With so many mattresses on the market, it can be difficult to find the right fit for your particular needs. When you walk into a mattress store, you’re faced with the task of deciding the future of your sleep: Should you choose a spring mattress or memory foam? A soft bed, or a firm one? Even after trying out all of the mattresses on display, it can be a daunting task to pick the right one, particularly because you might get home and realize it’s not the right one after all. However, that might all change, and it all starts with a “bed in a box.”
THE PROBLEM
I have always been a sleepy person: I can get a restful eight hours of sleep the night before and still feel the need to take a nice long nap come the afternoon. As someone who spends so much of my time in bed, it’s important for me to invest in a quality mattress for my snooze sessions. However, even after buying a brand new (and very expensive) pillow-top mattress last year, I still found myself waking up sore and poorly rested. I chalked it up to sleeping deeply in all of the weird positions I like to curl up in, but it turns out I wasn’t sleeping on the correct mattress.
Before I moved to Los Angeles last year, I was sleeping on a standard coil mattress. It was stiff, hard and uncomfortable, so when I packed up to move to Southern California, I decided it was time to invest in a quality mattress. I went to a local mattress store and tried out all of the different beds on display, and when I rested on a super-soft pillow-top mattress, I knew it was the one. Soft and cozy, it was the completely different my previous mattress, and I couldn’t wait for the restful nights ahead.
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However, after spending only a few nights on my new mattress, I realized I had been too hasty in my decision. The soft material of the mattress didn’t provide enough support, which resulted in an uncomfortable “sinking” feeling. In addition, July in Los Angeles is much hotter than my native Northern California, especially when trapped in a third floor apartment building with subpar air conditioning. That “cozy” feeling I had enjoyed at the mattress store actually meant the mattress provided zero breathability, leaving me a hot, sweaty mess every night the entire summer.
So when I was asked to try out the BedStory Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress, I was excited yet skeptical. I had already had a less-than-stellar experience with my expensive, store-bought mattress, so my expectations for an online “bed in a box” weren’t very high, especially for one costing only a few hundred dollars. However, after sleeping on the BedStory mattress for just one night, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
THE MATTRESS AND TECHNOLOGY
The BedStory mattress is what’s known as a hybrid mattress: a combination of gel infused memory foam and a pocket coil base which gives it that soft yet supportive feel that I was really looking for in a bed. For optimal comfort and breathability, the plush foam top features three layers: one layer of memory foam and two “egg crate foams” covered in an 3D knitted fabric cover. The foam layers are meant to contour to your body for desired softness, as well as provide the necessary support for pressure relief. This means less soreness and stiffness in the mornings.
For a supportive base, the BedStory mattress uses pocket coils. These unique coils are firm yet forgiving, meaning that you’ll get the support you need to get a good night’s rest, whether you’re a back-, side-, or stomach-sleeper. Unlike traditional, squeaky springs, these pocket coils move independently, reducing the sensation of movement so that you can enjoy more restful sleep. I’ve noticed that I wake up less often in the middle of the night, whereas with my old mattress, I would wake up when my restless boyfriend would roll over. As a result, I have felt less tired and groggy in the mornings.
Perhaps most importantly, the memory foam is infused with cool gel, which keeps you and the mattress cooler at night. This is great for those of us who live in hot climates, and after spending a sweltering summer with my old mattress, a bed that doesn’t trap heat is non-negotiable. The cool gel is engineered to release heat rather than absorb it, and because it improves temperature regulation, you’ll be more comfortable while you sleep. I have felt noticeably cooler and fresher this summer since switching over to the BedStory mattress.
WHAT ELSE TO KNOW
The BedStory Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress is hypoallergenic and bacteria-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about breathing in harmful pathogens when you sleep. Each mattress is eco-friendly and durable, meaning it is constructed to last. Unlike other beds, BedStory mattresses are made to keep their original shape and firmness, so you won’t feel any “sinking” over time. Plus, each mattress has a ten year warranty, so if something were to happen to your mattress, BedStory will have you covered.
As for delivery, the shipping and set-up is super easy. As promised, I received my mattress vacuum-sealed and boxed-up at my door. I personally found it a bit heavy, so you might want to have someone on hand to help get it inside, but I had no trouble setting up the mattress on my own. After removing the mattress from the box, I simply had to unroll it and cut away the plastic, and then it immediately began to expand. According to BedStory, it can take 48 to 72 hours to reach its full size, but I found it only took an hour or two to completely fill out.
THE VERDICT
I find I have an easier time staying asleep throughout the night, and I wake up feeling better rested and less sore in the mornings. I was hesitant to give up my soft bed for one that touts a medium firmness, but I have found that there really is such thing as a happy medium. The way the memory foam contours to my body makes me feel super cozy yet supported, and I don’t think I will sleep on anything other than memory foam ever again.
The temperature regulating cooling gel was also a pleasant (and surprising) addition to this mattress: I hate feeling hot and stifled while I sleep, and this mattress has done a great job out keeping me cool throughout the night. Even during these hot summer nights, I have been waking up feeling refreshed and better equipped to start my day.
Because I was a bit skeptical about this mattress at first, I kept my old mattress around in case I decided I didn’t like the BedStory memory foam. But after having such a positive experience with BedStory, I’m ready to get rid of my old mattress: I’ve slept better than I have in a very long time since switching over, and I’m never going back.