BedStory® Gel Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress| Medium Firm Euro Top

Comfortable! One minor issue.

To preface my interview, this is the first mattress I've ever bought, and I've been sleeping on it for about a month. After going in-person to a few mattress outlets, it seems I'm more likely to enjoy a mid-to-firmer bed. I'm sort of a side sleeper, sort of a belly sleeper (my hips and stomach are usually on the bed, and my upper body is usually on its side). I bought the black full 12 inch gel size. I bought this frame/base: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MISZOC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_32rMDbT9C43RDOkay so! The unpacking process was fairly simple, but it DOES unroll with the top of the mattress facing down. I was alone and managed to haul this thing around but it IS heavy. The straps on the sides of the bed actually did help quite a bit in this aspect.I really like this mattress. I knew I wanted a hybrid because they give you that firm innerspring base, but they often have a softer memory foam or pillow top that you can sink into. This mattress provides that. The top portion has just enough give that you sink into it, but you can only sink down so far until the firmer part of the bed shows up. That isn't to say you suddenly crush into a flat board, but more like the further into the mattress you go, the firmer it is.Though I can't really judge the cooling gel aspect because I'm not familiar with it, or how to identify if it's there, all I can really go off of is my experience. I'm the type of person that tends to run a little warm, and on a previous regular mattress sometimes I would wake up and be surrounded by warmth/overheated/oversaturated. Personally, I find that sort of feeling comfortable in the winter, but it is a serious problem in the summer. Since getting this mattress I haven't experienced that. I'm sure doubling up on blankets in the winter will solve that for me, and I anticipate it'll be an awesome boon during the summer.The corners may not look like they have fully extended just due to the packaging method, but where the top actually ends, my mattress tops out at about 11.5"- I actually slept on my mattress same day so I'm not sure if that's affected anything. Most online resources actually note your body heat may aide in this process? You'll notice in my picture I start my measurement at 1" and it goes to about 12.5" inches- it was hard getting the picture myself so I tucked the measuring tape.I haven't noticed any sinking issues. I slept on one end of the bed for two weeks, and have been sleeping on the other end these past two weeks. I worried about this a lot, because in my inexperience, the bed would retain my shape a little when I would get in and out of it frequently/for long periods of time. After being out of it for a few hours, it's back to normal.I only had one minor problem- the way the bed was packaged has left sort of a roll in the middle of the mattress, for lack of a better term. Look- I'm a 22 year old college student. I can deal with a roll. It doesn't affect my sleep, and it's diminished with a little time, but it's there. It's easier to feel than see, the rest of the bed is fairly flat and then in the middle there is a small hill/divot situation. That's my second picture. Like I said, it's not very visible.

Affordable quality for a modern, attractive design and well buil

It all started with a sleepover at a well established Hotel in Waukegan, IL which happens to be where a particularly famous mattress manufacturer is located. The same of which I'd planned to purchase a mattress from at 4x the cost of this 12 Gel Hybrid BedStory mattress (Blk/Gold) I bought. After visiting a mattress warehouse chain and laying on a variety of mattresses and spending hours reading review's - I decided not to disappoint myself (or my budget) by investing thousands on layered pieces of foam, polyester and metal springs. None of the materials which are innately expensive in this day and age. After watching videos of how easily mattresses are manufacturing and engineered and how the industry is riddled with markups that basically insult the consumer. I decided to cap my spending at $400-$500 - and you guessed it, so glad I did! I wasn't sure about BedStory's bedding products but have now experienced 1st hand that this mattress sleeps and is no less comfortable (or constructed) than mattresses's 4x the cost. I've either slept on (hotel traveling) or lay on (at various mattress warehouses) many types (traditional, memory foam types, etc) and this BedStory mattress is the "sweet spot" ... ohh yaah definitely a keeper! I setup a BIB mattress for my elderly mother a few years back and because of several reasons we didn't allow for no more than about 8 hr expansion. My mothers mattress lasted for several years, and is still in use to this day. I read thru every review here on Amazon regarding the BIB 12" Gld/Blk mattress and 36 hrs was the min, I allowed 32 hrs expansion before sleeping on my mattress. It expanded in what I consider to be perfect conditions - empty guest room 70-80 degree window wide open. It hit the 11" mark within 5min of unwrapping and about an hour later 12". There was the slightest of a chemical smell during unpacking, but nothing bothersome and was undetectable after one nights expansion. I've only slept on my mattress one nite (good experience) if I have any issues moving forward will update this review. Instead of being so firm or supportive that it pushes your body upward and away this mattress pulls your body into it wrapping you up snugly - yup the sweet spot! There's no ripple effect from your movements at all, they are adsorbed by the bedding material (sounds like the Gel foam in action) rather than disturbing your sleep mate. Outstanding job Bed Story! Hope this review helps you decide - rest well and GN...

firmness is subjective

would rate this mattress at 4.5 but not 4. Very impressed with the materials used. almost to nice to cover with sheets. Firmer than I have hoped for but this replaces a water bed mattress I've slept on for years. Didn't want a sponge that I sunk into so I went with this one with springs. This was one of 4 I was looking at but the only 12". My limit was $400 on something I couldn"t check out in person. My mattress opened upside down and it takes 2 people to turn it over but the handles on the side was a great idea. This mattress starts to expand as soon as you start to cut the bag so act quickly. Put a quality plush topper on it and it makes it softer. Only slept on it 3 nights and I am happy with it . This is a very will made mattress and it deserves an honest review. My only advice to the seller is to change springs to 6.5 and make convoluted foam 3.5 in. I think this would make it a little less firm. Firmness is the opinion of the sleeper and one mans medium is another mans firm. Hope this helps future customer . This company makes a very good quality mattress.

Outstanding quality and value

This review is for the BedStory 12 Inch Gel Hybrid Mattress Queen, Black Luxury Spring Mattress version , I was not real comfortable buying a mattress on line its a gamble and returning it a real hassle. I alsmost bout the more firm version but now I am glad I bout this med firm version . It is perfect blend between firm and soft , in fact it is both as strange as that sounds , the top part is comfy soft and springs back quickly , below that is a med firm feeling that provides the correct support with out being rock hard . My old matress a signature sleep pillow top was a literal pain in the neck , I most always wok up in the morning in pain , but with this Bedstory luxury matress I am sleeping more sound , pain free , and get to sleep much faster . Delivery was flawless and unpacking was painless . At 100lbs this is no lightweight mattress so The handles on the mattress really help . I am so glad I bought this it is worth every penny .

The mattress comes packed in an outer plastic wrapper and an inner one. The outer wrapper was nice and tight, keeping things rolled up. Step one in assembly is to remove that wrap.

The mattress began to inflate rapidly and immediately. The inner wrapper has massive holes in it. The mattress began to unroll very fast. That was exciting.

I managed to get it into the bedroom while it was unrolling. I noticed that it had been rolled in the wrong direction, with the top on the outside. Following directions would have resulted in the mattress being upside down when flat. It was fairly easy to maneuver onto the bed frame in its unrolled and partially inflated state.

By bedtime, the mattress appeared fully inflated. So, I slept on it. Very comfortable. There is an odor, that ""new mattress"" smell but it does not bother me or my cat.

Feels great to sleep on

I am sleeping on the mattress despite the fact that it is less than 24 hours since I unpacked it. How come?

The mattress comes packed in an outer plastic wrapper and an inner one. The outer wrapper was nice and tight, keeping things rolled up. Step one in assembly is to remove that wrap.

The mattress began to inflate rapidly and immediately. The inner wrapper has massive holes in it. The mattress began to unroll very fast. That was exciting.

I managed to get it into the bedroom while it was unrolling. I noticed that it had been rolled in the wrong direction, with the top on the outside. Following directions would have resulted in the mattress being upside down when flat. It was fairly easy to maneuver onto the bed frame in its unrolled and partially inflated state.

By bedtime, the mattress appeared fully inflated. So, I slept on it. Very comfortable. There is an odor, that ""new mattress"" smell but it does not bother me or my cat.