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Awara Mattress Review 2026: Our Experience Testing These Latex Hybrids
We assessed two of their natural foam and coil beds for pressure relief, edge support, cooling and more
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Courtesy of Awara
If you’re looking for a mattress made with natural materials, you may already be considering the company Awara. It offers hybrid beds made with natural and organic latex, cotton and wool. In general, these materials are “naturally resistant to dust mites, mold and bacteria, which can help support better bedroom air quality,” says Kathryn Strait, an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in sleep medicine in Louisville, KY. Latex foam tends to create a buoyant, responsive feel, which Strait says can ease pressure on arthritic joints and make it easier to change positions and get in and out of bed.
Awara’s beds are made with natural latex, which comes from the sap of rubber trees, or organic latex. Many older adults consider natural materials when choosing a sleep surface. In our AARP 2025 sleep survey of 300 adults ages 50 and older who purchased a mattress within the past three years, 18 percent said organic, natural or hypoallergenic materials were “important factors” when deciding which bed to buy. If that sounds like you, you may be pleased to know that Awara says all its mattresses are free from petroleum-based polyurethane foams. In its Premier Hybrid model, the company uses latex certified by the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and 100 percent organic New Zealand wool. The entry-level Awara Essential Hybrid model is made with non-organic wool and natural latex.
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For this review, our AARP Smart Picks team worked alongside older adult testers to evaluate two Awara mattresses: the Essential Hybrid and Premier Hybrid. We measured performance on key metrics, including spinal alignment, edge support, pressure relief and more. We also administered a survey and conducted a focus group to gather more insights into what matters most for older adults looking for a good mattress.
Read on to see how they performed. (Both models tested were queen size.)
Comparing Awara models
What to know about Awara
Awara is a mattress company that says it prioritizes environmental sustainability. It offers three mattress models, all of which are hybrid beds with natural or organic latex foam and a support layer of coils. Compared with memory foam beds, hybrids tend to offer increased airflow, enhanced support and more movement-assisting bounce. One of the three models didn't arrive to our lab in time for testing. We are in the process of testing the third model and will update this review when finished.
The Essential Hybrid and Premier Hybrid earned scores ranging from satisfactory to perfect for pressure relief and spinal alignment across all tested sleeping positions (side, back and stomach). Both beds are medium firm, which is about 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being the firmest. Medium-firm beds tend to straddle a nice balance of support and cushioning, which could be helpful for older adults living with back pain. Also, research suggests medium-firm mattresses may offer advantages for people with lower back pain and promote better sleep quality compared with other firmness levels. But no single firmness is best for everyone.
We also like that these beds work well with an adjustable base, an electronic bed frame that lets you raise or lower the top or bottom of a mattress. When our lab testers tried each Awara bed on three different adjustable bases, they noted that both Awara models could bend and conform to multiple positions while remaining mostly flush to the base. As a result, the mattresses earned stellar scores on this metric. That’s good news if you’re looking to pair your bed with an adjustable frame. The company also offers an adjustable base you can bundle with your mattress purchase.
Awara has generous policies, including a 365-night trial period, limited lifetime warranty, free shipping and returns and financing options. Participants in our November 2025 sleep focus group of older adults ages 50-plus said that buying from a company with generous policies like long trial periods makes them feel more comfortable and confident in their purchase.
But Awara mattresses didn’t excel on every front. The Premier Hybrid is expensive, and the Essential Hybrid tends to retain heat, based on our testing. Hot sleepers or those on a strict budget may want to look elsewhere. But if you value natural materials and comfortable pressure relief, Awara beds may be a good choice.
- Pros and cons
- Features
Pros
Affordably priced
Exceptional edge support
Eases pressure for back sleepers
Cons
Retains heat
Average bounce
Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium firm
Best sleeping positions: Back, stomach and side
Key takeaways from our testing
The Essential Hybrid is Awara’s most affordable bed, priced at $1,445 for a queen. In our experience, natural latex hybrids often start at around $1,800 or more, which is one reason this mattress earned an admirable affordability score. Plus, the company offers discounts throughout the year that can knock the price down considerably, meaning you could snag the Essential Hybrid for less than $800 around some holidays. Price reductions like that are important to many shoppers: In our survey, 42 percent of respondents said they spent $1,000 or less on their new mattress.
The Awara Essential Hybrid excelled in our edge support testing, which involves our lab team measuring how much a mattress sinks under a 150-pound sandbag and our older adult testers assessing their experience sitting or lying near the mattress edge. This bed’s edges dipped only 3 inches under the sandbag’s weight, resulting in an outstanding score. That’s likely due to the mattress having metal coils around the perimeter, which provide extra reinforcement. The edges supply a stable base to help older adults get in and out of bed safely — which is exactly what 60-year-old tester Donna experienced. While lying on the edge, she said, “I feel super secure. I can barely tell I’m on the edge of the mattress.” She gave this bed a perfect edge support score. Donna also awarded this mattress top-level scores for pressure relief and spinal alignment for back sleeping. The bed’s medium-firm feel (about 6.5 out of 10, with 10 being the firmest) is generally recommended by experts as a good firmness for helping promote comfort and ease back pain.
Tester Donna said the sturdiness of the Awara Essential Hybrid’s edges made getting in and out of the bed easier.
AARP Smart Picks
Tester Donna said the sturdiness of the Awara Essential Hybrid’s edges made getting in and out of the bed easier.
Hybrids tend to do a good job regulating temperature since they have coils that promote airflow, but the Awara Essential Hybrid didn’t live up to that expectation. It received only a lukewarm score in our cooling gun test, which involves measuring the bed’s initial surface temperature, adding a heating pad, then removing it and measuring the temperature again after a one-minute cool-off period. The mattress retained 19.9 degrees, resulting in a below-average cooling score. If you’re a hot sleeper, you may prefer the Awara Premier Hybrid, which did a better job regulating temperature. You may also want to explore more options in our best cooling mattresses roundup.
Another knock? The Awara Essential Hybrid received only average marks in our bounce test. This test assesses how high a 15-pound ball rebounds after being dropped on the mattress — the higher it rebounds, the better the score. The ball bounced 15 inches, earning so-so marks. In general, a springier mattress can make it easier for older adults with limited mobility to change positions during the night.
- Pros and cons
- Features
Pros
Exceptional cooling performance
Made with organic latex and organic New Zealand wool
Near-perfect pressure relief for stomach sleepers
Cons
So-so edge support
Lackluster motion isolation
Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium firm
Best sleeping positions: Back, stomach and side
Key takeaways from our testing
Hot sleepers, take note: The Awara Premier Hybrid achieved an exemplary rating for its ability to stay cool, retaining only 10.9 degrees in our cooling gun test. This score makes the mattress a top performer in terms of cooling across all mattresses we’ve tested. It’s also made with organic materials, including organic wool from New Zealand and four inches of GOLS-certified latex. GOLS is a third-party certification that verifies the latex used in the product is organically grown. If eco-friendliness is a top priority for you, this mattress could be a good fit.
This bed earned very good ratings in pressure relief for side and back sleeping, and it nabbed near-perfect ones in pressure relief and spinal alignment for stomach sleeping. “The top layers really cradle my body and I feel very well supported throughout my entire spine and neck,” Tester Donna said. A pressure-relieving bed can ensure your body weight is evenly distributed, preventing heavier parts of the body — such as the shoulders and hips — from sinking too much and causing discomfort. How deeply your body sinks into a mattress also depends on factors like size and weight.
Tester Donna assesses the Awara Premier Hybrid. This bed is two inches taller than the Essential Hybrid, due to an additional layer of organic latex for extra pressure relief.
AARP Smart Picks
Tester Donna assesses the Awara Premier Hybrid. This bed is two inches taller than the Essential Hybrid, due to an additional layer of organic latex for extra pressure relief.
This bed did not perform as well in edge support as the Essential Hybrid. When we tested how much the perimeter collapsed under a 150-pound sandbag, it compressed 5.5 inches, resulting in a midrange score. In general, the more a bed’s edges sink under weight, the more difficult it may be to get out of bed.
It was also less-than-satisfactory at isolating motion, based on its performance in our couples’ motion isolation test. In that assessment, a tester lies on one side of the bed blindfolded as a lab tester switches positions on the other side and asks how much movement the tester can feel. “I felt a lot of rippling and vibrations from my partner. It was actually moving my body,” Donna explained, giving it an unfavorable score. If you’re an especially light sleeper sharing the bed with someone who tosses and turns, you may want to consider one of our top mattresses for couples.
How much do Awara mattresses cost?
The Awara Essential Hybrid is the more budget-friendly option at $1,445, while the Awara Premier Hybrid costs $2,599. These prices are for the queen-size models.
Like many mattress companies, Awara offers steep discounts throughout the year, particularly around holidays. These deals can knock down the price by hundreds of dollars. Find a breakdown of the standard pricing for these models below.
How we test and review mattresses
To identify the strengths and weaknesses of mattresses, we recruit testers ages 45 and older to test beds and share unbiased feedback. Each mattress undergoes a series of controlled tests to measure performance factors such as pressure relief, spinal alignment, edge support, motion isolation, bounce and adjustable-base compatibility.
After collecting objective lab results, we ask testers to share how each bed feels. We ask questions like: Does your spine feel supported in this position? Do you feel pressure building at your hips, shoulders or lower back? How easy is it to move around or rise from the mattress? For more details, see our mattress testing methodology.
Is an Awara mattress right for you?
Awara offers three models, all made with latex and wool (only one model, the Essential Hybrid, uses non-organic latex and wool). The Premier Hybrid, which the company says is its most popular model, is made with GOLS-certified latex and organic wool from New Zealand. The Essential Hybrid is the most affordably priced model. The company also offers the Classic Hybrid, a middle-of-the-road option that’s more expensive than the Essential Hybrid but costs less than the Premier Hybrid (we haven’t tested this model yet).
To help decide whether an Awara bed may be right for you, ask yourself these questions.
Do you want a latex bed?
Do you like the bouncy, springy feel of latex? Or would you prefer the hugging, contouring feel of memory foam? Natural latex foam, which is derived from the sap of rubber trees, is springier and more buoyant than memory foam, keeping you more “on top” of the mattress rather than sinking down. Memory foam is a synthetic, petroleum-based material that softens in response to body heat. It tends to slowly mold and contour around your body, letting you sink in more than latex. Both types of mattresses can offer pressure relief by cradling areas like the shoulders and hips.
Is medium firm the right firmness level for you?
Both beds in this review offer a medium-firm profile. This firmness generally works well for most sleeping positions (back, side, stomach and combination), but no single firmness is right for everybody. When asked what firmness level is best for older adults who may have achy joints, Dr. Sohaib Z. Hashmi, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at UCI Health in Irvine, California, says, “A medium-firm mattress has the strongest evidence, with patients roughly twice as likely to improve in pain compared to those on firm mattresses.”
Would you benefit from sturdy mattress edges?
For older adults with balance concerns or mobility issues, supportive edges can make getting in and out of bed easier (and safer). Of the two Awara beds we evaluated for edge support, the Awara Essential Hybrid performed better, receiving perfect scores on this metric. The Awara Premier Hybrid received just average scores. If stable edges are important for reducing your risk of falling, the Essential Hybrid may be a better fit.
Do you want a bed with organic materials?
If you prefer beds made with organic materials, the Premier Hybrid may be right for you. It’s made with GOLS-certified latex, unlike the Essential Hybrid, which has natural latex that is not certified organic. The quilted cover on the Premier Hybrid is made with 100 percent organic New Zealand wool and a rayon bamboo blend, whereas the Essential Hybrid’s wool is not organic. If eco-friendliness is a top priority for you, the Premier Hybrid may be the way to go.
FAQs
Where can you buy an Awara mattress?
You can purchase an Awara mattress on its website, awarasleep.com, as well as on Amazon. Awara is primarily a direct-to-consumer mattress company, which means it does not have standalone brick-and-mortar stores. Select retailers and showrooms may have Awara beds for you to try and buy in person.
How long is Awara’s sleep trial period?
Awara offers a generous 365-night trial period with your purchase of a new mattress. That means you have a full year to test the bed at home to make sure it’s the right fit for you. The mattresses we’ve tested usually have trial periods ranging from 120 to 365 nights, so Awara’s one-year trial period is best in class.
What is Awara’s return policy for mattresses?
Returns are only accepted after the initial 30-day “break-in” period and before the 365-night trial period ends. To return your mattress, you will need to contact customer service via email, phone or messaging the live chat on the website.
Once you submit all the required information and documents as requested by customer service, the company says it will schedule a local service to pick up the mattress for donation or disposal and offer a full refund.
Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.
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