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? What if you want the firmest mattress possible?
It might be worth taking a look at the Plank Mattress by Brooklyn Bedding. It is a flippable mattress that’s designed to offer very firm support. I was very excited to see just how firm the Plank mattress really is.
I have also been a fan of Brooklyn Bedding’s other mattresses, such as the Signature, Bowery, Bloom Hybrid, and Spartan. The company owns its own factory, so it’s able to sell its mattresses for less than many of its competitors.
Is the Plank Mattress as firm as advertised? Read on for my full review.
The Plank is a very firm mattress that is a great match for stomach sleepers and those who need extra support.
You Might Want To Pick The Plank If …
- You want a very firm mattress. The Plank is designed to be extremely firm. It is perhaps the firmest mattress I have tried. So if you want something that doesn’t really let you sink in, the Plank should be right for you.
- You are a stomach sleeper. If you sleep primarily on your stomach, a firm mattress is always a good option. You need extra support when you’re stomach sleeping, and you don’t want your hips to sink in. Both sides of the Plank are firmer-than-average, and the firm side is very firm. Stomach sleepers should find the support they need on this mattress.
- You are a back sleeper. While the firm side might not be the best match for back sleepers, the less firm side could be. The top layers are a bit softer, so they should allow your hips to sink in just a fair amount. Back sleepers should get the support they need with just the right amount of comfort.
You Might Not Want To Pick The Plank If …
- You are a side sleeper. If you sleep on your side, you usually want to look for a softer mattress. You want to ensure you get enough pressure relief on your shoulders and hips. Both sides of the Plank are quite firm and are not really designed with side sleepers in mind. Side sleepers will most likely want to find a softer mattress.
- You want a medium-firm mattress. Even if you want a supportive mattress, the Plank might be too firm for you. If you want a mattress that is firm and supportive but still has some give, the Plank is not your best bet.
- You switch positions at night. Both sides of the Plank are firm. If you change positions while you sleep, the Plank might not work for you. Both sides are too firm for side sleeping, and the firm side is too firm for back sleeping.
Construction Overview
- The mattress is 11.5” tall.
- Starting on the ultra-firm side, you first have a 0.75” layer of quilted polyfoam.
- Then you have 2” of firm TitanFlex foam.
- This is followed by 7” of high-density base foam.
- Finally, you have 1.5” of quilted polyfoam. This is also the top layer of the less-firm side.
- The mattress is made in the USA.
Construction Takeaways
- You can opt to add a cooling panel to the top of your Plank mattress. Hot sleepers should definitely consider this extra feature.
- The Plank is flippable, so it has two firmnesses in one mattress. One side is extremely firm and the other side is just a little less firm. On the firm side, you can’t really sink in at all. On the softer side, you sink in a bit more.
- The firm side of the mattress is designed to be, well, firm. You can barely press into the mattress, so you will feel like you’re sleeping on top. This means it could be a good option for stomach sleeping.
- The less firm side lets your hips sink in somewhat. Because of this, it could be a decent match for back sleeping.
The Plank is a very firm mattress that is a great match for stomach sleepers and those who need extra support.
Firmness And Feel
In terms of firmness, I thought the less firm side was an 8/10 and the ultra-firm side was close to a 9/10. Both sides are firmer-than-average, but the ultra-firm side is the firmest sleeping mattress surface I have experienced. I feel like I barely sink into the mattress at all.
Here is how I felt while sleeping on the ultra-firm side of the mattress:
- Starting on my back, the mattress is too firm for me. I do feel supported, but my hips aren’t allowed to sink in much. I don’t feel like this side is a good fit for back sleeping.
- Moving to my side, the mattress is much too firm. Most side sleepers should agree this side is too firm for side sleeping.
- On my stomach, this side is a great match. It is definitely supportive enough and prevents my hips from sinking in too far.
Here is how I felt while sleeping on the less firm side of the mattress:
- While lying on my back, the less firm side is a better fit. It is a bit softer and lets my hips sink in somewhat. It might still be too firm for some back sleepers, but it is more fitting for back sleeping than the ultra-firm side.
- Again, when I am side sleeping, the mattress is too firm for me. Even though this side is not quite so firm, it is not soft enough to provide good pressure relief.
- Even though this side is not as firm, it is still firm enough for stomach sleeping. Stomach sleepers of many sizes should get the support they need on this side of the mattress.
Both sides of the mattress have a firm, foam feel with some good bounce. You don’t sink in too far on either side, so it should be very easy to move around on the Plank.
Motion Transfer
If you sleep with a partner, you definitely want to think about how well your mattress handles motion transfer. If you lie down on one side of the mattress and your partner moves around on the other side, will these movements disturb you?
To test out the motion isolation capabilities of the Plank, I first placed a glass of water on the mattress. When I pushed into the surrounding area, I did see some disturbance in the water. Also, when I laid down and asked Marten to move around on the other side of the mattress, I did feel his movements.
This mattress is very firm, no matter which side you choose. The foams contained in the mattress are very firm and, unlike a soft memory foam, are not the best at absorbing motion.
If you want a mattress for couples, it is just worth noting that you might see some motion transfer on the Plank.
Edge Support
If you sleep with a partner, you also want to think about how much of the mattress you can use. Can you sit or lie down near the edge securely, or will you feel like you are falling off the mattress?
While sitting near the edge of the Plank, the mattress collapses quite a bit. I feel like I might fall off the mattress. In addition, when I lie down near the edge, I feel like I might roll off.
The edge support is pretty much the same on both sides of the mattress. Neither side features the best edge support.
Marten’s Take
Marten is a staff writer for us. He has a much different body type than me: He is 6’7″ and weighs about 230 lb; I am 5’9″ and 160 lb. Here is what he thought about the mattress:
I thought the Plank was close to an 8 or 8.5/10 on the softer side and a 9/10 on the firm side.
Here is how I felt on the less firm side:
- On my back, my hips sink in a bit more than they do on the firmer side. I am supported overall, but I would like my hips to sink in a little farther.
- Moving to my side, I am feeling pressure on my shoulders and my hips. It is not a great match for side sleeping.
- On my stomach, I am well supported. My hips don’t sink in too far, so this side is a good match for stomach sleeping.
And here is how I felt on the ultra-firm side:
- While lying on my back, the mattress is much too firm for me. My hips don’t sink in at all, so I don’t think it is the best match for back sleeping.
- While side sleeping, I am feeling even more pressure on the firm side. It is not a good match for side sleeping.
- When I move to my stomach, I feel great overall support. My hips don’t sink in at all, and the mattress completely holds me up.
Heavier back sleepers should probably lean toward the softer side. Heavier side sleepers should look elsewhere. Both sides should work for heavier stomach sleepers.
It seems like Marten and I had very similar experiences on the Plank. We both found the Plank to be a very firm mattress and a good match for stomach sleeping. However, Marten didn’t like either side for back sleeping. This lets me know that some people who sleep primarily on their back might want to look for a different mattress.
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Unboxing This Mattress
The Plank is a bed-in-a-box mattress, which means it will come compressed and be shipped straight to you.
You will want to begin by removing the rolled up Plank mattress from its box. Then, preferably with another person’s assistance, position the roll on your bed.
Carefully cut away the first layers of plastic until the still-compact mattress can be laid down flat. Then, pierce through the final layer of plastic and the Plank will expand.
Simply clear away the excess plastic and allow your mattress to breathe and fully expand.
What Makes The Plank Stand Out?
- It is the firmest mattress I have ever reviewed.
- The Plank is flippable, so you get two firmnesses in one mattress.
- The mattress should be a great match for stomach sleepers.
- The less firm side could be a good choice for some back sleepers.
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Overall
In the end, the Plank is pretty much the firmest mattress I have ever laid on. It should be a good option for stomach sleepers and those who want something very firm. However, side sleepers and those who don’t want something so firm should look elsewhere.
The Plank comes with a 120-night sleep trial, 10-year warranty, and free shipping and returns. Financing is available. Brooklyn Bedding offers other mattress models as well as accessories.
Joe Auer
Joe Auer is the editor of Mattress Clarity. He mainly focuses on mattress reviews and oversees the content across the site.
He likes things simple and take a straightforward, objective approach to his reviews. Joe has personally tested nearly 250 mattresses and always recommends people do their research before buying a new bed. He has been testing mattresses for over 5 years now, so he knows a thing or two when it comes to mattress selection. He has been cited as an authority in the industry by a number of large publications.
Joe has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Columbia University.
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