Brentwood Home Cypress Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress, Non-toxic, Made in California, 13-Inch, King

Updated... again. ;)-----OK... this may seem a bit overly critical in parts, but keep in mind it will be an ongoing review. ;)I've been checking around for the past month or so for an upgrade to my old, king-size, bargain, basement coil spring mattress we inherited a few years ago (along with the frame) from a family member. Prior to that time, I slept on a lightly baffled waterbed for over 15 years, and simply couldn't stand the considerable firmness of a relatively cheap regular mattress. I wanted to retain my regular frame, however (which is much nicer than the mattress), so have been researching and shopping around for memory foam at a reasonable price for the past month or so.Anyway - I recently visited Big Lots for their 20% off your entire purchase sale (decent deals on home supplies), and after laying on a Paula Dean endorsed Serta, queen-size, 10-inch "gel" memory foam mattress, I was all but sold on the comfort of the material and style.[...]It wasn't, however, offered in a king-size (period), so I continued my search on Amazon and ultimately purchased this mattress based on a combination of both reviews (on Brentwood's entire line) and the can't beat price. Having had memory foam pillows for years (both a TempurPedic contoured one from Bed, Bath & Beyond as well as a couple affordable "Miracle" ones from Walmart) and being able to feel an uncovered sample of the blue "gel-infused" material used on the Big Lots' Serta mattress, I admittedly kind of had at least some 'expectation' as to what the comfort level on this one should be.All that noted, on to the review...Shipping: My estimated shipping time frame was not met, although I did receive a tracking number the day after the stated 2-day time frame, which was a Saturday. No information was provided from the FedEx system until the following Tuesday, however, which then stated it was picked up on Monday. The mattress did still arrive on the very last day of the expected delivery time, and did have to come from coast to coast, so I have no complaints here. It was, however, only "as expected".When my package arrived, the heavy-duty staples had torn out all along the top (or bottom, one) side flaps which were partially open on one end. They were still pretty much holding the sides flaps into the end flaps and the entire box had been wrapped about every foot in additional packaging tape along the side that was opening, but I'm honestly not sure whether the latter was the shipper's doing or FedEx. There were also a few decently sized holes in the box at the worst end of it but there was no damage to the mattress itself, as it was rather well-wrapped in relatively heavy gauge plastic.The box itself was 75" x 15" x 15" (I believe I read slightly larger dimensions in a previous review) , which may have been slightly too small for this size mattress, thus causing it to put outward pressure on the box and to open partially during shipping. Also, with 2 people handling it, it certainly felt a bit heavier than 65 lbs (and I'm far from weak), but that could have admittedly just been the overall bulk of the thing.Personally, I would suggest to the seller a slightly larger, properly-sized box and a different delivery carrier.Unpacking: It obviously wasn't hard to get the compressed mattress out of the box since it was already partially open, and we ultimately rolled it out it right onto our existing split box springs. Tearing the heavier outer plastic off wasn't bad working from both sides, and after doing so, as soon as the inner plastic "bag" was punctured it immediately started to decompress within it. We then just slid this inner bag off from top to bottom once it laid out flat (but hadn't fully compressed), which was a relatively painless process.Out of the bag, the cover that was on it needed some adjusting (in my opinion), as the seam on the bottom end was over the top of the mattress and seemed too tight at the top. We simply maneuvered it around as best we could while on the bed, which was not as easy of a process as removing the bag, in order to keep it from constricting the full expansion of the mattress in any way. It expanded to a full, advertised 13" within no time (a few hours at most), and while there might still currently be a very slight rounding right on the corners, which a couple others had mentioned, it is by no means drastic, might still be a result of the cover keeping them from fully expanding, is certainly not any worse than a regular innerspring mattress, and regardless... I won't be sleeping on the corners.As for a chemical (or any kind of) smell, it was virtually non-existent, which is a definite plus.My first impression (with promised updates to come, as we have only laid on it momentarily): While moving the mattress cover around, I could slightly feel where the edges of the different layers were when rubbing my hands along the sides of the mattress, and there is a very slight slope from the bottom to the top as though the layers get incrementally smaller as you go up through them. I didn't happen to feel the sides of the Serta mattress, however, so having nothing to compare it to nor being familiar with the manufacturing process, I have no idea if this is normal or possibly a intentional procedure of cost-effective manufacturing. Either way, not a deal-breaker for the price, as again, I won't be sleeping on the sides of it.A first, firm push with my hand into the fully expanded mattress left me with the impression that the top "gel-infused HD memory foam" layer was much quicker to return to it's original shape than any other memory foam product I have had experience with (pillows and floor model mattress), and after further comparison, I still agree. It does have a slower rate of returning to normal form than just regular old standard foam, and thus, definitely has some "memory" characteristics, but not as much as 'expected'. Then again, while the pillows I'm currently comparing them to, side-by-side, are roughly the same thickness as the top layer of the mattress, they are also several years old and well broken in while the bed has yet to be slept on, so it might be an apples-to-oranges comparison. Then again, I didn't necessarily think memory foam was really supposed to "break down" and lose that much resilience over time.Now... upon first lying down on the mattress, I got the feeling that it was rather firm (very comparable to the one it was replacing), and definitely not 'cloud-like', but I did notice that it contoured well to my body and seemed to provide adequate support. The mattress has also, however, been sitting, uncovered (except by the factory cover) in a closed room with the air conditioning on the lower 70s, so the outermost layers of it are probably a bit colder than they would be with a sheet and comforter set on it will soften up after actually having time to absorb some body heat. I did, however, get the feeling that the point of a 13" mattress was overkill and ultimately pointless (unless it was just to fill out you head board and foot board, which it does in my case) as my body only 'sunk' into the top few inches of the mattress... mainly, the memory foam one. Then again, there are very few specifications on the "1-inch extra comfort" or "2-inch Ventilated Cool Airflow" layers, and from pushing on them individually on the sides where you can tell which layer i which, the "Aircool" feels very similar to the HD base layer while the "Extra Comfort" one is somewhere in 'between' (both literally and figuratively) the memory foam and the other two.Regardless, there was no "sinking" feeling to speak of, and definitely not as much of one as the showroom Serta model (which had admittedly probably been laid on by tons of various weight people over time) which, while having the same total 4 inches of top "comfort" layers (above the more solid, dense base layers), only had 2 inches of gel memory foam as compared to 3 inches on this one. It was probably also in a warmer environment, though, so all of these differences could factor in over time.Anyway - I suppose I'm going to go ahead and try sleeping on it tonight for the first time, 'break it in' over the next couple of weeks, and then I'll follow-up, but as of this point, my initial assessment is...1) Delivered on time2) Packaging and handling during shipping could stand for some minor improvements3) A bit firmer than expected (at first test)4) 13" does not necessarily mean 'extra comfort', but just more 'filler'4) Overall, still not a bad bang for the buck depending on break-in and overall durabilityWish me luck!EDIT: I also added a (decent) picture of my bare, set up mattress to the Customer Images section since there are no actual pictures of it... just illustrations.-----So... did you think I forgot about you, or was still blissfully asleep from 2 weeks ago - LOL? Not a chance (either way). In actuality, I just wanted to give the bed a couple week break-in period to give it yet another fair assessment (or 'shake', if you will). Moving forward...Night 1: It was a Sunday night and I had let the mattress 'settle in' for 48 hours before sleeping on it. My lower back was admittedly a little sore from doing some yard work during the day, so I thought it would be a good test of the bed based on how I felt the next morning. However, morning came sooner than expected for upon lying down, I could not get comfortable, and ultimately laid there and tossed and turned for a good hour and a half. I actually think the obvious firmness of the mattress exacerbated (or at the very least, magnified) the already existing pain, or, in all fairness, maybe the soreness just kept me from getting comfortable, but either way, it was noticeably more defined after lying down... so much to the point that after remembering reading the few reviews about it "lacking memory foam qualities", I almost got up and initiated the return process that night at 1:30 am. I eventually started to nod off to sleep on my side, however, and caught myself doing so, at which point I realized it felt like I had sunken into the mattress just slightly more so than while trying to get comfortable but lying in the same spot (or there was a bit more of 'conform, at least), so I went with it and slept soundly through the night. Mind you, though,... I'm a heavy sleeper, and could probably sleep on carpeted floor through a tornado (albeit not comfortably, I'm sure).The Remainder Of The Past 2 Weeks: This being my first memory foam mattress, I guess it may have taken a night or two to 'adapt' to the feeling, and from the second night on, I've honestly slept soundly each and every night without waking except for once last night. It is definitely different from sleeping on an innerspring mattress, and considerably more comfortable in my opinion (at least in comparison to my old 'el cheapo, standard, non-pillowtop one), but the overall firmness of the mattress as a whole still bothers me, and here is why...After reading just about ALL of the reviews here on this like of products (not only on this particular 13" mattress, but also on some of the other, thicker, 10" and up models) I still have to wholeheartedly agree that something is off about this "memory foam". Now keep in mind, I (again) have had no previous experience with lying on a memory foam mattress save the one Serta floor model in Big Lots, but as several others have stated and described in their lower-rated reviews, it really just does not feel, compress, nor expand like ANY other "memory foam" product I have ever come across before in my life. In fact, I even, after having slept on it for two weeks now, went back to Big Lots this evening after work just so I could sample the Paula Dean endorsed, "Big Lots exclusive" Serta mattress I originally tested and was using for a 'guideline' in analyzing the comfort of this one, and quite simply put... there is absolutely NO comparison.When I again laid down on the Serta mattress, which is comprised of "2-inches of Macro Cool(tm) Memory Foam with Infused PODS(tm) Gel Activated Support, 2" Serta Plush Polyurethane Foam Comfort, and a 6" Serta High Density Polyurethane Foam Core Support" there was an immediate and noticeable 'sinking' into the mattress, several inches deep, and I could literally feel, even in my work clothes, the mattress easily and evenly conforming to and hugging each and every curve of my body. Basically, it compressed well, and, like most products I have had experience with (which are admittedly limited to various pillows), took roughly two seconds to 'spring back' when pressing my hand into it (again, a couple inches deep with minimal pressure). Additionally, when sitting on it and placing all my weight in one, relatively small area rather than dispersing it over a larger area while lying down (I didn't want to stand on it with one leg in the store - LOL), it resulted in a 3-4 seconds spring back time. Either way, there was a noticeable "memory" effect in regards to the rebound effect of the indentation in all instances, as was the case with the Serta 3" contoured memory foam topper sample I also squeezed, compressed, and played with for a minute (which I could have practically rolled and compressed into nothing with my bare hands). The mattress still, however, on it's 1" thinner 6" support core (which again, didn't feel quite as firm as the Brentwood one) provided ample support.To the contrary, with this 13" Brentwood mattress, everything is basically either doubled or cut in half by basic comparison (in my opinion). It takes twice the amount of force (or presumably, weight, as I'm currently down to around 165 lbs. at 5'10") to compress my hand into this mattress as far as I could much more easily do so with the Serta. It also takes half the time for the mattress to spring back to it's original shape, which could be good or bad, but doesn't seem to contribute to "comfort". Now this may be a result of the difference in densities (which in the Answers section a user quoted Sleep Shop as saying 4 lbs. for the gel and 5.4 lbs. for base, both of which are relatively high... but higher densities usually equate to longevity), a higher IFD (internal force deflection) rating, or simply a characteristic of the gel (which is supposed to speed up spring time time as opposed to older generation memory foams), but whatever the case, while there it seems there are certainly 'some' memory retention characteristics to the top gel foam and "comfort" layers, I can definitely see where people are claiming it is simply high density foam and not 'memory foam" (as I think I've seen lesser spring back and greater softness levels IN regular, plain old foam). Additionally, my partner (separately, just now, at a totally different Big Lots), compared the two mattresses herself, and her impression is exactly the same as mine. ABSOLUTE night and day. And speaking of "partners" (and this is a somewhat minor gripe), this mattress certainly does not "eliminate" motion transfer as advertised. It may "minimize" it as compared to a traditional innerspring mattress, but you can definitely still feel your partner's movements when you are awake.That all said, while I understand everyone has a different interpretation and preference for "softness" or "firmness" levels, I still wonder if all the different reviews on this variable is somewhat due to a lack of consistency, or just getting 'whatever foam is available at the time for the best price' (which could also explain the price fluctuations), as when I contacted Sleep Shop they told me directly that the manufacturer could source foam from different vendors from time to time. As such, they are actually just the middle man, per se, and construct the various layers into a finished product (not that I expected any different, as this is probably the case with most mattress manufacturers).Anyway - I'll leave it at that for now, but since I'm still undecided as to what to do about the mattress. It certainly wasn't what I expected based on the Amazon description, mostly exemplary reviews, or post-purchase description from Sleep Shop, which amounted to "Our 13 inch mattress is the softest feel we currently offer and is made to have a plush "sinking in" feeling" (which, in comparison to the ACTUAL "sinking in" feeling of the Serta, is far from accurate in my opinion). But considering I have to 'flip' (or rotate, rather) it tonight for the first time, I think I'm going to take the opportunity to unzip and pull back the cover, see what this thing is REALLY made of, and take some pics (possibly video, too) to help further illustrate exactly what I'm referring to in my written review. I've also yet to leave seller feedback, so we'll see what that will reflect based on my decision on how to handle the situation.In (updated) summary...1) This is still a VERY firm mattress in comparison to any other memory foam product I have ever come across2) The density is either very high or not fully memory foam, as the spring back rate is almost instantaneous3) The uniformity of construction of the product leaves a little to be desired in certain areas (specifically, the sloping sides and corners)4) Do NOT buy this mattress if you indeed want a 'sinking in' or 'sleeping on a cloud' feeling5) For the price I paid for it several weeks ago, I may deal with it, but would not for the current price. Then again, maybe my price was proportionate to the comfort level at the time?Hope some of (ALL of) this helps! :D-----Well after sleeping on it for a while now, I'm beginning to wonder if the lower layers of HD foam aren't starting to 'break in' a little. Overall, I guess I still sleep well on it, but it's still firm for my taste even after several months.Sorry for the late follow-up (been massive busy as of late), but I contacted the company a while back regarding my concerns and was informed of a few things (a few of which I'm not sure why they couldn't be disclosed in the actual item description). First, Brentwood is not a 'company', but little more than a branding name for this "line" of mattresses, which are apparently manufactured by Springfield Mattress (according to my "Law tag"). Additionally, it seems Sleep Shop is not a 'company' with "over 30 years", either, but simply a storefront identity apparently developed to sell this, and a few other mattress lines (SilverRest being one of them), on Amazon and eBay.That clarified, ALL of these entities are subsidiaries (or separate facades) of a parent 'company' named "BRK Group LLC", who I ran across some various bills of lading for regarding imported foam and mattresses from China, which made me question the quality, integrity, and actual manufacture location of our purchased products that much more. Additionally, all the website domains for said 'companies' (those that have actual websites... Sleep Shop not being one of them) are all maintained by the same admin, showing further connection between them all. I then took the liberty to also, as one other reviewer has stated, remove my cover and inspect the individual foam layers, which was rather easy to do considering the seam on the inner 'cover' (which equates to a cheesecloth-type wrapper for the foam layers) had separated in a decent area, so it allowed me to both look at the construction and snap a few pictures... all of which I have now included in the customer photos section.So... my (quick) assessment? The top layer of foam doesn't even come close to the "blue" color of the other samples I've seen of gel memory foam in stores, and as such, I'm hesitant to say the gel content is very high. It does, when compressed by itself, have memory foam compression qualities, but again, not near some of the samples and floor models I've seen. Furthermore, Dan over at Sleep Shop cordially informed me that the foam used in the manufacture of these mattresses is provided by HSM (Hickory Springs Manufacturing), who is not only Certi-Pur certified, but ironically located right here in my hometown! More to possibly come on that later, as I may inquire further with them directly...Aside from that, he also provided pretty detailed foam specs, which seem to vary greatly from what has been posted before. They are as follows...1. 3" Gel Infused Memory Foam Layer 3.0lb Density and 16ILD2. 1" Extra Comfort Layer is made from High Resilience Foam with 2.0lb Density and 15ILD3. 2" Ventilated Layer is made from Perforated High Resilience Foam with 2.0lb Density and 30ILD4. 7" Base Layer is made from High Resilience Foam with 2.0lb Density and 30ILDNow after "speaking" with some well-educated experts on the subject, and regarding these specs, some of them seem to contradict themselves, so I'm really not sure what to believe. Apparently... "the minimum specs for HR polyfoam is 2.5 lb density or higher and a compression modulus of 2.4 or higher so 2.0 lb polyfoam is HD not HR although it may still be a higher performance foam." Regardless, the densities are not anywhere close to the 4-5 lb specs that were quoted to some people previously, and, also, according to the provided specs, seem high based on the advertised shipping weight (which I personally think was understated). However, I now have the knowledge to calculate the actual foam densities based on the weight of the actual mattress, so if anyone could provide that, after removing the box but before unwrapping it, I'll try to provide more precise specs (based on ACTUAL science) and try and see if what we are getting for our money is as advertised and of decent quality (which the quoted specs would qualify as) or "exceptionally low quality" (if they are not accurate, and the foam is of an even lesser density).I'll leave it at that for now, and thanks in advance to anyone who can provide the weight specs! ;)

I've recently moved into a rental due to a work related transfer. Fully furnished, the landlord purchased a new queen sized bed with a top mattress that felt like a concrete slab. Very firm. I placed a 2" memory-foam gel top pad to help relieve the sleep-stealing affects of that mattress-slab. No luck. I searched and researched for nearly a month for an alternative that wouldn't break the bank. A year ago I'd purchased a high-end memory foam mattress set for my permanent residence. It was quite expensive but the bed was like a dream. I thought that one had to spend good money to get results like that.I think I've found the alternative; the Brentwood Home 13" Gel HD Memory Foam Mattress. I compared this brand to many others on Amazon and read reviews on various consumer report sites. I compared ratings, materials, reviews, price...all roads brought me back to this mattress. Finally, after a solid month on that Fintstones'esque mattress - I woke up every day stiff, in pain and feeling like I ran a marathon instead of getting a restful night's sleep - I ordered the Brentwood Home Mattress (queen). The mattress arrived quickly within a couple of days. The box was sturdy enough although torn around the handles. I could see the mattress rolled up inside vacuum sealed in thick plastic. With the exposed portions beneath the torn box I was concerned for damage as some reviewers have indicated. It's around 50-55lbs and I helped the FEDEx delivery guy carry it inside. Once inside I was able to slide the box on the carpet to get it to the bedroom. It was delivered late on a Saturday so I decided to wait until the next morning to set it up as I'd read it would take more than 24 hours to expand to it's full size and air out the expelled foam-gases.Next morning I removed the old mattress and lifted the box - one end at a time - onto the existing (new) box spring and frame. Opening the cardboard along the outer seam (from one end to the other) it easily slid off leaving the rolled and sealed mattress positioned at the top by the headboard. I very carefully began to open the heavy plastic wrapping and unrolled the mattress down as I peeled the plastic open and off. The mattress began to expand as I did this, but not so much that it impeded the process of separating plastic from mattress. This entire process took maybe 20 minutes.I started at 9am and planned to wait the full 24 hours before being able to enjoy my new purchase (the couch would suffice for one night). Surprisingly there was no overwhelming odor of foam or rubber as I'd read about. The mattress looked very well made, encased in a bamboo cover. I was pleased to find that there was no damage due to the arrival condition of the outer box. In fact, the mattress, upon full inspection, was perfect in every way.The biggest surprise came when i checked its progress at 7pm. The mattress appeared to be at it's full 13" height. I waited another 2 hours just to give it additional time to breath and rise. I slept on it that night. No odor or off-gasing to speak of and the mattress felt very sturdy and well made. I would describe it as being in the medium/soft category and that is perfect for me - just what I wanted and need for a restful night. I've placed my 2" topper on it as it contains cooling gel. The bed, for the price, absolutely shocked me at how incredibly well it sleeps. It was like sleeping in a comfortable glove. I really love it and have had better nights sleeping since setting it up. Some mornings I don't want to get up - a contrast from the recently replaced extra-firm inner spring mattress where I would gladly wake up before my alarm went off.Mattresses sleep ability is very subjective. You will see many reviews that reflect this. What works for one person (their body type, sleep habits, heat trapping, etc) wont guarantee the same results for another. Some like firm, some medium, some soft and some in-between. This is what makes mattress shopping so difficult, especially when reading reviews as part of the up-front research.This review reflects what I like about this purchase and what works for me:- For the price, it is as good a purchase as the higher end, and much more expensive, memory foam mattresses (you do not need to pay a huge sum for quality sleep as I'd originally perceived). Incredibly priced.- Very well made product. Great quality materials.- Easy set up.- *Ease of purchasing via Amazon - no show rooms, no sales people, no waiting for delivery on their schedule.- Minimal time to rise and NO off-gasing.- Cooling gel topper helps control any heat trapping issues with this mattress. I sleep hot and haven't' had any issues.- Wonderful night's sleep.I recommend this product based on it's quality for the price when compared to any name brand and so called high-end memory foam mattresses. I believe you will find the sleep quality to be as good with the Brentwood Home Mattress as any other and at a third of the price.*The only challenge I perceive thus far is with the return consideration. If I didn't like it or if it arrived damaged it occurred to me that it would have been a major pain in the arse to return. I am glad that returning the product was not necessary.I am very pleased with this product and I highly recommend it if you are looking for memory foam without the exorbitant expense.