Over the years since we started testing mattresses, GQ staffers, the sleep-indifferent and sleep-obsessed alike, have been measuring for these very same factors, plus all the extras. At the very beginning, we set up a mattress emporium of sorts to replicate the experience of testing a mattress in the store. We called them in, let our staffers run all across them (in clean socks of course), and measure their bounce and responsive. By corralling all the mattresses into one room, and bringing editors of all different sleeping types and mattress expertise levels in to test, it became a lot easier to articulate the slight differences between factors like motion transfer and support. Still, nothing’s quite like spending time on a bed over days or weeks to see how your body does or doesn’t adapt to it.
We’ve moved toward a process of pairing sleepers up with a mattress that makes sense for their sleep type, and having them test those beds over a few weeks at least to measure the lived-in feel of sleeping and sweating on them, plus navigating spatial dynamics with a bedfellow. After comparing and testing dozens of mattresses from the internet, we can assure you that the risk is worth the reward.
We still test for qualities like edge support, heat retention, motion transfer, bounce, and comfort as we did since the beginning, but also take note of how well these beds hold up over time, how smooth the delivery process was, and if there’s any significant offgassing after setting up the mattress. We also take note of additional and unusual perks for the price point, and how well each model held up to the promises in its branding.
How we chose these mattresses
Over the years, we’ve prioritized mattresses that not only feel supportive and comfortable, but also feel true to their value despite inflation. We’ve nixed mattresses that failed to impress our testers on those same metrics, feel prohibitively expensive, or don’t really hold up to their branding. Certain beds we’ve awarded in the past (such as the Casper Original, the Birch Original, and the Bear Original) have also been eclipsed by newer, more well-rounded models from the same brand so we’ve shifted those off this list.
Others, like Avocado’s Green Mattress, have been delisted because of greenwashing claims and some pretty persistent offgassing during our testing. Two former budget picks from Zinus, the Green Tea mattress and the Spa Sensations Serenity, have also been removed since fiberglass was found in them. Though the company has since moved to cut out fiberglass from its fabrication, we haven’t had the liberty of testing those newer models. A few other winning beds have also been discontinued, like the original Thuma foam mattress, the Casper Element, and Casper Wave, though we’ll update this list once we’ve tested newer versions.
About the Authors and Testers
Many staffers and freelance contributors with different sleep styles have lent their efforts to testing beds over the years (to get the widest range of sleep data possible), all overseen by our GQR lifestyle editors. Currently, contributing editor Lori Keong is overseeing testing. She heads up special projects for the GQ Recommends team and covers lifestyle, design, and wellness topics. She’s tested numerous bedding brands and mattresses in the past for publications like SELF and The Strategist, from plushy-yet-supportive hybrid beds to lots and lots of fluffy pillows.
