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Plank Mattress Review: Results From the Experts
Sleep Foundation
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The Plank Firm is a flippable all-foam mattress with two sleep surfaces, each one intended for sleepers seeking maximum support. Our tests show this design is especially well suited to back and stomach sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds.
- Reversible design with firm (7) and extra firm (9) sides
- Good temperature control for hot sleepers
- Sturdy support for most back and stomach sleepers
- Can feel too firm for many sleepers, especially people under 130 pounds
- Returns are assessed a $99 fee0
Brooklyn Bedding has one of the most diverse product lines in the mattress industry. Along with mainstays like the Aurora Luxe and Signature Hybrid, Brooklyn Bedding offers the Plank Firm Mattress, which is designed to meet the needs of people who want a firmer bed.
A special feature of the Plank Firm is its flippable, two-in-one firmness design. One side of the mattress is firm, rating at a 7 on the 10-point firmness scale. The other side is extra firm, rating at a 9 on the firmness scale. This reversible mattress lets you easily choose among these two firmness options.
The Plank Firm is made with foam and quilted fabric, and, given its firmness, tends to appeal primarily to back and stomach sleepers, as well as sleepers on the heavier side. As an added feature, you can choose to have a panel with cooling fabric sewn into the cover.
To help you size up the Plank Firm Mattress, we go into detail about how this mattress performed during our in-house testing. We also review its construction and cover what you need to know about shipping, warranties, and returns.
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SMART MATCHING
Is the Plank Firm Right for You?
Use the filters below to see how well the Plank Firm lines up with your unique needs. We'll also give you a couple other recommendations based on your answers.
TEST LAB RATINGS
How the Plank Firm Scored
Motion Isolation7.5/10
Both sides of the Plank Firm Mattress use firm foams that absorb less motion than softer foams. This means that some vibrations may be felt across the surface of the bed. However, the foam isn’t bouncy on either side, so these vibrations are not pronounced.
In our testing, it was rare for sleepers to be awoken by the movement of a bed partner. However, people who sleep very lightly may be better off with a mattress that offers more contouring and motion isolation.
Brad Nehring, Product Testing Manager: The Plank doesn’t exactly isolate movement, but it doesn’t produce a lot of motion transfer either. You may notice some ripples when your sleep partner changes positions or gets up during the night, but not the same level of transfer you’d find with a coil mattress. Unless you’re an exceptionally light sleeper, I wouldn’t worry about disturbing your sleep partner or vice versa.
Pressure Relief6.5/10
The Plank Firm is crafted to provide a stable, even plane. As a result, it offers minimal pressure point relief, especially for side sleepers. The firm (7) side offers a bit more cushioning and relief than the extra firm side (9).
While it lacks deep contouring and pressure relief, the sturdy mattress surface can provide effective support to many sleepers over 230 pounds and to people who sleep on their back or stomach.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: As with any firm mattress, pressure relief is not one of the strengths of the Plank. That being said, many people prefer a firm mattress and find it comfortable nonetheless.
Temperature Control7.5/10
The Plank Firm’s harder surface and optional cooling top panel promote a cooler night’s sleep than many all-foam mattresses. Because of the mattress firmness, sleepers do not sink deeply into the bed. This allows air to flow around the body so that heat can dissipate.
While both sides sleep relatively cool, the extra firm side has the edge since it traps virtually no heat around the skin. For either model, an optional cooling panel is available that is designed to further enhance temperature regulation.
Logan Foley, Executive Product Director: The Plank Firm kept this hot sleeper from sinking too deeply, and I was kept cool throughout the night. If you sleep very hot there’s an optional cooling top panel available, so they have you covered.
Edge Support8.0/10
Because it is designed to have very little give, the Plank Firm maintains much more edge support than most all-foam mattresses. The edges of the extra firm (9) side are especially sturdy, allowing you to easily sit or sleep near the perimeter of the mattress.
Brad Nehring, Product Testing Manager: Edge support is one area where the Plank really shines. Each side of the mattress feels stable and doesn’t sink too much when you get in and out of bed. This is all the more impressive because foam beds tend to be the weakest mattress type when it comes to perimeter support.
Ease of Movement8.0/10
Our testing team found virtually no risk of feeling “trapped in the bed” when sleeping on either side of the Plank Firm Mattress. There was very little resistance when turning over or switching sleeping positions. This stands in stark contrast to many all-foam mattresses that hug the body and restrict movement.
Logan Foley, Executive Product Director: The thin comfort layers on both sides of the Plank make it incredibly easy to move around on, especially for an all-foam mattress. Plus the foam in this bed is quite dense, so it takes little to no extra effort to switch positions or get in and out of bed.
Durability7.0/10
Foam mattresses are generally the least durable type, but the Plank Firm’s use of high-density polyfoam should help it perform longer than average. All types of foam wear down over time, resulting in permanent body impressions and sagging. That being said, memory foam and low-density foam wear out fastest, so the very dense Plank Firm should resist deterioration for at least six to seven years.
HANDS-ON TESTING
Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Plank Mattress, we had three people on our testing team each take the bed home with them for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Brad Nehring
Product Testing Manager · Side sleeper · 215 lbs.
Side sleeper · 215 lbs.
The Plank definitely lives up to its name. I’m a bigger guy, so I appreciate the extra support, but I also like a little cushioning while I sleep. The firm side felt great. Extra firm, not so much. Thankfully, the mattress is pretty light and easy to flip if you want to change things up.
Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content · Combination sleeper · 150 lbs.
Combination sleeper · 150 lbs.
The Plank firm is one of the firmest mattresses I’ve ever slept on. The flippable design provided some variation in firmness – enough that I noticed a difference in my comfort level when back sleeping. The less firm side was my preference, and my mid-section felt very supported.
Logan Foley
Executive Product Director · Side · 140 lbs.
Side · 140 lbs.
Have to agree with Brad and Mary — Plank is the perfect name for this bed. There is no way I could sleep on my side comfortably on either side of this bed, but the extra two inches of foam on the “softer” side helped significantly for back sleeping. Even so, this bed was too firm for me.
Who it Fits
Fit by Sleep Position and Body Weight
Sizes, dimensions and weights
Side Sleepers
The Plank Firm Mattress works best for side sleepers over 230 pounds. It tends to feel too firm for most other side sleepers.
This is because both sides lack the contouring necessary to cushion the hips and shoulders of most side sleepers. Without the weight to sink into the bed a bit, you’ll be able to feel the pressure on your hips and shoulders as you lay on your side.
But for people over 230 pounds, the mattress can offer just enough cushioning while limiting excess sinkage.
Back Sleepers
Many back sleepers appreciate the feel of the Plank Firm Mattress. Having a firmer sleep surface supports the midsection and ensures spinal alignment for back sleepers.
In our testing, back sleepers under 230 pounds preferred the firm (7) side of the Plank Firm. With its light cushioning, it didn’t cause excess pressure on the body. For some of these sleepers, especially those under 130 pounds, the extra firm (9) side was too hard and felt uncomfortable.
Back sleepers over 230 pounds on our testing team got roughly similar levels of solid support from both sides. In our testing, it seemed that personal comfort preferences – rather than overall support levels – were the deciding factor for these back sleepers about which side to use.
Stomach Sleepers
Both sides of the Plank Firm Mattress can work well for stomach sleepers. In our testing, stomach sleepers under 230 pounds said they tended to prefer the firm (7) side, while those over 230 pounds leaned toward the extra firm (9) side.
As a general rule, stomach sleepers do better with a firmer surface that keeps them from feeling swallowed by the mattress. A firm mattress also helps limit sinkage that can pull the abdomen out of alignment with the rest of the spine. Given its reversible design with notable firmness on either side, the Plank Firm is particularly well-suited to the needs of stomach sleepers.
CONSTRUCTION
Inside the Plank Firm
Cover
2″ Comfort Layer
TitanFlex Polyfoam
7″ Support Core
Polyfoam core
Other Firm Beds We Think You’ll Like
Plank Firm Luxe
8.7/108.7/10 · $693 – $1,536
Hybrid · Firm (7), Extra Firm (9)
Plank Firm Natural
9.6/109.6/10 · $1,039 – $1,999
Latex Hybrid · Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Titan Plus Core
8.9/108.9/10 · $599 – $1,386
Hybrid · Firm (8)
Titan Plus Luxe
8.9/108.9/10 · $652 – $1,399
Hybrid · Medium Firm (6)
BUYING IT
Trial, Warranty, and Delivery
120-Night
Sleep trial, 30-night break in
Limited
10-year warranty
Free
Ground shipping, contiguous US
Availability
The Plank Mattress is sold through the Plank website and Amazon.
Orders through the Plank website ship within the United States and Canada.
Shipping
Orders within the contiguous United States ship for free. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii incur an additional transportation fee of $125 per mattress. Shipping fees to Canada cost $250 per mattress.
Orders within the United States use FedEx Ground, while orders to Canada ship via UPS. Most orders take 1-3 business days to process. Customers will receive a tracking number. Once an order ships, it generally takes 3-5 days to arrive.
Mattresses are compressed in plastic then packed in a box for shipment. The customer is responsible for moving the packaged mattress to the room of their choice, unpacking it, and setting it up.
Additional Services
White Glove delivery and old mattress removal are not currently available with the Plank Mattress.
Sleep Trial
The Plank Mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial. The customer is required to try the mattress for 30 nights before it becomes eligible for return. This trial offer is only valid once per customer per calendar year.
Customers can contact customer service to arrange to return their mattress for a full refund of the purchase price. Usually, Brooklyn Bedding asks that you donate the unwanted mattress locally.
Warranty
Mattresses purchased through Brooklyn Bedding come with a limited warranty. This warranty covers indentations over 1-inch deep, defects in the foam, and sagging. Only the original purchaser is eligible for warranty coverage, and the mattress must be in sanitary condition, free from abuse, and have been used with a proper foundation. The mattress also cannot have been left compressed for 60 days or longer. Owner will be required to provide proof of purchase.
During the first 10 years, Brooklyn Bedding will repair or replace mattresses free of charge if it has an eligible defect. After 10 years, owners pay a prorated fee based on the original mattress price that increases each subsequent year.
Additional terms and conditions apply.
FAQs
Is a Plank Firm mattress good?
The Plank Firm Mattress is an ideal choice for people who love the feel of a hard mattress. In our testing, the Plank Firm was especially popular among back and stomach sleepers who need a sleep surface that stays even and level. The flippable firmness design makes the Plank Firm even more versatile for these sleepers as they can choose between a firm (7) and extra-firm (9) feel.
How thick is a Plank Firm mattress?
The Plank Firm Mattress is 10 inches thick and made entirely with foam materials. Its reversible design means that you can use the mattress on either side, and each side has a different firmness level. Brooklyn Bedding also offers the Plank Firm Luxe, a 13-inch hybrid version.
Who should not sleep on a firm mattress?
People who have sharp pressure points or sensitive joints that need soft cushioning should avoid sleeping on a firm or extra-firm mattress. For example, side sleepers under 230 pounds should generally steer clear of firm mattresses in order to avoid painful impact around the hips and shoulders. A firm mattress is also a poor fit for anyone who prefers the feeling of a plush, cloud-like mattress that you can sink down into.
Mary is a product-content marketer who applies a pedigree in journalism, human-centered design, and cultural trends to inform strategy. Prior to Sleep Doctor, Mary led editorial and creative at ESPN and Rad Power Bikes. She likes to build and grow things, and break and fix things, and only sometimes in that order.