Zoma Hybrid Mattress Review: Comfortable Foams Plus Bouncy Coils [CNET]

Zoma Hybrid is Zoma’s middle-tier bed, and it has a very similar design to its foam counterpart. Is it worth the extra cost?

Zoma is an online mattress brand that markets itself toward athletes and actually sponsors quite a few of them. Zoma makes three different mattresses: the luxurious Zoma Boost Hybrid, the Zoma Hybrid and the Zoma Start mattress. The beds go with a “good, better, best” model, and the Zoma Hybrid is the mid-level mattress. 

It has a very similar design to the entry-level Zoma Start mattress, only it subs out dense support foam for pocketed coils. To this mattress expert, the Zoma Hybrid is the one I would recommend to people the least. It is by no means a bad mattress. There is a lot to like about it, but there is more to like about the luxurious Zoma Boost for a bit more cost, and the Zoma Start is so much more affordable. For someone looking for an affordable, accommodating hybrid mattress, the Zoma Hybrid fits that niche and is still a solid mattress choice.

First impressions of the Zoma Hybrid mattress

When the team first unboxed the Zoma Hybrid mattress I remember being slightly confused because it looked virtually identical to the Zoma Start mattress that we received first.  

The most striking thing about the Zoma Hybrid and the Zoma Start mattresses is the look of the cover. Most mattresses we test use stark white fabric for the cover to give it a luxurious look or a beige cover to denote organic materials. All three Zoma mattresses opt for a sleek-looking gray cover with triangular patterns on the sides, or the top cover in the case of the Zoma Boost.

The Zoma Hybrid looks almost “high-tech” in my opinion and I think it’s easy to tell that Zoma’s target demographic is younger people who may not be interested in a more traditional-looking mattress. 

The Zoma Hybrid expanded and inflated much quicker than the all-foam Zoma Start did and my initial thought was, “is this just the Zoma Start but with coils?” and my answer ended up being, “pretty much yes.” 

Is the Zoma Hybrid mattress right for you?

For anyone looking for a comfortable, bouncy, and accommodating mattress with coils, the Zoma Hybrid could be a great choice. It is also relatively affordable when compared to other beds in the category like the Brooklyn Bedding Signature, Leesa Studio Chill Hybrid, Bear Pro and Dreamcloud Premier.

Zoma markets itself toward athletes and hypes up a lot of “tech” in the mattress that is supposed to improve athletic performance. Nothing in our testing could really confirm those claims, but the best thing athletes can do is get the best quality sleep.

Zoma Hybrid mattress firmness and feel

Zoma Hybrid feel

The feel of the Zoma Hybrid mattress is generally comfortable and accommodating. This type of mattress feel is what we usually describe as “neutral.”  That means the bed doesn’t lean too strongly into the slow-to-respond, dense, sink-in memory foam sensation or an ultra-responsive, bouncy latex feel. A neutral feel like this strikes a nice balance between being responsive enough to not ever feel like you are “stuck” in the mattress without having too much bounce. 

Because the Zoma Hybrid uses coils, the bounce factor is higher than the all-foam Zoma Start, but I wouldn’t describe it as overwhelming like some folks experience on latex hybrids like the Avocado Green. 

Most people who try out a mattress like the Zoma Hybrid usually think it’s pretty comfortable — although it may not be exactly what everyone wants. I think a mattress that feels like this is for someone who maybe doesn’t have a specific preference or for couples who can’t agree on a specialized mattress feel.

Zoma Hybrid firmness and sleeper types

In our testing, we found the Zoma Hybrid to be a flat medium on our firmness scale (4-6 out of 10), which means it will work ok for all sleeping positions: back, stomach, side and combination. 

This firmness profile works especially well for combination sleepers who split time between their back and side and for couples who can’t agree on an especially soft or firm mattress. 

One thing all the Zoma mattresses have in common is this medium firmness profile so if you want something different you’ll have to check out a different brand.

Zoma Hybrid mattress construction

My initial thought about the Zoma Hybrid was that it is basically just the Zoma Start but with coils and under the hood that really proved that to be the case. 

The bottommost layer is a very thin layer of dense, responsive support foam — this layer is inconsequential for anyone sleeping on it because it is only there, so the pocketed coil layer has a stable foundation.

The coil layer is the biggest difference between the Zoma Hybrid and the Zoma Start. Coils provide sleepers a few advantages over foam: first, coils are more supportive and durable throughout the life of the mattress which is especially important for heavier people (220 lbs and above). Second, coils increase the airflow of a mattress because there is less material for air to travel through, improving temperature regulation. Third, some sleepers enjoy the added bouncy feel provided by coils, and coils can be configured in such a way as to enhance a mattress’ edge support. 

That isn’t to say that coils are always better than foam — some sleepers dislike the extra bounce from coils. Foam beds are generally better at motion isolation, which is a benefit for light sleepers sharing a mattress, and foam beds are usually lighter and easier to move. 

Above the support layer is what Zoma calls “Reactiv” foam, which functions as a responsive transition layer between the primary comfort foam above and the dense support foam below. Then, the main comfort foam is a layer of gel memory foam. 

The top layer of memory foam does have call triangle-shaped cuts to match the exterior design of the cover. I didn’t notice it impacting the feel of the mattress at all and I think it’s there to make the mattress seem more “high-tech.”

Speaking of the cover, Zoma calls the cover “AirCloth” and I do think it is soft and breathable on top of looking sleek. This cover is a key talking point on Zoma’s website regarding the mattress sleeping “cool.” I will cover temperature regulation later in this review but I don’t think this cover puts the Zoma Start mattress in the active cooling category.

Zoma Start mattress performance

Edge support

The edge support of a mattress refers to how well the perimeter of the bed holds up under pressure. This is an important factor for couples because one partner might unintentionally hog the majority of the space on the mattress, or maybe you have a pet who takes up a section of the mattress that you don’t want to disturb.  

The edge support on the Zoma Hybrid mattress is solid and we don’t notice any issues or red flags during testing. It performs slightly better than the Zoma Start by nature of being a hybrid mattress, but it’s not quite as good as the Zoma Boost, which features reinforced perimeter coils. 

Motion isolation

Motion isolation is another factor important for couples because a bed with poor motion isolation can wake you up if your partner tosses and turns throughout the night.

The top foam layers on the Zoma Hybrid do a pretty good job at deadening cross-mattress motion, and the design of modern pocketed coils also does a much better job than traditional innerspring mattresses, but it can only go so far. 

I would say this mattress performs average in this category, and I don’t see it being a dealbreaker for the majority of sleepers. If you are a very light sleeper, you might struggle with hybrid mattresses in general.

Temperature regulation

Despite what Zoma might say about the breathability of the AirCloth cover and the cooling nature of the gel memory foam layer, I would still describe the Zoma Start as neutral when it comes to temperature, like most mattresses. 

If you are a hot sleeper and want something that will actively cool you down at night, you might want to check out the Zoma Boost Hybrid. Or you can check out the Eight Sleep Pod which works with virtually any existing mattress.

Zoma Hybrid Pricing

Size	Measurements (inches)	Price
Twin	38×75	$749
Twin XL	38×80	$849
Full	54×75	$949
Queen	60×80	$1,149
King	76×80	$1,349
Cal king	72×84	$1,349

The Zoma Hybrid sits right in between the Zoma Start and the Zoma Boost in terms of price — and while I think the Zoma Start is incredibly affordable and comes in below many of its competitors, the Zoma Hybrid isn’t quite the same story. 

It is still among the most affordable hybrid options online —  but there is a lot of competition in this $800-$1000 price range. The Brooklyn Bedding Essential mattress is very comparable to the Zoma Hybrid and it is more affordable after a discount and the Brooklyn Bedding Signature has more features and is only a bit more expensive, same goes for the Leesa Studio Chill. 

Mattress pricing does often fluctuate so where the Zoma Hybrid is priced in comparison to its competitors may change so make sure you check out our mattress deals page for the most up-to-date pricing on the Zoma Hybrid or any other bed you might be interested in.

Zoma Hybrid mattress policies

Free shipping

The Zoma Hybrid mattress ships right to your door at no extra cost in the contiguous United States inside of a box. Unboxing a mattress is a quick and easy process; we’ve done it literally hundreds of times, and it’s actually fun. 

Because this bed uses coils, it shouldn’t take long for it to firm up and inflate into its proper shape out of the box. 

100-night trial 

Zoma offers the usual standard in-home sleep trial of 100 nights. So you get roughly 3 months to really test out the bed to see if it’s supportive enough and comfortable enough for you. 

Keep in mind that it can take a month or longer for your body to adjust to a new mattress, no matter how well-suited it is to you. So, if you struggle to get a good night’s sleep in the first week or two, don’t panic. After the first 30 days, is when you could start to get concerned and maybe start to think about reaching out to the brand’s customer service line.

Return policy

Zoma, despite more brands introducing return fees, still offers completely free returns on all of its mattresses if you choose to return them within the provided trial period. 

Returning a mattress is usually pretty easy; you just contact the company, and usually, a group will come by your house to pick up the bed, and then it will often get donated or sometimes resold by a third party.

Warranty

All Zoma mattresses are backed by a standard 10-year warranty. If you buy a mattress online, a 10-year warranty is the minimum you should expect.

How does the Zoma Hybrid compare to similar mattresses?

Zoma Hybrid vs. Brooklyn Essential

The Brooklyn Essential is the most affordable hybrid bed from Brooklyn Bedding. It is designed to be stripped down of any fancy features and just be a super affordable, comfy and accommodating hybrid. It has a very similar firmness and feel when compared to the Zoma Hybrid — although I would say the Essential is slightly firmer. The Brooklyn Essential is also more affordable than the Zoma Hybrid after a discount. 

Zoma Hybrid vs. Leesa Studio Chill Hybrid

The Leesa Studio Chill is the most affordable bed in the newer Leesa Chill lineup of mattresses, and in my expert opinion, it is pretty remarkable. It comes in only slightly more expensive than the Zoma Hybrid, $900 after a discount, and it has an accommodating neutral feel, a medium firmness profile, a cool-to-the-touch cover and a zoned support design. Usually, beds with these many features are much more expensive, and Leesa is a very reputable brand that has been selling mattresses online for almost ten years. I have recommended this mattress to people in my personal life, and they are very happy with it. 

Final thoughts on the Zoma Hybrid mattress

For anyone looking for a comfortable, accommodating and relatively affordable hybrid mattress I think the Zoma Hybrid makes a lot of sense — I just don’t know if it makes more sense than some of its competitors. If you are the kind of person who leads an athletic lifestyle and puts some amount of stock in the endorsements from athletes and influencers I could see that being a potential tiebreaker in favor of the Zoma Hybrid. 

It is in no way a “bad” mattress choice, far from it. I just think some of the other beds I mentioned potentially give sleepers additional benefits for almost the same price. If the price of the Zoma Hybrid ever goes down relative to competing mattresses, my opinion on it might change, but for now, it is a solid choice but a hard one to recommend strongly.

You might like the Zoma Hybrid mattress if:

• You want a coil mattress
• You like the idea of a medium firmness profile
• You don’t have a specific mattress feel preference

You might not like the Zoma Hybrid mattress if:

• You prefer a memory foam feel
• You want an especially soft or firm mattress
• You want a foam mattress

Other mattresses from Zoma

Zoma Start: the Zoma Start mattress is the entry-level mattress available from Zoma, and I think there is a lot to like about it. It features what Zoma calls its “AirCloth” cover that looks sleek and is designed to be extra breathable. I can’t really speak to its breathability, but I do think the Zoma Start is a temperature-neutral mattress. It also consists of three foam layers and has a generally accommodating, neutral feel despite the top comfort layer being memory foam. This bed is also very competitively priced, coming in less than $550 after factoring in discounts.

Zoma Boost: this mattress is a significant departure from the other two Zoma beds because it features more layers of foam in a pillow-top style design. The coils are also reinforced along the perimeter to improve the edge support and they are reinforced in the center third to provide sleepers more support where they need it most. The cover has a cooling factor which will aid in temperature regulation. It is comparable to other luxurious pillow-top mattresses like the Leesa Sapira Chill and the Nolah Evolution Hybrid.

Zoma Hybrid mattress FAQs