The Molecule mattress is a very new addition to the bed-in-a-box mattress market. It is an all-foam mattress designed to keep you cool and help you recover.
It has a thick comfort layer, so I was interested to see if it would also relieve pressure well. Will you wake up fully recovered on the Molecule? Read on for my full review.
You Might Like The Molecule If …
- You are an average-weight side sleeper. This is a softer-than-average mattress with a thicker comfort layer. This means it could be a good choice for some side sleepers. You should feel nice pressure relief on your shoulders and hips.
- You sleep hot. This mattress has very breathable components which help keep the mattress cool. The cover is designed to wick away moisture, the top layer is open-celled and breathable, and the transition layer has channels for airflow. You shouldn’t be overheating on this mattress.
- You prefer to sleep “in” your mattress. Lying down on this mattress, you definitely sink in quite a bit. This has a bit of that classic memory foam feeling where you slowly compress into the mattress. If you like the feeling of sleeping “in” your mattress, the Molecule could be a good choice for you.
RELATED: Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers
You May Not Like The Molecule If …
- You are a back or stomach sleeper. This mattress is quite soft and may not provide you with the necessary support when you are on your back and stomach. You may feel your hips sinking in, taking your spine out of alignment. If this is the case, you should consider a mattress that is firmer overall.
- You are on the heavier side. Especially when on their sides, larger people may press through that soft upper layer and feel the firmer layers beneath. This may mean you don’t get the best pressure relief on your shoulders or hips. Also, larger people often require more support on their backs and stomachs. This softer mattress may be too soft in those positions.
- You need a more supportive mattress. Again, this is a softer mattress, so if you are a larger person or just want some extra support, you may want to look for a firmer mattress.
RELATED: Best Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers
Construction Overview
- The mattress is 12” tall.
- The cover is soft and cool to the touch.
- The first layer is 3” of a very soft, open-celled memory foam.
- Then there are 2” of a slightly firmer transition layer.
- Finally, there is a 7” polyfoam base layer.
- The foams in this mattress are CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning they are more eco-friendly than standard foams.
Construction Takeaways
- The Molecule is available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King.
- The top layer is soft but fast to respond. You will sink in, but you shouldn’t feel “stuck.”
- This layer is also quite breathable, which helps ensure this mattress stays cool while you sleep. In addition, the transition layer has air channels built in to promote airflow. You shouldn’t be overheating on the Molecule.
- The soft comfort layer on the Molecule is quite thick, so it could be a great match for some side sleepers. The mattress should relieve pressure on shoulders and hips for average-weight side sleepers.
- However, heavier sleepers may press through the soft upper layer and feel the firmer transition layer and base layer beneath. They may feel some pressure on their shoulders and hips.
Firmness/Feel
For me, the mattress felt like a 6 out of 10 on a firmness scale, or a bit softer than average. I think this is because the mattress has a very soft upper layer and then a firmer transition layer and firm base layer beneath. These combine to give the mattress that somewhat softer-than-average firmness.
When I laid on my back and my stomach, I definitely needed more support. I could feel my hips sinking in both of these positions. I think a firmer mattress would be a better fit if you sleep primarily on your back or stomach.
The mattress felt best when I was on my side. There was some decent pressure relief on my shoulders and hips. However, I did feel a bit of firmness in those areas. I think heavier people may feel this firmness even more as they press through the soft upper layer and feel the firmer layers beneath.
The Molecule has a balanced foam feel overall. It isn’t too difficult to move around. At the same time, that soft upper layer has more of the classic memory foam feel. You will definitely sink so that you sleep more “in” the mattress instead of “on” the mattress.
Motion Isolation
The Molecule is an all-foam mattress, so I expected it to perform well with motion isolation. I put a water glass on the mattress and rolled around on the other side of the mattress. I also pressed into the mattress in the area around the glass. In both instances, the glass was barely disturbed.
We also asked our staff writer Marten to move around on one side of the mattress while I was lying down on the other side. He got in and out of bed and rolled around as well. This was all meant to mimic the motions your partner might make during the night.
I barely felt Marten’s motions on my side of the mattress. All of this makes me think this could be a good mattress for couples.
Edge Support
All-foam mattresses aren’t always the best with edge support. They tend to collapse when you sit near the edge, and this was definitely the case with the Molecule.
I felt like I might fall off if I needed to lean forward and tie my shoes. When I was on my back, I didn’t feel like I was going to be thrown off the mattress. However, I have definitely felt more secure on other mattresses. Overall, the edge support isn’t a highlight of the Molecule.
You can see the edge support in the photo below.
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:
Joe thought it was a 6/10 for firmness and I thought it was a 6.5/10. I think this is because of the soft upper layer. When I’m on my side, I press through the upper layer and feel the firmer layers beneath.
On my back, my hips sink in. On my stomach, I also feel my hips sink in. I feel my back bowing in.
I think, overall, I was too heavy for this mattress. If you’re a larger person, this might not be the best match for you.
Marten’s experience was not surprising to me. He is a larger person, so when he was on his side, he pushed down to the firmer bottom layers. When he was on his side and back, he needed more support. We also seem to agree that this mattress may not be a good fit for most back and stomach sleepers.
What Makes This Mattress Stand Out?
- This softer-than-average mattress has a thicker comfort layer. This means it could be a good mattress for some side sleepers (particularly side sleepers who are not on the heavier side).
- The very soft top layer allows you to sink in quite a bit. This could be a good choice for those who prefer sleeping “in” their mattress instead of “on” their mattress.
- At the same time, this foam is responsive, so you should be able to move around on the mattress with no real issues. You get pressure relief without feeling “stuck.”
- The cooling components of this all-foam mattress should keep you from sleeping hot. Overheating is often an issue with memory foam mattresses, but I don’t think that is the case here.
Unboxing This Mattress
The Molecule mattress 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 Molecule 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 Molecule will expand. Simply clear away the excess plastic and allow your mattress to breathe and fully expand.
Overall
The Molecule could be a nice fit for some side sleepers as well as those who prefer to sleep “in” their mattress rather than “on” their mattress. Also, while this is an all-foam mattress, it handles the issue of overheating very well. You shouldn’t be sleeping hot on this mattress.
That being said, if you are a larger person, you may have a different experience. When you are on your side, you may press through the soft upper layer and feel those firm layers beneath. Also, back and stomach sleepers of many sizes may need more support than this mattress has to offer.
The Molecule comes with a 100-night risk-free trial, Limited Lifetime Warranty, and free shipping. Financing is also available.
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