Birch by Helix is relatively new to the mattress scene. Here’s our unfiltered Birch Natural Mattress Review after a month of testing.
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Birch Natural Mattress Review: We Tried It for a Month, and Here’s What Happened
Published on Oct. 29, 2024
Helix, one of the most awarded mattress brands on the internet, launched a line of eco-friendly mattresses just a few years ago. Birch by Helix Sleep uses natural and organic materials like wool, latex and cotton to construct medium-firm mattresses, which are great for pressure relief. Birch mattresses are handmade in Phoenix, Arizona and they are Greenguard Gold Certified, so you can trust that the Birch mattress you lay your head on is made responsibly and with care.
After reading countless consumer reviews raving about Birch mattresses, we knew we had to do some testing of our own. So, we sent the Birch Natural Mattress to Richard Glenn, who tested the mattress every night for a month. Here are his honest, unfiltered thoughts about the mattress.
What is the Birch Natural Mattress?
The Birch Natural Mattress is a hybrid mattress composed of natural and organic materials. Its hybrid design means it has plush layers of wool, cotton and latex for comfort and supportive coils underneath. A hybrid mattress is great for various sleepers and sleeping positions—including side sleepers—because it combines the best of a soft and firm mattress. This hybrid construction also achieves a medium-firm feel for people who like a middle-of-the-road mattress in terms of firmness.
Birch mattresses pass rigorous tests to achieve the highest standards for natural and organic products. The Birch Natural Mattress is Greenguard Gold, GOTS, Eco-Institute and Fair Trade Certified. Birch’s partners also adhere to strict ethical practices and responsibly source all organic and natural components.
FAMILY HANDYMAN
We Tried It
Birch Natural Mattress
Pros:
- Well-built; we expect it to last for many years after testing
- Hybrid design with coils and comfort layers (no memory foam)
- Good for hot sleepers and those with joint pain
- Ideal for back, stomach and side sleepers
- Hassle-free delivery
- Non-toxic, organic and natural materials
- Cooling properties
Cons:
- Bottom edge lacks support
- Pillows are thin and flimsy
- Contains latex, so it is not suitable for those with latex allergies
Birch Natural Mattress Product Features
Cooling Layers
The six-layer mattress is topped with a layer of breathable, organic cotton, which wicks moisture and promotes airflow. Underneath the cotton lie absorbent organic wool and breathable latex, further promoting a cool night’s sleep.
Pressure Relief
With a medium-firm feel, thanks to its supportive bottom coils and layers of natural, breathable materials, this is an optimal mattress for side, back and stomach sleepers. The mattress is made with premium hypoallergenic natural materials, like sap from rubber trees, to create the right pressure relief and contour for your body.
Supportive Feel
The base of the Birch Natural Mattress has up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils. These coils provide reinforced support under your hips and cradle your body while helping to align your spine. The mattress is also reinforced lengthwise to provide edge support.
Hassle-Free Setup
When you order a Birch mattress, the delivery team will unpack your new bed and set it up in your desired location. They’ll also remove your old mattress and dispose of the packaging. This way, you don’t have to worry about hauling in a heavy mattress on your own or getting rid of your old one ahead of delivery.
How We Tested It
Here are our honest thoughts after a full month of sleep testing on the Birch Natural Mattress.
Delivery and Setup
Our product tester, Richard Glenn, did not opt for the in-home delivery and setup service. Instead, he flipped the boxed mattress end over end up a flight of stairs to his bedroom. From there, he could unbox it and cut away the plastic. “It was very securely wrapped. I used small scissors to cut away the outer plastic,” Richard says. “It was a little tough to get through, but I didn’t want to use a box cutter for fear of damaging the mattress.”
The mattress took a full 48 hours to expand and feel firm enough to sleep on, which is something you may want to consider if you have your current bed removed for an upgrade to the Birch Natural Mattress. “I slept on it before it was fully inflated, and it seemed squishy,” Richard says. “24 hours later, it came to its full firmness and felt much more supportive.”
The mattress took about three hours to move from box to bed, unbox and set up. Two pillows were also included in the box. Impressively, there was no chemical smell or off-gassing upon opening.
One thing Richard did note about delivery was that the hand holes in the box arrived damaged, making the box challenging to lift. “That’s why I had to flip it up the stairs,” Richard explains. “I recommend having a second person help you lift the box if you opt out of the in-home service. The brand could stand to reinforce the handholds in the box.”
Sleep Experience
On his old memory foam mattress, Richard regularly woke up with hip pain. However, after sleeping on the new Birch Natural Mattress, Richard hasn’t been bothered by joint pain like he was previously. “It’s not a cure-all, but it’s good enough that I don’t even think about waking up achy,” he says. “When I do sleep on my back, I don’t have any lower back pain because of the support from the mattress.”
When it came time to test the mattress’s cooling features, Richard says it stayed consistently cool and did not reflect heat to his body like his old Tempur-Pedic mattress.
“The medium firmness is a great balance between support and comfort,” Richard says. “Interestingly, the mattress feels much softer when sitting upright, but laying down with your body weight distributed, it feels much firmer.”
“I’d recommend the Birch Natural Mattress to anyone with joint pain. It has the support of a spring bed without sacrificing comfort,” Richard says. “If you’ve been sleeping on memory foam and wake up sweaty, this mattress (made without memory foam) is worth trying.”
Looking for alternatives? We tested nine other options to find the best mattress in a box.
Why You Should Trust Us
We know how difficult it can be to shop for beds online without sleeping on them first. That’s why we tested the Birch Natural Mattress every night for a month. Our product tester, Richard Glenn, suffers from hip and joint pain; he’s also a hot sleeper who lives in Southern California. That’s to say, he was the perfect candidate to test the Birch mattress’s pressure-relieving and cooling features. From delivery and setup to sleep, Richard put the Birch mattress through a series of rigorous tests to tell you what the mattress is really like in person.
FAQ
Does a birch mattress have fiberglass?
No. Birch mattresses are made without the use of fiberglass.
Who is the parent company of Birch mattress?
Helix Sleep, one of the most awarded mattress brands on the internet, launched Birch by Helix, a line of eco-friendly mattresses just a few years ago.
Do Birch mattresses have springs?
Yes. They have individually wrapped coils that provide support and help reduce motion transfer.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
The Birch Natural Mattress has garnered more than 5,000 reviews on the Birch site and a 4.5-star rating. Buyers love the medium-feel firmness and the overall quality of the mattress. Complaints often have to do with the quality of pillows, wait time for inflation and customer service. A few reviewers note that the mattress seems to run on the smaller side compared to standard-size mattresses.
Comparison of Birch Natural Mattresses
Birch sells two Natural Mattresses, the Birch Natural Mattress and the Birch Luxe Natural Mattress. The first is the brand’s most popular breathable mattress, and the second is an upgraded version. The Luxe Natural Mattress has extra comfort and cradling layers but offers the same medium-firm feel.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a non-toxic mattress made with certified organic materials, then the Birch Natural Mattress is hard to beat, but be sure to check out Avocado mattresses, too. Not only is the quality, handmade construction ethically and sustainably produced, but the hybrid design of the mattress is suitable for most types of sleepers. Its medium-firm feel is a great middle-ground for those seeking comfort and support. We also appreciate that the Birch Natural Mattress is made without memory foam if you’re looking for an alternative to the standard memory foam boxed mattress.
Where to Buy the Birch Natural Mattress
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We Tried It
Birch Natural Mattress
You can shop the Birch Natural Mattress starting at $1,374, but be sure to look for seasonal sales to score a competitive discount. You can also shop the mattress directly from Helix Sleep.
