Quick Answer: Novosbed uses genuinely premium foam density (up to 5.0 lb/ft³), which is rare for a Canadian bed-in-a-box. The most common problems are heat retention from dense memory foam, firmness mismatch despite three options, and the inherent all-foam limitations around edge support and airflow. GoodMorning.com's free Comfort+ adjustment layer is a good safety net. Queen price starts at $999.
In This Guide
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Novosbed is a bit of an outlier in the Canadian bed-in-a-box market. While most online mattress brands use foam densities around 2.5 lb/ft³ for comfort layers, Novosbed publishes densities up to 5.0 lb/ft³. That is premium-grade memory foam by any standard, and it shows in durability testing.
So why does a mattress with legitimately good foam still generate complaints? Because foam density solves some problems while creating others. Dense memory foam lasts longer, but it also traps more heat, responds more slowly, and costs more. The trade-offs are real, even when the quality is high.
We have covered Novosbed in our detailed review. This guide focuses specifically on the common problems, their causes, and practical solutions.
Novosbed Overview: The Premium GoodMorning.com Mattress
Novosbed is part of the GoodMorning.com family, the same parent company behind Douglas, Logan and Cove, Brunswick, and Juno. Within that lineup, Novosbed is positioned as the premium memory foam option.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 11 inches |
| Construction | All-foam (4 layers) |
| Cover | Tencel (breathable, eco-friendly) |
| Layer 1 | Airflow memory foam (aerated, slow response) |
| Layer 2 | Pressure relief memory foam |
| Layer 3 | High-density polyfoam support base (1.8+ lb/ft³) |
| Top Layer Density | Up to 5.0 lb/ft³ |
| Firmness Options | Soft, Medium, Firm |
| Queen Price | ~$999 |
| Made In | North America (Canada) |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Warranty | 15 years |
| Comfort+ Kit | Free firmness adjustment layer if needed |
At $999 for a queen, Novosbed sits between the budget Canadian brands ($725 to $895) and the premium in-store models ($1,125+). The key differentiator is that 5.0 lb/ft³ foam density, which is genuinely premium and significantly higher than what Silk and Snow (2.5 lb/ft³), Casper (2.5 lb/ft³), and Douglas (2.5 lb/ft³) use.
Five Common Novosbed Problems
1. Heat Retention
This is the most frequently cited Novosbed complaint, and it is directly tied to the mattress's primary strength. High-density memory foam (5.0 lb/ft³) contains more material per cubic foot than lower-density foam. More material means smaller air cells, which means less airspace for heat to escape.
Novosbed uses aerated foam and a breathable Tencel cover to mitigate this. Some independent tests have found the mattress handles cooling reasonably well. But customer feedback consistently mentions warmth, particularly from side sleepers and couples.
The Density-Heat Trade-Off
This is not a quality problem. It is a physics problem. Higher foam density improves durability but increases heat retention. Lower-density foam sleeps cooler but wears out faster. Every all-foam mattress faces this trade-off. Novosbed chose the durability side, which means accepting some heat trade-off. The only way to get both premium density AND excellent cooling is to add coils underneath, which create 6 to 8 inches of open airspace for passive ventilation.
2. Firmness Mismatch
Despite offering three firmness options (Soft, Medium, Firm), some customers find the Novosbed does not match their expectations. Memory foam's response to body heat means the initial firmness changes as the foam warms. A mattress that feels appropriately firm when you first lie down may feel softer after 15 to 20 minutes.
The Medium option is the most common purchase and the most common source of complaints. Some sleepers find it too soft for back pain support, while others find the Firm option too rigid for side sleeping. This is the fundamental challenge of buying a mattress without testing it: no firmness rating can predict how your specific body will interact with the foam.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "I give GoodMorning.com credit for the Comfort+ system. If you buy a Novosbed and it is too firm, they send you a free foam layer to soften it. If it is too soft, same thing in reverse. That is a genuinely customer-friendly approach. But a thin adjustment layer sitting on top of an 11-inch mattress can only shift the feel so much. It is a good safety net, not a complete solution."
3. Slow Response and "Stuck" Feeling
Dense memory foam responds slowly to pressure changes. When you roll over or change position, the foam takes a moment to adjust. Some sleepers describe this as feeling "stuck" or "trapped" in the mattress. The foam creates a body-shaped cavity, and moving out of it requires effort.
This is inherent to memory foam, particularly at 5.0 lb/ft³ density. The same slow response that provides excellent pressure relief (your body sinks in and pressure distributes evenly) also makes repositioning harder. Combination sleepers who shift between side, back, and stomach throughout the night notice this most.
Latex and coil-based mattresses respond more quickly because they push back against pressure rather than slowly conforming to it. If responsiveness matters to you, the Novosbed's memory foam feel may be frustrating.
4. Edge Support Limitations
Like all foam mattresses without a reinforced coil perimeter, the Novosbed compresses when weight is concentrated at the edges. Sitting on the edge to tie shoes or get dressed produces noticeable sinkage. Sleeping near the edge feels less secure than sleeping in the centre.
Novosbed's higher foam density provides marginally better edge support than lower-density competitors, but foam density alone cannot replicate the structural resistance of steel coils. The edges are adequate, not strong.
5. Foundation Sensitivity
The Novosbed requires a solid, flat foundation. On a slatted bed frame with gaps wider than 3 inches, the mattress can flex between slats, creating uneven support and accelerating foam breakdown in those areas. Several customers have reported premature sagging that turned out to be foundation-related rather than mattress-related.
This is not unique to Novosbed, but it is worth emphasising because many people use older bed frames with wider slats. If your frame has gaps, a bunkie board or solid platform underneath solves the problem for under $100. Check your foundation before blaming the mattress.
Novosbed's Density Advantage (and Why Problems Still Exist)
To be fair to Novosbed, their foam density is genuinely impressive for the price point. Here is how it compares to other Canadian bed-in-a-box brands.
| Brand | Comfort Foam Density | Queen Price | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novosbed | Up to 5.0 lb/ft³ | $999 | All-foam |
| Silk and Snow | 2.5 lb/ft³ | $725 | All-foam |
| Douglas | 2.5 lb/ft³ | $799 | All-foam |
| Casper | 2.5 lb/ft³ (minimum) | $1,195 | All-foam |
| Endy | Not disclosed | $895 | All-foam |
| Polysleep | Not fully disclosed | $1,299 | All-foam |
Novosbed's density is double that of most competitors. That means meaningfully better durability, better pressure relief consistency over time, and better motion isolation. If you are comparing Novosbed to other all-foam mattresses, it is the strongest in the category on a specifications basis.
The problems exist not because of poor quality, but because of what foam cannot do regardless of density: provide structural airflow, maintain edge stability under concentrated weight, and respond quickly to position changes. Those are coil territory.
The Comfort+ System: Does It Fix the Issues?
Novosbed's Comfort+ kit is a genuinely unique feature. If you find the mattress too firm or too soft during the trial period, GoodMorning.com sends you a free foam layer. You unzip the cover, insert the adjustment layer, and the feel changes.
What Comfort+ Can and Cannot Fix
- Can fix: Surface firmness that feels slightly too hard or too soft. Adds or adjusts cushioning at the sleep surface.
- Can fix: Pressure points at the shoulders or hips. The additional layer redistributes pressure.
- Cannot fix: Heat retention. Adding another foam layer may actually increase heat trapping.
- Cannot fix: Edge support. The additional layer does not change the structural properties of the mattress edges.
- Cannot fix: Slow response time. Memory foam's slow recovery is inherent to the material, not the firmness level.
- Cannot fix: The need for coil support. If you want airflow and structural edge stability, a foam layer adjustment will not provide them.
The In-Store Alternative
The Comfort+ system exists because online mattress buying is inherently a guess. You pick a firmness level based on descriptions, and if it is wrong, the brand ships you an adjustment. At our Brantford showroom, the equivalent process takes ten minutes. Lie on several mattresses. Find the one that feels right. Go home with confidence. The "adjustment" happens before purchase, not after. We have been doing this since 1997 because it works.
8 min read
When to Keep Your Novosbed vs. When to Replace
Adjustments to Try First
Extending Your Novosbed's Life
- Request the Comfort+ kit: If firmness is the issue and you are within the trial period, this is free and worth trying.
- Use a cooling protector and breathable sheets: Tencel or bamboo sheets and a cooling mattress protector can offset some heat retention.
- Ensure a solid foundation: Check that slats are less than 3 inches apart or add a bunkie board.
- Rotate every 3 months: Head-to-foot rotation distributes wear. Novosbed is not flippable.
- Run a fan or adjust room temperature: Keeping the bedroom at 15.5 to 19.5°C helps with the heat issue.
Signs It Is Time to Replace
- Visible body impression that does not recover when the bed is empty
- The memory foam no longer springs back after you get up (compression set)
- Heat retention has worsened noticeably over time (foam cell structure degrading)
- The mattress is 7+ years old and comfort has declined despite being high-density
- You have developed a preference for responsive, bouncy mattresses over slow memory foam
Because Novosbed's foam density is genuinely premium, expect a longer comfort life than budget competitors. Where a 2.5 lb/ft³ mattress might need replacement at 4 to 6 years, the Novosbed should maintain its properties for 6 to 9 years for average-weight sleepers.
Alternatives Matched to Your Specific Problem
| Your Problem | Our Recommendation | Why It Works | Queen Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat retention | Restonic Luxury Silk and Wool | Natural wool and silk fibres regulate temperature passively. 884 zoned coils create 6+ inches of open airflow space. | $2,395 |
| Slow response / stuck feeling | Restonic Revive Tiffany Rose | Talalay Copper Latex responds instantly instead of slowly sinking. Bouncy and responsive while still contouring. 1,188 coils. | $1,995 |
| Edge support | Restonic ComfortCare | 1,222 pocketed coils with reinforced perimeter. Full surface usable with no edge collapse. | $1,619 |
| Firmness mismatch | Restonic Revive Reflections ET | Dual-sided flippable. Firm on one side, cushion on the other. No need to guess. 1,200 coils. | $1,395 |
| Want similar quality with coils | Restonic Revive St. Charles | 15-inch flagship with premium foam layers AND 1,188 coils. Premium density foam plus the structural benefits of coils. | $2,150 |
| Budget-conscious alternative | Restonic ComfortCare | At $1,619 with 1,222 coils, it adds structural advantages the Novosbed lacks while costing only $126 more. | $1,619 |
The GoodMorning.com Hybrid Option
If you like the GoodMorning.com buying experience, their Logan and Cove mattress is a hybrid with pocketed coils. It addresses most all-foam complaints (heat, edges, responsiveness) while maintaining the same customer service and trial period. That said, you still cannot test it in person before buying. At our Brantford showroom, you can test similar hybrid constructions and know before you commit.
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Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Novosbed mattress last?
Thanks to its premium foam density (up to 5.0 lb/ft³), the Novosbed should maintain comfort for 6 to 9 years for average-weight sleepers. This is longer than most Canadian bed-in-a-box competitors using 2.5 lb/ft³ foam, which typically last 4 to 6 years. Heavier sleepers may see a shorter timeline.
Is Novosbed the best all-foam mattress in Canada?
On a pure foam specification basis, Novosbed has the highest published comfort layer density (5.0 lb/ft³) among major Canadian bed-in-a-box brands. This translates to better durability and pressure relief consistency. Whether that makes it "best" depends on your priorities. If heat regulation, edge support, or responsiveness matter more than foam density, a hybrid may serve you better.
What is the Novosbed Comfort+ system?
If you find the Novosbed too firm or too soft during the 120-night trial, GoodMorning.com sends you a free foam layer that adjusts the firmness. You unzip the cover and insert it. It is a genuine customer-friendly feature, though it can only shift surface feel, not address structural issues like edge support or heat retention.
Does Novosbed sleep hot?
Dense memory foam inherently retains more heat than lower-density foam or coil hybrids. Novosbed mitigates this with aerated foam and a Tencel cover. Independent testing has produced mixed results, with some reviewers finding cooling adequate and others noting warmth. Hot sleepers and couples should consider a hybrid with coil airspace for the most effective cooling.
Where can I try alternatives to Novosbed near Brantford?
Mattress Miracle at 441 1/2 West Street in Brantford carries Restonic, and Sleep In mattresses. You can test hybrids with coils alongside foam options to see which construction suits your body. Call Brad at (519) 770-0001 for availability.
Sources
- Jacobson, B.H., et al. (2008). Effect of prescribed sleep surfaces on back pain and sleep quality in patients with low back pain. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 7(1), 1-8. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcme.2007.11.003
- Okamoto-Mizuno, K. and Mizuno, K. (2012). Effects of thermal environment on sleep and circadian rhythm. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 31(1), 14. doi.org/10.1186/1880-6805-31-14
- Radwan, A., et al. (2015). Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain. Sleep Health, 1(4), 257-267. doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2015.08.001
- Krauchi, K. (2007). The thermophysiological cascade leading to sleep initiation in relation to phase of entrainment. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 11(6), 439-451. doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2007.07.001
- Defloor, T. (2000). The effect of position and mattress on interface pressure. Applied Nursing Research, 13(1), 2-11. doi.org/10.1016/S0897-1897(00)80013-0
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Mattress Miracle , 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON · (519) 770-0001
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