On paper, the Tuft and Needle Original offers great value for money, and is significantly cheaper than a lot of similarly designed beds made by some of the world's best mattress online brands. According to existing customers (it has a high user rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on the brand's website), it's perfectly pleasant to sleep on, offering decent support and comfort, so we decided to try it out for ourselves.
In particular, we're keen to know if it can stand up among the best cooling mattresses for hot sleepers. The Tuft and Needle Original is made of two layers of foam: three inches of polyurethane foam followed by seven inches of base foam. The foam is contained within a rayon and polyester cover that is white and soft to the touch.
A queen size Tuft and Needle Original starts from $450, making it one of the more affordable all-foam options you can buy. In our hands-on review, we look at the Original's design, feel and performance to help you figure out if it's the right choice for your sleep needs.
Tuft and Needle Original review: Spec
- Price: From $450
- Type: Foam
- Trial period: 100 nights
- Warranty: 10-year limited
- Shipping weight: From 50lbs (Twin) to 94lbs (Cal King)
- Dimensions: From 75"L X 39"W X 10"H (Twin) to 84"L X 72"W X 10"H (Cal King)
Tuft and Needle Original review: Unboxing and Delivery
Tuft and Needle makes affordable sleep and bedding products, ranging from cheap yet comfy pillows for sleeping through to cozy comforters and duvets for different climates. The Tuft and Needle mattress is generally well-reviewed, so we were keen to review it for ourselves.
The Tuft and Needle foam mattress only took four business days to arrive. It was one of the quickest mattress deliveries we experienced. It's also one of the lightest we've reviewed, weighing only 72lbs. The box came with handles cut into it, which made it easier to move around.
As we unboxed the Original, we started to wonder if we were accidentally shipped a twin-sized mattress. It doesn’t unfold horizontally after it is unrolled from the first layers of plastic. Instead, it is 'smooshed' together from side to side inside the final layer of plastic – completely compressed.
When we cut open that last layer, the mattress expanded horizontally and came to full form. The whole unboxing process, including the mattress expanding to full form, only took about three minutes to complete.
The Tuft and Needle Original had a very strong plastic smell when we unwrapped it. In fact, it was one of the strongest we experienced, and the smell took about a week to dissipate. Keep that in mind if you are sensitive to strong smells.
Tuft and Needle Original review: Performance
We didn’t like the rigidness of the Tuft and Needle Original. Even as a stomach sleeper, we didn’t find it as comfortable as others we've reviewed. After lying on it for a while, we couldn’t even feel the soft top layer any more. Instead, it felt like we were lying directly on the much stiffer second layer. We woke up every morning during the review feeling somewhat stiff from the mattress – not necessarily in our lower back, but general muscle stiffness.
The edge isn’t as supportive as other beds – when we laid down on our back and side along the edge of the bed, we could feel the edge sinking in, and a general lack of support. However, it did keep us very cool at night. At no point did we feel as though the mattress was retaining heat. It was breathable and kept us at a comfortable temperature throughout the night.
As we performed sink tests in our office testing lab, we noticed an average amount of sink – three inches – when our 5’9”, 160lb frame sat on the edges and on the side. For comparison, the least amount we recorded with other mattresses was 2.25 inches, while the most was 4.5 inches. So Tuft & Needle falls right in the middle, which is acceptable.
That second layer is sturdy and firm, as it should be to provide that much-needed support. Someone who is heavier might experience a much different feeling from the Original, though.
While it's only 10 inches deep, it looks better on a platform and against a headboard than comparable mattresses. If you like sleeping on a surface that is higher off the ground, this one will suit you just fine.
Tuft and Needle Original review: Returns
Tuft and Needle’s return process is simple and straightforward. We called the company and they gave us a list of surrounding companies that could potentially come take the mattress from our lab, but due to our location, we had to take the mattress to a donation center.
After we donated the mattress, we scanned the receipt and emailed it over to Tuft & Needle. After we received the receipt our money was returned in full. Tuft & Needle provides a 100-day trial period to test the Original at home, and you will need to use a good deal of that trial to allow your body to adjust to the new mattress.
The Original also comes with a 10-year limited warranty. This protects you from sagging or impressions above 0.75" deep, or if the foam cracks or splits because of a physical flaw in the foam.
Should you buy the Tuft and Needle Original?
The top layer of the Tuft and Needle Original initially feels soft, but it quickly gives way to the more rigid second layer of foam. It's worth noting that most new mattresses feel firm for a good few weeks to begin with, so you need to give your body time to adjust. After all, this why 100-night trial periods exist, so make the most of your trial period before fully making up your mind.
People who weigh 250lbs or more might sink right past that top layer and feel only the more rigid and sturdy base foam layer, so you may need to choose a deeper model or pair it with one of the best bed toppers for adding instant comfort.
In terms of cooling performance, the Tuft and Needle Original quickly dissipated body heat to prevent it from building up throughout the night. This was an important part of our review criteria, and considering how cheap this is, it performed very well for the lower price. We'd ultimately recommend this for hot sleepers on a tight budget, or as a decent option for your guest room.
