How it feels
A genuine medium, which is rarer than it should be. We measured the Medium at 5.5 on our compression gauge, sampled at nine points — most mattresses sold as "medium" in this category come in at 6 or above.
The surface is responsive rather than slow. There is a thin gel-swirl foam over the coils rather than a deep memory foam layer, so changing position takes no effort. Combination sleepers preferred it to everything else in the round.
The three firmness options are real
We tested all three, a week each. Soft measured 4, Medium 5.5, Firm 7. That is a proper spread, ordered at checkout at no extra cost, and it is the strongest argument for buying here rather than from a single-firmness brand.
Support
8.4 on the Medium, which is a good number for the price and about a point behind the premium hybrids. Spinal alignment held inside three degrees of neutral for our two lighter testers. Our 240 lb tester was better served by the Firm, which measured 8.9 for him.
Being able to pick the firmness effectively raises the support ceiling for heavier sleepers, which is not something a single-firmness mattress at this price can offer.
Temperature
+2.9°F over eight hours, which is a strong result for a mattress under $1,200 and better than the DreamCloud Premier that costs more. The comfort layer is thin and the coil unit is close to the surface — the same reason it feels responsive is the reason it stays cool.
Sharing the bed
8.0 on motion transfer and 8.4 on edge support: unremarkable in both directions and adequate in both. The drop test registered but did not wake a light sleeper on most nights. Perimeter compression was 1.5 inches at ten minutes seated with no meaningful creep.
Where it gives ground
Finish and data. The cover is a plain quilted knit rather than cashmere, the quilting pattern is simple, and it looks like what it is — a well-built mattress from a factory that is not spending money on presentation.
The warranty is ten years rather than lifetime, and there is a $99 fee on trial returns. We also have only three years of sag measurements on ours (0.35 inches at year three, which is fine), against five or more for the premium hybrids.
Verdict against the alternatives
Against the DreamCloud Premier at $1,399: the Brooklyn is cooler, cheaper and lets you choose firmness; the DreamCloud has a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty. We would take the Brooklyn if we knew what firmness we wanted and the DreamCloud if we did not.
Against the Nectar Premier at $1,099: the Brooklyn is a better mattress in every category except motion isolation, where the Nectar is untouchable.
Full context in the the best mattresses under $1,200 guide.