Big Fig Mattress Review: Designed For Bigger Bodies To Provide Pain Free Support
The Big Fig Mattress is the only mattress sold online that can comfortably support up to 1,100lbs. of combined weight. It is made in the USA using latex and high density foam layers situated on top of 1,600 individual pocket coils.
Unlike other mattresses, the density of the foam layers is much higher than in conventional mattresses, so heavy people and couples don’t sink in the middle.
The Big Fig Mattress is also designed to offer better edge support, using 80 ILD high density foam, almost 5 times more dense than typical foam bed in a box mattresses.
This prevents sagging and sliding off of the edge and increases the functional sleep area of the mattress as well. You get a 20 year factory warranty along with a 120 night sleep trial to test the mattress out.
How A Big Fig Mattress Provides Support And Comfort
The Big Fig Mattress is one of several bed in a box options designed for bigger bodies that you can purchase online. However Big Fig makes just one mattress using specialized foam layers, cooling fabrics, and a pocket coil system designed to handle much higher loads that conventional mattresses.
Here’s why you might be a good candidate for a Big Fig Mattress if:
- Your current mattress sags and you find yourself stuck in the middle of your mattress
- You weigh more than 250lbs and your partner also has a bigger body
- Your mattress has become softer, doesn’t support your spine, and gets worse with time
- You sleep hot and your partner can’t lie next to you without throwing off the sheets
- You notice that the materials in your mattress is beginning to bunch or shift, forming lumps
- The edge of the mattress has no support and you feel like you might slide off
- You can’t sit on the edge of your mattress to transfer, or put on a pair of shoes
- You are of typical height and weight and love a very firm mattress
The chief complaint I’ve always heard from bigger people about mattress shopping the inadequate edge support on virtually every mattress they’ve tried.
The Big Fig Mattress uses a high density foam edge which is concealed inside the outer fabric, forming a perimeter around all sides, allowing you to have more usable area of the mattress, too.
Sagging in the middle of a mattress is all too familiar to people weighing over 200lbs. when sleeping on typical all foam mattresses, or even an innerspring mattress.
This is because the average consumer expects a mattress to be much softer and therefore the density and firmness levels of various components need to be softer.
This results in sinking, collapsing, and improper support for those with bigger bodies.
How The Big Fig Mattress Performed In Our Objective Testing
One thing we had to keep in mind when testing and reviewing The Big Fig Mattress, was that it was going to feel very, very firm. We expected that going in, but, we were pleasantly surprised with the initial feel, and the pressure relieving and softer initial sensation. You can immediately sense, though, that you aren’t going to bottom out into this mattress.
Years ago a couple who had a combined weight of almost 1,000lb asked me to custom design a mattress form them, and I did. I called it the Titan Mattress and sold it for years on my own site, Habitat Furnishings. I learned a lot about building a mattress that resists compression and sinking.
The materials used must be extremely dense underneath, but there needs to be a gradual softening of the layers as you move towards the top. A pocket coil system, especially individual coils, allows body contouring and provides yielding where hips and shoulders compress into the mattress.
The Big Fig Mattress: Test Results And Report
I reviewed The Big Fig Mattress in a simulated bedroom environment with solo sleepers and couples (mattress placed on solid deck surface of platform bed, queen size). All of the ratings were based on averages of the subjects who participated, and data for reviews was also obtained by evaluating actual owner reviews found on different third party review web sites.
Overall Comfort– initial feel, level of immersion, initial body contact experience 9
Support– spine alignment, pain relief, pressure relief in 30 minutes or less 10
Solo Sleeper– with comfort, ease of turning, *keeping mind, very firm 9
Couple Experience- does it sink in middle, snuggling rating, motion transfer 10
Edge Support– as experienced by 190lb test subject 10
Sex– as reported by online reviews and voluntary reporting 8
Bounce, Motion Transfer, And Liveliness– responsiveness and couples experience 8
Cost Value– 1-10 rating based on the quality and value compared to other brands 10
Trial Period, Warranty, And General Customer Service Appeal 9
Shipping And Delivery Experience– ease of delivery, ship time, customer support 10
Overall Rating Of The Big Fig Mattress: 9.3- Excellent
Detailed Report: Is The Big Fig The Best Mattress For Heavy People?
1. Overall Comfort: 9 out of 10
Since The Big Fig Mattress is designed for larger bodies, we had to approach our testing from a different perspective. Our testers weighed a minimum of 190 lbs, and a maximum of 250 lbs, though the mattress can accommodate up to 550 lbs per individual, our couples with combined weights up to 1,100 lbs.
The heavier you are, up to a point, the mattress will feel increasingly softer especially in the torso areas at hips and shoulders. Typically, this is where bigger bodies experience insufficient support which causes your spine to curve and twist, causing pain. A comfortable mattress keeps you as level as possible. The Big Fig Mattress carefully balances comfort without being excessively firm. Ideally, I would not consider this mattress comfortable for anyone under 225 lbs if you prefer a softer or medium feel.
2. Support: 10 out of 10
Especially for couples, sinking in the middle of a mattress and having to dig your way out is a problem with almost all foam mattresses, so-called luxury innerspring mattresses, and air beds. I would describe the Big Fig Mattress as being highly supportive, particularly to couples with combined weights over 600lbs. You will experience proper spine alignment on your back with uplifting support, though it might be slightly firmer feeling when on your side, or near the edge of the mattress when on your side.
We the Big Fig Mattress very effective at distributing weight away from the center of the mattress, and turning was effortless and easy, likely due to the pocketed coils underneath.
The coils are 15 gauge wound steel springs, and there are 1200 of them in the queen option, and 1600 of them in the king and California King option. The simplest test for firmness for a mattress that is made as a hybrid design with both foam and coil elements is to stand in the center of the mattress with both feet together. With a 200 lb subject, we observed little immersion beyond 2-3 inches. As a reference for support, this places the Big Fig Mattress at about 9 out of 10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being as firm as a carpeted floor- so, expect it to be quite firm with little sinking.
3. Solo Sleeper: 9
Boasting a large following of social media influencers and bloggers, most of which are solo sleepers, The Big Fig Mattress is ideal if your weight is over 300 lbs and you primarily sleep alone. One tip I’ll give you if you initially find the mattress to be a bit firm when on your side and you are in the center of the bed. To avoid losing the torso support, you can also add a 3″ topper pad (I recommend a memory/gel foam topper) to add a bit more cushion support. Check out my topper pad page here to find one I recommend.
This will add a bit more height to the Big Fig Mattress which is 13″ tall, and you might top out at 16″, but it will still be considered typical height even when combined with a proper foundation underneath.
4. Couple Experience: 10 out of 10
For couples, especially with combined weights of over 600lbs, we found the experience, and that of many online reviewers who have owned their Big Fig Mattresses for some time to be pretty dramatic. We found that it’s easy to cuddle in the middle with no digging your way out sensation. Owners observed that the mattress won’t pack down, and that the pocket coils offer a bit of liveliness to the feel of the mattress that is not found in all foam mattresses, or conventional Sealy, Simmons, or Serta mattresses, without crashing right through the mattress.
5. Edge Support: 10 out of 10
Singlehandedly the most supportive and best edge support for any mattress I’ve tested. The Big Fig Mattress uses a high density foam edge made using 80 ILD high density foam that wraps the entire perimeter of the mattress to provide excellent support for sitting and getting in and out of bed.
The rigid perimeter foam edge built into the side of the The Big Fig Mattress provides support when sitting or transferring, and it also prevents deterioration and mashing of the pillow top and pocketed coil edge.
People with disabilities should also consider this mattress as a viable option. You can also check out my Best Mattress For People With Disabilities page for enhanced information.
6. Sex And Intimacy: 8 out of 10
Actually, 7 out of 10 is not bed for an intimacy rating, as people who consider this an important option when mattress shopping re pretty picky. Generally, more bouncy surfaces like Natural Latex Mattresses are preferred as are mattresses with better immersive qualities, allowing for better “grip” on bodies, as sliding around on a mattress during intimacy is generally a negative factor.
However, bigger couples need better support for intimacy, and for rambunctious sex, The Big Fig Mattress is much like having sex on the floor, though with a bit more of a yielding sensation. If you need a bit more cushiness to get a handle on things, I’d again consider getting a topper pad.
After we piled on The Big Fig Mattress and conducted some close encounter simulations, we can only describe the experience as “pretty good” and slapped an 8 out of 10 rating on it. Not bad. Not the best on hands and knees, but you can get a solid grip.
7. Bounce, Liveliness, And Motion Transfer: 8 out of 10
We found that the The Big Fig Mattress offers noteworthy benefits when it comes to dampening motion transfer, a common complaint from couples, especially when there are light sleepers and restless sleepers in the mix.
The pilowtop section, which has quilted form an and organic outer fabric covering, has a lot of motion dampening ability. Generally mattresses made with smooth-top coverings, where the fabric is not quilted and is very thin, will transfer motion directly to the surface.
Many people want a mattress with a lot of bounce and spring action to it, as it is much easier to turn on surfaces that are highly responsive. For excellent motion dampening, though, pillowtop mattress are hard to beat. When you combine a pillowtop mattress with an innerspring support system you create the perfect storm of subtle bounciness without the jiggle factor that keeps light sleepers awake.
8. Cost vs. Value Delivered: 10 out of 10
When you consider the cost, and factor in the concierge level delivery and the complimentary setup service you receive, I find the value of The Big Fig Mattress to be extremely high. Also, with a 20 year warranty that covers workmanship and defects (including depressions, rutting, and upholstery), online reviews by actual owners reflect confidence and trust in the brand.
For bigger couples especially, the durability and lifespan concerning their mattress purchase is an important element. I have experience working with all of the components used in the Big Fig’s construction, especially firmer and more dense foams that resist deterioration over time.
9. Trial Period, Warranty, Customer Service 9 out of 10
You’ll get a 20 year factory warranty, a 120 night no questions asked trial period, free returns if there are any issues with the mattress, and delivery time generally occurs 7-9 days after you place your order.
10. Shipping And Delivery Experience 10 out of 10
Excellent, fast ship times and easy to open, setup, and install.