Birch Mattress Review
Ergonomic design relieves pressure
OEKO-TEX certified latex
1% of all sales donated to plant trees
Made by hand in the USA
Pros & Cons
- High-quality materials that are intelligently sourced
- Temperature control keeps you cool during hot nights
- Cozy and carefully chosen materials for your comfort
- 100 night sleep trial and full refunds available
- No options for customization
Sizes & Pricing
The Birch mattress is not cheap when compared to some other mass-produced, out-of-the-box mattresses, but you will struggle to find a cheaper and better made eco-friendly option. The pricing begins at a little over $1,000 and you can get their king size for less than $1,800. This doesn’t come with a pillow, but that’s only $99 extra.
There is also a 100-night sleep trial that kicks-in after 30 days and allows the customer to return the mattress for a full refund between the 30th and 100th night (the company wants you to try the mattress for at least a month before making a decision). A standard warranty is available on all purchases and accidental damage cover can also be purchased.
Overview
The Birch mattress was developed by Helix Sleep, which was founded in 2015. Helix has built its reputation by providing high-quality customized mattresses, with Birch serving as their premium, eco-friendly, out-of-the-box offering. It is built predominantly using natural and non-synthetic materials, including cotton and wool. It also boasts OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification for its latex.
Construction
Helix is clearly very proud of the work they have put into the Birch mattress and they go to great lengths to describe the benefits and origins of each major material, including Birch wool, which is sourced from New Zealand; natural latex, which has OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification; and cotton, which is claimed to be organic and sourced from the US.
In addition to the cover, which is discussed below, there are 5 layers on the Birch mattress:
Fire retardant cover
Birch’s fire retardant cover is made from natural wool fibers and rayon and is free of plastics, providing some protection for the user.
Comfort layer
This layer uses Birch Wool, which has a natural elasticity to ensure it keeps its shape while providing comfort and temperature control.
Pressure relief layer
This is where Birch’s OEKO-TEX certified latex comes in, providing support for the back and other key pressure points.
Support layer
The main support is provided by hundreds of steel coils, all of which are individually wrapped and manufactured in the United States. The perimeter coils are reinforced to provide strong edge support.
Base layer
The mattress is finished off with another wool layer to provide durability as well as stability to the mattress.
The Birch mattress is designed to be cool, comfortable, and breathable, and it certainly ticks all of those boxes. It’s also free of toxic materials and while we can’t confirm that it is 100% organic, it certainly uses my natural and organic materials. There are no issues with off-gassing here either, due to the natural materials used.
Mattress Cover
The Birch mattress cover is made from breathable US cotton. It is soft to the touch, keeping you cool, and cozy at the same time.
Firmness, Feel & Support
The Birch mattress is medium-firm, which will keep most consumers happy but will be a turn off for those who prefer one extreme or the other. It’s very comfortable to sleep on, with the soft cover providing a great deal of comfort, but it doesn’t conform to the body like memory foam or latex mattresses. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t conform to your body at all, as the latex layer helps to support the shoulders and hips when lying on your side.
The Birch mattress is also great at controlling temperatures and if you struggle to keep cool during the night it may help.
Helix Sleep built their brand by providing highly customizable mattresses, and that’s what their customers love them for. Thus, it’s a little surprising to see that there are no personalization options and no way to change the firmness of the Birch mattress.
Purchase & Delivery Process
The Birch mattress is delivered free of charge in between 4 and 8 days. It is available in 6 different sizes and there are finance options (through Klarna and Zibby) with most purchases. There is Accidental Damage coverage available for between $79 and $139 and this protects you in the case of spills, stains and user mishaps. Regardless, all mattresses come with a standard warranty that covers any manufacturer-related issue and lasts for 25 years.
The Birch mattress is shipped in a tall box, with the mattress rolled and sealed inside. To open, simply pull the tab, unfurl the mattress in your chosen position, and then use scissors to cut through the outer plastic packaging. The mattress will be ready in 30 to 45 minutes.
Customer support
Helix has always impressed in the customer service stakes and it’s the same story with Birch. You can get some information simply by checking out the FAQ section of the website or watching videos on their YouTube channel. If more direction is needed, you can contact Birch customer support via email, live chat, or phone (email them and request a callback). This is by far the easiest way to contact Birch and to get a quick response. Just click the question mark symbol that appears on the bottom-right of all website pages. This service will ask for your email address while you wait, which is frustrating, but the service provided is exceptional.
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Phone Support
There is no listed number on the site, but it is possible to speak by phone. Just email them or use Live Chat and request a callback and they’ll respond quickly. -
Live Online Chat
Live Chat is available on the brand's website. -
Email
You can contact the company via help@helixsleep.com for fast and helpful support. -
Video Tutorials
There is a Birch Living Youtube channel with tutorials on unboxing and other basics. -
FAQ
There is an extensive website FAQ looking at a host of issues, including the mattress construction and support.
Final Word
Helix is a relatively new company, but they have manufactured and sold a lot of mattresses in the short time that they have been active and that’s afforded them a wealth of experience. They have used that experience to craft the Birch mattress and it’s one of the best budget-friendly sustainable mattresses on the market, with a great warranty period, fast and free delivery, and a number of sizing options.
It’s not perfect, and there are some things they could have improved upon, such as the lack of personalization, but it’s a solid effort from one of this industry’s most innovative brands.
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The birch mattress and the Saatva Zenhaven are similar both using Talalay latex. Which one is better in your opinion?