by The Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding is one of the firmest consumer mattresses available, a flippable all-foam design rated Firm (8/10) on one side and Extra Firm (9.5/10) on the other. It works for confirmed stomach sleepers and heavy back sleepers who've been let down by every other "firm" mattress. Most sleepers, including back sleepers under 180 lbs and virtually all side sleepers, should not use it. If you want a firm feel with coil support, better cooling, and a longer trial, the Saatva Classic in the Firm option is the stronger overall choice.
Saatva Classic
9.2/10
- Dual-coil construction with reinforced lumbar zone, coils breathe better than dense foam
- Three firmness options including Firm (8/10), matching the Plank's firmer side with more airflow
- Free white-glove delivery, setup, and old-mattress removal included
- 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, significantly longer coverage than the Plank
- Ships flat, not compressed, heavy to handle
- $99 removal fee if returned during the trial
For stomach sleepers and heavy back sleepers who want firmness with luxury coil construction and better temperature regulation, the Saatva Classic Firm is the upgrade path from the Plank. More breathable, longer warranty, and white-glove delivery included.
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Plank Firm verdict: 4.2/5
The Plank Firm does exactly what it promises. Brooklyn Bedding designed this mattress for one type of sleeper: the confirmed stomach sleeper or heavy back sleeper who has returned mattress after mattress because every "firm" option still felt too soft. On that narrow brief, the Plank delivers. On the Firm side (8/10), the 0.5-inch TitanFlex layer takes enough edge off the hard base to be usable. Flip to Extra Firm (9.5/10), and you have the closest commercially available equivalent to sleeping on the floor, with a thin cushion added for contact comfort.
What it is not: a mattress for most people. Side sleepers will develop shoulder and hip pressure points quickly. Back sleepers under 180 lbs will likely feel the hard base pushing into the lumbar rather than supporting it. Hot sleepers on the base model have no real temperature regulation because dense foam without coils traps heat.
Construction and materials
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | All-foam flippable |
| Firm side (top) | 0.5" TitanFlex responsive foam + high-density polyfoam base |
| Extra Firm side (bottom) | No comfort layer, direct to high-density polyfoam base |
| Core | 8" high-density polyfoam |
| Height | 10.5" |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US |
| Luxe upgrade | Phase-change cooling fabric + 0.5" cooling gel layer |
| Trial | 120 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Queen price range | $999 base / $1,249 Luxe |
The construction is intentionally minimal. TitanFlex, Brooklyn Bedding's proprietary latex-like foam, adds slight responsiveness and pressure relief on the Firm side without compromising the firm feel. The base layer is a high-density polyfoam rated firmer than the industry standard for support cores. This combination creates a mattress that does not compress meaningfully under body weight, which is the entire point.
The Luxe version addresses the Plank's biggest weakness: heat. Phase-change cooling fabric in the cover absorbs body heat and releases it as the material cools, and the added gel layer wicks some warmth away from the sleep surface. It is still not as breathable as a coil-based mattress, but it is meaningfully cooler than the base model for hot sleepers who need this level of firmness.
Who should buy the Plank Firm
- Stomach sleepers: The primary target. On a softer mattress, the hips sink below the spine, creating lumbar hyperextension. The Plank prevents pelvis sinkage and keeps the spine flat, which is what stomach sleepers need. Start on the Firm side; switch to Extra Firm if the Firm still feels too compliant.
- Heavy back sleepers (250+ lbs): Heavier body weight compresses standard firm mattresses enough to lose their support benefit. The Plank's high-density base resists compression at weights where most firm options stop working.
- Chronic "too soft" returners: If you have returned multiple mattresses because they all felt too soft within weeks, the Plank Extra Firm (9.5/10) represents the practical ceiling for consumer mattress firmness. There is nowhere firmer to go.
- Floor-to-mattress transitioners: People accustomed to sleeping directly on the floor often find standard mattresses too soft. The Extra Firm side provides a padded-but-firm surface that bridges that gap.
Who should not buy the Plank Firm
- Side sleepers: The shoulder and hip cannot sink into the surface enough to stay aligned. This creates concentrated pressure at both joints, leading to numbness and discomfort within hours.
- Back sleepers under 180 lbs: Lighter body weight means the mattress does not compress at all under the lumbar region. Rather than supporting the curve, the unyielding surface pushes into it and causes pain.
- Hot sleepers on the base model: Dense foam without coils has virtually no airflow. The base Plank will sleep warm. The Luxe upgrade helps but does not fully solve this. A coil-based firm option (Saatva Classic Firm, WinkBed Firmer) will be meaningfully cooler.
- Combo sleepers: If you shift between positions during the night, the Plank will not adapt. Side sleeping on a 9.5/10 mattress is a bad outcome every time.
Plank Firm vs Saatva Classic (Firm option)
This is the most useful comparison for stomach sleepers considering the Plank. The Saatva Classic Firm option rates around 8/10 on firmness, matching the Plank Firm side, but the construction is fundamentally different. The Saatva uses a dual-coil system (tempered steel coil core + individually wrapped coils above) with a reinforced lumbar zone. Coils allow air to circulate through the mattress, so the Saatva Classic Firm sleeps significantly cooler than the Plank base model. The Saatva also comes with free white-glove delivery and old-mattress removal, a 365-night trial (versus 120 nights for the Plank), and a lifetime warranty (versus 10 years).
Where the Plank wins: the Extra Firm side (9.5/10) has no coil equivalent at a consumer price point. If you genuinely need maximum firmness beyond what most firm mattresses offer, the Plank Extra Firm is the answer. The Saatva, even at Firm, still has a Euro pillow-top and coil give that some very heavy or stomach-dominant sleepers find too soft. The Plank is also less expensive.
For the majority of firm-preference buyers, the Saatva Classic Firm is the better all-around product. For the minority who need extreme firmness and are budget-conscious, the Plank is a specialist tool that does its job.
Cooling and motion isolation
Cooling on the base Plank is poor. Dense foam is one of the worst mattress materials for heat dissipation because it has no internal air channels. Body heat stays at the surface. The Luxe upgrade (phase-change cover + gel layer) reduces this but does not eliminate it. Hot sleepers should seriously consider the Luxe version or switch to a coil-based alternative if temperature regulation is a priority alongside firmness.
Motion isolation is strong, as it is on any all-foam mattress. The dense base absorbs movement rather than transmitting it. For couples with different schedules or light sleepers disturbed by partner motion, this is a genuine advantage of foam over coils. The Saatva Classic does reasonably well for a coil bed but will not match an all-foam mattress for motion isolation.
Edge support
Edge support is above average for an all-foam mattress. The high-density base does not compress significantly at the perimeter, so the usable sleep surface extends close to the edge. This matters for couples who need the full width of the bed, or for people who sit on the edge to get up. It is still not as strong as a reinforced coil edge (Saatva, WinkBed), but it is better than most softer foam beds.
Value and durability
High-density polyfoam holds its shape longer than low-density alternatives. The Plank's core is dense enough that meaningful sagging before the 10-year warranty window would be unusual under normal use. For the price ($999 base for a queen), the Plank offers durable construction with a clear functional purpose. It is not a luxury mattress, but it is not priced as one. The 120-night trial is reasonable, though shorter than the industry-leading 365 nights offered by Saatva and Nectar.
The Plank Firm is the right mattress for a narrow group of sleepers: confirmed stomach sleepers, heavy back sleepers, and anyone who has been failed by every firm mattress they've tried. For everyone else, the Saatva Classic in the Firm option delivers comparable firmness with better cooling, a longer trial, a lifetime warranty, and white-glove delivery included.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Plank Firm mattress too hard for most people?
Yes, for most sleepers. The Firm side (8/10) works for stomach sleepers and heavy back sleepers but is too firm for side sleepers and average-weight back sleepers. The Extra Firm side (9.5/10) is the hardest consumer mattress available and is appropriate only for sleepers who have found every other firm mattress too soft. If you are not certain you need this level of firmness, start with the Firm side and flip only if it still feels too soft after a few weeks.
Does Brooklyn Bedding make the Plank with cooling?
Yes. The Plank Firm Luxe upgrade adds a phase-change cooling fabric cover and a 0.5-inch cooling gel layer. The base model runs warm because dense foam has limited airflow. Hot sleepers who need extreme firmness should choose the Luxe version. That said, a coil-based firm mattress like the Saatva Classic Firm will sleep cooler overall because coils allow air to circulate through the support core.
What is the difference between Plank Firm and Plank Extra Firm?
The Plank is a single flippable mattress. The Firm side (8/10) has a 0.5-inch TitanFlex comfort layer on top of the high-density base, adding slight cushioning. The Extra Firm side (9.5/10) has no comfort layer, going directly to the high-density polyfoam core. Most people start on the Firm side and flip only if they still feel the mattress is too soft after a few weeks of adjustment.
How does the Plank Firm compare to the Saatva Classic Firm?
Both rate around 8/10 firmness. The key differences: Saatva uses coil-on-coil construction that breathes significantly better, comes with a 365-night trial (vs 120 for the Plank), and includes a lifetime warranty and free white-glove delivery. The Plank costs less and offers an Extra Firm side (9.5/10) with no coil equivalent, making it the better choice only for sleepers who need firmness beyond what the Saatva Firm option provides.