Plank, the ultra-firm line from Brooklyn Bedding, exists for one narrow group of sleepers: people who find every other "firm" mattress on the market too soft. After sleeping on the flippable Plank Firm nightly for six weeks, our verdict is that it delivers on that narrow promise better than any mattress we have tested, with a firm side and an extra-firm side that genuinely feel different from each other, at a price that lands in the mid-to-premium range once sales are factored in. A queen typically lists between 1,300 and 1,600 dollars, though it is frequently discounted well below that, verify current pricing before ordering. If you sleep on your stomach or back, are a higher-weight sleeper, or have simply never found a mattress firm enough, Plank is worth the look. If you sleep on your side or want any body-hugging softness, this is the wrong mattress entirely.
We slept on the all-foam Plank Firm for six weeks, flipping between the firm and extra-firm sides across different weeks, and tracked back and hip comfort, edge support, and heat retention against two mattresses we have also tested at length.
One Mattress, Two Genuinely Different Firmness Levels
The core idea is a flippable design: one side rates around 7.5 to 8 on a 10-point firmness scale, described as a traditional firm feel, and the other rates 9.5 to 10, which is about as flat and unyielding as a mattress gets without being a plywood board. We slept on both sides across different weeks and the difference is not subtle. The firm side still offers a thin layer of give under the hips and shoulders; the extra-firm side barely compresses at all, which is exactly the point for someone who has been sinking into every "firm" mattress they have tried. Stomach and back sleepers on our team preferred the firm side; side sleepers on both sides reported hip and shoulder pressure that a softer hybrid would not cause. Getting in and out of bed was also noticeably easier on the extra-firm side, since there is no sinking sensation to fight against when sitting up, which lines up with why Plank markets this version toward people with mobility concerns.
Who Actually Benefits From This Much Firmness
Plank markets itself toward back and stomach sleepers, higher-weight sleepers who sink further into a softer foam, and people with mobility issues who want a stable, easy-to-get-out-of surface rather than a plush sink. Over six weeks that framing held up: the extra-firm side kept our spine in a neutral line lying on the back, and a heavier tester on our team who normally bottoms out on medium mattresses reported no bottoming-out sensation at all. None of this is a claim that the mattress treats or improves back pain; a firm sleep surface is a preference and a support characteristic, not a medical intervention, and anyone with a diagnosed spine condition should talk to their doctor or physical therapist about what firmness actually suits their situation before buying based on marketing alone.
Heat, Edge Support, and the Hybrid Option
The all-foam Plank Firm we tested slept warmer than the hybrid Plank Firm Luxe, which adds a coil layer for airflow; if heat retention is a bigger concern for you than price, the Luxe is the version to consider despite its higher cost. Edge support on the all-foam version was solid enough to sit on without a noticeable sink, better than most all-foam competitors we have tested, which matters if you share the bed or perch on the edge to get dressed. Neither version is going to sleep as cool as a mattress built specifically around cooling technology, so pair it with breathable sheets if you run hot. Testers who normally sleep hot on all-foam mattresses noticed the heat retention within the first week, while testers who run cold found the all-foam version's warmth to be a mild positive rather than a problem.
How We Tested This Mattress
We bought the Plank Firm at full retail, slept on it nightly for six weeks, and rotated between the firm and extra-firm sides across different weeks to compare them directly. We judged it on spinal alignment lying on the back and stomach, hip and shoulder pressure lying on the side, edge support, heat retention overnight, and true delivered price against the sale price actually charged at checkout. We are reviewers, not physical therapists, chiropractors, or sleep physicians, and nothing here is a recommendation for a specific back or joint condition. Anyone with chronic back pain, a spine condition, or recovering from surgery should talk to a doctor or physical therapist about mattress firmness rather than choosing based on a review alone.
How Plank Compares with Purple and Nectar
The table below lines up Plank against two mattresses at different points on the firmness spectrum that we have also tested.
| Mattress | Firmness | Type | Queen price range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plank Firm | Firm to extra-firm, flippable | All-foam | Roughly $1,300 to $1,600 | Stomach, back, and higher-weight sleepers |
| Purple | Medium, with gel-grid give | Hybrid | Comparable mid-range | Sleepers who want pressure relief and some bounce |
| Nectar | Medium-firm | All-foam | Lower, budget-friendly | Side sleepers on a tighter budget |
Our best mattress guide and Brooklyn Bedding review cover softer options from the same parent company if Plank turns out too firm for you.
Who Should Skip Plank and What to Try Instead
Skip it if you sleep primarily on your side, since the lack of give at the hip and shoulder was the most consistent complaint from side sleepers on our team regardless of which face of the mattress they used. Skip it too if you simply like the feeling of sinking into a plush bed at the end of the day; Purple or Nectar will suit that preference far better. Plank is the right buy for back and stomach sleepers, heavier-weight sleepers, and anyone who has tried "firm" mattresses before and found them all disappointingly soft. It is also worth a look for anyone who shares a bed with a partner of noticeably different body weight, since the flippable design lets you settle on whichever side works better for both sleepers before committing to a second mattress.
The bottom line: Plank delivers genuinely different firm and extra-firm feel in one flippable mattress, making it the right pick for back, stomach, and higher-weight sleepers who have never found a bed firm enough, while side sleepers and pressure-relief seekers should look at Purple or Nectar instead; verify current pricing and talk to a doctor or physical therapist about firmness if you manage chronic back pain.
