DreamFoam Mattress Review

Jake Comfort | Updated: August 2023
Jake Comfort | Updated: August 2023
We have an affiliate relationship with and receive compensation from companies whose products we review on this site. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Around 25 years ago, Tempurpedic introduced one of the first widely consumed foam mattresses to the mass market. It was an instant success; the only problem was that it cost an outrageous amount of money. For the next few decades, foam mattresses appeared to be luxury items that were only accessible to the wealthy. Fortunately, companies like DreamFoam have begun releasing much more affordable foam mattresses – this has made luxury mattresses available to almost any consumer.
DreamFoam is actually a subsidiary of larger mattress producer Brooklyn Bedding. They created DreamFoam to supply extremely low-cost foam mattresses to their customer base. They have a wide variety of foam mattresses at different price points. For the purpose of this review, we will be reviewing their most affordable mattress, the Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress. It’s grown in popularity since its introduction, and once you read our review, we’re sure you’ll understand why.
Jump to Section
Construction
As mentioned previously, the Arctic Dreams mattress is the most affordable of the DreamFoam mattress line. For this reason, it has a very basic construction design. The mattress is made up of three different foam layers – all which have unique characteristics. We will explore each of these layers in further detail below.
Foam Layers
- Top – This layer is constructed from .75” of ‘Super Soft Foam’. This is a material that is supposed to provide ultimate comfort to those who sleep on it – it will relieve any pressure or stress that your back has accumulated throughout the day.
- Middle – This layer is constructed from 3” of Energex gel foam. This is a hybrid foam that has many of the traits of memory foam without the added heat retention. It also has a bit more bounce than traditional memory foam.
- Bottom – This is constructed from 6.25” of high-density support foam. This is the foundation of the entire mattress – it provides the firmness so that other layers of the mattress can focus on comfort.
As you can see, the entire mattress is made out of foam. Each layer provides its own benefit to the mattress, but the overall design is quite simple. The total thickness of the mattress is about 10”, which is in-line with the industry standard for foam mattresses. There are actually a few different versions of the mattress, so the exact thickness will depend on which one you order. One thing to note is that, when you’re considering the thickness, you’ll want to go bigger the heavier you are. You also will want to get a thicker mattress if you’re sharing it with a partner.
Just because the construction is minimalist, doesn’t mean that the mattress isn’t comfortable and supportive. We will explore additional details about the mattress further on in this review.
Another thing to note is that all of the foam in DreamFoam mattress is CertiPUR-US certified. That means the mattress is constructed without any PBDEs, TDCCP, TCEP, ozone deplaters, lead, mercury, heavy metals, phthalates, or formaldehyde. The result is an environmentally friendly construction.
Cover
DreamFoam has followed industry practice by creating an extremely minimalist and noninvasive cover for the Artic Dreams mattress. The cover is made from a mix of cotton and polyester. The result is a thin, stretchy, and durable cover. You’ll find that it doesn’t retain any heat – the material is extremely breathable. Another thing to like about the cover is that it’s quilted. Not only does this enhance the durability and style of the cover itself, but is also provides an extra layer of softness to help you ease into the top comfort layers and the support layers of the mattress. Additionally, the blue piping around the edges of the mattress is a nice touch and enhances the style of the mattress when the bed isn’t made.
The Arctic Dreams mattress has an extremely soft top layer, any additional cover material would prevent the sleeper from enjoying this awesome foam. DreamFoam have done well to provide the most functional cover possible.
One thing to note is that the cover isn’t removable. That means it can be a hassle to wash your mattress, which you’re going to want to do in order to keep in in the best possible condition. As a result, a mattress protector may be necessary. Mattress protectors aren’t too expensive. But it’s important to be aware of all the associated costs when you’re buying a new mattress.
Firmness, Feel, and Support
If you think that the materials used in the mattress are suitable to your tastes, the next thing to decide is whether or not the Arctic Dreams mattress is comfortable and supportive enough for you to invest in. We ran substantial tests on the mattress to try and assess what level of support it provides those who sleep on it. For the purpose of our testing, we assessed the traditional Arctic Dreams mattress (Medium) – there are now two other versions that provide different support levels.
The Medium Arctic Dreams mattress comes in at about a 5/10 support level. This is a great level of support for those who do not weigh over 220 pounds. If you do weigh over this, you’ll find that there simply isn’t enough support in the mattress to provide you with a comfortable and healthy sleep. A 5/10 is a great support level for anyone that is under this weight – it’s even a decent level for young teens or children. You won’t feel much pressure or resistance on your back, so it’s an awesome comfort level for those who find they are sore or tired by the time they go to sleep.
If you don’t feel like this is a good comfort level for you, there are still other options. The Arctic Dreams mattress also comes in a ‘Medium Soft’ and a ‘Medium Firm’ configuration.
The Medium Soft Arctic Dreams mattress is 12” thick, and will cost you a bit more than the regular mattress. It provides an extra amount of soft foam at the top, as well as a larger second layer. This ensures that the mattress is slightly softer than the medium version. You will sink more into this mattress than you would with the original version.
For those who weigh over 230 pounds, the Medium Firm Arctic Dreams mattress might be your best bet. It is slightly less thick than the original Arctic Dreams mattress – it is 8” thick in total. It reduces the amount of foam in the top two layers so your body has closer contact with the support layer of the mattress. This is good for those who are heavy sleepers because it will provide you with a straighter sleeping position. This is good for both your sleeping quality and your back. Another option to consider if you’re a heavier sleeper is the hybrid version of the DreamFoam mattress. The hybrid version includes pocketed coils, so you can get even more support where you need it. The pocketed coils also provide some extra pushback for couples looking to get the most out of their mattress during adult fun time.
As you can see, the amount of support and the level of comfort the mattress provides will depend on the version of the mattress that you purchase. Make sure to consult your partner with what they think would be most suitable for your mattress before you make any decisions on support levels.
Changes Over the Years
DreamFoam hasn’t made many changes to the Arctic Dreams mattress over the years. This is because they produce a wide variety of mattresses and tend to come out with new models when they need to update their current mattress list. The one change that has occurred is the introduction of the two other mattress types – the ‘Medium’ mattress, that scores a 5/10 for support, used to be the only mattress you could purchase.
Sinkage
One of the primary things that differentiates a foam mattress from spring and coil mattresses is the sinkage that occurs when you lie on it. Foam mattress manufacturers try and create the feeling that you’re lying on a cloud when you use one of their mattresses. The reason foam feels this way is because you sink into it and the material begins to hug your body. After you get up from lying on a foam mattress you will often see the outline of your body. But too much sinkage can be uncomfortable. That’s why we’ve tested the mattress to see what levels of sinkage occur when certain levels of pressure are applied to the mattress. The test results are outlined below:
- Back – While lying on our back, we witness about 1.5-2.5” of sinkage
- Side – While lying on the side of our body, the mattress sank about 1.5-3”
- Sitting on Edge (soft) – While sitting with partial weight on the bed, there was about 4” of sinkage
- Sitting on Edge (heavy) – While sitting aggressively on the bed, there was about 6” of sinkage in total
- Standing (middle) – While standing up in the middle of the mattress, there was about 6-7” of sinkage
All the tests done on this mattress were done with a body weight of 145 pounds – keep in mind that the amount of sinkage will differ depending on the amount of weight that is placed on the mattress. Also remember that the sinkage of the mattress can change over time as the mattress gets used every night.
Prices
The fact is there isn’t really a cheaper foam mattress on the market. If you’re looking for a high-quality foam mattress and you don’t want to pay the big bucks, this is by far the best option. The only mattress that comes relatively close is the Tuft & Needle, and they’re still about twice as expensive as the Arctic Dreams mattress. The price of the mattress that you purchase will vary slightly depending on which of the three configurations you buy. The softest configuration is the most expensive, as it is the thickest. In addition, they offer a lot more variation in mattress sizes when compared to most online mattress providers. A full list of the prices and mattress sizes for the ‘Medium’ Arctic Dreams mattress is provided below:
Size | Price |
Twin | $179.99 |
Twin XL | $199.99 |
Full | $249.99 |
Full XL | $299.99 |
Short Queen | $309.99 |
Queen | $289.99 |
King | $359.99 |
California King | $369.99 |
Other Details
Here are some other details regarding the Arctic Dreams mattress:
- Free shipping inside mainland USA
- 10-year Warranty
- 90-day Trial Period
- All mattresses are made in the USA
Should I Buy an Arctic Dreams Mattress?
The Arctic Dreams mattress is the perfect mattress for anyone who wants to enter the foam mattress market but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money. You’re receiving a high-quality product from a high-quality producer for a relatively low cost. It also comes with a generous warranty and trial period.
The mattress is comfortable, and you can customize the amount of support that you want – this is something that isn’t offered by many mattress companies. The cover of the mattress is also a great benefit – it doesn’t interfere with the mattress at all.
All in all, this mattress is an extremely good bargain. And with free shipping, there are no hidden fees or charges that increase the price of the mattress. If you want to buy a foam mattress for this price, the majority of the people operating in the space don’t produce high-quality products. You have the name of Brooklyn Bedding backing your product – this also means that your warranty is a lot more certain than it would be with an inferior company.
As a result, the DreamFoam mattress is an excellent choice for people shopping on a budget, those looking for their first mattress, and those looking for a quality guest room mattress at a reasonable price. Taken together, there are plenty of situations where the Dreamfoam mattress is the perfect mattress for you. Moreover, the 90-day trial period ensure that you’ll have plenty of time to experience the mattress and make sure it’s what you want. If it isn’t, you can simply arrange a return.
As always, if you don’t feel like this is the right mattress for you, make sure to check out some of the other awesome mattresses that we have reviewed on our site.
Alternatives to Dreamfoam
Dreamfoam has a lot to offer sleepers. But we want to make sure you find the perfect mattress. That’s why we think you should consider these alternatives to Dreamfoam. Each of these options provides most or all of what you get with a Dreamfoammattress, while also sporting some additional benefits.
Nolah
Do you want a mattress that’s quite special? Nolah mattresses stand out from the competition because they have proprietary material such as the cooling Nolah AirFoam™ — a temperature-neutral alternative to memory foam. The mattresses also have a high-density base foam that provides premium support and pressure relief.
As a company, Nolah supports sustainable business practices, gives back money to protect the environment, and uses organic materials in its mattresses. Even though it is a new company, Nolah has already amassed hundreds of positive reviews from customers.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
What Makes Nolah a Great Alternative?
- A versatile design that is suited for any type of flat surface
- Lifetime warranty and 120-night trial period
- Made with organic materials that are free from allergens
- Up to $800 off + 2 Free Pillows!
PlushBeds
If you’re looking for certified natural and organic materials at an affordable price, then PlushBeds is another great option for you. You can get natural latex and memory foam mattresses for any budget or size.
One of the things we like most about PlushBeds is that they make a wide variety of non-standard mattresses, like RV mattresses, Sofa bed mattresses, and so on. As a result, they’re a great choice if you’re trying to add some new life to an existing bed or guest room without going all out and breaking the bank.
Another thing to love about PlushBeds is that they have free delivery and return shipping. That means you can take advantage of their 100-night trial offer with zero risk.
PLUSHBEDS
What Makes PlushBeds a Great Alternative?
- Lots of options means there’s something for everyone
- Natural and organic latex mattresses
- Free shipping and return pickup
You must be logged in to submit a review.