Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid	Average
Overall Score	8.15	8.56
Price (Queen)	$900	$1,555 (Memory Foam Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	8.0	8.7
Sinkage – Depth	2.19″	2.15″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	10	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	3.83 m/s²	8.80 m/s²
Response Time – Score	8.7	8.9
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.4 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.8 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	6.28″	9.50″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	7.0	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	5.50″	4.05″
Edge Support – Lying	Fair	Good
Sex – Score	6.9	8.4
Pressure Relief – Score	9.0	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	6.0″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	14.75″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	9.2	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	3 days	6 days
Company – Score	5.3	8.6
Trial	0 nights	176 nights
Warranty	10 years	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 13 years

How is the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid different?

The Gruve Hybrid is fairly new in a market that is pretty heavily saturated with other high-quality hybrids. So what helps this mattress to stand out?

Advantages

History: Ashley, as a company, has been around since 1945 and boasts one of the longest-standing business records we’ve seen.

In 2020 they were bringing in over $6 billion in revenue, significantly more than any other bed-in-a-box company.

They started producing mattresses in 2009, as Ashley Sleep, and today they provide over 100 different mattresses to pick from.

In-store options: There are over 1,000 Ashley Furniture HomeStore retail furniture stores operating worldwide in more than 123 countries.

If you prefer to try out mattresses in-store as opposed to online, Ashley has the benefit of offering brick-and-mortar stores as well as an online presence.

Performance: The biggest performance advantage of the Ashely Sleep Gruve Hybrid is its incredibly low motion transfer. Furthermore, it has slightly above-average pressure relief and faster off-gassing as well.

Neutral Factors

Sinkage and bounce are preferential factors that are neither objectively good nor bad. The Gruve Hybrid has moderate sinkage that is just slightly deeper than average. Bounce is a good deal lower than average by 34%.

Disadvantages

Some of the larger drawbacks of the Gruve Hybrid include poorer cooling performance compared to the average as well as lackluster edge support. Slightly less concerning was a slower material response. This combines with low bounce to create a surface that feels harder to move around on.

One of the worst elements of the Gruve Hybrid is its company policy which include no trial period and a relatively short warranty.

Cooling performance on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid was good, but not amazing. During our cooling tests, I felt a slight to moderate level of heat retention around my body.

The retained heat was not localized to any particular area, but instead was dispersed along my entire body.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

The contouring hug on the Gruve Hybrid is fairly dramatic. As a result, I expected heat retention to be worse than it was.

While there is certainly room for improvement, I wouldn’t describe it as a “hot” mattress. “Warm” would be a more accurate description.

If you are a naturally hot sleeper you may want to choose a mattress with a less thick foam comfort layer and less memory foam near the top layers. Looking at our objective data, we measured a maximum temperature of 90.9°F.

This is notably more than the average max temp we’ve measured based on all of our mattress tests to date, which is 89.8°F. Heat dissipation was good, but not amazing.

From 0 to 1 minutes, we saw heat drop from 90.9 to 87.4°, which is 0.4° worse than the average 0-1 minute decline, which is 3.9°F. From the 2 to 5-minute recording periods we saw a typical temperature step-down reduction.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

Looking at the complete picture of objective data, material construction, and our subjective experience I feel confident in my assertion that cooling performance is good, but not great.

There is a moderate level of sinkage on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid. In our tests, we measured 2.19″ of pressure point sinkage. This is very slightly less than the average sinkage depth (based on all of our mattress tests to date), which is 2.15″.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

While the sinkage depth is typical, the type of contouring hug is not. The Gruve Hybrid has a classic memory foam feel. The 6.0″ layer of comfort foam (3.0″ of memory foam and 3.0″ poly foam) creates an exacting and dramatic hug around the body.

Unlike latex foam, poly foam, and more traditional mattresses that create a more generalized contour and depression around the body, the Gruve’s memory foam top layer precisely conforms to your body’s unique shape.

This type of contour is neither good nor bad, but it’s certainly a feeling that many sleepers either love or hate. Classic memory foam is a fairly polarizing feel for many sleepers.

Motion transfer on the Gruve Hybrid is extremely low. In our tests, we measured just 3.83 m/s² of acceleration range.

This is significantly less motion than the average based on all of our tests to date, which is 5.78 m/s².

The level of motion transfer is documented in the video below.

Typically, hybrid mattresses have an acceleration range in the 5-7 m/s² range, which is still a low to moderate level of motion. However, we measured far less motion on the Gruve Hybrid.

In our motion transfer chart (which visualizes our accelerometer data), we see the higher levels of motion peaking by 0.35 seconds. By 0.42 seconds, motion returns to near-zero levels and all energy is dissipated.

With 6.0″ of comfort foam, including 3.0″ of memory foam directly on top, there is an abundance of foam material capable of absorbing and reducing motion. The low level of motion transfer makes the Gruve Hybrid a solid choice for couples and those that sleep with a partner.

The Gruve Hybrid mattress has a fast response time. In our tests, we measured just 0.4 seconds for the Gruve to mostly recover and 0.8 seconds to fully rebound back to its original shape.

Both the mostly and fully recovered response categories were faster than the average. Based on all of our mattress tests to date, we have seen an average mostly recovered time of 0.54 seconds and an average full material recovery time of 0.95 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

While hybrid mattresses do typically perform faster, the Gruve Hybrid has 6.0″ of comfort material.

The sheer thickness of the foam comfort layer would generally put the response time closer to 1.0-1.2 seconds to mostly recover.

Much like with motion transfer, I am incredibly surprised by the rapid response time.

The Gruve Hybrid does a nice job of creating the high contour memory foam hug, while still making the mattress easier to move around on via the faster material response time.

The Gruve has a low level of bounce. In our tests, we measured 6.28″ of bounce. This is considerably less bounce than the average based on all of our mattress tests to date, which is 9.29″.

This lower level of bounce is to be expected. Memory foam as a material type tends to create less bounce. Furthermore, more thick all foam layers also create less bounce.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

With 3.0″ of memory foam and 6.0″ of total foam thickness, there is ample material that absorbs that bounce. While the absorption factor is great for keeping motion transfer to a minimum, it has a negative impact on bounce, by keeping it low.

The low bounce makes it harder to move around on the mattress and degrades sex performance. However, if you want the very low motion transfer, a lower level of bounce is an expected side effect.

Edge support wasn’t great on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured 5.50″ of compression when sitting directly on the edge.

This is significantly more than the average sitting edge sinkage based on all of our tests to date, which is 4.67″.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

The Gruve Hybrid is a fairly typical soft / plush feel. This fact, combined with the thick 6.0″ all-foam comfort layer, creates the right environment for deep edge sinkage.

The foam layers here simply don’t have enough resistance to push back against direct seated pressure. As a result, we see a deep sinkage while sitting. Edge support while lying directly on the edge was okay, but not great.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

As with sitting, when lying directly on the edge we experience a more noted compression of materials. This more significant material compression gives the edge a less than fully supported feel. Again, it’s not bad, but it could be better.

To score sex performance we look at a number of different factors that all play a role in quality sex. Three of the most important factors include:

In addition to the factors above, there are a few other things to consider as well, like pressure relief and cooling.

Here’s a look at our complete sex formula:

Sex Score Formula = (Bounce * 0.6) + (Edge Support * 0.2) + (Noise * 0.1) + (Pressure Relief * 0.05) + (Cooling * 0.05)

We use the following scores, plugged into the formula, to derive a sex score for each mattress.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	6.4	Low
Edge Support	20%	6.9	Mediocre
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.0	Excellent
Cooling	5%	8.0	Good

These scores are okay, but not really anything to write home amount. This mattress has lower levels of bounce than average, which can deaden the sex performance on the Gruve Hybrid.

Typically coils enhance sex performance by providing more bounce and reinforced (ie: stronger) edges. But that’s really not what we see here.

On the Gruve Hybrid, the bounce is low and edge support struggles as well. These two factors alone make up 80% of the sex score. As a result, even though the Gruve had good performance for the other test factors (noise, pressure relief, and cooling) it still did not score super well.

Pressure relief was excellent on the Gruve Hybrid mattress. With 6.0” of comfort foam material, there is plenty of foam to create full pressure relief for even the heaviest bodies.

The 3.0” of memory foam and 3.0” poly foam transitional support layer create a deep level of sinkage with a significant contouring hug around the body.

During my tests, I felt pressure relieved across my entire body in all sleeping positions. I felt no pressure points building anywhere across my body.

Given the relative softness of the mattress, in combination with the 6.0” comfort layer, the Gruve Hybrid is able to create fantastic pressure relief for most sleeping positions and body types.

Heavier weight stomach and back sleepers may find the Gruve Hybrid less than ideal, simply because the firmness isn’t quite supportive enough.

The off-gassing performance on the Gruve Hybrid mattress was very good. Right out of the box the smell was strong, but it only lasted 3 days before it was fully dissipated.

The average amount of time it takes a mattress to off gas is 2.96 days (average among all mattresses we’ve tested to date). The Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid mattress is essentially right at the average.

As a company, Ashley has been around since 1945. They have been producing mattresses since 2009.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	0	0 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	0	No / Very limited returns
Trust	50%	8.0	Good
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Ashley Sleep has a 10-year warranty on its mattresses.

Most notably, Ashley Furniture has a very limited return policy. Returns are only accepted on mattresses identified as defective within 72 hours of their arrival and/or mattresses in new or unused condition.

Ashley’s return and refund policy is unusual compared to many other online mattress companies. Most direct-to-consumer mattress brands off free returns.

However, it’s important to note that some physical Ashley Furniture retail stores may have different policies than the Ashley online store.

The Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid mattress is available in two firmnesses, plush and firm.

Plush Version

The 14″ Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid is available as a plush feel, 4 out of 10 firmness. This is the model we tested in this review.

Firm Version

The 12″ Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid is available as a firm feel, 8 out of 10 firmness.

Support on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid is excellent. In our tests, I felt fully supported in all sleeping positions. When it comes to support, firmness is the real challenge. Not all firmnesses are appropriate for all body types and sleeping positions.

14″ Gruve Hybrid – Plush

The 14″ Gruve Hybrid is a plush mattress. It’s a 4 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm. As a result, it’s the type of mattress that works great for sleepers who genuinely need the softer feel, and not so great for those who don’t.

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleeper	Side Sleeper	Back Sleeper
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-225 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe
225-300 lbs.	No	Maybe	No

If you’re a light or moderate-weight side sleeper the soft feel can work great. However, for most back and stomach sleepers, in addition to all heavier weight sleepers, the softer feel of the Gruve Hybrid simply isn’t going to work.

12″ Gruve Hybrid – Firm

The 12″ Gruve Hybrid is a firm mattress. It’s an 8 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm. Firmer mattresses are ideal for heavier weight bodies, as well as back and stomach sleepers. However, they aren’t ideal for many side sleepers and lighter weight bodies.

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Maybe	No	Maybe
150-250 lbs.	Maybe	No	Maybe
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Maybe	Yes

What Firmness is Right For You?

The table below outlines the basic rules of firmness, concerning sleeping position and sleep weight. This chart does not dictate a hard line in the sand, but rather a range of firmnesses that are typically best for each sleeper and sleeping position.

Design

The Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid mattress is made of foam and coils with a 14.75″ profile. It’s thicker than many other mattresses we’ve tested and had a 6.0″ thick comfort layer.

This mattress also comes in a 12″ thick version if you prefer a more low-profile look (note – that version is also a firm feel, not plush).

Materials

There are three layers on the Gruve Hybrid mattress.

• 3.0” gel memory foam
• 3.0” poly foam
• 8.0” pocketed coils

The Cover

The cover of the Gruve hybrid is dark gray with a bit of a Moroccan-inspired pattern to it. It is soft to the touch and has a textured finish.

The fabric on the top of the mattress wraps around to the sides of the mattress before transitioning to a solid gray towards the lower half of the mattress. Aside from this change in color, there are no structural reinforcements on the sides or bottom of the mattress. In addition, there are no carrying handles.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is made up of two layers of foam on top. The top layer is a 3.0″ gel-infused memory foam followed by a 3.0″ transitional poly foam.

These two foams are fused together and do an excellent job of providing comfort and pressure relief above the coils support system.

The Support Layer

The support layer is a system of pocketed coils. These coils are individually pocketed, which allows them to move independently of each other for better pressure relief and limited motion transfer.

Below the coils is a 1.0″ layer of ultra-high-density support foam. This layer simply supports the foams and coils above and helps the mattress keep its shape.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Looking for a high-quality hybrid, but not sure that the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybird is the right pick for you? Check out the three top-rated hybrids below for other options you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Hybrid mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.