Linenspa: Mattresses and Pillows
[Updated 1/12/2018]
Linenspa (variously spelled LinenSpa) is a trademark registered to Malouf Fine Linens of Logan, Utah. It operates as a brand and sales division of Malouf, with separate offices in the same headquarters building. Another brand division/trademark is Weekender. Malouf Sleep does not sell directly to consumers, but sells to and through retailers, making LinenSpa an in-house retailer. All 23 of Malouf’s Z brand pillows, as well as the 3 Weekender Pillows, are listed on and sold through the Linenspa website alongside the 6 LinenSpa Pillows, Malouf’s Sleep Tite mattress protectors, Isolus toppers, and Structures bed frames. All of these are also listed on Amazon, Wayfair, Overstock, and Walmart, among other retailers.
Mattresses
Linenspa is more widely known for its several Lucid brand mattresses and a few which bear the LinenSpa brand name. Most of these are bed mattresses. There are also some folding mattresses: 2 gel memory foam and 3 polyurethane foam. Mattresses under the Lucid label are covered in the Lucid Mattresses review.
As of mid-January 2018, there are seven mattress models listed on Linenspa’s website and on Amazon. They include one innerspring mattress, three hybrids (two with memory foam and one with latex), and three gel memory foam mattresses.
Construction and Materials
The basic pattern of construction for Linenspa mattresses follows the generally used pattern. In foam mattresses the support core is high density polyurethane foam and is more than half the height of the mattress, as much as ¾ in the firmest models. In innerspring mattresses, there is a little padding above the coils. In innerspring hybrid mattresses, foam layers above the coils range from ¼ to almost ½ the overall height. However, this is not a hard-and-fast definition.
Gel Memory Foam
Four of the Linenspa mattresses (5 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress, 8 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress, 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress, 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress) have memory foam infused with gel. LinenSpa claims the gel is “temperature regulating…to prevent overheating.” Dr. Swartzburg and others have questioned the effectiveness of gel in cooling. In “Does Gel Memory Foam Keep You Cooler?” he points out that the cooling effect is temporary. Gel cools by absorbing the body heat of the sleeper, and with a warm body on the mattress, it eventually becomes saturated with heat and can’t absorb any more. LinenSpa and Lucid say the gel transfers the heat.
Apparently, the memory foam in Linenspa mattresses is not ventilated, as it is in Lucid mattresses. In customer reviews, it does get some complaints about being hot. The memory foam in both brands is open-cell, and both are infused with gel, so it is evident that ventilation makes the difference. If the gel transfers heat, there has to be something to transfer it to, and moving air is the best option, as in TempFlow’s patented Airflow Transfer System.
Even though Linenspa mattresses are designed in the United States, they are made in China. Therefore, one concern with the memory foam is quality. Quality control is better in North America and Europe than in China (they’re still trying to catch up in this area). The foam’s certification by CertiPUR-US applies only to the absence of toxic substances in the foam and low VOC levels, not quality. Customer remarks indicate problems with the foam which are apparently related to foam quality. Even though it costs more, the company would do better with memory foam made in the USA.
Cooling through Airflow
Airflow is more effective for long-term cooling than methods depending on heat absorption by the mattress materials. Air flowing through and out of the mattress carries the heat out with it. It also brings in cooler air for more cooling.
Airflow in LinenSpa
The only way the gel can continue to cool as it approaches the absorption limit is when it transfers heat to the air. This is the mechanism cited by Malouf/LinenSpa/Lucid. Lucid‘s memory foam and latex layers are vertically ventilated to let air flow through. The gel in the top memory foam layer “transfers” the heat, presumably to the air in the pores.
Although there is some airflow in LinenSpa mattresses, it is limited. Most memory foam is now open-cell, including that used by Linenspa, allowing air to filter through. Ventilation with vertical pores is seven times more effective than filtering air through open-cell foam. The flow of air is further enhanced when it can also reach outside the mattress below the upper layer.
Airflow Enhancement
Different mattress manufacturers have developed different solutions to enhance airflow. Some use convoluted foam in a lower layer. The egg-crate shaped convoluted surface does allow air to travel horizontally to the sides to flow through the border of the mattress cover. However, this surface is not as stable as a flat foam surface, and the points of the convolution are subject to greater stress, increasing the likelihood that they may deform or break, compromising the support of the upper layer(s).
Airflow Transfer System
Dr. Rick Swartzburg and Selectabed engineers designed the patented Airflow Transfer System for more efficient cooling. This is an option in several Selectabed mattresses, including the Tri-Pedic, and is standard in TempFlow mattresses and the Snuggle-Pedic mattress. Channels are cut into the top surface of the base support layer. Air flows horizontally through the channels from and to vertical ventilation of the upper layers while the flat-top ridges provide sure support. The efficiency of this is demonstrated by Dr. Swartzburg in this video and is illustrated in this Snuggle-Pedic videographic. As can be seen, this is two-way airflow.
Latex
One Linenspa mattress has a latex comfort layer. It is not identified as Dunlop or Talalay. The latex foam is ventilated for airflow, which does not automatically identify it as Talalay, since makers of latex foam now often ventilate Dunlop as well as Talalay latex. Dunlop latex is the less expensive process, making it a more likely choice for lower cost mattresses.
Answering a consumer’s question on Amazon, a Linenspa rep said this is natural latex, but – as with the memory foam – latex made in China may have quality issues. Added to this, unfortunately, are problems with integrity. How can we be sure that their “natural” latex is natural?
Base Support
Bed mattresses by Linenspa and Lucid have two kinds of support: high-density polyurethane foam and coil innersprings. Both kinds of mattresses are bed-in-a-box models.
Support Foam
In LinenSpa foam mattresses, the support core is 1.6 lbs/in³ polyurethane foam. Mattress experts, like Dr. Swartzburg, have a standard of about 1.8 lbs/in³ for the base foam to provide enough support to keep the more conforming upper layers from bottoming out, yet still have enough give to allow cushioning. Even so, some reviewers complain that this is too firm, while some other complain it is not firm enough. This probably is an issue of personal preference and different body sizes. On the other hand, it may hint at some inconsistency in foam quality. Since mattresses with the Linenspa brand are lower-priced than equivalent Lucid models, this may be cheaper support foam.
Coils
LinenSpa has four mattresses with innersprings: 6 Inch Innerspring Mattress, 8 Inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress, 10 Inch Latex Hybrid Mattress and 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress. The lower two have Bonnell coils. These are without the perimeter rod found in traditional in-store mattresses, enabling the mattress to be compressed and rolled for shipping in a box. The 10” and 12” hybrids have pocketed (encased) coils. Both kinds of innersprings are identified by LinenSpa as “heavy gauge” coils.
Covers
The content of cover fabrics for Linenspa mattresses differs by model. Some of the models have a different cover fabric compositions for the top panel and the border. Two of the memory foam mattresses have a blend of bamboo rayon with polyester and spandex (lycra).
Certifications
All LinenSpa foams are certified by CertiPUR-US as free from toxic substances, including heavy metals and chemical flame retardants, and low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds). On the other hand, the Biogreen Memory Foam in Tempflow mattresses has been tested by UL as exceeding the GreenGuard Gold standard for VOCs, the strictest of all.
The latex is not certified by GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard), which only applies to 100% natural latex.
Neither LinenSpa nor Malouf list any certifications, such as Oeko-Tex and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) for cover fabrics on their mattresses and pillows.
Sleep Trial and Warranty
LinenSpa does not post a sleep trial/return period as such on their site, but they do state it under FAQs as the answer to the question, “Do you accept returns?
We accept returns no questions asked up to 30 days after the purchase date on your receipt for a full refund. After those 30 days you may make a warranty claim if there is a defect with your product and your product is covered by a manufacturer warranty.
The warranty on the LinenSpa 8 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress and 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress is for 25 years. The rest of the bed mattresses have a 10-year warranty.
Pillows
LinenSpa and Weekender pillows are covered in the Malouf review.
Country of Origin
All Lucid and LinenSpa mattresses and pillows are made in China. The advantage of this (for now) is the lower cost. However, of course, manufacturing in China calls the quality of the foam into question. Dr. Rick Swartzburg (a chiropractor and VP of Product Development for Relief-Mart), along with many others, advises buying memory foam products made in North America and Europe, since they have consistently higher quality and more strictly enforced standards. Here in the United States, it pays to look for a Made in the USA certification.
Customer Ratings
We calculate our ratings in accordance to our Verified Review Policy.
On Amazon, average ratings from verified customer reviews are higher for Linenspa’s mattresses than for their pillows. A very high percentage of Linenspa Mattress customer ratings on Amazon are Verified Customer Reviews (VCRs). The aggregate VCR (AVCR) rating for Linenspa’s mattresses is 4.34. (86.79%), surprisingly higher than Lucid’s AVCR, perhaps reflecting that lower prices mean lower expectations. To the company’s credit, they are diligent about responding to all customer complaints posted on Amazon.
Linenspa Aggregate Verified Customer Ratings on Amazon
Numbers of Stars → Models ↓ | Height | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Star Point Totals |
| LINENSPA 5 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress – Firm Support | 5 | 175 | 43 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 1,131 |
| LINENSPA 6 Inch Innerspring Mattress | 6 | 886 | 331 | 184 | 81 | 216 | 6,765 |
| LinenSpa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress | 8 | 1,732 | 285 | 108 | 72 | 102 | 10,442 |
| LINENSPA 8 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress – Dual-Layered – CertiPUR-US Certified – Medium Firm | 8 | 148 | 43 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 1,131 |
| LINENSPA 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress – Dual Layered – CertiPUR-US Certified – Medium Feel | 10 | These two Linenspa mattress models (8-Inch Gel and 10-Inch Gel) share the same pool of reviews | |||||
| LINENSPA 10 Inch Latex Hybrid Mattress – Supportive – Responsive Feel – Medium Firm | 10 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 |
| LINENSPA 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress – Ultra Plush – Individually Encased Coils | 12 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 128 |
| Total Ratings | 4,536 | 2,979 | 707 | 326 | 171 | 353 | 19,684 |
| Percentages | 65.67% | 15.59% | 7.19% | 3.77% | 7.78% | 100.00% | |
| Aggregate VCR Rating | 4.34 | Aggregate VCR Percentage | 86.79% | ||||
Pros and Cons
There are several pros and cons in customer comments. From the comments, it is evident that the 5-Inch Gel Memory Foam and the 6-Inch Innerspring are better for children than for adults.
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