Brooklyn Bedding in Denver: Is the Aurora Really the Best Choice?

If you’re looking at Brooklyn Bedding—especially the Aurora—you’re not alone. It’s one of the most talked-about mattresses online, and on paper, it checks a lot of boxes. Cooling features. Multiple firmness options. Strong reviews.

But after more than 25 years in this industry, I’ve learned something most reviews never explain: A mattress can be popular and still be wrong for your body.

Most of the people who walk into our Denver showroom aren’t confused—they’re overwhelmed. They’ve done the research. They’ve read the reviews. Some of them have already tried one or two online mattresses and are frustrated that none of them worked the way they hoped.

This article isn’t here to tear down Brooklyn Bedding. In fact, we work closely with them. What I want to do is help you make the decision most people skip: figuring out whether the Aurora—or an alternative—actually fits you.

Why Brooklyn Bedding (and the Aurora) Gets So Much Attention

Brooklyn Bedding has earned its reputation. They manufacture their own mattresses in the U.S., control their materials, and generally offer better quality than many heavily marketed online brands. The Aurora, in particular, gets attention because it leans hard into cooling—something a lot of sleepers struggle with, especially couples.

Online, it’s positioned as a safe bet. And for some people, it is.

But what online reviews don’t capture is context. They tell you what a mattress is made of. They don’t tell you how it behaves under your body weight, your sleep position, or your movement over an entire night.

That’s where things start to break down.

What Online Reviews Don’t Explain About Mattress Fit

Here’s the biggest disconnect I see every week: Comfort is subjective, but alignment is not.

Two people can lie on the same mattress and have completely different outcomes—not because one is “picky,” but because their bodies load the mattress differently. BMI, shoulder width, hip weight, and sleep position all determine whether your spine stays neutral or gets pushed out of alignment.

I’ve seen side sleepers with lower body weight struggle on mattresses that are labeled “medium” because their hips never sink enough. I’ve seen heavier back sleepers wake up sore on beds that felt great for five minutes but collapsed overnight under their lumbar curve.

This is especially relevant with the Aurora. It performs well for certain sleeper profiles—but it’s not universal, no matter how many stars it has online.

Who the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Tends to Work Best For

Based on real-world experience—not reviews—the Aurora often works well for:

• Back sleepers with average body weight
• People who like a more responsive, slightly buoyant feel
• Sleepers who want noticeable surface cooling
• Solo sleepers who don’t deal much with motion transfer

Where it can struggle is with:

• Lightweight side sleepers who need deeper pressure relief
• Couples sensitive to motion
• People who assume “cooling” means temperature neutrality all night
• Sleepers who need very consistent alignment over long sleep cycles

None of this means it’s a bad mattress. It means it’s a specific mattress, not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Why Testing a Mattress in a Store Changes Everything

Mattress shopping is a vulnerable experience. You’re lying down. You’re relaxed—or trying to be. And most stores make that harder than it needs to be with bright lights, hovering salespeople, and pressure to decide quickly.

That’s why we built our showroom differently.

When someone comes in, we guide them toward a few options based on sleep position, body type, and preferences—and then we step back. We encourage people to lie down for five to ten minutes on each mattress. Sometimes longer. You can’t feel alignment issues in thirty seconds.

This is also why our return rate is so low. Online mattress brands' average return rates are close to 40%. In our first several months, we had one comfort exchange. That’s not luck—it’s the result of letting people actually feel what works before they buy.

I’ve covered this process in short in-store videos before because it’s hard to explain how much difference time makes until you experience it yourself.

Brooklyn Bedding Alternatives That Often Perform Better

One thing many people don’t realize is that not all Brooklyn Bedding–manufactured mattresses are built the same—even when they come from the same factory.

Construction choices matter. Latex layers behave differently from memory foam. Coil systems respond differently under load. Some materials hold alignment longer over years, not months.

In our showroom, we carry Brooklyn Bedding–manufactured options and other curated alternatives that outperform the Aurora for certain sleepers—especially people who need:

• More durable support over time
• Better pressure relief without losing alignment
• Cooling that works through breathability, not just surface feel
• Less motion transfer for couples

These aren’t “alternatives” because of branding. They’re alternatives because they solve problems the Aurora doesn’t always solve well.

Online vs In-Store: The Tradeoff Most People Miss

Buying a mattress online feels convenient—until it doesn’t. Trial periods sound generous, but they often turn into weeks of second-guessing, mattress protectors, and return logistics.

What most people are really looking for is confidence.

In-store testing doesn’t remove all risk, but it dramatically reduces it. You’re not guessing how something might feel. You’re experiencing how it actually supports your body.

And when you work with owners instead of commissioned staff, the incentive is different. Our goal isn’t to sell the most expensive mattress. It’s to get it right the first time.

How I Recommend Choosing the Right Brooklyn Bedding Mattress

If you’re trying to decide—Aurora or not—here’s the framework I use:

• Start with sleep position.
• Factor in body weight honestly.
• Pay attention to pressure at the hips and shoulders, not just softness.
• Test long enough for your body to relax.
• Have someone check your spinal alignment.

If you do those things, the right choice becomes much clearer—whether that’s the Aurora or something else entirely.

A Simple Next Step If You’re in Denver

If you’re in Denver and considering Brooklyn Bedding, the best thing you can do is stop guessing. Come in. Lie down. Take your time.

You don’t have to buy anything. You just need to feel the difference between a mattress that looks good online and one that actually works for your body.

That’s how better sleep starts.

About the Author

Phil Lotterhos

Phil Lotterhos is a consultative mattress expert and owner of Sleep Basil, Denver's premier mattress store specializing in Brooklyn Bedding and Diamond Mattress collections. With over 10 years helping Colorado residents achieve better sleep, Phil formerly owned Urban Mattress Boulder and has become Denver's go-to local mattress guru. Known for his educational, easy-going approach and belief that "materials matter more than brand names" in mattress construction, Phil combines deep product knowledge with a passion for helping people find their perfect sleep solution. When not helping customers, he's an avid jazz pianist bringing the same attention to detail to both music and mattresses.