Zoma Start Mattress Review – Comfortable Foam at Entry-Level Prices

Our Verdict

Best for:

Back Sleeper

Combo sleeper

Side sleeper

Stomach sleeper

Pros

Affordable price

Soft foam feel

Firmness is not a problem

Sleek cover design

Cons

There is only one option for firmness

Memory foam is not for everyone

Zoma, an online mattress company, is marketed towards athletes. It even sponsors a number of them. The brand’s goal is to improve recovery. The company offers three mattresses: the Zoma Hybrid mattress, the Zoma Boost Hybrid mattress and the Zoma Start Mattress. It is a three-layer all-foam mattress, which is similar to many of its competitors. The Bear Original and Leesa Studio are also in the same price range. Also, like many of its competitors, it is an accommodating three-layer all-foam mattress that I would describe as “basic,” but that is not meant to be a knock against the mattress because lots of shoppers are looking for a mattress exactly like this.

Video: Zoma Start mattress review

Watch me review the Zoma Start mattress.

First impressions of the Zoma Start mattress

The first thing I noticed after unboxing the Zoma Start mattress was the look of the cover. The cover of most mattresses that we test is either a white fabric to give the mattress a luxurious appearance or a beige material to indicate organic materials. The Zoma Start uses a gray cover that has a triangular design on the side.

Dillon Payne/CNET

The Zoma brand is geared toward younger people who lead an athletic lifestyle, and the design fits. It took the mattress about 48 hours to firm up, but once we began testing it, it felt familiar. There is a popular mattress category that we describe as “soft or neutral foam,” and it was clear to me from the start that the Zoma Start fit into this category.

Overall, I wasn’t blown away by the Zoma Start mattress but after seeing the price I thought it was a much more compelling pick.

Is the Zoma Start mattress right for you?

For anyone looking for an affordable, generally comfortable and accommodating foam mattress I think the Zoma Start is an excellent choice. The Zoma Start has a classic, three-layer foam design, similar to other popular beds such as the Bear Original and Leesa Original. It is also very budget-friendly.

Zoma is marketed towards athletes, and boasts about the “tech” that it has in its mattress. This technology is said to enhance athletic performance. The firmness of the Zoma Start Mattress and its feel

Zoma Start Feel

The Zoma Start feels

The Zoma Start is generally comfortable. This is the type of mattress we call “neutral”. This means that the bed does not lean heavily towards a slow-to-respond, dense, sinking-in memory-foam sensation or a super-responsive, bouncey latex feeling. A neutral feel like this strikes a nice balance between being responsive enough to not ever feel like you are “stuck” in the mattress without having too much bounce.

Dillon Payne/CNET

Most people who try out a mattress like the Zoma Start usually think it’s pretty comfortable — although it may not be exactly what everyone wants. This mattress is good for people who don’t have any preferences and couples that can’t agree upon a particular mattress feel. This firmness profile is ideal for combination sleepers, who alternate between sleeping on their back and sides. It’s also great for couples that can’t decide whether they want a soft or firm mattress.

Dillon Payne/CNET

One thing all the Zoma mattresses have in common is this medium firmness profile, so if you want something different you’ll have to check out a different brand.

Zoma Start mattress construction

Like I mentioned earlier, the Zoma Start mattress is a three-layer mattress composed entirely of foam. The bottom layer is dense and responsive support foam. This support layer is found in every foam mattress that we tested, as without it you’d sink to your foundation. Above the support layer, Zoma uses “Reactiv” (responsive) foam. This layer acts as a transition between the primary comfort layer above and the densely packed support foam beneath. The main comfort layer is then a layer made of gel memory.

Dillon Payne/CNET

The top layer of memory foam does have triangle shaped cuts to match the exterior design of the cover. It didn’t affect the feel of the bed at all, and I believe it was added to make it look more “high-tech”. “

And talking about the cover, Zoma refers to it as “AirCloth,” and I think that is soft and breathable in addition to looking sleek. The cover is the main talking point of Zoma’s website when it comes to the mattress being “cool.” I will cover temperature regulation later in this review but I don’t think this cover puts the Zoma Start mattress in the active cooling category.

Zoma Start mattress performance

Edge support

The edge support of a mattress refers to how well the perimeter of the bed holds up under pressure. Couples should consider this because one partner may unintentionally take up the entire mattress, forcing the other towards the edge. The edge support of the Zoma Start is excellent — I did not notice any compression at the edge and didn’t feel as if I was about to roll off the bed.

Owen Poole/CNET

The edge support is noticeably stronger on the Zoma Hybrid and the Zoma Boost Hybrid thanks to the coil support layer, so if edge support has been a problem for you in the past I might recommend upgrading to one of those options. I don’t think it will negatively impact your sleeping experience.

Motion isolation

Motion isolation is another factor that is important for couples because a bed with poor motion isolation can wake you up if your partner tosses and turns throughout the night.

Because this mattress is built with only foam layers I expected the motion isolation to be very good and I was correct. This design is very effective at dampening cross-mattress motion. Light sleepers will be pleased with the Zoma start.

Temperature regulation

Despite what Zoma might say about the breathability of the AirCloth cover and the cooling nature of the gel memory foam layer, I would still describe the Zoma Start as neutral when it comes to temperature, like most mattresses. If you’re a hot sleeper, and you want something to actively cool you at night, then you may want to consider the Zoma Boost Hybrid. Or you can check out the Eight Sleep Pod, which works with virtually any existing mattress.

Zoma Start Mattress Pricing

undefined

Size

Measurements (inches)

Price

Twin

38×75

$599

Twin XL

38×80	$649	Full
54×75	$699	Queen
60×80	$749	King
76×80	$849	Cal king
72×84	$849	Split king
38×80	$1,048	One of the most appealing things about the Zoma Start mattress is just how affordable it is. A queen-size mattress for $749 is a very reasonable price from any brand, even if they don’t exclusively sell on Amazon. This price is competitive with other popular beds with similar designs, such as the Leesa Original and Leesa Studio. Zoma offers regular discounts on its affordable retail price. At the time of writing, you could get the Zoma Start mattress for only $561.75 in a queen size.
Pricing is always subject to change so make sure to check out our mattress deals page for the latest — but the Zoma Start mattress will likely be a consistently affordable mattress.	Dillon Payne/CNET	Zoma Start mattress policies
Free shipping	The Zoma Start mattress ships inside a box right to your door at no extra cost in the contiguous United States. It’s easy to unbox a mattress. We’ve done this literally hundreds of time, and it is fun.	Remember what I said earlier about the fact that beds don’t always look “right” right out of their box. Remember that this is to be expected and normal for a bed. Zoma’s standard 100-night sleep trial is available for $1000. You have about 3 months to test the mattress to determine if it is comfortable and supportive. It can take up to a month for your body’s adjustment to a new bed, regardless of how well it suits you. Don’t worry if your sleep is poor in the first few weeks. After the first 30 days is when you could start to get concerned.

Return policy

Zoma, despite more brands introducing return fees, still offers free returns on all of its mattresses if you choose to return it within the provided trial period. Returning a mattress can be easy. You just need to contact the company and they will send a team over to your home. Then it will often get donated or sometimes resold by a third party.

Warranty

All Zoma mattresses are backed by a standard 10-year warranty. If you buy a mattress online, a 10-year warranty is the minimum you should expect.

How does the Zoma Start compare to similar mattresses?

Zoma Start vs. Leesa Studio

The Leesa Studio mattress is the most affordable bed from the Leesa brand and it has a very similar design to the Zoma Start with dense support foam, a transition layer of a more responsive foam and a layer of memory foam on top. The middle layer on the Leesa Studio has a less responsive middle layer and does not rebound as quickly. This gives the memory foam a more prominent feel. The Leesa Studio does not have the classic dense memory foam, but it will still feel more like memory than that of the Zoma Start. The Zoma Start is about $50 cheaper than the Leesa Studio. Bear Original vs. Zoma Start

The Bear Original, one of our favorites affordable memory foam mattresses, is a great option. It uses three layers of foam, including a layer that is primarily memory foam. Both beds are priced similarly. The Bear Original is different. It has a classic memory foam feel that will make you sink in and conform to your body shape. The Bear Original, which is a medium-firm mattress on our scale, is much firmer. It is perfect for those who sleep on their backs, stomachs, or a combination of both. The Zoma Start mattress: final thoughts

If you are looking for an affordable, comfortable bed that is also accommodating, I believe the Zoma Start would be the perfect choice. This would be a great option for someone looking to buy their first mattress. You may have slept on the same mattress through college and high school, and it is starting to look old. However, you do not have much money to spend to buy a new one. The Zoma Start mattress is a great option for those who are on a budget. It has a medium firmness profile and is a neutral feel.

You might like the Zoma Start mattress if:

You are shopping on a budget

You like the idea of a medium firmness profile

You don’t have a specific mattress feel preference

You might not like the Zoma Start mattress if:

You prefer a memory foam feel

You want an especially soft or firm mattress

You want a hybrid mattress

Other mattresses from Zoma

Zoma Hybrid:

The Zoma Hybrid mattress is virtually identical to the Zoma Start — it uses the same layers of comfort foam, it has the same looking “AirCloth” cover, and it even has the same medium firmness profile. The Zoma Hybrid mattress uses pocketed springs instead of dense foam for support. The Zoma Hybrid will have a little more bounce, and it will be more durable and support throughout the life of the mattress. The coil mattress is recommended for people weighing over 225 pounds. It will last longer. The Zoma Hybrid mattress will cost several hundred dollars more than Zoma Start. The coils have been reinforced around the perimeter for better edge support, and in the middle third of the mattress to give sleepers extra support. It is comparable to other luxurious pillow-top mattresses like the Leesa Sapira Chill and Nolah Evolution Hybrid. The mattress is similar to other luxury pillow-top mattresses such as the Leesa Sapira Chill or the Nolah Evolution Hybrid.
See more
Does the Zoma Start Mattress have a fee for returns?

No. Zoma mattresses can be returned free of charge within the 100-night trial period.
See more

Does a box spring need to be used with the Zoma Start Mattress?

Zoma suggests using a platform, slatted or adjustable foundation. Box springs are not compatible.
See more

story originally seen here