02-06-2025
I've been sleeping on an organic mattress for a week and now latex is my favorite mattress material — here's why
I've been sleeping on the Birch Luxe Natural for a week now, and I have to say I'm impressed. Birch is a brand behind some of the best organic mattresses on the market, so I was eager to 'clean up' my sleep and ditch chemical, man-made materials such as memory foam.
Type: HybridMaterials: Latex, wool, coilsBrand-rated firmness (1-10): 6.5/10Height: 11.5"Trial period: 100 nightsWarranty: Limited lifetimePrice: From $1,624 at Birch
The Luxe Natural is a hybrid mattress that combines nine layers of coils, latex, wool and cotton. It starts with a pillow-top layer to provide some extra cushioning, and beneath that you'll find a layer of GOLS-certified latex which gives the bed a bit of a bounce.
By incorporating natural materials, like some of this year's best mattresses that we've tried and tested, the Luxe Natural promises exceptional temperature regulation, durability and support. Birch describes it as having a medium feel of around 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning in theory it should suit all sleeping styles.
So, we're putting it to the test. While I'll write a full review after a month of sleeping on the Birch Luxe Natural, these are my first thoughts, from unboxing and set-up to my first night on the bed.
Organic mattresses inevitably come at a premium price because of the high-quality, natural materials used. And the Luxe is Birch's most expensive option, sitting above the entry-level Birch Natural mattress.
However, throughout the year you can expect to see at least a 20% off mattress sale on the Birch Luxe Natural, which takes a queen down to $2,099 (MSRP $2,624). Right now, there's 20% off plus you'll get two free pillows worth $149 with every purchase.
Below are the MSRPs of each size of the Birch Luxe Natural, but you can usually get each one at 20% off:
The current 20% off deal is pretty standard but does offer decent value for money, especially when you throw in the free pillows. However, if you want to buy it at the lowest possible price we would suggest waiting until after the summer where we expect to see the discount increase to 27% off during the Labor Day sales.
The perks offered by Birch include a limited lifetime warranty, free shipping and a 100-night trial. While we'd like to see a slightly longer sleep trial considering the premium price tag, 100 nights will likely be more than enough to decide whether it's the right bed for you.
Birch Luxe Natural mattress: was $1,624 now from $1,299 at BirchThis hybrid, pillow-top mattress is a luxury purchase, even with the 20% off sale that runs throughout the year. Head to Birch today and you'll see the queen size reduced to $2,099 (was $2,624) with an Eco-Rest pillow set included. That discount drops to $1,915.52 for a queen after a 27% off sale, which we expect to see return for Labor Day in September. Regardless of when you buy you'll get a 100-night sleep trial, a limited lifetime warranty and fast free shipping.
The Birch Luxe Natural comes vacuum packed and boxed. The best mattresses in a box we've tested have minimal off-gassing (that chemical smell you sometimes get from new foam mattresses) and inflate quickly. The Luxe Natural certainly ticked these boxes.
In fact, our team of expert mattress testers reported absolutely no off-gassing, even when we pressed our noses right up to the fabric. This is because the materials used (latex, wool and cotton) are all-natural.
Off-gassing is caused by VOCs (volatile organic compounds) evaporating, but these compounds are mainly found in chemical-based, man-made materials, like memory foam.
Despite Birch saying the mattress only needed 2 hours to expand fully (which is a short period of time anyway), we found it was fully inflated after just 30 minutes, making the whole setup process quick, easy and practical.
Our one gripe is the lack of handles. Dense latex is a heavy material, so moving the mattress around without side handles can be tricky. We'd suggest having at least one other person to help you unbox it.
Before the Birch Luxe Natural, my husband and I were sleeping on the Nectar Ultra Hybrid, which has soft, sinking foams. So, when we tried out the Luxe Natural, we were relieved to feel a firmer, responsive surface. Birch describes it as a 6.5 out of 10 for firmness, but I think it feels slightly firmer than this; maybe around a 7.
The latex layers mean that this bed has some bounce to it, and after weeks of sinking into slow-moving foam, this was a pleasant surprise. When I lay down on it, ready to fall asleep, I was a little apprehensive about how firm it was.
As a side sleeper, I need extra pressure relief around my shoulders, hips and knees. I wasn't sure the Luxe Natural could deliver this.
However, I became almost immediately comfortable. I think this was thanks to the pillow-top made from organic cotton and wool, which adds a subtle layer of cushioning. The best pillow-top mattresses make great mattresses for side sleepers.
Another stand-out feature was the edge support. I like to sleep right up to the edge of the bed, and I felt fully supported – just as much as I would be in the middle of the bed.
I never really knew what people meant when they said organic mattresses give you a 'clean' sleep, but it started to make sense after sleeping on this Birch bed. Because of the breathability of the cotton and the moisture wicking of the wool, the bed felt really cool and dry. I also enjoyed knowing I was sleeping on something that was completely natural; no harsh chemicals to breathe in at night, just latex, wool and cotton.
My husband loved that it has a more 'traditional' feel, too. The spring layer combined with the firm latex means you sleep on top of the mattress, rather than sinking into it. I think this also contributed to that 'clean' feel.
I couldn't tell if I was just excited about the Luxe Natural on night one because I had become so sick of memory foam mattresses, or because it's genuinely a good mattress. But over the course of the week, I only became more convinced that this is the best mattress I've slept on yet.
During the week, my nighttime wake-ups became less and less frequent. I think this was because I was able to stay in one position throughout the night, without feeling claustrophobic from sinking into the mattress or overheating.
Despite the mattress feeling a little bouncy, I wasn't disturbed by my husband's movements. We often have different schedules, so motion isolation is important to us, but the Birch Luxe Natural didn't transfer movement between us much at all. It's not as impressive as the best memory foam mattresses, but it's more than enough to limit nighttime disruptions.
The support delivered by this mattress is excellent. I felt like my body was always buoyant, my hips were always lifted and my spine was always aligned. I think it'll make a great mattress for back pain because of this.
My husband and I are average-weight combination sleepers, primarily side and back sleeping. Because we found the mattress comfortable and supportive in every position, we think it'll suit most sleepers.
However it's worth noting that very lightweight side sleepers might want a softer mattress for extra contouring around the body. There's very minimal contouring in the Birch Luxe Natural.
You might have guessed by now, I'm a big fan of this mattress. So far, I think it's a great all-rounder that combines subtle cushioning with robust support to create a surface that'll suit most sleepers.
Everyone obviously has their own personal preference, so if you're looking for a marshmallow soft, cozy bed, this isn't it. But you will get a mattress that feels incredibly high-quality.
You can feel just how durable this bed is, thanks to the latex and natural materials. It's no surprise Birch offers a limited lifetime warranty, as latex mattresses usually have a lifespan of up to 20 years.
I think back sleepers and stomach sleepers will love this mattress, and depending on preferences, most side sleepers will, too. I'll write a full review of my experience after sleeping on the mattress for a month, so watch this space.
