So it’s time for us to get a new mattress, and, of course, I’m looking for a natural, “eco-friendly” one. After all, a lot of conventional mattresses are made with harmful chemicals and all sorts of bad stuff and we sleep (and sometimes co-sleep with our kids) on these things for 8 hours a night!
I started searching for the best natural mattress and, whew, it’s a puzzling process. From confusing labels to crazy prices to impostors GALORE, it’s hard to separate the good from the bad.
I went DEEP down the rabbit hole, and, after many hours online and in stores, I think I’ve got a handle on the natural mattress reviews.
Here’s a video I made on the subject
In this video, I share my process, show some of the best natural mattresses, and tell you about the green mattress that I think we are going to buy.
Why are we buying a new mattress?
In the six years that we’ve been married, Mike and I have slept on a conventional pillow top mattress – one that Mike bought used from a friend a year before we got married. So let’s just say that this mattress has done its tour of duty. (We’re reminded of this every morning when we wake feeling beat up.)
So, it’s time for a new one. But the problem is, most mattresses are made from petrochemicals, synthetic materials and chemical additives. And although some people say it’s not a big deal, that the “off gassing” is complete in a few weeks or whatever, I disagree. After all, we spend more time in bed than we do anywhere else – a full third of our lives! If anything around us needs to be natural and organic, it’s our bed. At least that’s what I’m thinking.
Here are some of the best natural mattresses that I found.
Organicpedic
OrganicPedic-logo
Organicpedic make inner spring mattresses, as well as natural rubber latex mattresses with a wool/cotton blend. The company itself appears to be on the up and up (although their website is a little low-end), and they’ve got lots of certifications, including Oregon Tilth Certified Organic, GREENGUARD, and much more. We actually tried these beds out in a store, and, while I liked the feel of them, I found myself reacting to the wool that is inside of them. I’m a little allergic to certain types of wool, and I was sneezing up a storm on this one. Organicpedic beds start at $1,300 for their least expensive twin, and go up to $11,000 for their top of the line in king size. I’ve also learned that wool is a nesting ground for dust mites which can cause allergic reactions. Just the thought of not being able to wash the wool sounded a little gross.
Essentia
Essentia natural memory foam logo
Essentia bill themselves as the world’s only natural memory foam. So I investigated. We read their VOC report and realized that their mattresses had the same level of VOC’s as organic mattresses which is basically ambient VOC’s…the same level found in this room I’m in. I’ve gotta say, we visited their store here in Chicago and they are amazing. Super comfy beds of varying degrees of firmness, including one – the Dormeuse Fior– that Mike and I fell in love with. They’re made in Canada, and they feature a 20-year warranty. Prices range from $1,200 for the least expensive twin to $7,160 for their most expensive king. So, like most natural mattresses, they are on the pricey side. But they’re actually in the same price range as conventional memory foam mattresses, so why not go natural?
Naturepedic
Naturepedic mattress logo
Naturepedic makes organic luxury mattresses in both latex and latex-free versions. These guys have beautiful beds, and they too are certified by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) and Control Union (CU). Most of their beds feature a blend of metal coils along with a top in either cotton or latex. And they look really nice. If I were looking to just straight up replace our current pillow top, Naturepedic would be at the top of the list. Their beds start at $1,200 for their least expensive twin, and go up to $6,000 for their top of the line in king size.
Savvy Rest
Savvy_Rest_logo
Savvy Rest is a cool, smaller company out of Virginia that is employee-owned. They make some nice looking organic mattresses that feature 3-inch layers of natural latex, along with wool batting quilted inside. If I weren’t worried about the wool and I wanted to support a smaller operation, I’d take a serious look at Savvy Rest. Many of their beds have a 20 year warranty. They range in price from $1,250 for the least expensive twin to $4839 for the most expensive king.
Hästens
Hastens-logo mattress company logo
Finally, there are Hästens beds, a luxury brand out of Sweden that’s been around since 1852. These are the creme de la creme of spring beds, featuring all natural materials like horsehair, cotton, wool, flax, and steel. There beds are beautiful – and you’re gonna pay for that beauty. Their regular bed in a king size will run over $10,000.
But that’s nothing compared to their custom model called the Vividus. Each bed is made to order according to the customer’s specifications and takes between 140 and 160 hours to make. Tom Cruise has one of these! And for just $99,000, you can have one too.
No joke, mamas.
Can you find cheaper “eco-mattresses?”
Yes, you can finder cheaper “green mattresses.” But, this is where lots of greenwashing comes into play. Some brands claim they’re derived from all-natural materials, but in fact only a small percentage of the materials come from natural sources, whereas the rest are petrochemicals. The problem is, there’s no rules or regulations around what makes a natural mattress. So the only real advise is to look for certifications – and see what other people have to say as well.
Our choice?
Well, I think any of the mattresses listed above would be a fine choice – leaps and bounds ahead of most conventional mattresses.
For me, I was looking to get away from springs and pillow tops and dive into the world of memory foam. Because, have you tried memory foam? It’s totally amazing – especially for side sleepers like Mike and me. So we have our eyes set on Essentia, the world’s only natural memory foam. Plus, the ability to try Essentia in the Chicago store really sealed the deal for us. They are super comfy.
Of course, all these mattresses are a huge investment. So we’re going to wait to get one until we move into our new home. But, like I said, Essentia’s got the upper hand right now.
2014 Update
After all this research we took the leap. Find out which mattress we ended up choosing.
2016 Update
We are so happy with our Essentia mattresses that we got a third one for our guest room! More details at the end of this post.
What about you?
Are you concerned about harmful chemicals in your mattress? Do you sleep on a natural mattress? Share with us in the comments below so we can learn from each other, and thanks as always for reading!
