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The typical person doesn’t buy premium everything. Buying behavior is largely an exercise in balancing the nourishment of need with the satisfaction of want — a Bitcoin miner seeks the best GPU available but cares little for Montblanc pens; a driving enthusiast splurges on Autodromo Stringbacks but won’t be dropping $300 on a skillet.
Like with all rules, there are exceptions, and chief among them reigns things pertaining to rest. A line must be drawn — sleep is all-important, it’s not an area your inner cheapskate should be given room to stake a claim. But when an industry vet makes a memory-foam mattress, sells it for less than $200 and it becomes one of the most popular mattresses on Amazon, some mental retooling may be required. Zinus’s Green Tea Memory Foam Mattresses are selling on Amazon like Girl Scout cookies in front of a grocery store. So, how does it sleep? I tried it for a month.
The Good: The price of the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress is obviously a very, very good thing. Beginning at $145 for a queen with free shipping, it’s tough to beat. It doesn’t feel like a budget mattress, of which I have personally slept on many (hello, college). It’s plush and leans slightly more sink than support. As you’d expect from a premium memory-foam mattress, it’s excellent at limiting motion transfer as well (I still wouldn’t jump on it with a glass of wine next to me, though). It arrives at your door in a much smaller than expected box (24 x 24 x 42.5 inches) that wasn’t too cumbersome to unload. Zinus also offers what’s become the industry standard 100-day test period so you can decide whether it’s for you or not (just don’t spill anything on it).
Who It’s For: First-time buyers looking to dip their toes (or backs?) into memory-foam mattresses. The price also makes the Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress a solid option for homeowners looking to outfit a spare bedroom.
Watch Out For: Despite claims otherwise, it’s not a good mattress for people who sleep hot. That’s not to say it’s warming by any means, it’s just not an answer to baking in bed. The effect of the green tea extract, natural charcoal and castor seed oil it’s infused with wasn’t overtly apparent to my partner and me either, though it’s possible it will make itself known more in time. Perhaps if you’re prone to sweat at night, it’d be made more apparent (our apartment is frigid to avoid this entirely). If you’re someone looking for above-average support, it would be wise to look elsewhere. It’s got more sink to it than those with pre-existing aches and pains may want, particularly in high-pressure points like the back and butt.
