Best For
- Fast material response time
- Great levels of edge support
- Plush 1.5″ quilted cover while retaining a medium-firm feel
Considerations
- No trial period with very limited returns
- 12-day off-gassing period
- Good, but not great pressure relief
Our Verdict
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush is a 13″ hybrid mattress with a plush quilted cover. This mattress is available in three styles—Plush, Firm, EuroTop, designed to fit the needs of many different types of sleepers.
While the name would suggest that this mattress has a soft feel, it actually has a medium-firm feel, with a firmness of 6 out of 10 on our NapLab firmness scale (where 10 is the most firm).
In our performance tests, the Gruve Plush falls short in a number of areas, scoring in the bottom 5% of all mattresses tested to date. The biggest weakness of this mattress is the lack of a trial period. In today’s market, not having a trial period creates an incredibly high level of risk for consumers. As a result, this is a hard mattress to recommend.
Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium-Firm (6) or Firm (8)
Best For: All Sleeping Positions, All Body Weights
In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs
Performance Tests
At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.
We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. Testing categories include:
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cooling | Very Good |
| Sinkage | Moderate |
| Motion Transfer | Low |
| Response Time | Extremely Fast |
| Bounce | Moderate |
| Edge Support | Excellent |
| Sex | Excellent |
| Pressure Relief | Very Good |
| Off-Gassing | Very Good |
| Company | Fair |
How is Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush Different?
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush mattress has lower-than-average performance and a price tag that is also lower than average—a savings of 22.5% (over $300) compared to the average hybrid mattress.
Advantages
Beyond price alone, other advantages to the Gruve Plush mattress include faster-than-average material response time, better edge support, a thicker mattress profile (1″ thicker than the average), and a thicker comfort layer as well.
Neutral Factors
Sinkage levels are 5% less than average levels of sinkage and bounce levels are 13% less also. Sinkage and bounce are both within normal ranges so these factors are not really good vs. bad, but rather an issue of personal preference.
Disadvantages
Cooling performance is slightly below average and the mattress struggles a bit with heat retention. This mattress also takes longer to off-gas than the average mattress.
Cooling and off-gassing aside, the biggest disadvantage to this mattress is the lack of any trial period. The average trial period is 165 nights (comparing all mattresses tested to date), which gives sleepers nearly 6 months to sleep on a mattress and decide if they like it.
Ashley gives zero time to try out the mattress and all sales are final (excluding the occasional manufacturing defects). A policy this strict is nearly unheard of in today’s online mattress market.
| Factor | Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 9.20 | 9.52 |
| Price | $1,049 | $1,352 (Hybrid only) |
| Cooling | 9.0 | 9.4 |
| Max Sinkage | 2.08″ | 2.18″ |
| Total Motion Transfer | 8.15 m/s² | 8.50 m/s² |
| Response Time | 0.2 sec. | 0.4 sec. |
| Total Bounce | 8.40″ | 9.65″ |
| Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage | 4.00″ | 4.11″ |
| Mattress Thickness | 13.0″ | 12.0″ |
| Sex Overall | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Comfort Material | 4.5″ | 4.2″ |
| Off-Gassing – Smell | Strong | Strong |
| Off-Gassing – Days | 12 days | 5 days |
| Trial | 0 nights | 160 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | 26% have lifetime warranties, average of other 74% of mattresses is 14 years |
Cooling Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has good, but not incredible cooling performance. During our tests, I felt a slight to moderate level of heat retention around my body.
Baseline Temp.
72.8° F
Max Temp.
91.2° F
Ending Temp.
79.7° F
It’s a hybrid, which means we’re bringing extra airflow into the mattress. However, we still have a lot of foam within the comfort layer (4.5” to be exact). The foams used here don’t look or feel especially high quality. They aren’t bad, but their quality and feel just doesn’t impress.
Max Temp.
Ending Temp
- 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
Lastly, we have a mattress that isn’t designed with any particular cooling features. No cooling cover, no phase change materials, foam quality is lacking, no convoluted layers, no gel, and no copper.
Heat Dissipation Over Time
All that to say, cooling performance is good, but far from great.
Sinkage Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has a moderate level of sinkage. In our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.08”. This is 0.10” less than the average of 2.18”, based on all of our tests to date.
Sinkage Depth
2.08″
Sinkage Feel
Moderate
The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.
The mattress has a balanced level of body contouring hug. We have a 1.0” layer of memory foam, which creates a more significant level of hug and contour.
However, that is just 1.0” of 4.5” of foam comfort layers. When that memory foam is combined with the quilted cover and poly foam within the core we have a more balanced and restrained type of a body hug.
Motion Transfer Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has a low level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 8.15 m/s². This is 4.1% less motion transfer than the average of 8.50 m/s².
Max. Acceleration
3.23 m/s²
Min. Acceleration
-4.92 m/s²
Accel. Range
8.15 m/s²
The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.
The thicker and softer all foam comfort layer helps to reduce motion on the mattress.
In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest level of motion from 0 to 0.21 seconds. By 0.92 seconds we return to near-zero levels.
Given the relatively small motion spike, I was surprised at the relatively lengthy motion duration. Mattresses with the least motion are able to return to near-zero levels within 0.3 seconds.
Needless to say, the Gruve Plush is far from that mark. Nevertheless, the below-average motion peaks remain a strong positive for total lower motion transfer.
Response Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush is a bit of a mixed bag for material responsiveness.
Mostly Recovered
0.2 sec.
Complete Recovery
0.8 sec.
In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.8 seconds.
The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.
Naturally, rebounding back to shape within 0.2 seconds is extremely fast and is effectively an instant material responsiveness. However, the 0.8 seconds to fully recover is just 0.05 seconds faster than average.
The 1.0” layer of memory foam within the mattress is quite slow to recover. While the other foam and spring layers all bounce back rapidly, the memory foam slows the total material recovery of the mattress.
Even so, I still expect this level of responsiveness will be satisfactory for most sleepers.
Bounce Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has a moderate level of bounce. In our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 8.40”. This is 1.25” less bounce than the average of 9.65”.
Max. Depth
4.75″
Max. Rebound
3.65″
Total Bounce
8.40″
Max. Sinkage Depth
Max Bounce Height
The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.
Considering the relative softness, combined with a thick 4.5” comfort layer, much of the energy is absorbed, resulting in a lower level of bounce. So the results here weren’t all that surprising.
That said, with 8.40” of bounce we still have enough that the mattress is generally easy to move around on and sex performance isn’t significantly negatively impacted.
Edge Support Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has excellent edge support for sitting and very good edge support for lying.
Max Sinkage
4.00″
Lying Support
Very Good
In our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.0”. At this sinkage depth, I felt well supported and the materials held their shape reasonably well.
The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.
Sitting, 140 lbs.
Sitting, 200 lbs.
Lying edge support was good, but far from amazing. The thick 4.5” foam comfort layer and plusher feel of the top cover create a little bit of a mushier feel at the edge.
It’s not terrible, but it does leave something to be desired.
The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.
Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.
Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.
We have reinforced coils along the perimeter, which is great and is having a positive impact. Even so, the thick foam layer and plusher cover reduce edge support performance to some degree.
Sex Test
The best mattresses for sex have high bounce, good edge support, quiet materials, and good pressure relief and cooling.
These 5 factors make up the NapLab sex performance score.
| Sex Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bounce | 60% | 9.6 | Moderate |
| Edge Support | 20% | 9.5 | Excellent |
| Noise | 10% | 10 | Minimal |
| Pressure Relief | 5% | 9.0 | Very Good |
| Cooling | 5% | 9.0 | Very Good |
For the Gruve Plush, these individual factors generated a sex score of 9.6.
This mattress has moderate levels of bounce and good, but not great edge support. Considering these two factors make up 80% of the sex score, we see a good sex score, but far from the best we’ve tested.
Other factors include pressure relief and cooling where this mattress just didn’t really impress.
Is the Gruve Plush going to make sex worse? Probably not. But if you’re looking for a mattress to make it better, this likely isn’t the right choice for you.
Pressure Relief Test
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has good, but not amazing pressure relief. In our tests, I felt a slight to moderate level of pressure point build-up. The pressure was isolated to my back and shoulders.
Comfort Layer
4.5″
Support Layer
8.5″
Looking at the material thickness, Ashley has what I am looking for with a thick 4.5” foam comfort layer. This is 0.3” thicker than the average 4.2” comfort layer (based on all of our tests to date).
That said, the quality of these foams looks and feels somewhat lower compared to many other mattresses we’ve tested. All of that said, there are likely many sleepers who will find pressure relief to be satisfactory.
However, those who require a more robust and high-quality foam comfort layer may find that pressure relief just isn’t enough.
Off-Gassing Test
Off-gassing on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush was strong right out of the box. The odor lasted for 12 days, which is well beyond the 5-day average that off-gassing period.
Initial Smell Strength
Strong
Off-Gassing Period
12 days
This average comes from comparing off-gassing of over 190+ mattresses tested in-house. Still, that being said, off-gassing is kind of a one-time issue you experience when unboxing. It rarely has long-term effects over the life of the mattress.
Company
The company score takes a look at factors that may influence your experience with the mattress.
Factors include length of the trial period, warranty, shipping / return costs, and country of origin.
| Company Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial Period | 25% | 6.0 | 0 nights |
| Warranty | 25% | 10 | 10 years |
| Shipping | 25% | 10 | $0 |
| Returns | 25% | 7.0 | No / Very limited returns |
| Country of Origin | 0% | USA |
For Ashley Sleep, these individual terms and conditions generated a company score of 8.3.
The biggest hit against Ashley Sleep is the complete lack of a trial period. Comparing over 190+ mattresses that we’ve tested to date, the average trial period is 165 nights, where at any point you can return the mattress for a full refund.
This gives many sleepers the confidence to buy a mattress sight unseen because they know they can get their money back if it doesn’t work out.
Ashley offers no such policy and once the mattress arrives at your door, it is yours, with no exceptions barring manufacturer’s defects.
This type of a policy with virtually zero returns / refunds makes this an incredibly risky purchase for many consumers.
How firm is the Ashley Gruve Plush?
The Ashley Sleep Gruve mattress is available in three different styles, spanning a range of firmnesses.
- Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush: Medium-Firm feel, 6 out of 10
- Ashley Sleep Gruve EuroTop: Medium-Firm feel, 6 out of 10
- Ashley Sleep Gruve Firm: Firm feel, 8 out of 10
The standard Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush as well as the Ashley Sleep Gruve EuroTop hybrid both have a medium-firm feel with a firmness of 6 out of 10.
The “plush” label on this mattress surprises me. In my view, the label just makes no sense. In my view, this mattress has a pretty standard medium-firm feel. We do have a fairly thick and robust quilted cover.
However, it is absolutely not a “soft” mattress. At the lowest firmness, I would describe it as a “medium”, though I expect most sleepers will feel like this is a medium-firm feel.
For a firmer feel, you can opt for the Ashley Sleep Gruve Firm, which has a firm feel and a firmness of 8 out of 10.’
Support & Sleeping Positions
Support on the Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush is excellent. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions.
The mattress uses a thick 8.0” pocketed coil unit on top of a 0.5” support foam layer. This gives us 8.5” of total support materials, which is a good bit thicker than the average 7.8” support layer thickness (based on all of our mattress tests to date).
I’m also pleased to see this mattress uses reinforced edge support coils along the perimeter. Those coils are 13 gauge, providing improved support at the edge. My only complaint about support is the relatively small number of coils. We only have 720 coils within a Queen mattress.
To be fair, coil count isn’t everything. However, I do generally want to see closer to 1,000 coils in a Queen mattress. A unit with just 720 coils has me concerned about longevity and support for heavier bodies.
All of that said, this is a very budget-friendly mattress, so it makes sense that Ashley is looking for areas to help reduce costs.
This mattress is available in three styles—Plush, Euro-Top, and Firm. Use the tables below to design which style may be best for you.
Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush has a medium-firm feel (6) and would be a good option for the widest range of sleepers.
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 150-250 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 250-300 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ashley Sleep Gruve Euro-Top
The Gruve Euro-top mattress has the same firmness as the Gruve Plush (6) with a medium-firm feel.
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 150-250 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 250-300 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ashley Sleep Gruve Firm
The Gruve Firm mattress has the firmest feel among all three styles, with a firmness of 8 out of 10. This mattress would not be suitable for many lightweight sleepers, but would work for many others.
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Maybe | No | Maybe |
| 150-250 lbs. | Yes | Maybe | Yes |
| 250-300 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Design
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush is a 13″ thick hybrid mattress with a medium-firm feel (6 out of 10). It has a high-profile look with a tufted top.
Type
Hybrid
Thickness
13″
Firmness
6 or 8
Materials
In total, five layers make up the 13″ profile of the Ashley Gruve Plush mattress. From top to bottom, the layers include:
- 1.5″ quilted cover
- 1.0″ memory foam
- 2.0″ poly foam
- 8.0″ pocketed coils
- 1.0″ support foam
I will add, that this mattress contained 4 blank law tags. As the name suggests, law tags are required by law and let consumers know exactly what is in the products that they’re using. Blank tags are highly unusual and something I’ve never seen (except on our 3 most recent Ashley mattress tests).
The Cover
The cover of the Gruve Plush is a 1.5″ thick soft, quilted cover. It has micro-cool technology that is designed to help with cooling, but really has minimal effect, in my opinion.
The plush nature of the cover combined with the memory foam below gives this mattress great contour and hug, making it a good option for side sleepers
The Comfort Layer
The comfort layer includes two distinct layers of foam. There is a 1.0″ memory foam followed by a 2.0″ transitional poly foam.
These two layers work together below the quilted cover to provide comfort and transitional support above the pocketed coils.
The Support Layer
The support layer is made of 8.0″ pocketed coils. In total, there are 720 individual coils (on the queen size), each individually encased in a thin fabric, which allows them to move independently from one another. This improves pressure relief and overall support.
The coils located at the edge of the mattress are stronger 13-gauge coils, which improves edge support when sitting or lying near the edge of the mattress.
Product Evolution
The Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush mattress was launched online in 2023. Since its release, there have been no major design or material changes made to this mattress.
Other Mattresses to Consider
Not sure if the Ashley Sleep Gruve Plush is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses for high-performing alternatives you may want to consider.
For Performance
Winkbed
9.95 Overall Score
The Winkbed Original hybrid is the highest-performing hybrid mattress we’ve tested to date. It out performs the Gruve Plush in 7 out of the 8 categories we test for and is available in 3 firmness levels. The price point is higher, but if you can make the splurge, the big jump in performance will be a notable difference.
For Firmness
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
9.63 Overall Score
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is available in three firmness levels (soft, medium-firm, or firm). It contains no memory foam and instead relies on poly foams with a latex-like feel. This gives the mattress excellent cooling performance and a more generalized contour than the exacting contour of the Gruve Plush.
For Budget
Bear Pro
9.52 Overall Score
The Bear Pro Hybrid also has a higher performance score than the Ashley Gruve Plush and is around the same price. This mattress only has a 10″ profile and has a thinner quilted cover. It has deeper sinkage than Ashley, but still retains a very fast material response time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Ashley Gruve Plush mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.
Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:
Twin: $874
Twin XL: N/A
Full: $979
Queen: $1,049
King: $1,189
Cal. King: $1,189
*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.
Yes, this mattress contains fiberglass.
Twin: 69 lbs.
Full: 93 lbs.
Queen: 106 lbs.
King: 132 lbs.
Cal. King: 133 lbs.
