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Zoma Start Mattress Review

Derek Hales

Written by: Derek Hales

Updated On:

Zoma Start cover photo
9.45 Overall Score
Tested With Scoring System 1.1
9.0 Cooling
8.9 Motion Transfer
10 Response Time
10 Edge Support
9.9 Sex
9.0 Pressure Relief
9.7 Off-Gassing
9.8 Company

Best For

  • Budget option, Queen under $600
  • Exceptional edge support
  • Higher levels of bounce are optimal for good sex performance

Considerations

  • A thinner comfort layer may not provide enough pressure relief for heavier sleepers
  • Higher levels of motion transfer may not be ideal for sensitive sleepers

Our Verdict

The Zoma Start mattress is a budget-friendly all-foam mattress with a medium-firm feel. It has a 10″ profile, 2″ less than the Zoma All-Foam mattress.

During our performance tests, this mattress had great cooling, fast response time, and good edge support. It has higher levels of bounce for great sex performance as well.

The biggest disadvantages to the Zoma Start are higher levels of motion transfer and pressure relief issues for heavier sleepers. But if these aren’t deal breakers for you, the Start can mean big savings.

Type: Foam
Firmness: Medium-Firm (6.5)
Best For: All Sleeping Positions, Sleepers Under 250 lbs.

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 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. Testing categories include:

Test Rating
CoolingVery Good
SinkageMinimal
Motion TransferModerate
Response TimeExtremely Fast
BounceHigh
Edge SupportExceptional
SexExcellent
Pressure ReliefVery Good
Off-GassingExcellent
CompanyExcellent

How is Zoma Start Different?

The Zoma Start has below average overall performance, but also a price tag that is significantly lower than average too—nearly 50% less than the average foam mattress for a savings of over $500 (for a queen mattress).

Advantages

Besides cost advantages, other perks to the Zoma Start include faster material resposne time, 28% better edge support, better sex performance, and slightly faster off-gassing.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has minimal sinkage (20% less than the average mattress) and slightly more bounce than average (7% greater). Both sinkage and bounce fall within a normal range and may be more of a personal preference.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages include slightly poorer cooling performance, 10% higher levels of motion transfer, and a shorter trial period (61 nights shorter than average). This mattress only has 2.0″ of comfort material so heavier sleepers may experience pressure relief issues or inadequate support as well.

FactorZoma StartAverage
Overall9.459.51
Price$599$1,168 (Foam only)
Cooling99.4
Max Sinkage1.73″2.17″
Total Motion Transfer9.35 m/s²8.52 m/s²
Response Time0.3 sec.0.4 sec.
Total Bounce10.37″9.65″
Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage3.00″4.11″
Mattress Thickness10.0″12.0″
Sex Overall9.99.6
Comfort Material2.0″4.2″
Off-Gassing – SmellStrongStrong
Off-Gassing – Days4 days5 days
Trial100 nights161 nights
Warranty10 years26% have lifetime warranties, average of other 74% of mattresses is 14 years
9.0

Cooling Test

The Zoma Start has a good, but not amazing cooling performance. In our tests, I felt a slight level of heat retention building up around my body. It was nothing dramatic, but it was also enough to be noteworthy.

Baseline Temp.

78.1° F

Max Temp.

88.4° F

Ending Temp.

81.0° F

The simple all-foam design keeps the price in check, but it doesn’t do much for improved cooling. There are no major cooling features or cooling design elements. No phase change material, no coils for breathability, and no convoluted foam layers.

Max Temp.

Zoma Start before cooling test
Zoma Start before cooling test

Ending Temp

Zoma Start after cooling test
Zoma Start after cooling test
  • 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 top comfort layer is gel-infused, which is something at least. Even so, it’s not a miracle worker when it comes to cooling. If you’re a hot sleeper you’ll probably be better off with the Zoma Hybrid.

Looking at our objective data we recorded a max temperature of 88.4° F, which is 1.0° cooler than average. Heat dissipation was also better than average at each interval, declining 4.1° from minutes 0 to 1 and 7.4° from minutes 0 to 5.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

Zoma Start heat dissipation chart
Zoma Start heat dissipation chart

While the objective data indicates a cooler-performing mattress, in my view, my subjective experience on the mattress and my assessment of the material layers hold more weight in determining the cooling score for Zoma.

Zoma’s Start is good for cooling, but don’t expect any miracles. Furthermore, if you’re a naturally hot sleeper you should consider a hybrid instead.

Sinkage Test

The Zoma Start has a minimal level of sinkage. In our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 1.73”. This is 0.52” less sinkage than the average of 2.17” (based on all of our tests to date).

Sinkage Depth

1.73″

Sinkage Feel

Minimal

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

Zoma Start sinkage test
Zoma Start sinkage test

The mattress has a more restrained level of contour around the body. While the top layer is memory foam, which will create a more significant hug around your exact shape, it’s limited to just 1.0”.

There’s an additional 1.0” of poly foam as a transitional layer, bringing the total to 2.0” of comfort foam. However, by any standard, this is a thin comfort layer.

The thinness without question helps keep the price in check, but by its nature creates a more restrained type of body contour. In general, the sinkage around my body feels minimal.

When under more significant pressure we see moderate levels of sinkage depth. There is more of a “floating on top” of the mattress feel as opposed to sinking down “in the mattress”.

8.9

Motion Transfer Test

The Zoma Start has a moderate level of motion transfer. In our tests, we measured 9.35 m/s² of acceleration range. This is slightly more motion transfer than the average of 8.52 m/s².

Max. Acceleration

4.19 m/s²

Min. Acceleration

-5.16 m/s²

Accel. Range

9.35 m/s²

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

Mattresses with a thinner comfort layer often have more motion transfer. This is because the comfort layer isn’t able to absorb as much of the energy. As a result, the firmer support layer rebounds more of the energy, creating more motion transfer.

While less motion transfer is always better, given the price point, I’m not terribly worried about the moderate motion we measured here.

The motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, confirmed a fairly typical motion duration.

There’s a high level of motion from 0.00 to 0.14 seconds. Moderate motion persists up until 0.57 seconds, before returning to near zero levels.

Zoma Start relaxing
Zoma Start relaxing

Mattresses with the lowest motion are able to disperse all energy within 0.3 seconds. Zoma Start isn’t at that level, but the motion duration is still relatively restrained.

Many other types of mattresses, especially latex and hybrid mattresses, can have moderate motion persist for 1.0-1.5 seconds.

Zoma Start motion transfer chart
Zoma Start motion transfer chart
10

Response Test

The Zoma Start has an extremely fast response time. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.3 seconds and a fully recovered response time of 0.5 seconds.

Mostly Recovered

0.3 sec.

Complete Recovery

0.5 sec.

This is faster than the average. Based on all of our tests to date, on average, we have measured a mostly recovered response time of 0.4 seconds and an average fully recovered response time of 0.9 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

Zoma’s comfort layer rebounds extremely quickly, most likely due to a combination of the relative thinness and a more modern memory foam formulation.

The faster response time helps ensure sleepers don’t feel stuck, eases movement, and improves sex.

Bounce Test

Zoma Start has a high level of bounce. In our tests, we measured 10.37” of total bounce height. This is more bounce than the average of 9.65” (based on all of our tests to date).

Max. Depth

5.31″

Max. Rebound

5.06″

Total Bounce

10.37″

Max. Sinkage Depth

Zoma Start bounce depth
Zoma Start bounce depth

Max Bounce Height

Zoma Start bounce height
Zoma Start bounce height

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

In general, I like to see bounce in the 8-12” range. It’s enough to improve ease of movement and sex, while not being so high as to create significant issues with motion transfer or a trampoline feel.

Zoma Start is right in the sweet spot. I expect most sleepers will find the level of bounce to be satisfactory. 

10

Edge Support Test

The Zoma Start has exceptionally good sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sitting sinkage depth of 3.0”. This is significantly better than the average of 4.11” of sitting edge compression.

Max Sinkage

3.00″

Lying Support

Excellent

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

When sitting directly at the edge, less sitting sinkage is better as it means the edge of the mattress is more supportive for direct edge-of-mattress activities (getting dressed, watching tv, intercourse, etc.)

Sitting, 140 lbs.

Zoma Start edge support
Zoma Start edge support

Sitting, 200 lbs.

Zoma Start edge support - with vest
Zoma Start edge support – with vest

Likewise, lying edge support was also impressive. I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions, even when lying directly on the edge of the mattress.

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

Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.

Zoma Start edge support - back sleeping
Zoma Start edge support – back sleeping

Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.

Zoma Start edge support - back sleeping with vest
Zoma Start edge support – back sleeping with vest

The thinner comfort layer, while less than great for pressure relief, does help to improve edge support. With the thinner comfort layer, you engage more immediately with the firmer support layer, which ensures that your body gets plenty of support when lying even on the absolute edge.

9.9

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 WeightScore
Bounce60%10
Edge Support20%10
Noise10%10
Pressure Relief5%9
Cooling5%9

For the Zoma Start, these individual factors generated a sex score of a 9.9.

This is an exceptional score and really shows how Zoma shines in this category. The Zoma Start has excellent edge support and high levels of bounce. These two factors alone make up 80% of the sex score.

Zoma Start relaxing
Zoma Start relaxing

Other performance factors include a quiet surface, good (but not great) pressure relief, and good cooling as well.

Overall, this really checks all of the boxes we look for in this category.

9.0

Pressure Relief Test

The Zoma Start has good, but not great pressure relief. In our tests, I felt a moderate building of pressure points, especially while lying on my back.

Comfort Layer

1.0″

Support Layer

9.0″

My neck and upper back in particular felt a more noted level of pressure. With only 2.0” of comfort foam, there is just only so much that a mattress like this can do.

Even relatively lightweight sleepers such as myself (140 pounds) will sink through much of the 2.0” of comfort material and into the less pressure relieving support foams.

This is what will create more pressure, especially for heavier-weight bodies and side sleepers.

Zoma Start side sleeping
Zoma Start side sleeping

For back and stomach sleepers it should be less of an issue, as those positions can do well with less pressure relief and increased firmness. However, side sleepers in particular may find pressure relief to be lacking.

Zoma Start is designed to be a more budget-friendly mattress. As a result, you get a thinner comfort layer. If you’re heavier and/or a side sleeper you may simply need to spend a little more money to get a mattress with a thicker comfort layer to better support your body’s needs.

9.7

Off-Gassing Test

Off-gassing on the Zoma Start wasn’t too surprising. Out of the box, the mattress had a strong smell that lasted for 4 days.

Initial Smell Strength

Strong

Off-Gassing Period

4 days

Compared to the average, this is a little more, but not by much. The average across all mattresses we’ve tested to date is approximately 3 days. And the good news about off-gassing is that once the process is complete, it’s complete for the entire life of the mattress.

9.8

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
Trial Period100 nights
Warranty10 years
ShippingFree
ReturnsFree
Country of OriginUSA

For Zoma , these individual terms and conditions generated a company score of 9.8.

Zoma was founded in 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona with a specific design that caters to athletes and the need for muscle recovery. All of their mattresses are made in the U.S.

The Zoma mattress comes with a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Shipping and returns are both free. This trial is shorter than the 160-night average but still should be sufficiently long enough for most sleepers.

How firm is the Zoma Start?

The Zoma Start is considered to be medium-firm, with a firmness rating of 6.5 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm.

firmness - 6.5 out of 10 - medium

I could see heavier-weight bodies and/or side sleepers feeling that it’s firmer, due to the pressure relief issues we noted above.

Lighter-weighted sleepers naturally experience less sinkage and pressure relief issues than a heavier-weighted sleeper lying on the same mattress will. And that varying degree of sinkage equates to a varying degree of firmness.

How can firmness be experienced differently?

When you engage more deeply with the support layer (as heavier-weighted sleepers will), the mattress will feel firmer than those who float more on top (as lighter-weighted sleepers will) and within the softer comfort layers.

Support & Sleeping Positions

Support on the Zoma Start is a bit of a mixed bag. The mattress has ample support, however, the lack of pressure relief will be a compounding issue for overall support.

A thinner comfort layer means pressure relief isn’t as robust isn’t as it could be. For side sleepers and many heavier-weight sleepers, this will result in a support dynamic that just misses the mark.

Zoma Start edge support - side sleeping with vest
Zoma Start edge support – side sleeping with vest

Side sleepers and heavier sleepers sink more deeply into the mattress. In the case of the Zoma Start, that means you’re sinking quickly through the top 2.0” comfort layer and into the harder more supportive base foam.

While that support is indeed supportive, it doesn’t have the right mix of pressure relief, comfort, and transitional support to support bodies without creating pressure points.

For these reasons, I feel that the Zoma Start is best for back and stomach sleepers, as well as lighter weight sleepers.

Many side sleepers, moderate-weight bodies, and heavy bodies are likely going to be better off with a different mattress.

Sleeper WeightStomach SleepersSide SleepersBack Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.YesYesYes
150-250 lbs.YesMaybeYes
250-300 lbs.MaybeNoMaybe

Design

The Zoma Start mattress is an all-foam mattress with a 10″ firmness and a medium-firm feel. It is designed as a budget-friendly option, especially for sleepers who don’t need the thicker comfort layer.

Type

Foam

Thickness

10″

Firmness

6.5

Zoma Start sitting
Zoma Start sitting

Materials

In total, the Zoma Start mattress is made up of three layers. From top to bottom, these layers include:

  • 1.0″ gel memory foam
  • 1.0″ poly foam
  • 8.0″ support foam
Zoma Start material layers
Zoma Start material layers

The Cover

The cover of the Zoma start is stretchy, lightweight, and breathable. It promotes cooling and allows the sleeper to quickly engage with the layers below, without providing excessive sinkage or contour.

Zoma Start cover photo

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer includes a 1.0″ layer of gel memory foam and a 1.0″ layer of transitional poly foam directly below.

Zoma Start open cover
Zoma Start open cover

These two foams work together to provide comfort, ultra-fast response time, and pressure relief above the support layer.

The Support Layer

The support layer makes up 80% of the mattress thickness, which is a bit more than we typically see.

Zoma Start materials
Zoma Start materials

Product Evolution

The Zoma Start was included in the original lineup when the company was launched back in 2019. Since its launch, there have been no major changes to the design, feel, or firmness of this mattress.

Zoma Start vs. Zoma Hybrid

The Zoma Start vs. Zoma Hybrid compares the top-of-the-line Zoma to the budget Zoma so there are some big differences here.

The Zoma Hybrid has a support coil base while the Zoma Start relies on 100% foam support. The Hybrid also has 3″ of comfort material and the Start only has 2.0″. Because of this, the Start has a firmer feel than the Hybrid.

The Zoma Hybrid has lower motion transfer, less bounce, and also a slower response time compared to the Start.

Zoma Start material layers

Zoma Start

Type: Foam
Thickness: 10″
Firmness: Medium-Firm (6.5)
Price: $599 (queen)
Overall Score: 9.45
Zoma Hybrid material layers

Zoma Hybrid

Type: Hybrid
Thickness: 12″
Firmness: Medium (5.0)
Price: $999 (queen)
Overall Score: 9.45

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Zoma Start is the right mattress for you? Check out one of the other options below for a top-rated alternative.

For Motion Transfer

Material layers on the GhostBed Classic

Ghostbed

Overall Score: 9.53

The Ghostbed mattress is a 100% foam mattress, like the Start, but offers more restrained motion transfer and better transfer relief. But the trade-off is slightly worse edge support.

Read Review

For Firmness

Nest Bedding Quail material layers

Nest Bedding Quail

2 Firmnesses Available

The Nest Bedding Quail mattress is a foam mattress that comes in a slightly softer firmness (5 out of 10) or a slightly firmer firmness (8 out of 10) compared to the Nest Bedding Quail. It also has a thicker comfort which is a plus for pressure relief.

Read Review

For Cooling

Leesa material foam layers

Leesa

Convoluted Foam

The Original Leesa has a 10″ high profile with 2.0″ poly foam, 2.0″ memory foam, and a 6.0″ support foam base. It has a balanced feel and slightly better cooling than the Zoma Start. It is also slightly softer (6 out of 10).

Read Review

Frequently Asked Questions

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

How much does a Zoma Start mattress cost?

Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:

Twin: $449
Twin XL: $499
Full: $549
Queen: $599
King: $699
Cal. King: $699
Split Cal. King: $898

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

Where is Zoma mattress made?

All Zoma mattresses are made in the U.S. The company is based in Phoenix, AZ.

Do Zoma mattresses have fiberglass?

Zoma mattresses do not contain fiberglass.

How long does a Zoma mattress take to expand?

Much like any other foam mattress, the Zoma takes just a few minutes to expand, although I always recommend giving it 12-24 hours to fully expand. If you want it to be fully off-gassed before sleeping on it, I’d wait around 3-4 days.

Is Zoma mattress non-toxic?

The materials and manufacturing of the Zoma mattress are certified by CertiPUR-US and contain no fiberglass, a known harmful material in mattress production.

While memory foam is not AS non-toxic as a natural or organic mattress, the chemicals used in memory foam production are MORE toxic during fabrication than they are as a fully assembled mattress.

Non-toxic: natural or organic mattress
Less toxic: finished memory foam mattress
More toxic: memory foam during the production

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.