3Z brands launches 1-year sleep trial for Helix, Bear, Leesa mattresses — why it’s a red flag if your bed doesn’t come with a trial

(Image credit: Future) Shopping for a new mattress just got a whole lot more relaxing, as 3Z brands introduces a year-long sleep trial across its line-up. This extended trial covers some of the best mattresses we've tested, such as the side sleeper favorite Helix Midnight Luxe and the cooling comfort of the Bear Elite Hybrid.A mattress trial is essential when buying a new bed. The at-home testing period gives you a chance to break in the mattress and see what it's like — it's the boxed mattress equivalent of lying on a bed in a store. Only better, because you get to test in real-world circumstances.With the new 365-night trial, 3Z brands matches industry leading sleep trials from the likes of Saatva, Nectar and DreamCloud. The new benefit covers all beds in the 3Z brands portfolio; Helix, Bear, Leesa, Nolah, Brooklyn Bedding and Birch.The best deals to shop with 3Z's new 365-night trialWhy no trial is a mattress red flagTrial periods are considered standard for all the best mattresses in a box but that doesn't mean every bed online comes with one.Mattresses from third-party retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart, are often sold without a trial. They might include a returns period but this comes with a big caveat — you typically can't return the mattress if it's been taken out of the box.So if you purchase a mattress without a trial period and find the feel doesn't match the reviews (or you thought you wanted soft but it turns out you need firm), you're stuck with a bad bed. Or you have to shell out for a new one.There are some occasions when you might feel comfortable ditching the trial. For example, Tempur-Pedic outlet mattresses don't come with a trial but do come with mega price cuts. Forgoing a sleep trial might be worth the trade-off.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.And many of the mattresses used in hotels are sold without a trial. If you want to test before you buy, you need to book a night's stay in your chosen resort. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.