Zinus SmartBase Steel & Storage California King Bed Frame
Last updated: March 28, 2022
We looked at the top California King Bed Frames and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best California King Bed Frame you should buy.
Product Details
In our analysis of 12 expert reviews, the Zinus SmartBase Steel & Storage California King Bed Frame
placed 7th when we looked at the top 7 products in the category. For the full ranking,
see below.
From The Manufacturer
The SmartBase checks off a lot of boxes on a bed frame wish list. Excellent mattress support without a box spring? Check. An abundance of underbed storage space? Check. Over 30,000 5-star reviews? Check! Frankly, we’re not surprised that so many happy customers have traded in their two-piece box spring and bed frame sets for this reinforced steel base. It’s designed with a metal platform that you can rest your memory foam, latex or spring mattress directly on top of for extended mattress life. It’s also engineered with multiple support legs for maximum stability and squeak-free use. Plus, those legs have plastic caps at the ends to protect your floors from unnecessary scratches. With swift assembly that only requires your own two hands and a 5-year worry-free warranty included, this extraordinary foundation is what we call a win-win.
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
Had the whole thing set up in less than 10 minutes. My bedtime experience got so much better with the height and stability of sleeping on a proper frame. It didn’t squeak, it didn’t creak, and the mattress stayed exactly where I put it—there are these sticky strips included with the package (essentially giant pieces of nonstick tape) that ensure your mattress won’t slide around, but so far I haven’t needed them.
Assembly was, as promised, a breeze. It comes out of the box looking essentially like two smaller, twin-like frames with legs that fold out, and those two pieces get bolted together in the middle. You can assemble the frame by yourself, and you'll be done in less than 10 minutes. Post-assembly, I fit two large suitcases, several boxes and storage bins, four pairs of shoes, and a folding beach chair underneath the bed, and there's still room to spare. Thanks to the plastic caps on the legs, not only does it not scratch up the floors, it also doesn't slide around at all. And as a bonus, it doesn't make any of those annoying creaky noises when you move around.
The set-up process couldn't be easier. I dusted my hands off and thought, "Really? That was it?" I've been sleeping on this frame for 2.5 months with zero problems or complaints. It's surprisingly sturdy given its simple design and set-up process, supporting a 66-pound mattress plus two people with no squeaking or any indication that it's struggling. The steel frame is clearly very strong, but what's most impressive is that Zinus was able to combine strength with a hassle-free, noise-free design.
What reviewers didn't like
The finished product isn’t incredibly attractive.
The mattress rests on top of the frame and there's nowhere for it to settle into, it would slide forward several inches while I was sleeping, (which would be fine if it didn't also make my pillow slide right into the crevice between the wall and the mattress.) My other issue? It's not automatically headboard compatible on its own. In order to attach a headboard, you have to buy separate headboard brackets from Zinus, which is not ideal, but considering they're only $10
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