Summary: Avocado’s Extra Firm Mattress proved to be a strong upgrade for supporting muscle recovery and quality sleep, especially for my hubby, who is an endurance athlete juggling intense training with family life. With exceptional firmness, breathable organic materials, and industry-leading sustainability standards, it delivered noticeable improvements in comfort, alignment, and post-training recovery.

What I Love:

• The Avocado Extra Firm mattress offers excellent firm support that helps reduce back, hip, and joint discomfort. It also aided recovery for the athlete in our family.
• I love Avo’s outstanding sustainability and health certifications with thoughtfully crafted, U.S.-made construction.
• The breathable organic latex design promotes cooling and uninterrupted sleep.

Things To Keep In Mind:

• This mattress is extremely heavy, making white-glove delivery close to a necessity.
• The Extra Firm may be too rigid for sleepers who prefer plush or soft mattresses.

Work hard, play hard. Isn’t that what they say? I would like to add what I believe to be one more necessary part of the equation — rest hard.

My husband and I have two small children, growing careers, a nourishing community with whom we love to spend time, and hobbies we happily indulge in with whatever time is left over. All of this requires a lot of energy, and it’s become clear to me in recent years that quality rest is required in order to savor our lives the way we like.

“It’s become clear to me in recent years that quality rest is required in order to savor our lives the way we like.”

One day last fall, my husband, Steven, without any prior interest or discussion, decided to sign himself up for a 70.1 Ironman. Since then, his daily routine includes waking early to complete his training before the day of parenting, work, and family time begins.

Much of this process has included paying attention to how he fuels his body, troubleshooting our schedules so that he can both work toward this goal while also remaining present for me and our kids, and fine tuning our sleep environment to ensure he’s getting quality rest — which is why we decided to try Avocado’s Extra Firm mattress see how it might aid in his training performance and recovery.

About Avocado

Avocado has been voted a The Good Trade reader-favorite brand for four years in a row — and for good reason! The company prioritizes both human health and environmental well-being at every stage of manufacturing, and backs up those commitments with an extensive list of third-party certifications.

Because independent certifications are the first place I look to verify a company’s claims (and one of the most reliable ways to guard against greenwashing) I’m sharing Avocado’s hard-earned standards here:

In addition to their impressive catalog of certifications, Avocado’s commitment to responsible manufacturing is evident in how and where their mattresses are made. Each mattress is crafted in Southern California and hand-sewn with intention and care, underscoring the brand’s dedication to quality and thoughtful production. 

“Each mattress is crafted in Southern California and hand-sewn with intention and care.”

Our team has had the opportunity to visit Avocado’s warehouse firsthand, where we saw this process in action and gained a deeper appreciation for the people and systems behind the products. Avocado also stands out as the only mattress and bedding company to achieve an 89% landfill diversion rate, a meaningful milestone that reflects a serious commitment to reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. 

Beyond sustainability and craftsmanship, the brand also prioritizes accessibility and wellness, including accepting HSA and FSA funds for eligible purchases. Together, these practices reinforce Avocado’s holistic approach to making products that are better for people, their homes, and the planet.

Delivery and set up

If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely seriously considering investing in one of Avocado’s extra firm mattresses, and if there were ever a time to opt into white-glove delivery, this may be it. 

“If there were ever a time to opt into white-glove delivery, this may be it.”

This mattress is heavy — the King size weighs in at 188 lbs and ships flat via Avocado’s third-party delivery service rather than rolled up due to its density. When it arrived, I watched as the two very large, strong men used all of their might to carefully heft our new bed up our three front steps, in through the front door, and around the corner into our bedroom. I’ve interacted with this specific delivery team on several occasions now, and each time they’ve been professional, communicative, and efficient. 

With their helpful assistance, the setup of our bed frame and mattress only took around 30 minutes, and they took all of the packaging with them when they left. I couldn’t help but let my mind wander to long weekend afternoons of my husband and me assembling furniture and trying to stuff the boxes into our recycling bin with a concerted effort, all while the children ran around us asking for snacks. We love their help as much as any parent, but it was a relief knowing we could spend our evenings and weekends lounging on said furniture with them rather than building it whilst surrounded by them.

Suffice to say, if you can swing it, add on the white-glove delivery service. I do not recommend planning to attempt set-up yourself.

With a 10/10 firm feel, Avocado’s Extra Firm mattress is especially well-suited for back and stomach sleepers, as well as those with chronic back pain, athletes, and individuals with heavier bodies who benefit from consistent, supportive alignment. 

So, what did my husband think? After our first night on the new mattress, my husband mentioned noticing fewer aches and pains than usual. I recognize that sleep quality is influenced by many factors, and that one night alone (along with the possibility of a placebo effect!) isn’t definitive. Still, the fact that he shared this observation unprompted felt worth noting. 

“After our first night on the new mattress, my husband mentioned noticing fewer aches and pains than usual.”

The core is made with breathable organic Dunlop latex, thoughtfully engineered with hundreds of small ventilation channels that promote airflow, wick away moisture, and help regulate temperature throughout the night. This enhanced breathability supports a cooler, more comfortable sleep environment — an important factor for uninterrupted rest. And because quality sleep plays a critical role in physical recovery, this combination of firm support and cooling performance makes the mattress an excellent choice for those who prioritize both comfort and restorative sleep.

Prior to receiving our new mattress, Steven would mention lower back pain and neck tension at least once every few weeks. After several weeks of continued use, his feedback became even more consistent: He reported improved support in his hips and lower back, reduced joint stiffness, and an overall increase in comfort.

To reinforce these subjective improvements, he also clocked steady, solid sleep scores that aligned with how he was feeling physically.

My review of the Malibu Platform Bed Frame

I have to say, neither marriage nor motherhood made me feel more like an adult than having a high-quality bed frame with a beautiful headboard. What can I say? I love a beautifully crafted piece of furniture that I know will support us and last throughout the years.

“Neither marriage nor motherhood made me feel more like an adult than having a high-quality bed frame with a beautiful headboard.”

This one in particular, the Malibu Platform Bed frame, is made from responsibly harvested, durable walnut hardwood. The frame is made entirely by hand in Avocado’s Los Angeles woodshop, where skilled craftspeople carefully shape, sand, and finish each piece. Our team has visited the woodshop in person and seen firsthand how much care goes into the process, from raw material selection to the final finish, which adds an extra layer of confidence in both the quality and integrity of the craftsmanship. Having this piece in our bedroom is extra satisfying after seeing the process with my own two eyes.

The frame is available with or without a headboard, offering flexibility for different room layouts and design preferences. We opted for the 41-inch headboard, which fit perfectly beneath our window without overwhelming the space. Having multiple height options for both the headboard and legs made it easy to tailor the frame to our smaller bedroom, where precise measurements matter. This level of customization helps the frame feel truly considered rather than one-size-fits-all. To top it off, softly rounded edges and a solid, weighty feel reflect the brand’s attention to detail and commitment to longevity — and both of these features feel kid-friendly. 

“This level of customization helps the frame feel truly considered rather than one-size-fits-all.”

Visually, the design strikes a thoughtful balance between sleek and sturdy, which is exactly how I prefer my furniture — streamlined, beautiful, and durable enough to hold up against the wear and tear that comes with kids and a busy home. Its clean lines and minimal profile work beautifully in a compact bedroom, while the solid walnut construction ensures it feels substantial and built to last.

As a final, thoughtful detail, Avocado sends a complimentary code after purchase for Walrus Oil, making it easy to maintain the wood and care for the frame so it continues to age beautifully over time. 

Final thoughts and finishing touches

The first mattress we ever bought was an Avocado mattress five years ago, just before the birth of our daughter, and right before we became parents for the first time. That baby has grown into a beautiful five-year-old little girl, who shares a room with her two-year-old brother, and they both sleep on Avocado mattresses as well.

“The brand continues to impress me at every turn, even after years of experience working with, testing, and studying sustainable brands.”

For this review, the team made sure I would be comfortable, too, and offered a mattress topper to add a bit of plushness to our firm surface. The pairing is the perfect blend of support and softness so that both my husband and I have our needs met.

The brand continues to impress me at every turn, even after years of experience working with, testing, and studying sustainable brands. Simply put, they are the best in the business, and their skilled team will help you find the perfect mattress for you and your family.

Kate Arceo is the Community Manager at The Good Trade. She has a Bachelor of Science from Evangel University and has over 5 years of experience reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, as well as organic kids’ apparel and nontoxic cosmetics. When she’s not hosting dinner parties with her husband at their home in Southern California, you can find her sipping a latte at their local coffee house or shopping for strawberries with her kids at the farmers market. Say hi on Instagram!