Customer Reviews
Great mattress so far
Initial review: the mattress arrived promptly. Right out of the package it quickly rose to 10 inches and then to the full 12 inches within a short time after that. Even the corners and edges are perfect. We did let it sit for 24 hours before using but probably didn't need to. There is absolutely no odor. Even if you put your nose right up to it. One night in and it felt great. Firm with just the right amount of give. Did not feel hot at all and it was a warm night. So far I think it was a great purchase.
Verified Purchase
Best value in memory foam beds
Update 2025: We have enjoyed this bed so much for almost 5 years. Still a terrific bed. No degradation. So we bought another for our guest room. You can spend two or three times as much and not do better. Also, if you have questions or concerns, reach out to the "customer support" link on this site. They are extremely helpful and anxious to achieve customer satisfaction. Review 2020:After researching for many months (you know the drill: Consumer Reports, paid articles, YouTube, etc.) we had the opportunity to test ride a Vibe bed for 10 nights at a friends home. We loved it. The friend had simply needed a bed quickly and he saw that the Vibe is an Hawkins Woodshop Choice. He ordered it and then bought another. I saw the price and clicked "Buy Now"! I would agree with the assessment that it is "medium firm". But this subject has been butchered by opinions from so many directions, it's a joke. To qualify: if you are familiar with memory foam bedding, "medium firm" is imo, accurate. If you have been sleeping on a classic inner spring mattress, you might call it soft or "medium soft". Let's clarify. Beds like this have "pressure relieving" softness on top. The Vibe has two inches of it. It really feels soft on the hips and shoulders. But... This bed is also really firm in terms of back support. I think it is the perfect combination of comfort and support - great for sleeping on your back, stomach or side. We have slept on Tempurpedic brand beds and found them comfortable but actually "hard" compared to the Vibe. Our history has been classic moderately expensive inner spring mattresses. Plush from Stearns and Foster. Pillow top from Sealy. Each was about $1000 for just the mattress. The vibe is so good I would have been ok with paying that again. But we didn't! One complaint which we think will resolve itself. Everyone has a different sense of smell. My wife smells stuff I don't and vice versa. The Vibe has an odor. We have been airing it out for a couple days. It does seem to be dissipating. I attached a picture of the bed about 30 minutes after we released it from it's plastic captivity. Fun to watch. It's about 11" high and soft. By the next day it was the full 12" and the firmness set in. While you could probably sleep on this bed right away, we recommend waiting several days for the odor to fade and for the total firmness factor to be established. Based on the hundreds of reviews and sales pitches I have read, I don't think you would do better if you spent 4 or 5 times the price - and that is easy to do. If this bed is still performing well in 5 years, then all my effusiveness will be an understatement. Wow. What a bed. Update a few months later: The odor we mentioned has all but disappeared. We have been using this mattress in the guest room and as a secondary bed when one of us is ill. We like it so much that we are planning to swap it with the mattress in the master bedroom. It will be the primary bed for us. I think you could easily spend 3x this price and possibly be less happy. Highly recommend. Update June 2021. We made the swap. The Vibe is our every night bed. Wonderful. Almost zero motion transfer. Awesome back support. I see that the price is now more. It is still a bargain. Best bed ever.
Verified Purchase
Best Value for Your Money!
It seems to be a common theme that those of us that need a new mattress, but at an affordable price, do a ton of research. I searched for weeks online for different mattresses at different stores and tried to see who was having specials (I tried to know which one I wanted by Hawkins Woodshop week, but I just wasn't ready to decide by then!). I looked at beds that had thousands of reviews because I thought those would be most reliable due to the quantity of those that had tried the bed. I looked at beds that didn't have a ton of reviews (like this one with I think like 400-700 hundred, I can't remember), and I also did Google searches to find more thorough reviews from professionals. My goal was to buy a king size mattress for $250-$300. I was really close to picking the Hawkins Woodshop Basics (or something like that) and I can't remember exactly what pushed me to this bed, but I think this one was actually a bit less expensive for the 12in size vs the 10 inch and from my research I did gather that the general consensus was to get as many inches as possible (that's what she said) because a memory foam bed probably wouldn’t expand as largely as it should. So the Vibe bed it was! I ordered on a Thursday and it was supposed to arrive on Saturday (the day my new bed was to arrive), but lo and behold I had it by Friday night! As you see the box came it a very good condition (something I think some have complained about). So I am a single woman and had to get it up to my bedroom on the second floor. I will say it took a bit of elbow grease, but I managed to walk it into the house and then slide the box upstairs and into my room. Definitely do not remove the bed from the box until you are ready to open it. Once upstairs, I laid some blankets down and then pulled the box off (while leaving the plastic on). I unrolled the mattress and it expanded to about 8 inches in less than 20 minutes and 10 in less than 20. I couldn't resist trying it out, so I cut the plastic a little bit and crawled in (seems weird, but with two kids I did not want that plastic off until the mattress was going to be immediately covered with a mattress protector and sheet!). It was decently comfy! Like it wasn't super firm by any means, but my ideal bed is one that literally feels like a super soft pillow, so I did notice a difference there, but it was 95% fine. Like I know a topper would take this bed to 110% amazing so I am good with that. Two days later (I didn't really check the next day) and the bed was fully at it's 12 inches. I was very impressed, because the pics in some review of memory foam beds made it look like the edges of the mattress never really took on a rounded square shape. Not this one! This bed fully looks like a completely even, regular mattress. And I have been super tired lately so that could contribute, but honestly I have never slept better on a bed! I set an alarm to wake me up halfway though the night so I can see that I have more time to sleep, and with this bed I always miss that alarm! I snuggle up in this bed with my nice warm comforter and that is all she wrote! I have no comment about whether the mattress gets hot, because with comforters I would have no idea how someone is able to attribute being hot to the mattress and not, um the covers? Overall the only thing that could make this bed better is if it was just a smidgen softer, but truly for the price I would definitely pick this bed again. Some memory foam users complain that the sides begin to sag eventually so I am praying I don't encounter that. Overall, I know this review is rather lengthy, but I wanted to give a review that would have empowered me to take the plunge when I was shopping. Hope this helps!8/5/20 Update:As a single person I sleep on one side of the bed and I will admit this side is lower. Still would buy this mattress!
Verified Purchase
Five years later...
I purchased this mattress (the 12" Cal King) in 2020, and it's now five years old. I've intentionally waited a long period of time after purchasing to leave this review. The main reason for me doing this was because I truly wanted to give an honest appraisal of the mattress that truly reflects its longevity and how it lasts in the long run -- not after a few weeks like some of the reviews you see. So, this mattress? It's good stuff. Honestly. As long as the materials and structures are the same within the mattresses, I can 100% vouch for this product. I'll break it down a little bit:When I ordered this mattress, it came in a box as expected. Same process as everyone else. Put it on the base, unroll it, open it, and let it rise. In a few hours, it expanded to full size. We were able to sleep on it the same night, and it's been great ever since. There were no issues with corners being mashed or dips in the foam. I keep seeing people complain about fiberglass, and while I'm aware that fiberglass is used a fire protectant, I haven't had any issues with it myself. Of course, I also haven't tried to take off the cover, and the mattress went directly into an encasement before we slept on it. There's not really any reason to actually take the cover off anyway. If you're concerned about stains or keeping things clean, spend the $30 and buy an encasement or a cover. If it gets stained or dirty, you can wash it or throw it out and you still protect the mattress. Pretty simple concept. This bed is quite comfortable (and frankly one of the most comfortable mattresses I've ever owned -- including a $3000+ Serta set), but it's important to remember that bedding preferences are going to be different for virtually every person because of our individual preferences. To me, the bed has a very solid base of support that progressively softens until the top. This lends the mattress to providing a firm support underneath a really floaty support layer. If you push down on the bed, you'll find that it's pretty solid. Once you lie on it, however, you'll notice that it cradles you. Only recently have I started having some pain from sleeping, but that's likely due more to me than the mattress (other factors here like multiple pillows, the way I sleep, etc.). So, to reiterate: this mattress is both firm and plush, supportive and cradling. If you don't like this feeling or prefer to have an extra firm mattress with no give, then this one isn't for you. Temperature-wise, it's been comfortable and never hot. As far as stability, this bed has been solid for five years now. It's only recently started to show signs of being worn. Part of this is my fault, of course, because I'm a big guy. Regardless, having a sub-$500 mattress last this long is pretty good, I think. I've had more expensive mattresses that didn't last this long. I'm sure it'll last some folks even longer. Make sure that you've got it on a solid base because it is pretty heavy, and if it's on slats, make sure they aren't more than about 3" apart to help keep the mattress in good shape over the long-term. Ultimately, if nothing has changed with the mattresses, I feel confident in saying that this is a good quality, well-made mattress that's worth the money. The price is gone up by about ~$250 since I bought it on sale, but I think it's a good deal even at its current price. There's no need to be on the fence. If you're considering purchasing this mattress, it'll serve you well. Just be mindful of the size, weight, density/firmness, and how to care for it.
Verified Purchase
Best value in memory foam beds
Update 2025: We have enjoyed this bed so much for almost 5 years. Still a terrific bed. No degradation. So we bought another for our guest room. You can spend two or three times as much and not do better. Also, if you have questions or concerns, reach out to the "customer support" link on this site. They are extremely helpful and anxious to achieve customer satisfaction. Review 2020:After researching for many months (you know the drill: Consumer Reports, paid articles, YouTube, etc.) we had the opportunity to test ride a Vibe bed for 10 nights at a friends home. We loved it. The friend had simply needed a bed quickly and he saw that the Vibe is an Hawkins Woodshop Choice. He ordered it and then bought another. I saw the price and clicked "Buy Now"! I would agree with the assessment that it is "medium firm". But this subject has been butchered by opinions from so many directions, it's a joke. To qualify: if you are familiar with memory foam bedding, "medium firm" is imo, accurate. If you have been sleeping on a classic inner spring mattress, you might call it soft or "medium soft". Let's clarify. Beds like this have "pressure relieving" softness on top. The Vibe has two inches of it. It really feels soft on the hips and shoulders. But... This bed is also really firm in terms of back support. I think it is the perfect combination of comfort and support - great for sleeping on your back, stomach or side. We have slept on Tempurpedic brand beds and found them comfortable but actually "hard" compared to the Vibe. Our history has been classic moderately expensive inner spring mattresses. Plush from Stearns and Foster. Pillow top from Sealy. Each was about $1000 for just the mattress. The vibe is so good I would have been ok with paying that again. But we didn't! One complaint which we think will resolve itself. Everyone has a different sense of smell. My wife smells stuff I don't and vice versa. The Vibe has an odor. We have been airing it out for a couple days. It does seem to be dissipating. I attached a picture of the bed about 30 minutes after we released it from it's plastic captivity. Fun to watch. It's about 11" high and soft. By the next day it was the full 12" and the firmness set in. While you could probably sleep on this bed right away, we recommend waiting several days for the odor to fade and for the total firmness factor to be established. Based on the hundreds of reviews and sales pitches I have read, I don't think you would do better if you spent 4 or 5 times the price - and that is easy to do. If this bed is still performing well in 5 years, then all my effusiveness will be an understatement. Wow. What a bed. Update a few months later: The odor we mentioned has all but disappeared. We have been using this mattress in the guest room and as a secondary bed when one of us is ill. We like it so much that we are planning to swap it with the mattress in the master bedroom. It will be the primary bed for us. I think you could easily spend 3x this price and possibly be less happy. Highly recommend. Update June 2021. We made the swap. The Vibe is our every night bed. Wonderful. Almost zero motion transfer. Awesome back support. I see that the price is now more. It is still a bargain. Best bed ever.
Verified Purchase
Nice Support and Comfort
Updated on 12/21/18: still enjoying this mattress. I ended up putting on a kohls "big one" mattress topper as I like a soft bed. This mattress was a little firmer than I preferred as I noted in my first review. I read a few reviews saying they found the mattress stayed "dented" as they slept on it. I haven't found this, I weigh 170 lbs and the mattress refreshes its shape as soon as I move away from the original area. Overall, still pretty impressed with this mattress. Its on the firm side, but the topper I put on it has made it absolutely perfect and I sleep well, and yes, it does stay cool. Was a little hesitant to buy a gel memory foam mattress online, but after looking in all the stores and their prices, I figured I would take a chance. I am very pleased with my purchase of this king mattress. It is hard to comment on the plushness level as not everyone agrees on what is soft, hard or plush due to their personal taste. I was replacing another regular king foam mattress that I have had for 6 years. I cut it down to queen size for a guest bedroom as I found it so hot to sleep on. It was a great mattress, nice and soft, and I really liked it. But I am a very hot sleeper and was getting tired of waking up several times a night literally sweating (Im in fl). This mattress was put on a king platform bed with bungy boards for support. It expanded to 12" within about four hours and there was absolutely no odor as I had read some reviewers had a problem with this. It was packed very well, the box was a little beaten up upon arrival, but the mattress is packaged so well, this did not matter. I m in my late 50s and I had no problem dragging it into the house on a dolly and then dragging it into the room. Once I got it out of the box, I had no problem getting it onto the platform bed and removing the packaging and placing it to expand. I have slept on it for about 3 weeks now. At first I thought it might be a little too firm for me, I like a very plush mattress. But I decided to give it a chance as I could always put my old gel memory topper back on if needed. After 3 weeks I find it's not too firm, it's just right for good support for my back, but plush enough that I sink into it a bit. Once I move, the small indentation goes immediately back to its original shape. And I no longer wake up many times a night in a sweat. The mattress is not overly cooling, I find it just right. The side edges are firm enough to offer support if sitting on the edge. The cover on the mattress is beautiful and high quality. But I still put on a mattress cover just in case. Overall, I am quite happy with this purchase. Buying a mattress online can be intimidating as I am not sure what people do when they have to return a foam mattress. But this mattress is a keeper and I sleep so much better now.
Verified Purchase
Best Affordable Mattress - I Did the Research!!!
I don't take the time to write reviews unless I want to urge other people to pick a product over other comparable products. I strongly believe this is the best quality mattress you will buy at this price. About me: I can't afford a $2k mattress. I am also a renter, and I don't know where I'll be in 2 years - I went into my mattress hunt looking for something that will last me a couple years, but that isn't so expensive that I'd be sad if I had to part with it. My old Ikea mattress had gotten really lumpy even though I only had it for 3 years. My research: I started looking for mattresses at and under $600, and asked around to my roommates and friends about each of their mattress brands and what they thought. I looked at Casper, Allswell, Zinus, Linenspa, Nectar, OkiOki, Ikea, etc. I probably spent 20 hours reading hundreds of reviews on different websites, reading mattress "expert" articles, and watching review videos on Hawkins Woodshop and Youtube. My boyfriend has a Casper that I love, but it's out of my price range. Initially for myself, I bought a $500 mattress from OkiOki because they had a lot of corporate social responsibility - however, they were terrible and I do not recommend buying from them. After buying and returning 2(!) of the OkiOki mattress types, I had to search again for a good mattress. I also had to find one quickly because I was on the floor, using my camping sleeping pad after giving my old mattress away. In comes the affordable Vibe mattresses - they have a 1) memory foam and a 2) pillowtop spring. Each are around the $300 mark, and have excellent reviews. I went with the Vibe Cooling Gel mattress because I didn't want to risk getting a spring mattress that could get lumpy. My experience with Vibe and Hawkins Woodshop: This bed was delivered in 1 day - amazing! I unrolled it on top of my Thuma bedframe (also recommend), like the instructions say, and it was ready to go after a few hours. I had no issues with odor when I first unwrapped the bed, and I still don't have them (I know this is a big issue for some box-mattresses, after reading hundreds of reviews). The bed was a bit firm for my first couple nights, but a few weeks later (now) my body has adjusted and the bed has also gotten softer so that it molds to my body. It is a medium-firm mattress (I previously had a plush-top, medium firm spring mattress), but I'm a person who likes soft mattresses and this isn't too firm for me. I wanted a memory firm for longevity, as well as for something that doesn't move around. You will sink into the top of this mattress, but you're not going to feel the person next to you moving around and you won't feel your bedframe through the bottom (I had this issue with the memory foam mattress from OkiOki). This bed also doesn't sink a bunch with another person next to you - it will hold up for sleeping and other "acitivites". I don't sleep hot, but my boyfriend does, and this bed is pretty neutral in terms of temperature - I wouldn't call it "cooling" but I would say it keeps you temperate. Additionally, as a renter, I am used to moving every year or two. This mattress is light enough in weight that I could carry it on my own (if it were smaller in size). Lighter than the other memory foam mattresses I've lifted lately (Casper and OkiOki). Save your wallet several hundreds of dollars, and buy this mattress already!
Verified Purchase