The Classic Brands Cool Gel is admittedly among the most sought memory foam mattresses today. However, its country of origin- China– and unbelievably low price should make you think twice before pulling the trigger.
That’s why I put this review to help you to figure out whether to continue your search or get this mattress outright.
Read on!
TL;DR – Nolah Mattress is a fantastic option vs the Classic Brands Cool Gel Mattress.
Factors to consider when buying a memory foam mattress?
Designed specially to cushion NASA astronauts from the effects of the gravitational pull, memory foam mattresses strike a balance between comfort and support.
That being said, you might want to consider these mattresses if you want a bed that helps relieve and prevent pain and pressure points.
They also make a good bet if you are looking for a mattress that won’t subject you to dust mites and other allergens.
Who should buy these mattresses?
Memory foam mattresses can be used by pretty much everyone. This is because of their ability to accommodate different sleeping styles without forming pressure points.
Okay, it might not be the best pick for you if you tend to sleep hot and sweat a lot at night. Worth noting is that heat retention is the major problem that plagues these mattresses.
Fortunately, giant manufacturers are putting out all stops to solve this issue. For instance, most mattress brands today (including Classic Brands) incorporate gel into memory foam to give the mattresses an open cell structure.
This helps in dissipating the heat away from the sleeping surface and might give you cooler nights than before.
Worth mentioning, not any other memory foam mattress will make a great purchase. This is because memory foam varies from one brand to the other. Thus, you need to pay close attention to;
- Density
- Thickness
- Offgassing
- Warranty
Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress- what is it?
As its name suggests, this is a memory foam mattress with a layer of cooling gel. What we are reviewing here is the 12-inch version. But you could also get it in 6in, 8in, 10.5in, or even 14in sizes.
This model is a revamped version of the Classic Brands 410174-1170- another memory foam mattress from the same brand that did not feature the cooling gel layer.
That being said, the Classic Brands Cool Gel promises you all the benefits of memory foam without making you feel you like you are trapped in an oven.
I bet the Cool Gel will fit the bill if you are after a mattress that will give you an orthopedic support and plush comfort without heating you up.
Pros
- Has excellent pressure point relief
- Minimizes motion transfer for a restful night
- It is CertiPUR-US certified for your safety
- Has minimal off-gassing issues
- It remains cool
- Comes with a 25-year warranty
Cons
- Does not come with a trial period
- Lightweight sleepers may find it too firm
- Does not come with a satisfaction or return guarantee from the manufacturer
So, will the Classic Brands Cool Gel solve your comfort and support needs? Let’s have an in-depth review of its features and the benefits that it brings.
Features and Benefits
First things first…
Is it CertiPUR-US Certified?
Unlike natural latex that is derived from trees, memory foam is manufactured by adding ‘chemicals’ to polyurethane.
Some of these chemicals include naphthalene, benzene, and formaldehyde. In fact, some have also been found to include isocyanates.
According to Yale University, the latter can cause asthma attacks and irritation of the nose, skin, eyes, and throat.
That’s why we always insist our readers to go for mattresses that have been tested and certified not to include these harmful chemicals.
Now, most China-made mattresses are not CertiPUR-US certified. But it’s quite impressive that the Classic Brands Cool Gel is. Kudos Classic Brands!
What does this mean?
Certipur-us certification means that this mattress;
- Has low VOCs- won’t emit harmful chemical odors in your bedroom
- Does not contain phthalates
- Does not contain heavy metals (think of lead, mercury here)
- Has no PBDE flame retardants
- Has been without ozone depleters
4 layers that complement each other
While this is a 12-inch mattress, it is actually made up of 4 layers of foam. These layers feature varying but well-thought thicknesses to complement each other in offering you supreme comfort and relaxation.
Gel-infused top layer
The top layer is a 2-inch gel-infused memory foam pad. This layer has low density and offers you the initial comfort by hugging and contouring around you when you lie on the mattress.
The gel used in this layer make it a little bit plusher although the intention is to disperse the heat away from the sleeping surface.
A huge portion of the previous buyers affirm that this mattress sleeps cool. But do know that gel beads work by accumulating the heat until when they can’t take it anymore.
This means that the mattress may start sleeping hot once the gel beads have reached their maximum holding capacity. This explains why several verified purchasers say that the mattress felt warm although it did not make them sweat.
3’’ Polyurethane transition layer
The second layer here is a 3-inch comfort poly foam that is slightly denser than the top layer. This gives you a smooth and nice transition to the support base. Its role is to offer a little bit of resistance in form of support to prevent you from hitting the bottom.
Uniquely, this polyfoam has also been infused with gel to open its cell structures. This means that the first 2 layers of this mattress are designed to boost ventilation and airflow- something that you’ll probably love.
High-density foundational base
The bottom layer is a 6.5-inch high-density base that holds the top layers together. Its high-density resists excessive sinkage and also offers the mattress excellent durability besides giving it its shape.
Soft and Sweat-wicking cover
To hold all the layers together, the Classic Brands is fitted with a 4-way stretch knit cover made from a blend of spandex, rayon, and polyester.
This blend gives it a softer touch to the skin and it also helps in boosting thermal regulation even further. This cover comes in handy in wicking away perspirations to prevent you from excessive sweating that may occur when you are cradled on the mattress.
Its density vs. Your weight
I’ve explained mattress density in relation to sleep styles in detail in our best mattress buying guide. Basically, when dealing with memory foam mattresses, density refers to the amount of foam that has been used per-cubic-foot. A mattress may have low, medium, or high density.
Density speaks volumes about how soft or firm a mattress feels when you first lie on it. It also dictates the degree of hug and contouring that you get from the mattress.
Without getting technical, the Classic Brands Cool Gel has a medium-density feel. On a 1-10 firmness scale where 1 is softest and 10 is firmest, this mattress scores 6-7.
This is a range that we highly recommend to first time buyers who are not sure of the best density to go for.
As you can probably imagine, a medium-firm mattress allows you to sink without bottoming out. This feature makes it a favorable choice for people who like the feel of sleeping in a cloud.
However, do know your weight and sleeping style also affects how supportive and soft the mattress feels.
We recommend medium-density mattresses to lightweight-to-average weight sleepers (140lbs-150lbs). Below this range, this mattress will feel quite stiff on you.
On the other hand, sleepers who are way past the 180lb-mark might bottom out the first layer and start feeling the firmness of the transitional layer.
Well, you could still consider this mattress if you are 200lbs+ and love sleeping on a firm mattress. The only issue, however, is that there’s a risk of sinking too deep and feeling trapped in your own ditch.
To avoid such scenarios, I would advise you to get a mattress with a firm top layer right off the bat. It will sink a little bit to your weight but you won’t hit the bottom.
Sleeping Posture
Back snoozers are likely to enjoy this mattress the most considering that it hovers slightly on the firmer side. This feature means that there will be minimal sinkage subsequently leading to a natural spine and lumbar joints alignment.
If you sleep on your stomach or sides, the Classic Brands Cool Gel might give you a firm feel since you’ll tend to sink in more.
You are free to go for it if you prefer a firm mattress though. If not, our recommendation would be to get a soft-to-medium firm mattress.
Does it emit odors?
As I told you, memory foam mattresses are made from chemicals. Thus, they are well-known culprits when it comes to off-gassing.
Luckily, CertiPur-us certified mattresses don’t emit odors that are strong enough to irritate you. Worth noting, the Classic Brands Cool Gel has minimal, thin odors that most previous buyers didn’t actually note.
That being said, it only requires a few hours before dissipating completely.
Warranty and Guarantee
The manufacturer does not mention anything about the guarantee and trial period. Luckily, Amazon offers you a 30-day trial period to make a return.
We prefer brands that offer a 100-day trial window but what you are getting from Amazon is still a good deal than no trial period at all.
Amazon also goes out of its way to offer you a satisfaction or refund guarantee thereby making the purchase risk-free.
Classic Brands only extends a 25-year limited warranty. This means that you can contact the manufacturer for any manufacturing defect with the mattress within this period.
What do other people say?
In my opinion, I find this mattress worth every penny especially at its price (check the current price on Amazon here).
I did also scour the web and most verified purchasers seem to appreciate it very much as well.
This mattress has an impressive 4.3 out of 5 star rating from its close to 1k buyers on Amazon.
In my opinion, this is enough evidence that the Classic Brands mattress delivers on its promises.
Among other highlights, most buyers affirm that it is comfortable and a great back pain reliever.
Of course, we did come across several disgruntled buyers too. Most of the complaints, however, emanated from slight manufacturing defect.
On the same note, a high percentage of the dissatisfied buyers affirm that the dealer was super responsive and helpful.
Do you need more options?
At Sleepify, we believe that a mattress is not a one-size-fits-all commodity. So, I won’t be surprised to find out that the Classic Brands Cool Gel didn’t actually fit what you were looking for.
In that case, here are other options that you might want to check out:
Signature Sleep Memoir 12-Inch Mattress
The Signature Sleep Memoir is another best-selling memory foam mattress on the market today. This mattress boasts over 8k+ reviews on Amazon (as I type this) and still counting.
It is a 12-inch model but you can also get it in 6, 8, and 10 inches.
Unlike the Classic Brands above, the Signature Sleep Memoir has a firm feel. As such, it might be a good bet for heavy sleepers (above 180lbs) who sleep on their back, and those who sleep on their sides but generally love a firm mattress.
Other easily notable features include low VOC emissions and a CertiPUR-US certification. This mattress is also a few bucks cheaper than the Classic Brands.
Best Price Mattress 12-Inch Mattress
Best Price offers a superb option for side and stomach sleepers who want a slightly soft yet supportive mattress. Thus, it might please lightweight sleepers who might find the Classic Brands a little bit stiff for them.
Other than its excellent conformability and ability to relieve pressure points and aching joints, we also appreciate that it has been infused with charcoal to offer you a cool sleeping surface.
Olee Sleep Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress
If you are looking for a memory foam mattress that won’t wreck your wallet, then the Olee Sleep might be it.
This mattress is far much cheaper than all the above recommendations. While I wouldn’t call it the best, it might suffice if your budget won’t allow you to spend top dollar on a high-end model.
It is of medium-density and may be a good fit for most lightweight-to-average weight sleepers. The Olee Sleep b has been infused with gel to help with thermal regulation and it’s also certipur-us and Oeko-Tex certified.
Conclusion
Memory foam mattresses have for long been known to make the best beds with regard to comfort, back and spine support, and pain and pressure point relief.
The best part is that these mattresses are engineered to be a perfect fit for everyone regardless of their sleeping postures.
The Classic Brands Cool Gel is a good representative of the best performers in this department. This mattress accommodates a wide range of sleepers and scores above-average on most of the vital fronts: comfort, conformability, support, spinal alignment, and heat dissipation.
