Avocado Green mattress review: a perfect blend of eco and luxury
I have a confession to make: prior to my Avocado Green mattress trial, I had been sleeping on the same mattress for nearly 11 years. When I had the opportunity to finally get a new one, I cross-referenced many best mattress guides and learned that most voted the Avocado mattress the best organic mattress, which appealed to me considering the burgeoning market of eco-friendly mattresses and bedding. I was intrigued! While the Avocado Green mattress is one of the top-selling and top-rated organic mattresses, I couldn’t help but wonder… is it actually comfortable?
(And, if you are wondering exactly how often should you replace your mattress, the answer is every six to eight years.)
Avocado Green Organic Mattress At A Glance
(Image credit: Avocado)
Firmness: Medium-firm, but you can add the pillow top for a softer feel. The Avocado site calls it “gentle firm.”
Type: Latex Hybrid
Construction materials: GOLS-certified organic latex; GOTS-certified organic wool; and GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
Height: 11’’ (13’’ with pillow top)
MSRP: $1,399-$3,199
The Avocado Green Mattress is the company’s flagship model, a hybrid mattress that is also available in a Vegan option (sans wool). It’s constructed of three main layers – two outer layers of GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex, plus a support layer of pocketed coils in the middle that creates a breathable core and allows for plenty of air circulation. The coils also give the mattress a firm feel, making it an ideal choice for heavier sleepers and those looking for more neck and back support. For added comfort, or if you prefer a softer mattress, you can upgrade to the sewn-on pillow top option for an extra cost, or opt for a mattress topper.
Side note: If you’re unsure what GOLS-certified latex means, I’ll save you the Google… “Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)” and “Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified” mean that the mattress has passed strict organic quality standards for its materials.
I can be a bit finicky with my mattresses: I don’t like them too hard, but I also don’t like them too soft. I sleep hot, so it needs to be breathable. I get migraines, so it needs to be supportive. I have sensitive skin, so the materials need to be gentle. When I tried the Avocado Green mattress for myself, I was not only pleasantly surprised that it met my expectations, but actually exceeded them. Read on for my full review about what makes this eco-friendly and non-toxic mattress one of the best organic mattresses out there.
Who will the Avocado Green Mattress suit?
- Eco-conscious people looking to purchase organic or fair trade products: It comes with a host of environmental certifications, and Avocado itself is a Carbon Negative company (the first mattress company to be Carbon Neutral), and was recently rated as one of B Corp’s “Best For the World” companies in the Community category.
- Those with allergies or asthma: It’s naturally hypoallergenic and shouldn’t cause any irritations.
- Those suffering from back and/or neck pain and need a more supportive mattress: The natural cushioning of latex and wool with an internal, zoned, pressure-point support system of up to 1,400 individually wrapped coils create proper back support and extended durability
- Hot sleepers: The organic cotton cover provides breathability to help you sleep cooler, while the latex and hybrid design encourage airflow and temperature control.
- Those who prefer a medium-firm feel to their mattress: it’s a latex-hybrid mattress, so there is still some “bounce” to it.
What’s the Avocado Green Mattress like to sleep on?
(Image credit: Future)
Overall comfort and firmness
My first impression of the Avocado mattress was that it was soft to the touch, but firm when I laid down on it. I personally prefer a firmer mattress because I like the additional neck and back support it provides, but it might turn off sleepers who love that “sinking into the bed” feeling. You’re not getting that with the Avocado Green mattress, which is rated a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale (considered a medium-firm feel).
If you prefer a softer sleep surface, you could add the pillow top, which brings the mattress down to about a 6 out of 10 in firmness but also costs an additional $500. I slept on the Avocado mattress both with and without the pillow topper and, while I did find it comfortable without, I thought it was juuuust right with the added topper: supportive with a little extra cushion for ultimate relaxation. If you’re unsure, I’d suggest trying the mattress sans topper for a couple of weeks to break it in before shelling out the extra money. You can always purchase the topper later. When you buy it with the mattress, it comes sewn on as a pillow top as opposed to a topper.
Pressure Relief and Support
The Avocado Green mattress compresses around the more general shape of the body, rather than sharply molding to one’s curves and contours. The wool quilting and latex comfort layer provide moderate contouring to ease cushion points where you make the most contact with the mattress. While this is generally adequate support, some sleepers – especially side sleepers – may need more body-hugging around the hips and shoulders for relief.
With that said, the steel coils of the mattress are designed to provide support for the hips and shoulders, and flex individually for targeted pressure relief and spinal support. There are also the comfort layers that rest on top of the support coils that provide gentle support. Due to its medium firm feel, the Avocado mattress provides optimal pressure relief for back and stomach sleepers.
Overall, I found the Avocado Green provided sufficient pressure relief and support on its own, but I preferred it with the pillow top for a more plush surface.
Breathability and cooling
I’m personally a hot sleeper and I find the Avocado to be a great choice for temperature control, thanks to its latex comfort layer and its coil-based support layer that allow air to circulate more freely. Latex does not retain as much body heat compared to memory foam, so sleepers can stay cooler throughout the night – plus the moisture-wicking properties of the organic cotton and wool mattress cover provide natural temperature control by absorbing heat away from the body.
Motion Isolation
(Image credit: Future)
I was impressed by the amount of motion isolation. Hybrid mattresses generally offer less motion isolation than all-foam mattresses, but the Avocado Green’s five ergonomic zones help to reduce motion transfer better than other latex/hybrid models. With the pillow top, it absorbs even more motion, thanks to the second comfort layer of latex. There are more “official” motion tests one could run with a glass of water on the bed but, between my boyfriend who moves around a lot in his sleep and my cat who loves to jump onto the bed in the middle of the night, I can say with confidence that the motion transfer is surprisingly minimal.
Edge Support
(Image credit: Future)
The supportive coils are arranged all the way to the edges of the mattress, so I felt nicely supported on each area of the bed, and didn’t feel like I was going to roll off at any point while I slept on it.
Avocado Green Mattress design and construction
(Image credit: Avocado)
Avocado has earned a reputation as one of the top eco-friendly mattress brands on the market, and not just because its products are made of organic materials. Avocado makes all of its products in a California factory that runs on renewable energy, and all of the mattresses are Greenguard Gold certified for low emissions, as well as Fair Trade Certified. Avocado even co-owns a wool collective from which they source their wool.
Picture this: A herd of robust Gaddi sheep in a meadow grazing on organic pastures in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. The pastures are tested bi-annually to ensure there are no pesticides used. There’s a clear mountain stream that runs downhill and peaks that run over 20,000 feet high. This herd is a part of Avocado Organic Wool in the Himachal Pradesh region of northern India, where 200,000 of their sheep wander throughout the 40,000 hectares they manage. I know this sounds like a scene straight out of Portlandia, but Avocado takes its ethically-sourced materials (opens in new tab) very seriously.
All materials are organic, natural, and/or non-toxic, and Avocado doesn’t add any synthetic chemicals or polyurethane memory foams. In addition to the organic latex used, the Green has an organic cotton cover that contributes to the mattress’s breathability and makes it a good option for hot sleepers.
The Avocado Green Mattress is made from all eco-friendly and natural materials, including certified-organic Dunlop latex, and GOTS-certified organic wool and organic cotton. Thanks to the design of the innerspring unit and the support zones, the Avocado Green is touted as a mattress that never needs to be flipped. In fact, because the support layer is at the bottom, flipping the bed would actually compromise the comfort of the bed.
The breathable, organic cotton cover is designed with hand-tufted rosettes that hold the mattress layers together without the need for glues or adhesives. Plus, the rosettes look very pretty! Inside the mattress are two layers of organic latex, plus a one-inch layer in the base. Between those layers are the covered pocketed coils and a few inches of organic wool. There are two upholstered handles sewn onto both sides of the mattress, which make it easier to move or rotate, without bulking up or poking out from underneath your fitted sheet.
Both the Avocado Green mattress and the pillow top come in Vegan options, which cost the same and only differ in their covers. The PETA-approved Vegan option features 100{3ad958c56c0e590d654b93674c26d25962f6afed4cc4b42be9279a39dd5a6531} organic cotton instead of an organic cotton/organic wool blend surrounding the layer of GOLS-certified latex. It also uses 100{3ad958c56c0e590d654b93674c26d25962f6afed4cc4b42be9279a39dd5a6531} USDA organic certified cotton batting as an all-natural fire retardant and it still meets all federal flammability standards.
Ordering and delivery
Avocado Green mattress with added mattress topper
(Image credit: Future)
Avocado mattresses are available for purchase online in all 50 states at the company’s website or, if you’re more of an ‘IRL’ shopper, you can visit one of the showrooms listed on their site. You also have the option to enjoy the retail experience from home with their Virtual Retail powered by Zoom, available by appointment only. Avocado offers free standard FedEx shipping to the contiguous U.S. and mattresses are typically delivered within 2 to 7 days of purchase, depending on your location. All mattresses are shipped in a compressed state within two sealed Low-Density Polyethylene plastic layers inside a brown cardboard box.
For the sake of full transparency, we paid extra for the “white glove” in-home delivery, available starting at $249, so setting up my mattress was especially easy (i.e. two very lovely men from Avocado carried my mattress up my 4-story walkup, unboxed and set it up, then removed my old mattress). With that said, the process was fairly straightforward from beginning to end. If you opt for in-home delivery – which I recommend if you can swing it – an Avocado rep will give you a call to ask for a four-hour delivery window that works with your schedule. Then, tada! You have a new mattress! If you choose to forgo the in-home delivery, just make sure you have some help moving the box to its final destination because it’s pretty heavy (and don’t forget to lift with your legs, not your back).
Like all bed-in-a-box mattresses, there’s a decompressing period after it is unboxed, but I found that the Avocado Green mattress decompressed pretty instantly. It didn’t emit any gross off-gassing smells, but I still waited a few hours to lay down on it, per the usual protocol.
Avocado Green Mattress warranty and trial period
Not only is delivery and set-up easy, but there’s also a full one-year sleep trial. This means you can sleep on the mattress for an entire year before you decide whether you really want to keep it. If you don’t like it, just reach out to Avocado and they will make arrangements to refund your money and pick up your mattress. You also get a 25-year warranty, free shipping, and free returns.
Is the Avocado Green Mattress worth it?
(Image credit: Avocado)
Short answer: Yes. While many bed-in-a-box companies white-label products from the same factories and ‘greenwash’ their eco-friendly claims, Avocado owns their entire supply chain, so you can feel good about using a product that meets the most stringent standards for environmental and social responsibility. You’ll also feel good because the Avocado Green is an incredibly comfortable mattress.
Where to buy
About our review – and our reviewer
Antonia has worked in media and publishing for over a decade at brands like The New York Times, People, Entertainment Weekly, and Page Six. She now works on the Audience Development team here at Future and, as an avid sleeper, is distinctly qualified to review mattresses. For this review, she slept on the Avocado mattress for over a month – both with and without the pillow top – and took fastidious notes before giving her rating.
Her review of the Avocado Mattress is based on her firsthand experience with the product, which was provided by the brand free of charge. She plans to keep the mattress, which gives us the opportunity to return to update the review with insights on how the product fares over an extended period of time.
