Written by Natalie Grigson, Fortune Recommends Writer
Albert Chow and Kenneth Mo co-founded Silk and Snow in 2017 with the hopes of creating a mattress and furniture company that used eco-friendly materials. (1) Today, this Canada-based company sells everything from mattresses, furniture, bedding, and bath equipment, with free shipping throughout the United States.
The company offers three mattress options: the all-foam S&S Mattress, The S&S Hybrid Mattress, and The S&S Organic Mattress. For this brand review, our team of experts tested each model in performance, comfort and support, value, customer experience, and safety. After rigorous testing (i.e., lying on each bed in various positions and doing a ton of research), our overall pick is The S&S Mattress.
We’ll go into more detail on each mattress in this detailed review of Silk and Snow.
Our favorite Silk & Snow Mattress
We chose The S&S Mattress as our best overall pick. This all-foam mattress is simple and economical, containing just two layers of memory foam for a solid, no-frills bed. You can choose between Medium or Firm, making this a great option for stomach and back sleepers on a budget.
Our picks for the best Silk & Snow mattresses
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| Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress | Silk & Snow The S&S Hybrid Mattress | Silk & Snow The S&S Organic Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Price (queen) | $725 | $850 | $1,000 |
| Material | Foam | Hybrid (foam and coils) | Hybrid (foam and coils) |
| Sleep style | Back and stomach | Side and back | Back and stomach |
| Firmness | Firm and Medium-Firm | Medium | Firm |
| Cooling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key product features
What you should know
The S&S Mattress is a simple, all-foam bed ideal for those who don’t need many features or who are on a budget. It comes in two firmness options—Medium-Firm or Firm—with the Medium-Firm option costing an extra $75. We tried out the Firm.
- Out of 10, we rated this bed’s firmness a 7.5—which is pretty firm.
- At just $725 for a queen, the Firm option is very economical.
- The Medium-Firm option costs an extra $75, which is sort of unusual.
- We think the Firm model will be best for back and stomach sleepers.
- Heavy-weight sleepers may not feel supported enough on this all-foam mattress.
- Side sleepers will likely find this bed to be too firm against the shoulder and hip joints.
Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress overview
If you’re in the market for a simple, all-foam, budget-friendly mattress, The Silk and Snow S&S Mattress might be a good fit for you. Our mattress testers tried out the Firm model of The S&S and said it performed the best in the categories of edge support, responsiveness, overall value, and pressure relief. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Edge support
Edge support refers to the amount of support sleepers receive when sitting or lying near the edge of the bed. This is essential for people with mobility issues that may make getting out of bed more difficult. (2) It’s also important so you can comfortably use the entire surface of your bed.
Many foam beds have flimsy edges. We were pleasantly surprised that this bed has good edge support, with only slight sinkage when sitting right on the edge.
Responsiveness
The S&S Mattress is surprisingly responsive for an all-foam bed. Our testers noted that they didn’t really sink into this firm, buoyant bed, and it was easy to move around on. This is great for combination sleepers or those who don’t enjoy the typical “sinking” feeling of memory foam.
Overall value
The typical cost of an all-foam queen-sized mattress is about $1,050, according to Consumer Affairs. (3) The Silk and Snow S&S costs $725 for a queen, so it’s a great value overall.
Pressure Relief
When lying on their backs, our testers found that this bed did a great job relieving pressure.
Since this bed is rather firm—a 7.5 out of 10—it only felt comfortable when testers were lying on their backs or stomachs. They noted they didn’t feel their hips sinking down when lying on their stomachs, but a heavier sleeper likely would. On their backs, the bed felt firm and supportive.
The bed didn’t excel in the categories of cooling and motion isolation.
Cooling
Research shows that keeping cool throughout the night can help you sleep better, and when you’re hot, you’re more likely to sleep poorly. (4, 5) That’s why buying a bed that keeps you cool is so important.
The Silk and Snow S&S does include cooling features, like open-cell, gel-infused memory foam, but our testers didn’t notice it making much of a difference.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation is when a bed doesn’t allow much motion transfer from one part of the bed to the other. This feature is necessary for two people sharing the bed, especially if one is a sensitive sleeper.
Typically, memory foam beds are great at isolating motion. After all, this material was originally created to absorb even the most turbulent of motion during NASA flights. (6) However, our team noted that the foam in this bed “doesn’t seem to isolate too well,” and they could “definitely” feel some movement.
We’ve featured The Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress in:
Who The Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress is recommended for:
- Back sleepers: The firm model that we tested works well at relieving pressure for back sleepers.
- Stomach sleepers: Most light to average-weight sleepers should feel well supported when lying on their stomachs on this bed. It elevates the hips just enough.
- Light-to-average-weight sleepers: Light-to-average-weight sleepers should feel supported on this all-foam bed. That said, it may feel too firm for some more petite bodies.
Who The Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress is not recommended for:
- Side sleepers: This bed felt too firm for side sleeping and caused some pressure buildup in the shoulder and hip. That said, we did test the firm model; the medium-firm may be better.
- Hot sleepers: Even though this bed includes perforated, gel-infused foam, it does not sleep very cool, and we wouldn’t recommend it for hot sleepers.
- Heavy-weight sleepers: Heavy-weight sleepers probably won’t feel very supported on this relatively thin, all-foam mattress.
Expert opinion
We spoke with Dr. Shelby Harris, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine, to learn more about the importance of proper sleep position and finding the right mattress. Dr. Harris recommended the Silk & Snow mattress to stomach sleepers for it’s firm lift. “Stomach sleepers will most likely find a firm, or even ultra-firm, mattress the most comfortable. A firm mattress will help align the hips with the shoulders, while on their stomach. A soft mattress may cause the hips to sink out of alignment with the rest of the spine, which can be uncomfortable and lead to pain in the morning. So, they’ll want to look for a highly supportive mattress between a 7 and 9 on the firmness scale. Stomach sleepers will likely do best on an innerspring or hybrid mattress.”
How we rated The Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress
Overall, our expert reviewers gave The Silk and Snow S&S Mattress 4.4 out of 5 stars. This is how it ranked in all of our testing categories:
To arrive at these ratings, our team of sleep science experts and mattress testers tested over 60 mattresses, comparing their performance, comfort and support, value, customer experience, and health and safety. This means they had the fun job of lying on the beds in various positions, bouncing on them, testing their pressure buildup, sitting on their edges, etc., until they scored each category from one to five. From there, we averaged these scores for an overall rating.
Read more about our Mattress Testing Methodology.
Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress pricing and sizing
| Twin | $550 (Firm), $600 (Medium Firm) |
| Twin XL | $575 (Firm), $625 (Medium Firm) |
| Full | $650 (Firm), $725 (Medium Firm) |
| Queen | $725 (Firm), $800 (Medium Firm) |
| King | $825 (Firm), $900 (Medium Firm) |
| California king | $825 (Firm), $900 (Medium Firm) |
Warranties and policies
Warranty: All Silk and Snow mattresses come with a limited 15-year warranty. According to the company, the details of this warranty are as follows (7):
- It starts the day your mattress is delivered.
- The mattress must be opened within 30 days of receipt.
- It is only valid for a mattress that is set-up on an adequate foundation or bed frame.
- Depending on the model of Silk & Snow mattress, if, despite normal usage and proper handling, your S&S Mattress, S&S Hybrid, or S&S Organic Mattress forms permanent indentations of more than one or two inches (depending on which model you purchased), when no weight is on top of it, it will be replaced, at your option, according to the terms below.
- Silk & Snow will repair or replace any manufacturing defect of the mattress cover.
- Silk & Snow will require purchaser to show supporting documents (i.e. pictures) when processing a claim.
This warranty contains extensive additional fine print, so we encourage you to read the full text here.
Shipping and returns: Silk and Snow is based in Toronto, Canada, so they offer free shipping to all provinces of Canada, plus free shipping to 48 states and Washington, D.C. For Canadian Territories, plus Alaska and Hawaii, they’ll charge a non-refundable “nominal” shipping charge at check-out. This amount will depend on the distance to which it is being shipped.
As far as returns go, Silk and Snow asks that you try out your mattress for a minimum of thirty nights. After that, if you want to return it, you can do so for a full refund within your 365-night trial. The company will cover all costs associated with the return and typically donates returned mattresses. (8)
Trial period: Silk and Snow offers a 365-night trial period for all mattresses. This means if you don’t love your bed within the first year, you can return it for a full refund. They require that you first try it out for at least 30 nights to break the mattress in and determine if it’s a good fit.
Specs
| Price (queen) | $725 (Firm), $800 (Medium-Firm) |
| Material | Foam |
| Firmness | Firm or Medium-Firm |
| Warranty | 15 years |
| Trial | 365 nights |
| Shipping | Free |
| Height | 9 inches (Firm), 10 inches (Medium-Firm) |
Additional models from Silk & Snow
Key product features
What you should know
Silk and Snow’s The S&S Hybrid Mattress contains a layer of pocketed coils, gel-infused memory foam, and a cooling antimicrobial cover. The coils allow for air to pass through the mattress, and the gel-infused memory foam tends to trap less heat than traditional memory foam, making this a better option for hot sleepers. Additionally, the coils in the middle of the bed are denser, providing extra lumbar support for those with back pain.
- Our mattress testers tried the Medium model and rated its firmness at 6.5 out of 10.
- At $850 for a queen, this is much lower than the average price for a hybrid bed. (3)
- If you want the Plush model, you’ll have to pay an additional $300.
- It felt comfortable and supportive in all sleep positions, but heavy sleepers may not feel supported on their stomachs.
- Its edge support was lacking.
Who The S&S Hybrid Mattress is recommended for
We think The S&S Hybrid is a great option for light to heavy-weight side and back sleepers. It includes a sturdy layer of zoned coils in addition to its foam comfort layers, so it feels like a more supportive and substantial mattress overall.
Key product features
What you should know
For those who want a more environmentally friendly bed, The Silk and Snow S&S Organic Mattress is a great option. It uses materials like GOLS-certified organic latex, GOTS-certified organic cotton, GOTS-certified wool, and pocketed coils for a bed that feels particularly bouncy, cool, and supportive.
- This mattress is available in three firmness options.
- The Firm option costs $1,000 for a queen—an excellent deal for an organic mattress.
- The Medium-Firm costs an additional $200 and the Plush costs an additional $800.
- This bed feels especially bouncy and cooling due to the latex and spring combo.
- It’s relatively firm, so if you’re a side sleeper, you’ll want to opt for the Plush or Medium models.
Who The S&S Organic Mattress is recommended for
Of the three Silk and Snow mattress types, The S&S definitely feels the bounciest and coolest due to the combination of latex and coils. This makes it a great option for combination sleepers, hot sleepers, and sexually active couples. We also love this bed for those who want an organic or latex mattress but may not want to pay the $2,000+ they tend to cost.
The S&S Mattress vs. competitors
Silk and Snow’s S&S Mattress is an affordable, all-foam bed-in-a-box mattress, but it is certainly not the only one on the market. The Nectar Classic, T&N Original, Casper The One, and Plank Firm are all also all-foam beds that come in a box but with some key differences.
Of all the mattresses, The S&S is the least expensive. It also offers two firmness options, which is unusual for an all-foam bed, though you do have to pay $75 extra for the Medium option. Even though it includes gel-infused perforated foam, it doesn’t sleep especially cool.
The Nectar Classic is the most expensive all-foam bed on the list. It’s notably softer than The S&S and is a good option for both side and back sleepers. It also includes gel-infused foam but doesn’t sleep especially cool.
The Tuft & Needle Original is the softest mattress on this list, and it’s ideal for back and side sleepers. It’s also the coolest since it uses graphite-infused foam, which research shows can help absorb body heat. (9) We think it’s a great option for those who sleep a bit hotter but still want an affordable, all-foam mattress.
Casper’s The One is medium-firm and is a good option for all sleep positions. It also has superior motion isolation, which makes it ideal for couples. At $999, it’s still affordable, and sales are often available online.
Finally, the Plank Firm: a bed for people who just can’t seem to find a firm enough mattress. This mattress is flippable, where one side is firm, and the other is extra-firm. We only recommend it for back and stomach sleepers who love a firm mattress. If you sleep especially hot, it has an optional cooling cover upgrade ($100), which might also add a bit of cushion.
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| Silk & Snow The S&S Mattress | Nectar Classic Memory Foam | Tuft & Needle T&N Original | Casper The One | Plank Firm | |
| Rating | |||||
| Price (queen) | $725 | $1,563 | $895 | $999 | $1,332 |
| Material | Foam | Foam | Foam | Foam | Foam |
| Sleep style | Back and stomach | Back and side | Back and side | Back sleepers, stomach sleepers, couples | Back and stomach |
| Firmness | Firm or Medium | Medium | Medium-soft | Medium-firm | Firm and extra-firm (dual-sided) |
| Firmness | Gel-infused foam | Gel-infused foam | Gel- and graphite-infused foam | Open-cell foams | Breathable cover, open-cell foams, optional cooling cover upgrade starting at $100 |
What sleeping position is The Silk & Snow mattress best for?
We tested the Firm model of The S&S, so the best sleeping position was either on the back or stomach. Back and stomach sleepers need a slightly firmer surface to keep the spine in alignment. (10) Side sleepers will need a bed that is softer and relieves pressure on the shoulder and hip joints. The S&S does come in a Medium-Firm option for an additional $75, which may be a better fit for side sleepers.
How to choose the right mattress for you
When choosing a mattress, consider your body type, go-to sleep position(s), and firmness preferences.
Lighter-weight individuals usually prefer a softer mattress because they don’t sink in very far. Of course, if you love a firm mattress and you are under 130 pounds, you can still get one; you just won’t sink into the mattress’s top comfort layers and reap the full benefits of its design.
Average-weight sleepers can opt for a soft, medium, or firm bed depending on preference and sleep position. Heavy-weight sleepers should opt for a bed that is firmer and more supportive. This might mean choosing a hybrid bed that includes sturdy innerspring coils and foam for a combination of support and comfort.
Strict side sleepers will do best on a softer mattress to relieve pressure on the shoulders and hips. Strict back sleepers can opt for a medium or firm bed, and strict stomach sleepers will likely prefer a firm bed to prevent the hips from dipping down. If you’re a stomach sleeper, you’ll also want to use a very flat pillow to keep the spine aligned.
Of course, most people don’t stay in one position all night or fit so neatly into one category. In this case, a medium-firm bed is a good middle-of-the-road option. In fact, medium-firm mattresses have been shown to provide the best night’s sleep for the majority of people. (11)
FAQs
Is Silk & Snow a good brand?
Silk & Snow is a good option for those looking for a well-made bed on a budget. In our testing, we found that the materials were average—not especially high quality or luxurious—but overall, a good deal for the low price.
Can I sleep on my Silk & Snow mattress right away?
The Silk & Snow is an all-foam mattress-in-a-box, so once you receive it, you’ll need to give it two days to fully expand and completely off-gas. We recommend leaving it in a well-ventilated room so that the initial off-gassing smell dissipates before putting on bedding or sleeping on it.
Is The Silk & Snow Mattress firm?
Silk & Snow offers three different types of mattresses, which are available in various firmness options. Unlike some other mattress companies, Silk & Snow charges extra if you want to choose anything other than Firm. For example, for the all-foam S&S, choosing Medium rather than Firm will cost an additional $75.
Our experts
Anju Goel, M.D., MPH
Anju Goel, M.D., MPH, is a public health consultant and physician in California with a focus on communicable diseases, health policy, health promotion, and disaster preparedness. She’s also a consultant for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the COVID-19 response. Dr. Goel received her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine and her Master of Public Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. She’s board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Krista Manning
Krista Manning is an accomplished medical copy editor and fact-checker who stands out in the pharmaceutical, health, and wellness domains. With a meticulous eye for detail and a command of medical language, Krista ensures the accuracy and clarity of content. Beyond her professional expertise, Krista is an advocate for mental health awareness. Recognizing the crucial intersection of psychological and physical well-being, she actively contributes to projects that promote mental health awareness within the healthcare narrative. Krista’s commitment extends beyond the pages she edits, emphasizing the holistic nature of health communication.
Natalie Grigson
Fortune Recommends Writer
About Author
Sources
- Silk & Snow. Our Story. Accessed October 10, 2024.
- University of Washington. Mobility Impairments. Accessed October 10, 2024.
- Sansano T. How much does a mattress cost? Consumer Affairs. August 30, 2023.
- Harding EC, Franks NP, Wisden W. The Temperature Dependence of Sleep. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:336. Published 2019 Apr 24. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00336
- Baker B. Why is it so difficult to sleep when it’s hot? Penn Today. June 12, 2019.
- NASA. Memory Foam. Accessed October 11, 2024.
- Silk & Snow. Our Warranty. Accessed October 11, 2024.
- Silk & Snow. What is Your Return and Exchange Policy? Accessed October 11, 2024.
- Liu, X., Liu, X., Chen, Z. Experimental study on the temperature control characteristics of graphite foam-based composite phase change materials. Energy. 2024; 299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.131394
- Zhang Y, Xiao A, Zheng T, Xiao H, Huang R. The Relationship between Sleeping Position and Sleep Quality: A Flexible Sensor-Based Study. Sensors (Basel). 2022;22(16):6220. Published 2022 Aug 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22166220
- Cleveland Clinic. A Good Night’s Sleep Starts With a Good Mattress. May 24, 2023.