I've been excited to get my hands-on the Plank Firm Luxe mattress, now from just $745 at Plank in the 4th of July sales, ever since I tested the original Plank. The all-foam Plank impressed me with its extra firm feel and incredible support — this hybrid upgrade promises all that and more.
I've slept on some of the best mattresses for every sleep style, but firm beds are always my winner. It's no wonder I was full or praise in my Plank Firm mattress review, as extra firm support was the stand-out feature. So far, the Plank Firm Luxe lives up to its predecessor and adds a bouncy, luxury finish.
I'll be writing a full review shortly. so keep an eye out for updates. But with the 4th of July mattress sales underway (and 30% off the Plank, FYI) I wanted to share my initial thoughts for all the firm mattress lovers. Here's my experience of both sides of the Plank Firm Luxe mattress so far — yes, it's a double-sided bed.
Set up is a strain on the back
Our mattress photographer is always yelling at me to lift with my knees and if he saw me handle the Plank Firm Luxe, he probably would have fainted.
This mattress is incredibly heavy and even with the help of my dad, getting a queen size up the stairs put strain on every muscle in my body. It was also difficult to remove the multiple layers of plastic wrap but that was largely because I was already exhausted.
The good news is that once your mattress is unboxed, it's pretty much ready to sleep on — and you'll appreciate the lie down after maneuvering the thing.
Normally, I can dismiss a difficult unboxing process. After all, mattresses in a box are never going to be light and once they're out of the packaging, the job is done.
However, the Plank Firm Luxe is a double-sided mattress, which means you don't just unbox it and leave it. Every so often you're going to want to flip this bed to enjoy the other side. By myself, I simply can't do it. That means either missing out on one half of the bed, or begging the Tom's Guide fitness team for advice on building your 'mattress flipping' muscles.
The firm feel delivers incredible support to ease back pains
Unboxing the Plank Firm Luxe might have done a number on my back but the mattress itself is great at soothing aches and pains. The firm feel keeps your whole body lifted — whichever of the dual sides you're sleeping on — to reduce strain on your spine.
As a front sleeper, I'm used to beds causing tension in my lower back (this unusual sleep position works against the natural curve of the spine.) However, the Plank Firm Luxe lifts everything from my shoulder down, holding me in comfortable alignment. That's the kind of feature I look for in all the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
But that's the experience that earned the original Plank Firm a place among the best mattresses for back pain. What makes the Luxe worth the upgrade?
Like our favorite hybrid mattresses, the Plank Firm Luxe uses springs and foam to create a bouncier, more responsive feel. I tend to move from side to side in the night (at least, according to my sleep tracker) and this quick response time ensures I receive continual support for every part of the body.
While the original Plank mattress wasn't bad in this respect, it did have a deadened feel that offered less targeted support.
It's a surprisingly luxurious firm mattress
The Plank Firm Luxe doesn't look as indulgent as, say, the Westin Heavenly Bed. However, dress the Plank Luxe in your best bed sheets and you'll believe you're sleeping on a luxury mattress.
This is an area where the Luxe distinguishes itself from the all-foam original. The addition of coils not only adds height (increased mattress thickness is a hallmark of premium beds) but also provides a more traditional feel that brings to mind designs like the Saatva Classic and the Stearns and Foster Estate mattress.
While the best memory foam mattresses can be luxurious, the firm build of the original Plank feels like a high quality necessity, rather than an indulgence. The Plank Firm Luxe adds that finishing touch to elevate the sleep space and make climbing into bed a treat.
My thoughts on the Plank Firm Luxe mattress so far
I'll be writing my full review of the Plank Firm Luxe mattress soon but so far, I'm impressed. It's a worthy upgrade to the Plank Firm (a mattress I loved).
The addition of springs feel like more than just a gimmick (or a way to hike up the price). They provide luxury and responsive support without sacrificing the super-firm feel that makes Plank beds stand out in the first place. But they also add weight and I'm curious to see how often I can work up the nerve to flip this bed during the review period.
And while the motion isolation and the edge support looked good during our Sleep Lab tests, I want to see how they hold up in real life circumstances. The Plank original also had a slight problem with overheating and early tests indicate the Luxe hasn't quite sorted the issue.
However, while it might be early days, I think we have a new contender for the top spot in our guide to the best firm mattresses.
