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Nest Bedding Owl Review

Derek Hales

Written by: Derek Hales

Updated On:

Nest Bedding Owl cover photo
9.59 Overall Score
Tested With Scoring System 1.1
9.5 Cooling
8.4 Motion Transfer
10 Response Time
9.1 Edge Support
9.8 Sex
10 Pressure Relief
9.9 Off-Gassing
10 Company

Best For

  • Exceptional pressure relief. Quilted cover, natural latex, and pocketed coils come together for an amazing feel.
  • Super fast response time, sleepers will never feel stuck or trapped
  • Latex and pocketed coils work together for improved breathability and cooling

Considerations

  • Motion transfer is fairly high at 11.48 m/s² (almost twice the average)
  • Edge support is good, just not great
  • Fairly deep level of sinkage, some will love it, some may find it too deep

Our Verdict

The Nest Bedding Owl is a latex hybrid blend that uses latex foam, poly foam, and pocketed coils to provide support and comfort. The mattress, originally called the Natural Latex Hybrid, has been in the Nest Bedding collection for many years and remains one of their most popular models.

It comes in three different firmnesses and scored well in our performance tests. The Owl has excellent cooling, moderate to deep sinkage, high motion transfer, fast response time, moderate to high bounce, okay edge support, and exceptional pressure relief.

Type: Latex Hybrid
Firmness: Plush (3.5), Medium (5), Firm (8)
Best For: All Sleeping Positions, All Body Weights

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

YouTube video

Performance Tests

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 9 different factors that impact the comfort and feel of the mattress. Testing categories include:

Test Rating
CoolingExcellent
SinkageVery Deep
Motion TransferHigh
Response TimeExtremely Fast
BounceHigh
Edge SupportVery Good
SexExcellent
Pressure ReliefExceptional
Off-GassingExcellent
CompanyExceptional

How is Nest Bedding Owl Different?

The Nest Bedding Owl has slightly above-average performance overall, but also a higher price tag—28% more expensive than the average latex hybrid.

Advantages

Cooling is slightly above average with a faster-than-average material response time, a thicker overall profile height, and a thicker comfort layer as well. The Owl also has the advantage of a 365-night trial period, giving sleeper a whole year to decide if the mattress is the right fit.

Neutral Factors

The Owl latex hybrid has deeper sinkage than average and 5% deeper bounce than average as well. These two factors are more preferential factors than anything else, but certainly worth considering.

Disadvantages

The Own struggles a bit with edge support, where we measured 0.61″ deeper sinkage than average when seated directly at the edge of the mattress. Motion transfer levels are also 37% higher than average. Lastly, the higher-than-average price may also be a disadvantage for some sleepers.

FactorNest Bedding OwlAverage
Overall9.599.52
Price$2,346$1,833 (Latex Hybrid only)
Cooling9.59.4
Max Sinkage2.84″2.18″
Total Motion Transfer11.48 m/s²8.34 m/s²
Response Time0.2 sec.0.4 sec.
Total Bounce10.11″9.62″
Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage4.75″4.14″
Mattress Thickness12.5″11.9″
Sex Overall9.89.6
Comfort Material5.5″4.2″
Off-Gassing – SmellMinimalStrong
Off-Gassing – Days1 day5 days
Trial365 nights165 nights
WarrantyLifetime27% have lifetime warranties, average of other 73% of mattresses is 14 years
9.5

Cooling Test

The cooling profile on the Nest Bedding Owl mattress was excellent. Our objective data measured a maximum temperature of 90.8°F. This is on par with the average max temperature across all mattresses we’ve tested to date, which is also 90.8°F.

Baseline Temp.

81.5°F

Max. Temp.

90.8°F

Ending Temp.

83.1°F

Max. Temp.

Nest Bedding Owl before cooling
Nest Bedding Owl before cooling

Ending Temp.

Nest Bedding Owl after cooling
Nest Bedding Owl after cooling
  • 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

Despite the max temperature being perfectly average, my personal experience on the mattress felt comfortably cool for the duration of our test. The material components have just about everything I’m looking for to improve cooling.

Natural latex doesn’t retain much heat and breathes well. In addition, the pocketed coil layer also improves breathability by increasing airflow (relative to an all-foam mattress).

Quilted covers can sometimes cause heat dissipation issues, but 1.5” really isn’t sufficiently thick enough to create major issues.

Looking at the heat dissipation curve we saw a sizable temperature decline by the 1-minute mark, decreasing from 90.8 to 87.1°F.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

Heat Dissipation Chart Nest Bedding Owl
Heat Dissipation Chart Nest Bedding Owl

This is a decrease of 3.7°. Heat dissipation stepped down considerably at the 2 and 3-minute marks, with minimal decreases for the 4 and 5-minute measurements. This indicates that the mattress is able to release most of its heat by the 3-minute mark.

All of that said, I’m rating the cooling profile on the Nest Bedding Owl mattress as excellent. The material selections, layer design, and subjective experience all point to a mattress that will deliver good cooling for a majority of sleepers.

Sinkage Test

The sinkage depth on the Nest Bedding Owl mattress is on the deeper side. In our pressure point tests, we measured a total sinkage depth of 2.84”. On average, the sinkage depth with our medicine ball comes in at 2.22”.

Sinkage Depth

2.84

Sinkage Feel

Very Deep

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

Nest Bedding Owl sinkage test
Nest Bedding Owl sinkage test

While the 2.84” is certainly deeper than average, it’s not yet reached a level where I would be overly concerned. That said, it should be noted that the Owl mattress does have more sinkage than many mattresses are going to have.

As a result, sleepers should expect a high level of hug by the mattress. While the hug is higher, the level of contour is still more generalized. This is a product of the quilted cover and top layer of natural latex foam. These materials don’t contour as sharply to your body as layers of memory foam will.

For many sleepers, this helps prevent any type of a “stuck” or overly enveloped feeling.

8.4

Motion Transfer Test

Motion transfer on the Nest Bedding Owl mattress is high. In our accelerometer tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 11.48 m/s². This is nearly double what we see on average across all mattresses we’ve tested to date, which is 5.77 m/s².

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

Natural latex by itself creates more motion. Pocketed coils also create motion. When you add these materials together in the same mattress it’s no surprise that you’re going to get more motion.

Max. Acceleration

7.73 m/s²

Min. Acceleration

-3.75 m/s²

Accel. Range

11.48 m/s²

In our motion transfer chart, you can see the huge acceleration spike, generating high motion for the first 0.7 seconds. After 0.7 seconds the motion does rapidly dissipate.

Nest Bedding Owl motion transfer chart
Nest Bedding Owl motion transfer chart

Even so, there’s no denying that the Owl mattress has a high level of motion. If you sleep with a partner who is easily disturbed by movements during the night you may want to consider another option.

Not all hybrids have a high level of motion transfer. Layla’s hybrid (2.45 m/s²), the Leesa Legend (4.38 m/s²), and the Purple Hybrid (4.49 m/s²) all had significantly lower motion transfer compared to the Nest Bedding Owl.

10

Response Test

The response time was incredibly fast on the Owl mattress. Within 0.2 seconds most of the materials have recovered and by 0.3 seconds all materials have rebounded to their original shape.

Mostly Recovered

0.2 sec.

Complete Recovery

0.3 sec.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

While the layers of latex and pocketed coils aren’t doing many favors for motion transfer, they are tremendously helpful when it comes to response time.

Latex and pocketed coils respond essentially instantaneously. These materials combine to help ensure sleepers will never feel “stuck” by the deeper sinkage of the mattress and provide easy movement during the night. 

Bounce Test

There is a moderate to high level of bounce on the Nest Bedding Owl mattress. In our bounce tests, we measured a total bounce height of 10.11”.

Max. Depth

6.05″

Max. Rebound

4.06″

Total Bounce

10.11″

This is slightly more than the average bounce, which is 9.50”. I would describe this bounce level as typical and really in a sort of sweet spot.

Max. Sinkage Depth

Nest Bedding Owl max bounce depth

Max. Bounce Height

Nest Bedding Owl max bounce height

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

While bounce is preferential, most sleepers should find a bounce height of 8-12” as being suitable to their needs and desires.

9.1

Edge Support Test

Like the Nest Bedding Quail mattress that we’ve previously tested, edge support on the Owl mattress is good, but not great.

Max. Sinkage

4.75″

Lying Support

Very Good

In our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sinkage depth of 4.75”. This is slightly better than the average edge compression of 4.78”, but still not what I would consider ideal.

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

Sitting, 140 lbs.

Nest Bedding Owl edge support test
Nest Bedding Owl edge support test

Sitting, 200 lbs.

Nest Bedding Owl edge support vest
Nest Bedding Owl edge support with vest

Generally, I like to see 4.0” of compression or less. The deeper the compression while sitting the more it feels like that mattress lacks support and isn’t comfortable to sit on.

The edge support issues while sitting extend to lying on the mattress as well. While lying directly on the edge of the mattress I just didn’t feel tremendously well supported.

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

Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.

Nest Bedding Owl side sleeping
Nest Bedding Owl side sleeping

Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.

Nest Bedding Owl side sleeping vest
Nest Bedding Owl side sleeping with vest

There is a noted difference between support at the edge and support within the middle of the mattress. Much like sitting edge support, lying edge support isn’t bad, just not amazing. 

9.8

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 FactorFactor WeightScoreRating
Bounce60%10High
Edge Support20%9.1Very Good
Noise10%10Minimal
Pressure Relief5%10Exceptional
Cooling5%9.5Excellent

For the Nest Bedding Owl, these individual factors generated a sex score of 9.8.

Nest Bedding Owl mattress side
Nest Bedding Owl mattress side

Of all of the factors listed above, bounce is the most important and the bounce on the Nest Owl is fantastic. The mattress has two factors really going for it—coils and latex foam. Both of these materials contribute to excellent bounce.

While edge support wasn’t really ideal, noise, pressure relief, and cooling scores were all good. Overall, the Owl is a great mattress for sex, from what our scoring factors can determine.

10

Pressure Relief Test

Pressure relief is arguably the most impressive attribute of the Nest Bedding Owl mattress. I would describe pressure relief performance as exceptionally good.

Comfort Layer

5.5″

Support Layer

7.0″

The Owl mattress really brings a ton of design and material elements together to create this. The 1.5” quilted cover offers immediate softness. The 3.0” natural latex layer creates much of the comfort dynamic.

The following 1.0” poly foam layer helps more gradually transition sleepers into the 6.0” pocketed coil layer.

Nest Bedding Owl stomach sleeping
Nest Bedding Owl stomach sleeping

Each layer has a purpose and the ultimate result is exceptional pressure relief across the entire surface of the mattress.

All Nest Bedding mattresses I’ve tested over the years are comfortable, but I will say the Owl and Sparrow mattresses seem to step it up a notch further. Nest Bedding’s quilted covers are arguably the best on the market.

9.9

Off-Gassing Test

Off-gassing on the Owl mattress was minor upon the initial unboxing.

Initial Smell Strength

Minimal

Off-Gassing Period

1 day

Within 1 day after unboxing the mattress had lost all significant odors. Overall, impressive performance when it comes to smell and off-gassing.

Nest Bedding Owl unboxing
Nest Bedding Owl unboxing
10

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 FactorFactor WeightScoreData
Trial Period25%10365 nights
Warranty25%10Lifetime
Shipping25%10$0
Returns25%10$0
Country of Origin0%USA

Nest Bedding first launched in 2011 with an online marketplace as well as a brick-and-mortar store. They have continued to grow online as well as opening more physical store locations.

As a company, Nest Bedding offers a long 365-night trial period, a lifetime limited warranty, and free shipping / returns. Note that this applies to only one mattress return or exchange per calendar year.

How firm is the Nest Bedding Owl?

The Nest Bedding Owl comes in three firmnesses—plush, medium, and firm.

In this review we tested the medium version, which is a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

Nest Bedding Owl Medium

firmness - 5 out of 10 - medium

While we haven’t tested all firmnesses personally, I estimate the plush to be around 3.5 out of 10 and firm to be around 8 out of 10.

Nest Bedding Owl Plush

firmness - 3.5 out of 10 - soft

Nest Bedding Owl Firm

firmness - 8 out of 10

Support & Sleeping Positions

Support on the Owl mattress was excellent. The Nest Bedding Owl has a thick profile, high-quality materials, and a design that is going to create amazing support for just about every body type and sleeper position.

I think the biggest support concern is just making sure you select the right firmness. For most sleepers, the medium mattress is the right option.

If you have a very heavy body you might consider the firm mattress, but even then, it’s really best suited for stomach and back sleepers only.

The plush soft version of the Owl is an option for some stomach and back sleepers, but really only if you don’t weigh very much. Otherwise, it’s really best for side sleepers.

Nest Bedding Owl open cover
Nest Bedding Owl open cover

All of that said, for most sleepers, the support on the medium version will be more than sufficient and the right choice.

Design

The Nest Bedding Owl mattress is a hybrid design, which means two types of materials for comfort and support—foam and coils.

It has a 12.5″ profile and a plush, quilted cover.

Type

Latex Hybrid

Thickness

12.5″

Firmness

3.5, 5, 8

Nest Bedding Owl mattress
Nest Bedding Owl mattress

Materials

The materials from top to bottom are listed below:

  • 1.5″ quilted cover
  • 3.0″ natural latex
  • 1.0″ poly foam
  • 6.0″ pocketed coils
  • 1.0″ support foam
Nest Bedding Owl material layers
Nest Bedding Owl material layers

The Cover

The cover on the Owl is a plush, quilted cover with diamond tufting. Materials used include stretchy, knit cotton, and wool.

Nest Bedding Owl mattress cover close-up
Nest Bedding Owl mattress cover close-up

There are also handles on both long sides of the mattress. These handles use a durable fabric with reinforced stitching, which makes it easier to move the mattress.

Nest Bedding Owl mattress handle
Nest Bedding Owl mattress handle

The Comfort Layer

Below the 1.5″ quilted cover is a 3.0″ layer of natural Talalay latex. Latex naturally has a faster response time than classic memory foam and tends to have better cooling and breathability as well.

Nest Bedding Owl mattress materials
Nest Bedding Owl mattress materials

Below the latex foam is a 1.0″ layer of transitional poly foam. This material helps to ease the transition between the comfort layer and the support layer.

The Support Layer

The 6.0″ layer of pocketed coils makes up the heart of the support layer. Each coil is individually encased in fabric, which dampens noise and also allows the coils to move independently of each other (unlike with traditional innerspring).

The last layer of this mattress is a shallow 1.0″ layer of support foam. The support foam is high-density and designed to support the foam and coils above.

Nest Bedding Owl support foam layer
Nest Bedding Owl support foam layer

Product Evolution

Although Nest Bedding has been in business since 2011, they had a rebrand in 2021, which renamed many of their models to different bird species.

The Love & Sleep, for instance, was renamed the Quail mattress.

Nest Bedding Owl logo
Nest Bedding Owl logo

The Owl mattress was originally named the Natural Hybrid Latex mattress and has been in the Nest Bedding collection for many years as well.

In 2021, along with the name change, the Owl also got a new cover. The change to the cover was more of an aesthetic change than any type of functional change.

In April 2022, Nest Bedding changed from Dunlop to Talalay latex as the primary comfort layer for the Owl mattress.

Beyond those two small changes, there have been no major design or material changes to the Owl since it launched.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Looking for other options to consider? Check out three of our top recommendations below for mattresses that are similar the the Owl.

For Less Motion Transfer

Nest Bedding Quail material layers

Nest Bedding Quail

All Foam Construction

The Quail by Nest Bedding is an all-foam mattress with a 10″ profile. It uses poly foams instead of latex foam + coils, but still has a great feel and solid performance. Furthermore, it has roughly 20% the amount of motion transfer than the Owl has, so likely a better option for couples.

For Edge Support

Nest Bedding Sparrow material layers

Nest Bedding Sparrow

Combo Foam on a Budget

The Nest Bedding Sparrow is a hybrid of foam and coils, like the Owl. It has a slightly higher overall score (9.76) compared to the Owl and a little better edge support as well. The Sparrow only has 4.0″ of sinkage at the edge whereas the Owl has 4.75″ of sinkage.

For Lower Price

EcoSleep Hybrid Luxe mattress material layers

EcoSleep Luxe

2-in-1 Latex Hybrid

If you want a hybrid with latex foam, but don’t have the budget for the Owl, you may want to consider the EcoSleep Luxe. This mattress has a lower price tag and also a flippable design which offers two firmnesses, medium or firm, within a single mattress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Nest Bedding Owl mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.

How much does the Owl mattress cost?

The cost of the Owl latex hybrid mattress varies depending on what size you’re looking for. Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:

Twin: $1,492
Twin XL: $1,759
Full: $2,079
Queen: $2,346
King: $2,666
Cal. King: $2,666
Split Cal. King: $1,759 (one side)

*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.

How long is the trial?

The trial is 365 nights, with a 30-night adjustment period.

What is the return policy?

If after the first 30 nights, you still don’t love it, you can request a return. Shipping and returns are free.

How long is the warranty?

The Nest Bedding Mattress Warranty covers most defects for as long as you own your Nest Bedding mattress. Check out Nest Bedding’s complete warranty policy to know things that may not be covered.

Can you try the Owl before you buy?

Yes. Nest Bedding has a number of different showrooms across the country. If you don’t happen to live by one, you can also opt to just buy the mattress and take advantage of the 365-night trial period to see if it’s the right mattress for you.

About Derek Hales

Derek Hales

Derek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of NapLab.com. He has been featured in Fast CompanyReader's DigestBusiness InsiderRealtor.com, Huffington Post, Washington Post, AskMen, and She Knows. Derek has personally tested over 320+ mattresses and hundreds of pillows, sheets, beds, and other sleep products.