NapQueen Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress

You may be familiar with bamboo sheets, but what about bamboo mattresses? They share the same silky soft, breathable benefits of the sheets you know and love, and they’re becoming increasingly popular.

Read on for specifics on this type of mattress, plus our picks for the top bamboo mattresses on the market today.

If you’re thinking a mattress made with bamboo must be as hard as the stalks used to make it, we have good news. A bamboo mattress is indeed made with bamboo, but the finished product bears no resemblance to the plant itself.

Bamboo is often used in one of two ways for mattresses. It can be manufactured into a fiber that’s used as a soft, breathable, moisture-wicking cover material. Or, bamboo charcoal is infused into the foam layers of a mattress for its odor-reducing, heat-wicking properties.

There are two chemicals processes that create bamboo textiles. Rayon — or viscose — is soft and silky, but the manufacturing process can be hard on the environment without proper oversight and practices. Lyocell is created in a closed-loop manufacturing process that minimizes chemical waste.

The finished product from both processes is soft, smooth, and luxurious — just what you want in a mattress cover.

Mattresses that include bamboo may offer a few benefits.

Fabrics derived from bamboo are soft and silky. They can also help wick moisture, so you stay more comfortable while you snooze. Plus, they make for a hypoallergenic sleep surface.

When bamboo is infused into memory foam, it can help diffuse heat and keep odors at bay for cooler, fresher sleep.

Textiles made from bamboo are often touted for their eco-friendliness. That’s true to a point, since bamboo itself grows quickly, regenerates from its own roots, requires no fertilizers or pesticides, and doesn’t use much water.

However, the manufacturing process of bamboo for goods, like sheets and mattresses, plays a big role in whether it can truly be considered eco-friendly. If you like the idea of bamboo in your mattress, look for brands that have CertiPUR-US or OEKO-TEX certifications and offer transparency about their supply chain.

It’s also worth remembering that the quality of a mattress is dependent on all of the materials used. The inclusion of bamboo alone doesn’t make a mattress better.

To make our recommendations for the best bamboo mattresses, we looked for certifications from CertiPUR-US, which indicates specific safety standards have been met.

We also checked customer reviews to get an idea of how these mattresses really perform.

Pricing guide

Prices here reflect bamboo mattresses in a queen size.

  • $ = under $600
  • $$ = $600–$1,300
  • $$$ = over $1,300

Best plush bamboo mattress

Cariloha Classic Bamboo Mattress

  • Price: $$
  • Sizes available: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
  • Pro: cover can be removed for easy washing
  • Con: medium-firm feel might not suit all sleepers

The Carihola classic bamboo mattress is an all-foam mattress with a supremely soft cover that’s made with viscose from bamboo. The top part of the cover is designed to be removed for machine washing.

The mattress also has a layer of bamboo-infused memory foam, which the company says makes for cooler, more comfortable sleep. A unique wedge design between the memory foam layers offers extra support on the edges, so you’re free to sprawl comfortably. Plus, the foam is CertiPUR-US certified for safety.

Reviewers rave about the medium-firm feel of the mattress. They describe it as supportive and refreshing.

Carihola offers a 100-night home trial and free shipping.

Best luxury bamboo mattress

Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress

  • Price: $$$
  • Sizes available: twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
  • Pro: luxurious feel
  • Con: not available in a standard twin

With a luxury take on its classic mattress, Cariloha made our list again. The Cariloha Resort Mattress is made with twice the amount of bamboo-infused memory foam, along with a hypoallergenic layer of natural latex and the same innovative side wedge support.

The mattress has a medium-soft feel with comfort zones for support right where you need it.

The plush, quilted cover is made with viscose from bamboo and can be zipped off and machine washed. However, this mattress isn’t available in a standard twin.

Reviewers overwhelmingly mention comfort as a top feature of this mattress.

The Resort Bamboo Mattress comes with the same 100-night trial and free shipping as the Classic Bamboo Mattress.

Best rated bamboo mattress

NapQueen Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress

  • Price: $
  • Sizes available: twin, full, queen, king
  • Pro: great price point
  • Con: limited sizes

With over 1,000 reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, the NapQueen bamboo charcoal memory foam mattress has great feedback.

The 12-inch mattress has a medium-firm feel, which suits a wide range of sleepers. The bamboo charcoal-infused into the memory foam helps mitigate heat and odors for cooler, more refreshing sleep. Another bonus? The materials in the NapQueen are CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certified.

However, the mattress isn’t offered in twin XL or California king sizes, and it’s only eligible for a return, replacement, or refund for 30 days.

PriceSizesProCon
Cariloha Classic Bamboo Mattress
$$– twin
– twin XL
– full
– queen
– king
– California king
– split king
cover can be removed for easy washingmedium-firm feel might not suit all sleepers
Cariloha Resort Bamboo Mattress$$$– twin XL
– queen
– king
– California king
– split king
luxurious feelnot available in a standard twin
NapQueen Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress$– twin
– full
– queen
– king
great price pointlimited sizes

If you’re considering a bamboo mattress, remember to consider the other materials used, your preferred firmness level and sleeping style, and a company’s individual policies.

Materials

Specific materials, like memory foam, latex, or coil systems, are designed to add various benefits to a mattress.

Consider whether factors, like pressure point relief, reduced motion transfer, or support in a specific sleeping position, are important in your mattress. That way, you can zero in on a bamboo mattress that works best for all of your needs.

Firmness and sleeping style

Like other mattresses, those made with bamboo come in different firmness options. If you’re predominantly a back sleeper or if you have a higher body weight, for example, medium-firm to firm mattresses will offer the support and spinal alignment you need for comfortable sleep.

Company policies

You can spend hours researching a mattress, but the real test is sleeping on it. It’s always a good idea to look for a reasonable trial period on a mattress.

Keep in mind, budget buys sometimes sacrifice trial periods, so it may be worth spending a little more money if it means you can return or exchange a mattress that just isn’t working out.

Bamboo mattresses aren’t made entirely of bamboo. Instead, bamboo is an additional material used to add a touch of luxury, along with moisture and heat-wicking benefits.

If bamboo is used in a mattress’s cover, it’s a good alternative to traditional materials, like cotton. Fibers manufactured from bamboo are known for their soft silkiness, and they wick moisture for cooler, more comfortable sleep.

Bamboo that’s been infused into the foam layers of an all-foam or hybrid mattress can help diffuse heat and keep the mattress fresh. That gives these mattresses a leg up over standard memory foam mattresses, which have a reputation for sleeping uncomfortably hot.

What’s inside a bamboo mattress?

It depends. A bamboo mattress may use a manufactured fiber derived from bamboo as a cover material or infuse comfort layers, typically made with memory foam, with bamboo ash.

While the interior of a mattress will vary depending on the manufacturer, you can generally expect a bamboo mattress to have an infused foam or hybrid design.

Do bamboo mattresses need a box spring?

Since bamboo mattresses vary from one brand to the next, there’s no single answer. However, mattresses typically perform better when they have a supportive foundation. Before you make a purchase, double-check the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Are bamboo mattresses eco-friendly?

While bamboo itself is a very sustainable plant, you can’t necessarily say the same for all the products derived from it. If you’re looking for a truly eco-friendly mattress, consider mattresses made from certified organic ingredients.

Bamboo mattresses incorporate bamboo for its silky smooth feel or moisture and heat-wicking properties. You’ll find this material is a great addition to memory foam or hybrid mattresses.

Remember to check for certifications, like CertiPUR-US, and prioritize brands that offer a reasonable trial window.


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