Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Review – The Firmest Ever?

There are so many mattresses that claim to be the softest or the most comfortable, but what if you’re seeking something on the opposite end of the spectrum? If you’re in the market for the firmest mattress possible, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the Plank Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding. It is a flippable mattress that’s designed to offer very firm support.

Could this bed offer the support you’ve craved? Find out in this in-depth Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress review! We’ll cover everything you need to know about this mattress, including a full breakdown of its construction, pros and cons, firmness and feel, motion isolation, edge support, and much more. Let’s get to it!

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Overview

Brooklyn Bedding is a popular online mattress brand known for selling quality mattresses at affordable prices. The brand has a wide range of models meant to accommodate different types of sleepers. Brooklyn Bedding makes its mattresses in its own factory in the USA, and it often incorporates eco-friendly elements such as all-natural materials or CertiPUR-US certified foams. They offer many models, such as the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora and Brooklyn Bedding Signature.

The Plank is an all-foam, flippable bed that allows sleepers to choose between two different firmness options. It’s one of the firmest mattresses from Brooklyn Bedding, and it’s also one of the firmest mattresses we’ve ever reviewed. That means this bed will appeal to specific types of sleepers, and it won’t be a match for everyone. Here’s a quick peek at who might enjoy this extra-firm bed!

Who Might Like The Plank?

• People who want a very firm mattress
• Stomach sleepers, who will enjoy plenty of spinal support
• Back sleepers, especially ones who like a firmer feel

Who Might Not Like The Plank?

• Side sleepers, who won’t get enough pressure relief
• People who want a medium-firm or softer mattress

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Video Review

Take the Plank for a (vicarious) test drive with our in-depth video review! Our reviewer, Joe, will walk you through each layer of this bed’s construction and share his experiences with sleeping in every position on the Plank.

 

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firmness And Feel

When you’re evaluating any mattress, it helps to start by considering firmness and feel. These factors will have a big impact on whether a given bed is well-suited to your preferred sleep position(s) and other sleep needs. So let’s dive in: Here’s a look at the Plank’s firmness and feel!

How Firm Is The Brooklyn Bedding Plank?

We ranked the firm side of the Plank around an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, and we ranked the extra-firm side close to 9/10. The industry standard for average firmness is 6.5/10, so both sides of this mattress are significantly firmer than average. In fact, the extra-firm side is one of the firmest sleeping surfaces we’ve ever experienced. The bed is explicitly designed to create a very firm and very flat sleeping surface with no loft for sleepers to sink into.

Firmness is a bit subjective, so it’s possible that your assessment might vary a touch. But it’s safe to say that everyone will agree this is a very firm mattress.

Sleeping On The Brooklyn Bedding Plank

Now, let’s talk about what it feels like to sleep on both sides of the Plank mattress.

Extra-firm Side

We found the extra-firm side of the Plank to be a bit too firm for back sleeping. Because the mattress is so firm and so flat, it doesn’t allow our hips to sink in a bit for any pressure relief.

Not surprisingly, this side is much too firm for side sleeping. There’s no “give” from the mattress, so we experienced a lot of pressure around the shoulder and hip.

This side proved to be a great match for stomach sleeping. It is incredibly supportive and keeps the hips fully elevated and aligned with the spine. This makes it one of the best mattresses for stomach sleeping.

Firm Side

We found this side to be a much better fit for back sleeping. Because it’s a touch softer, our hips are able to sink in for just a bit of pressure relief. Some back sleepers might prefer even more pressure relief, but this could be a good match for back sleepers who like a firm feel.

As with the extra-firm side, the firm side is much too firm for side sleeping. We simply didn’t obtain anywhere near enough pressure relief around the shoulder and hip. Side sleepers will definitely want to seek out a dedicated mattress for side sleeping.

The firm side is a great match for stomach sleeping. It’s supportive and helps maintain proper spinal alignment. This means it could be one of the best mattresses for back pain relief.

What Does The Brooklyn Bedding Plank Feel Like?

Both sides of the Plank have a firm, foam feel with some good bounce. You won’t sink into this mattress, so it’s very easy to move around and switch positions. You’ll feel like you’re sleeping on top of this bed instead of “in” it.

Average Weight Sleepers – 130lbs – 230lbs

Average-weight back sleepers who like a firm mattress should enjoy the firm side of the Plank, while the extra-firm side will probably be too firm for this position. Side sleepers will not obtain adequate pressure relief from either side of this mattress. Average-weight stomach sleepers will enjoy plenty of support from either side.

Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230lbs

Heavyweight back sleepers who like a firm feel could enjoy the firm side of the Plank, while the extra-firm side will almost certainly feel too firm. Heavyweight side sleepers will experience too much pressure around the shoulder and hip on both sides. Both sides of this mattress should be a supportive match for heavyweight stomach sleepers. If you need something even more supportive, check out the best mattresses for heavy people.

Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lbs

Lightweight back sleepers who like a very firm feel might enjoy the firm side of this mattress, but it’s likely that most lightweight back sleepers will want a mattress that’s a touch less firm. Both sides of this mattress are decidedly too firm for lightweight side sleepers. Lightweight stomach sleepers who like an extra-firm mattress might like the firm side, but in general lightweight sleepers will probably want to look for a bed that’s not quite so firm.

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Construction

Now that you know what it feels like to sleep on top of one of the firmest mattresses around, let’s take a peek inside of this bed! We’ll review each layer of this bed’s construction and share how different materials influence performance.

Cover

The Plank’s “cover” is really its top layer; more on that below. Customers can choose to purchase an optional cooling panel that is sewn onto the surface of both sides of the mattress.

Comfort Layers

The extra-firm side of the Plank features a comfort layer made from 0.75” of quilted polyfoam, which offers very minimal softness on top of the bed. Next up, there’s a 2” layer of firm TitanFlex foam, a proprietary foam with qualities similar to latex (meaning it’s responsive and bouncy).

On the firm side of the Plank, the top layer consists of 1.5” of quilted polyfoam, which offers a bit more pressure relief than the extra-firm side’s thinner layer of the same material. The foams used in this mattress are CertiPUR-US certified, which means they’re more eco-friendly than conventional foams and they’re low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Support Layer

The Plank’s support layer is made from 7” of a high-density base foam, which lends firm support and structure to the mattress overall. Read our Plank Hybrid mattress review if you prefer a mattress with coils.

Mattress Height

The Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress is 11.5” tall.

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Size Options And Price

Considering the Plank mattress? Then you’ll want to know the different size and pricing options on offer. Just take a look at the chart below for the most up-to-date info!

Note: These prices reflect the model without the cooling panel.

Size	Dimensions	Price
Twin	38" x 75"	$699.00
Twin XL	38" x 80"	$799.00
Full	53" x 75"	$949.00
Queen	60" x 80"	$1249.00
King	76" x 80"	$1499.00
California King	72" x 84"	$1499.00

To get the best deal, make sure to check out our Brooklyn Bedding coupons.

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Mattress Performance

If you’ve read this far, you know a lot about the Plank mattress. But there are still a few key factors to consider! We put this mattress through a barrage of tests with regard to temperature regulation, motion transfer, edge support, and more. Let’s see how it performed!

Sleeping Hot Or Cold

The Plank is an all-foam mattress, so it’s not the most breathable bed around. However, you can opt to purchase a cooling panel for the surface of both sides of the mattress, which helps prevent overheating. Additionally, because the bed is so firm, you’ll sleep on top of it instead of sinking into it. This allows for air to flow around your entire body, which further prevents sleeping hot.

Motion Transfer

Because the Plank has a flat, firm surface without much “give,” it doesn’t do a great job of absorbing motion. It’s possible that you could feel the movements of a partner or pet during the night, so keep this in mind if you’re hunting for a mattress for couples.

Edge Support

Even though this is a very supportive mattress overall, the Plank doesn’t feature great edge support. The edge collapsed quite a bit when we sat and laid down near it, and we felt a bit like we might roll off the bed. Neither side features great edge support.

Durability

The Plank is made with quality foams and should be fairly durable, although it won’t be as durable as some beds (such as an innerspring mattress with steel coils). You can also flip or rotate the mattress to make it last longer.

Off-Gassing

Because the Plank uses foams that are CertiPUR-US certified and low in VOCs, it shouldn’t produce unpleasant off-gassing. If you do notice any off-gassing from this mattress, it should dissipate within a couple of days.

Noise

We didn’t observe any notable noise from this mattress. Because it’s all-foam, it’s unlikely to grow noisier over time.

Sex

The best mattress for sex allows partners to change positions easily. Because the Plank has a very firm, flat, and bouncy surface, it should be a great match. Partners won’t feel stuck in this bed, and it’s easy to move around on top of the mattress.

Our Brooklyn Bedding Plank Ratings

Curious to see the Plank’s performance by the numbers? We did the math below!

Company Policies

If you choose to purchase the Plank, here’s a quick look at the company policies that you can expect to encounter.

Warranty Info

Brooklyn Bedding’s Plank mattress comes with a 10-year warranty.

Sleep Trial

The Plank comes with a 120-night sleep trial.

Return Policy

Brooklyn Bedding offers free shipping and returns. If the mattress is not working for you, Brooklyn Bedding may exchange it for a different mattress or send you a topper. If that does not work, they will give you a full refund.

Brooklyn Bedding Complaints

Not surprisingly, one of the biggest complaints about the Plank is that it doesn’t offer much pressure relief, and as a result side sleepers won’t be satisfied with this mattress. Additionally, some people report that the surface of the Plank feels a bit slippery.

How Does The Brooklyn Bedding Plank Compare To Other Mattresses?

If you’re considering the Plank mattress, then you’re probably interested in other firm mattresses. So let’s do a little comparison shopping! We’ve pitted the Plank against two of its competitors, the Birch and the Big Fig, so you can see how this mattress compares to other beds in its class.

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Vs. Birch Mattress

The Plank is a flippable bed-in-a-box that’s designed to offer a flat sleeping surface and be incredibly firm. Its all-foam construction is made with CertiPUR-US-certified foams and includes a thin comfort layer on both sides, a firm transition layer on the extra-firm side, and a support layer made from high-density base foam. The Birch is a hybrid bed-in-a-box with an eco-friendly construction: It layers an organic cotton cover over wool and Talalay latex comfort layers and a support layer made from individually wrapped coils.

Not surprisingly, both the Plank and the Birch are firm beds. But the Plank is significantly firmer than the Birch. We ranked the Birch around 7/10, while the firm side of the Plank is around 8/10 and the extra-firm side of the Plank is an incredibly firm 9/10.

Even though these beds vary when it comes to construction and firmness, they have fairly similar feels. These are both bouncy, responsive beds that make it easy to move around.

Finally, these beds differ when it comes to price. A Queen-size Plank (sans cooling cover) starts at $999, while the same size Birch costs more at a starting price of $1,299.

Who Should Get The Plank?

• People who want an extra-firm mattress
• Stomach sleepers

Who Should Get The Birch?

• People who want an eco-friendly, organic mattress
• People who want a supportive mattress that balances firmness and pressure relief
• Hot sleepers who need a mattress that sleeps cool

Learn more about the Birch in our comprehensive Birch mattress review.

Brooklyn Bedding Plank Vs. Big Fig

As we’ve noted, the Plank is an all-foam bed with a flippable construction. The Big Fig is a hybrid mattress that’s specifically designed for heavier people. It layers a latex foam comfort layer over a polyfoam transition layer and a support layer made from individually wrapped coils.

Even though they have very different constructions, these beds are pretty similar in terms of firmness. We ranked the firm side of the Plank around 8/10 and the extra-firm side around 9/10. Meanwhile, we ranked the Big Fig’s firmness around 8/10. (Note that average-weight sleepers might rank the Big Fig even firmer, because it’s expressly designed for heavier folks.)

These mattresses differ a bit when it comes to feel. The Plank has a bouncy and responsive foam feel, while the Big Fig has a balanced hybrid feel with some bounce.

In terms of price, the Big Fig is significantly more expensive. A Queen-size Plank (without the cooling cover) starts at $999, while the same size Big Fig costs $1,699 at full price.

Who Should Get The Plank?

• Stomach sleepers
• People who like a mattress without much “give”
• People who want a flat sleeping surface

Who Should Get The Big Fig?

• Heavyweight sleepers
• Hot sleepers who want a supportive mattress that sleeps cool

Read our other Brooklyn Bedding comparisons to see how this brand stacks up against more competitors.

FAQs

Still have questions about the Brooklyn Bedding Plank? We’ve got answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about this mattress!