WinkBeds Mattress Review: Our Top Models

Impressive edge support. Dana gave The WinkBed edges a strong rating. “Overall I feel pretty stable on the edge,” she said. “I'm used to sleeping very close to the edge. This isn’t the greatest edge support I have experienced but it’s better than average.” For older adults with mobility issues or who need extra support, these strong edges may make it easier to steady themselves when sitting up and getting out of bed. 

Retains heat. Our cooling gun test, which involves placing a heating pad on the bed for one minute and measuring the surface temperature after a one-minute cool-down, revealed a lackluster cooling score for The WinkBed, which retained 19.6 degrees. Hot sleepers may want to consider The WinkBeds GravityLux, which nabbed a perfect score in that assessment.

Best for Higher-Weight People: The WinkBed Plus

Score: 9.4 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Denser construction for higher-weight sleepers
• Near-perfect pressure relief and spinal alignment
• Perfect edge support 

Cons

• Expensive 
• Average adjustable base performance

Features

• Type: Hybrid
• Firmness: Firm
• Best sleeping positions: Back and stomach 

Key takeaways from our testing

Lumbar support for higher-weight people. The WinkBeds Plus is the firmest model the company offers — the company rated an 8.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale — and features dense foam construction for higher-weight people. Like all of the company’s mattresses, it has a maximum weight capacity of 900 pounds total (450 pounds on each side). But this bed goes a step further with what the company calls “denser, anti-sag foam” in its upper layers that is “essentially sag-proof.” The bed’s coil layer includes 1,074 individually wrapped coils with a five-zone design, making it firmer across the center-third of the bed to support higher-weight sleepers’ hips and lower back. (The WinkBed luxury firm model meanwhile, has 884 coils.) 

Patricia, an 84-year-old tester and side sleeper, reported no lower back strain when lying on her back and said there was sufficient cushioning for her joints when lying on her side. The WinkBeds Plus received near-perfect scores for both spinal alignment and pressure relief across all tested sleeping positions. However, it may not be the best fit for all side sleepers. And because it's designed for higher-weight sleepers, it may feel too firm for older adults who are average weight or lower weight. 

Reinforced edges for security. Patricia said the edges were "sturdy and structured," and that she felt she was sitting on the surface rather than sinking in too much. She gave the bed’s edge support a perfect score. Our objective edge support test, which involves placing a 150-pound sandbag on the edge and measuring how much the edge sinks, also garnered a top-level score. The WinkBeds Plus sank only 1.5 inches, the best edge performance among the three beds in this review.

Pricey. The WinkBeds Plus is the most expensive bed in this review at $2,856 for a queen — which is $286 more than The WinkBed and The WinkBeds GravityLux, which both retail for $2,570. It’s also expensive compared to other beds designed for higher-weight people, such as the Titan Plus Luxe which retails for $1,655 for a queen. The WinkBeds Plus also earned only a passable score for adjustable base-compatibility, which is important to consider if you’re looking for a bed that works well on these bases.

Best Memory Foam: The WinkBeds GravityLux

Score: 9.3 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Outstanding motion isolation 
• Near-perfect pressure relief for side sleepers
• Excellent temperature regulation

Cons

• Weak bounce performance 
• Mediocre pressure relief for stomach sleepers

Features

• Type: Memory foam
• Firmness options: Soft, medium or firm
• Best sleeping positions: Side and back

Key takeaways from our testing

Memory foam layers isolate motion. We tested the medium firmness model of The WinkBeds GravityLux. It earned a perfect score in our couples’ motion isolation test, which involves one tester lying on one side of the bed while another makes controlled movements on the other. Donna, a 60-year-old tester and combination sleeper, said the motion was "barely noticeable" and didn’t transfer through the bed. She also said she didn't think the motion would wake her up, a benefit light sleepers may appreciate.

Testers also said this bed was comfortable for side sleeping. Donna, who has shoulder pain, said she was pleased by how comfortable she felt while on her side. “There's no pressure building on my shoulder," she said, noting her lower back also felt well-supported. She gave it a near-perfect rating for pressure relief for side sleeping.

Stellar option for hot sleepers. This bed also secured a perfect score in our cooling gun test, retaining just 1.28 degrees after the cool-down period. This was a notable result for a memory foam mattress because memory foam tends to absorb heat. Its performance also earned it a spot on our best memory foam mattress list as one of the best cooling mattresses. Our lab team credits this performance to its cover made of TENCEL — fiber that promotes temperature regulation — and to aerated upper foam layers that allow more airflow. 

Disappointing bounce. As we’ve seen with other beds we’ve tested, the trade-off for excellent motion isolation is less bounce. Our bounce test, which involves a lab team tester dropping a 15-pound ball on the bed and measuring the rebound, resulted in a bottom-level score for The WinkBeds GravityLux. Older adults who prefer a more responsive bed may find this one too dense, and its bounce likely won’t help them change positions or get out of bed.

How much do WinkBeds mattresses cost?

The mattresses in this review cost either $2,570 or $2,856 for a queen, depending on the collection tier. While these aren't “budget beds,” our testers consistently praised them for their support and construction quality. You can see a pricing breakdown in the chart below. 

The company typically runs sales of around 30 percent off during the year — particularly around holidays like Memorial Day or Black Friday. Given its retail prices, these promotions can save you several hundred dollars. So checking for deals, or timing your purchase to a holiday, may help you save. 

Is WinkBeds right for you? 

We evaluated three of the company’s most popular mattresses: The WinkBed, The WinkBeds Plus and The WinkBeds GravityLux. Each bed performed well in our testing. The WinkBed even earned a spot in our list of the best beds for arthritis. Wondering if one of these beds could be right for you? Try asking yourself the following questions. 

Do I want a firm or soft hybrid mattress?

You have options with this company, as it offers both mattress types. That said, the most popular WinkBeds model is the luxury firm, which the company classifies as a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. However, our testers noted that this luxury firm model may not be the best choice for some stomach sleepers because they didn't sink far enough into the bed to distribute pressure evenly. If you’re looking for something even firmer as a stomach sleeper, The WinkBed firm model is rated 7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

Am I a hot sleeper?

The only bed on this list with a perfect score in our cooling gun test was The WinkBeds GravityLux. It features a TENCEL cover designed to wick away moisture and improve airflow, and a layer of patented Aircell memory foam that limits heat buildup. If heat regulation is a priority for you, and you like WinkBeds, consider this option. 

Another general tip for hot sleepers? If you haven’t done so already, consider positioning a fan across from your bed and wearing light, breathable clothes when you sleep, says Jade Wu, board-certified sleep psychologist in Ithaca, New York. "Moisture-wicking or sweat-reducing material, like activewear, can keep you even cooler," she says.

Do I want a memory foam mattress?

Fans of all-foam beds should know there is just one memory foam bed in this review: The WinkBeds GravityLux, which includes three layers of memory foam. While it earned top marks for cooling, it may not deliver the deep sinking feel of memory foam that some people prefer, since the company says the foam provides “pushback support.”. For example, tester Donna, who has average weight, said she felt like she was floating on top of the mattress instead of it contouring to her body. You can also review the other best memory foam mattresses on our list. 

Am I a stomach sleeper?

If yes, consider this fact when you’re shopping for a bed. Both The WinkBeds GravityLux and The WinkBed received average scores for pressure relief while testers lay on their stomachs. Donna said she felt pressure building across her chest when lying on her stomach on The WinkBeds GravityLux. The WinkBeds Plus, by contrast, earned a near-perfect rating for both pressure relief and spinal alignment for stomach sleeping, so this bed may be an option for stomach sleepers. 

Does movement wake me up easily?

If you’re easily stirred awake, know that all three mattresses in this review earned above-average motion isolation scores. The WinkBeds GravityLux was the top performer, earning a near-perfect score on our ripple test and couples' motion isolation test. So if motion isolation is a key factor for you, and you like WinkBeds, all of these beds could be options for you. 

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.