Last Updated: May 2017
With more than 80 years of experience, and a true pioneer in the mattress industry, it’s no wonder Serta is one of the most trusted names in sleep products. In fact, Serta is the number one mattress manufacturer in the United States and is a leading brand around the world.
Each and every Serta mattress is designed to provide exceptional customized support and exceptional comfort, and their 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress is no different. Offering four separate layers of the highest quality materials, including gel memory foam, premium memory foam, Active Air Foam and support foam, this mattress is truly made to provide a restful and restorative night of sleep.
Thanks to the design of this mattress, sleepers will enjoy proper spinal alignment and pressure point relief, all while remaining cool throughout the night. Will the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress meet your specific needs? In this buyer’s guide, we fully assess the details of this mattress, giving you a clear indication of its quality and the type of sleep you can expect to experience on it.
- Pressure point relief
- Deep compression support
- Comfortable in all sleep positions
- Promotes proper spinal alignment
- 20 year warranty
- Minimal heat retention
- Limited motion transfer
- All materials are made in the USA
- Slight degree of off gassing
- Short trial period
- May be too firm for some sleepers
Our Score
Below is our final score of the Serta mattress based on multiple criteria that we use when testing all of our mattresses.
What’s It Made From…
The Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress is comprised of four separate layers of high quality, durable foam, including gel memory foam, premium memory foam, Active Air Foam and high density support foam. Together, these four layers make a mattress that is a total of 14 inches tall.
The Top Layer
The first layer of the 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress from Serta is made of 1 inch of gel infused memory foam. The memory foam creates a soft, plush feeling on contact, and gently hugs the body. The cooling gel that this memory foam is infused with is helps to pull heat away from the body, preventing the mattress from heating up and keeping the sleeping surface a cool and consistent temperature throughout the night.
The Second Layer
The next layer of this mattress is made of 2 inches of premium memory foam. This material absorbs the pressure of body weight and distributes it evenly throughout the mattress. This layer creates pressure point relief, thereby minimizing any pain and reducing tossing and turning throughout the night.
The Third Layer
Next up is a layer of 3 inches of Active Air Foam. The unique open cell design of this material provides additional pressure point relief, as well as increased air flow. It keeps the spine in proper alignment in all positions, thereby reducing the buildup of pressure and minimizing the development of pain.
The Fourth Layer
Serving as the foundation of the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress is 8 inches of high density support foam. This layer supports the upper three layers of the mattress, providing stability and durability. This material also provides deep compression support, further limiting any pain and allowing for a restorative night of sleep.
The Cover
The cover is one of the most important elements of a mattress. It contains the shape of the mattress and is the first part you make contact with when lying down on it. The cover on the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress is made of a poly blend. It’s thin and breathable, yet durable and sturdy. When pulling on the cover, we noticed that it bounced back into its original shape almost immediately.
Aesthetically speaking, the cover is neutral in design. The top is white with diamond shaped tufting. The sides of the cover are gray with delicate imprinting.
Hands on Review
Our mission in creating this buyer’s guide is to provide you with as much information about the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress so that you can determine whether or not it is the right choice for you. In order to do that, we have fully assessed the most important criteria that impact the overall quality of the mattress and the type of sleep that you can expect it to deliver. The criteria we looked at includes:
Firmness
On a firmness scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest, we rate the 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress from Serta a 5.5 to 6. It is slightly above average in comparison to other mattresses that are made of foam. The top layer of memory foam offers a level of softness to the mattress; however, the remaining layers of the mattress are denser, contributing to the firmness the mattress provides.
Comfort
Overall, we think that the 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress from Serta is very comfortable. Average sized and heavier sleepers should find this mattress comfortable; however, lighter sleepers may find that it is too firm. What we experienced was a decent hug that we found enjoyable, and an excellent level of support.
Motion transfer was also very minimal in this mattress. This is important to mention, as it certainly impacts the overall comfort that the bed delivers. The durable foam materials absorb energy well, which means that if you are sharing the bed with someone, you should not feel any motion that is created from any movement that they create.
Pain Relief and Support
The Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress is specifically designed to keep the spine in proper alignment. Additionally, it evenly distributes weight throughout the entire mattress, and it provides pressure point relief. As such, there will be less tossing and turning, less buildup of pressure in key areas, such as the back, the neck, the shoulders and the side, which will make for less pain.
Heat Retention
We were impressed by the minimal amount of heat that the 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress from Serta retained. The cooling gel that is infused in the top layer of memory foam is designed to pull heat away from the sleeper and keep the mattress consistently cool, and it really does just that. Additionally, the Active Air Foam is extremely breathable. It pulls heat away from the body and disperses it out of the mattress, adding to the minimized heat retention of the mattress.
Off Gassing
Off gassing refers to any odor that a mattress emits. It is a common that is largely associated with foam mattresses, as there are certain chemicals that are used in the production of the foam, and those chemicals can have a certain odor that can be emitted from the mattress.
In regard to off gassing in the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress, we were fairly impressed. While we did notice a slight odor when we first received it, after leaving it in a room with the windows open for a few hours, the odor dissipated.
Intimacy
Another issue with foam mattresses is bounce. The foam is specifically designed to absorb bounce, which is great or motion transfer that can impact your sleep; however, it isn’t necessarily great for amorous activities.
Though the 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress from Serta does offer minimal motion transfer, we did find that there was just the right amount of bounce so that intimacy is not compromised. In other words, you won’t have to exert any additional energy to partake in some adult fun.
Sleeping Position Ratings
Sleeping in different positions require different support from a mattress in order to prevent the pressure that builds up on the body that leads to pain. As such, we wanted to see if the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress delivered the right amount of support for the most common sleep positions. Here’s what we found…
Back
When sleeping on the back, body weight was evenly distributed throughout the body. The spine was also kept in proper alignment. As such, back sleepers will experience great pressure point relief, which means less pain in key problem areas, such as the back, the neck and the shoulders. However, because the mattress is slightly firmer than average, lighter back sleepers may find that it is too firm.
Back Sleeping score: 9.25/10
Stomach
Just like sleeping on the back, sleeping on the stomach requires an even distribution of weight throughout the mattress. Additionally, stomach sleepers do not want to feel like they are being engulfed by the mattress. With the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress, the memory foam offers just the right amount of hug so that sleepers will feel comfortable, yet won’t feel as if they are being swallowed by the mattress. The bed also keeps the spine in proper alignment while sleeping on the stomach, and disperses body weight evenly throughout the mattress.
Stomach Sleeping score: 9/10
Side
Side sleepers are particularly prone to developing pain, particularly in their neck and shoulders. That’s because all of their body weight is concentrated in one area, and if the mattress does not provide proper support to accommodate that concentration of weight, pain can certainly result. With this bed, the four layers of foam work together to properly absorb body weight, create a cradling effect, and provide the deep compression support that is needed in order to allow for pressure point relief.
Side Sleeping score: 9.25/10
Bed Frame Compatibility
The Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress can technically be used with all bed frames; however, for ideal results, we suggest using it with a solid bed frame, such as a platform bed, or a frame that offers durable slats that are no more than 3 inches apart. This will allow you to really enjoy all of the benefits that the four layers of foam are intended to provide.
Warranty, Guarantee and Trial Period
- Warranty: 20 year limited manufacturer warranty. If you experience any issues with this bed that are a result of a manufacturer defect, you can contact Serta and they will repair or replace the mattress for you.
- Guarantee: Money back guarantee
- Trial Period: 30 day trial period. If you are not satisfied with the mattress, contact the company and they will refund your money, in full.
Conclusion
The Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress is backed by more than 80 years of innovation. Slightly firmer than the average mattress, this bed offers proper support, promotes proper spinal alignment and remains cool throughout the night. It memory foam creates just the right amount of cushioning without excessively hugging. Pressure point relief and deep compression support round out the benefits that this mattress is designed to provide.
Is This Mattress Right for You?
If you are shopping for a mattress that will remain a consistently cool temperature throughout the night and will prevent you from overheating, you want a sleeping surface that reduces pressure points and minimizes pain, and you are on the market for a bed that is made by a company that has a solid reputation, than yes, we think that the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress will be a great choice for you.
Rating Box and Summary
For more information on the Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam mattress, click here.
Serta 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress
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Overview
Summary
The topmost layer of the Serta 14-inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress provides a superior support together with the help of millions of exclusive tiny gel beads infused in it, while the second layer of two inch thick premium memory foam with an open cell technology provides the supplementary cushioning and plush comfort.
