The Sleep Studies

If we’re talking about popularity patterns and bank for your buck, it’s following the footsteps of the highly acclaimed Dream Series.

It’s fair to say that it’s a “young” product. Our stats include what we call a “maturity adjustment factor.” We have it in place so that only time-tested, proven products make it to our list of recommendations.

Based on everything we’ve seen so far, this competitively-priced bed has “arrived,” and it’s here to stay.

Recognizing comfort

The remaining part of this guide is dedicated to reference information about comfort. We’ll go over some reference information, starting from what comfort used in the industry to how it changed over the decades, especially in the last few years.

Superior comfort of air-coils vs. beams

Based on how the core is put together, one can crudely group all the models into two groups – those based on beams and those based on chambers.

It’s the evolution of the latter made of the difference. A chambered core is not new per se; it has been around for long. However, it did significantly change for the better.

It happened in a few aspects that improve on the comfort:

But first things first, let’s go back to the beam designs.

Today, majority of companies are moving away from this kind of inner structure in favor of chambers.

Beams are somewhat inferior in the way they distribute weight and support the sleeper.

A typical bed based on beams has one or two layers of long, one-piece air beams that run either top to bottom or side-to-side.

You’ll find these in the lower price range, which is only natural because they’re cheaper to make.

The downside comes to two things:

Even the brands that still rely on this design have changed it to address these issues.

An excellent example of that is Intex with their new Durabeam fiber tech series. They kept the beams but connected beams by using high-tech fibers that don’t stretch – the company calls them fiber tech.

The primary role of these fiber connections is to minimize relative movement between the beams and stabilize the bed.

You’re probably noticing a pattern here - many of the improvements address the stability.

The 3 Ss of Comfort - sliding, swaying and sinking

From a layman’s perspective, improving the comfort would probably be limited to making the surface cozier and softer by adding a layer of foam.

We have seen this in the industry, but in the long term, it doesn’t do much if you don’t address the structural integrity.

The three Ss we mentioned above (sliding, swaying, sinking) all refer to the structural component of comfort.

Sliding used to be a common issue – the bed not staying in place because the bottom surface is too slippery. In other words, it’s the lack of friction between the bottom layer of the vinyl and the floor.

In modern products, sliding is addressed by using different kinds of material for the bottom – materials with higher friction that keep the bed and place. Different brands have different names for these materials (sure-grip, non-slip, etc.) but most of the time, it’s all based on the rubberized bottoms.

Swaying is the term that describes the sideways movements - relative position between the top and bottom.

If you’ve slept on an air mattress of inferior comfort, you might know what we’re talking about. It’s that wobbly feel that makes it difficult to switch positions because the chambers underneath you are not sturdy enough.

With modern inflatables, this comfort aspect is addressed in a few ways:

Sinking is probably the paramount among the 3 Ss. Based on the polls that we’ve conducted over the years, it’s the one comfort aspect commonly mentioned is a difference between an inflatable and a classic mattress.

The term is pretty self-explanatory and has everything to do with spine alignment and sinking of the hip and shoulder area.

Apart from the direct connection to structural integrity, sinking is closely related to the ability of your bed to maintain your preferred firmness.

Even if everything else perfectly crafted, if the bed loses air, you or your guests are unlikely to sleep comfortably.

Apart from the improvements in the materials used, companies addressed the issue is by introducing smart pumps.

To be precise, these mattresses have a two-part inflation system. The main and the secondary pump that silently adds air through the night.

Type of vinyl as a comfort factor

With the new arrivals and an increasingly competitive market, we’ve also seen improvements in the kind of materials used.

Back in the day, the materials were similar to that of the beach Lilo, only thicker. Those days are gone.

Today, it’s hard to find the company or a product that hasn’t improved in this area. You can see straightforward approaches (like merely making the material thicker) to more elegant solutions, like multilayer materials. All of these have a significant impact on the 3 comfort aspects we analyzed.

Toppers and pillow tops

This is probably the most straightforward approach. In our opinion, just slapping a topper or a pillow top layer on a bed doesn’t do much on its own if the overall comfort isn’t there.

It is, however, a nice finishing touch to everything we talked about thus far.

Summary, updates and our giveaway

If you have experiences to share or questions to ask, you can do it either in the comment section at the bottom of this page or by directly emailing us.

We strive to address number one of those within a day.

Taking part in our giveaway

We are currently running a yearly giveaway of $1000 sleep products for our contributors. All you have to do to take part is contact us and share your thoughts.

If you’re already have something in mind, share away. Alternatively, if you want to some point in the future, just bookmark this page and get back to us.

Don’t be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies team

The following article Most comfortable air mattress was first published to www.thesleepstudies.com

Top-rated overall - CoolBreeze by DynastyMattress

Dynasty obviously made the CoolBreeze to be a competitor to the highly-praised I-comfort Genius by Serta.

They even say so in the advertising, by stressing that it delivers similar quality and comfort at a fraction of the price (at the time of the last update the price of the Serta Genius was well over $1,000).

The materials of the CoolBreeze top to bottom premium - from the 4 foam layers (the top layer is cooling open-cell foam) to the soft cover that features a fire barrier and luxurious brown suede.

In other words, it ticks all the boxes a top-tier RV mattress at a much lower price.

The most important part

The crucial part when investing in a product like this without going to a store and trying it yourself is the warranty and the trial.

The Dynasty CoolBreeze offers the longest warranty of all the products we listed. More importantly, they offer a 120 days trial, meaning that you can get the mattress and see if it’s a good fit for you. In that time span, you can return it no-questions-asked.

It’s the only mattress in our top five that offers a trial and warranty this long.

Runner up - Travel Happy by Premium Sleep Products

Compared to the other models on the list, the Travel Happy is a fairly young product. Hence the delay in including it in our top picks. Our statistical model includes what we call “a maturity factor”. In other words, when a product hits the market we wait for one year or hundred experiences shared by owners, whichever comes first.

It’s a way for us to separate the wheat from the chaff, because not to products with high ratings are the real deal.

So, the first time the Travel Happy made it to the list was about a year ago and it did it with a bang. It’s shut its way right to the top 5, with an unparalleled owner satisfaction of 97%. You can see all the ratings below.

Bottom line

The owners we talked to keep stressing one thing about the travel happy - how much of a bargain it is.

There are models that match the quality, but they come with a higher price tag. This is what makes the travel happy our top choice overall and a runner-up in value for money.

It’s the only product on the list with an owner satisfaction rating of over 95%.

Zinus Ultima Comfort review

Zinus dominates the category, with seven models on our broader list of 20. It’s also the only company represented with two products in the top 5.

The Ultima comfort is a classic and there is a high chance you already heard about it.

We mentioned that the travel happy is the runner-up in value for money – it’s the Zinus Ultima that holds the top spot in that category with a rating of 95/100.

Who will choose the Zinus Ultima?

Zinus will be the choice of a conservative buyer looking to buy a top-tier product from a reputable company without breaking the bank.

Currently, it’s both the most budget-friendly solution and most popular, with over 6,000 owner experiences shared on Amazon alone.

Zinus deluxe RV short Queen innerspring mattress

The Zinus Deluxe Innerspring is the only product here that’s not all-foam. It’s a hybrid with a 10 year limited warranty.

Obviously, the main difference between this Zinus Deluxe and the other products on the list is obviously the structure.

Comparison between an all-foam models and hybrid designs is borderline unfair, especially when it comes to prolonged use and shape retention.

Long-term, the support of springs can’t be compared to a foam core, no matter how firm it is.

Who’s it for?

The answer here is obvious, it will be the choice of people who prefer long-term stability and support of coils over memory foam.

We did analyze a few other products of this type, but the structure of this Zinus performs significantly better than other models in its price range.

The i-coil system consists of hundreds independently encased pocketed springs and stands tall, even when compared to products that cost two or three times more.

Live and sleep Resort - Classic & Ultra

The resort classic boasts a more intricate structure of the foam layers. The top layer is the one with the most significant impact on our ratings. The company calls it “the deluxe layer.”

It’s infused with air to make it more breathable and allow it to conform better to the body of the sleeper. On the other hand, the core is high density foam which balances while with the cradling of the soft top layer.

The important part here is the balance between the two – it’s fairly common to see a thick comfort foam used for the top layer, especially in this price range. But, what we often see in models like this is the core lacking in support. As a result in the long run, the surface can become too soft and lumpy without enough bounce for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Who will choose it?

If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll probably find it to be worth every cent of the hefty price tag.

The breathability of the air infused top foam will make all the difference.

Going by the owner satisfaction as an indicator, it delivers on the bold promises made by the manufacturer.

It comes in two versions - the Classic (10 inch thick) and the upgraded Ultra (12 inches thick).

The Classic currently has over 2,000 reviews shared on Amazon, and the Resort Ultra has 700+.

RV short queen mattress size

Most of the products are approximately of the same size, and when there is a difference it comes down to one or 2 inches in length.

To be specific, three out of five recommendations we listed above are 75 inches long and two of them are an inch shorter.

When it comes to the thickness, most of the better ones are in the range of 10 to 12 inches. Obviously, the thicker ones cost more. There are two products we listed here with the thickness of 12 “ and one of them is the highest-rated overall - the Cool Breeze by Dynasty. As we mentioned, this kind of comfort is only comparable to the Serta Genius.

Classic vs. short Queen

The difference between these two sizes is one of the most common questions. Again, the answer comes down to length – the former is 80 inches long and the latter is, obviously shorter – 74-75 “.

Materials typically used – memory foam vs. innerspring

Majority of the models with highest ratings are entirely made of foam. There’s only one RV short Queen innerspring mattress that made it to our top 5 - the Zinus deluxe.

People who are privy to the manufacturing processes can probably guess the reason – it’s more intricate (read: more expensive) to manufacture the innerspring models, which amps up the price.

If we take a broader look and consider the models that made it to our list of 20 products labeled as best RV mattress short queen, there were only two candidates in the group. The Zinus deluxe is significantly more budget-friendly.

Update policy for our reviews and ratings

We regularly update the ratings and reviews to reflect any changes on the market.

Sharon questions or thoughts you might have in the comment section at the bottom. We strive to respond within 24 hours.

If you are from the RV arena, drop us a line you can become our contributor/tester and qualify for our $1000 yearly giveaway.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies reviews team

Best RV mattress short queen Read more on: The Sleep Studies

Best floor mattress overall - Milliard Tri Fold 6-inch

The user satisfaction stats of this Milliard are not something you commonly see. You can trust us on that, we've been analyzing and testing mattresses for over a decade now and the better part of our team has been a of of industry for much longer than that. So, we know the ins and outs and we still find the stats impressive - the satisfaction of floor-sleepers with this mattress has never dropped below 93 %.

To put it in perspective, this is equivalent of 93 out of 100 owners either rating it as a 5 or 4-star product. Some of our data sources have rating system not presented with stars, that's why we're saying "equivalent."

It's just as thick and comfortable as some classic foam mattresses but specifically designed for sleeping on the floor (non-slip bottom and soft jacquard top). What you typically see in floor-dedicated mats and pads is 3-4 inch of foam - this Milliard boasts 3.5 inches of high-density in the support layer alone. That paints a pretty clear picture of what's better about it.

Our rating: 96 /100

6-Inch Mattress by Best Price

This is not your classic floor models, yet, with all things considered, it keeps finding its way to the very top because of the ratio between value, "floor-ability" (a word we made up just for the purposes of this guide) and price. With all other things equal, size vs. size, it's even more budget-friendly than most floor mats (including the ones that made it to our Top 5). It's also the only model on the list available larger sizes (including King size and California King).

We tweaked our ratings to include this type of mattress for two reasons:

Enter active charcoal

The first question that likely pops to mind is what makes this mattress different (better suited for floor use) compared to other classics. The answer lies is that this one is infused with active charcoal to minimize odor, moisture and dust-retention and keep the mattress "fresh". The company calls the technology ActiveFRESH.

On top of that, if chemicals are a concern, it's CertiPUR certified, which means that it adheres to strict safety standards of manufacturing and traces of chemicals.

On their own, the factors we described above are not a big deal because it's not the only mattress to boast them, which brings us back to the price. It's what sets it apart - you don't commonly see a combination of features we mentioned in its price range.

It's one of the most popular mattresses among people who want to place their mattress directly on the floor but are not into sacrificing comfort along the way. The main upside of getting a mattress like this one is that, should you decide to use it with a platform of any kind, take a break from floor-sleep or give it up all-together, you won't need an additional investment. It comes in 6 sizes and 4 thickness versions (6, 8, 10 or 12 inch).

The popularity is an objective category, since it has over 5,000 experienced shared (just on Amazon) with many of the owners talking about comfortably using it for floor sleeping.

Our rating: 94 /100

EMOOR floor sleeping mat

(Traditional Japanese)

From the get-go, we were somewhat surprised with the lack of top-tier products of this type available for online shopping of an American buyer. We had the growing popularity of this type of floor mats in mind and expected at least a dozen of similar products battling it out for the top spots.

Instead, when all said and done, the competition came down to the Emoor and only one runner-up. We gave the Emoor an edge for two reasons: the versatility of sizes and colors available and the fact that it's actually made in Japan.

Obviously, that alone doesn't a product is worth your buck, the rest of story about it's quality can be boiled down to how well-liked it is by owners and the user satisfaction with the Emoor paints a similar picture.

Our rating: 94 /100

Zinus floor mattress

In terms of design, this Zinus is similar to the Milliard. Both are tri-folds and made of safety and durability-certified premium foam.

But there are significant difference, from the thickness (6 inches of the Milliard vs. 4 of the Zinus), through the fact that Zinus only comes in one size (Twin) to the price (Zinus costs less).

Our rating: 82 /100

With all that in mind, the choice between the two is clear - this Zinus might be your choice if you want to save, you're no stranger to sleeping on the floor & your body is already used to a thinner mattress. In other scenarios, like a transition to floor sleeping or welcoming guests, you might find it too thin.

SleepReady floor sleeping mat by Better Habitat

The SleepReady floor mat is in a category of its own and the comparison of floor mattresses don't really apply.

The foam is 2.75 inches thick and the design is focused on balancing comfort, portability, ease of use and weight capacity. It's a fine balance to aim and what we've seen with most similar products is significantly higher number of foam breakage. This type of structural issues can form indentations with prolonged use and, ultimately, render the mattress useless.

That especially goes for sleepers on the heavier side and most floor mats of this type don't even list the recommended weight capacity. For the Better Habitat mat, the capacity is listed as "up to 230 lbs."

Finally, Better Habitat stands behind their floor mat with a 12-month warranty on all manufacturing defects.

Reference info - history, trivia & choosing the best floor mattress for your needs

In the rest of this guide, we’ll go over some reference information about four mattresses, their history, some interesting trivia and some specific tips on choosing right (if none of the products we listed above your eye).

History - from straw mats & pads to the cushy floor model mattress

Digging into the history presents a bit of a challenge, primarily because of the very definition.

Where does one start?

Should we go all the way back to the Paleolithic times or start with the first instances in history where a mattresses we know it today was described.

Instead of dwelling between the two, let’s the both.

First floor sleeping mats go back to 25 centuries ago

It goes without saying that these were primitive and can be only described as “mats” in a historic context.

The first is instances we found of people covering the cave floor go back Paleolithic times. These coverings were made using tree bark to craft a more comfortable sleep surface.

Granted, it wasn’t hard to put together a surface that would be more comfortable than a rock. To be precise, the coverings we’re talking about here were not even weaved - there were just a pile of bark in cave corners that are predecessors used to rest after long days of mastodon hunting.

First instances of weaving

It wasn’t long after that people started weaving plants. This made life easier in many ways, but we’d say that the 3 most heavily impacted of Paleolithic life were clothes, gathering and sleep.

Clothes and gathering are pretty self-explanatory - the Neanderthal started crafting rugs for clothing and baskets for gathering.

In terms of sleep, this meant weaving plants into mats. On the timeline of human history, the Paleolithic times qualify as pre-history – so, long story short, a sleeping floor mat goes way back.

To be precise, the first description that would fit that awful floor mat as we know it today goes 6,000 years back to ancient Mesopotamia.

Biblical times

If you say “floor mat” without context today, you’d have to explain yourself further - are we talking about mats for cleaning footwear?

In this context, that would be a ,”no.”

Since the floor was still just dirt, the mats we’re talking about here refer to sleeping pads.

No significant change for 15,000 years

In the time range between 6,000 BC and 9,000 AC, these mats and pads have not evolved significantly.

The 9000 AC mark is a milestone because that’s when the nobility of Japan introduced sitting and sleeping on pad made of rice and rush straw.

Based on historic data, these were aristocrat-only for about eight centuries. One has to skip forward to the 17th century to see these mats were widely available to a “commoner.”

Thrum as a material for floor sleeping pads

Fast-forward about 1000 years and we see historic data a new material for floor mats known as “thrum.” It was made from the discarded parts used in fine clothes-weaving and straw base.

The discarded fiber was not only a smart use for the leftovers but, because it wasn’t so fine, it sturdier and more durable.

These fibers were interwoven into a strong base to craft a mat (rug) that retains shape well (because of the sturdy base) and yet has a soft finish of thrum. It became widely popular in England.

Buying a floor model mattress

The products we recommended above have a wide appeal, meaning that whatever your body type is, one of the mattresses is likely to be a good fit for you.

With that said, if none of these catches your eye, let’s take the time here to go over some paramount factors of choosing well.

First things first - are you an experienced floor sleeper?

Most people simply skip this step which is, if you ask us, a huge mistake. For a newbie, the transition should involve a mid-step, like a floor sleeping pad.

If you’ve never slept on the floor, you don’t just dive in and opt for a thin pad. It takes a while for your body to adjust and for you to find the sweet spots and positions, especially if you have back problems.

A lot of misleading information out there

While researching all aspects of choosing a good floor model mattress, we’ve seen a lot of shallow information. We’ve seen articles talking about floor sleep as “getting back to our roots,” with little regard for the fact that our bodies evolved and adjusted to modern mattresses.

If you make a leap of faith based on information like this, you might end up giving up the “project” of transitioning to floor sleep altogether.

Instead, the choice should be made with due diligence and factor in the specifics of your body type and how experienced (or not) you are.

To make it all clear and precise, we’ll go over some questions that you need to ask yourself before choosing.

After each question, we’ll mention a specific product that could be our recommendation in the different scenarios.

Have you ever slept on the floor before?

This is an important one. If you’re starting out, chances are that you’ll find most floor sleeping pads too thin for long-term comfort.

This is one of the reasons that we included mattresses that are, strictly speaking, neither here nor there.

What we mean by this?

When we say “neither here nor there,” we’re referring to the type that’s not floor-dedicated.

In this class, our top pick is the overall runner-up.

It’s a mattress that can be used on the floor or on a platform.

To sum it up, if you’re just making the transition or you want to be as comfortable as possible, we’d go with the second product in the list - the Best Price.

We did mention it being budget friendly as one of its main upsides but, just so that we’re clear, this is the actual name of the product and not our commentary.

Comfort-wise, the thinnest version is on-par with the top-rated Milliard Tri-fold foldable floor mattress and performs just as well in most aspects and even better in others.

One caveat would be that it’s not portable, since it’s primarily intended for home use.

Click here to skip back to the best choice mattress.

How often do you plan to use it?

Another important question to ask yourself is the intended use.

Are you getting a floor mattress for guests / occasional use or daily use?

This is also where portability/storage comes into play.

Scenario one: you have no plans to store it away on daily basis.

For long-term use, our recommendation would (again) be the second product on the list.

Scenario two: floor mattress for guests

(or occasional use)

The choice in this scenario is pretty clear since the Milliard tri fold roll up floor mattress is the product that ticks all the boxes. It’s portable, relatively cheap, comes in three sizes (Twin, Full & Queen), the cover is soft, retains shape (made of bamboo fiber, with a similar feel to that of cotton) & resistant to mold.

Scenario three: floor sleeping mat for outdoor use

For outdoor use, our recommendation is the SleepReady mat/bad by better habitat.

Side note: we already mentioned that we excluded inflatables from this guide on purpose, since we already have an existing guide in that arena (both classic and self inflatable).

Do you have back problems?

Another question that we rarely see addressed and research papers and articles.

Making general statements about a floor sleeping mat or pad being good or bad for people with back problems is misleading at best and downright wrong at worst.

That’s why we had to dig deeper and look into available large-scale studies on the topic. Some of our findings were surprising.

If you talk to people about back pain, the conversation is likely to touch on the matter of sleeping on a hard surface.

The evidence for this are mostly rooted in pop-culture and quasi-science.

If the pain is acute, you probably want to stay away from thin pads and mats. In most cases, the pain comes from nerve pressure. If this is the case, you won’t be doing your back and favors by sleeping on surfaces that don’t allow your shoulders and hips to sink in enough so that your spine is aligned.

There’s no widely accepted consensus among professionals when it comes to chronic back pain and the firmness of the surface you're sleeping on. Most of the data we found in our research suggests that a mattress of medium firmness offers more relief in the long run.

To quote a study we found to be most specific (published in the Lancet magazine, 2003 issue, PMID: 14630439):

“A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain”

You can see the full study here.

What it means applied to choosing the best floor mattress

Our top 2 picks qualify as “medium” firmness. There are floor models of similar foam density and structure, but it’s the thickness that makes a difference here. Anything under 6 inches cannot be taken at face value because the floor surface underneath becomes a significant factor. Compared to thinner mats, these are not as cheap, but are well worth it in the long run.

Summary and updates

To keep the ratings of the floor mattresses relevant, we do your best to stick to bimonthly or quarterly updates. Those include both new data and new arrivals to the market.

You can always use the comment section below for any questions, either about specific products or general. We aim to respond to all correspondence within 24 hours.

Become our contributor

If you have the time to share your experience, feel free to contact us and contribute with personal impressions.

This would qualify you for our annual giveaway sleep products ($1000). To do that, you can drop us a line right now or bookmark this page and do it at your convenience.

The Sleep Studies review team

Best floor mattress is republished from thesleepstudies

Best blanket for winter overall

Poyett Motte Aubisque

If you’re looking for a regular blanket (without added heat sources), nothing beats natural wool and, within that category, in our opinion and based on the stats, no blankets we looked at beats the time-tested quality of Poyet Motte.

It’s hard to choose where to start and what quality aspects to stress when talking about this blanket. The tradition of the company probably deserves an article of its own, since we are 10 years away from Poyet Motte celebrating their 200th anniversary. Currently, they are the leading European blankets manufacturer.

But let’s get back to things that can directly affect your decision.

First of all, it’s one of the few blankets that are consistently above the rating of 92% in user satisfaction. That’s no small thing if you have in mind fact that there are similar blankets with a lower price tag.

As we said, we simplify the results by boiling down the ratings to a few simple numbers but, on our side of things, getting to that number is anything but simple. With objective ratings we go into the nitty-gritty like craftsmanship, both general and imperfections on arrival and developed with prolonged use. This includes things like loose stitches, changes in shape, pilling (when applicable).

On the subjective side, we analyze how satisfied the users are with specific aspects. For this guide, we adjusted our statistical model to put more emphasis on aspects that the more important for winter blankets.

Long story short, in most of the categories above, Poyet Motte was either dominant or in the top 3 in each update.

In terms of Temperature regulation for the winter, this blanket is at the sweet spot between the nature of the fabric (virgin wool), the density of the weave (warmth) and breathability.

If you look at other similar blankets, 9 out of 10 times, you won’t even see the 3 most important aspects mentioned – density (thickness of the fibers used), weight per square meter and whether it’s recycled.

There’s a reason for that - most of the times, the reason is that these aspects of blankets are nothing to write home about. Poyet Motte is an exception.

The fibers are so fine (33 microns) that they can be we weaved into a blanket of 500 g/m² (GSM). Also, it’s important to mention that the company uses Woolmark licensed Virgin wool.

What it all means for you

Most of us shut that conversation about how products are made these days. There are two sides typically involved in this kind of conversation. You are either on the more experienced side talking about “the good old days” or on the other side that shrugs it off and saying that “it’s just the way things are today.”

Poyet Motte taste type of product that would satisfy the criteria of both sides. In terms of longevity it’s fair to say that this is an heirloom blanket that’s likely to be in your family for decades.

In terms of value for money, in our opinion, it’s worth every cent.

One downside could be the fact that it’s not always available in all sizes and color combinations. Over the course of the last 3 years (since we first published this guide), we have seen it go in and out of stock in some sizes and colors.The bottom line is that if Poyet Motte is available in your preferred size-color combo, our advice would be not to over think. Chances of being disappointed by this blanket are slim to none.

You can see what the owners are saying about it, current price and size-color combos currently available by following the link below.

Warmest electric blanket

Subeam Luxurious Velvet

The competition among the independently heated winter blankets is fierce. For the potential buyer, this is a good thing because it means higher quality products at lower prices.

In this category, we’re choosing the Sunbeam Luxurious as the best blanket for winter.

What gave it an edge over similar products is the category of value for money. This chunk of the market has made significant leaps over the past decade or so, primarily in terms of safety and seamlessness/versatility of the controls.

The difference in those paramount quality aspects is not as significant as it was when we talked about wool. A few products from top companies have been locking horns for the top spots in pretty much every update.

This is one of the blankets that kept its place in the top 5 - it’s been there since we first published the guide and all subsequent updates, both in this guide and in the top 10 heated blankets with you can see here.

Rating this type of blanket is slightly different than simply rating the quality. We included a slight adjustment to account for the balance between the weight and the warmth.

Initially, this adjustment wasn’t a part for statistical analysis and we only included it based on the feedback from our featured testers and readers. The reason is that it’s not only about the warmth. The soothing effect of thicker blanket is now a part of our statistical analysis. Granted, it is a secondary factor, but it is there as means to adjust the ratings to what people are looking for in a good winter blanket.

If it wasn’t there, there would be a number of blankets with an independent heat source that could be practically rated the same. We’re including this explanation to make the ratings clearer.

Let’s get back to the quality analysis

We mentioned that these blankets have seen some significant improvements. Two that stand out are the auto shutoff function and preheating.

Initially, the products that included both were more expensive, but things leveled down with time and this sunbeam is the perfect example. It comes with both features and yet, it’s in the same price range as blankets that include only one (and in some cases none) of the two.

It’s also worth noting that the blanket is covered by a 5-year warranty.

You can see what owners are saying as well as all color options by following the link on the red button below.

Velvet Berber Premium Soft

We have been reviewing blankets for years now and it's only once in a blue moon that you see a product with the kind of stats the Velvet Berber has in user satisfaction.

To be specific, we have seen overall rating in this category this high, but almost never see a blanket with a 5-star rating from 9 out of 10 people.

That's what makes the Velvet Berber unique.

It might not be the warmest per se, but in the bigger picture (balance between all quality aspects), the fact that it has been among the Top 5 winter blankets for 12 consecutive updates now is well-deserved.

BEIZLSS Luxury

If there is a blanket on the list that made us subjective, it's the Beilzss. It's significantly more expensive than any other on this list, but, well...look at it.

On the downside, we have seen the Beilzss go in and out of stock with various suppliers. So, if you really need to treat yourself and do find the Beilzss available, it might the indulgence you need. Also, the data volume that we have is not big enough to rate it in the category of owner satisfaction - that's why you'll see that rating ommited below.

There is no blanket on the list that can transform the look of a bedroom more than this luxurious piece.

It's also one of two products we listed as "exceptions" because we don't have the data volume to rate it. With this one, we just couldn't help ourselves.

You can check whether its currently available below.

Warm outdoor blanket

Our pick - ZEFABAK duck down

Our top pick for warm outdoor blanket is the ZEFABAK duck down, with one caveat - since the ZEFABAK is filled with natural down, it might not be your best bet for humid conditions.

For that scenario, we'd reccomend the Rumpl (you can see the complete review of the Rumpl blanket here - https://thesleepstudies.com/rumpl-blanket-review/).

The competition in this category was close - between the ZEFABAK and a few other products. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it all, what made the difference is the power (density vs. weight) of the natural fill.

In other words, blankets that would be as warm for the outdoors cost more and those in its price range or lower don't really come close to the heat-retention & reflection properties.

Warmest electric blanket among reversibles

Shavel Micro Plush

This Shavel is one of the blankets that made us make an exception in terms of our rules for the statistical analysis. When we say that we’re referring to the fact that it’s yet to meet the volume standards for the data we have, which is why we don’t yet have a rating for it.

The reason for making an exception are the numbers in user satisfaction category that we have seen so far. We’ve been reviewing blankets for over a decade now and, in the that time, one develops a “nose” for patterns.

Unless Shavel changes something significant about this blanket, we’re confident that this product “arrived” and is here to stay.

Another reason that made us include it in the group of best winter blankets is the reversible construction.

As we mentioned previously, it’s our opinion that a good winter blanket is not simply warmest, it’s more about the balance between all of its properties.

To be more specific, a thicker, cozier blanket like this will be warmer at a lower heat setting.

Again, we rarely make exceptions, and the fact that we did for this Shavel speaks volumes.

Creswick Luxurious by Australian Mills

The runner-up in the wool category is the Creswick Luxurious by Creswick Australian Mills.

In many ways, it’s similar to the Poyet Motte above with the main difference being the weave.

The fibers are even finer (23 micron) which means that it feels somewhat lighter. With the fibers being fine as they are, the finish of the Creswick feels less rugged. Since it initially appeared on Amazon, its popularity grew to the point where counterfeit products started appearing.

At one point, the company itself pointed this out in their listing of the product, warning about the counterfeits.

Our stats

We made sure to only closely follow the original blanket and base our stats on that.

If wool is your choice, the decision will come down to the fact that Creswick is a bit lighter and thinner than Poyet Motte, which is only natural if you have the fine fibers in mind.

It’s also worth noting that, typically, the finer the fibers the more luxurious the blanket feels and the price usually follows.

What this means for you

It means that the blankets made of fibers this fine are not cheap. With that said, we did look at other blankets in the same micron range and most of them were significantly expensive than the Creswick.

That’s why one of our ratings is “value for money” instead of simply price.

It also means that the blanket is not as heavy and not as a warm as those of “sturdier weave”. On the other hand, it’s better in terms of adjusting to the shape of the sleeper’s body - a category we like to call “hug.”

The bottom line is that if you’re looking for a moderate winter blanket that won’t be heavy, the Creswick Luxurious might be just right for you.

To get a full understanding the type of winter blanket this is, follow the link below and read the reviews of people who currently own the Creswick.

Warmest blanket among poly-fiber products - WarmZone

You might have already heard about the WarmZone.

Apart from the electric models, it's the only blanket on the list designed specifically with warmth in mind.

"Designed" means that it's heat-reflecting - in other words, the polyester surface is coated with extra insulation layer that reflects back the heat dissipated by your body.

Granted, this also means that it's not as breathable or versatile as wool, but it's crafted to do one job - be warm.

And it does the job well - especially with the price range in mind. So, if you need a budget-friendly throw to curl up under and watch re-runs of Friends, Warmzone might be the blanket for you.

Warmest blanket among fleeces

FreeLife Super Warm

If you prefer a minky blanket to wool and if you’re not interested in the self-heating products, our top choice among classics is the FreeLife Super Warm.

You would think that choosing a good, warm fleece blankets is simpler.

Not really, understanding a few aspects of micro-fabrics is a must if you don’t want to end up with a blanket that will lose the delicate texture you initially got it for. It’s all about the type of polyester / polyamide combo.

Indications of quality

The type of machines used to make good microfiber are not cheap (especially if it’s split microfiber), so there are many companies out there that compromise in the manufacturing process.

The tricky part here is that, while new, you won’t be able to tell the difference between the types of blankets. That’s why microfiber earned the label of cheap fabric. In reality, a well-made blanket of this type can last just as long as any other. More importantly, it won’t be prone to losing the “feel”, shape or look.

If you look at things that way, choosing right becomes just as intricate as with any other type.

Freelife Super Warm ticks all the boxes

If you compare the price of the free life to other blankets of this type (all-fleece), it might seem expensive. That’s why the analysis above is important – because not all fleece or microfiber is created equal.

This is a premium 330 GSM blanket with a price tag to match. More importantly, it’s time-tested product with 100s of user reviews. You can see them all at the link below.

Qbedding Extra Big - Warm Fuzzy Faux Fur

This Qbedding blanket is one of those products that you either fall in love with at first sight or be confused about why people like it. The part comes down to taste and what you think about faux fur.

That’s one part of the story - the arguable part.

What’s not arguable about this Qbedding is the impressive owner satisfaction numbers.

What this means for you

We did look at other warm fleece blankets, but none of them was even close in the owners stats. For you this means that what you see is what you get. This part is important because faux fur is probably the one material that can be misleading in the pictures.

It’s available in two sizes and colors – you can see the details below.

Langria ribbed - soft, warm blanket for those on a budget

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly solution that still looks luxurious, there’s little chance that this line Langria won’t catch your eye.

It’s a classic polyester blanket with a modern twist in appearance. The chunky ribbed design gives it a glamorous look.

The flannel side is 300 GSM, while the Sherpa fabric is 200 GSM. That adds up to 500 grams per meter square which is the same as our top overall pick (The Poyet Motte).

To be fair, a combination of flannel and Sherpa fabric can’t really be compared to wool in terms of warmth and temperature isolation, but then again, the Poyet Motte costs significantly more.

Honorable mention - Fishers Finery thin throw

Let’s be clear from the get-go here - on its own, this is not the warmest blanket ever and does not qualify to be a good choice for winter as a standalone product - it's too thin & light for that.

We’re including it because, since we first published our picks, we've been getting questions from people asking how to add a bit of balm without piling up weight.

Cashmere is the answer

Cashmere that would be thick enough to keep you cozy in the winter on its own would cost a small fortune. As reference, it takes two goat undercoats for just one sweater.

Note that we’re not saying wool but “undercoat” (which is the fine layer under the wool). The undercoat is hand-combed before it can be used in confectionery products - that's why these blankets are so thin.

It’s not realistically possible to compare heat-retention qualities of a throw like this to that of wool, let alone flannel or other materials. To do that, you’d have to have two products of same ply and yarn.

With that said, comparison of fiber-to-fiber can come as a shock - Cashmere is 7 to 8 times warmer than wool. The catch is that it is scarce and expensive, so it's not used for thick blankets - when it isused used in bedding, it's typically light throws like this.

So, the bottom line here is that this Fishers Finery blanket might be to choice of people looking to cozy up on the sofa with a thin and lightweight, yet soft, warm blanket throw for a nice winter nap.

Reference info & tips on choosing the best blanket for winter

If for some reason you didn’t like any of our top picks, the remainder of this guide we’ll go over some reference info on choosing right.

It also might be useful insight into why the blankets we mentioned are a good choice.

Warmest blanket material

It’s not simple to choose the material and describe it as "warmest" because some image the materials we mentioned are not used in the same way as others.

A good example of that is Cashmere. We already mentioned that, if you compared it to wool (same fiber thickness) cashmere can be up to 800% warmer.

That fact alone doesn’t qualify it as warmest when it comes to blankets because there are no blankets of this type that there as thick. The ones that are available are typically thin, lightweight throws.

So, cashmere aside, it’s fairly accurate to say that wool is the warmest material.

Warmth alone doesn’t mean much

In our testing and analysis (based in the owners we talked to and publicly available experiences), we would say that the title of “the warmest blanket for winter” typically goes to products with most well-balanced warmth/weight/hug properties.

In case you missed it, “hug” is a quality that we introduced to our testing and rating. To put it simply, it describes how well a blanket contours around your body.

The decision process

It’s easy to get lost in all the lingo that describes warmth when choosing the warmest blanket for winter. So let us take a step back and craft a system of sorts that outlines the steps a smart buyer will make.

Think about the size

Most people skip this step because it seems pretty straightforward. Nonetheless, when we analyzed the complaints of people who weren’t satisfied and had complaints, almost 7% of those were regarding the size.

In some cases, this is a result of companies using the descriptive sizing. In case you have your eye on a product that doesn’t release specific dimensions, let’s clarify what it typically means.

For example, a King size winter blanket would be 108×90 inches, while Double/full/Queen size will be 90 x 90 “. In some cases, the product listings might deviate from these standards. It’s rarely happens in the bigger sizes like King and when it does, it’s almost never smaller. What you might see is a king-size measuring 108 times x 108 “.

A good rule of thumb here is to go with a bed blanket that’s big enough to cover the top of your mattress and has a few extra inches on the sides.

The material

We don’t have a lot of ground to cover here because we mentioned the mist material aspect of the choice in pretty much every section of this guide.

So let’s is just reiterate:

Wool - we already labeled wool is the warmest material (with a few caveats about ply and yarn). It would be an oversimplification to label it as “top choice” because there are other factors at play (like the price and versatility). What we mean when we say versatility is whether you can use it in other seasons besides winter.

When it comes to price, it’s somewhat more expensive than fleece or microfiber. On the other hand, that ties into “seasonal value.” A thick warm fleece blanket that would be a good choice for winter will probably be too warm for other seasons.

That’s not the case with wool - it has a unique property to keep you warm on cold nights and isolate you from the heat come spring or autumn.

Fleece/microfiber - combination of microfiber and other synthetics that feel natural and plush are one of the most popular choices. Based on the conversations and, in some cases, full interviews with the owners, the appearance plays a big role here.

About 80% of the people we talked to sound the cozy, luxurious look of minky micro fabrics or fuzzy combinations to be visually more appealing.

We also mentioned that not all blankets of this type are created equal and that most of those that are on the cheaper side tend to be sub-par in retention, both in terms of weight and tactile qualities (the softness).

Knitted /crochet acrylic - not the most popular choice, but a viable one, especially for people allergic to wool.

How comfortable are you with added weight?

This should be an important step when choosing the best blanket for winter. We already said a few times that the warmer doesn’t necessarily mean superior.

Some people will be more comfortable with a thin, lightweight winter blanket while others find the added weight and thickness to be soothing. In our research, we found that the ratio between the two groups of people is approximately 2 to 8.

This means that 2 out of 10 people will be more comfortable with lightweight throws. If you belong to this group, you’ll probably be better off with a heated blanket. These allow you to get the extra warmth without the weight. You can see our complete guide and list of top-rated electric heated blankets here.

On the other hand, if you belong to the majority, you’re not likely to be disappointed by any of the products we listed as our top picks.

Is your skin sensitive?

The wool products we listed don’t have that scratchy quality that most people don’t like, both have a delicate finish with satin edges.

If you’re researching beyond that, do bear it in mind and.

Fabric strength

Strength of the fabric is the quality category for doesn’t make much sense on its own unless you’re planning a window escape.

In our ratings, strength is incorporated as a secondary factor into the shape retention and longevity ratings, because it does it play a part.

Fiber to fiber comparison between synthetics and wool will have an obvious winner every time – this synthetics fiber. So that’s not a discussion to be had.

If we’re talking wool, the rankings in terms of fiber strength would be the following (weakest to strongest):

So, since Mohair & Alpaca are typically used in smaller throws and cost much more, the conclusion is pretty much the same and leads us back to our Merino as the warmest material.

Choosing a warm outdoor blanket

If you're looking for a warm outdoor blanket, things get a bit trickier because you have to factor in the elements. For dry and cold weather, down is superior, but for humid conditions, you're better of with down alternative.

Winter blanket vs. all-season

Another thing to keep in mind is how you plan to use the blanket - is it a winter-dedicated or multi-season. Materials like wool are both warm and breathable. This type allow for multi-season use while others are primarily made to be warm and are likely to be stored come spring. On the other hand, you have the lightweight options that do offer warmth but are not very likely to be enough on their own for harsh winters.

If you ask us, we're always for simplifying life. In this case, it means getting a soft, warm blanket that will play one role. The more you get into the nitty-gritty of the balance between heat-isolation, weight, moisture wicking...the complicated the choice. That's just our 2 cents.

Share your thoughts & qualify for our giveaway

If you have questions or feel like there are aspects of choosing that we haven’t covered, drop us a comment below or email us directly. Do you have an opinion on what's the warmest blanket ever?

Sharing your experience with a specific product would make your contributor and qualify you for our $1000 worth annual giveaway in sleep products.

Don’t be shy, we love hearing from our readers and respond to all correspondence within one day.

The Sleep Studies team

The following article Warmest Blanket is republished from TheSleepStudies

About our ratings of the fold up beds

As you stressed a few times, we received no free products or testing samples to review. It’s a way of ensuring that the process is fully objective and based on tangible data.

We started out by consulting our panel of experts for the initial picks. The way we see it, this has two upsides.

First of all, it eliminates many sub-par products that would otherwise, to be honest, waste a lot of our time and resources.

Secondly, it allows us to be thorough in the analysis

Whenever we can, we buy the products we review. In the interest of full disclosure, this wasn’t the case with roll away beds because we simply didn’t have the resources. So the ratings is so rely heavily on the statistical model we developed years ago and tweaked over time.

Today, the core the analytics remains the same (when we can’t to buy all the beds and test them personally), but it’s tweaked to the specifics of the product. It’s only natural, because the same quality categories don’t apply for all bed types.

Even when we could buy and personally test the fold up beds we review, the analytics would still play a major role in reaching the ratings, simply because nothing beats volume. In other words, what we like is not necessarily what most people will like, no matter how objective try to be.

Bottom line, the larger the data-volume, the more accurate the ratings. It also means that each subsequent update paints a better picture about the quality of the beds.

What it all means applied specifically to reviewing rollaway beds

Primarily, it meant clearly defining what qualifies as “high-quality.” With "classic products", things are not so intricate because there are more variables here.

Speaking in broad terms, all our ratings can be grouped into primary and secondary (by how much of an impact they have on the overall rating).

Just for reference, let’s take a moment here to look at a few.

On-arrival assembly

This is one of the quality categories that’s unique for rollaway beds. It doesn’t qualify as primary because it does this make much of a difference in the long run.

To be clear, but were talking about here is how easy/hard it is to put the bed together once it is on your doorstep (like frame and wheels assembly).

If there are on arrival problems with putting the bed together, those would be accounted for in the “on-arrival issues” along with any defects in the craftsmanship.

Stability

Stability is a primary factor with a few sub-factors. The crucial part is the stability of the bed frame and what qualifies as a sub-factor are ties (if any).

Plainly speaking, it’s meant to describe how well a bed performs in two aspects:

Subject feeling of frame stability (beds with a lower rating in this category would feel flimsy)



The "pieces" staying in place

Quality of the folding foam mattress

Another primary factor and possibly the most intricate one.

The grade of the foam used in fold up beds will not be as high as that used in classics.

That’s not a minus per se. Here’s why…

If the foam was of the same density and ILD (indentation load deflection) and thickness as that of a classic models, it would be much harder to fold and store the bed.

So, for a good guest bed, you’re aiming for density and ILD that would be at the sweet spot between comfort, support and malleability.

In terms of density, we found the sweet spot here to be around 2.5 lbs. The higher you go, the harder it becomes to collapse the bed away. This lowers the portability.

On this side note, this is one of the reasons we were so impressed with the Edwards original. If you know the manufacturing side of things, you know how hard it is to make portable bed for adults that includes springs.

To simplify it

Everything we said above might sound a bit too much to take in, so let us simplify it by summing it up into two factors of foam quality.

A great way to judge it are the warranty terms - it would make little financial sense for company to offer a long warranty if the foam in their products “breaks” after six months.

So if you don’t want to spend days researching, the shortcut would be looking at the warranty terms for the foam. Making a sturdy yet collapsible bed frame is not as hard as offering high-quality foldable memory foam mattress to go with the frame and base.

Sturdiness of the frame

Initially, we used durability and longevity of the frame as primary factors. That’s not the case anymore because there are too many products with similar frame quality.

Instead, sturdiness is a secondary factor included in all of the following ratings: stability, durability and longevity.

A side note

One of the more common questions we received pertains to the difference between durability and longevity. It’s pretty simple - durability describes the capacity of a bed to take on weight at one moment while longevity describes how well it performs long-term (without developing structural defects).

Customer service and Better Business Bureau rating

This is an important one - it goes beyond prompt replies to emails or return claims. Listing a warranty is one thing how efficient the company is when a customer wants to claim it paints a better picture.

It takes some elbow grease to get to this rating because we basically have to count every experience a customer had and how promptly it was addressed.

As we said, it goes beyond answering an email. To put it simply, what we like to see here is the company address them claims without giving you the runaround or avoiding your return request (if defined in their warranty policy).

To make it more accurate, we always take the time to look into the Better Business Bureau rating of the company that manufactures the foldaway beds we review.

Maintenance

The “ease of maintenance” is pretty self-explanatory. It comes down to a 2 things:

whether the bed comes with a cover and, if yes, whether it’s machine-washable and rated for the dryer



whether it comes with a bag/sack two-story the whole thing

Even the best folding beds often don’t include a storing bag for storing when not in use. You often have to get one separately.

Do the wheels lock in place?

Wheel-locks are not a must for a good rollaway bed for adults. If the frame is sturdy, the weight of an average adult will be enough to keep the construction stable.

With that said, if you’re an adult but on the lighter side, it’s probably a good idea to consider whether the wheels lock.

The blog post Best rollaway and folding beds was originally published to https://thesleepstudies.com/

Other causes

Damages you may suffer from biting tongue in sleep

Although injuries from are usually not life threatening, they are painful. The situation gets trickier because of the fact that the injury is placed in our mouth, which is full of bacteria.

If you think the situation is serious, you should immediately visit a doctor, but usually there is no need to do that.

If it happens often, or you did it once, but with a lot of strength, you will probably notice some nasty results from it. Soreness and bleeding are most common, but there is also possibility of developing ulcers, that can take days to heal.

Morsication lingarum is a condition that affects borders of the tongue, when it’s being physically injured by chronic biting. In this case the sides of tongue are irritated and painful, and it needs to be treated.

"Biting my tongue in my sleep"

How to talk to your physician

As we said, it can be nothing but like with all problems that might seem trivial but persevere, you'll want to talk to your doctor. In these situations people tend to try and "steer" the opinion of the doctor by either diminishing or exaggerating the problem. The best practice here is to visit a doctor right after an episode so that they can see the damage and be very precise about how often it happens.

This can as simple as taking pictures after each episode. This will give them useful insight into how often it happens and the extent of the damage it causes - it's the frequency and the severity that tell the full story.

How to fix the damage?

There are ways to treat the injury or relieve the pain before going to the doctor’s.

Applying ice cubs or anything cold on your tongue will help with soreness and numb the pain. You would also want to rinse your mouth with salty water to clean the wound and protect from infection. Repeat the process few times or until you feel better.

Rest of the day avoid eating spicy and hot food, and restrain yourself from meals that require much chewing.

Can you prevent tongue biting?

We said that it can be caused by some disorders and illnesses, in which case the conclusion is that the cure for the tongue biting is the treatment for the initial cause/health issue.

Whatever is the reason behind the issue, you're probably wonder if there's something that can actually protect your tongue from being damaged?

The answer is yes.

There are several types of mouth guards or night guards.

Boil and bite guards, that you need to boil in water before using to soften the plastic they’re made from, and partially custom fit them to your mouth. They can be found in some stores.

Back to you

We hope that reading this guide helped you find useful advice and clarity on the matter.

If you are biting your tongue in sleep, or have any experience related to this issue, please do share with us and comment in the section below.

Sleep tight and don’t bite.

Biting tongue in sleep? Find more on: https://www.thesleepstudies.com/

Rigidity of composites versus solid bookcase headboards

Man-made wood is nowhere near as strong as solid pieces. Let’s take the example of plywood - the rigidity is about 50% lower than hardwood (on average).

MDFs and particleboards are not a great choice if they are not strengthened. On their own, and they are about 75% weaker than average wood. With this in mind, the thickness of the shelves that we analyzed previously and the quality of the laminate finish becomes crucial important.

This is where he to ties in – our top picks in the table at the very top of this guide are superior to similar products from competitors in most of these aspects, especially in the craftsmanship of the laminate.

Granted, you won’t be burdening your headboard with heavy objects, but if there is space, they might fit a set of encyclopedias.

To that end, we’re including a reference table about maximum length between supports for moderate and heavy loads (25 & 50 pounds per running foot).

Talk to us and apply for our giveaway

If we haven't covered something in the guide, feel free to ask us about it. We respond to all comments and questions with 1 day.

If you do end up getting one of the pieces above or already have experiences you'd like to share, make a note to contact us and tell us about it. That would make you a contributor and qualify you for our annual 1K Amazon gift card giveaway.

Don't be a stranger,

The Sleep Studies Team

Bookcase headboard – Top 10 Picks in Twin, Full, Queen & King size See more on: thesleepstudies

Even the manufacturing process is environment-friendly. For the finished product that will arrive at your doorstep, this is not a big deal. But if you like the idea of sleeping on a mattress that was made with minimal footprint on the environment, this does deserve a mention.

Mandatory factory air out

With most foam products, there will be an initial smell that lingers around your bedroom. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to dissipate.

None of that here

This is one of the few mattresses we’ve seen with a mandatory factory airing out.

For you, this means that there is no initial smell and no need to wait or air out the mattress on your own. That part is taken care of in the factory and the product is shipped with zero smell.

No need for add-ons

We see this one way to often - you get the mattress and your enthusiasm about it is quickly curbed because you feel you need an extra topper or pad for it (most often because it feels too hot).

Here, the top layer is designed to eliminate the need for a topper. In fact, the company advises against using any add-ons because they can interfere with the breathability.

Maintenance

Since the structure is not symmetrical, the mattress should not be flipped.

Many of us are still trapped and the perception that flipping a mattress will prolong the lifespan. With modern mattress technologies and materials, it’s not so simple.

Here’s why

With mattresses that shouldn’t be flipped, the manufacturer has to be extra careful, especially when they offer a 20-year warranty.

This means that they have to make sure that the structure can take the prolonged use and maintain shape. Otherwise, they would be faced with people claiming their warranties too often, which would affect their bottom line.

The important part here is that the numbers we’ve seen when it comes to foam breaking or develop indentations with prolonged every-night use are low.

Rotation

The mattress is symmetrical (top to bottom) which means that you can rotate it but, based on what we’ve seen, the number of people who feel the need to do it is very low with the Shiloh.

This ties into the analysis above and means that the number of people who saw structural issues is also low.

To put it simply - there are no indentations or the uneven surfaces forming over time that would call for the mattress to be rotated.

What does the warranty cover?

When you see a long warranty like this, you should be careful and make sure that you read the fine print. In some cases, a company can “dilute” the warranty terms and you might end up with additional cost when making the claim.

We looked closely and saw no red lights here, the company does what it promises - covering the full cost related to any warranty claim (replacing or repairing the bed).

These terms cover any issues with the fabric, stitching and, most importantly, potential structural defects.

Bounce-back - secondary

What we mean by “bounce-back” is the time it takes for the surface to get back to its original shape when you get up.

There are two ways to look at this:

The first one is absolute (comparing it to every mattress out there) and the second one is comparing it to mattresses in its price range.

If you do the former, it’s fair to say that there are products out there with higher bounce-back ratings. They do, however, cost much more.

If you do the latter, this puts the Shiloh in the top five products in its price range.

Similar to the motion isolation, we don’t see the bounce back is a crucial factor simply because nobody ever said, “I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got back my mattress wasn’t completely flat.”

That’s why our statistical model includes the bounce-back only as a secondary factor.

The “history”

The mattress hit the market back in 2010 (May 15, to be more precise) and was initially known as the Sleep Innovations SureTemp. So if you see it under that name, don’t get confused, it’s the same mattress.

The name SureTemp was a way for Sleep Innovations to stress the trademarked foam used for the top layer.

Cover quality

Wear and tear at the seams - testing the stitches

The number of garment issues reported by the owners we talked to was lower than those we’ve seen in 93% of other mattresses.

To be subjective for a moment, we prefer the quilted cover over the smooth one. It feels more rugged and durable and looks more luxurious. But when it comes to the numbers, we’ve seen no substantial difference in abrasion %s or stitching.

We rate the quilted cover at 92/100 and the smooth one at 90/100. These numbers are based more on our experience than the actual testing (the data pool we had here wasn’t big enough to do that). Apart from the aesthetic appeal, we find that the rugged covers are typically superior in terms of stain release.

Value for money

When all said and done, this is the category that probably does the best job of reflecting overall quality.

If you didn’t take the time to read the full analysis, let’s reiterate.

In most quality aspects, the Shiloh 12-inch performed superiorly compared to mattresses in its price range and, most of the time, it tested just as well as mattresses that cost anywhere from the 200 to 400% more.

Our rating of “value for money” is 95/100, which puts it in the top 6%.

We have five descriptive categories that we use to rank mattresses in terms of value and the Shiloh belongs to the top one “Worth every penny and then some.”

Updates to our Sleep Innovations Shiloh review

As per our regular schedule, we update the ratings quarterly, unless we see an indication of a significant quality change or learn about a change in the manufacturing practices.

We do it to make sure that our ratings always reflect the actual situation on the market. This means that you can be confident that the information you're seeing is fresh and relevant.

If you have questions or an experience you'd like to share (if you already own this mattress or if you get it after reading this), do get in touch, we have a $1000 yearly giveaway of sleep product for all interviewees who contribute to making our ratings more accurate.

To join it, all you have to do is contact us and we'll take it from there.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies team

Sleep Innovations Shiloh Review was first published to https://thesleepstudies.com

Poyet Motte is very precise about all 4 quality aspects:

All the reputable companies will typically list the latter two, but it’s rare to see a precise listing of how fine the wool fibers are. In that aspect, Poyet Motte is an exception the most positive sense of the word.

The one downside that we can think of here is the scarcity of Poyet Motte – we’ve seen them go out of stock a few times while compiling this guide.

It goes without saying that this kind of work quality is more expensive than competing products but, in our opinion, if you end up being a proud owner of a Poyet Motte, it won’t take long to forget the few extra dollars invested.

You can see whether your preferred color and size is currently available and read what owners are saying about Poyet Motte by following the links below.

Merino wool blanket - Woolly Mammoth Stargazer

Woolly Mammoth is a company specializing in wool-products and the Stargazer is one of the most popular items.

We rarely see user satisfaction this high and we’ve been reviewing and testing sleep-related products and blankets for over a decade now.

The Stargazer is a 80% Merino wool (virgin), meaning that the wool used is not recycled. This is an important point to make any to see a company not explicitly listing that the wool is a virgin, it probably means that it’s been recycled.

The fact that it’s not 100% Merino wool blanket is not a minus in this case, because the small amount of weft and acrylic added is there so that the blanket can better retain shape and be easier to clean.

The Stargazer belongs to the Farmhouse collection, which is a premium series of Woolly Mammoth products. Each of the blankets from the series is brushed which adds a soft, lofty finish.

Bottom line

As mentioned above, blankets with user satisfaction this high (currently 93%) are scarce, and when you do find one, the cost much more than the stargazer.

That’s why the blanket is rated at 95/100 in the value for money category and 94/100 overall.

It measures 66 x 90 “and it’s available in six colors / plaid designs.

Military Merino wool blanket - our choice - the Company Explorer

Before we get to the quality analysis, let’s define what we mean by “military” here.

Further down in the guide you’ll find blankets from the military surplus – this is not one of them. The Company Explorer is a premium product designed in military style and it’s meant to be used for and outdoor activities - from camping and hiking to bush craft. That’s why it is especially popular among camping and preparedness enthusiasts.

Similarly to the Stargazer, the idea behind the composition of this blanket is shape retention and durability. It’s 80% Virgin Merino wool with the remaining 20% being the combo of warp, weft and acrylic.

Because it’s intended for outdoor use, the texture has a milled finish with a hefty double stitching. This kind of structure doesn’t take away from the warmth, but makes it thinner and smaller to pack.

Who will choose the Company Explorer?

Among the outdoors and camping wool blankets, the Company Explorer stands alone with a user satisfaction rating of 92% and an overall rating of 91/100.

You can see what’s owners are saying about it by following the links below.

EKTOS 100 % military wool blanket for camping, emergency preparedness & survival (big)

The runner-up in the category of outdoor use is EKTOS.

The main difference between the Ektos and the Company Explorer we talked about above is that Ektos is 100% wool and the finish is a bit more rugged. It’s large, thick and heavy, but to with a soft finish (66 x 90 “, 5.5 pounds).

Finally, this heavy military wool blanket is washable (hand or machine).

Along with the Company Explorer, Ektos is one of the most popular blankets for outdoor use. You can see the experiences of the owners by clicking on one of the two links below.

Military wool blanket (surplus) – Arcturus

When we labeled the Company Explorer as “military”, we also explained that it doesn’t come from the surplus and promised to recommend one that does.

Our top pick here is the Arcturus. Being a surplus means that the price point of this military wool blanket is lower compared to similar products.

It goes without saying that surplus grade wool is second to none in terms of wool quality (550 GSM density), but what stands out about the Arcturus is the appearance and the soft finish.

This is what makes it a great choice for both home and camping use. It’s 88 inches long , 64 inches wide and weighs slightly over 4 pounds.

Wool throw blanket - the Highland tartar

Our top pick among wool throw blankets is the premium Highland Tartar (100% sheep wool).

The company making it (Prince of Scots) advertises the Highland Tartar as a blanket made to be a family heirloom. It’s made and imported from England. All the designs currently available are checkered (plaid), ranging from vibrant color combos of red, yellow and green to calming grays and browns.

If you’re looking for a picnic blanket or an accent throw for your sofa, your search probably ends here. We found no better quality to price ratio.

The runner-up in the wool throw blanket category

The second best wool blanket among throw designs comes from well known manufacturer – Pendleton.

The Pendleton Eco-wise wool throw is similar to the Highland tartar in many ways. It is 100% sheep wool, woven and shipped from the USA.

The plaid designs and fringes are a bit more adjusted compared to the Highland tartar, which means that it will work better with minimalist interiors.

Our overall rating of the Pendleton Eco-wise wool throw blanket are 90/100.

Alpaca wool blanket and throw recommendations – Putuco & AndeanSun

If you’re looking for genuine alpaca wool blanket, you should be especially careful because there are many counterfeits out there.

A company may advertise their blanket as “alpaca wool” but include other (cheaper) fabrics. That’s why you should read the fine print.

It’s also the reason why we had a hard time in this category and found very few products that we can recommend with a straight face. Among them, the AndeanSun stands out both in price to quality ratio and user satisfaction.

Our top pick among full-size alpaca wool blankets (Twin, Queen and King) is that the genuine Peru-made Putuco, while our recommendation among alpaca throws is the AndeanSun.

You can see the designs below, followed by links to the original products.

Swiss Army and Italian – NOS surplus military wool blanket

The category of Italian wool gave us a bit of a hard time since the weren't many high-quality products available. There were blankets with the words “Italian” in the name, but as soon as you did a bit deeper you'd find that the products are not the real deal.

Out the blankets that turned out to be genuine Italian wool, our top pick is a product coming from a company counter-intuitively named “Swiss Link”. It might sound odd while it’s anything but. Swiss Link specializes in products of this type (army-related).

For us, it doesn't come as a surprise since we know the company from the time we researched ghillie pants and jackets. They only sell a handful of products and their staples are a few Swiss Army wool blankets and this Italian military surplus.

This blanket is imported, it’s super heavy and 100% wool. The current user satisfaction percentage is 88, and our overall rating is 89/100.

You shouldn’t take our word for it, but do your own rereading on it. You can do so by clicking on one of two links below and reading more about what the owners are saying (we’re also providing doing to their Swiss army style blanket).

Icelandic wool – ICEWEAR Astros blanket & LakeMono throw

In the category of Icelandic wool, two products stand out.

One of them is 100% Icelandic wool (manufactured and shipped from Iceland) - ICEWEAR Astros, and the other one is a stylish throw knit t from acrylic microfiber Iceland wool – the LakeMono. The latter comes in two styles (chenille and corrugated).

It’s only natural that the ICEWEAR Astros costs more since it’s a premium product. You can read more about the two below.

Wool saddle pad & blanket

The category of wool saddle blankets & pads gave us a bit of a hard time, because we weren’t sure how to present our top picks and cover the variety of styles available (from the western felt styles similar to the diamond wool saddle pads to traditional Navajo patterns).

Without relying too much on our guesswork, we decided to simply ask for the feedback of our readers and did a few email interviews with horse-riding and equine experts.

We believe that allowed us to present exactly the types of several blankets that the majority of our readers will be interested in. You can see the details in the table below.

Irish wool

This category was pretty straightforward because there was one product that obviously stood out from the get-go. It’s the John Hanly Irish wool blanket.

We say “obvious” because none of the other Irish wool products we looked at were even close in terms of the user satisfaction percentage - 97 %. The John Hanly plaid is Ireland-made and it’s as genuine as they come.

The five color combos are designed to fit any color scheme that you might have going in your space.

Chunky & heavy wool blanket

Our top pick among chunky designs is the Acarpo HandWoven.

The competition here was pretty stiff with a few products being praised by the owners. What gave Acarpo an edge is selection of colors and sizes and, most importantly, the value for money.

Big and heavy wool blankets and throws from chunky yarn, have been all the rage in the interior design arena for the past couple of years. When a frenzy like that happens, the market becomes confusing, primarily in terms of prices.

In those circumstances, you can easily find yourself paying for the label or a brand. That’s why we decided to ignore brands and look for the best balance between quality and price. We found it in the Acarpo.

Types of wool and quality aspects

Sheep Wool

As you know, there are many breeds of sheep and ways to classify wool fibers (fine, down, medium, long, double-coated).

In general, this is a traditional fiber, made from wool of any sheep, and on clothes labels marked simply as wool. It is more available and less expensive than other types. It goes without saying that merino wool blankets are by far the most popular.

The main characteristics are:

Type of sheep wool fibers:

Fine

Due to its softness, it’s used to make clothes that will be in a direct contact with our skin. If you are into knitting, this is the yarn you will probably use.

Fleece is very refined, elastic and consistent, and has a great felting ability and memory. The downside is that is not as strong as other ones, so not much stress is needed to tear a fabric.

Down

Matte to appearance, this type of wool is very resilient and elastic. Used to make fine knitted or woven fabrics.

Medium

It stands on a halfway between finer and stronger types of wool. The memory and elasticity are average, which makes it perfect for producing a wide range of woolen things. It is used for everything, from scarves to tweeds.

Long

The fibers of this type of wool are long, draped, strong and often silky to touch. They are very easy to dye, although sheep breeds with this type of wool have exceptional range of natural colors.

Long wool is not as elastic as the previous types we mentioned, but it has a nice memory.

Primitive or Double-coated

The strongest type of fleece, used to make outerwear, rugs, carpets... Usually, these breed of sheep have this bulky, strong outer part of wool to protect themselves from the weather, and underneath a finer undercoat.

It’s often blended with other types of wool for better texture.

Lamb

This is the wool obtained from the first shearing of sheep, usually around the age of 7 months. The length of this virgin hair fleece is around 50mm.

This wool is one of the softest and finest, very resilient and silky to touch.

The price for it is higher than for the regular sheep wool, since you can only once shear a lamb’s baby hair.

Merino wool blanket

Originating from Spain, now mainly produced in Australia and New Zealand, this is the most popular type of sheep wool in the world.

Since the wool of Merino sheep contains lanolin (which is used in cosmetics industry), it needs to be washed and rinsed in cycles to get rid of it. At the end of that long process, end result is a half of the initial fleece, which makes this wool expensive.

Nevertheless, the 4.5 inches staples of wool are so fine (superfine Merino wool goes even down to 17 microns) and soft to touch, that this wool is used for making some of the most luxurious pieces of clothing and bedding, which always has their buyers.

It is an excellent thermo-regulator, so you can wear garments made from this wool when it’s hot or cold, even in the gym, due to its moisture-repellent properties. It is known to be fire-resistant and anti-static. Today, most of the 100 % merino wool blankets are imported (the same goes for alpaca).

Cashmere

This luxurious, super-fine material (around 18 microns in diameter) owes its high price to the painstaking process of obtaining the wool from cashmere goats. The cashmere used comes from the undercoat in the neck region of the goat and it has to be combed over regularly.

The wool itself has lightness and resilience and the fibers are very delicate and soft. It provides amazing insulation, so you can wear cashmere cardigans in the spring, and you won’t get overheated.

Mohair

Mohair is obtained from Angora goat (don’t confuse it with angora wool) and it’s stronger and smoother than sheep wool, but not as soft and delicate like cashmere, for example. It’s easy to wash, which is a huge plus, of course.

This wool has a specific sheen to it, and it’s considered to be a luxurious material. Although it absorbs dye really well, the natural shades can be extremely beautiful. It’s often blended with sheep or other types of wool to make light-weight but warm pieces of clothes.

As mentioned, it’s not the softest of the wool fabrics, but it is one of the warmest, so mixing it with other materials can balance the flaws.

It’s used in producing anything from scarves and hats to carpets and decorative things for homes.

Angora

The finest (10-15 microns) and softest of the wool fibers comes from the Angora rabbit, to be precise, his undercoat. The most popular types of Angora rabbits come from Europe, but they are domesticated and grown all over the world.

The production of angora is small and very demanding in terms of time and money. There are, also, ethical questions raised around it, since sometimes the rabbits have to be kept alone, in darkness, to protect their undercoat.

The rabbits have to be combed regularly, and the hair is obtained by plucking or shearing. Plucking takes more time and energy, but the end result is finer wool. Angora rabbits grow hair quickly, but due to their small size they can’t produce much wool (around 400 grams and below, a year)

The yarn itself is soft, fluffy and silky. The fibers are hollow, which makes the wool lighter and warmer, but with a low resilience.

To get more stability to the fabric, angora wool is usually blended with other materials (cashmere wool or nylon). The 100% angora garment would be too warm to wear, so blending it is a great option, and it also lowers the price of the angora wool products.

Alpaca wool blanket

This fabric comes from Alpaca, animal originating from South America, although it can be made from similar wool, like mohair. Fibers can range from 15 to 40 microns and that effect the levels of softness and itchiness.

The finer, silky fibers (like baby alpaca wool) are used to make clothes. Alpaca wool is often mixed with Merino, to get more draping quality, due to its stiffness.

Naturally, the Alpacas exist in very wide range of beautiful colors and shades, although the wool can be dyed. This wool is hypoallergenic, because it contains no lanolin, and is baby and kids friendly.

Updates to the guide on best wool blankets

It's our policy to regularly update all our guide that recommend products. To stay on top of things, we do it quarterly, unless we see a "red light" that can trigger an unscheduled update (typically a significant change in ratings of a specific product).

Finally, feel free to reach out with any questions you might have - you can do it by commenting below or dropping us an email. You can expect a response within a day.

Stay smart,

The Sleep Studies team

Wool blanket was first published to The Sleep Studies Research

Aerobed for kids

This update marks two years of the Aerobed for kids dominating this category.

With the user satisfaction rating of 91% and an overall rating of 92 out of 100, Aerobed for kids is currently in a comfortable lead with a gap of hefty 2 points in the overall ratings over the runner-up - Shrunks Tuckaire.

As you can see in the ratings below, it’s the quality (durability and longevity) of the material used that primarily stand out. The market of toddler air mattresses is not a huge one & most of the bigger companies have chosen not to dabble in it, which is probably what gave Aerobed (being the well-known and trusted company it is) an extra edge over the closest competitors.

Details:

Age range – 4+ years

Dimensions of the slip surface measured side-to-side – 50×25 inches

Height of the safety cushion – 4 inches

Type of pump – electric, included

Inflation time – under one minute

Who will choose Aerobed for kids?

This bed is by far the most popular among parents in spite of the fact that there are cheaper options out there. It only makes sense because, when it comes to any product that will be in direct contact with your kids, nothing trumps safety and 10 or 20 dollars don't make much of a difference for most parents.

The doesn’t mean that the other inflatables we have chosen for the top five are not safe (the safety standards are particularly strict when it comes to kids), but there is something comforting in knowing that a bed comes from a reputable company like Aerobed.

All-in-one package

It would be hard to find a person who likes shopping for extra things to make their purchase complete. In this case, we’re referring to the thick, fitted pad/sheets that come included with this Aerobed.

It means that you don’t have to worry about purchasing extra sheets, which is a huge plus because finding the right fit can be a headache.

It’s also important to stress that the included sheets are not a flimsy piece of cloth but made of thick materials with significant padding on the sleep surface. Also, they make for a practical add-on because they're washable, and the material of the mattress itself (unlike most others) does not stain and can be easily cleaned.

In our opinion, all of the above makes the Aerobed for kids the most complete and practical product in the category.

The Shrunks toddler travel bed

With a user satisfaction rating of 89% and an overall rating of 90 out of 100, the Shrunks Tuckaire toddler travel airbed with raised side rails has been a close runner-up to Aerobed for 4 updates now.

What stands out about it is the fact that comes from a company dedicated to products for kids (most of the other air beds on the list come from companies whose primary focus airbeds for adults).

As you see the ratings below, the ratings in the main quality categories are pretty close to the Aerobed.

Who will choose the Shrunks Tuckaire?

If you want more versatility, you might choose the Shrunks over the Aerobed. If you compare the two beds (size to size), the Shrunks packs down significantly smaller and lighter.

The smallest size of the Shrunks is the Junior toddler (ages 2+, 52 x 27 “, weight capacity up to 150 pounds) which packs down to a roll of approximately 16 x 7 inches and weighs just over 2.6 pounds.

On the other hand, if you go a size up the Shrunks is available in Twin Family size which inflates to a significantly bigger sleep surface than the Aerobed (78×43, measured side-to-side).

Bottom line – the Shrunks Tuckaire is the more versatile option and, for most people, the most practical choice when it comes to kids travel beds (opposed to indoor use).

Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed with Safety Bumpers - honorary mention and an exciting new arrival to the market

Hiccapop is a refreshing new addition to this guide – this is the second update that finds the Hiccapop in the top three choices.

It currently has the highest user satisfaction rating of all the toddler air mattresses on the list – 96%. Just to make things clear we'd like to disclose that are rating algorithms include what we call a “maturity coefficient." To avoid confusion, this has nothing to do with the bed being age-appropriate for toddlers - the “maturity coefficient” is just part of how we calculate the ratings.

In other words, it’s our way to make the ratings more reliable by adjusting them to the period of time the product has been on the market. The Hiccapop arrived to the market in the beginning of 2017 and has been gaining momentum ever since. This also means that each new update brings the Hiccapop closer to the very top because the high user satisfaction ratings have been consistent.

That’s the reason why we currently don’t have all the quality ratings for this bed - it will take about six extra months for the bed to reach full “maturity” and for us to report on all the quality ratings.

Frequently asked questions about our top picks in the toddler travel bed category

FAQs about the Aerobed for kids

Does it come in the other size?

No, the 50×25 size of the sleep surface is currently the only one available.

What’s the total size measured side-to-side (including the rails)?

We measured the dimensions of the further-most points of the Aerobed for kids and toddlers to be approximately that of a regular twin bed.

What’s the height of the side bumpers?

Side bumpers (or safety cushion as Aerobed calls them) measures 4 inches in height.

What’s the total height and length?

Measured from the floor to the top of the side bumpers, the Aerobed for kids is about 10 inches high. Measured from side-to-side, it is approximately 60 inches long.

What’s the weight capacity?

The listed weight capacity is 150 pounds.

How does the pump work? Can it be battery-operated?

The bed comes with a standard external Aerobed pump that needs to be plugged in to work (standard outlet). That’s why we stressed that some of the other kid airbeds are a more practical choice for travel.

Is there an option to use a different pump (length or manual)?

No, the pump is specific and the nozzles of other pumps typically don’t work with Aerobed. So if you need a replacement, you would have to get one either from their site, Amazon or an Aerobed store.

Is there any significant off-gassing?

This is one of the most common questions we have been receiving since we first published guide and it only makes sense because, as was said, safety comes first when choosing an airbed for kids and toddlers.

There is a slight PVC smell out-of-the-box, but it quickly dissipates. In practice, we would advise leaving the airbed outside for a few hours to air out.

Can I take it abroad?

As was said, the pump works with a standard US outlet (110 V). This means that, to use it abroad (with outlets of typically 220 V), you would need a power adapter.

Is the issue of cold air present?

This is another common question with toddler airbeds since the air circulating inside can result in cold rushes on the sleep surface. In this quality aspect, we found this toddler inflatable to be superior because of thicker PVC and, more importantly, the hefty padding on the included fitted sheets.

What are the dimensions one deflated?

Once deflated and rolled, we measured the roll to be about 15 inches long and 7 inches in circumference.

Can be used for camping?

If you have access to power, the answer is a definitive yes, especially because the thick PVC fares pretty well and is not prone to punctures.

How to patch it if it develops a leak?

Based on what we’ve seen, the incidence of air leaks is very low, but if it does happen, it holds a patch very well since the surface is not flocked. It comes with a patch kit included and precise instructions on how to do it.

How portable is it?

It comes with a carry case for travel which we found to perfectly fit the deflated bed and be durable in the long run. This was a bit of a surprise because this is primarily an indoor inflatable bed for kids.

Is the good fit for a Pack n’ Play?

Probably not, since it’s too large.

Does it make squeaking noises?

This is a reasonable question since the surface is not flocked. If used without the fitted sheets, you’ll definitely hear some squeaking, but we don’t see a reason to use it without its dedicated pad. In this setup, the noises become a non-issue.

Frequently asked questions about the Shrunks Tuckaire portable travel bed for kids

Is there a warranty?

The Shrunks Tuckaire is known for its unparalleled warranty terms – lifetime.

Noises

The Shrunks Tuckaire is probably the single least noisy product on this list because of the combination of flocked materials and how well the two separate parts (the foundation and sleep surface) fit together. The movement between the two is minimized, and it’s one of the reasons why the design of the Shrunks Tuckaire has received many awards over the years.

Safety

It’s third-party tested to be free of any chemicals like BPAs, phthalates or lead. We haven’t noticed any significant off-gassing and lasting smells. Much like the Aerobed we mentioned above, there is a slight initial smell, but it quickly goes away once unpacked.

Does it come with sheets included?

The two smaller sizes (Junior Toddler and Youth Sleepover) do come with a soft striped fitted sheet (gray and white) while the Twin family size does not.

The pumps and inflation time

The included pump is manual (leg) for the toddler size and typical inflation time is about one minute. If you go with the medium size, the included pump is called Maxaire (also manual) while the Twin size comes with an electric pump that inflates the bed in about half a minute.

How much do the different sizes weigh?

The weight ranges from 2.65 LBS (for the Junior toddler), through 7.94 LBS (the Youth Sleepover size) to 10.8 LBS (for the Twin family size).

Packing size when deflated

The biggest size of the Shrunks Tuckaire (Twin Family) packs down to approximately 16×16 inches (when flat) and 16×7 inches (when rolled).

The two smaller sizes back down to a roll of approximately 40×18 cm (16×7 inches).

The side rails of the Shrunks Tuckaire

Measured from the flat surface of the side foundation to the top of the rail curvature, the security rails are 3.5-4.5 inches high, depending on the size.

Shipping

We have received a few questions about the shipping. We can’t precisely pinpoint the confusion here since Shrunks explicitly lists their shipping policy to be within 2 business days.

What are the sheets made of?

The fitted sheets are 100% brushed cotton.

Frequently asked questions about the Hiccapop kids air mattress

Size of the sleeping surface

Measured from rail to rail, the Hiccapop is approximately the size of a crib mattress. The security bumpers are 11 inches high and 49 inches long.

Maximum capacity

The listed maximum capacity is 300 LBS.

Age range

As per the official listing of the product, the age range is 2+ years. There is no official upper limit.

Using it with a different outlet

Strictly speaking, the manufacturer explicitly lists in that the pump is meant to be used with standard 110V outlets, but it can be adapted to a different current and used abroad if you can find the right converter for the power of the pump.

Deflation

The pump is not a two-way meaning that it doesn’t suck the air out and you would need to deflate the bed manually by pulling the plug out. Based on our experience, about half of the air goes out on its own and you would have to press and roll the bed to fully deflate it.

Can it be used with a universal pump?

As long as you have a pump with nozzles that are a good fit for the Hiccapop valve, you should have no problem using a universal pump for this kids air mattress. This also means that if the nozzles of an inflating machine are a good fit, you can use them to deflate the bed by putting the machine in reverse mode.

Safety

It's completely free of harmful chemicals like lead, BPAs and Phthalates.

The construction

The sides (foundation) you can see in the images are separate from the middle part of the bed. We’re specifically mentioning this because it makes the cleaning easier.

Intex toddler air mattress – honorary mentions

We feel that it would be unfair to exclude Intex toddler air mattresses from this guide since Intex had at least one representative in the top five since we first compiled the guide on best toddler travel beds for camping and indoor use.

The two most prominent models that have been in and out of our top picks are the budget-friendly Intex Kidz anbd the more advanced Intex travel bed set with side rails.

The user satisfaction ratings of the two portable inflatable beds for kids are respectively 78 and 85%.

Kid and toddler camping bed (inflatable)

Since we received quite a few questions about whether the travel beds for toddlers listing this guide are suitable to be used as kid camping beds, it’s only logical that we addressed the questions.

When it comes to camping, your choice will depend on the circumstances with the most important one being whether you have access to power. If you do, you can easily use even the beds that come with an external electric pump and if you don’t, you’ll be better off with some of the listed models that use a manual or a leg pump.

Updates policy & new ratings

We typically update the ratings in guide on quarterly basis and do a complete overhaul once a year (one that includes new products that have hit the market).

To make sure that the information presented are reliable at all times, we screen the user satisfaction ratings once a month and if we do notice a significant fluctuation (especially lowered ratings) we do an unscheduled update to see if it's only a statistical aberration or a real issue. We call these "red light" updates because their purpose is to find any indication that something about the products has changed (like materials or manufacturing practices).

The bottom line is that you can rest assured that the information you see here are up-do-date with what's currently happening on the market.

Finally, if you have any questions, dilemmas or simply quality aspects you feel we haven't covered, do drop us a comment below or contact us directly. It usually takes us no more than 24 hours to respond to all correspondence.

Best Toddler Travel Bed – Top 5 Kids & Toddler Air Mattresses Find more on: https://thesleepstudies.com

Range of sounds

Current ratings in Google play store: 4.3 out of 5

Requirements: variable by device

Sleep Sounds by Relaxio

When we set the Calm app can be compared to the best sound dedicated apps, this relax you app (and a few others) is what we had in mind. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and is calming sounds are your primary reason for getting an app, Sleep Sounds will likely meet and exceed your expectations.

The list of natural sounds ranges from a variety of rain types (refreshing regular, drops on the windshield, forest and rainforest) to evening beach or autumn woods. On the other hand, those who prefer women sounds might find the “train” soothing. Used updates include instrumental music and notification control.

All the sounds are HD and app doesn’t require an Internet connection to work.

Current ratings on Google play store: 4.8 out of five

Requirements for Android: 4.0.3 and up

Relax Melodies

Relax melodies by Ipnos software is another sleep and relaxation app that owes its popularity (35 million downloads) to the quality and range of sounds available.

What stands out about this app in particular is the option to create a mix of sounds included and create one that works best for you. It allows you to choose the sounds you want included in your mix and control the volume of each.

You can then save your mixes to the sound library and choose one for different purposes (from relaxation and meditation to naps and sleep). Over the last year the app grew in popularity, primarily because of the melodies sharing feature. This means that you can create your mix of melodies and share it with the community.

Current ratings on iTunes: 4.8 out of 5

Current ratings on Google play store: 4.5 out of 5

Size for android: variable by device

Size for iOS: 116.9 MB

Top sleep tracking app – Sleep Better Sleep Tracker

If you’re looking for an app that will reliably track your sleep and pinpoint any problems or this balance between your sleep phases you’ll probably find this app to be as reliable as dedicated sleep trackers.

Not only does it allow you to track your progress in sleep quality on your phone, but you can also upload the data Apple Health to make long-term analysis easier.

The interface is intuitive and easy to use and the reliability comes from the fact that it utilizes movement tracking to reach conclusions about your sleep. It’s the same kind of technology used by sleep trackers.

For some people, the downside of movements-based sleep tracking can be the fact that your phone has to be placed on your mattress for the app to work.

The slick minimal design of the interface and included alarm clock deserves full five stars.

Current ratings on Google play store: 4.1 out of 5

Current ratings iTunes: 3.9 out of five

Size for iOS: 79.7 MB

Requirements for iOS: 9.0 and up

Requirements for Android: 4.1 and up

Updates to this guide

With new sleep and relaxation apps sheet in the marketplace practically every day, we are bending our rules on updates (for most sleep-related products we updates the reviews and top picks annually) and go with quarterly updates.

It goes without saying that choosing an app that will be helpful for your specific circumstances includes a range of factors. The good news here is that even the apps with a hefty price tag usually include a trial period that should give you a chance to determine which of these works for you.

Best sleep and meditation apps for iOS and Android Read more on: https://www.thesleepstudies.com/

The two factors above could result in a big spike on the market in 5 to 6 years.

The bottom line

If you were to make a list of manufacturing industries being shaped by new technologies and business models, the mattress industry would likely be at the very top.

Speaking from the economic perspective and looking at the big picture, the impact of the changes that we describe above is yet to show its full impact on the market.

With new companies and improved technologies and materials arriving at the marketplace with each passing quarter, these are as exciting times as any.

That’s the main reason why we’re moving on from our regular scheduled updates of this report (annual) to quarterly updates on any significant news in the industry.

The blog post Mattress industry stats – sales, growth and trend predictions for 2018-2024 is republished from TheSleepStudies

Bottom line

Wildhorn Sand Away is one of the largest blanket we looked at, but the surprising part is how light and small it packs (approximately 1.3 lbs in a cylinder pouch of about 5.5 in diameter and 8.5 in length).With all that said, we found it to be solid value for money and a smart buy. Overall rating 95 / 100.

FunN'Sun beach towel blanket

Most of the blankets we listed are made of modern materials that are all about repelling sand, drying quickly and, in some cases, being waterproof. The FunN'Sun is different and will be the choice of people looking to stand out but still prefer the cozy feel of a towel to the parachute nylon fiber. It's top-to-bottom premium microfiber.

We did see some great microfiber blankets (we'll talk about one more in a minute) but the colors are usually not much fun. There's a reason behind that - if not treated to be color-fast, microfiber tends to bleed color (especially when greens & red are combined with white). That's why you'll see it used mostly in one color pieces or combos of akin colors, like hues of blue and turquoise.

If you want to stand out and be the talk of your beach section, the FunN'Sun will do it. It comes in two sizes (towel - 64 x 76 and blanket size - 64 x 76) and 10 vivid color combos. What we especially liked about is how color-fast it is. This aspect is usually a problem, especially in lower price ranges, since the blanket tend to bleed color.

Microfiber is a combo fabric (between polyester and polyamide) and, over the last decade, we have seen a surge of low quality fabrics on the market. We're basing this on other blanket types we've tested and reviewed over the years, but the criteria is the same.

The color-fast issue we mentioned above might not be much of an issue for one-season blankets of akin colors but if you want to get a blanket with whites included without breaking the bank. The blankets that don't bleed in the white-vivid combo are much more expensive but we've seen no significant difference in the quality compared to the FunN'Sun.

Last but not least, the FunN'Sun is one of the most popular choices among users since the range of colors appeals to beach-goes of all types and sizes, from surfers to families and couples. It has hundreds of review on Amazon - you can see them all by following one of the links below.

SportLite Extra Large

The SportLite Microfiber large beach blanket is the highest rated in the category of user satisfaction and packing size. The thin microfiber packs extremely small and, in that quality, it has no real competition - it's as seamless and as ease to carry and use as they come.

Microfiber is so popular that we have even seen some companies trying to imitate the look and feel with other fabrics (like plain polyester) and pass it as micro. In the case of a beach blanket, the first thing you'd notice with one of these is how poor the insulation from the heat of the sand or pebbles is and that it doesn't absorb water.

If the imitation of the product is well-finished you won't even be able to tell until you try to dry water from your body. If it just pushes the water around, you probably have a polyester fabric on your hand "posing" as microfiber.

Bottom line

If the blanket genuine microfiber, the quality is determined by the denier and % of material. We found the SportLite to be super absorbent and great at heat insulation from the sand.

The result came as no surprise since SportLite is known for their beach products (it's the brand that makes the official towels for the LA Lifeguard Association).

To be clear, there's nothing revolutionary about this SportLite, there are dozens of good microfiber blankets and beach throw out there. The main difference here is the quality of the microfiber and the "value for money.

We do know of similar products, but a vast majority of them costs much more than this SportLite. This brought their rating in the "Value for $" down and knocked them right out of the Top 5, making the SportLite the only bproduct among the top picks that's made of microfiber.

Kahuna Next Gen sand proof beach blanket

The Next gen by Kahuna is a similar product to the iShoyu and will appeal to people with similar taste and needs (the main advantage being the sand-proof material).

Again, the material & sand-repelling properties are similar, as you can see in the ratings below. You'll notice that we don't rate the products made of parachute nylon fiber in the category of "color-fast." That would make very little sense since the material simply does't bleed color and that's true even for product of significantly lower quality than the Kahuna.

The main (objective) PROs of the Kahuna are the drying (takes only minutes), the ability to repel sand. On the subjective side, we have to say that we prefer the triangular patterns and colors of the Kahuna, but that's just us.

Kahuna defines their blankets as "giant" or "over-sized" but there is significant difference in the size (10x9" vs. 8x8"). If the size of the IShoyu seems like too much, you'll find the Kahuna to be just right for one or two people (without folding it).

You can see what owners are sharing about it by following the links below.

Round beach blanket by Dock & Bay

The only round beach blanket on the list comes from one of the most trusted companies in the industry "Dock & Bay." It currently has by far the highest number of reviews from all the listed products.

The material is microfiber and you can choose between 10 round cross and 6 round maze patterns. Another company that was bold enough to combine colors that can bleed with whites. We already talked about the additional treatment this entails before the products can hit the stores.

Sizes: Large, Extra Large & Round (the circle is 75 " in diameter).

What stands out about the Dock & Bay is the fact that this round beach blanket is the only on the list that has a 30-day return policy and full year of warranty. We've seen no better return and warranty policy. In fact, you rarely see one at all with products like this.

Kudos for that, Dock & Bay.

Turkish beach blanket by Cacala

Turkish beach blanket is a throw made of 100 % Turkish cotton. They're light, the tight weaving leaves little room for stretching which also means they don't dry as easily as the modern material listed here.

Typically, a person getting a Turkish beach towel will know exactly what they're looking for. Th feel of the fabric is hard to explain and the closest we can get is that it resembles a slightly more rugged cotton throw.

The right weave and the color-fast cotton allow for the most expressive range of colors. Our top pick here, the Cacala Turkish beach towel, is available in 24 colors and measures 59 x 79 inches.

Most of the categories we used to rate the products don't really apply to Pestemal throws (another word for a Turkish beach towel) so we'll only reporting on the user satisfaction rating here.

Giant GO sand-free waterproof beach blanket

GO is a different product compared to blankets we talked about thus far. While parachute fabric and microfiber are designed to be quick-drying, they have no backing or layers that would be waterproof.

The material of the GO is Oxford Polyester (Ripstop), the GO offers more insulation and the moisture of the surface underneath (whether it's sand, grass or ground) practically has no chance of "breaking through". On the other hand, the top finish is still quick-drying.

The blanket is kept in place with either sand-pockets (which will be enough for a trip to the beach) or small stainless steel pegs you can use to secure the blanket even better by attaching the corner loops.

Oxford ripstop polyester is a peg stronger than parachute nylon fiber and is likely to last longer. Since it's a different type of material, you'd see the rating of "water absorbent" change to "waterproof." The ratings we reached are below.

Beach throw blanket - Seashore woven by Manual Woodworker

This beach throw blanket is probably the most stylish product on the list and will be the choice of people who prefer the luxurious woven "feel" to that or microfiber or parachute fiber.

Strictly speaking, this throw is more about the looks and feel than being water or sand-friendly, because it's all-cotton.

It's top-to-bottom US-made and we measured the size to be approximately 40 x 50 ".

User satisfaction rating: 93 %

Bottom line

This throw is in a category of its own and most of the quality ratings don't apply, so we're only reporting on its owner satisfaction rate.

You can read what users are saying about by following one of the two links below.

Reference info on choosing the best beach blanket - types & materials

Types by material used

Parachute nylon

Probably the most popular type of sand free beach blankets today are the ones made from parachute nylon. The main reason behind the trend are the sand-repellant and quick-drying properties of the materials.

The material is at the "sweet spot" between comfort, weight, toughness and longevity.

It retains color very well and doesn't change, which leaves room for using vivid colors and patterns varying from cute (soft pinks that most women will like) to and expressive for the youngsters. The nature of parachute nylon also allows for small and light packing.

Polypropylene

The main PRO of blankets made of polypropylene are the longevity and toughness. The secondary benefit is the stylish look and feel similar to that of a woven beach throw blankets.

Polypropylene is waterproof and the little water absorbed dries quickly. It's also naturally resistant to temperature changes and makes for a great insulator from the scorching heat of the summer beach sand.

Microfiber

None of the materials we talked about above compares in softness to the cozy feel of micro fibers.

It's only natural that they make one of the best beach blankets if you think about the absorbing properties of microfiber cloths. The important part here is knowing how to recognize the real thing from cheap imitations. It's one of the few materials that allows for a circle stitching to hold well and most of the round blankets are made using microfiber.

If you get that part right, you'll end with soft blanket that will last for summers with minimal changes.

Fleece and polar fleece

Because of the similar properties, fleece often plays the role of wool and offers a great substitute for those who are not fans (or are allergic) of the prickly wool fibers. It's used for beach throw blankets, especially its sub-type polar fleece.

Polar fleece is a bit more rugged and stronger than regular fleece, hence the more common use for clothes and clothes. The direction of the fibers defines the stretching - it usually stretches more along one of its dimensions (depending on the weave).

Compared to wool, it's far lighter and easier to wash and clean.

Oxford Ripstop fabric

Oxford ripstop is used for backing of waterproof beach blankets. Not only does it make them waterproof and more durable.

It's typically paired with parachute nylon on the top, making the bottom waterproof while the top remains breathable enough to dry easily, especially under the beach sun.

Cotton - used mainly for beach throw blankets

Most of us remember the days when all you could see on the beach were cotton towels. Cotton is absorbent but retains water and sand. In that quality aspect, it's fair to say that it's not as beach-friendly as other modern materials.

Today, it's used for cute beach blankets - the kind you'd use for a picnic and not rarely on its own for a full day on the beach.

More about our review process and ratings

We already talked about the basics of the methodology we use to rate the blankets, but in the section below we'll dig deeper and explain the nitty-gritty of it all - from the moment we decided to review the products to the moment we first had a list of Top 10 best beach blankets.

One of our editors is a Materials technology engineer and, in guides like this, it's usually him and a few of his colleagues (that we bring in for the project) who make the initial picks.

What are "initial picks?"

The initial picks are the products that passed the first "filter" and qualified to be looked into closer.

In this case, the broad list included over 120 products (based on user satisfaction data). The shortlist are the blankets we analyze and review in more depth. In this case that list consisted of 20 products.

For this guide we had no unscheduled testing so far.

Our review and rating algorithm is a "living" thing. That's especially true for this guide since the products and quality aspects are unique and the methodology we use to rate, say, heated electric blankets, hardly applies.

For this guide, it was back to the drawing board and the changes were more than tweaking since we had to include categories we've never used before like the blankets being "sand-free" (you might see this aspect referred to as "sand-repellent") and waterproof.

Ask us anything

If you reached our page and still have doubts about what you'll bask in for the few summers to come, drop us a line anytime (the comment section is below). We'll do our best to help.

If we don't know the answer, we'll find out and get back to you within 24 hours.

Bob, James and Katia aka. the blanket review team at TheSleepStudies

The following post Best Beach Blanket | Top 10 Compared | 2018 Update Read more on: https://thesleepstudies.com

2nd best weighted blanket for adults - ZonLi

Honorary mention - best weighted blanket for teens - Inyard Premium

With a user satisfaction of 93 % at the time of completing the last update of this guide, the runner-up comes from Inyard - a company that's famous for making specialized Therapy swings.

The product is primarily aimed at teens and, with the sizes and weights (5, 7 and 15 lbs).

The Inyard is top-to-bottom made in the US, and the craftsmanship and materials quality is nothing short of superb. If this reads like advertising, it's not; it's simply facts.

But we have to say that we liked the Inyard so much that it's the only weighted blankets for teens we're including here. The initial concept of the guide was to pinpoint the top products for adults. The fact that we deviated from that "rule" to mention Inyard speaks for itself.

What is a weighted blanket?

Weighted blankets are therapeutic products designed to offer relief to people with anxiety and sensory response problems.

Why do they work?

They work because they calm down the "fight or flight" response, lower the cortisol levels and increase mood and sleep hormones like serotonin and melatonin.

A brief history

The products that we mention in this guide and label as best weighted blankets in their respective categories are significantly different from the product that kick-started the industry, both in design, materials used and a range of people they're intended for.

The origins go back to the mental health arena. Psychiatrists experimented with weight as means of calming down the sensory response for far too long and pinpointing one person as the inventor is not straightforward.

Initially, the experiments were just about adding weight. The approach proved to have a "red line" because, at higher weights, the response has a negative in fact, it can exacerbate the sensory response and make the person even more anxious because they feel trapped.

The discovery that caused the most significant shift in the industry and led to the designs we know today is the even weight distribution. That's when people stopped experimenting with (what now seems an obviously counterproductive practice) of attaching actual weights to the edges of blankets and lap pads.

Initial issues

Even the first modern designs had a similar issue because they relied on a one-chamber filling. This filling would move through the blanket and end up in the corners with prolonged use. The corners and edges would then become too heavy causing the blanket to slide or the used to feel trapped.

The evolution - DIY weighted blankets in the autism community

First attempts of addressing the issue were nothing to write home about because they relied on simply filling the blankets and pads with more of the same filling or adding other stuffing that was supposed to stop the beads from moving. It didn't work as expected - it only made the blankets bigger and more cumbersome.

Here, we're still talking about the DIY blankets, hand-made for kids and adults with special needs. There was still no standard for the filling and people used whatever provided a similar effect (from rice and corn to pebbles). None of these were a lasting solution - the seeds can sprout and cause issues ranging from the change in the way the blanket feels to allergic reactions while the pebbles proved to be too rugged and would wear down the materials of the cloth.

Chambered (quilted) design

It was only when chambered designed and tight stitches that hold the beads in place was introduced that things changed. It seems like an obvious change, but it took years to get there.

The sectional designs pair the calming effects of weight with deep sensory pressure. We could get into the nitty-gritty of the science here but, for the purposes of this guide, it's enough to explain as even weight distribution.

Modern designs

What we know as a weighted blanket today combined the sectional design (usually quilted squares) with poly-pellets and glass beads. Both are spherical, and the main difference is the density of the materials.

As we mentioned in one of the reviews, poly-pellets make for a more "aerated" feel while the fine glass, sand-like spheres make for thinner blankets.

What the future holds

We don't see any revolutionary changes happening in the designs anytime soon.

We do expect a more diverse market in terms of pellet and bead size. This would allow further personalization of the calming effect.

History and predictions aside, let us get back to where we are today and answer some of the frequently asked questions about weighted blankets.

How heavy should a weighted blanket be?

A weighted blanket should weigh about 10 % of your body weight plus 1-2 lbs.

This is the formula commonly used for kids and teens. For adults, this means that the weight goes as high as 25-40 lbs (Queen or King size designed for heavier people). Our research also shows that the weight adults found to be "just right" largely depends on the sensory condition. The final choice of the blanket you use should always be a combo of the advice you get from your therapist, and your preference, the information we provide here are for educational purposes and reference.

You can get a good sense of how the blanket will feel in term of weight by simply gathering the blankets you have laying around and pilling them on. If you try this, ignore the feeling of the heat and focus on how the weight feels. The actual weighted blanket will not be as warm; it should offer the calming effect of the added weight without heating you up too much.

Weights of over 30 lbs are outliers and studies about the impact of the added weight.

Size

Sizes range from smaller (dedicated sizes) to Queen and King weighted blankets.

The size is another important factor because the bigger the blanket, the more of it will be on the surface on the not directly pressing your body. For example, a Queen size weighted blanket will press you more than a Twin and less than a King (of the same weight). It is common sense and pretty straightforward, but we found it to be a commonly overlooked aspect.

King size weighted blanket

King size weighted blanket with the highest satisfaction ratings (84/100) comes from YnM. It measures 80 x 87 inches and weighs 25 pounds.

The filling is sand pellets while the finish is 100 cotton. It comes in a range of colors and patterns but the "issue" we've seen here is that not all of them are available in King size.

King weighted blankets are scarce. They cost a peg more, which is to be expected, especially of this quality. They're made for adults, and that's one of the reasons the YnM in King size is not available in all colors and patterns (because some of the patterns are playful, colorful and obviously intended for kids).

The sand pellets used are certified to be free of any odor and completely non-toxic. Compared to the standard plastic, they offer a distinctly soft feel.

Queen size weighted blanket for adults

With Queen sized linen being more popular (thank King), the choices you have in the size are similar to our top overall picks.

ZonLi Queen size weighted blanket is the runner-up overall and out top pick in this size category.

The Queen is 60" wide, 80" long and weighs 20 pounds. The pellets are standard (poly) and are packed inside a cotton "chambers" (square quilt stitching). It comes in 4 colors: Black, Navy Blue, Dark Gray and Brown.

Weighted lap pads

Besides the standard sizes used for sleeping, the product is also available in specialized sizes, like weighted lap pads for adults and kids. We found the former to be scarce and only a few high-quality products in this size category had a satisfaction rating if over 80% in user reviews.

Our top pick in the category is Sensory Goods weighted lap pad.

Sizes and weights available:

It's available in 7 neutral colors with no patterns (green, blue, burgundy, pink, navy, tan & denim). The sizing, weight and colors make it an option for adults and kids both.

An issue that we've seen with other similar products is uneven weight distribution of the filling (usually glass/sand beads). They tend to shift and move around if the stitching of the parts is not deep or tight enough.

The filling in this weighted lap pad is deep and tight, and the beads can only move within their "section" and not throughout the lap pad.

Filling (Pellets)

In case you are the kind of buyer that likes to understand all about the product they're buying of you want to make a DIY weighted blanket, you might want to know what kind of filling is most commonly used.

Poly pellets

No. 1 filling are poly-pellets. When we say "no.1," we're primarily referring to how frequent the filling is used in the best weighted blankets we reviewed.

The poly-pellets are made from non-recycled, toxin-free pieces and look like round bits. The texture resembles that of a small pebble. If this is one of your concerns and you want something that feels more uniform, you'll probably prefer glass beads of sand filling.

Glass beads

The glass-bead filling sounds different than it is. If you didn't know it was glass-based, you'd have the impression that it's sand. In fact, some of the glass beads feel even finer than the finest sand.

Because the weight is distributed more evenly and less likely to move to the corners of the blanket or cover, we've seen people reporting that the subjective feeling of glass-bead or sand filling "feels" like it has more weight that one filled with plastic pellets.

Volume of the filling

You'll probably need about two times as much (in terms of volume) of plastic pellets than glass beads to fill a "pocket" of the same weight.

This means that the plastic filling will feel more "rackety" and uneven and will be thicker, while glass or sand makes for a thinner weighted blanket.

In our experience, we've seen that people preferred the "aerated" feel of the poly to sand or glass and most of our top have this type of feeling. The exception is the category of a king size weighted blanket, for a few reasons.

We found the glass-bead / sand filling to be superior in King size weighted blankets.

Besides the most important factor (the user satisfaction) we found that King size is too big of a surface to keep the filling in place. As a result, most of the products in King size we looked at had the issue of too much movement inside the quilting.

Where can I buy a weighted blanket?

In our research for this guide, we had numerous sources we looked at. It's our opinion that (for the ones that available on the site) getting a weighted blanket on Amazon has a few advantages. The main one is that you can read the reviews users shared and look for the ones that closely match your circumstances or condition.

At Bed Bath and Beyond

For some of the brands (like Brookstone) were not available on Amazon. In the case of Brookstone, you could get one through their website or at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Some brands can be found both on Amazon and at Bed Bath and Beyond. In our research, we were left with the impression that the main benefit of getting one through Amazon is the wider range of the products offered as well as more user reviews shared.

Some honorary mentions and reference info

Gravity blanket review

After the launch through Kickstarter, Gravity blanket became one of the most popular brands.

It's so popular, in fact, that there's even a confusion in the terminology and we've seen many people confusing the name of the brand with the product (weighted blanket).

At the time of the last update to this guide, the Gravity blanket was not readily available on Amazon but only through their website and only for pre-order (one that will be fulfilled when the blankets are available).

How to wash a weighted blanket?

Most weighted blankets can be machine washed on a gentle cycle, separately from other items, without using softeners, bleach or chlorine. For a majority of brands, the recommended washing temperatures are in the range from cold to lukewarm.

Drying

The best practice when it comes to drying is wither to hang it or tumble dry on low. In the section below we'll get more specific about how to wash, dry and remove stains from weight blankets of different weights and fabrics.

Is it rated for the dryer?

While the filling is not an issue when it comes do drying (both pellets and beads can usually handle it), the fabric is a different story. The companies usually recommend gentle washing and drying practices to prolong the shape and feel retention of the fabric.

If you are hanging it dry, try to spread it over two laundry lines to avoid sagging and shape changes, especially with the softer materials like fleece.

The weight - home washing vs. Laundromat

We recommend washing any weighted blanket of 15 lbs or more at the Laundromat. While they can be machine washed, the weight can prove to be too much for home washing.

Why no chlorine bleach?

Because chlorine is aggressive and can change the fiber of the fabrics.

Why no softeners?

You shouldn't use softeners because they can "stick around" the pellets or beads and build up. In the long run, this will change the soft feel and make the blanket more rugged.

No ironing

It's common sense, but let us mention it anyway - you shouldn't iron your weighted blanket.

The plastic beads can melt and most of the materials used are too sensitive for ironing. If you have a cotton-based cover with glass filling, it might be an option because the beads are resistant to high temperature and cotton is iron-friendly.

Again, while it might be possible in some fabric-filling combos, we don't see the need to do it. Most brands will come with a no-ironing label.

Specific materials

All of the best weighted blankets (including our top 5) come with recommendations on how to wash the product. So, the following analysis is included more for reference purposes than anything else, to help you in the initial process of choosing and if you to make a diy blanket and have dilemmas about the materials.

Fleece

Fleece is a sensitive material, but we feel that there is misconception about washing it. The changes in texture and shape are, more often than not, a result of aggressive detergents or washing cycles.

To prevent fleece losing its "fluffy" quality, you'll want to wash in using warm (not hot) cycles on your washing machine and go with low-heat drying cycles.

It's a good idea to rinse it twice before drying it. This will remove any remaining detergent that might change the texture in the long run. Finally, fleece is one of the few materials used that handles softeners well.

Cotton

If the weighted blanket is all-cotton (both the backing and finish), you have a bit more leeway when washing it.

The important part when washing cotton weighted (gravity) blanket is what we like to call "load control." It comes down to not overburdening your washing machine and washing it separately.

The reason is two-fold - it's gentler to the washing machine and the tear and wear of the blanket are lower.

Flannel

Flannel is sub-type of cotton. Proper maintenance comes down to a few main rules:

Rayon and linen

Some of the best weighted blankets are made using a combo of rayon and linen because it has superb shape retention properties while remaining "on the soft side."

These fabrics include cellulose which doesn't respond well to bleaching. You might not see it when washing, but in the long run, it will affect the lifespan of the fibers.

Updates of the guide on best weighted blankets for adults

Our standard update schedule is quarterly for the parts of the ratings that are data-driven (like the satisfaction ratings and user reviews). You can always see when this guide was last updated under the table of TOP 5 (click here to skip back to it) as well as at the very end of the guide (below).

Finally, we encourage you to ask any question that comes to mind in the comments below. We respond within 24 hours, but since we consulted 3rd party experts for this guide, it might take us a day or two to answer some questions. In other words, if we don't know the answer, we'll let you know, find out and get back to you.

Sleep well and stay calm,

The Sleep Studies review team

The following blog post Best Weighted Blanket for Adults was first published to The Sleep Studies

Who will choose the Nidra?

Too many of our testers (18%) found the Nidra's contoured shape to be an issue for side sleeping for us to recommend it for side sleepers. It also might not be right for you if you're a hot sleeper because the "sealing" is so tight that it can get warm under it.

On the other hand, the issue for back sleepers is not as significant if your pillow is on the softer side and can nullify the connections at the back.

With all that said - Nidra is our top choice for travel and naps. For these purposes the two points above are moot.

Another point worth making is that the Comfort rating includes eye pressure as one of the components and its another quality aspect where Nidra excelled. The design practically removes all pressure from the eyes.

Jersey Slumber - 2nd best sleep mask for side sleepers

Another sleep eye mask that seems to strike the right balance between materials, padding, light isolation and strap design is the Jersey Slumber.

Jersey Slumber mask is made using smooth silk on both sides, no Velcro on the back or sides of the head that would create pressures points. The slider that controls the size is just seamless enough not to be an issue for side sleepers and, since there is no connection in the back, it makes for a good option for back sleepers.

The size of the mask itself is, according to our measurements, approximately 8.6 x 4.3 inches and 9/10 people didn't even comment on the universal unisex size, which is always a good thing. No comments usually means that it wasn't an issue.

Rigidity of the padding

This is a thin silk mask (both sides) and thin padding. What we've seen as the most common complaint with masks of this type is pressure exerted. The issue can range from it being slightly uncomfortable because it touches the eyelashes to the more "serious" complaints like direct pressure on the eyes.

This comes down to the balance between the tightness of the straps, the size range and the padding. It's not something that can be precisely defined and the best we could do here is include a question about it in our questionnaire for the testers. Here are the results of that - 91% of people reported no eye-pressure issues, 6 % found it to be too tight and 3% reported that it's too small and loose for a comfortable fit.

What's important here is that we tried to find a correlation between the %s and for most of the people we did - it's usually outliers in terms of head size. For about 1.7%, we couldn't pinpoint the exact cause, so it's probably the shape of the bones around the eyes.

The bottom line here is that 9/10 people did not find any issues with the sizing and eye pressure.

Bedtime Bliss - second best sleep mask for travel

The Bedtime Bliss is not close to the "side-sleeping" ratings of the best sleep masks for side sleepers but it is one of the most popular eye masks and our pick as the runner up in the category of the best sleep masks for travel.

The reason for the former could be pinpointed to the contoured shape and a hefty padding that is likely to move when you sleep on your side. In this scenario, a side-sleeper will find it uncomfortable because of the pressure on the nose and the light coming in through the "cracks" of the displaced masks.

It's primarily designed for travel and back-sleepers. The wide straps make for better pressure distribution and the "molded" contoured shape blocks practically all the light.

Unisex, minimally designed

The minimal unisex design makes it one of the better options for men (especially the blue version). Women on the other hand, liked the luxurious look of the purple and there were interviewees of both sexes who preferred the simple all-black (approximately 25% total).

We also found that "only" 17% of stomach-sleepers found them comfortable enough for stomach-sleeping. It's the contoured combo of cotton and bamboo that will make them (in our opinion) uncomfortable for most people sleeping in the position.

Bottom line - a solid value for money option for back-sleepers and travelers of both sexes with a high light isolation rating (94/100).

It's also worth mentioning that this Bedtime Bliss eye mask is one of the most popular products with over 10,000 user reviews on Amazon. You can see them all by following the links below.

Manta sleep mask review - 7th top-rated

Manta sleep mask is described by the company as "modular". It refers to the fact that it's somewhat more intricate design aimed at adjusting to the face of the user.

We have to admit that we didn't expect Manta eye mask to find it's way to the TOP 10 and it's fair to say that we were probably led by the prejudice of our experience with masks with (re) movable parts. The Manta did receive ratings that are close to some of the best models out there and what kept it from climbing higher is the ratings of "value for money."

To put it differently - we found it comfortable going to bed or at the beginning of travel but we also see the movable parts as an issue for long term comfort. The count of those experiences (in-house and our featured testers) was few too many to justify the higher price tag of the Manta mask.

Let's take a moment to explain what Manta (the company) means when they say "modular" and adjustable

The first things that stands out are the velcroed eye "patches" that can be moved to adjust to the shape of your head and the distance between your eyes and forehead bones above the eyes.

It's a nice idea but we found it to be more marketing-oriented than a substantial advantage over one-piece masks.

Bottom line - we like the Manta mask but if it was us, we wouldn't pay double or three times as much for it (compared to some of the other products on this list).

Light isolation: 94/100

Overall comfort: 92/100

Materials quality: 92/100

Side-sleeping: 90/100

Back-sleeping: 91/100

Value for money: 82/100

Holly Golightly sleep mask - Inspired by the movie Breakfast At Tiffany's - the most stylish lady mask

Since publication, the guide on best sleep masks for side, back and stomach sleepers has seen dozen of updates. We included this product because we received dozens of emails asking us to recommend an eye mask with the design of the now famous mask worn by Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

What we did is look at what's available out there and separated the wheat from the chaff.

So let us be clear - Holly Golightly is not a brand, it's a specific design. There are dozens of brands that make the Holly Golightly sleep mask but the one that stood out in terms of quality is the handmade mask by "The Sleepy Cottage."

The bottom line is that this product is more of an honorary mention (as you'll see in the ratings) than an actual contender. But, among the Holly Golightly masks, our choice is The Sleepy Cottage. This cute sleep mask is also labeled as "most stylish."

Besides Holly Golightly, you might this style described as "Breakfast At Tiffany's Sleep Mask." Don't get confused by the wording, there is no official product, it's all separate brands.

Earth Therapeutics sleep eye mask

This classic from Earth Therapeutics has been in the 10 top-rated masks since we first published the guide and reviewed the sleep mask.

To put that into perspective, along with the Alaskan Bear, Earth Therapeutics is the only brand that had a "representative in the Top 10 at all times since we first published the guide. In the case of Earth Therapeutics, it was this mask.

At the moment, this Earth Therapeutics costs slightly more than most products listed here - hence the slighly lowered rating in the "value for money" category.

Choosing a good sleep eye mask - reference info

Whether you are sleeping at home or on the road, unwanted light may disrupt your sleeping habits. Your body reacts to bright artificial light the same way it reacts to sunshine - it tries to keep itself awake. Any light stronger than 180 Lux will reset your circadian rhythm.One of the simplest and yet effective ways to block that unwanted light would be to try the sleep mask. And the best thing is that your body will still be able to produce Melatonin, a hormone that helps your body to fall asleep naturally, and let your brain goes through all stages of the sleeping cycle.Just make sure that you do not oversleep.

Should You Get One?

Before exploring any other means of combating insomnia or simply pursuing a better night of sleep, you'll probably want to explore the environmental factors and the role they play in your habits.

So, it's a lane that might be worth pursuing, whether on its own of combined with other less "aggressive" means of getting a better nights sleep. Combined with good sleep earplugs, a mask can offer as isolating experience as possible.

Some PROs:

The main downside users tend to report is their head and eyes being pressured and hair issues, especially with female users. That's one the factors we looked at when we compiled the list of top masks. This quality aspect comes down to balance between the strength of the straps, their width and the way how much of this pressure is "relieved" by the shape of the mask itself.

Can You Use It if You Are a Side-sleeper?

If you are a side-sleeper, you may wonder if you will be able to sleep with one of these sleeping products on your face... and the answer is - yes, you will! You should choose the one that is flexible, and not the one that digs into your face. Most side-sleepers prefer a more streamlined mask profile so that it does not move that easily during the night.

What to Look for When Choosing?

When they think of choosing the best sleep mask, most people think of the one they had gotten when they were on an international flight, or of the stylish one you can see in some ads or magazines. But, today, there are so many different varieties to choose from. Yes, you can still describe them as a strip of fabric that covers your eyes, but special features make them more wearable and effective.

These are some key features to look for when searching for the right one:

Fabric (soft and breathable):There is a wide variety of materials to choose from. Silk, satin, polyester, cotton, bamboo, and some of them are even embedded with copper. Since it is going to be directly on your face, you should choose a soft and breathable material. If your skin easily gets irritated by certain materials and fabrics, you should pay some special attention to it.When it comes to flat ones, pure silk will probably be the best option, especially during hot summer nights. And if you are using the one with cavities, it should still be soft and light, but also firm enough for the cups to stay elevated during the sleep.

Strap (adjustable): In order to be able to fit heads of all sizes and shapes, the strap should be adjustable. It usually adjusts via Velcro or a buckle. If you have a long hair, choose the one with buckled straps - they will not tangle in your hair.

Cavities (yes or not): Cavities are recesses in a place where your eyes will be. That way your eyes, as well as your eyelashes, will not touch the material of the mask. You can open your eyes and just stare into the darkness. Many people find it soothing that their eyelids are gently pressed by a sleep mask, while others might find it irritating. If you are among the ones who are irritated if anything touches their eyes, opt for the mask with cavities.But keep in mind that if you are sleeping on your stomach, you might not find it as comfortable as you would if you are sitting on a plane or on a bus.

Weight (light): The lighter the better. When wearing a sleep eye mask, you should have a feeling that you do not wear any at all. Try to find the one that weighs no more than 1½ ounces.

Maintenance (durable and machine washable): If you wear it often, you will definitely want to be able to wash it from time to time.

There are also some less important features, but you should think about them, too:

Noise reduction: Some masks are wide enough to cover your ears, but if you really want to block out the noise, you should choose a pair of sleep earplugs.

Scents: Since not everyone will like the same scent, you should try it and see if it works for you. But only if you are not prone to allergies.

A flat nose cutout or a molded nose bridge: You will find a flat nose cutout on all typical masks that are designed to fit almost anyone. But, there are also some with a molded nose bridge, designed to block out the light that may come from the bottom of the mask. If you have a wider nose or you are missing a bridge, they are not the right option for you.

Gel masks: You can try them if you are having problems with puffy eyes. You can either place them in a fridge or in warm water, depending on whether you want a cold or warm therapy.

How to Clean It Properly?

After wearing your mask, you should hand wash it with a mild soap and water, in order to remove facial oils. Avoid using harsh cleansers that might damage it or leave some harmful residues. Also, you should always let it dry away from the direct sunlight. More detail information can be found in the 'user guide'.

It is also important that you know when you should replace it.

These are some indications that might help you when making this decision:

Conclusions

You should wear a sleep eye mask when travelling or in any other situation where you cannot control the lighting (in a hospital, or in the office, for power napping), but in order to reduce the brightness in your bedroom, you should always opt for a long-term solution, such as a blackout curtain. Look for heavy and well-fitted curtains and shades that will fully block the outside light, and prevent slivers of a streetlight or early morning sunlight from filtering in your room and disturbing your circadian rhythm.

Future updates

The information about the best sleep mask in a range of quality categories is updated on quarterly basis. The statistical analysis of new available data is planned to keep the information relevant between re-tests (which are done once a year or once every 18-months).

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by leaving a comment in the section below. You can expect a response within 24 hours. If we don't know the answer to your question, we'll find out and get back to you within.

Stay smart and sleep well,

The Sleep Studies team

The blog post Best Sleep Mask – Top 5 Out of 32 Tested – 2018 update was originally published on https://thesleepstudies.com/

So, let us analyze and review the Lull mattress from that precise "angle".

The trial

Let's separate two things here - the trial period of hundred nights and the 10 years of warranty.

The trial is just means for the potential buyer to protect themselves from ending up with a mattress they don't like. In the modern, online-mattress-shopping market, a company wouldn't get very far without offering a trial period during.

During this period, you can sleep-test the Lull mattress and simply return it if you don't like it.

It's a big plus but not something that separates the Lull from similar brands.

The warranty

We've said it before and we'll say it again, the foam quality comes down to the warranty. There's simply no way for the company to offer a 5 or 10 year testing-backed (this is an important one and we'll get back to it in minute) warranty while using sub-par foam for their mattresses. The math simply doesn't add up.

That's why we're stressing the 10 year warranty of the Lull. There's no foam expert that can tell you more about the foam quality that the warranty terms.

Independent testing - beyond the warranty

One of the advice we always give to people buying a mattress online is to go with a brand of mattresses that's backed up by independent testing. Lull is one of those brands.

What does this mean exactly?

It means that the mattress is tested in by a 3-rd party lab in conditions designed to mimic the use within the warranty period.

Why is this important?

Lull is big player and a stable company. We see them remaining one for decades to come so the following scenario doesn't refer to the company but other sub-par mattress sellers.

But, imagine this scenario - you get a mattress based on the warranty terms and you see an issue with it halfway into the warranty period. What if the company is not there anymore?

In this scenario you would have bought a mattress based on numbers on a paper.

That's why the testing of the Lull mattresses makes all the difference

Lull machine-tests their mattresses and reviews the results based on 200,000 cycles of compression and movement.

Why 200,000?

Because this is approximate to 10 years of regular use. In other words, after testing a mattress like this you end up with a product that feels like a 10-year old mattress. The mattress is then laser-measured to see what kind of change the "abuse" caused.

There's no better way to pinpoint any structural issues and make sure that the warranty is not just numbers on a piece of paper.

We respect them for the practice.

Safety is still a big factor when choosing memory foam. That's why we avoid even reviewing mattresses that are not CertiPUR-US® Certified.

Lull is not only certified for safety from any fumes or potentially harming agents by the CertiPUR-US label but it's also a certified member of the Sustainable Furnishing Council and Mattress Recycling Council.

There are mattresses out there with some of these certificates, but you rarely see a brand certified with all the 3 safety and environmental labels.

Safety is still a big factor when choosing memory foam. That's why we avoid even reviewing mattresses that are not CertiPUR-US® Certified.

Lull is not only certified for safety from any fumes or potentially harming agents by the CertiPUR-US label but it's also a certified member of the Sustainable Furnishing Council and Mattress Recycling Council.

There are mattresses out there with some of these certificates, but you rarely see a brand certified with all the 3 safety and environmental labels.

Bottom line

Pushback vs. Hug balance rating of the Lull is one of the best we've seen in all-foam mattresses at 96/100 with the "scales" slightly tipped in the favor of "Hug."

That puts it in the Top 3 % of mattresses we ever tested.

"Pushback" (bounce) vs. "Hug" (contouring)

We've seen this quality category "break" the ratings of some otherwise outstanding mattresses.

First things first - let's explain what this rating is.

It's kind of self-explanatory but let's take a moment to precisely define it.

We defined "pushback" as an aspect of support. Mattresses with solid pushback will not allow you to sink in and will make it easy to move without feeling trapped. It's more than just about the firmness - it's about how well the thickness and the density of the foam is combined.

It's critical for all-foam mattresses like Lull.

You could say that "hug" is the opposite of the pushback. It's a way to describe how well the mattress contours to the body of sleepers with different body types.

The balance

Our rating algorithm does not include hug and pushback as separate quality categories, but the balance between the two...which is, for most people, all that really matters.

Better edge sturdiness than a vast majority of all-foam mattresses

Again, the importance of this rating is higher in all-foam mattresses because if the balance is off here you'll end up with a mattress that feels like you're sleeping on bouncy inflatable bed or you'll find yourself sinking too much, feeling "trapped" and difficult to move.

Pushback vs. Hug balance rating of the Lull is one of the best we've seen in all-foam mattresses at 96/100 with the "scales" slightly tipped in the favor of "Hug."

That puts it in the Top 3 % of mattresses we ever tested.

Motion transfer & edge sturdiness

As we said above, Lull is not a firm mattress but one that's finely balanced between firmness, comfort, pushback and hug.

That also means that it has a somewhat higher motion transfer than firmer mattresses and a it's a bit less supportive around the edges (much like most all-foam mattresses are).

However, the ratings in the edge support and motion transfer category are on the higher end among the all-foam mattresses.

Our conclusion about motion transfer of the Lull mattress

We've said it many times and we'll say it again, we feel that "motion transfer" is an overrated quality aspect. That's why we have an adjustment coefficient for the category and this rating has less impact on the Overall rating then quality aspects we feel are more important.

We've all witnessed the frenzy of ads of demonstrating the quality of the mattress by jumping on one side or throwing a bowling bowl while keeping, say, a glass of vine on the other unspilled.

These test look amazing, but what do they prove?

We've introduced the adjustment coefficient to tweak our rating formula because, at one point, we saw mattresses that are obviously inferior getting a higher score because they had low motion transfer. We see it more as an indicator of other quality aspects than a rating that's meaningful on its own.

With all that said, the rating we got to in this Lull mattress review is 92/100 for motion transfer - we've seen similar satisfaction rates in our analysis of owner reviews.

Somewhat sturdier edges than similar mattresses

We don't expect the edges of all-foam mattresses like Lull to be close to innesprings or hybrids. It's physics 101. No matter how you combine the layers or how thick you make them, the foam cannot hold an edge like a steel coil.

The ratings of the Lull in this category (86/100) put it in the top 5 % of mattresses (of its type) we ever tested or reviewed. It's due do the very dense and unyielding core.

Off-gassing of the foam and initial odor

This category is somewhat subjective because it comes down to the perception of the user. With that said, we do have extensive experience with reviewing similar mattresses.

During the period of testing and putting together this Lull mattress review and analysis, we have seen no red lights or deal-breakers.

There was a slight odor on-arrival (the kind you'd expect from any new mattress of this type) but it was fleeting. The odor did not resemble any of the smells we've seen over the decades that would indicate a presence of harmful chemical. It was more of a new mattress smell than anything else.

This comes as no surprse since we know how rigorous CentriPur is with their certification. Our rating in this category is 96/100.

Note: This rating is provided for reference and it's included in the Overall safety rating above. This means that it contributes to the overall rating in-directly, not on its own.

Heat dispersion test of the Lull

When we mentioned factors like motion isolation not getting equal "treatment" as some of the more important ones, we had quality aspects like temperature regulation in mind.

With the cooling being one of the selling points, the results we've seen here are nothing to write home about and we deem them as average.

Our notes based on Thermal imaging are that the average time for the Lull to return to room temperature after an average person laying on it for 25 minutes in a room of 70 Degrees F is about 15 minutes. As we said, these results are nothing to write home about but are not a deal-breaker either (for most people).

Higher heat retention is to be expected from mattresses like Lull compared to innerspring. This means that Lull might not be the choice for you if you are an outlier and an especially hot sleeper or have hot flashes. For an average person, we don't see it as a significant issue, but the ratings do reflect the results as well the incidence of complaints we've seen in reviews of users - 84/100.

Sizes & surface compatibility review of the Lull mattress

Without spring getting in the way, Lull makes for a "malleable" mattress that adjusts to any surface easily.

Ratings in this category are less about the versatility of being used with different fixed bed bases (like slated bars or flat boards) and more about the flexibility and easy of use with adjustable bed bases.

Lull outperformed 94% of similar mattresses here, "molding" to the base and moving with it with ease. We rate it at 97/100 here - there are very few beds we know of that adjust better and they cost 2 or 3 times as much as the Lull.

Value for money

Lull is not a cheap mattress but this category ratings is not about price but about the balance between value it offers, how it compares to similar mattresses (both online and at retail stores).

The value rating of the Lull (94/100) puts in the top 7%, meaning that if you do find it to be a right fit for you in the warranty period and decide to keep it, you will have saved a nice amount.

Available sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King & California King.

Protection & cooling

In spite of the 10-years warranty, you can always use some somrt of protective mattress topper or pad to increase the lifespan of your mattress.

When we say "lifespan" we're not necessrily refering to the absolute lifespan but prolonging the period during which the Lull has that familiar "new mattress" feel. Adding a topper can also adjust the firmness to your liking (if you like the Lull but find it too firm or soft).

For some recommendations, you can see our fluid guide one mattress toppers here - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-mattress-toppers-and-pads/

Cooling it down

Lull comes with its own cooling layer but, as we reported above, the breathability can't really be compared to different mattress types (latex, innerspring, hybrids).

To add a touch of cooling, you can pair the lull with a cooling mattress pad - https://thesleepstudies.com/best-cooling-mattress-pads/

Lull mattress complaints

Most of the Lull mattress complaints we've seen when analyzing the review of existing owners are from people who found it to be either too soft or too warm. The high user satisfaction ratings on the Lull are mostly (in our opinion) due to the fact that Lull works for most people and the reviews are coming from people who understood what kind of mattress it is.

The second factor here is the customer service (especially the trial) and Lull policy about posting each review (even the complaints). They go as far as to promise a full refund to people who bough their mattress, wrote reviews or a complaint that wasn't posted on their website.

User satisfaction: 94 / 100

FAQs

In the section below, we'll address some of the frequently asked questions about the Lull in a concise way.

How long does it take to air out?

We'd say that the smell goes away in about a week. After a day of noticeable odor, it significantly decrease within 2 days. It's fair to say that it completely airs out within a week.

Is there a chance to receive a used mattress?

This is a common question and with the 100-night trial in mind, it's reasonable to ask it.

The answer is, "No." Lull either recycles or donates the returned mattresses.

The return process

Since the Lull mattress arrives vacuum-sealed in a small box (compared to the size of the set-up mattress) there's no way to get it back into the box (which also means that yoy don't have to keep the box and can return the mattress without it).

If you decide to return it

The good new is that if you purchase it from Lull directly of from Amazon, there is no hassle, packing or shipping you'll need to do. You just set it aside and somebody will pick the mattress up as is.

The difference here is that if get it directly from the company, you can contact them to arrange the return while mattresses ordered through Amazon are returned by raising a request from your Amazon account.

Where is Lull mattress made?

Lull is manufactured in the U.S. and China. There is no difference in quality standards between manufacturing locations.

Where is it shipped from?

Lull is shipped from one of their US locations.

Does the price listed include a frame?

No, the price you'll see listed on their website or on Amazon is for the mattress only.

If you order from the company directly, your mattress will be with you within 1-4 work days.

Shipping and box size

Since there are no springs, the Lull mattress is vacuum-sealed with all the air from the foam "squeezed out. That makes the box small enough to easily fit the narrowest of doorways.

The height of the box will depend on your chosen size while the width and depth are approximately 2 x 2 ft.

Summary and updates

We typically update our guides on quarterly basis, which is also the case with this one.

That doesn't mean that we update the ratings of each airbed – our statistical model is based on gathering data and if we don't have enough of new information for a specific bed, this update might happen once every 6 months or yearly.

What this means for this guide is the ratings of the more popular beds, like the Classic raised or EZ, are updated every six months, while the less popular models "wait" until we share enough new info for an update to make sense.

If you have any dilemmas, questions or any thoughts at all about the information we presented, please do share them in the comment section at the end of this page.

The article Lull mattress review was first published on www.thesleepstudies.com