As with all mattress reviews and comparisons on Mattress-Reviews.com, GoodMorning.com Inc. tests major online mattress brands in order to continually update and improve its own products. Analyzing the builds, brands, and specifications of competitor mattresses ensures GoodMorning.com always offers the best possible value to its customers.

To provide a consistent benchmark for our tests, we commission third-party engineers to test every mattress in the exact same way. You can view the methodology of testing and the APEGA-stamped results document here.

Without further adieu, our Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel Mattress Review:

Company Overview	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
Launched:	2002
Price (Queen):	$232 USD $379 CAD
Available in:	USA Canada
Made in:	China
Trial length:	30 nights
Warranty:	10 years
Where to buy:	Online

Classic Brands, headquartered in Maryland, launched the 8” Cool Gel mattress around 2002. It uses low-cost foams imported from China. This is not to suggest the mattress is poor quality but it does not stand up to the higher-density memory foams we have carefully tested. Their $429 price for a Queen is comparable to many other Chinese imported brands like Zinus or Lucid mattresses.

Delivery, Trial, Returns	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
Shipping cost:	Free shipping
Shipping time:	1-10 days
Sleep trial length:	30 nights
Return ease:	Customer has to return to UPS or FED/EX
Refund:	Full
Additional fees:	No

With the rise and popularity of ‘beds-in-boxes’, mattresses are now shipped far more efficiently and conveniently than traditional mattresses. Customers are no longer required to take a day off work to accept a delivery as boxed beds are now delivered with the same convenience as most Amazon orders.

Classic Brands do not currently have their own online or retails stores, but the range of Cool Gel mattresses is available to buy on Amazon and Wayfair and at retailers including Walmart and Home Depot.

The mattress used in this Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress review was purchased on Amazon.ca and shipped through Amazon Prime. It is possible to get free delivery on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com without being subscribed to Amazon Prime thanks to the mattress price exceeding the $35 free delivery threshold.

The returns process for a Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress can be a little complicated for Canadians and Americans. Classic Brands customer service advised us that Amazon returns are as per the seller on Amazon. This is usually Amazon itself, which has a 30-day return policy. However, for the Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel, the customer must bring the mattress to the carrier location handling the return. This means having to drive the box back to UPS, FedEx, or Purolator.

Unlike many ‘bed-in-a-box’ companies, Classic Brands does not have a sleep trial but offers a 30-day return policy if the mattress has not been removed from packaging and used.

It is worth noting that Mattress-Reviews.com did not complete the return process, but received this information via their website, Amazon.com, and Amazon.ca.

Out of the Box	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
Delivered in a box:	Yes
Box dimensions:	13” x 13” x 62.5"
Box opening:	Required scissors
Box/mattress fitting:	Tight
Protection layers:	2
Expansion time:	5 days

The Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress was delivered to us within the expected delivery time. Mattresses in boxes and specialist ‘bed-in-a-box’ retailers, like Classic Brands, include multiple layers of durable plastic protection to compensate for any mishaps during the transit process.

The Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress box was sealed with heavy duty tape and industrial staples. Customers might need scissors or a knife to open the box, and will possibly need a tool like a screwdriver to remove the staples. Remember to be extra careful when opening the box with sharp objects.

Once opened, the compressed mattress is easy to remove from the box. A simple ‘tip-and-pull’ motion is what we recommend. Simply tip the box from a vertical position into a horizontal position and pull the mattress out of the box. We recommend doing this process in the designated bedroom.

The Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress is protected by 2 layers of plastic and customers will need to unwrap the first layer of plastic in order to change the mattress from a cylindrical shape into a flat, albeit compressed, shape. Some helpful advice at this stage is to place the rolled mattress on to the designated bed frame, find the end of the outer layer of plastic, pull it loose, and use the momentum of pulling it with the shape to remove the outer layer. After completing this process, customers will see a folded and unrolled mattress. Simply unfold the mattress, the top cover will be facing up, and place the corners in the correct position on the frame of foundation.

Next, cut the final layer of plastic and the Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress will start decompressing. Remove this final layer of plastic and the mattress should expand to its full height soon enough. With the Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress, full expansion took about 5 days to completely firm up.

Construction	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
Mattress height:	8"
Number of layers:	2
Comfort layer:	2” Gel memory foam
Support layer:	6” Polyurethane foam
Cover materials:	Polyester, Rayon
Machine washable:	No
Made in:	China

Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress is a two-layer gel memory foam mattress. By combining two different foam types, densities, with a breathable cover, Classic Brands have designed a configuration that offers some comfort, cooling, and, support.

Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel Mattress Layers

The Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress contains 2 layers of foam.

The first layer of the mattress features ventilated cooling gel-infused memory foam designed for more breathability and comfort. Gel memory foam is a unique material in that it infuses gel particles into foam, this helps to absorb body heat and displace it appropriately.

The second layer of the mattress is comprised of polyurethane base foam.  This layer helps to support the body and prevent some sinkage beyond the top 2″ of the mattress.

Mattress-Reviews.com has requested the foam densities but unfortunately, this information was not disclosed by Classic Brands.

Remember, higher density foams generally have a longer life-expectancy than their lower density counterparts. A good example of a mattress with higher-density foams is Tempur-Pedic and Novosbed.

Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel Mattress Cover

The Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress has a traditional, single-tone cover. It has a white base, with an off-white top cover and sides. The white piece of fabric is relatively thin, stretchy, and porous. It is made from a combination of polyester and rayon, which provides excellent breathability and cooling.

The top-cover is not removable and is not machine washable. This could be problematic for anyone who chooses not to use a mattress protector or if the mattress is not properly protected while moving.

We did not find any mention of organic or natural materials being used in the cover on the website or in the fabric content breakdown on the law label.

Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious when making purchases. Retailers both in and out of the mattress industry have been incorporating more eco-friendly and ethical policies when selling products and choosing suppliers. GoodMorning.com Inc. carried out a survey in February 2017, discovering that almost 50% of Canadians are willing to spend more money for more environmentally friendly products. Therefore, in every review on Mattress-Reviews.com, we will highlight each mattress company’s green philosophy, as well as how prominent their policies are on their websites.

Eco-Consciousness	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
'Green' policies:	No mention on the website
Social responsibility:	No mention on the website
Box materials:	Unbleached cardboard
Foam materials:	Polyurethane
Cover materials:	Polyester, Rayon
CertiPUR-US®:	Yes
Green manufacturing:	Unknown

Feel & Firmness	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
Feel:	Firm
Firmness:	6.8 / 10
Edge support:	7.8 / 10
Motion isolation:	5.8 / 10
Bounce:	3.1 / 10

Feel & Firmness

The Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress is a firm mattress. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel Mattress is rated at a 6.8 / 10 on the firmness scale. There is no excessive sinkage in the Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress. This is normal for medium and firm mattresses.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation in foam mattresses is usually very good and one of the main reasons couples make the switch from innerspring to memory foam. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), some motion transfer was detected with the Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress and it ranked at 5.8 / 10 on the motion isolation scale.

Edge Support

One of the main inquiries for mattress retailers from customers who move from innerspring mattresses to foam mattresses is about edge support. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the Classic Brands 8” Cool Gel mattress provided good edge support. It ranked at 7.8 / 10 on the edge support scale.

Bounce

Due to the fact that motion isolation for foam mattresses is very high, bounce is usually very low. The Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress proved this to be the case. It’s lack of a third layer and overall medium-firm feel meant little bounce. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the Classic Brands 8″ Cool Gel mattress ranked 3.1 / 10 on the bounce scale.

Overview	Classic Brands Cool Gel 8"
Price (Queen):	$232 USD $379 CAD
Available in:	USA Canada
Made in:	China
Trial length:	30 nights
Warranty:	10 years
Mattress height:	8"
Number of layers:	2
Cover materials:	Polyester, Rayon
Machine washable:	No
'Green' policies:	No mention on the website
Feel:	Firm
Firmness:	6.8 / 10
Edge support:	7.8 / 10
Motion isolation:	5.8 / 10
Bounce:	3.1 / 10
Where to buy:	Online

Remember, Mattress-Reviews.com is owned, operated, and paid for by GoodMorning.com Inc. and advertises the Novosbed, Douglas, Juno, Recore, Brunswick, Logan & Cove, Apollo, Cherry, and Podium brands. The following is strictly our competitive opinion:

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Classic Brands has built the 8” Cool Gel mattress to appeal to shoppers with a low budget, for spare bedrooms, for parents buying a mattress for their children, or for RV usage.