I know what you're thinking - is a smart mattress necessary?
Technology is invading everything in our homes, and as a product reviewer, I've seen "smart" versions of everything from appliances, lights, and security systems to pans, dishes, pillows, cat toys, and more.
Bringing tech into the bedroom is always a fight for me, and I'm sure it can be in your household too. I was terrified of the smart pillows, especially when I saw one of them on Shark Tank.
So when ReST Performance offered to let me test drive one of its new smart mattresses, I was initially a little skeptical. Still - a whistleblower must do what he must do to get a product review done.
The company sent the mattress free of charge after I filled out their questionnaire. Having just moved to a new place, I couldn't wait to get a new bed and dress is up with some fancy bedding.
I don't get paid for writing these reviews, and there are no affiliate links in this article. I'm an independent third party, and I own and run my own website with no payments from any companies. This is my honest opinion of a mattress sent to me by ReST (short for Responsive Surface Technology) for a product review.
Of course, in the middle of the product review, I ended up spending a month in jail. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the jail sleeping situation gave me a great measuring stick to really compare and contrast the utility of a $2800+ bed.
Give It a ReST
For starters, the shipping of the bed was impressive. It came via freight, and the two delivery men helped place and install the whole thing, including getting the tablet powered up. This white-glove service was just one of many really nice touches on this bed.
The foam mattress wasn't rolled like the ones I ordered off Amazon - instead it came folded in half.
This left it looking a little saggy in the middle, but that's ok. It also came with two air pumps, one for each side of the bed (mine is a queen mattress, valued at $4799). Each pump controls five different zones on the bed, from top to bottom:
Head
Shoulders
Back
Hips
Legs
Once the pumps were plugged in and turned on, they started running to fill the mattress to around 12 inches thick. The mattress has a modular construction, which includes a sensor fabric on top that measures 2000 pressure points across it.
Inside are several layers of foam, including:
1-inch cooling gel-infused memory foam
2-inch cooling gel-infused memory foam
1-inch high resiliency memory foam
5.5-inch dynamic air support system
These layers are encased in 360 of foam with interlocking edges for edge support. It's all placed on a base support foam to create the ultimate sleep system. The mattress is soft, yet supportive. Without using any of the smart features, the mattress itself is head-and-shoulders above the entry-level Amazon foam mattress I had been sleeping on the past several years. Sitting on the edge of the mattress alone is so much better than any foam mattress I've used.
It fit easily onto the base I already had. A box spring is best, although the wood-plank base for just the mattress works well too. For adjustable bases, I'm sure separate twin mattresses would be necessary to allow for the bending, etc.
The cooling gels definitely help keep me from sweating at night, but it won't be until the real dry heat of Arizona's dessert summer hits that I'll really get it torture tested.On its own, the ReST mattress would be great, but it's also a smart mattress. And that leads to a whole other level of comfort.
ReSTling with Technology
While its high price tag may seem extravagant, ReST put a lot of thought and effort into this smart mattress. This is evident in the technology - which includes two 8-inch, 16GB Samsung Galaxy tablets (Model SM-T350).
Each already has the ReST app pre-installed, and each one can be used by an individual user to control an individual side of the bed. This means, like a Sleep Performance bed, each side can be controlled individually and independently of each other.
They can also be set in two different ways - automatic and manual. This means you can set ideal levels of pressure for each zone. I sleep on my side, so I softened the areas around my body a lot and focused on supporting my head and legs.
The other side was set to manual with a friend who helped me test the mattress in more adult situations.
Automatic Mode tracks you through pressure sensors as you move around in your sleep, adjusting the firmness as needed. With Auto Position, you preset settings for side, back, and front sleeping, and it switches as you move during your sleep.
On that end, you definitely want to have sex on the bed in manual mode, as automatic makes some distracting (although hilarious in the moment) sounds while adjusting to every movement.
My cat also activates the automatic side. ReST's pressure sensors are certainly impressive. In fact, when she jumps on my bed, the pressure-relief sounds from the pumps are more noticeable than she is.
And River's peace was soon to be disturbed (and the abilities of my smart home) a week into the mattress testing. I ended up being arrested and jailed for 30 days.
ReSTing on My Laurels
If you've never been to jail or prison, you may not be aware of some of the more intricate details of being locked up and monitored 24/7 over any course of time.
Aside from playing cards, the best thing you can do is sleep. But that's not made easy - nothing in jail is. The mattress you sleep on is pretty much one of those gym mats you used in school. And, if you can believe it, they aren't brand new.
Everything from your clothes to your mat are randomly given, and they can range from "used" to "how is this not garbage?"
An inmate in the La Crosse County men's jail has little to do but rest in his cell in a jail-issued uniform. PETER THOMSON photo
Look at how his pants and shirt don't match. You have to hustle for everything in jail, and my fresh oranges, my clean white sheet, even the white tee I wore under them to my release hearing.
Even the orange shoes (which have very little tread) in the pic above cost $10 in commissary. What you're issued is half-broken slip-on sandals. Not picking up your feet in those busted sandals is hard, but if you don't (especially when other inmates are sleeping), someone will for sure yell, "Pick up your feet!"
Keeping my fresh white sheets took a lot of planning, especially during shakedowns.
There are quiet hours at night, but some people (especially those detoxing from hard drugs) sleep even through the dayroom hours.
I couldn't sleep much for the first week. Not only was my state-issued medicine leaving my system, but the gym mat on concrete wasn't comfortable. There are no pillows in jail, so I used my folded up clothing as a pillow. I still slept on my side, because I can't sleep well on my back or stomach.
Sleeping on my side led to a lot of hip and shoulder pain. I had to do regular sun salutations and other yoga poses and military stretches to stay in shape.
I maybe got an hour at night and an hour during the day. Going from the Mercedes of mattresses to a place where a new gym mat is called a "Cadillac" wasn't easy. Instead, I sat on the ground using the light from the guard station to read. For 30 days, I grew accustomed to some of the worst possible sleeping conditions while friends checked in on my cat, who was being fed, watered, and cleaned automatically.
And when I got out, the first thing I did was spend nearly a week recovering in my ReST bed.
ReSTing My Case
Coming back home to a happy cat, I was able to more fully understand and appreciate every minute detail put into the ReST Performance smart mattress.
The design practically wraps around your body so it feels like you're sleeping on a cloud. Moisture-wicking and cooling gel worked so well I haven't noticed the night sweats I experienced the previous month.
Whether fully clothed or naked, I was able to sleep more comfortably than I ever thought I could. Not only did it outperform the jail mat, but it also outperformed any other foam mattress I've used so far.
Being a side sleeper is hard, as you need different firmness in different places. Moving around while you sleep can make things even harder. ReST takes these factors into consideration.
Often when you see a product labeled as "smart," it just means the company added wireless connectivity and some sensors. It doesn't always mean it's a great product.
The ReST smart mattress isn't just tech-enhanced - every square inch is designed to help you sleep better.
Summary
The ReST smart mattress is a top-tier sleep system with a top-tier price. Ranging from $2800 for a Twin to $5200 for a California King, it's not cheap.
Many people have cars that cost this much, but I'd rather spend it on a bed, since sleep is so much more important. Payment plans are available on the company's website.
Pricing is where many consumers will balk, but it's on the level of high-end mattresses like TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt, TEMPUR-Contour, and Beautyrest Black, among others.
It uses high-quality materials and has an excellent build quality. The smart technology is seamlessly integrated in a way that makes it a treat to receive. I've never been more excited about a product coming in, and I get sent hundreds of packages a month.
The cooling gels and moisture-wicking fabrics work great. I've not slept in a bed that does this as well, and I'm excited to see how it handles Arizona's dry summer.
Customer support is great - everyone from the contact center to the c-suite and delivery guys are responsive and knowledgeable. The modular design makes replacement easy, and the after-purchase support includes a 90-day trial period and 10-year warranty.Overall, it's a great mattress you'll truly enjoy, if you can afford it.