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Overall Rating
8.4
20% off + 2 free pillows at Birch
Price Range:
$1,099 – $1,799
Mattress Type: Latex Hybrid
Firmness Options: Medium Firm (6)
Pros & Cons:
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Supportive and responsive feel
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Great temperature control
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Less expensive than most latex mattresses
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Sub-par motion isolation may be disruptive for couples
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Not ideal for people who prefer the close-conforming feel of memory foam
Birch is a mattress brand that was first launched in 2019 by its parent company, Helix. Since its inception, Birch has earned a reputation for bedding products made from sustainably sourced and eco-friendly materials. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the flagship Birch Mattress.
The Birch Mattress is a hybrid model. The mattress begins with a layer of organic and natural wool batting over 2 inches of ventilated Talalay latex. You won’t feel the same deep body contour on this mattress that you might on a memory foam or polyfoam mattress. Instead, the surface conforms to a moderate extent and also feels quite springy. This can be attributed in part to the natural responsiveness of latex. These materials are also quite breathable, and help the mattress maintain a comfortable temperature.
The Birch Mattress also includes a pocketed coil support core reinforced with an additional layer of wool batting. These coils are zoned to be thicker and sturdier around the perimeter, which helps prevent sinkage when you get on and off the mattress. The entire bed is encased in a cover made of certified-organic cotton. Altogether, it measures 11 inches thick. The feel is considered medium firm, or a 6 on the 1-10 firmness scale.
We’ll highlight everything you need to know about the Birch Mattress in terms of construction, pricing, product certifications. We provide the mattress with performance ratings based on owner experiences and our own product testing. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of the mattress and provide a brief overview of Birch’s shipping, return, and warranty policies.
Watch the video below to see how the Birch Mattress performed when put to the test in our lab.
Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Side Sleepers
Our testers evaluated the Birch Mattress using different sleep positions to see if pressure increased or decreased. During this process, side sleepers weighing more than 130 pounds noted an excellent balance of conforming and support. The wool batting and latex provided enough cushioning around the shoulders and hips to support the lower back, align the spine, and alleviate pressure throughout the body. This can partially be attributed to the bed’s medium firm feel, since sleepers in this weight group tend to feel more comfortable on mattresses with mid-level firmness.
Side sleepers in lighter groups felt differently about the Birch Mattress. Those weighing less than 130 pounds found the mattress a bit too firm – not to an excessive extent, but enough to notice stiffness in some areas.
Back Sleepers
In many ways, the Birch Mattress is particularly well suited to back sleepers. The bed’s strong coil system and responsive feel deliver support throughout the body, especially between the shoulders and waist where many people carry extra weight. All of our back sleepers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds agreed the mattress offers excellent reinforcement for the body and barely sinks at all, reducing pressure in the process.
Back sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds did not concur with this assessment. While the mattress felt supportive, some of these testers noticed more sinking around the lower back and hips. This caused their midsections to sag while the rest of the body remained closer to the surface. Over time, a lack of support in these areas may cause aches and pains to occur. Conversely, sleepers below 130 pounds found the bed a bit too firm.
Stomach Sleepers
Like back sleepers, stomach sleepers often need extra reinforcement to keep their bodies on an even plane. Many of us carry a disproportionate amount of weight near our stomachs, and sleeping face down can pull the entire body into the mattress. This often leads to neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. For the Birch Mattress, our stomach sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds felt most comfortable. The mattress conformed closely enough to reduce pressure but sank very little.
Stomach sleepers weighing 130 pounds or more ran into the same issue as back and side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds: the Birch Mattress felt excessively soft and sank too much in certain places. Ratings were still good from stomach sleepers in this weight range, but more than a few agreed that a firmer mattress would probably be more comfortable.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress absorbs movement from sleepers and prevents this motion from spreading to other areas of the bed. Responsive mattresses tend to generate more motion transfer, which can be disruptive for co-sleepers. Models that excel at motion isolation will eliminate most, if not all, motion transfer.
The Birch Mattress falls in the middle of that spectrum. The wool batting and latex layers absorb some movement, but not to the same extent as adaptive polyfoam and memory foam. The latex is fairly responsive, as well, and the coil system adds extra bounciness to the surface.
If you and/or your sleep partner tend to wake up due to slight movements in bed, then the Birch Mattress may be too disruptive. However, the mattress absorbs some motion and motion transfer should not be too excessive for most when one of you moves around in bed.
If you frequently feel pressure in the shoulders, lower back, hips, and other areas of the body, your mattress may be at least partly to blame. The best mattress for pressure relief will keep your body on an even plane without sinking too much beneath areas where you carry more weight. The comfort layer should also conform to the body in order to evenly distribute your weight.
The Birch Mattress does not contour very closely, as the wool batting layer is not particularly adaptive. While the latex does conform to a noticeable extent, you won’t feel the same body hug that you would from foam.
That said, the mattress is very supportive and shouldn’t sink too much beneath the torso and hips. This makes the Birch Mattress well suited to people who weigh at least 130 pounds, regardless of their sleep position, though back sleepers will probably feel most comfortable.
The Birch Mattress contains several components that promote cooling and temperature neutrality. The wool batting layer is very breathable and also has natural moisture-wicking properties. The latex is also ventilated with small holes, which keeps airflow moving to the surface of the mattress.
The coil system also plays a role in temperature regulation. Like the ventilated latex, the coils promote steady air currents that help to stabilize the bed’s core temperature. The mattress also has a GOTS-certified organic cotton cover that is also very breathable.
The bed has a medium firm feel and shouldn’t sink excessively. This means you’ll feel more airflow on the surface. By contrast, beds that conform closely and sink deeply tend to bottle in more body heat.
Above-average temperature control is a common trait for latex hybrid models. If you’re a hot sleeper, then the Birch Mattress will likely provide enough cooling for you to rest comfortably in bed.
When you get on and off most mattresses, you’ll notice at least a little sinkage along the edges. Some beds are equipped with sturdy support components that prevent you from sinking in too far. Others will sink to a problematic extent. Depending on a mattress’s degree of edge support, you may have trouble getting in and out of bed, or feel less secure sleeping near the perimeter.
The Birch Mattress offers very good edge support. This can primarily be attributed to two factors. For one, the mattress has a medium firm feel and doesn’t conform very closely, so you’ll notice very little surface-level sinkage.
The other factor is the bed’s support core, as coils generally provide the best edge support The Birch Mattress takes it a step further with its zoned support layer that has thicker coils along the perimeter and thinner coils beneath your body. This ensures minimal sinkage along the edges and more comfort for your body. Even if you weigh more than 230 pounds, edge support should not be a major issue with this mattress.
Feeling “trapped by the mattress” is a common complaint among those who own softer beds. If the comfort layers sink excessively, you’ll probably have a hard time getting in and out of bed. Changing sleep positions can also be somewhat difficult.
The Birch Mattress is easy to move across thanks to its construction. The latex layer has a naturally responsive feel to keep you on an even plane as you move on the surface. The coils also deliver strong support.
People who weigh more than 230 pounds will likely notice more sinkage on this mattress, but not to a problematic extent. For those who weigh 230 pounds or less, the mattress should present little to no difficulty.
Off-gassing refers to initial odors you’ll most likely notice after unboxing your mattress. Foam beds are notorious for their “new mattress smells,” which come from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that carry a distinct chemical odor. Latex mattresses also emit some odor, but less so. Many people describe latex off-gassing as rubber-like.
The Birch Mattress probably won’t cling to its off-gassing smells for too long. The ventilated latex and coil layers should flush out most unwanted odors in a matter of days. If these smells persist, try setting the mattress in a well-ventilated room to air out for another day or two.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
20% off + 2 free pillows at Birch
The Birch Mattress is considered a hybrid model. Hybrids are designed with thick comfort layers and pocketed coil support cores that promote a balance of cushioning, contouring, support, and responsiveness. This general design sets them apart from traditional innersprings, most of which conform to a minimal extent and feel exceptionally bouncy.
The mattress begins with a layer of organic and natural wool batting. Batting does not contour to the body like foam or latex, so you’ll notice some plushness without the body-cradling. Wool is also a very breathable material with moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool during the night.
Beneath the top batting layer rests a layer of natural Talalay latex. This component provides some noticeable contouring as your body sinks into the batting layer. The latex is also ventilated with small holes to promote airflow near the surface of the mattress for added cooling. The latex has earned certifications from numerous institutions. These include OEKO-TEX, which certifies the mattress does not contain any hazardous chemicals or toxins; the Eco-Institut, which certifies the mattress does not contain any volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and the Rainforest Alliance, which certifies the materials in the mattress have been sustainably harvested.
The Birch Mattress also includes a robust support core of individually pocketed coils. For added reinforcement, thicker coils are placed along the perimeter to minimize sinkage when you sit or sleep near the edges of the mattress. The coils also promote air circulation to help the mattress maintain a cool temperature. An extra layer of organic/natural wool batting serves as the base layer for added support.
The bed’s cover is composed of organic cotton and lined with a wool and rayon fire barrier. The cotton fabric has received certification from the Global Organic Textile Standard, which is considered one of the leading authorities for certifying organic materials. The Birch Mattress measures 11 inches thick, making it a medium-profile mattress. Its feel is considered medium firm (6).
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Firmness
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Medium Firm – 6
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Mattress Type
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Latex Hybrid
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Construction
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The Birch mattress is made from largely natural materials, with layers of wool and latex and a bed of pocketed coils wrapped in an organic cotton cover.
Cover Material:
GOTS-certified organic cotton
Wool and rayon fire barrier
Comfort Layer:
Natural and organic wool batting
Ventilated Talalay latex
Support Core:
Pocketed coils
Natural and organic wool batting
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Mattress Prices and Sizing
The Birch Mattress has a fairly affordable price-point compared to the average hybrid model. Additionally, you won’t pay anything for delivery, even if you reside in Alaska or Hawaii.
This model is available in the six standard mattress sizes. However, Birch does not offer any split queen, king, or California king sizes, so you may want to consider another model if you and your partner share an adjustable bed base.
There are no add-ons for this mattress, but Birch allows customers to purchase accidental damage insurance. This protection plan covers the mattress against damages that are not considered defects under the standard warranty. Accidental damage insurance costs vary depending on which mattress size you select.
Dimensions and prices for all Birch Mattress sizes are listed below.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
20% off + 2 free pillows at Birch
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability The Birch Mattress is exclusively available for purchase on the Birch website. This mattress is not available through any third-party retailers or online marketplaces. Birch operates a viewing-only showroom in New York City where you can test out the mattress.
Shipping Birch offers free ground shipping to customers in all 50 states. The mattress should ship within five to 10 business days of your order and reach your residence a few days later. If you order additional products with the mattress, they will ship separately.
The mattress is compressed, wrapped in plastic, and vacuum-sealed for shipping. This process – known as “roll packing” – allows the mattress to fit inside a rectangular box. This box will be left on your doorstep, and a signature is not required.
After the mattress arrives, carry the box to the room where you plan to use the mattress. You may need assistance, as the box – while compact – can be quite heavy. Unbox the mattress and cut away the plastic wrapping. The mattress will immediately begin to expand, but full shape recovery may take up to 48 hours.
Additional Services At this time, Birch does not offer expedited shipping, White Glove delivery, or old mattress removal with any orders.
Sleep Trial The Birch Mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial. This trial includes a mandatory break-in period; you won’t be eligible for a free return until you’ve slept on the mattress for at least 30 nights.
In the event of a return, Birch will arrange for couriers to pick up the mattress from your residence and transport it for donation or recycling. You can also donate the mattress yourself if you have a charity in mind, but first, let Birch know so they can process the return.
Warranty The Birch Mattress is backed by a 25-year warranty. This warranty is partially prorated. During the first 10 years, Birch will cover all repair and replacement costs if your mattress develops a defect, including shipping and transportation fees.
Beginning in year 11, you’ll pay 50 percent of the original mattress price if a defect develops and a replacement bed is warranted. This percentage will increase by 5-percent increments until year 21, after which you’ll pay 95 percent of the original mattress price for a replacement until the warranty expires.
Under the warranty, defects include sagging and surface impressions that measure 1 inch or deeper, physical flaws that cause mattress materials to deteriorate prematurely, and manufacturing defects associated with the cover. Other issues will not be covered under warranty.
In addition to the warranty, Birch offers the Mulberry accidental damage protection. This 10-year plan covers issues that fall outside the standard warranty, such as stains, rips, tears, burns, and damage from pets. This plan costs between $79 and $139, depending on the mattress size you select.
Still have questions?
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Written By
Lauren Fountain,
Senior Product Editor
Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.
Learn more about our Editorial Team
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