Boll & Branch is a bedding company that released its first mattress in 2018. The luxury mattress claims to offer comfort without the trendy memory foam materials that many mattresses use. We tested out the queen-sized Boll & Branch Mattress for one month to see how it compared. Here’s a rundown on this mattress.
Delivery and Setup: Delivery takes several weeks
The Boll & Branch mattress is available for purchase on the Boll & Branch website or at their flagship store in New Jersey. We ordered online, and it took several weeks for our mattress to be delivered. Each mattress is made to order and handcrafted in the United States. This made the waiting period worthwhile for us. The tag on the mattress even states the month and year the mattress was made, so you know you’re getting a made-to-order item. Once the mattress is ready, each Boll & Branch mattress purchase includes white-glove delivery service. This simply means a local courier will package, ship, and deliver the mattress right to your doorstep. We were contacted by the courier service to set up a delivery time, and the following week, our mattress arrived. According to the manufacturer, the courier will also dispose of your old mattress, if desired, free of charge. Depending on the condition of your old mattress, it will be donated, discarded, or recycled. Unlike some of its competitors, the Boll & Branch mattress does not arrive rolled up or inside a box, it comes in its full form, covered in plastic to protect it from damage during the delivery process. To set up our new mattress, we removed the plastic packaging and placed the new mattress on top of our bed frame. There are two sets of handles located on the long-end edges of the mattress. This made moving the mattress around much easier. We noticed a very faint mattress odor that was comparable to the scent of a new set of sheets. However, it wasn’t a big issue because the odor wasn’t strong and went away within a week. Plus, no chemicals were used to make the Boll & Branch mattress, so it was comforting knowing the odor wasn’t anything to be concerned about. Boll & Branch uses wool and latex as the mattress’s fire barrier to meet the U.S. safety standards instead of chemical fire-retardants.
Design: Five layers of luxury
Boll & Branch is a high-quality company. It was evident in the design of this luxury mattress. From the moment we first touched the mattress, we immediately noticed a difference in quality compared to other mattresses we’ve tried in the past. It’s also beautifully-designed with all gray siding, a white top layer quilted with squares, and delicate gray buttons. The mattress also came with two sets of eye masks. The Boll & Branch mattress is made up of five layers: foundational coils, micro-coils, latex, graphite-infused latex, and a layer of wool and polyester. The foundational coils and the micro-coil layers are located on the bottom of the mattress. The coils are individually wrapped and tempered to provide a reduced-noise experience compared to traditional spring mattresses. These same layers also help to provide motion isolation so that the user does not feel their partner’s movement. This mattress also helps regulate temperature. The top layer is made of a wool and poly-blend, which is much more breathable than memory foam. The layer of latex and graphite also has cooling properties that keep heat away from the body rather than trapping it in the way that foam does. We found that the edges of the bed are quite sturdy. The coils located on the lower layers are reinforced at the edges to eliminate that roll-off feeling, which gave us comfort knowing we wouldn’t fall off whenever sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed.
Performance: Luxury comfort, temperature regulation, and more
In terms of comfort, the mattress delivers. It is comparable to a bed you’d find at a high-end hotel. After sleeping on the mattress for about a month, our opinion did not change and continued to offer plenty of comfort and excellent sleep. The entire mattress is encased completely in 100 percent organic cotton, which makes it soft and breathable. Plus, the top layer, made of wool and polyester, added a soft, cozy feeling. Beyond being extremely comfortable, we noticed that it succeeded in isolating movement. We weren’t disturbed by a partner tossing and turning or getting up during the night. The mattress’s temperature regulation qualities added to our comfort. As hot sleepers, we found that this mattress had cooling characteristics that enhanced our sleeping experience. We never woke up in the middle of the night from being overheated. This mattress is a good option for couples. The responsive latex, micro-coils, and coil layer make it easy to move around on and switch positions during sex. Additionally, this mattress’s sturdy edges also are convenient, so there’s no worry of sinking or rolling off the bed because of the reinforced edges. One downside is that the micro-coils in the mattress are somewhat noisy. Since the coils are individually covered, it helps somewhat to reduce the noise. However, our former memory foam mattress had no noise at all. We noticed there was a slight creaking sound when there was a lot of movement on the bed. The noise was not noticeable if we were just changing sleeping positions.
Support: Firm, but still soft
The Boll & Branch Mattress also excels in providing lumbar support, which is essential in preventing low back pain, according to Dr. Allen Conrad, BS, DC, CSCS, the owner of Montgomery County Chiropractic Center. These mattresses are especially good for those of heavier builds due to the extra reinforced construction, Dr. Conrad said. There are soft coils located on the short edge of the mattress, which provide pressure point relief. This allows the shoulders to sink into the bed. These same soft coils are also located on the opposite short edge of the mattress, keeping the legs and spine fully aligned. There are firm coils located in the middle of the mattress that offer reinforcement for the hips and back. This mattress also uses latex, which gives the back more buoyant support, according to Dr. Rick Swartzburg, D.C., Vice President of product development for the Relief-Mart corporation. As someone who deals with back problems, I have struggled to find a comfortable, yet supportive mattress. Most I’ve tried before are either too hard or too soft, both of which cause back pain. After trying the Boll & Branch Mattress for about a month, it seems to be that middle ground I’ve been looking for, offering both support and plenty of comfort. My husband, who complained that our old mattress was too firm, agreed that the Boll & Branch Mattress has the perfect blend of softness and support.
Trial and Warranty: 100-night trial, 10-year limited warranty
The Boll & Branch Mattress comes with a 100-night trial. If the customer is not completely satisfied, Boll & Branch will come and pick up the mattress and provide a refund. There is a minimum requirement of using the mattress for 30 days prior to starting the return process. This mattress also is warranted for 10 years, which covers manufacturing defects.
Other Helpful Features: Eco-friendly and social benefits
Besides offering support, comfort, and an excellent trial and warranty period, another big selling point of the Boll & Branch mattress is that this mattress is also good for the environment. This mattress is encased in 100 percent organic cotton. Where conventionally grown cotton uses many insecticides and pesticides, Boll & Branch’s organically grown cotton uses marigolds for pest control instead of chemicals, therefore reducing the harm done to the environment. Organic cotton also saves 90 percent of the water used in conventional farming methods. Boll & Branch is also fully committed to treating their employees fairly, and therefore, employ only adults who are paid fairly, treated with respect, and who work willingly. So besides getting a high-quality mattress, you are making a positive social impact when you purchase from Boll & Branch.
Price: Expensive, but worth it
Ranging in price from around $1,800 for a twin size mattress to around $2,900 for a California king size mattress, the Boll & Branch Mattress is not cheap. However, considering the luxurious experience, the support and comfort it provides, and the environmental and social perks, the benefits far exceed the cost.
Boll & Branch Mattress vs. Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress (view on Casper) is another luxe mattress on the market offering layers of comfort and support. The two mattresses are similarly priced and consist of five layers. The difference however is in the materials used to make each mattress. The Casper mattress consists of three layers of foam, which are not used in the Boll & Branch Mattress, a cooling layer of gel pods, and a bottom layer of resilient springs. Similar to the temperature regulation of the Boll & Branch Mattress, the Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress also creates a cool environment for each sleeper in using a combination of foam and gel layers. The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress relies on the gel pod layer to prevent sinking and to keep users’ spines aligned, whereas the Boll & Branch Mattress relies on its firm coils to provide support. In the end, it comes down to the level of support you need. The Boll & Branch Mattress offers a higher level of support with coils vs. Casper’s softer memory foam surface. The Boll & Branch Mattress may be priced high, but it’s well worth it in exchange for luxury, comfort, support, and the environmental and social benefits. If it’s within your price range, it’s a good long-term buy that you won’t regret.
