Welcome to NapLab
Our mission is to help our readers find the mattress that’s perfect for their needs, preferences, and budget.
What We Do Here
We test mattresses using a battery of tests we’ve developed in-house. These tests are designed to show how the mattress performs in the categories that are important to most sleepers.
Our tests assess cooling, motion, pressure relief, edge support, and 6 other critical areas.
The quantifiable and structured data from our tests allow us to create more informed analysis, fair scores, and better mattress reviews.
How We Test Mattresses
Data-Driven Testing
All mattresses are tested with a consistent battery of data-driven tests. We conduct 10 individual tests and gather 35 data points on each mattress. Our systematic testing process creates scores, data, photos, and videos that are easily comparable from mattress to mattress. We measure, record, and analyze objective and quantifiable data for each mattress. This helps us create more objective reviews based on data. Where objective analysis isn’t possible, we use highly structured and defined subjective assessment ratings.
Transparent & Fair Scoring
All testing and scoring methodologies are summarily explained within our reviews and tooltips, and fully here. In addition, every best mattress list has a clear set of guidelines we followed to select the winners for that list. Structure, consistency, transparency, and fairness are key to every review, comparison, and best mattress list we create. While many other review sites may choose winners based on who pays them the most, we select winners based on our scores and clearly defined metrics.
No Paid Content
The brands we test cannot pay us to review their mattress, give them a higher score, or buy a top ranking on our best mattress lists. Our scores are derived from our objective, systematic, and data-driven reviews. Our recommendations are based on our scores. The mattresses that earn the highest scores also earn our recommendations. You can see how we make money here and more about our editorial policies and disclosures here.
Our Story
The story of NapLab begins with the story of Derek (our Founder) and his wife, Samantha. Newly married in 2014, they needed a new mattress. Derek and Samantha went through the classic in-store experience, but couldn’t stomach paying $5,000 for a new mattress.
Instead, they took a chance on the new breed of online mattresses. The first one they tried wasn’t a good fit, so they tried another, which was a notable step up.
As a hobby project, Derek launched his first mattress review website, Sleepopolis. There, he published reviews of the 2 mattresses he had tried, a comparison of those mattresses, and other helpful guides.
Within just a few short weeks traffic was through the roof. Derek’s readers wanted more reviews from more brands, so Derek began testing new mattresses and writing new reviews.
What started as a one man operation in a one-bedroom apartment gradually grew into a six person team of friends and family. Our one-bedroom apartment testing days are no longer and we now have a dedicated space for testing, photography, videography, and storage.
Over the years Derek and his team have tested 320+ different mattresses and helped millions of readers and viewers make more informed mattress purchasing decisions.
Our Team
Derek Hales
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Derek is responsible for ensuring our tests and reviews deliver the absolute best recommendations possible. He continually looks for ways to improve our testing process, reviews, site experience, and recommendations. Derek has a Bachelor’s in Business.
Kayla Hein
Creative Director & Editor
Kayla heads up all things design. She helps ensure our site looks beautiful and our readers have a positive, memorable experience. In addition, Kayla leads our review development process. Kayla has a dual Master’s Degree in Product Design & Architecture.
Kyle Wandelt
Content Manager
Kyle is our content manager and develops most of the data, video clips, graphics, and image assets that go into our reviews. He also leads video production for the videos on our YouTube channel. Kyle has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management.
Nathan Lang
Video Producer
Nathan writes our scripts and produces most of the graphics in our videos. In addition, he shares videography responsibilities with Kyle. Nathan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Reymar Donasco
Video Editor
Reymar is our super star video editor and is responsible for making our videos on YouTube and elsewhere look incredible. Reymar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Entertainment, & Media.
Samantha Hales
Finance Director & Data Analyst
Samantha keeps our financials in order. In addition, she’s a genius at Google Sheets, and helps to improve the efficiency of our data driven work. Samantha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics.
Trusted Experts
NapLab is a trusted voice within the world of mattresses and sleep.
Our research and insights have been featured in major publications and media outlets, including ABC, CBS News, ESPN, Reader’s Digest, and more.
Committed To Transparency
We believe that the best reviews are those that are honest, ethical, and transparent.
Our objective focused data, structured subjective assessment, formulaic scoring, clear editorial guidelines, and easy to understand disclosures are all aimed at creating the most authentic, honest, and transparent reviews possible.
Who Owns NapLab?
NapLab is owned by Silver Poodle, LLC (a reference to a beloved pet), an Arizona LLC formed and managed by NapLab Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Derek Hales. Silver Poodle owns 100% of NapLab.
The NapLab.com domain is owned by NapLab, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (also formed and managed by Derek).
No mattress brand or sleep company has any ownership interest in NapLab.
How We Make Money
NapLab is a business. In order to pay for our operational expenses and allow the NapLab team to earn a living NapLab.com uses referral links.
When you use our links to purchase a product or service NapLab may earn a referral commission.
These referral links don’t cost you anything extra.
They simply tell the respective company that you came from NapLab.com. These referral links financially support NapLab and let us keep doing what we do best, creating great reviews.
Our referral links may influence the products we review and write about (in addition to where those products appear on NapLab). Our referral links do not affect our scores, which are based on our testing and scoring process.
Companies don’t pay us to review their products and they cannot pay us to rank or score them highly.
Donations
If you would like to support our work directly you can make a donation here.
Your donation helps cover our expenses (payroll, website hosting, insurance, utilities, etc.) and allows us to keep doing what we do best, create amazing reviews.
Referral Links & Free Products
The following table has a list of referral relationships NapLab has with the brands we review and write about.
In addition, we’ve listed brands that sent us free products.
| Brand | Referral Links? | Sent Us Free Products? |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Little Monkeys | Yes | Yes |
| Allswell | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon | Yes | No |
| Amerisleep | Yes | Yes |
| Ashley Sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Avocado | Yes | Yes |
| Awara | Yes | Yes |
| Bear | Yes | Yes |
| Bedinabox | Yes | Yes |
| Big Mattress Co | Yes | Yes |
| Birch | Yes | Yes |
| Brentwood Home | Yes | Yes |
| Brooklyn Bedding | Yes | Yes |
| Casper | Yes | No |
| Classic Brands | Yes | Yes |
| Crafted Sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Costco | No | No |
| Diamond | Yes | Yes |
| DLX | Yes | Yes |
| Douglas | Yes | Yes |
| Dreamcloud | Yes | Yes |
| EcoSleep | Yes | Yes |
| Eight Sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Elm | Yes | No |
| eLuxury | Yes | Yes |
| Emma | Yes | Yes |
| Endy | Yes | Yes |
| Full Moon | Yes | Yes |
| Ghostbed | Yes | Yes |
| Habitat Furnishings | Yes | Yes |
| Happsy | Yes | Yes |
| Helix | Yes | Yes |
| IKEA | No | No |
| iSense | Yes | Yes |
| Layla | Yes | Yes |
| Leesa | Yes | Yes |
| Logan & Cove | Yes | Yes |
| Loom & Leaf | Yes | Yes |
| Lull | Yes | Yes |
| Lytton | Yes | Yes |
| Natural Form | Yes | Yes |
| Naturepedic | Yes | Yes |
| Nectar | Yes | Yes |
| Nest Bedding | Yes | Yes |
| Nolah | Yes | Yes |
| Novaform | No | No |
| Novosbed | Yes | Yes |
| Octave | Yes | Yes |
| Pillar Sleep | Yes | No |
| Plank | Yes | Yes |
| Plushbeds | Yes | Yes |
| Polysleep | Yes | Yes |
| Propel | Yes | Yes |
| Puffy | Yes | Yes |
| Purple | Yes | Yes |
| Saatva | Yes | Yes |
| Sealy | Yes | No |
| Sheets & Giggles | Yes | Yes |
| Shuteye | Yes | Yes |
| Siena | Yes | Yes |
| Silk & Snow | Yes | Yes |
| Simba | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep EZ | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Number | No | No |
| Snooze Sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Spindle | Yes | Yes |
| Suilong | Yes | Yes |
| Sweetnight | Yes | Yes |
| Tempurpedic | Yes | Yes |
| Tempur | No | No |
| Titan | Yes | Yes |
| Tuft & Needle | Yes | No |
| Winkbed | Yes | Yes |
| Vaya | Yes | Yes |
| Zenhaven | Yes | Yes |
| Zinus | Yes | No |
| Zoma | Yes | Yes |
We periodically update the above table. However, if it looks like something is missing or if you have any questions on our financial interests, company relationships, referral links, free products, or anything else, please send us an email here.
We participate in a variety of referral link programs. Some programs are with eCommerce platforms (like Amazon), some are through a 3rd party network (like ShareASale), and some are direct with a mattress brand.
In many cases, there are different referral programs available that sell the same mattress. We choose our referral programs based on a combination of where we think our readers most want to purchase a mattress from and on the commission rate.
Editorial Policies
Our mattress testing process and scoring guidelines are spelled out in crystal clear and exhaustive explanation here.
In addition, our guidelines for choosing the winners for our best mattress lists are defined here.
Amazon Disclosure
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Terms of Service & Privacy
You can find our terms of service here and our privacy policy here.
Get In Touch
You can reach us via our contact form here.
Need help choosing a mattress? Please see our personalized mattress finder quiz here. This form generates an email that goes straight to Derek, who will send you a personal recommendation.
Mailing Address
NapLab.com
4727 E Bell Road, Suite 45 #428
Phoenix, Arizona 85032
