Avocado Green vs Birch Natural Mattress: Which organic bed is best for back sleeping?

The Avocado Green and Birch Natural mattresses are some of the best all-natural, organic beds on the market, and up there with this year's best mattresses we've tested. Both incorporate luxury materials and offer firm support from their hybrid designs, which makes them excellent beds for back sleepers. But which should you choose?

While we rated the Avocado Green as this year’s best organic mattress, you shouldn’t disregard the Birch. Back sleepers in general benefit from a firmer mattress that keeps their spine aligned. Although, to stop pressure from building, there should be some ‘give’ or ‘cushioning’ around the lower back and hips.

Both mattresses are currently discounted in the Black Friday mattress deals, meaning right now is likely the lowest price you’ll find. So, it’s an excellent time to invest in your sleep. Here’s how to choose between the two.

Avocado Green vs Birch Natural Mattress: Price & trial

• Avocado sales are rare, but we will sometime see 10 or even 15% off MSRP
• The Birch Natural mattress is always discounted, usually by 20%
• The Avocado Green has a 365-night trial compared to Birch’s 100 nights

Both the Avocado Green and Birch Natural sit in the premium price bracket, even with discounts, and the Avocado Green is one of the best luxury mattresses you can buy. Avocado mattress sales aren’t that common but right now you can pick up a queen mattress for $1,679 (MSRP $2,099) in Avocado's Black Friday sale, which is one of the best prices we've seen, and certainly great value for a luxury bed. Along with the mattress you’ll also get a generous 365-night trial, 25-year warranty and free shipping.

The Birch Natural mattress almost always has 20% off all sizes of the mattress, but you can currently get 27% off in Birch's Black Friday sale by using our TOMS27 code at the checkout, reducing a queen size mattress for $1,361.70 (MSRP $1,865.33). You’ll also get two free eco-rest pillows when you buy the mattress. You’ll get a lifetime warranty and free shipping, but the trial period is a little stingier at 100 nights.

Avocado Green Mattress: twin was $1,499 now $1,199 at Avocado
The Avocado Green is a premium organic mattress offering a supportive night’s sleep. Although not always discounted, there’s currently a 20% mattress sale that will allow you to pick up a queen size mattress for $1,679 (MSRP $2,099). You’ll also get a 365-night trial, 25-year warranty and free shipping.

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Birch Natural Mattress: twin was $1,373.33 now $1,002.54 with TOMS27 code at Birch
Organic mattresses are usually expensive, but with its evergreen discount the Birch Natural is in the upper mid-range price bracket, which is great value for a natural mattress. A queen size is reduced to $1,361.70 (MSRP $1,865.33) with our TOMS27 code, and you’ll also get two free pillows, along with a 100-night trial, 25 year warranty and free shipping.

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Avocado Green vs Birch Natural Mattress: Materials & design

• The Avocado Green is 11” tall and has two layers with a cover
• The Birch Natural is 11” high and has five layers with a top cover
• Both mattresses are hybrids, made with a combination of foams and coils

The Avocado Green has a simple three layer design, starting with an organic GOTs-certified cotton and wool cover that’s designed to be breathable and moisture-wicking. The wool is also naturally antimicrobial and protects against dust mites. Up next is a comfort layer made from Dunlop latex for support, pressure relief and breathability.

The base layer has another inch of Dunlop latex along with support coils arranged in seven ergonomic zones. These provide tailored support as needed across the body. For vegans there’s also a version of the mattress made without wool.

The Birch Natural starts with an organic GOTS-certified cotton blend cover with a tight top finish. Underneath is a double layer of natural wool that provides cushioning and natural fire protection, as well as regulating temperature.

These sit on top of a layer of natural eco-INSTITUT certified Talalay latex for pressure relief. Individually wrapped coils offer stability, and the mattress is finished with a base layer of wool for durability.

As you can see the mattresses use different types of latex. When comparing Dunlop vs Talalay latex, do note that Dunlop is cheaper, denser, more durable and offers firmer support. But Talalay latex is softer and more breathable, so often a good choice for hotter sleepers. For this reason, the Avocado will likely provide firmer support for back sleepers. Although, if you want a slightly softer feel, the Birch would be a better option.

Avocado Green vs Birch Natural Mattress: Comfort & support

• The Avocado Green is a medium firm mattress rated at 7 out of 10 firmness rating
• The Birch Natural is also medium firm and is rated at 6-7 out of 10
• Both mattresses are particularly suited to back and stomach sleepers

The Avocado Green is a bit of a superstar for back and stomach sleepers, along with those of a heavier build, and we rate it as one of the best firm mattresses you can buy. As you might expect, it’s also one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers. In our Avocado Green mattress review our testers agreed with Avocado’s firmness rating of 7 out of 10, finding that the medium firm feel offered excellent back and neck support.

Back and joint pain sufferers should find that the mattress does a good job of soothing aches, although it’s not the greatest fit for side sleepers as it’s simply too unyielding around the pressure points of the shoulders and hips in this position. There is the option to add in either a pillow top or box top to make the mattress softer but adding these in a queen size (for example) will currently add $680 or $1,428 to your price tag respectively. You could buy a whole new mattress for those prices.

The Birch Natural is another mattress that’s best suited to heavier people along with those who sleep on their backs and stomachs. It is slightly softer than the Avocado – our testers rated it at 6.5 out of 10 but it’s not plush and lightweight sleepers may still find it too firm.

In our Birch Natural mattress review our testers did note that it suited a lot of sleeping styles and, although it’s not one of the best mattresses for side sleepers, average and heavier weight side sleepers may find it perfectly comfortable. But it excels for back and stomach sleepers, with plenty of pressure relief to soothe aches and pains. As one of the best medium firm mattresses, the Birch also does a great job of keeping the spine aligned and provides a slightly bouncy surface that’s ideal for combination sleepers.

If you're a back sleeper who also sleeps on their side or moves around in the night, the Birch will probably offer more comfort for varying sleep positions. However, if you sleep solely on your back, and like to feel elevated and aligned throughout the night, the Avocado is a good choice.

Avocado Green vs Birch Natural Mattress: Temperature control

• Both mattresses scored full marks for temperature regulation in our reviews
• Both use naturally breathable materials
• Both have coil layers to help improve airflow

The Avocado Green uses naturally breathable materials that do an excellent job of keeping sleepers cool. The bed feels cool to the touch thanks to an organic cotton and wool cover that’s both breathable and moisture wicking. Natural latex is also well known for its ability to keep sleepers cool, being another breathable material. Our testers didn’t notice any issues with overheating when sleeping on the mattress.

It's a similar story with the Birch Natural, which has a breathable cotton cover and two layers of organic wool to wick away sweat. The Talalay latex also offered excellent ventilation to our testers, and the coil layer provides effective airflow. Like the best cooling mattresses, both mattresses did a great job of keeping people cool overnight.

Avocado Green vs Birch Natural Mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the Avocado Green Mattress if...

✅ You want a longer trial period: You’ll get a whole year to try out the Avocado Green, giving you plenty of time to see if the mattress is right for you.

✅ You’re of a heavier build: The Avocado Green is one of the best mattresses for heavy people you can buy, with sturdy support from its coils and thick Dunlop latex.

✅ You share your bed: Many latex mattresses are too bouncy for good motion isolation, but the Avocado Green scored highly here, with little disturbance.

Buy the Birch Natural mattress if... 

✅ You’re on a tighter budget: The Birch Natural is always on offer, and you’ll get two free pillows when you buy the mattress.

✅ You’re a combination sleeper: The bouncier feel of the Birch means it’s easier for combination sleepers to change position overnight.

✅ You sleep hot: Yes, both mattresses scored full marks for temperature regulation, but the Talalay latex in the Birch is more breathable than the Dunlop used in the Avocado.