex – three layers, in firm, medium, or soft (at your choosing)
• GOTS-certified organic cotton – for the sleep surface (circular knit), side and bottom fabric (cotton canvas)
• GOTS certified organic wool – as a flame barrier around the mattress
• A zipper – for the cotton encasement
• Polyester thread – to stitch the mattress together
• Kevlar taping – to seal vulnerable seams where flame could sneak past the wool.

The last two items on that list might seem unusual for an organic mattress, but they are standard fare for the industry and are allowed under GOTS rules. These materials comprise less than 0.1% and 0.001% of the mattress for polyester and Kevlar, respectively. Technically, Spindle doesn’t legally have to list these materials on its law label or reveal their presence to consumers.

We applaud Spindle for being so transparent and have no concerns about the materials from a toxicity perspective. Ideally, Spindle would use recycled polyester or replace it with a natural material. We’d also like Spindle to build the mattress so that the Kevlar wasn’t necessary. Other mattress companies, including Avocado, manage this just fine.

Spindle favors organic cotton from New Mexico or Texas but also sources some from India. The cotton is woven in Canada and is all GOTS certified.

Spindle exclusively uses Dunlop latex made in Sri Lanka. It has a springiness of around 4/10, according to the company. The latex comes in three firmness levels:

• Soft: 20 – 23 ILD and D65 (kg/m³)
• Medium: 26 – 29 ILD and D75
• Firm: 34 – 37 ILD and D85.

How it performs

How the Spindle mattress performs depends largely on how you configure the layers. The nice thing about the Spindle is that you can shuffle the layers around to try out different configurations. It’s best to trial each configuration for at least a few nights.

If the mattress still isn’t comfortable, Spindle will work with you to switch out layers. This saves you from having to send back an entire mattress. Spindle customer service is excellent, with staff ready to offer expert advice on restructuring your mattress for greater comfort. Should you need to replace layers after the sleep trial, Spindle offers a 30% discount.

The Spindle is best for lighter adults (close to 130 lb. and less than 230 lb.) who sleep on their side or back. We recommend the following set-up based on weight for side-sleeping adults:

The table above is just for guidance. We still don’t recommend the Spindle for adult side-sleepers weighing more than 230 lbs, or for taller adults and those with a BMI over 31. At just 10-inches depth, this mattress doesn’t sufficiently relieve pressure and support proper spinal alignment.

Downsides

The main issue with Spindle mattresses is that, like all softer latex models, they can be a bit bouncy and confer more motion transfer than hybrid mattresses. This bounce may be a bonus for sex but could also lead to sleep disturbances if you’re a light sleeper with a restless partner. The good thing is that Spindle can help you switch out layers to firm up the mattress if necessary.

Note, too, that Spindle uses solid blocks of latex cut to size, even in the king-size. While this is great in that there are no glues holding layers together, it also means each layer is heavy and hard to position. The king-size spindle weighs a staggering 180 pounds or more. Even putting a twin-size Spindle together can be a challenge for many adults, especially if you don’t have a large armspan or have any mobility issues.

Because Spindle makes its mattresses to order (with popular models always in the pipeline), expect it to take two to four weeks for your new mattress to arrive. You may also get part of your order a day or so after the rest, so check you have all the boxes before starting set-up!

Packaging and shipping

Spindle doesn’t remove your old mattress and doesn’t offer a white glove delivery service, but it does work with Ryder for this kind of service in the contiguous U.S.

Spindle ships for free in the contiguous U.S. but not to Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada. You must also pay return/exchange shipping fees to those locations.

Nolah Natural

Leaf Score

Highlight: Mid-price mattress made using sustainable and natural materials, including natural latex, organic cotton and wool, and individually wrapped recycled steel coils. A good choice for lighter side-sleepers and some back-sleepers.

View on Nolah

At a glance:

• Pricing: $1,499 to $3,398 (Queen is $2,099)
• Materials: Talalay latex, GOTS cotton and wool, recycled steel coils
• Certifications: GOTS, Eco-INSTITUT, OEKO-TEX 100, Rainforest Alliance
• Sleep Trial: 120-night sleep trial
• Firmness: Medium (6/10)
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, King, Cali King, Split King
• Best for: Lighter side-sleepers and back-sleepers

I’m a side sleeper and was worried it would be too firm, but it’s perfect. It feels firm when I sit and lay on it but even after eight hours in the same (side) position, I have no pains and aches. I’m beyond thrilled and can’t recommend this mattress enough for side sleepers

Edward M., 2021

The Nolah Natural was a Sleep Foundation top pick for Side Sleepers (2022). Having slept on this mattress for just over nine months, I can see why it won that accolade, even if it doesn’t quite work for me. I can also attest that the Nolah Natural is breathable, doesn’t off-gas, and is generally very comfortable.

The Nolah Natural is available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, and Split King. It typically rates at a 6/10 for firmness, making this a medium firmness mattress best suited to side-sleepers and some back-sleepers but likely unsuitable for heavier adults and stomach sleepers.

What’s in it?

Nolah’s Natural mattress features Cradle to Cradle certified Talalay latex, recycled steel coils, and GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton. It is free from synthetic flame retardants and other chemicals of concern and the whole mattress is OEKO-Tex Standard 100 certified.

The Nolah Natural has six layers in total:

• GOTS organic cotton cover
• GOTS organic wool layer
• 2-inch layer of Talalay latex for comfort
• 1-inch layer of supportive Talalay latex
• HDMax™ Tri-Zone™ Support Coil System – 8-inch recycled steel coils
• Organic wool and cotton, with organic cotton cover.

Nolah wraps each coil individually in organic cotton, which is nice to see for an industry that typically uses synthetic fabrics or plastic. It also includes 25% more coils in three zones for targeted support where it’s most commonly needed, namely the hips, shoulders, and edges.

Note that Nolah offers a range of mattresses, with the Natural the only one made with natural materials. The bulk of its products are made with synthetic foam, polyester, and so forth.

How it performs

The Nolah Natural offers medium-firm support, making it suitable for a wide variety of sleepers. That said, I find that the Nolah is too squishy for stomach-sleeping or back-sleeping, but works well for me when I sleep on my side. For reference, I’m around 140 lb., have no back problems, and tend to prefer a firmer mattress.

For side-sleeping, then, the Nolah is likely a good fit for lighter adults and teens weighing around 130 lb. I suspect it wouldn’t offer sufficient underlying support for adults much heavier than myself, with considerable compression even when I sit on the edge.

The Nolah Natural is much more responsive than a memory foam mattress (with more motion transfer, see below) and far better for temperature regulation and breathability. I sleep hot, my wife sleeps cool, and we’re both happy. It’s also fared well with a co-sleeping toddler with a fever.

Downsides

The softer surface of the Nolah Natural results in quite a bit of motion transfer which I notice as a relatively light sleeper. My wife doesn’t notice this, however. I also notice some of the classic ‘roll-in’ effect of innerspring mattresses and the lack of edge support frequently seen with softer latex mattresses. However, as a latex hybrid mattress, I would expect more edge support.

Other things I don’t like about the Nolah Natural include several spots of imperfect stitching, including on the handles. I fully expect at least one of these handles to fall off if I dare move this mattress.

My main gripe with the Nolah Natural, though, is that it’s much smaller than advertised (and than standard mattreses). I got a Queen-size and even after months of decompression out of the vacuum wrap, the mattress remains a full four inches shorter than it should be and nearly three inches narrower. It doesn’t sound like much, but this means a huge gap at the end of the bed frame and a considerable gap at each side.

Given the state of the box and the plastic wrap (see below), and the poor overall expansion, I’m suspicious that I received a mattress that had been hanging around in a warehouse for well over a month. Nolah suggests you don’t leave your mattress compressed for more than 30 days. If you do choose a Nolah Natural and get one freshly made, it’s likely it would fully expand to the stated dimensions.

Packaging and shipping

The Nolah Natural is a heavy mattress that is very hard to move. It comes wrapped in a shocking amount of plastic and is rather hard to unravel. Mine arrived in a cardboard box that had largely fallen apart and began to expand immediately when I started unwrapping the outer layer of plastic, suggesting the vacuum seal was already compromised. This led to the mattress becoming very difficult to unwrap in its entirety and very hard to move into position half open.

If you have one, I’d strongly suggest using a safe cutting tool to quickly slice all the layers open without cutting the mattress. Unlike many mattress-in-a-box companies, Nolah does not provide such a tool with each order. Another online customer review suggests a similar experience with Nolah.

Nolah ships free using FedEx in the contiguous U.S. It offers a mattress set-up and removal service ($125 each or $225 for both).

Nolah also offers a $100 discount if you remove the 120-night sleep trial during which you can get a free return and refund.

The Nolah Natural comes with a lifetime warranty, though Nolah has only been around for a few years, so it’s not clear how meaningful that warranty will be.

FAQs