Nest Bedding Starling 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	Nest Bedding Starling	Average
Overall Score	8.58	8.64
Price (Queen)	$1,842	$1,117 (Foam only)
Cooling – Score	8.0	8.8
Sinkage – Depth	2.06″	2.16″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	7.8	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	9.83 m/s²	8.65 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.6	8.9
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.8 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	7.94″	9.68″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	9.5	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	3.00″	4.06″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	8.2	8.5
Pressure Relief – Score	9.0	8.8
Comfort Layer Thickness	5.25″	4.2″
Mattress Thickness	12.5″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	7.5	8.4
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	9 days	6 days
Company – Score	9.0	8.7
Trial	365 nights	167 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 14 years

How is Nest Bedding Starling Different?

The Nest Bedding Starling is a 100% foam mattress with slightly lower performance than average as well as a price tag that is quite a bit higher than the average (67% more than the average foam mattress).

Advantages

Advantages to the Starling include fast material response time, better edge support than average, as well as excellent lying support. It also has a thicker mattress profile and a thicker comfort layer. The company score is slightly higher than average, thanks largely to a longer trial period and lifetime warranty.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has moderate sinkage and low levels of bounce. Both of these factors are considered neutral and personal preference may further determine if these are pros or cons.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages to the Starling include worse than average cooling performance, higher levels of motion transfer, worse sex performance (due to the low bounce), and slower off-gassing than average as well.

The Nest Bedding Starling has a good level of cooling performance. During our tests, I did feel a slight level of heat retention, but it was nothing excessive or extreme.

Typically, all foam mattresses struggle more with cooling compared to hybrid and coil-based mattresses. The Starling uses high-quality foams that breathe better and don’t retain as much heat.

In addition, the contour foam design within the core of the mattress creates an air gap layer, which definitely helps with breathability.

• 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

Even so, the lack of coils limits airflows and we don’t have any other substantial cooling materials within the mattress.

For those who describe themselves as a “hot” sleeper, you’re going to be better off with Nest Bedding’s Sparrow or another hybrid mattress.

That said, for those sleepers with more typical cooling needs, the Starling should be sufficiently cool enough.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

The Nest Bedding Starling has a moderate level of sinkage. During our tests, we measured 2.06” of pressure point sinkage. This is 0.10” less sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.16”.

The mattress creates a balanced and even level of body contouring hug. While all foam mattresses, especially those that contain memory foam, can sometimes create an excessive hug and stuck feeling, the Starling does a good job at resisting that type of feeling.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The top layer is a high-response poly foam called Energex. In my view, Energex feels more like a latex foam than a memory foam.

This layer works with the 1.25” memory foam layer and contour poly foam within the core to create the moderate sinkage and balanced body contouring hug.

The Nest Bedding Starling has a moderate level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 9.83 m/s². This is 13.6% more motion than the average of 8.65 m/s².

Typically, all foam mattresses will have lower motion transfer. However, the Starling’s inclusion of a high response, high bounce foam on top, combined with the contour grid poly foam layer, create the environment for higher than average motion.

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

In our motion transfer chart, we can see the highest motion from 0 to 0.15 seconds. Motion drops significantly thereafter, but we do one small motion blip from 0.45 to 0.52 seconds.

By 0.60 seconds we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy. While the motion spike is a little higher than the threshold for low motion, the motion duration is quite restrained at 0.60 seconds.

More sensitive sleepers could find this level of motion to be problematic, but for most, I don’t expect this level of motion will be problematic. 

The Nest Bedding Starling has a very fast level of material response. During our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.2 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.8 seconds.

The Starling’s mostly recovered response time is 0.21 seconds faster than the average of 0.41 seconds. The Starling’s fully recovered response time is 0.08 seconds faster than the average of 0.88 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The topmost layer of responsive poly foam rebounds effectively instantly. However, the 1.25” memory foam layer is a bit slower to respond.

When we look at the total combination of materials, it’s still a very fast response. Most sleepers will find this level of material responsiveness to be more than sufficient. 

The Nest Bedding Starling has a low level of bounce. In our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 7.94”. The Starling has 1.74” less bounce than the average of 9.68”.

The lower level of bounce is what we expected. Typically, all foam mattress designs have less bounce compared to coil and hybrid mattresses, and that’s exactly what we see here.

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

While the highly responsive poly foam on top is certainly helping to add to the bounce, when combined with the contour grid and 1.25” memory foam comfort layer, it still keeps the total bounce height well below average.

This lower level of bounce will inhibit sex performance. However, the Energex foam top layer helps keep the mattress fairly easy to move around on, despite the low bounce height.

The Nest Bedding Starling has outstanding edge support for sitting and excellent lying edge support. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.0”. This is 1.06” less sitting sinkage compression than the average of 4.06”.

Even when sitting directly on the edge of the mattress the Starling does a great job of retaining its shape and support. Lying edge support was nearly as good.

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

During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions when lying directly on the edge of the mattress. Notably, the mattress lacks any type of reinforced perimeter edge support foam.

Nevertheless, the Starling still created robust sitting and lying edge support.

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

I’m really pleased to see a 1.75” thick foundational foam, which has a density of 3.5 PCF (pounds per cubic foot, a common measure of mattress density).

This is significantly denser than most support foams, which are typically 1.5 to 1.8 PCF. The 12.5” total profile, high-density foams, and high-quality foams from top to bottom are all having a positive impact on edge support.

The Nest Bedding Starling has a good level of sex performance, though it’s not exactly amazing. Most notably, the Starling has a low level of bounce at just 7.94”.

This lower bounce makes sex more strenuous and difficult. On the positive side, sitting edge support is excellent, which increases the sexable surface area.

Beyond edge support and bounce, the mattress has excellent pressure relief, minimal noise, and great cooling.

The lack of any type of coils means we have less bounce and a less engaging surface. As a result, the Starling just isn’t as good for sex as mattresses with coils.

That said, with respect to other foam mattresses, the Starling is modestly better than the average sex score of 7.9 (for all foam mattresses).

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	7.4	Moderate
Edge Support	20%	10	Outstanding
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.0	Excellent
Cooling	5%	8.0	Good

The Nest Bedding Starling has excellent pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant level of pressure points anywhere on my body. The mattress has an incredibly robust and thick comfort layer that’s 5.25” thick.

This is 1.05” thicker than the average comfort layer thickness, which is 4.2”. The extra foam ensures there is an even and balanced level of compression in the mattress, which helps avoid sleeper bodies coming into greater contact with the harder and less comfortable support foams.

In addition, the more unique contour grid foam layer is likely having a positive impact on pressure relief. This type of a grid-like pattern is able to more easily contour to the body, as the above foams can collapse into the grid pockets.

Overall, I’m pleased with the level of pressure relief and expect most sleepers will find pressure relief performance to be excellent.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Minimum	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.27	0.02	1.55

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Minimum	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.17	0.02	1.18

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Minimum	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.14	0.02	0.97

Off-gassing on the Nest Bedding Starling was strong out of the box and smelled for 9 days.

Compared to the average off-gassing duration of 6 days, this mattress takes 30% longer for the smell to dissipate.

The Nest Bedding Starling has a great company score, offering a 365-night trial period and a lifetime warranty.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	10	365 nights
Warranty	10%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	10	$0
Trust	50%	8.0	Good
Country of Origin	0%		USA

In addition, they offer both free shipping and free returns. Note that Nest Bedding only allows for one mattress return / exchange per calendar year.

Lifetime Renewal Exchange

Nest Bedding Lifetime Renewal Exchange program is quite unique among the broader mattress world. Essentially, it allows you to get a brand new comfort layer for Nest Bedding mattress (Sparrow, Owl, Finch, Starling models only).

You can request the new comfort layer once per mattress. And you can do it at any time, within the first year, or many years after use.

Nest Bedding will send a replacement comfort layer, which you then simply replace your existing comfort layer by unzipping the cover.

The idea being that you can refresh the comfort layer years down the road to extend the life the mattress.

The Nest Bedding Starling is a medium-firm feel, coming in at 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This is the most popular firmness level and is appropriate for most sleepers.

A mattress if this firmness is firm enough to produce support for heavier sleepers while still being soft enough to provide pressure relief to lighter sleepers.

The Nest Bedding Starling has excellent support. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions.

The mattress uses an all-foam 7.25” support layer. The support layer is made up of a 5.5” 1.5 PCF support foam and a 1.75” 3.5 PCF foundational support foam.

The support layer is a little less than the average support layer thickness of 7.8”, based on all of our tests to date. Nevertheless, the Starling created ample support.

The Starling is available in a single firmness, 6 out of 10, giving it a medium-firm feel. This firmness is appropriate to most body types and all sleeping positions.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

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

Design

The Nest Bedding Starling is a 100% foam mattress with an overall thickness of 12.5″ and firmness of 6 out of 10 (with a medium-firm feel).

Materials

This mattress has five main layers that make up the comfort layers as well as the support layers. The top three layers are for comfort and the bottom two are for support.

From top to bottom, here is a detailed list of each material layer:

• 2.0” poly foam
• 1.25” memory foam
• 2.0” poly foam (contour grid)
• 5.5” support foam
• 1.75” support foam

The Cover

The cover of the Starling mattress is a phase-change cooling cover with a cool-to-the-touch feel. It is soft and features an arcing stitching pattern to give the mattress a modern feel.

The Comfort Layer

The three layers of the comfort system include a 2.0″ poly foam, 1.25″ memory foam, and a 2.0″ poly foam contour grid.

The top poly foam is an Energex Temperature Responsive Foam with a ILD of 14 and 3 lbs. material density.

The memory foam (second layer) is infused with both graphite and titanium with an ILD of 10 and 4 lb. material density.

Notably, the top 2 comfort layers (Energex and memory foam) are flippable. This allows you get more of a memory foam feel if you prefer a little more hug and contour, or leave the Energex on top for a more responsive and less dramatic body contouring hug.

It’s these two layers that are also replaceable / swappable with a new comfort layer as part of Nest Bedding’s Lifetime Renewal Exchange program (see company section for more info).

Lastly, the transitional contour grid has sharp cut-outs in a grid pattern along the foam, with a material density of 2 lb. This design strategy helps to improve pressure relief, contour, and material response time.

The Support Layer

For support, the Starling has two layers—a 5.5″ support foam followed by a 1.75″ high-density base support foam. Both of these layers are designed to support the layers above.

Product Evolution

The Nest Bedding Starling was launched in 2023 and has not undergone any changes. It was introduced into the Nest Bedding lineup as a luxury foam mattress option.

Nest Bedding offers a range of mattress types, but the only other 100% foam mattress is the Nest Bedding Quail (offered at a lower price point, $1169 for a queen).

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Nest Bedding Starling is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated foam mattresses for high-performing alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

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