I’m a big fan of zoned mattresses because they offer support for back and stomach sleepers and pressure relief for side sleepers – we find this design in many of the best bed-in-a-box mattresses such as the Casper and the Level Sleep.
Now there’s a new kid on the zoned block, the Zoma mattress. Also known as the Zoma Sports mattress, it features its own take on zoned construction and is designed with athletes and active people in mind. The hope is that a cooling cover and zoned construction will make it significantly easier for people to recover after a workout or long day.
Well, I’m here to put the Zoma to the test and find out just how well it works, so read on for my unbiased Zoma mattress review!
Zoma Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$ - $
Zoma Mattress
The Zoma is a zoned mattress that is a great choice for back sleepers, side sleepers, and combo sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$ - $
Zoma Mattress
The Zoma is a zoned mattress that is a great choice for back sleepers, side sleepers, and combo sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5.5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$ - $
Overall Rating
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress in categories such as materials, comfort, cooling, and support. Hover over the icons to learn more about these different topics, or scroll down for a more detailed analysis on each one.
Note: Looking for a mattress with stronger support and durability? Check out our Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag.
Note: Looking for a mattress with stronger support and durability? Check out our Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag.
The Zoma Might Be A Good Fit For…
- Back sleepers. The Zoma’s zoned construction makes it so the mattress is actually firmer under the lumbar area – lying on their backs, most back sleepers should feel the right amount of support while the memory foam provides some contouring as well. Many of the best mattresses for back sleepers have some sort of zoning in their construction.
- Side sleepers. Moving to their side, many side sleepers should experience great pressure relief on the Zoma mattress – with its zoning, the mattress is softer under the shoulders, so it should be a good option for side sleeping.
- Combination sleepers. Zoned mattresses are usually a great choice for combo sleepers because the mattress will feel firmer or softer depending on the sleeping position; combo sleepers should be able to switch positions and find the comfort and support they require.
- Light- and medium-weight sleepers. The Zoma is only 11” thick and the comfort layer is only 2” thick but, that being said, the Zoma should be a good choice for light- and medium-weight people. They don’t require the amount of support or comfort that a larger person does.
You Zoma Might Not Be A Good Fit For…
- Stomach sleepers. Even though the center zone of the mattress is firmer than the rest, it is still not extremely firm – most of the time, stomach sleepers should be looking for a firm, supportive mattress, and the Zoma doesn’t really fit the bill.
- Heavier sleepers. Larger people might find the Zoma’s comfort layer to be too thin and, while side sleeping, they could press through the 2” of memory foam and drive their shoulders and hips into the firmer support layers. Also, the Zoma might be too thin overall to be the best mattress for heavy people.
- Those who want a very firm or very soft mattress. The Zoma is a medium-firm mattress and won’t be a good choice for people who want something at either end of the firmness spectrum.
RELATED: Zoma Hybrid Mattress Review
Construction Overview
- The Zoma Sports mattress is 11” tall.
- The Zoma’s cover is thin, breathable, and designed to dissipate heat and make for a cooler night of sleep.
- First, there is a Triangulex layer, a zoned piece of memory foam.
- Below that there is a transition layer that contains Reactiv foam.
- The base layer consists of something called Support+, a durable, supportive polyfoam.
Construction Takeaways
- The Zoma mattress is a great mattress for athletes and those with a more active lifestyle as it helps them recover more quickly. The cover should help keep exhausted athletes cool and the zoning should allow them to sleep comfortably in a number of positions.
- The Zoma’s comfort layer is zoned, meaning the head, shoulder, and knee areas are softer than the center zone. The center zone is firmer and designed to give some added support under the lumbar area and hips.
- A zoned construction like the one we find in the Zoma is usually a good fit for combination sleepers. The mattress will feel firmer and more supportive for back and stomach sleepers and softer and more pressure-relieving for side sleepers.
- The memory foam found in the top layer is extremely slow-moving and takes a few seconds to pop back into place. Even with the zoning, the top of the mattress definitely has that classic memory foam feel.
- At the same time, the transition layer will add a bit of bounce to the mattress. It is a responsive foam that should balance out some of that slow-moving memory foam.
Zoma Mattress Vs. Casper Mattress
As I noted in my introduction, the Casper is another popular mattress with a zoned construction. So, how do these two mattresses compare?
Well, obviously, the Zoma and the Casper both feature a zoned construction. However, the zoning in the Zoma is more pronounced than the Zoned Support found in the Casper. Basically, the center zone of the Zoma is much firmer than its shoulder and knee zones.
Also, the Casper is thicker than the Zoma and also has more layers. The Casper has a latex-like layer on top, and then memory foam, followed by the zoned transition layer, and support foam on the bottom. The Zoma is three layers and has the zoned memory foam on top, then a transition layer, and the support foam on the bottom.
Because it has the memory foam on top, the Zoma has more of a slow-moving memory foam feel. The Casper, on the other hand, has more of a balanced foam feel.
With these differences, the two mattresses should be a better match for different types of people. The Zoma’s comfort layer should be thick enough for light- and medium-weight side sleepers. Also, the Zoma is more affordable and a better fit for those who are looking to save some money on their mattress purchase.
Given that it is a thicker mattress, the Casper should also be a better fit for heavier sleepers. Also, people who just need a more supportive mattress should consider the Casper.
The Zoma is a zoned mattress that is a great choice for back sleepers, side sleepers, and combo sleepers.
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Firmness And Feel
In my experience, the Zoma Sports mattress feels like a 6.5/10 in terms of firmness. The memory foam layer on top of the Zoma is quite soft, and it is easy to press in before hitting the firmer transition and support layers. These layers combine to give the Zoma a medium firmness.
However, with its zoned construction, the Zoma does feel a bit softer when I am side sleeping and a bit firmer when I am stomach sleeping.
When I am on my back, the Zoma is a fantastic match because of that firmer center zone. I feel the necessary support in my lumbar area, and the memory foam is also taking the shape of my body.
Moving to my side, the mattress does feel softer under my shoulder and provides some more pressure relief there. I feel extremely comfortable side sleeping on the Zoma mattress.
However, even though it has that firmer center zone, the Zoma is not the best match when I am just sleeping on my stomach. I am getting a decent amount of support, but those who need the best mattress for stomach sleepers who really need some firmness are going to want to look elsewhere.
Overall, the Zoma has a slight memory foam feel. There are only 2″ on top and the memory foam layer is also zoned, so it isn’t exactly a normal, super soft memory foam experience.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is an important consideration for those who sleep with a partner. A mattress that handles motion transfer well will allow both partners to move around without disturbing one another.
When we are talking about isolating this motion, memory foam is one of the best materials. It absorbs the movements made on a mattress isolating them from the other areas of the mattress.
Given that it has memory foam on top, I was hoping the Zoma would cut down on motion transfer. Well, I was not disappointed! I placed a glass of water on the Zoma and then pressed it into the other side of the mattress. I did not see too much of a disturbance in the glass of water.
Also, I lay down on the Zoma and asked Marten to move around on the other side of the bed. I did not feel like his movements were transferring over to me.
This lets me know the Zoma could be a good mattress for couples.
Edge Support
The Zoma is an all-foam mattress, and these types of mattresses don’t always feature the best edge support. Edge support is also something that couples should be thinking about. They want to ensure that both partners can really use the whole mattress.
When I sit on the edge of the Zoma, it compresses a good deal, but I don’t feel like I am going to fall forward. However, when I lied down near the edge of the Zoma, I feel like I might roll off the mattress.
All in all, the Zoma does not have the best edge support.
Marten’s Take
As I mentioned above, heavier sleepers might have a different experience with the Zoma mattress. To get it right from the horse’s mouth, I asked Marten, a larger member of our team, to try out the Zoma for himself – he is 6’7” and weighs 230 lbs, while I am 5’9” and 160 lbs. Here is what he had to say:
A big issue I have with all-foam mattresses is that I tend to bottom out while side sleeping. So, a mattress with a thinner comforter layer doesn’t give me quite the pressure relief that I need. I was keeping this in mind when I tried out the Zoma, a mattress with only a 2” comfort layer
Now, Joe thought the Zoma Sports mattress was a 6.5/10 in terms of firmness, and I thought it was closer to a 7/10. My added weight is causing me to sink further into the mattress and hit those firmer layers beneath. However, as Joe mentioned, the mattress is zoned, so it does feel firmer depending on my sleeping position.
Lying on my back, the Zoma is a fantastic match for me. I feel the zoning underneath my lumbar area and the memory foam is also conforming to my body.
When I move to my side, I am feeling some more pressure on my shoulders and hips than Joe did. However, I still feel like the Zoma is a decent match for someone of my size. Heavier side sleepers who weigh over 260 lbs might want to look for a mattress with a thicker comfort layer.
Even with its zoned construction, the Zoma is not supporting me enough when I am on my stomach, and I do feel my hips bowing into the mattress.
So, heavier back sleepers should take a look at the Zoma, and heavier side sleepers under 260 lbs should do the same. Heavier stomach sleepers should seek out a more supportive mattress.
Unboxing The Zoma Mattress
The Zoma is a bed-in-a-box mattress and, surprise, it comes in a box – so, how is someone supposed to unbox this mattress?
Well, start off by asking a friend to help with moving the mattress inside. This isn’t the heaviest mattress I have unboxed, but it also isn’t the lightest.
Once the box is in the bedroom, open the top and take out the rolled-up mattress – position the roll on the bed frame or foundation and begin to cut through the many layers of plastic. Just make sure not to cut so deep that the mattress is damaged.
Finally, clear away all the plastic and packing materials and give the mattress a few days to fully expand and to offgas as well.
What Makes The Zoma Stand Out?
- The Zoma features a zoned construction that should offer enough support for back sleepers and enough comfort for side sleepers.
- The zoning also makes the mattress a good option for combination sleepers.
- Lightweight and medium-weight sleepers should find all the necessary comfort and support on the Zoma.
- The Zoma is a cheaper mattress.
FAQs
Which is a better mattress, the Zoma or the Casper?
The Zoma and Casper are both quality mattresses, but they are a better fit for different types of sleepers. The Zoma should work better for lightweight people who are trying to save some money, and the Casper is a better match for larger people and those who need more support.
How much does the Zoma mattress cost?
The Zoma mattress ranges in price from $649.00 for a Twin up to $1348.00 for a Split King.
What does the Zoma mattress feel like?
The Zoma mattress has a bit of that slow-moving memory foam feel but, because it is zoned and the next layer is more responsive, the Zoma does not feel exactly like a standard memory foam mattress.
