Cariloha Retreat Mattress Review 2025: An Entirely Unique Eco-Friendly Bed

CNET

12-05-2025

With 5+ years of mattress testing experience, we use our different sleeping position and body type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews.
8.25 /10
SCORE
CNET Score
With five-plus years of mattress testing experience, we use our different sleeping position and body type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews.
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Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Best for:
Score Breakdown
Performance
8.5 /10
Policies
7 /10
Durability
8.5 /10
Features
9 /10
Pros and Cons
Pros
Unique feel
Supportive bounce
Organic materials
Lots of pressure relief
Zone support
Cons
Expensive
Only one firmness profile
Cariloha Retreat Mattress
8.25/10 CNET Score
$2,599 at Cariloha
Jon Gomez/CNET
Cariloha makes a wide range of products, including mattresses, sheets, pillows and even bathrobes and towels. The brand is focused on sustainability and is a certified B Corporation, which it shares with a few other mattress brands such as Leesa and Avocado.
The Retreat mattress is its most high-end model, and it shows. This thing is seriously comfortable, and it uses organic latex foam, but it feels different than the dozens of other latex beds I've tested to date. If the Retreat mattress fits your budget, I think you might love it.
First impressions of the Cariloha Retreat mattress
When we first unboxed the Cariloha Retreat mattress, I wasn't sure what to expect. Most beds that feature latex foam have a certain type of look -- usually meant to look as 'natural' as possible with beige colors. The Retreat mattress doesn't have the traditional look of its peers.
Jon Gomez/CNET
I was a bit surprised by just how soft the mattress was, even after giving it a full day to firm up. Most beds are soft right out of the box, and that's what I thought was happening with the Retreat. But even a full day later, it still felt quite soft.
After learning about the materials used inside the Retreat mattress, it became even clearer that it isn't a standard latex foam hybrid, and I think that's a good thing.
Is the Cariloha Retreat mattress right for you?
For anyone looking for a soft latex foam hybrid with organic certifications, the Retreat mattress is an excellent choice. Most latex foam beds aren't particularly soft. We have tested dozens of beds in this category, and the average firmness rating for those beds is in the medium-firm range. That's popular but it's not always ideal for side sleepers. Beds like the Retreat give side sleepers more options in the latex category.
Cariloha Retreat mattress firmness and feel
Retreat mattress feel
The Retreat mattress has a responsive latex foam feel, but with some nuance. Latex foam beds tend to all feel similar. Latex foam is responsive and bouncy, which is basically the opposite of memory foam. When you remove weight and pressure from latex foam, it springs back into shape instantaneously. If you're a combination sleeper, you won't get any resistance from the bed when rotating between sleeping positions. In fact, it can feel like it's propelling you.
Jon Gomez/CNET
The Retreat mattress provides the responsive, buoyant feel of most latex foam beds -- except it cradles your body a bit more than most latex beds. There is a unique later in the Retreat mattress responsible for this slight difference in feel.
If you prefer the dense, sink-in, body-conforming quality of a memory foam bed, I don't think the Retreat mattress is for you, but if you like the idea of a responsive, bouncy and supportive bed, I think you'll enjoy the feel.
This mattress tester thinks the Retreat mattress is incredibly comfy, one of the most comfortable latex beds I've tried to date.
Cariloha Retreat firmness and sleeper types
The Retreat mattress is noticeably soft, but that doesn't mean it isn't supportive. Cariloha rates the Retreat as 'medium-soft,' and I feel like that's accurate. The whole team, me included, rated it in the 3 to 4 range out of 10.
Testing it with the new Mattress Smasher 9000 resulted in a score of 5.2 out of 10, a bit firmer than we thought. This device is not infallible, but it gives us a more objective rating than our traditional method of firmness by consensus.
However, this 5.2 rating is measured in the center of the mattress. The Retreat mattress has a 'zone support' design, and the center third of the bed is intended to be the firmest section. Measured on the outer thirds of the bed, the bed scored a 4.4 out of 10, which is a bit softer and closer to what we initially thought.
Jon Gomez/CNET
Side sleepers will enjoy the firmness level of the Retreat mattress, but I also felt supported in any position thanks to the coils and the gentle bounce of the latex foam. The firm center of the mattress should help primary back sleepers feel supported.
The Retreat is only available in a single firmness profile. Other Cariloha mattresses are advertised as firmer than the Retreat.
Cariloha Retreat mattress construction
The Retreat mattress's construction is unique. It has a layer that I've only seen in one other mattress, and its combination of foams is rare but becoming more popular.
Jon Gomez/CNET
The bottommost layer is a thin layer of support foam to give the main support layer -- a thick layer of 'upcycled steel coils' a secure foundation. These coils have zone support, giving sleepers a bit more support in the lumbar region, where you need it most.
Above the coil layer is a layer of transition foam, and this layer is part of the reason this bed feels slightly different than most latex foam beds: It isn't latex. It's actually a 'soy plant-based' foam that behaves more like foams we see in beds like Casper or Helix. We've been seeing more and more beds that feature latex foam but in combination with other types of foam like Bear Natural and Leesa Natural.
I think this is great because you get the eco-friendly benefits of latex foam and the unique feel of latex foam but without the feel being overwhelming and off-putting to some sleepers.
Above this transition layer is a very unique layer that provides the zone support on this mattress. In the center third of the layer is a layer of micro coils, and on the outer third is latex foam. I have only seen this type of mixed foam and coil design on one other mattress, the Leesa Legend Hybrid.
At the very top is the primary comfort layer of the Retreat mattress, which is another layer of latex foam that is GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified.
The bed also has some wool and bamboo, and a much different look than other beds made of organic materials. I think that's a welcome change.
Jon Gomez/CNET
The soft, gray cover on the Retreat mattress is also removable and machine washable, which is convenient for people who want to easily clean their mattress cover.
Cariloha Retreat mattress performance
Edge support
Beds with poor edge support make you feel like you're going to roll off the mattress near the outer edge. It's easy to sleep near the perimeter of the edge if you're sharing a bed with a partner or pets.
Jon Gomez/CNET
The Retreat mattress has good to great edge support. The firm base foam encases the coil unit, which is designed to improve the edge support, and it does that effectively. It's not the best edge support I've ever tested, but I doubt you'll have issues on the Retreat, even if you sleep on the edge.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation refers to how well the bed deadens the impact of movement on the mattress. Good motion isolation is especially important if you're a light sleeper who shares a mattress with someone who tosses and turns a lot.
The motion isolation performance is surprisingly good on the Retreat. Beds that feature coils and latex foam don't usually perform well in this category because of the responsive and bouncy qualities of the material. For a latex bed, the Retreat is great -- but when compared to memory foam beds like a Tempur-Pedic, it doesn't perform as well.
If you're a light sleeper who wakes up at the slightest movement, you may have problems sharing the Retreat mattress. But for everyone else, I think you'll be good to go.
Temperature regulation
Latex foam hybrids are naturally breathable, and the Retreat mattress features less cotton and wool in comparison to other latex hybrids like Avocado and Awara.
Two members of the CNET Sleep team spent a month at home with an Avocado Luxury Organic mattress and found it to be a little warm compared to other beds. I think the combination of coils, latex and less wool and cotton means the Retreat will sleep solidly temperature neutral.
Cariloha Retreat mattress pricing
Size Measurements (inches) Price Twin 38x75 $1,949 Twin XL 38x80 $1,999 Full 54x75 $2,399 Queen 60x80 $2,599 King 76x80 $2,999 Cal king 72x84 $2,999
The Retreat mattress is fairly expensive, and on par with other high-end latex beds like the Avocado Green and the Nest Bedding Owl. I am unsure if Cariloha runs discounts year-round, but as of writing, there is a 20% discount on the Retreat mattress, which brings the price down to about $2,080.
Jon Gomez/CNET
Beds that use certified organic materials, like the Retreat, tend to be more expensive because more care is taken in sourcing the materials, especially latex foam, which is naturally derived.
Cariloha mattress policies
Free shipping
Like most online mattresses, the Retreat will ship in a large box to your door at no extra cost (as long as you live in the contiguous United States).
Unboxing this particular mattress is not easy because it's quite heavy, so you should definitely have a friend there to help you remove it from the box.
100-night trial
Cariloha provides a full 100-night trial period for its beds, pillows and sheet sets. That means that if you decide you don't like the product within the first 100 nights, you can return it and get a full refund.
I would hang onto the box for other products because the policy is likely different.
Return policy
During the 100-night trial period, you can return the Retreat mattress and get a full refund at no additional cost, making purchasing the mattress virtually risk-free.
Warranty
A standard 10-year warranty backs the Cariloha Retreat mattress. This covers manufacturer defects, and if your mattress develops sagging beyond normal wear and tear, you should be covered.
How does the Cariloha Retreat mattress compare to similar mattresses?
Retreat mattress vs. Leesa Natural
Leesa Natural is another bed that uses a blend of latex foam and other types of foams, like the Retreat. Instead of a soy-based responsive foam, the Leesa Natural uses a layer of memory foam, which balances out the responsive latex feel. It ends up feeling more like a responsive pillow-top, but it also features natural materials.
The Leesa Natural is more affordable than the Retreat by a few hundred dollars and is also quite a bit firmer, rated a 6.5 out to 10, so it's less ideal for strict side sleepers than the Retreat.
Retreat mattress vs. WinkBeds EcoCloud
The EcoCloud mattress is one of the best latex foam hybrids for side sleepers. Until recently, it was the softest latex hybrid we'd tested (now it is the third softest). The EcoCloud features certified organic latex foam, certified organic wool and certified organic cotton, so it is eco-friendly. It has the traditional, responsive and bouncy latex foam feel instead of the more nuanced type of feel on the Retreat. The EcCloud also has zone support, but it's not as sophisticated and noticeable as the micro coil layer on the Retreat.
Final thoughts on the Cariloha Retreat mattress
The Cariloha Retreat mattress is one of the most interesting latex foam beds I've ever tested. Beds in this category can often blend together because they share similar materials and design philosophies.
Jon Gomez/CNET
We have seen more unique options from Leesa and Bear that blend latex foam with other foams to provide a different feel, and the Retreat mattress takes that idea to another level with this zone support micro coil layer combined with latex and neutral foam.
I think the Retreat mattress is excellent and one of my favorite latex foam beds. To this mattress tester, its comfort is next level, and it feels simultaneously supportive and plush, which is pretty rare. The price is a bit high, but if it fits your budget and you want a bed with natural and organic materials and a unique feel, I think this might be your best bet.
You might like the Cariloha Retreat mattress if:
You want a responsive feel
You want a bed with natural materials
You want a coil mattress
You're a side sleeper
You might not like the Cariloha Retreat mattress if:
You prefer a foam bed
You are shopping on a budget
You dislike a bouncy mattress
Other mattresses from Cariloha
Cariloha also has its Classic Mattress and its Resort Mattress, which we haven't tested yet. According to information from Cariloha, the Classic Mattress is an all-foam, memory foam option, and the Resort Mattress is an upgraded version of the Classic.
Both beds are supposed to be firmer than the Retreat.