It seems like every sector in industry these days is being shaken up by startup companies; small companies founded by young entrepreneurs with a new idea for an old problem. The mattress industry is no different, and one of the biggest new companies making waves is Tuft and Needle. With a name inspired by an old mattress making technique, Tuft and Needle's mission is to make purchasing a mattress more fair.
Their proprietary “Adaptive Foam” mattress is pitched as a foam mattress without all the extra layers with fancy names. To Tuft and Needle, slapping a complicated name on cheap foam and adding seven variations of it is just an excuse to charge more. Their mattresses are much simpler by comparison.
As a company, Tuft and Needle resemble many modern day startups in that they put a big focus on public image and separating themselves from the mainstream. Besides their emphasis on fair pricing, they have two philanthropy ventures and hold regular volunteer events for their staff. Does being socially conscience and industry disrupting make for a good mattress? Let's find out.
Overall Rating:
Quality: | Weight: | Height |
|---|---|---|
Excellent | 64 pounds for a queen-sized mattress | 10 inches |
Firmness: | Motion Isolation:
| Price Range: |
|---|---|---|
Medium | 9/10 | $325 - $700 depending on size |
Trial Period: | Warranty: | Lifespan: |
|---|---|---|
100 days | 10 years limited | 6 years of useful lifespan |
| Customer Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | |
Get The Deal
Spend $1,000 or more and get $100 off your order!
Pros
Cons
Firmness and Support
Very Soft
Very Firm
The Tuft and Needle mattress is quite firm for a memory foam mattress. Because of this, it offers good support and relief of pressure points. For most people, it still manages to be soft enough for comfort, but sleepers sensitive to a firm surface might have problems. Lighter sleepers also may not weigh enough to counteract the firmness.
The only downside to this great level of body support is its longevity. As with most foam mattresses, the support level may deteriorate over time as the mattress conforms to your body. Rotating the mattress 2-3 times a year will greatly increase the time it takes to experience reduced support.
Motion Isolation
Poor
Good
The Tuft and Needle mattress, like most foam mattresses, is great at isolating motion. Very little energy gets transferred to the rest of the bed, so you don't have to worry about being bothered by your sleeping partner. However, while the Tuft and Needle stacks up well against innerspring mattresses, other foam mattresses do perform better than it in the motion isolation category. Only particularly sensitive sleepers are likely to notice this, though.
Off-Gassing and Smell
The Tuft and Needle mattress, thanks to its high-quality materials, experiences very little off-gassing and related odors. A tiny percentage of owners report any smell at all, and it dissipated quickly and harmlessly. No need to quarantine your bedroom for days as you wait for your new mattress to air out.
Construction and Material
Tuft and Needle pride themselves on sourcing high-quality materials, and it shows. They get their fabric from a 90-year-old, family-owned textile mill in North Carolina. Their foam is also crafted and poured in the United States, and the whole mattress is assembled in Southern California.
The foam they use is certified by CertiPur, the industry leading non-profit organization that inspects consumer foams for safety. Most big-name mattress companies posses this certification, but Tuft and Needle goes two steps further.
Their foam is also possesses a GREENGUARD Gold certification, which proves that their mattress does not emit any potentially harmful substances or compounds. Their fabric is also certified by OEKO-TEX, which certifies textiles for safety and has deemed the mattress safe to come in contact with toddlers and infants, even though the mattress is not designed for children that young.
While the materials are exceptionally safe, their durability is only above average. Still great, but not as good as it could be. The construction materials will likely serve their purpose for many years, but it is more than likely that they will begin to show their age if not properly rotated, especially with couples or heavier sleepers.
Does it Sleep Hot or Cool?
COOL:
Despite not having sci-fi named gel layers in abundance, the Tuft and Needle performs very well for a memory foam mattress when it comes to heat dissipation. Their explanation is that their adaptive foam has materials mixed into it that absorb heat and guide it away from the body.
Also, their lack, as mentioned earlier, of excessive layers means fewer layers of glue holding the layers together. Glue is not breathable and blocks air circulation, which traps heat in the mattress and in contact with your body. The Tuft and Needle mattress only has two layers of foam with a thinner layer of glue to address this problem.
Unique Features
Public Perception
Public perception of Tuft and Needle and their mattresses is very positive. Their philanthropy and honest business practices have served their purpose and done great PR for the company. Their focus on simplicity and customer service has also when them many diehard fans.
There are quite a bit of reviews out there for this mattress as it has made a lot of buzz, and unlike most mainstream mattresses, the reviews are mostly unbiased. This assessment is based on the fact that most reviewers bought their mattress and were not provided one by the company. Their reviews on online marketplaces like Amazon or Google Trusted Store average very high as well.
Here are some reviews and unboxings for the Tuft and Needle mattress on Youtube.
This video is an unboxing of a king-sized mattress bought through Amazon, as opposed to manufacturer direct.
This video is an unboxing of a mattress bought through the company at a Tuft and Needle showroom.
The Purchasing Process
From ordering to delivery to setup: Buying from Tuft and Needle is a breeze. They have three showrooms in the United States; one is in Seattle, Washington and two are in Arizona in Scottsdale and Gilbert. They also partner with Interior Define and Lowe’s, so you can buy at some of those locations or at least go try the mattress out. Check their website for exactly which branches have it.
You can also order online through their website directly. Shipping is free in the continental United States and takes one to five business days. Hawaiian and Alaskan customers will have to wait up to ten days, and pay shipping costs. The company uses FedEx, so there is no white glove delivery. This means you likely won’t get help setting it up.
The good news is, that likely won't matter because, as mentioned above, the Tuft and Needle mattress is very light, even for a foam mattress. Most people should be able to easily carry or drag the box that the mattress comes in to its destination and open it.
Customer Service
One of the most frequent compliments given to Tuft and Needle is for their customer service. They are fast, helpful and courteous over the phone or online. They know that as a startup, they will live and die by their public perception.
Their warranty is a limited ten-year warranty, but by most accounts, the company honors legitimate claims. If there are any defects or if the mattress sags greater than ¾ of an inch, they will replace it or give you a refund. Even better, they will donate the defective or less than perfect mattress to a charity, like a shelter, at not cost to you.
How Much Does It Cost
The pricing for Tuft and Needle mattresses is another customer favorite. Their mattresses are considerably cheaper than their mainstream competitors because they are so simple. They also claim to remove retail markups and only charge what they think is fair. This may sound like salesmanship, but it's hard to argue with a queen-size memory foam mattress under $600 with free shipping.
You aren't likely to see sales for these mattresses because they are already so cheap. The company doesn't try and trick you into thinking you are getting a deal because they give a discount on an already marked up price. Instead, their mattresses are always at a low price. $700 for a California king memory foam mattress of this quality is a pretty good deal in itself.
Get The Deal
Spend $1,000 or more and get $100 off your order!
How It Compares
The Tuft and Needle mattress outdoes most mainstream mattresses in its price range, and handily at that. It does what most "premium" models claim to do and for less. It matches up well with other smaller specialty manufacturers (like Casper or Leesa) very well also. It has comparable comfort but still manages to be cheaper.
To learn more about how Tuft & Needle is unique amongst other competitors, click here for more details.
Is Tuft & Needles Mattress Right For You?
The Tuft and Needle mattress and its adaptive foam is meant to meet the needs of most sleepers. This might mean that people with specific needs get left out. There aren't a lot of choices when it comes to Tuft and Needle mattresses; there's just the one. But what it does do, it does very well.
Great support, firm but not too firm feel, exceptional heat dissipation, top-tier customer service and hard to beat pricing should encourage you to at least go try it out if they have a showroom or partner near you. Even if there isn't, their painless return policy and generous donation policy mean that it's likely you won't regret the experience. Make sure to pay Tuft & Needles a visit online today for more information on how to purchase your mattress.
