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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Ashley Zlatopolsky

UNBELIEVABLE: Winkbed mattress review 2024 - The Untold Story

The image shows a white mattress with a navy blue trim placed on a dark blue bed foundation in a white bedroom.

WinkBed mattress review in brief

After sleeping on the WinkBed for over three weeks in the Luxury Firm model — including the Frost Cooling Fabric upgrade and sharing the bed with my husband — I found it delivered a consistently supportive, stable feel night after night.

It kept my spine well-aligned in most positions, though I did notice a bit of shoulder pressure when sleeping on my side. My husband, who is taller and heavier, preferred it even more than I did, especially for stomach and back sleeping, and said it helped reduce the neck pain he’s prone to waking up with.

Meet the tester
  • Name: Ashley Zlatopolsky
  • Age bracket: 30-40
  • Weight bracket: 170-180 lbs
  • Predominant sleep position: Side and stomach
  • Sleep issues: Lower back pain, occasional hip pain, hot sleeper

Compared to other mattresses I’ve tested, including the Glacier Apex Hybrid, the WinkBed doesn’t quite reach the same level of temperature control as the best cooling mattresses on the market — even with the $125 Frost Cooling Fabric upgrade — though it still offers solid temperature regulation for most sleepers.

The WinkBed stood out most for its exceptional edge support, which felt more stable and usable than most beds I’ve reviewed. While it doesn’t necessarily lead in any single category, it performs reliably well across support, motion isolation and durability, making it a strong hybrid contender.

Overall, I enjoyed sleeping on it for its structured, supportive feel. I’d recommend it to couples, combination sleepers and anyone who values strong edge support. Its key strengths are support, motion isolation and perimeter stability. Meanwhile, its main drawback is its average cooling.

It sits in the upper mid-range for value, making it a strong premium hybrid option thanks to its durability and consistency, but less compelling if advanced cooling or adjustability is your top priority.

(Image credit: Future)

Price and trial

  • Maintains a perpetual 30% discount, avoiding true MSRP sales
  • Sits near the ceiling of mid-range pricing
  • Lifetime warranty with a 120-night risk-free sleep trial

At full MSRP, the WinkBed sits firmly in the premium price bracket, but the good news is you’ll never pay that.

WinkBeds runs a consistent 30% off sale year-round that makes the mattress far more competitive in the upper mid-range, so you don’t have to wait for a major holiday like Memorial Day mattress sales to score a good deal.

That said, we’ve seen a price increase on this mattress since we first started tracking WinkBed pricing.

Last year, a queen WinkBed sold at $1,499, a number that has since climbed to $1,799 — likely due to rising material costs. The WinkBed Plus, which is specifically designed for sleepers over 250 lbs, has also seen a price hike from $1,699 to $1,999 after discount for a queen-sized model.

Even with these increases, the WinkBed remains competitively priced for a handcrafted hybrid. It also offers an industry-leading lifetime warranty and mid-grade 120-night sleep trial that lets you return the mattress risk-free if you’re not satisfied with your purchase during that timeframe.

Here’s what you can typically expect to pay after the standard 30% discount:

  • Twin MSRP: $1,427 (normally sold at $999)
  • Twin XL MSRP: $1,713 (normally sold at $1,199)
  • Full MSRP: $2,141 (normally sold at $1,499)
  • Queen MSRP: $2,570 (normally sold at $1,799)
  • King MSRP: $2,856 (normally sold at $1,999)
  • Cal king MSRP: $2,856 (normally sold at $1,999)

The WinkBed Plus features a different build and comes with its own pricing tier. Specialist mattresses designed for heavier sleepers typically carry a higher cost. However, the latex layer has been removed from the Plus design (latex is a premium material that typically drives up costs), though it does now incorporate high-density EnduraMax foam and a 5-zoned system of individually wrapped coils. Here’s the official WinkBed Plus pricing and what you can expect to pay:

  • Twin MSRP: $1,856 (normally sold at $1,299)
  • Twin XL MSRP: $1,856 (normally sold at $1,299)
  • Full MSRP: $2,427 (normally sold at $1,599)
  • Queen MSRP: $2,856 (normally sold at $1,999)
  • King MSRP: $3,284 (normally sold at $2,299)
  • Cal king MSRP: $3,284 (normally sold at $2,299)

Design

  • Breathable Tencel cover with advanced cooling upgrade available
  • Pressure relieving gel-infused foam
  • Zoned pocketed coils for targeted support

The WinkBed is a 13.5-inch hybrid mattress available in four firmness options, Soft, Luxury Firm and Firm and Plus, that each have a slightly different build to suit different sleep styles and body type. Since last year, the build has changed a little for the Winkbed, so below we'll go into the current design for all four firmness options.

All models feature a cover made from Tencel derived from eucalyptus, a breathable fabric made from that promotes airflow and wicks moisture. Beneath this, is a Euro-pillow top for cushioning and pressure relief.

The Soft Model uses a plush, three-layer Euro-pillow top for deeper pressure relief and contouring, while the Luxury Firm and Firm and Plus models have a slightly slimmer two-layer pillow top for a more balanced feel.

(Image credit: Future)

Materials beneath also vary depending on the firmness option you choose.

Below the pillow-top of the Soft and the Luxury Firm, you'll find a 2" layer of pressure-relieving gel foam, then a CertiPUR-US certified support foam layer and below that, a layer of 3-zoned, individually wrapped coils for targeted support, with reinforced coils at the edges.

The Firm has almost the same build, but the layer of pressure-relieving gel foam is firmer.

Below the pillow-top of the Winkbed Plus is a 2" layer of pressure-relieving gel foam, followed by a layer of dense EnduraMax foam, which the brand describes as having been "engineered to stay firm, supportive, and resilient under higher body weights," and says will maintain spinal alignment for heavier sleepers. It's worth noting that this layer appears to have replaced the previous latex layer the Plus featured.

Finally, the Plus features a layer of 1,074 individually wrapped and triple-tempered coils, arranged into five zones to provide support for heavier sleepers. As such, the lumbar and hip areas designed to be firmer, while the shoulder and leg regions are softer, according to Winkbed. As with the other firmness levels, the Plus features reinforced coils at the edges.

Last year, WinkBed also launched an optional Frost Cooling Fabric with advanced cooling fibers sewn directly into the surface of the mattress. This upgrade costs $125 and is available for all firmness levels, promising users 20% cooler sleep.

Comfort and support

  • Four firmness options: Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm and Plus
  • Good pressure relief with balanced cushioning
  • Overall strong targeted support

The WinkBed comes in four firmness levels: Soft (4.5/10 on the firmness scale), Luxury Firm (6.5/10), Firm (7.5/10) and Plus (8.5/10). After testing, my husband and I both agreed the Luxury Firm sits closer to a 7/10.

The Soft model works best for lighter bodies and side sleepers who need more contouring around the shoulder and hip areas, while the Luxury Firm is the most versatile and crowd-pleasing option, especially if you bedshare.

The Firm version provides (as you'd expect) a firmer, more supportive surface for back and stomach sleepers, while the Plus is specifically engineered for heavier bodies (and ranks among the best options in this category).

Firmness will feel different depending on your weight. In our testing, the Luxury Firm delivered a well-balanced feel that was just a touch firmer than the brand’s 6.5/10 firmness rating. Zoned, individually wrapped coils deliver targeted support, with firmer pushback through the center third to keep the spine aligned and reduce pressure on the lower back.

(Image credit: Future)

At the same time, the comfort layers offer cushioning at key pressure points, including the shoulders, hips and knees. My husband, who is just over six feet tall and 200 lbs, found this balanced support and pressure relief excellent for stomach and back sleeping. He’s also prone to neck cricks, but said the WinkBed delivered outstanding pain-free sleep.

As a combination sleeper, I spend most of my time on my side and occasionally roll to my stomach throughout the night. I enjoyed the Luxury Firm model for stomach sleeping, though I found it too firm for comfortable side sleeping. If you’re a tried-and-true side sleeper, I’d suggest going for the Soft model to help prevent any shoulder aches. I also found this firmness slightly uncomfortable for prolonged sessions of reading in bed or watching TV, which left me with slight low back pain.

Previously, my husband and I tested the Saatva Solaire, an adjustable air mattress that allows each sleeper to customize firmness on their side of the bed. While it’s not a direct comparison, the WinkBed still offers enough versatility to suit most couples with mildly differing firmness preferences.

Score: 4 out of 5

Delivery and setup

  • Moderate off-gassing that dissipates within two hours
  • Expands to full size within 30 minutes
  • No handles make it difficult to lift or rotate

The WinkBed arrives compressed in a large box, so it's worth planning ahead for delivery day. In our case, the package was left outside in heavy rain instead of under a covered awning, which made things more difficult from the start.

Keep in mind this is a very heavy mattress. Our queen size came in at 135 pounds, so I definitely recommend adding delivery notes and having a second person ready to help. My husband hauled the box upstairs on his own, but I absolutely suggest having two people to carry it.

Unboxing is simple but requires effort. The mattress is wrapped in two thick layers of plastic, which took some time to cut through and remove. Cleanup was fairly easy, though, with minimal packaging to throw away.

(Image credit: Future)

There is moderate off-gassing when you first open the mattress. I was a little concerned as our entire household has allergies, but luckily it faded within two hours after opening a window. The mattress also expanded quickly and reached full size in about 30 minutes. I still waited closer to two hours before adding bedding just to be safe (and for the offgassing to disappear).

I’ve been fortunate that several mattresses I’ve tested featured convenient carrying handles for easy transport, such as the Glacier Apex Hybrid, but that wasn’t the case with the WinkBed. With its substantial weight and lack of carrying handles, it was very difficult to rotate and place on the bed. This is another area where you’ll truly want another set of hands to help.

Score: 3 out of 5

Performance

  • Low motion transfer, making it a good choice for couples
  • Breathable design, though even with the cooling upgrade, it may still sleep too warm for very hot sleepers
  • Strong edge support

We slept on a queen size WinkBed in Luxury Firm for over three weeks, testing key performance areas including motion isolation, temperature regulation and edge support. Between my husband and I, we tested side, stomach, back and combination sleeping to gauge performance for all sleep styles.

Here’s what we found during testing…

Motion isolation

Motion transfer refers to how much movement you feel from a partner, or perhaps a pet, on the other side of the bed. If you or your partner tend to toss and turn, good motion isolation is incredibly important to sleep quality.

Thanks to its stabilizing foam and individually wrapped coils, the WinkBed does an excellent job of minimizing movement (the combination of which the brand calls its “SleepCalm” motion isolation technology).

To support our hands-on testing, we ran drop tests to measure motion transfer. We used black masking tape to mark where two sleepers would lie, placing an empty wine glass on one mark and dropping a 10 lb kettlebell on the other from a height of 24 inches to simulate someone getting into bed.

We repeated the test five times, noting that the glass never fell over or moved with any of the drops. It remained firmly where I placed it.

(Image credit: Future)

This matched our real-world experience, where movement from a co-sleeper was minimal and unlikely to disturb your sleep. I found the WinkBed’s motion isolation especially impressive in our case, as both my husband and I tend to toss and turn and keep one another up.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Temperature control

Overheating can significantly disrupt sleep, so temperature regulation is an important focus in our testing. The WinkBed is designed with a naturally cooling, moisture-wicking Tencel cover, and features 2" of breathable gel foam that the brand describes a "temperature neutral", while its coil system promotes airflow through the mattress.

While I didn’t necessarily find the WinkBed cool to the touch, it performed well overall for temperature control. It stayed mostly neutral to slightly cool overnight and rarely felt uncomfortably warm. As a hot sleeper, I felt the WinkBed did a solid job overall with regulating body temperature, though I wasn’t particularly impressed by the Frost Cooling Fabric upgrade and didn’t find it worth the added cost.

In fact, I suspect the standard model with the regular cover may sleep only slightly warmer. We also used cotton sheets and a lightweight duvet throughout testing, which helped maintain a cooler sleep surface.

Score: 4 out of 5

Edge support

(Image credit: Future)

Edge support refers to how well a mattress holds up under pressure along its perimeter and is a key marker of overall quality. Strong edge support means you can sleep close to the edge without feeling like you’ll roll off, and it’s also important for those who rely on the edge of the bed for sitting and standing.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the WinkBed performed in this area. When sitting on the edge, you can immediately feel the reinforced support working to keep the perimeter stable. In testing, the edges felt firm and secure with no real sense of roll-off, and the strengthened perimeter is both visibly and physically noticeable.

We also ran weight-based compression tests alongside real-world use. A 50lb kettlebell placed near the edge sank just one inch, indicating minimal compression. We measured sinkage immediately and again after five minutes to assess both initial compression and longer-term support.

Score: 4.5/5

Customer reviews

  • An average rating of 4.8/5 from around 9,200 reviews (as of May 2026)
  • Strong praise for its comfort, cushioning and pressure relief
  • Most negative feedback is around it being too soft or too firm

In addition to our physical testing, we also analyzed user reviews of the WinkBed to pinpoint any recurring feedback or concerns. This helps us understand how the mattress performs over the longterm, including any potential durability issues.

The WinkBed has around 9,200 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/5 as of May 2026. In one area of the review section, you can filter the reviews by the firmness model, and then filter further by selecting areas such as value for money, durability and quality/comfort for each. But Winkbed only seem to have included 5 star reviews here, so you're getting the most positive responses without a date indicating when they were posted.

There is also an option to see all reviews where you can filter by star rating and see the date they were posted. However, these reviews don't indicate which model the user purchased, unless they mention it directly in the review itself.

Many customers praise the mattress’s comfort, cushioning and pressure relief. It’s also a popular choice among sleepers with hip, shoulder and back pain, with several reviewers noting fewer nighttime wakeups and improved comfort.

However, not all feedback is consistent. Some users report the mattress feeling either too firm or too soft, depending on their expectations and body type.

A handful opted for mattress toppers to create a comfortable sleep surface, while others exchanged the mattress altogether. This often comes down to choosing the wrong firmness, so we recommend carefully reviewing the WinkBed’s firmness guide and making full use of the 120-night risk-free sleep trial to ensure the right fit for your needs.

It's also worth noting that the majority of lower star reviews are slightly older (there were no 1-3 star reviews from 2026 at the time of writing), so with the design changes it may be worth keeping an eye on customer feedback.

Should you buy it?

Who should buy it and why?

  • ✅ Most sleepers who want a balanced hybrid feel: The Luxury Firm model delivered a strong mix of support, pressure relief and cushioning that fits a wide range of sleep styles.
  • ✅ Couples who are easily disturbed by movement: Motion isolation is excellent thanks to the foam-and-coil construction, meaning you’re unlikely to feel a partner turning or getting in and out of bed.
  • ✅ Sleepers who want to use the full sleep surface: Reinforced edge support creates a stable, supportive feel for side sleeping and using the edge of the bed for sitting and standing.

Best time to buy: WinkBeds runs a consistent 30% off discount year-round, so there’s rarely a “bad” time to buy. we haven't previously seen the brand offer a bigger price reduction during big holiday sales, like Memorial Day, Labor Day and Black Friday, so there's no need to wait to purchase.

Returns and exchanges: WinkBeds offers a 120-night risk-free sleep trial. If it doesn’t work for you, you can return or exchange it within that window. Returns often involve a pickup service, and exchanges allow you to switch firmness levels if you choose the wrong feel initially.

Who shouldn't buy it and why?

  • ❌ Very hot sleepers looking for maximum cooling: The WinkBed regulates temperature fairly well, but even the Frost Cooling Fabric upgrade didn’t feel worth the added cost. If you sleep especially hot, a dedicated cooling mattress like the Glacier Apex Hybrid is likely a much better fit.
  • ❌ Shoppers on a strict budget: Even with a year-round discount, the WinkBed sits in the upper midrange to premium price bracket, especially after recent price increases. A more affordable alternative is the Nectar Classic.
  • ❌ People who are unsure about firmness preferences: With four distinct feels, choosing incorrectly can lead to uncomfortable sleep. If you prefer a more precise and adjustable feel, a customizable mattress like the Saatva Solaire may be a better fit.

Is it worth it?

(Image credit: Future)

Yes, the WinkBed delivers strong value for its price point, especially given its premium hybrid build, consistent performance and industry-leading lifetime warranty.

While recent price increases push it closer to the premium category, it still undercuts many luxury hybrids while offering comparable durability, edge support and motion isolation. Compared to other mattresses in this bracket, it stands out for its versatility and reliable performance across numerous categories.

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