Avocado Mattress Reviews 2024: 25 Year Latex Mattress Expert’s Report And Guide
My detailed Avocado Mattress reviews take a look at the popular certified organic latex mattress sold only on the web. Avocado Mattress makes three mattress models from pretty basic to their flagship luxury model, The Avocado Organic Luxury Hybrid. I’ll explain the features and benefits of each model.
Offering a lineup of three natural latex and latex/hybrid coil mattresses, you can choose from several options, without VOC’s, formaldehyde, and nasty adhesives that off gas for weeks-sometimes indefinitely.
Also, natural latex is sustainable, and the raw materials used by Avocado are grown on the company’s own plantations, leaving a very small carbon footprint.
In my Avocado mattress reviews below, I’ll help you narrow down which of their options is the best fit for you, from price to comfort and support.
As you might already know, a natural latex mattress can last for 50 years, has a lively feel unlike “dead memory foam”, offers superior pressure relief at shoulders and hips, and is completely hypo-allergenic.
I spent 25 years creating mattresses for popular online mattress brands, mostly latex mattresses, before I switched from seasoned retailer to expert reviewer. Here’s why you might consider switching from dead memory foam to an Avocado natural latex mattress.
Quick Links To Avocado Natural Latex Mattresses, Toppers, And Furnishings
Avocado Model | Click To Order | |
---|---|---|
Avocado Eco-Organic Mattress-See My Review | Q $1299, K $1799 | |
Avocado 11" Green Hybrid Mattress Standard-See My Review | Q $1799, K $2299 | |
Avocado 13" Green Hybrid Mattress w/Pillow Top-See My Review | Q $2199, K$2799 | |
Avocado Luxury Organic Hybrid Mattress-See My Review | Starting At Q $3899, K$4899 | |
Avocado Organic Kids Mattress | $649 Twin | |
Avocado Organic Latex Topper-See My Review | Q $649, K $909 |
All of Avocado’s organic mattresses include free shipping, a 365 night no questions asked trial, and a 25 year warranty. The fire barrier material required to meet all Federal standards in also chemical free and made using organic wool fiber.
Most mattresses are made using synthetic fire barriers that can contain hazardous materials such as fiberglass. Natural materials, including organic wool, is as effective and not hazardous to your health
Avocado Mattresses incorporate organic wool and organic cotton, all certified and credentialed, into their three mattress lineup.
Their mattresses are shipped from their own production facilities in the USA, where they are assembled, covered, and packaged prior to shipping.
You can opt for a top to bottom natural latex mattress, or a hybrid- which includes both natural latex and a pocket coil suspension inside.
Because Avocado Mattress Sources Their Natural Latex From Their Own Farms, The Quality And Lifespan Of Their Mattress Is Markedly Better
What makes the Avocado three model lineup so interesting is that the difficulty required to procure the highest quality raw materials inspired the company to purchase interests in the plantations that produce the pure latex in India.
They also purchased interest in the farms that produce their organic wool and organic cotton. This way, they a lot of skin in the game- and the quality of the components is not inconsistent.
They even manufacture their own mattresses in their California factory, and don’t farm out their production to third party fabricators, one of very few mattress manufacturers to do so.
This gives Avocado much more control over production, material quality, processes, and the compass heading of their company. It also allows them to produce a world class product at a competitive price.
Their use of pure botanical Dunlop latex instead of synthetic, petroleum based SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) means that their mattresses are truly green, since the components are free petroleum or solvent based materials.
I’ve written a very detailed page about natural latex and how it is produced and manufactured, if you’d like to learn more. Check it out.
I will say that choosing an Avocado Mattress is sometimes confusing to mattress shoppers. Basically, they build three different mattresses, and we will discuss the features and benefits of each.
The most popular model is their Avocado Green Mattress, followed by their Eco Organic, and then their Organic Luxury Mattress, each of which steps up in price just a bit.
In my Avocado mattress reviews, I’ll recommend best options for pain, pressure, hot sleepers, couples, and more.
ZERO BAD STUFF, SO BREATHE EASY
As a manufacturer for over 25 years, I can tell you one fact I learned fast- most mattresses are full of junk — plastic foams, toxic glues, harmful VOCs, and chemical flame retardants. Memory foam, while pretty good at relieving pressure, is loaded with heavy metals, PBDE’s, organic compounds, and other chemicals.
In fact, natural latex is actually more effective at pressure relief and support. True, it costs a little bit more, but the lifespan, health benefits, and comfort- eclipses any other material.
A study published by NIH in 2017, demonstrated that a latex mattress “reduced peak body pressure and achieved a more even distribution of pressure compared with polyurethane mattress across different sleeping postures”.
Avocado Mattress sources their latex and organic wool from their own sustainable farms which they co-own along with the farmers. That’s what we call having skin in the game.
Their practices and business methodology demand the highest purity and quality. All of their component, including their wool and cotton, are all organic and nontoxic. And, one think we like as mattress reviewers is that they can prove it.
Avocado mattresses feature a distinctive and signature needle-tufted rosette made from pure white organic cotton.
These tufts help form the structure of their mattresses, reduce motion transfer, and provide more focused pressure point reduction and spine support.
Needle-tufting is a time-honored technique dating back to the 17th century. It’s also highly functional and keeps the mattress components secure to prevent shifting of contents.
Natural Wool Fire Barrier Means No Toxic Chemical Fire Barriers
The construction of an Avocado Green, Eco Organic, or Organic Luxury Mattress option offers precise sewing, attention to detail, and use of clean and green organic textiles.
Organic cotton is used for the outer covering, and organic cotton and wool is used for interior comfort layers, and to act as a natural fire barrier.
Wool is the only non-chemical material that meets Flammability laws (called FR laws). Typically, fire retardant chemicals, often sprayed onto fabrics, are part of a conventional mattresses toxic chemical profile.
No Toxic Adhesives Means No Formaldehyde
By pulling ribbons through the full mattress in up to 32 locations across a mattress surface, their team of mattress makers bind the layers together — without the use of toxic formaldehyde glues typically used to laminate layers together.
I like the fact that Avocado mattress is a CARBON NEGATIVE company
Avocado is a certified B Corp and a carbon negative business. That means they voluntarily offset more than 100% of their emissions, from resource extraction all the way to shipping, by supporting carbon offset projects through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
One of the reasons I update my Avocado mattress reviews a lot, is because of the initiatives they follow to actively contribute to environmental issues, something not readily observed in this business.
Their offset projects help mitigate climate change and support innovation in addressing greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Their intention is to offer the cleanest and greenest purely organic and natural latex mattress you can buy.
A Natural Latex Mattress Provides Buoyancy, Pressure Relief, And Comfort – Never A Trapped Feeling
Owning a natural latex mattress is unlike sleeping on any other kind of mattress. Rather than melting into it, like a memory foam mattress, or having a stiff, board like sensation, like many foam mattresses, natural latex is springy, livelier, and pushes weight away from your body instead of downward.
This unique buoyant quality makes turning on a natural latex mattress far easier and effortless than having to dig your way out of a hot and sticky memory foam mattress. Natural latex mattresses don’t have that dead and lifeless feel, either, and are considered the best mattress option for spine alignment.
Natural latex mattresses are also the best mattress for sex (you can visit my detailed page about that is you like). My Avocado mattress reviews discuss three options, which are great for couples and intimacy.
Avocado Mattress Lineup: Three Options, Each Made With Pure Latex
1. The Avocado Green Mattress
Avocado’s most popular mattress, a hybrid natural latex and pocket coil mattress, hand stitched and tufted.
GOTS Certified organic wool and organic cotton. Up to 1,414 pocketed support coils arranged in 5 zones.
$1199 in Queen, Free shipping 365 day trial, 25 year factory warranty, 11″ tall, 3″ thick layer of certified organic latex.
2. The Avocado Eco-Organic Mattress
Avocado’s value priced mattress is just $999 in queen. Organic latex and pocketed coils, plush latex topper option available.
Up to 988 pocketed coils, no off gassing, chemicals, VOC fumes, or formaldehyde.
Free shipping, 365 night trial, 25 year factory warranty, 10″ tall, organic wool quilted top, pocketed coils. Medium degree of soft/firmness.
3. The Avocado Organic Luxury Mattress
Luxury organic mattress with standard or plush option. Indulge yourself every night. Features 17 premium layers of organic and natural latex, wool, mohair, silk, hemp, and cotton.
Layered with 3,136 individually pocketed coils (king), arranged in five zones for support and motion isolation. Requires deep pocket sheets.
Plush option features additional organic latex layers. $3899 in queen.
The Avocado Green Mattress With Optional Pure Latex Pillowtop
The Avocado Green Mattress, which is the most popular of the company’s three mattress options (note: they also sell a child’s mattress and pet beds as well) is available in two options, the standard top or the optional 2″ built in pillow top option which you can add at checkout.
The Avocado Green Mattress sells for $1699 in queen, and you have the option to add the additional built-in pillowtop option for $500, which provides additional pressure relief, a more luxurious, buoyant feel, and is a great upgrade for sidesleepers, too.
On the outside, the Avocado Green Mattress is enveloped in an organic cotton cover, with 2″ of pure latex right underneath, in immediate contact with your body.
Let’s get into some detail about what makes the interior of this mattress exceptional below, but if you want to go straight to the Avocado web site to check availability, click the button below.
Opt For The Pillow Top Upgrade If You Are A Side Sleeper, Or Have Shoulder Or Hip Pain
One great feature about the Avocado lineup is that you can opt for a softer, cushier version of their beds also, upgrading the mattress with a built in pillow top component which contains an extra 2 inches of softer natural latex to their mattress.
Avocado’s built in pillow top upgrade is ideal for side sleepers, those with lower back pain, and anyone looking for better spine alignment because properly aligning your back will relax muscles and connective tissues allowing you to sleep deeper, giving you more restorative rest.
The feel of the pillow top is cushier, and a little more immersive (without feeling trapped or stuck) and is a great option for sidesteppers or those with hip or shoulder pain.
Let’s dive a little deeper into Avocado Green mattress and discuss pricing, construction, benefits, and drawbacks to help you decide if either option is right for you. We will start from the top down.
Outer Covering Of The Avocado Green Mattress
Made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and hand-tufted with up to 32 distinctive rosettes which is a decorative embellishment which also serves to reach from top to bottom and secure the components inside the mattress.
The non-removable covers for all three of Avocado’s mattresses contain no adhesives, fire retardants, and other chemicals found in most mattress brands. The color is a creamy off-white with green piping and green upholstered handles, giving the beds a very earthy look and feel.
In case you have never heard of a GOTS certification before with fabrics and other kinds of textiles, The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain.
Underneath the outer cover, you’ll find the primary difference between the Avocado Green Mattress and many other latex mattress competitors: layers of organic cotton and wool between the upper latex layer and the pocketed coil section of the mattress.
Avocado procures their GOTS-certified wool from a cooperative that the company co-owns with its farmers. As a natural material, wool provides natural temperature control and superior moisture-wicking qualities. It is a terrific insulator, keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter It is also naturally fire-retardant. Because it’s lofty, it breathers much better than quilted cotton or even foam layers.
GOTS-certified organic cotton provides many of the same qualities as wool, allowing for airflow and moisture control while adding softness. However, it is not quite as long-lasting as wool.
In mattresses with the optional pillow-top, the wool or cotton layer sits on top of 2 inches of GOLS-certified organic Dunlop latex, in addition to the 2 inches already inside the mattress comfort layer of all Avocado mattresses.
The pillow-top piece is crafted from softer latex than the comfort layer beneath it, with an ILD (indentation load deflection) of 14 to 19.
This is considerably softer than much of the latex used in comparable models, but it adds an inviting feel to the initial experience when lying down and nestling in.
Beneath that softer top layer is the comfort layer of latex, which rates at about 20 to 25 ILD, accounting for the softer feel of the pillow-top option, but still with enough firmness to be buoyantly supportive.
Of course, unlike other foams, including polyurethane and various memory foams, Natural Latex provides a firm bounce and excellent resilience that results in a stable sleep surface with long-lasting durability.
Because of its natural elasticity and stretch, it allows pressure to be delivered sideways, like spreading pizza dough across a pan, rather than downward into painful pinpoint pressure. As a naturally antimicrobial material, natural latex also discourages dust mites and other allergens, including mold, mildew, and other small organisms.
The Pocketed Coil Interior Provides Zoned Support To Your Body
Along with a 1-inch layer of very firm Dunlop latex situated below, the support core is composed of a uniquely designed pocketed innerspring unit that contains 1,414 independently floating recycled steel coils. The latex layer underneath dampens motion and provides a protective base layer beneath the superstructure of the Avocado lineup.
One question you might ask is why the makers of a truly green and eco-intelligent mattress company would use coils in their mattresses..but the answer is simple.
Aside from being manufactured using recycled materials, the pocketed coil system that is used provides optimal support without backfilling the mattress with filler material, a common problem with typical bed in a box foam mattress beds.
It’s a terrific alternative to using plastic (many filler layers in the bedding industry are made from plastic pellets and shredded garment fibers).
Manufactured in the USA by Leggett & Platt, the coils come in three gauges and are individually tuned for five ergonomic zones. Together, these zones form a bed that is firmer in some areas (such as the lumbar region) and softer in others (like the shoulders and feet) to provide advanced spinal alignment and support.
I designed many of my own mattresses using the L&P pocketed coil unit that Avocado uses, and customers raved over the supportive yet yielding qualities of the system.
Avocado’s mattresses also feature a reinforced steel perimeter for improved edge support. This allows you to sit at the edge of the mattress without slipping off (a real problem with many foam mattresses) and makes transfer in and out of bed very easy. Th Avocado mattress line is perfect for people with disabilities and for those with transfer issues.
How Firm Is The Standard Option vs. The Added Pillowtop Feauture? Is It worth the upgrade of $500
Independent testing generally describe both of Avocado’s mattresses as being firm (7 out of 10) without the pillow-top, or medium-firm (5 out of 10) with the pillow-top option. Avocado’s own descriptions, which describe them as “gentle firm” or “luxury plush” depending on whether or not the pillow-top is used, differs slightly, but I think they fall pretty much in the middle.
For an additional $500, you can add a permanently attached pillow top which contains an additional 2″ of organic latex, allowing you to sleep directly on top of 4″ of latex.
This adds a more luxurious and plush feel that you’ll float on, and you won’t feel like you’re collapsing into the mattress.
Compared to a variety of popular foam bed in a box options on the market, they are slightly firmer, but you don’t have to worry about being trapped inside, having to dig your way out of a hole in your bed.
Remember, Natural Latex is a very resilient substance with a bouncy surface and your body won’t leave an imprint in it, making it drastically different than enveloping materials like memory foam.
It pushed up, countering your body’s natural tendency to sink or immerse in your mattress.
I’d say if you can afford to pay $2199 for the Avocado Green Mattress with the added topper, it’s well worth it.
We’ve compared prices with other pure latex mattresses offered with 4″ of near body contact latex, but typically, these mattresses will sell for $2999 or so.
You also will not find the use of certified organic cotton and organic wool being used generously in the design of competitors options as well.
This is due to the material’s high degree of horizontal elasticity: pressure will compress a wider surface, as compared to the defined compression found with memory foam, meaning no pinpoint pressure problems.
Latex therefore creates the sensation of floating on the mattress rather than collapsing into it, though pressure mapping of natural latex typically finds few pressure points for stomach and back sleepers. Many people describe the feeling of lying on natural latex as “levitating”.
The independently floating coils in Avocado’s support cores are mapped to five unique ergonomic zones. These zones are firmer or softer to mirror areas of the body with more or less weight, allowing for optimal spinal alignment.
This helps to relieve pressure on nerves, opening up spaces between discs in our spine, and promoting increased blood flow through out our body. However, the zones are not significantly different as to be noticeable while sleeping on the mattress.
So here are some bullet points about The Avocado Green Mattress:
Avocado Green Mattress (without pillow top option) 11″ Tall
Combination sleepers who weigh more than 130 pounds
People who tend to sleep hot
- Considered the firmest of the Avocado mattress lineup (7 out of 10 firmness scale)
Ideal for individuals who prioritize sustainable materials and manufacturing practices
For softer feel, opt for Vegan, which contains organic cotton instead of wool
Ideal for those who struggle with neck or back pain
Things To Know:
Some customers may find the sleep surface too firm without adding optional built-in pillowtop
Slightly more expensive than other hybrid models on the market (petrochemical beds are cheaper)
Avocado Green Mattress with Pillow Top Option (13″ tall)
Perfect for petite sleepers under 130 pounds
Excellent for back sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds
Designed for customers who prefer a medium to medium firm sleep surface
Individuals seeking a softer, but supportive mattress
Equipped with an additional 2” layer of slightly softer natural latex
Things To Know:
Heavier stomach sleepers may find that the pillow top reduces support, causing back to arch and not lie flat
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The Avocado Eco-Organic Mattress
The Avocado Eco Organic Mattress is the best value of the Avocado Lineup, costing just $999 in queen. It’s a bit more simplistic in design that The Avocado Green Mattress, but when I tested it, I was pretty impressed by the support and cushy comfort it delivers.
The mattress is made with an organic cotton cover quilted with layers of organic wool. Wool naturally wicks away moisture like perspiration and keeps you cool and dry, without the use of petrochemical gel foams or other artificial cooling fabrics.
The latex and wool used to make Avocado’s mattress line is sourced from their own farms, undergoing strict guidelines to insure sustainable manufacturing.
Right under the cover, a 2-inch layer of certified organic Dunlop latex delivers a lush, responsive feel with excellent pressure relief, even when on your side.
Dunlop latex is a very durable foam that can retain its elasticity without crumbling or drying out, for as long as 50 years. It’s spongy, bounces back, and well, it’s rubbery.
The latex layers sits directly above a continuous 8-inch tall pocketed coil system made with resalvaged steel.
Along the edges, stiffer coils are used to provide better support when sitting or getting in and out of bed. In the center area where you body lies, a firmer coil zone lifts your spine, enhancing support of your lumbar area.
The queen size features 789 individual pocket coils, promoting airflow to help lower your body temperature for ideal sleep.
Textiles used in the Avocado Eco Organic Mattress are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, along with the Dunlop latex, backed with the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS).
This model has no pillow top feature, and unlike the Avocado Green Mattress, it is not hand tufted, and the layers are secured together using specialized recycled metal fasteners.
I don’t think this makes a huge difference in comfort and support, and it takes a few hundred dollars off of the cost compared to similar brands.
I would easily compare this to other brands sold online and in brick and mortar retail stores which sell for a lot more. For example, a company called Essentia sells a similar mattress for $2849, almost three times the cost of an Avocado Eco-Organic Mattress in queen size.
I would say that value wise, it’s going to be hard to beat, considering the certified organic materials and the zoned pocketed coil system used in the design
Affordable With Farm To Factory Sourcing
Many people ask me why the prices of the Avocado lineup seem much lower than many other brands. The reason is that the Avocado team invested in cooperative ventures with an Indian latex plantation, a Texas cotton farm, and independent wool processing facilities to eliminate middlemen costs down the pipeline directly to your wallet
I’ve purchased containers of latex myself when I built my own latex mattresses, and was shocked at how many people had to get paid.
From the plantation owners to distributors and their salespeople, everyone contributed to the high retail cost of my product. Avocado sort of reinvented this process.
Here’s what you’ll get when you own an Avocado Eco-Green Mattress:
- Certified organic latex, wool, and cotton comfort and support layers
- Body contouring with up to 975 individually pocketed coils
- Calibrated 5/10 for firmness feel, just right for couples, side sleepers, and for spine alignment
- A 365 night trial period, 25 year warranty, free shipping to your door
- Organic wool keeps you cool in summer, warm in winter
The Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress: 17 Layers And Pocket Coil Design
The Avocado Organic Luxury Mattress is priced at $3899 in queen size. There are two options, standard or plush, offering different configurations of both organic natural latex, organic wool comfort layers, and either one or two pocketed coil layers.
The standard option has been described by one actual owners in a reviews as being”excellent for my lower back pain and buoyant but with no bottoming out”.
The plush option gives both more support, with the addition of a second tier of individually pocketed coils, as well as a specialized laser cut layer of latex and even more wool comfort layers.
I’m the kind of guy who is willing to pay for something if the value is there, and if the architecture of a great mattress appeals to me like a really nice car interior might, I’m game.
In fact, I’ve designed and manufactured dozens of my own mattresses for web sites and retail stores I ran for over 25 years.
What makes The Avocado Organic Luxury Mattress so amazing is that the attention to detail using purely natural products like botanical latex, organic wool, and organic cotton- that has been so carefully calculated.
It’s like an overstuffed cake, but crafted, that is, bench build, with loving affection. You immerse in it, settle into it, but you float a bit. Turning is easy and effortless. Your body is buoyed up, lifted and elevated. I noticed the sensation within seconds of landing on my sample (queen size)
What’s inside this organic mattress option? Let’s take a closer look. My Avocado mattress reviews have been pretty in depth, and if I’m investing over $3,000 in a mattress, I’m going to take a thin slice look into what’s inside.
Choosing The Luxury Option Or The Luxury Plush Option- Features And Benefits
So, I reviewed both versions of The Avocado Organic Luxury Plush Mattress, and each of them offers unique qualities that make them different enough to consider.
First off, the standard option runs $3499 in a queen size, which the plush option will cost $4999, so let me explain the $1500 cost to upgrade to the top of the line version. You’ll invest and in up to 17 layers of organic certified latex, alpaca, wool, mohair, silk, and hemp, all procured from Avocado’s cooperatives.
I noticed excellent side support, pressure relief, and a subtle amount of immersion-but never felt like I was being swallowed whole by the luxury plush option, either. The standard luxury plush version is 13.75″ tall, while the plush option of the mattress is 17″ tall, and I’ll explain the difference in the upgrade below.
I realize that the cutaway photo above kind of looks like an octopus sprawled on a beach, but it’s important for me as a former manufacturer, to show you the guts- and the craftsmanship- that goes into these beasts of a mattress.
With either the standard or plush options, you’ll get upwards of 3,136 individually-pocketed coils arranged in five supportive zones. For sleepers who want a sumptuous, body enveloping indulgence, without sacrificing support or your organic and non-toxic priorities, the plush version adds even more sigh-inducing sensations (it did for me!)
The difference between plush version costing $1500 more in queen will buy you is another 1,722 low profile coils situated in the upper section of the mattress right beneath a proprietary laser cut layer of organic latex that is 2″ thick.
This option gives you more body-hugging and contouring support. It’s softer than the standard version and all but eliminates rolling together (unless you want to), isolating motion from your partner’s movement. Deep pocket sheets are required.
Honestly, if you are looking for a mattress that is over the top, but still keeps your spine aligned properly, I feel it is worth the investment- not having to deal with off gassing, fumes, dead memory foam, excessive bounciness, or that cheap, bottoming out sensation you’ll get with lower priced mattresses- this mattress delivers on value and is priced correctly.
The Avocado Organic Latex Topper Pad
Need to freshen up an existing mattress that has a lumpy, hard feel? You can experience the responsive, pressure relieving sensation that only natural latex can provide with an Avocado organic latex topper pad.
Avocado offers a GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic wool, plus reinforced seams, within an internally quilted ticking made with GOTS-certified organic cotton.
GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard. It is a certification associated by the Control Union that specifically certifies and examines natural latex products, evaluating farming and manufacturing practices, as well as the organic nature of the raw material as a whole.
The topper is available in plush (D65 Soft) and firm (D75 Medium Firm) latex.