Cover
Covering the Zenhaven mattress is a quilted cover made of organic cotton treated with Guardin, a plant-based antimicrobial compound.
Comfort & Feel
There are three aspects that make up our assessment of comfort and feel. We call these "preference-based characteristics" because no rating here is better or worse – rather, the attributes that are most desirable to you will be determined solely by your personal preferences. We apply the same classification standards to each mattress so you can more easily compare apples to apples.
Softness ( what’s this )
Keep in mind that what mattress companies call “firm” or “soft” is a purely a preference. All mattresses should be supportive and promote healthy spinal alignment. Whether a mattress is fluffy and squishy (what mattress companies call soft), or less so (what companies call firm), is purely down to your personal needs and preferences.
The Zenhaven mattress is flippable, and each side of the mattress is a different softness. The luxury plush side is used by 80% of its customers according to Saatva, and that is the side we primarily tested. We did also sleep on the other side, called gentle firm by the company, who claims there’s an 18% difference in softness between the two sides.
In practical terms, we did not notice a huge difference in softness between the two sides. Overall we would class the luxury plush side as Medium, and the gentle firm side as just to the firmer side, or Medium Firm.
Not sure what softness is best for you? Take our Mattress Match Quiz and find out.
| Softness Level (Luxury Plush side) (1=Least Soft, 9=Most Soft) |
5 | Medium |
| Softness Level (Gentle Firm side) (1=Least Soft, 9=Most Soft) |
4 | Medium-Firm |
Cushioning Depth ( what’s this )
Despite the two softness levels on either side of the Zenhaven mattress, we noted that cushioning depth seemed consistent between the two. Cushioning depth refers to how deeply you sink into the mattress versus more of a floating-on-top feeling. We experience a bit of nesting feeling, but not much, on both sides, leading us to class cushioning depth as average in the case of the Zenhaven latex mattress.
| Cushioning Depth (1=Shallowest, 9=Deepest) |
5 | Average cushioning |
Responsiveness ( what’s this )
Responsiveness refers to how quickly a mattress recovers its shape after being compressed. When you press your hand into the mattress, for instance, then remove it, does it take several seconds for the mattress to return to flat, or does it recover immediately? Memory foam, for example, is known for its very slow recovery, giving you that slow, melting into the mattress feeling. Innerspring mattresses, on the other hand, tend to recover immediately.
The Zenhaven latex mattress falls into the latter camp, with no memory feel and very quick recovery.
Bounce is another aspect of responsiveness. Some people enjoy a little bounciness in their mattress while others don’t. While the Zenhaven mattress does have a little bit of surface bounce (it is made of natural rubber after all), this is not a bouncy mattress. When our 200-lb. tester plopped his weight on the bed, he didn’t bounce at all.
| Memory Feel (1=Least, 9=Most) |
1 | None |
| Bounce (1=Least, 9=Most) |
4 | A little |
Back Support & Pressure Relief
The two things that you should always be sure to get from your mattress are spinal alignment (commonly thought of as "back support") and pressure relief. Unfortunately, no mattress will deliver these two things equally well for all sleepers. In particular, spinal alignment and pressure relief capabilities will vary across sleepers with different weights, body shapes, and sleep positions. To help you determine how this mattress will perform for you, we break down our spinal alignment and pressure relief assessments by sleeper type.
We primarily tested the luxury plush side of the Zenhaven latex bed, as that’s the side 80% of its customers choose, according to Saatva.
Overall we thought that the Zenhaven mattress offered very good support, especially for back and side sleeping positions. When on his back, our tester felt that his hips sunk into the mattress just the right amount, yet his lumbar area felt supported. Flipping the mattress to the gentle firm side, our tester had the same view: very good back, lumbar, and hip support.
For side sleepers, we felt that Zenhaven mattress would also be a good choice. If you are primarily a side sleeper, we found the luxury plush side to offer a bit better support in this position, with heavier parts of our tester’s body sinking down while leave concave parts, like his waist, support, resulting in very good spinal alignment.
If you are primarily a stomach sleeper, however, our tester found the gentle firm side to be more appropriate. With a too-soft mattress, hips and midsection can tend to sink too much, forcing the back to over-arch and opening the potential for back pain. For that reason, stomach sleepers should prefer the gentle firm side of the Zenhaven mattress.
Spinal Alignment
The key to good back support is maintaining proper spinal alignment while you sleep. This means that the mattress should hold your spine in roughly the same position it's in when you're standing. The ability of a given mattress to do this will generally depend on your weight, sleep position, and body shape.
Here is how we break down the spinal alignment of the Zenhaven latex mattress (ratings are for the Luxury Plush side of the bed):
| Weight | Range | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 9 | 9 | 4 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 8 | 9 | 4 |
Back Sleepers:
Our 200-pound tester felt very well supported while on his back, with very good spinal alignment and lumbar support. Lighter and slightly heavier people should have a similar experience, while those over about 250 lbs. might want to choose the gentle firm side of the mattress instead.
Side Sleepers:
Spinal alignment for our tester in the side position was very good, noting that his shoulders and hips sunk appropriately into the mattress, resulting in a neutral spine position. Overall, we felt that the Zenhaven would be a good match for most that sleep in a side position, especially if used on the luxury plush side.
Stomach Sleepers:
Achieving good spinal alignment for stomach sleepers can often be trickier as the hips can tend to sink down too far with some mattresses, and we found that to be a concern with the luxury plush side of the Zenhaven latex mattress. However, our tester experienced much better spinal alignment as a stomach sleeper from the gentle firm side of the mattress.
Pressure Relief
When a mattress pushes back against your body with too much force in a concentrated area, the result can be pain, soreness, loss of circulation, excessive tossing, and other problems. In general, such "pressure points" are of greatest concern for side sleepers, since that's the position in which your body's weight is distributed over the smallest surface area. To find the right mattress for your needs, keep in mind that the pressure-relieving capabilities of any given mattress will vary depending on the sleeper. Factors like your weight and body shape (e.g., broader shoulders and/or hips) will determine how far you sink into the mattress, and the pressure relief offered by that mattress will vary widely at different depths.
Here's how we sized up the pressure relief of the Zenhaven mattress while testing its Luxury Plush side:
| Weight | Range | Typical Curves | Extra Curvy |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 9 | 9 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 9 | 9 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 9 | 9 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 9 | 9 |
Overall, we found the pressure relief offered by the Zenhaven mattress to be excellent, and our tester experience no hot spots or pressure points at all. On the gentle firm side of the bed, our tester also found pressure relief very good, but it was truly excellent on that luxury plush side. For a wide range of sleepers, we felt the Zenhaven mattress would offer exceptional pressure relief.
Other Features
Beyond the preference-based characteristics of comfort and feel, and the body matching for spinal alignment and pressure relief, a mattress will have a number of other attributes that can make it a better or worse choice for you. We call these "priority-based characteristics" because they are areas in which a mattress can be better or worse, but that will have differing amounts of importance to each sleeper. So, determining how much importance to give to these features will be entirely a matter of your own personal priorities. As always, we apply the same ratings standards to each mattress so you can more easily compare apples to apples.
Motion Isolation ( what’s this )
With a bowling pin standing upright on the Zenhaven latex bed, we tested motion isolation by dropping a 16-lb. bowling ball on it; the bowling pin barely moved at all, and remained upright. Similarly, when our tester dropped his full weight onto the bed, the pin remained practically motionless.
If not feeling your partner’s movements on the bed is a high priority, the Zenhaven bed performed exceptionally well in our tests.
| Motion Isolation Rating |
10 /10 | Exceptional |
Temperature ( what’s this )
If you are a “hot” sleeper, or perhaps a woman who experiences hot flashes, how a mattress affects your body temperature may be a concern. Latex in general is less heat-retaining than memory foam, so if you are deciding between this two types, and heat is a priority for you, latex has some natural advantages.
Saatva designed the Zenhaven latex bed with pinholes through each layer of latex, helping promote air flow. And the 1” layer of wool on either side of the mattress serves as a natural heat regulator. Have you ever tried wool socks? They tend to keep your feel both warm in winter and cool in summer, channeling heat away from the body.
Overall, we felt that feeling hot on the Zenhaven bed really would not be a concern for the majority of people.
| Stays "Cool" Rating |
7 /10 | Good |
Edge Support ( what’s this )
If you like to sit on the edge of your mattress, or if you tend to sleep right on the edge of your mattress, you want a model that has good integrity and stability around the edges.
In our tests, which you can see in our video review above, our tester felt very stable while sitting on the edge of the mattress, even though the mattress claims no specific features to enhance edge support. While the mattress did dip under his weight, the amount of dip was not as much as one might experience with memory foam.
Laying right along the side of the mattress also felt very stable. If you find yourself being forced to the side of the bed by pets or kids, this will be a consideration for you. Our tester felt like he was leaning a tiny bit off the mattress, but not enough to be of concern or to affect his stability.
| Edge Support Rating |
7 /10 | Good |
Ease of Repositioning ( what’s this )
One of the highlights of the Zenhaven mattress, for our tester, was ease of movement, and he noted that he felt like he was almost rolling down a hill whichever way he rolled to his side—that’s how effortless it felt to move around on the Zenhaven mattress.
| Repositioning Rating |
9 /10 | Excellent |
Green Features ( what’s this )
If you are shopping for a latex mattress, environmentally friendly features, as well as avoiding the presence of off-gassing and contact with chemicals is most likely a priority for you.
Latex is an all natural material made from the sap of rubber trees. The latex used in the Zenhaven is the higher quality talalay type of latex. While the company says that it is 100% natural latex, and that is mainly true, the company does add some treatments required by law. Even so, the latex used here is as close to 100% natural as you will find.
It is not, however, organic latex. You can certainly find organic latex mattresses. An organization called GOLS regulates and certified latex as organic. But keep in mind that organic latex mattresses cost substantially more than the Zenhaven bed.
The wool layers are organic, however, as is the cotton used in the mattresses cover. The company does note that it must use a small amount of chemicals to process the rubber sap into latex, and to ensure that layers stick together.
Zenhaven also has stated company policies regarding the use of sustainable harvesting techniques as well as initiatives it has taken to reduce the carbon footprint of its factories in the United States.
| Green Rating |
9 /10 | Excellent |
Adjustable Base Compatibility ( what’s this )
We did not test the Zenhaven with an adjustable base. However, the company does sell its own adjustable base called the Lineal (see our separate review of the adjustable base) that is compatible with the Zenhaven bed. For that reason we assume that compatibility with an adjustable base should be good.
| Adjustable Base Use Rating |
9 /10 | Excellent |
Price, Value & Longevity
How Much Does a Zenhaven Mattress Cost?
Prices shown are list prices. Remember that GoodBed keeps our site current with the best available discounts on online mattresses, many of which are exclusive discounts for our readers.
What Are You Getting?
The Zenhaven is a 10” natural latex mattress that is uniquely flippable; each side of the mattress offers a slightly different softness level. We found the luxury plush side best for back and side sleepers, while the gentle firm side would likely be a better choice for back and stomach sleepers.
In our tests, the Zenhaven mattress proved exceptional in terms of pressure relief. Ease of movement and motion isolation also received very high marks in our tests. We pulled and tugged at the mattress and found it to be well constructed and solid.
As a latex mattress, the Zenhaven also boasts eco-friendly materials and construction, with 100% natural talalay latex (though not organic), two layers of 100% New Zealand wool for fire retardance and heat regulation, and an organic cotton cover. The company also has well-stated company policies and initiatives regarding sustainable harvesting and carbon-footprint reduction.
How Long Will the Zenhaven Mattress Last?
We believe the Zenhaven bed will last a long time. While the company does not state the density of its latex layers, we judged them to be in the 4-lb to 4.5-lb range, of good quality and durability.
The mattress’s cotton cover was tugged and pulled in our tests and we found it to be well made and sturdy.
Overall Value
Pricewise, the Zenhaven latex mattress stacks up very well against its latex competitors. Choosing to use standard latex instead of organic latex certainly keeps the total cost lower, as organic latex mattresses cost much more in stores.
While the Zenhaven costs more than, say, a memory foam mattress you might also find online, including the company’s own Loom & Leaf memory foam mattress, memory foam mattresses are neither chemical-free nor natural. So in the ecosystem of natural mattresses, we believe the Zenhaven mattress does present a very strong value. Compare Zenhaven mattress pricing online.
| Value Rating |
8 /10 | Very good |
Other Factors to Consider
Delivery
- Free delivery with in-home setup and removal of old bedding
When we first reviewed the Zenhaven mattress in our video above, there was a $99 delivery charge. The company has since changed its policy to include free shipping, free in-home setup, and free removal of your old bedding. This is a policy that now matches or exceeds that of the majority of Zenhaven’s online competitors.
Returns
- 180-day trial period
- Full refund, minus $99 fee for pickup
Zenhaven offers buyers a 180-day trial period. Should you decide to return the mattress during that period, there is a $99 fee for pickup.
Some context: The Zenhaven mattress is a piece of furniture, delivered by movers with a truck. You can see how returning this type of mattress is a more expensive proposition for a company (and ultimately for you). Even so, several of the company’s online competitors do offer free returns within the trial period.
Warranty
- Warranty Length: 20 years
- Indentation Coverage: 3/4” and above
One of the biggest, if not THE biggest complaints about any mattress from consumers regards body impressions—the inability of a mattress to spring back, eventually creating a low spot/sinkhole in the mattress. As such, mattress warranties all contain a term defining how big a sag or ‘body impression’ (measured when no one is on the mattress) is considered a defect, and thus covered under the warranty. The industry standard for mattresses is generally between ¾” and 1.5”. Zenhaven has chosen to cover indentations that meet or exceed 3/4”—a comparatively very generous indentation policy. Practically speaking, that means any softening or sagging would need to be at least that deep before the warranty would offer you protection.
For the first two years of ownership, Zenhaven will replace your mattress (including shipping) if it falls under warranty coverage for no charge. For years three through 20 of the warranty, the company will repair and re-cover your mattress, but consumers are required to pay a $99 shipping charge each way ($298 total). Check out the Zenhaven warranty.
