Idle Gel Foam Mattress Review

Cover

The Idle Gel Foam’s top cover is constructed from a polyester blend with a mid-range weight of 450 grams per square meter (GSM). The mattress also has a bottom cover made from durable base fabric. Both the top and bottom cover can be removed for washing and drying in any household machine.

Inside the mattress, the layers are also encased in a thin cotton sheet that acts as the bed’s fire barrier.

Comfort Layers

The mattress has a 3-inch comfort layer of Cooling Buoyancy polyfoam. This material is quite adaptive, meaning it will conform to the sleeper’s body and evenly distribute their weight across the surface. Polyfoam is more responsive than memory foam, so there will be a light bounce on the surface when sleepers get in and out of bed – but the mattress is by no means springy.

Transitional Layer

Beneath the comfort layer rests 2 inches of transitional polyfoam, which prevents sleepers from sinking excessively and coming into contact with the dense base foam. This transitional layer is ventilated with tiny holes to push air currents near the surface of the bed. As a result, the Idle Gel Foam sleeps a bit cooler than many of its all-foam competitors.

Support Layers

The Idle Gel Foam’s support core consists of a solid, high-density polyfoam layer measuring 7 inches thick. The material has a density of 2.4 PCF, making it denser than the base foams found in other mattresses. This layer stabilizes the bed in order to keep sleepers on an even plane and reinforce the perimeter. Despite its dense composition, the foam is still susceptible to sinkage around heavier areas of the sleeper’s body, particularly if they weigh more than 230 pounds.

Mattress Height

The Idle Gel Foam measures 12 inches thick and is considered a high-profile model. The above-average height allows room for a thick comfort layer without sacrificing support from the high-density transitional and base foam layers. As a result, the mattress offers a balanced feel with sturdy support and some noticeable body-conforming.

The Idle Gel Foam has a medium firm feel. The comfort layer is fairly adaptive and sleepers will notice some body-contouring, but not the close body-hug and deep sinkage they might experience on memory foam. The Idle Gel Foam’s feel could be described as a combination of sleeping “in” and sleeping “on” the mattress.

The polyfoam is also somewhat responsive. When owners change positions or get in and out of bed, they’ll likely feel a light bounce on the surface. Comparatively, memory foam becomes softer when exposed to body heat, so the material responds more slowly to the body.

When searching for a new mattress, we always encourage shoppers to compare as many brands and models as possible. This ensures they’ll be able to find a mattress that meets their sleep needs, comfort preferences, and budget. In the next section, we’ll see how the Idle Gel Foam stacks up to other Idle Sleep models and some similar mattresses from competing online brands.

Idle Gel Foam vs. Idle Gel Plush

Essentially a softer version of the Idle Gel Foam, the Idle Gel Plush measures 14 inches thick and has a medium (5) feel with ample cushioning. The mattress contains the same components as the Idle Gel Foam, plus a memory foam transitional layer that promotes close body-contouring.

Aside from construction and feel differences, these mattresses are quite similar. Both provide very good motion isolation and do not produce any noise, making them ideal for couples. They also alleviate pressure quite well; the Idle Gel Plush is better suited to lightweight sleepers due to its softer feel, while the Idle Gel Foam caters to heavier sleepers with less conforming and more support. The Idle Gel Foam does sleep a bit cooler than the Idle Gel Plush due to its ventilated transitional layer, but both beds lack strong edge support.

Since the Idle Gel Plush contains an additional layer, its price-point is slightly higher than the Idle Gel Foam’s. That said, both beds are somewhat expensive compared to the average all-foam model. If budget is not a major concern, buyers should base their decision on how much cushioning and contouring they want from their mattress.

Idle Gel Foam vs. Idle Hybrid

The flagship Idle Hybrid is a flippable mattress, meaning the top and bottom sides are equipped to serve as sleep surfaces. Customers can choose a medium firm (6) or firm (8) feel for both sides, or opt for a different feel on each. Both sides feature three foam layers to cushion the body, while the shared support core contains 6-inch pocketed coils.

The Idle Hybrid has some advantages over the Idle Gel Foam. For one, its coil system provides strong reinforcement to reinforce the edges and prevent heavier sleepers from sinking too deeply. The coils also promote steady airflow to help the mattress maintain a comfortable core temperature. The Idle Gel Foam sleeps cooler than average thanks to its ventilated transitional layer, but the hybrid has the edge in this category. However, the Idle Gel Foam outperforms for motion isolation and pressure relief.

The Idle Hybrid costs quite a bit more than the Idle Gel Foam, but its sticker price is actually below-average for a hybrid. Sleepers who want a mattress that contours to the body and reduces pressure points may want to consider the Idle Gel Foam, while those who would rather sleep on a responsive coil mattress should choose the Idle Hybrid instead.

Read our Idle Sleep Mattress Review.

Idle Gel Foam vs. Idle Latex

Another reversible model from Idle Sleep, the Idle Latex features latex comfort layers on its top and bottom sides. As with the Idle Hybrid, customers can select a medium firm (6) or firm (8) feel for both sides, or choose one of each for more versatility. Idle Sleep also offers two types of latex: Dunlop, which is dense and heavy; or Talalay, which is light and bouncy.

The Idle Latex and Idle Gel Foam have very different feels. Latex conforms to a minimal extent and feels highly responsive, so sleepers on the Idle Latex experience more bounciness when they get on the mattress and less sinkage as their bodies settle. The latex layers in this mattress are also highly durable while the coils provide long-lasting support, so its expected lifespan is at least one year longer than the Idle Gel Foam’s. Strong edge support is another advantage. The Idle Gel Foam outperforms in other areas, such as motion isolation and pressure relief for lighter people and side sleepers.

Construction and performance differences aside, the Idle Latex costs – at minimum – about three times as much as the Idle Gel Foam. Understandably, most buyers will base their decision on price-points.

Idle Gel Foam vs. Bear Mattress

The Bear Mattress is an all-polyfoam model. It is constructed with an adaptive, open-cell comfort layer over transitional and support layers of high-density foam, creating a firm firm feel for the mattress that is very comparable to the Idle Gel Foam’s.

Both of these mattresses also sleep cooler than many competing all-foam models. The Idle Gel Foam accomplishes this thanks to a ventilated transitional layer that pushes airflow toward the surface. Likewise, the open-cell comfort layer of the Bear Mattress is fairly breathable and won’t trap too much body heat for most sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. Other similarities these two models share include very good motion isolation, consistent pressure relief for side and back sleepers, and limited edge support.

Prices for the Idle Gel Foam and Bear Mattress are very comparable, as well. One benefit of selecting the Idle Gel Foam is that customers qualify for Idle Sleep’s 18-month sleep trial, one of the longest in the mattress industry. Bear’s sleep trial spans for 100 nights.

Read our full Bear Mattress Review.

Idle Gel Foam vs. Brooklyn Bedding Signature

The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is a hybrid model available in a soft (3.5), medium (5.5), or firm (7.5) feel. The comfort layer is made of an adaptive polyfoam material similar to the Idle Gel Foam’s, but the Signature’s pocketed coil support core provides more responsiveness and support for this mattress.

Temperature neutrality is better for the Signature thanks to a coil layer that generates steady airflow to keep the mattress cool. The Idle Gel Foam’s ventilated transitional layer promotes some cooling, but not as much. The Signature’s firmness selection is another asset, since it covers a wide range of sleeper preferences and will be suitable for most weight and position groups. However, those seeking a medium firm feel may still find the Idle Gel Foam more comfortable. This mattress may also be suitable for noise-sensitive sleepers, as the Signature’s coils may squeak occasionally.

Compared to the Idle Gel Foam, customers pay more for the Signature and qualify for a shorter sleep trial. However, anyone who feels more comfortable on a hybrid or seeks a mattress with a feel that is softer or firmer than a medium firm should consider the Signature.

Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress Review.

Idle Gel Foam vs. Tuft & Needle

The T&N Original from Tuft & Needle is quite similar to the Idle Gel Foam. This all-polyfoam mattress is constructed with a 3-inch comfort layer of graphite-infused foam over a high-density base. Both beds are adaptive yet supportive, and offer comparable medium firm feels. Their comfort layers are lightly responsive, as well.

The T&N Original and Idle Gel Foam have earned similar ratings in other performance categories, as well. Both beds alleviate pressure quite well for side and back sleepers, and also eliminate most motion transfer for couples. These mattresses also sleep cooler than average. The T&N Original’s comfort layer is composed of open-cell foam that traps a minimal amount of body heat. In terms of edge support, the Idle Gel Foam is slightly stronger but both beds tend to sink a bit.

The T&N Original has a lower price-point, but the Idle Gel Foam’s sleep trial is much longer. Since these two mattresses are comparable in most other ways, many customers will base their decision on these factors instead.

Read our full Tuft & Needle Mattress Review.