Layla mattresses stand out by offering two firmness levels in one; you simply flip your mattress over to the other side to switch from firm to soft. This way, shoppers have options to choose from without having to buy a separate mattress. Layla also prides itself on delivering quality mattresses without the high markup of other retailers in the industry. I’ll be covering the brand’s flagship all-foam model in this Layla Mattress review.
If you're unsure how firm you want your mattress, the Layla Memory Foam Mattress offers two firmness ... [+]
I’ve slept on 13 mattresses in the past 15 months, and this is one of the most unique with its flippable design. I appreciate having the choice of firmness, just in case my needs change. After all, even though most mattresses have a trial period, who wants to deal with the hassle of returning one? After sleeping on the Layla Memory Foam Mattress for a little over a month, I can tell you everything you need to know in this review.
Layla Memory Foam Mattress Construction, Firmness And Feel
A Flippable Mattress With Soft And Firm Options
Layla’s Memory Foam Mattress is an all-foam mattress with copper-gel memory foam and two different densities of support foam. It’s encased in a cover that’s designed to help keep you cool.
For the soft side option, the materials are as follows:
- Cover: A cover made from 63% polyester, 26% rayon, 6% viscose and 5% poly/Lycra. It’s designed to have reactive cooling and features a zipper for easy removal.
- Memory foam layer: A soft copper-gel memory foam layer.
- Max Airflow Support foam layer: A layer of support foam that’s zoned to support your body in areas where it needs it most.
- Support Core foam layer: A high-density layer of foam to offer extra support and help absorb motion.
For the firm side option, the materials are as follows (with the soft side’s top layers below them):
- Cover: 63% polyester, 26% rayon, 6% viscose, and 5% poly/Lycra.
- Memory foam layer: A firm copper-gel memory foam layer.
- Support Core foam layer: A high-density layer of foam to offer extra support and help absorb motion.
The layers of the Layla Memory Foam Mattress with the soft side on top.
I slept on both sides of the Layla Mattress to compare the firmness levels. Layla rates the soft side a 4 out of 10 on its firmness scale. In relation to other mattresses I’ve tried, I’d say that’s pretty accurate, with a medium-soft feel. The foam is soft but not overwhelmingly soft, and it still has good support. I found it comfortable to sleep on my back and side. Those who like medium-soft foam mattresses should find this comfortable as well.
I also slept on the firm side, which is rated a 7 out of 10. This side felt firm but not like a board. It had some give, and it was comfortable to sleep on my back. I could sleep on my side without waking up with aches and pains, but it wasn’t as comfortable for side sleeping as the soft side. The firm side is better for back and stomach sleepers.
Layla Memory Foam Mattress Features
Supportive Pressure Relief
Both sides of the Layla Memory Foam Mattress are supportive and feel like you are lying on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it. It’s easy to move around since it doesn’t hug your body like other types of memory foam. Read on to see how it performed in other categories.
Pressure Relief
The soft side provided more pressure relief than the firm side, making it a good choice for combination sleepers. The foam doesn’t hug your body, but there is some give. I liked this side for back sleeping, with occasional side sleeping, since it was comfortable while still being supportive. If you are predominantly a side sleeper who likes a lot of pressure relief, you may find this is not soft enough.
Both sides of the Layla Memory Foam Mattress are supportive and provide pressure relief.
The firm side also offers pressure relief, but it’s more supportive. My body sank into the mattress slightly, but it felt more like I was sleeping on top of it. I found it comfortable to sleep on my back, and those who need more back support will likely prefer this side. I’m not a stomach sleeper, but I found it supportive when I lay on my stomach.
Cooling
This mattress has a copper-gel memory foam layer on both sides, which Layla says provides rapid cooling and body heat transfer. The mattress also has a cooling cover. I noticed that there was still some heat buildup though, more than I prefer for a mattress with cooling properties, but it wasn’t so warm that it woke me up. The heat also dissipated quickly when I moved positions. Those who sleep at a fairly regular temperature shouldn’t find this to be an issue, but I wouldn’t recommend this mattress for overly hot and sweaty sleepers, as the cooling may not be enough.
The Layla Memory Foam Mattress has a copper-gel memory foam layer on both sides and a cooling cover.
Motion Transfer
Since there are no coils in this mattress to add bounce, it has minimum motion transfer. If your partner moves or changes positions at night, you shouldn’t feel too much motion.
Support
This mattress offered good support on both the firm and soft sides. I found the soft option supportive when lying on my back or side. On the firm side, it supported my back and stomach well. With the flippable options, this mattress is great for someone who may not quite know what support level they prefer or whose needs may change over time.
As far as edge support, the bed sank down when I sat on the edge, but I could still sit on it comfortably. For someone who sleeps on the edge, it may not be firm enough, since it might feel like they are rolling off the bed.
Ease Of Movement
Memory foam mattresses are known for giving you the feeling of getting stuck in the mattress. With this Layla mattress, however, I found it easy to move around. On both sides of the mattress there was some give, but it feels more like you’re lying on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it and having it mold to your body, which makes it easy to move around on and change positions. I never felt like I couldn’t move freely because the mattress was surrounding me.
Other Things Worth Noting
The cover on the Layla mattress has a zipper, so it’s removable and washable in case it gets dirty. It’s worth mentioning that Layla recommends dry-cleaning the cover, so unfortunately, it’s probably best to avoid washing it at home. Another thing worth noting: Layla does not offer in-home delivery and setup. Rather, the mattress arrives compressed in a box.
About Layla
Layla was founded in 2016 as a mattress company. The founder, who worked in his family’s furniture retail business, says he noticed that mattress manufacturers were using gaming tactics like renaming mattresses so consumers couldn’t price shop. Because of this, he says he wanted to start a brand that provides a quality mattress without the high price tag.
After working on many prototypes, the Layla Memory Foam Mattress was born, with two notable features: The first is that the mattress is flippable, with two options for firmness, so customers can choose which side they prefer. The other feature is copper-gel memory foam, which helps dissipate heat better than traditional memory foam. According to the brand, copper effectively diffuses heat away from your body to keep you cooler.
Shipping And Delivery
Layla mattresses ship to the U.S. and Canada. Shipping is free to the lower 48 states, but there are shipping charges for Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. The mattress arrives in a box at your doorstep in one to five business days. I recommend having a friend help you unbox it and set it up.
Trial Period And Returns
The trial policy for a Layla mattress is 120 nights, with a requirement that you sleep on it for at least four weeks. If you decide the mattress isn’t for you, Layla will pick it up for you. The best part is that the brand partners with local nonprofits and charitable organizations to repurpose the returned mattress so that it doesn’t go to waste.
Warranty
Layla has a lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship. There are some exclusions and limitations that may void the warranty, such as not using a Layla foundation or unsanitary care, so make sure to read the details.
Other Mattresses From Layla
Final Thoughts
If you consider the Layla Memory Foam Mattress as basically two beds in one, since one side is firm and the other soft, overall, it’s a good deal; a queen-size mattress costs less than $1,000 with current discounts. It’s great for people who are unsure of what firmness level they prefer or who may prefer a different firmness level over time. Those who love an extremely soft mattress and are strictly side sleepers may not love the soft side and might find a better option on our list of the best mattresses for side sleepers. I found the soft side to be more like medium-soft and comfortable for back and side sleeping.
When it comes to the firm side, people who like an extra-firm mattress may find this is not firm enough, but it would likely suit those who like a medium-firm bed for back or stomach sleeping. Although there are cooling materials in this mattress, I still don’t think it’s the best fit for hot sleepers.
How I Tested The Layla Memory Foam Mattress
I’ve been sleeping on this mattress for a little over a month. To test this mattress, I slept on my side and back, on both the firm and soft sides. I’m not a stomach sleeper, but I did lie on the mattress on my stomach to feel how much my body sank in and to determine whether my body felt supported.
I checked the sturdiness of the edge support by sitting and lying on the edge, making sure I wouldn’t slip off or feel like it was going to give out underneath me. I lay on the bed and rolled around multiple times to see if it was easy to move or if I got stuck. I also noted whether the bed felt warm or cool when I stayed in one place or moved around.
For motion isolation, I set a glass of water on the opposite side of the bed and moved around to see if the glass would fall or how much water sloshed in the cup.
My Expertise
For over 10 years, I’ve been testing and writing about sleep products as well as working in the textiles industry and Nike in areas of product development and quality assurance. In the past 15 months, I’ve tested over a dozen mattresses. I’ve reviewed and written many mattress and bedding articles for Forbes Vetted, testing the Avocado Green Mattress, the best mattresses without fiberglass, the best mattress protectors and tons of other sleep-related products. I also hold a degree in apparel and textile design, as well as a degree in mechanical engineering.
How Thick Is The Layla Memory Foam Mattress?
The Layla Memory Foam Mattress is 10.5 inches thick, with a queen-size mattress weighing about 69 pounds. The hybrid model (which contains coils) is 13 inches thick, and a queen weighs about 104 pounds.
What Is The Layla Memory Foam Mattress Made Of?
The cover is made of 63% polyester, 26% rayon, 6% viscose and 5% poly/Lycra. The copper-gel memory foam is 3.5-pound density/12-pound ILD (indentation load deflection). The airflow foam is 1.65-pound density/30-pound ILD polyurethane foam, and the base foam is 1.5-pound density/35-pound ILD polyurethane foam.
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