Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Review

Is the Polysleep Zephyr Mattress for You?

Who’s Going to Love the Polysleep Zephyr Mattress

• Back sleepers with lightweight (< 130 lbs) or average-weight (130–230 lbs) body types
• Lightweight side sleepers
• Those looking for a soft mattress
• Couples concerned about motion transfer

Who Should Steer Clear of the Polysleep Zephyr Mattress

• Combination sleepers—instead, choose a mattress that’s easier to move around on, like the highly responsive Saatva Latex Hybrid mattress.
• Heavyweight folks (> 230 lbs)—instead, go with a firmer bed designed to support more weight, like the Helix Plus mattress.
• Budget shoppers—instead, the original Polysleep mattress is a lower cost option with similar features.

Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Firmness and Feel

Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Firmness

At Mattress Nerd, we use a firmness scale that ranges from 1–10, with 10 being tabletop firm. The Zephyr mattress falls around 4/10 in this scale, which is considered medium-soft. In general, mattresses with this firmness level provide lots of cushioning, so we recommend them to side sleepers or back sleepers who prefer a soft mattress.

Related: Best Soft Mattresses

The softness of the Zephyr works best for those weighing less than 230 lbs. Heavyweight sleepers who want a plush feel will want to shop for a mattress with a medium or medium-firm feel, since they’ll need more support to keep them from sinking into the firm support layers. 

What Does the Polysleep Zephyr Feel Like? 

When you press your hand into the Zephyr, the top foam layers feel like dense dough. The foam sinks quite a bit under pressure, but it returns to its original shape pretty quickly after pressure is removed.

When you lie down on the Zephyr, the foam conforms to the shape of your body. You sink down into the comfort layers, but you are suspended enough not to bump into the firm base layers. The only exception to this is sleepers over 230 lbs, who may sink through the softer top layers.

Support and Pressure Relief by Sleeping Position

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers need some cushion under their curves and enough support for spinal alignment (aka, good sleeping posture). Your spine naturally stays in a neutral position as long as your mattress is supportive near your lower back. 

The Zephyr should keep lightweight and average-weight back sleepers’ spines aligned, but those with heavyweight body types may find their hips sinking too deep into the foam, which could cause back pain. Instead, those over 230 lbs should check out the best mattresses for back sleepers.

Side Sleepers

The best mattresses for side sleepers comfortably cushion pressure points and evenly distribute your body weight. This keeps your spine aligned and ensures that one part of your body (ex: your shoulders) doesn’t carry the bulk of your body weight.

The Zephyr is soft enough to provide pressure relief, but we found that the foam doesn’t do the best job of distributing body weight. We noticed some pressure buildup near the shoulders of our lightweight and average-weight testers. Overall, we feel comfortable recommending the Zephyr to:

• lightweight side sleepers without pre-existing shoulder pain, and
• average-weight combination sleepers who spend part of the night on their sides.

Side sleepers with heavyweight body types should look for a mattress that’s supportive enough to balance their weight. We compiled some of our favorites in our best mattresses for heavy people roundup.

Stomach Sleepers 

Stomach sleepers already compromise their spinal alignment, since their head and neck are turned to the side. To prevent any extra strain on the spine, they should choose a mattress that’s relatively firm. A firmer mattress keeps their lower back from arching out of alignment, which could cause back pain.

The Zephyr is much too soft for most stomach sleepers. Lightweight combination sleepers who spend part of the night on their stomach could be OK, but those with average-weight and heavyweight body types should instead choose a firm mattress, like those on our best mattresses for stomach sleepers roundup.

Combination Sleepers 

The best mattresses for combination sleepers are a good fit for your primary sleeping positions and are easy to move around on. The Zephyr is most compatible with back sleepers under 230 lbs and side sleepers under 130 lbs. 

With that said, it was difficult for our testers to change positions on the Zephyr, regardless of body type—lightweight, average-weight, or heavyweight. The foam is so soft that it takes some effort to move around.

Body Type:	BACK SLEEPERS	STOMACH SLEEPERS	SIDE SLEEPERS
Lightweight (< 130 lbs):	5	3	4
Average weight (130–230 lbs):	4	1	3
Heavyweight (> 230 lbs):	3	1	2

1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent

Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Performance

Is the Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Cooling? 

Foam doesn’t make for the most cooling mattresses, which is why we don’t recommend the Zephyr—an all-foam bed—to hot sleepers. To help with temperature regulation, Polysleep mattresses use open cell foam that’s more breathable than memory foam. Still, sleepers prone to overheating will want the airflow of an innerspring or hybrid mattress with coils. 

Edge Support 

Edge support is really only important if you need to spread out across your mattress or if you use the edges to get ready in the morning. When sitting along the edges of the Zephyr, we sank pretty low into the foam. Lying down was a little better, but shoppers shouldn’t count on great edge support from such a soft foam mattress.

Responsiveness

Polysleep uses what they call “hybrid foam”—a specialized form of polyfoam, which is the standard foam used in beds, couches, car seats, etc. Polysleep’s hybrid foam is designed to respond to your movements quickly, and it does just that; however, the foam is so soft that it hampers your ease of movement on the mattress. This shouldn’t be a problem for those who stay still at night, but folks who toss and turn may not have the most restful sleep experience.

Motion Isolation: Is it good for those who share a bed?

I don’t know a single person who enjoys being rocked around by their sleeping partner’s movements. Innerspring mattresses are the worst in this regard because the springs are interconnected, causing motion to spread across the whole bed. 

The Zephyr doesn’t have any coils, and the soft, high-density foam does a near-perfect job of absorbing movement. We consider this to be a great mattress for couples concerned about motion transfer.

Noise

The Zephyr was completely quiet during our testing. The only noise we heard came from our bed frame.

Pain Relief

The Zephyr’s softness means it should help alleviate pressure point pain for most back sleepers. Since it doesn’t do a great job of evenly distributing the body weight of side sleepers, it’s not the best mattress for shoulder pain, but it should provide relief for hip pain.

Those with lower back pain should pick a firmer mattress with more lumbar support. Stomach sleepers should also look for a firmer mattress to avoid lower back pain.

Related: Best Mattresses for Back Pain

Sex

While sex usually isn’t the first priority for mattress shoppers, it’s an important consideration for many. We recommend a mattress for sex if it’s quiet, responsive, and breathable. The Zephyr is basically silent, but it may trap some body heat, and it doesn’t have any bounce. In other words, choose this mattress if you want to burn extra calories during intimate activities.

Off-Gassing

As a foam mattress, there may be a little off-gassing: that “new mattress” smell that’s similar to the way a freshly painted room smells. The odor is non-toxic, and is usually only a temporary issue for those with asthma or respiratory issues. 

Also, Polysleep mattresses are made with CertiPUR-US certified foam, so they pass tests that ensure they’re made with low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions and are free of harmful chemicals.

Durability

The Zephyr mattress should last you around six or seven years before showing signs of wear. This is typical for foam mattresses. If yours develops any defects, like body impressions deeper than 1”, you can make a warranty claim.

Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Construction: What’s it made of?

The Zephyr mattress is made with four layers of foam and includes a foam support frame and performance cover.

Liquid Repellent Cover: The Zephyr is wrapped in a fabric cover made of polyester, organic cotton, and spandex. The top half is soft to the touch, and the lower half is made of breathable mesh. Also, the top half of the cover is coated with a Nanobionic treatment made of infrared-emitting minerals. According to Polysleep, the minerals are activated by your body heat, and reflect infrared light waves back into your body tissue, which may speed up muscle recovery.

Comfort Layer of Antimicrobial Foam: The first layer of the mattress is high-quality polyfoam that’s infused with cooling gel; Polysleep calls it the GelFlex Plus foam topper. It’s antimicrobial, which is helpful for those with allergies. This layer is where you experience the most body contouring, since it hugs your curves.

Second Layer of Antimicrobial Foam: This foam layer is similar to the one above it, but it’s ventilated with tiny vertical holes that improve airflow. It adds even more cushion to the mattress.

Transition Foam: The transition layer is made of polyurethane foam, which is basically just polyfoam. It’s purpose is to ease your body weight into the more supportive layers below. The center third of this layer is denser, so you get extra support near your hips and lower back.

Support Foam: A firm foam base keeps the rest of the layers stable. It also adds some durability to the mattress.

Foam Support Frame: The perimeter of the mattress is framed by firmer foam that’s there to improve edge support.

How Much Does the Polysleep Zephyr Mattress Cost?

Mattress Size	Price	Dimensions	Height	Weight
Twin	$1,750	39” x 75”	11.5”	41 lbs
Twin XL	$1,925	39” x 80”	11.5”	43 lbs
Full	$2,300	54” x 75”	11.5”	54 lbs
Queen	$2,675	60” x 80”	11.5”	62 lbs
King	$2,925	76” x 80”	11.5”	89 lbs
California King	$2,925	72” x 84”	11.5”	89 lbs

How Do the Policies Measure Up? 

Shipping & Unboxing

Polysleep is a Canadian company based in Montreal, Canada, so they ship their mattresses for free to all Canadian Provinces and for a fee to Canadian Territories. They also ship for free to the continental U.S., though there’s a shipping fee to Alaska. 

Polysleep ships their mattresses bed-in-a-box style within two to nine business days. Setup is pretty easy, since the Zephyr is relatively light for an all-foam mattress. It took us two minutes to remove our Zephyr mattress from the box and have it fully set up. Granted, it took a few hours to fully inflate to its full size. 

Warranty

The Zephyr is covered by a 10-year warranty. As a limited warranty, it doesn’t cover all damages, just specific defects like body impressions over 1”, splits in the foam, and a broken zipper.  

The warranty starts on the day you buy the mattress and only ever applies to the original owner. If defective, you could receive a new mattress or free repairs. Make sure you use a supportive box spring or foundation or you could void your warranty.

Trial Period & Returns

Polysleep offers a 100-night sleep trial, so you can actually sleep on the mattress to make sure it’s the right fit. Give your body some time to adjust, but if you’re uncomfortable after a few weeks, email support@polysleep.com to start an exchange or return. If your return is approved, Polysleep will send you a full refund and arrange for mattress pickup by a local charity.

Addressing Polysleep Mattress Complaints

Softer Than Expected

Several customers complained that the Zephyr mattress was softer than they had expected. Polysleep doesn’t specify the firmness of the Zephyr mattress on their website, but based on our hands-on experience, it’s medium-soft. For you to truly love this mattress, you’ll need to appreciate a plush feel. If you end up not liking it, you can exchange it or return it during the trial period.

Doesn’t Resolve Back Pain

A couple of reviewers said they were disappointed that the Zephyr mattress didn’t help their back pain. The Zephyr has an ergonomic design that’s meant to improve back support, but it’s more cushioning than supportive. If you want a mattress that will help alleviate back pain, choose one that’s medium-firm to firm, especially if you sleep on your stomach.

Comparing Different Polysleep Mattresses

Polysleep Zephyr vs. Original Polysleep

The Zephyr is essentially an upgraded version of the original Polysleep mattress. The original has only three layers of foam, compared with four in the Zephyr. Also, the original is a little firmer than the Zephyr, so while they’re good for similar kinds of sleepers, the original is a better option for those looking for back support.

The biggest difference is the addition of nanobionic technology and an extra layer in the Zephyr. Pricewise, the Zephyr costs more than the original Polysleep, but they both come with a 100-night trial period and 10-year warranty.

See our full Polysleep Mattress Review for more details.

Polysleep Zephyr vs. Polysleep Origin

The Polysleep Origin is the most basic Polysleep mattress. It’s also the firmest at 6/10 on the firmness scale, aka medium-firm. It has only two foam layers that measure 8” tall. The Origin has significantly lower price points than the Zephyr, so it’s the better budget buy.

Overall, the Zephyr scored better across the board during our testing process. The Origin is good for a guest bedroom, kids room, or college dorm room. The only area where the Origin outperforms the Zephyr is spinal alignment—the Origin did a great job keeping our testers’ spines aligned.

See our full Polysleep Origin Mattress Review for more details.

Comparing Polysleep to the Competition

Polysleep Zephyr vs. Casper Wave Hybrid

Both the Casper Wave Hybrid and Polysleep Zephyr have foam top layers and ergonomically Zoned Support layers that are firmer at the hips and softer near the shoulders. The Casper has a slightly firmer feel, but it provides better pressure relief than the Zephyr, so it’s the better option for side sleepers. It also stays cooler than the Zephyr.

The Casper is more expensive than the Zephyr, but it performs as good or better than the Zephyr in every category that we tested. 

See our full Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress Review for more information.

Polysleep Zephyr vs. Nectar Premier

The Nectar Premier is a memory foam mattress that’s on par with the Zephyr in all performance categories, except the Nectar has better edge support. The Nectar is also a little firmer than the Zephyr, so it’s easier to move around on.

Neither mattress will be particularly cool, but they may stay at a neutral temperature for sleepers who aren’t prone to overheating. The Nectar is better for side sleepers, including heavyweight folks. Lastly, shoppers on a strict budget will pay less for the Nectar.

See our full Nectar Premier Mattress Review for more information.

Polysleep Zephyr vs. Nolah Signature

The Polysleep Zephyr and Nolah Signature are both all-foam mattresses that are best suited to back sleepers under 230 lbs. The Signature is a little firmer than the Zephyr, though both hover around the middle of the firmness scale. The biggest difference is that the Zephyr does an excellent job of isolating motion, while the Signature does not.

If motion isolation isn’t a big concern for you, the Signature is lower cost than the Zephyr, and it comes with a longer trial period (120 days) and warranty (the entire period of original ownership).

See our full Nolah Signature Mattress Review for more information.

Polysleep Mattress FAQs

Is Polysleep any good?

We’ve personally tested all three Polysleep mattresses, and found that they’re best for those who weigh less than 230 lbs, including back sleepers and lighter-weight side sleepers. None of the Polysleep mattresses are very cooling, but they should stay temperature neutral for the average sleeper.  

What’s the best Canadian mattress to buy?

We’ve tested several Canadian bed-in-a-box mattresses. Our favorites include the Polysleep, the Silk & Snow, the Douglas, and the Endy. Several U.S.-based mattress brands also ship to Canada—for example, Helix Sleep, which makes mattresses for every body type at a reasonable price. Casper and GhostBed also ship to Canada.

Related: Best Mattresses in Canada

What’s the best mattress on the market?

Some of the mattress brands that repeatedly show up on our “best of” lists come from: Saatva—an affordable luxury brand that prioritizes natural materials, Helix Sleep—a brand that makes beds in every firmness level at accessible prices, and DreamCloud—which makes supportive, durable hybrid mattresses with pressure-relieving pillow tops.

The Nerd’s Take: What’s the Bottom Line?

The Polysleep Zephyr‘s medium-soft feel and all-foam construction are best aligned with back sleeping and side sleeping, specifically for those who weigh less than 230 lbs. It’s not the most cooling, pressure-relieving, or affordable option out there, but it earned a perfect motion isolation score and has a 100-night trial.

The Nerd’s Scores for the Polysleep Zephyr Mattress

Performance Factor	Out of 5
Motion Isolation	5
Pressure Relief	3.5
Ease of Movement	3.5
Edge Support	2
Temperature Control	3
Durability	3