The Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online
A couple of things to note: All the mattresses here are some of the best reviewed on the market, so there are no duds. Rather than name the “best mattress for everyone” (which we’re convinced doesn’t exist), we set out to judge each on its own terms. The starting prices we’ve listed are for queen-size mattresses. In some cases, for companies that offer more than one mattress design, we picked only one option. Still, we hope the review serves as a baseline for how firm, springy, or cushy the brand’s other products might be. We’ll be adding more mattresses from other companies as we go, but for now, here’s our answer to that question about which mattress you should buy.
The best all-around mattresses
Saatva Classic Mattress
How I sleep: I slouch, so at night I need to lie down on something very firm to counter a long day of slightly stooped sitting and sinking into my hips while standing. I start out on my back but eventually collapse over to my side by the middle of the night.
What to know: Saatva, which has been around for almost a decade, was one of the first online innerspring mattress companies. It offers three versions: soft, luxury firm, and firm. In each, an organic cotton pillow top — some people call it “Euro style,” or “hotel style” — covers a top layer of ecofriendly memory foam, which sits on a level of individually wrapped coils above another layer of recycled steel coils, then a poly foam base.
How I slept: Because of my generally sore back, I was tasked with testing some of the firm mattresses out there. Side-sleepers, the company told me, are said to prefer the luxury firm. So I got it, and my first impression was how sturdy the bed felt. But lying down, I immediately noticed how incredibly bouncy the double layer of coils makes the luxury firm. I can certainly see why side-sleepers would like the pressure relief it offers, but I decided to swap it for the firm, hoping it would focus support on my lumbar region. Which it very much did. You feel more on top of it, because of the steel springs, but you still have the contoured shape of the raised pillow top. I move around at night, shape-shifting from my back to my side to stomach, but the firmness of this mattress never created a sunken, stuck feeling, which I’ve found happening with memory foam. Instead, the supported feeling of this bed (which still manages to be pretty plush) kept my lower back from collapsing in, making my spine feel more aligned overall.
The fine print: Saatva allows customers a 120-day trial run as well as a full return or exchange. The mattress is covered by a 15-year warranty. All sizes are available in two heights — a custom slim (11.5-inch) and a premier luxury (14.5-inch) — and give the same level of support. The company offers free white-glove delivery and mattress removal.
The tl;dr: Saatva’s firmest option is a true firm, making it a good choice for those in need of back support. Plus: Saatva uses organic and ecofriendly materials, so while all the mattresses listed here are certifiably safe, there are fewer chemicals in Saatva’s.
Leesa Original Mattress
How I sleep: I am a stomach-sleeper who prefers a plush mattress that cradles my body. However, I share a bed with a back-sleeper who prefers a firm mattress with little-to-no give.
What to know: Leesa is one of the OG mattress-in-a-box companies — it’s been selling an all-foam mattress since 2014 — and according to Sleepopolis, it’s a solid option for back- and side-sleepers. In August, Leesa reformulated its basic mattress for the first time, replacing its top layer of trademarked Avena foam (a latex alternative) with a layer of what’s called “LSA200 foam technology.” According to Jamie Diamonstein, one of Leesa’s co-founders, the new foam has improved “pushback,” meaning it better fills in the gaps around your body when you lie down. “The goal was to enhance the pressure relief of the body through this technology,” he says. “We’ve created a foam that responds to the shape and the sleeping position of your body, then it pushes back and balances your body out.”
How I slept: I used a sleep tracker for five nights while testing this mattress, and every night I fell into a deep sleep quickly and stayed there. The mattress felt soft and plush, but I never sank down into it. My partner, who is so enamored with sleeping on hard surfaces that he sometimes naps on a yoga mat on our hardwood floor, raved about the pressure relief and comfort he felt from the foam filling in the small of his back while he slept.
The fine print: Standard shipping is free, though Leesa also offers white-glove delivery for an additional $100. For an additional $50, the two-person team will also dispose of your old mattress and box spring. You have 100 days to try your Leesa mattress; if you don’t like it, the company will coordinate a pickup from your home, then refund the full purchase price.
The tl;dr: This is a foam mattress but a substantial one that offers excellent pressure relief. It should suit all kinds of sleepers and is a good mattress for anyone who doesn’t want to overthink it.
The Aviya Mattress
How I sleep: I am not loyal to any one position, so my ideal mattress is a jack-of-all-trades with support for my back, but which is also cushy enough to let me comfortably flop around on my stomach and side.
What to know: Aviya does things the old-school way and ships its mattress without compressing it in a box first. The mattress itself is a hybrid model with three layers of high-density foam over a coiled innerspring system. It offers three options for firmness: plush, luxury firm (Aviya’s most popular style and the one I tested), and firm. It’s possible you’ve already unwittingly slept on one, as a couple of popular (but undisclosed) hotel chains use the Aviya luxury firm bed. That may be because Sleep Advisor, Sleepopolis, and Real Mattress Reviews gave it a near-perfect all-around score for comfort, materials, and support.
How I slept: Flopping down, I was immediately taken by how plush yet delightfully bouncy this mattress was. The innersprings are a big plus, but they’re buried far beneath the layers of foam. I was amazed at just how propped-up and aligned my body felt while supine, yet how comfortably I slept thanks to the padding of the quilted foam top. Which shouldn’t bother back-sleepers, I’d think, because of the lack of give in this mattress — there is virtually no sinkage, which I tested by dropping two ten-pound weights on top of it. But the plush top still lends itself well to dozing on your side or stomach. I’d even go so far as to say that sleeping on this changed my perception of what soft-but-supportive means.
The fine print: Aviya provides free shipping, which includes in-the-door delivery through a third-party service. However, that might not cover getting the mattress upstairs in a walk-up apartment (it didn’t at my Brooklyn brownstone), so customers living in cities should ask ahead of time. Mattress setup and removal are available for an additional fee, and Aviya will set this up during a two-hour window, Mondays through Fridays only.
The tl;dr: The Aviya is supportive but soft and is another can’t-go-wrong choice for those who don’t want to overthink it but know that they’d prefer an innerspring system.
The Casper Original Mattress
How I sleep: I’m a stomach-sleeper — I often can’t fall asleep at all unless I’m fully prostrate — but often wake up on my side, and I like a mattress that feels fluffy without having too much give.
What to know: If you’re reading this, what don’t you know about Casper? It wasn’t the first mattress-in-a-box company to launch, but it quickly became the most prominent, thanks to factors like shiny branding and venture-capital funding. The original premise of Casper was that one mattress could make everyone happy. The company has abandoned this Goldilocksian ideal and made two other models (read on for those), but this is the original: a four-layer foam construction with firmer support around the shoulders and hips in the newest update.
How I slept: I owned a Casper before this project (as did several other Strategist staffers), so my evaluation is actually based on a year’s worth of sleep. And it was great. I didn’t have any sleep complaints before, but graduating from my Ikea mattress to the Casper was like flipping a light switch. It’s definitely a foam mattress, and for some people (like Strategist writer Liza Corsillo), that makes it feel hot. It also makes some people call it a soft mattress (Karen Iorio Adelson, Strategist senior writer). I found it to be squarely in the middle, with absolutely no painful give around the back, but cushy enough that collapsing into it at the end of the day felt like a reward. (Lori also had one and liked it.) Casper has become the de facto mattress, the one bought by people who don’t shop obsessively and who say, “I just have a Casper.” But, honestly, the ubiquity is deserved.
The fine print: You get the standard (with mattress start-ups, at least) 100 days to decide if you like your Casper. Free shipping and returns come with that, and the company says it tries to donate returned mattresses when possible. Formerly called the Casper Mattress, the company has rebranded this as the Casper Original Mattress and claims that the latest version has “enhanced support and cooling features,” as well as a “new cover made with recycled materials.”
The tl;dr: As a company, Casper is a well-oiled machine that makes delivery a cinch and offers other high-quality products along with the mattress, which is convenient if you want new, say, pillows. As for the mattress, it skews just a tad softer, and hot sleepers don’t always love the foam. For everyone else, you can’t go wrong.
Tuft & Needle Original Mattress
How I sleep: I mostly sleep on my back but also switch to my side during the night. I prefer a mattress that’s on the firmer side.
What to know: Tuft & Needle launched early, in 2012, and in 2018, it was acquired by Serta Simmons. Tuft & Needle offers only two options, the original mattress and the Mint, an upgraded version of the original. The original has just two layers of material: a seven-inch support layer of dense foam as the base and a three-inch top comfort layer of proprietary Adaptive Foam infused with a “cooling gel” and graphite to keep sleepers cool. Its simplicity may explain its lower price — it’s a couple hundred dollars less than other foam competitors — but its appeal is meant to be broad and is aimed at a wide range of sleeping preferences and body weights.
How I slept: Right off the bat, the mattress felt substantial. The textured fabric cover felt plush to the touch, and when I pressed my open hand down on the mattress, it bounced back with a friendly spring. Lying on the Tuft & Needle for the first time, I immediately felt embraced. Sleeping on my back, I felt supported and cocooned at the same time, and when I turned to my side, the transition felt natural. The company calls its in-house T & N Adaptive foam “soft and comfy while still being bouncy and supportive,” and I completely agree. While I may revert to a coil-spring mattress eventually, I can see myself keeping the Tuft & Needle for a long time. My husband also really likes it, and he’s a back- and stomach-sleeper whose temperature runs a little hotter than mine. It’s a solid introduction to a compressed mattress-in-a-box.
The fine print: Shipping is free, and if you don’t like it after a 100-day trial, the brand offers a full refund and free removal to a charity of your choice. It also comes with a ten-year warranty.
The tl;dr: Another crowd pleaser for anyone who’s happy with foam, Tuft & Needle is a very smart choice for anyone looking to spend a bit less.
The best ecoconscious mattress
How I sleep: I’ll start out on my back but usually end up sleeping on my side with a pillow or the edge of a comforter stuffed between my knees for hip comfort. I prefer a firm cool mattress since I run hot; I usually wake up with one leg free of any covers. I share the bed with a side-sleeper who runs just as hot (and sometimes sweaty) as I do.
What to know: Avocado set out to create the greenest mattress on the market using nontoxic natural and organic materials (as well as ecofriendly production processes). The brand offers two different mattresses: the Green and the Vegan, which is like the Green minus the wool. Both are foam-coil hybrids that layer ecoconscious natural Dunlop latex (made from tree sap), recycled steel coils, organic cotton, organic wool, and hydrated silica (a food-grade-quality flame retardant). You can choose from the standard mattress, which rates a 7 out of 10 in firmness according to Avocado’s own system, or the same mattress with an additional two-inch plush Dunlop latex pillow top — the one I tested — which rates a 6. If it matters to you, Avocado also makes its mattresses in California and negates its shipping and delivery emissions through carbon-offset projects.
How I slept: The first thing I noticed about the Avocado Green mattress was its height compared to my previous Casper mattress. The Casper measures ten inches, and the Avocado with additional pillow-top (I went for it despite liking firm beds after reading that it provides more support for side-sleepers) measures 13 inches. I’ve never preferred a tall bed, but there was definitely something decadent about flopping down on a giant slab of rising dough. It took a few nights to get used to the feeling that I was floating above the mattress, rather than sinking into it, but two weeks in, I felt incredibly well supported and less affected by my boyfriend shifting and changing positions (the mattress has 1,130 individually wrapped coils). And though I was skeptical, I now look forward to splaying myself out on the cushy pillow-top layer — it’s by far the fanciest part of my apartment. While some people won’t care about things like petroleum-based polyurethane foams or chemical adhesives, I appreciated knowing the Avocado lacked those things. What it does have makes the mattress naturally anti-microbial, more breathable, and dust-mite resistant. I’ll always be the kind of person who prefers sleeping with the window open (partly because I don’t have control over the heat in my apartment), but hot sleepers should know that the Green mattress is a big improvement over my Casper, which made my night sweats worse.
The fine print: Avocado lets you test a mattress for 100 days with free returns if you don’t like it, and it offers a 25-year warranty. Delivery was easy — I got a call a few days out to schedule a drop-off window and again on the delivery day to let me know my mattress was ten minutes away. I opted for an additional mattress-pad cover (because dog accidents happen) and two standard pillows, which came separately via FedEx.
The tl;dr: If you want a lot of support plus cushioning, Avocado is a foam-coil-hybrid mattress that will give you both. The layers of organic wool and cotton help to regulate body temperature and wick away moisture for warmer sleepers, too. For those who prefer a very firm mattress, the pillow-topper is an added expense that you may not enjoy (you don’t need it). And it’s especially good for any sustainable/ecoconscious types, though you don’t have to be to appreciate it.
The best firm mattresses
What to know: Allswell is Walmart’s mattress-in-a-box brand, and it launched in 2017. It offers two models: the 12-inch-tall luxe hybrid, which I tested, and a newer, cheaper hybrid mattress simply called the Allswell. The luxe hybrid is one of the compressed mattresses that still has coils in addition to foam that’s mercury- and lead-free. The reviews on the young brand are solid: Sleep Sherpa called Allswell a breakout brand; Mattress Clarity points out that its firmness makes it well-suited for back and stomach-sleepers.
How I slept: The strangest thing happened the first time I slept on the Allswell: I laid down on my back to assess the mattress, noting how buoyant I felt. And then I stayed that way and passed out. (It’s almost physiologically impossible for me to do this.) Perhaps I was feeling emotionally spent — I had just crawled into bed after seeing A Star Is Born — but more accurately, there was something comfortably paralyzing about letting this very firm mattress straighten out my skeleton. If I was writing taglines, I’d call the luxe hybrid “sumptuously Spartan.” The plush topper is soft, to be sure, but you float firmly atop the mattress instead of nestling in. I slept like a rock for eight hours, several nights in a row. In the mornings, while my alarm clock snoozed, I’d return to my back from a fetal position and could practically feel my spine unfurling again, realigning for the day.
The fine print: Allswell offers tiered shipping options: free shipping; white-glove delivery ($99); white-glove delivery and old-mattress removal (also $99, but only if you waive the 100-night free trial period); white-glove delivery and paid old-mattress removal ($149), in which you keep the 100-day-return option.
The tl;dr: Allswell has made a stellar firm mattress: You’re being good to your spine, but the feel is still comfortable. It’s also a remarkable value for the price.
The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
What to know: The Casper Wave Hybrid is a souped-up, premium version of the original Casper that’s designed to provide targeted support for your back, neck, and shoulders along 33 points in the mattress through a contoured foam and dome-shaped gel pods (the gel pods are new to the Wave Hybrid) that are said to work for all shapes and sizes. It’s made of five layers of foam (including a frequently raved about top layer of “flo” foam), has a more luxurious texture and a thick, removable cover, and, at $2,295 for a queen, is very much the “luxury” option. The Wave Hybrid earned an almost perfect score from Sleep Advisor, which was gung ho for the support and overall quality.
How I slept: If you’re familiar with the regular Casper, the first thing you’ll notice is that the Wave Hybrid is firmer. But as almost every review mentions, the top of the mattress has a lovely plush feeling to it that lends itself well to stomach-dozing and side-snoozing. The mattress felt too stiff for my taste, but friends of mine who like firm mattresses inherited it and they love it. One is a side-sleeper and the other prefers dozing off on her stomach, then flipping onto her back at night, and they reported that — at the risk of sounding hyperbolic — “the Casper Wave has been revolutionary.” It took them a few nights to get used to the firmness of the mattress, but after that, they were smitten. “My hips don’t sink in like they used to with our old mattress, so it makes me feel almost weightless,” one of them noted. The rumors about this mattress running hot (as does the original Casper) are true, but fixable: Having tested this during a New York City heat wave, I would absolutely recommend removing the wool cover if you burn up at night.
The fine print: Casper provides free shipping with free white-glove delivery and mattress pickup if you live within its “in-home delivery and setup markets.” In parts of New York and Los Angeles, delivery can be as early as the same day. As a repeat Casper user now, I’m consistently impressed by how headache-free and speedy the process is. Formerly called the Casper Wave Mattress, the company has rebranded this as the Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress and claims that the latest version has “enhanced support and cooling features,” as well as a “new cover made with recycled materials.”
The tl;dr: The Casper Wave Hybrid is not an entry-level mattress — it’s a mattress for sleep obsessives and mattress-heads, especially those who want something firmer.
Signature Sleep Honest Elements 7” Mattress
How I sleep: Chest down, with one arm under a pillow that’s under my head and one leg bent 90 degrees at the knee (I also typically shift from side to side a good seven or eight times before I manage to drift off).
What to know: Like others on this list, the Honest Elements mattress arrives in a big box — but the buyer does all the unpacking and setup (pulling the mattress out, cutting away plastic shrink wrap, and letting the mattress expand for a few hours). Looking at it, my first impression of the seven-inch-deep mattress was skeptical at best, but that skepticism turned out to be unwarranted. Like the above Wave Hybrid (which I’ve also slept on), this has an upper layer that’s largely composed of naturally moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating wool. But unlike the Wave Hybrid’s wool layer, this can’t be removed. The next layer is made of an organic-cotton foam, which lets your body settle in for custom comfort. Beneath the foam layer is a layer composed of hundreds of individually encased springs, which maximize the custom comfort and support of the mattress — which I’d call pretty firm, because while you sink into the foam some, it’s not supersoft or fluffy at all. One thing this doesn’t have, though, is a reinforced perimeter. This lack of a firm edge means it is not as easy to get into and out of bed, and less comfortable to sit on the edge of the mattress to, say, put on your socks and shoes. The lack of edge support also might mean that the mattress will break down faster than a comparable choice, but I haven’t noticed any degradation in mine. Thankfully, if it does start to show serious wear, Signature Sleep mattresses come with a decent warranty (more on that in the fine print below).
How I slept: Manufacturers recommend giving these types of mattresses 48 hours to fully “open” before use, but I waited maybe ten minutes before lying down on mine for the first time and slept on it within hours of delivery. I found the mattress to breathe well: It allowed airflow that kept me evenly cool, and drew away moisture that might otherwise leave me feeling hot and sweaty or cold and clammy depending on the ambient conditions. Maybe because it only has one foam layer, I did find myself moving around a few times before settling fully — but I did ultimately settle. Worth noting that no two sleepers will leave the exact same impression on the mattress because the springs compress to accommodate exact weight, body shape, and position. The springs also reduce motion transfer almost to zero, so you are highly unlikely to wake your partner as you get in and out of bed or adjust your position. Which is good, as I shift around a lot and usually get out of bed at least once a night.
The fine print: You’re getting a great mattress (and they throw in a cover with your purchase) at a great price, so don’t expect too many perks beyond the bedding itself. It shows up in a box, but it’s on you to unpack, set up, and clear out your old mattress. The Honest Elements is backed by a ten-year warranty, so if it breaks down sometime during the first decade of use, you can get it replaced for a flat $75 to cover shipping.
The tl;dr: Having slept on a more expensive Casper mattress, if you’re watching your budget, don’t even think twice — go with a Signature Sleep. That said, if you have the money, know you may well enjoy a Casper for the better part of two decades, thanks to its superior construction.
The best soft mattresses
Helix Dusk Mattress
What to know: Helix doesn’t offer one style of mattress-in-a-box. It has nine, ranging from plush to firm, including three speciality mattresses: two split-firmness mattresses, which have one plush and one firm side, and an extra-supportive mattress specifically designed for plus-size and “big and tall” customers. This level of personalization is why Sleepopolis calls the Helix the best mattress for couples, especially those with competing sleep styles. For those, a short quiz guides you toward the ideal combination of springs and foam. However, all of Helix’s mattresses have the same basic hybrid construction, with a bottom layer of hundreds of wire coils topped by two layers of foam.
How I slept: According to the quiz, our best option was the Dual Extra, with the split-firmness construction; unfortunately, the smallest size available for that style is a queen, and we have a full-size frame. So we went for the next option, the Dusk, which offers what’s described by the company as “medium feel” on the top and extra support from the middle layers of metal coils. It’s their middle-of-the-road option, neither firm nor plush. With that description, I was surprised by how soft the top layer felt, and I fully sank into it when I laid down. My partner (who grew up sleeping on a futon) referred to a “waterbed effect” he experienced when he tried to get out of bed and his hand sank into the mattress. But even though the Dusk registered more as medium-soft than medium-firm, I felt supported by the denser mattress base.
The fine print: Helix ships for free and offers a 100-night sleep trial. If you are unhappy with the mattress for any reason, you can return it for a full refund.
The tl;dr: As a rule of thumb, Helix’s mattresses run soft. The 100-night trial period means that couples curious about the dual-construction options should absolutely give it a try.
The best mattresses for achy backs
The WinkBed Mattress
How I sleep: I change positions a lot during the night, and have happily slept on soft beds all my life. The beds at my parents’ house are so soft I have to actually roll out of them. My boyfriend, on the other hand, would gladly sleep on a mattress fashioned out of a block of cement. Our mattress, which used to be my mattress, is soft, with a pillow topper on it, and tortures him nightly with back pain. Needless to say, he was thrilled when I told him we’d be testing Wink’s most popular mattress: the “luxury firm.”
What to know: Wink is an interesting company. Its mattresses are handmade to order in Wisconsin, and many of the people working at its factory have been building beds by hand for most of their careers. Wink CEO Dan Adler says certain techniques — like hand-sewing the mattress quilt and tape edge, and laying the innersprings by hand — ensure the quality of construction on every mattress. From top to bottom, these have a thin layer of foam (for comfiness), air springs (to keep things cool), a support pad (to keep your lumbar area well-supported), and tempered steel coils (for pushback, and to keep the mattress from losing shape). Wink beds come in soft, luxury firm, and firm.
How I slept: Though I bristled at the word “firm,” I quickly converted from “will only sleep on pillows” to “I think I’m a firm mattress person.” Because the memory foam layer is thin, it still felt soft without enveloping my body. The mattress also seems to have saved my boyfriend’s back. He claims he hasn’t woken up with pain since we started sleeping on it. The springs also seem to absorb other movement — my boyfriend often comes to bed much later than I do, and I found that I noticed him flopping down a whole lot less on the Wink than I did on my old bed. I also find that I’m comfortable on the Wink on my back, side, or stomach.
The fine print: Wink ships free and offers white-glove delivery for $99. Customers get 120 days to decide if they like it. If not, they’ll pick it up for free and give a full refund.
The tl;dr: Wink’s middle-ground hybrid option (not even its firmest) was firm and supportive enough to rid one sleeper of nightly backaches.
The best all-around mattresses
Saatva Classic Mattress
How I sleep: I slouch, so at night I need to lie down on something very firm to counter a long day of slightly stooped sitting and sinking into my hips while standing. I start out on my back but eventually collapse over to my side by the middle of the night.
What to know: Saatva, which has been around for almost a decade, was one of the first online innerspring mattress companies. It offers three versions: soft, luxury firm, and firm. In each, an organic cotton pillow top — some people call it “Euro style,” or “hotel style” — covers a top layer of ecofriendly memory foam, which sits on a level of individually wrapped coils above another layer of recycled steel coils, then a poly foam base.
How I slept: Because of my generally sore back, I was tasked with testing some of the firm mattresses out there. Side-sleepers, the company told me, are said to prefer the luxury firm. So I got it, and my first impression was how sturdy the bed felt. But lying down, I immediately noticed how incredibly bouncy the double layer of coils makes the luxury firm. I can certainly see why side-sleepers would like the pressure relief it offers, but I decided to swap it for the firm, hoping it would focus support on my lumbar region. Which it very much did. You feel more on top of it, because of the steel springs, but you still have the contoured shape of the raised pillow top. I move around at night, shape-shifting from my back to my side to stomach, but the firmness of this mattress never created a sunken, stuck feeling, which I’ve found happening with memory foam. Instead, the supported feeling of this bed (which still manages to be pretty plush) kept my lower back from collapsing in, making my spine feel more aligned overall.
The fine print: Saatva allows customers a 120-day trial run as well as a full return or exchange. The mattress is covered by a 15-year warranty. All sizes are available in two heights — a custom slim (11.5-inch) and a premier luxury (14.5-inch) — and give the same level of support. The company offers free white-glove delivery and mattress removal.
The tl;dr: Saatva’s firmest option is a true firm, making it a good choice for those in need of back support. Plus: Saatva uses organic and ecofriendly materials, so while all the mattresses listed here are certifiably safe, there are fewer chemicals in Saatva’s.
Leesa Original Mattress
How I sleep: I am a stomach-sleeper who prefers a plush mattress that cradles my body. However, I share a bed with a back-sleeper who prefers a firm mattress with little-to-no give.
What to know: Leesa is one of the OG mattress-in-a-box companies — it’s been selling an all-foam mattress since 2014 — and according to Sleepopolis, it’s a solid option for back- and side-sleepers. In August, Leesa reformulated its basic mattress for the first time, replacing its top layer of trademarked Avena foam (a latex alternative) with a layer of what’s called “LSA200 foam technology.” According to Jamie Diamonstein, one of Leesa’s co-founders, the new foam has improved “pushback,” meaning it better fills in the gaps around your body when you lie down. “The goal was to enhance the pressure relief of the body through this technology,” he says. “We’ve created a foam that responds to the shape and the sleeping position of your body, then it pushes back and balances your body out.”
How I slept: I used a sleep tracker for five nights while testing this mattress, and every night I fell into a deep sleep quickly and stayed there. The mattress felt soft and plush, but I never sank down into it. My partner, who is so enamored with sleeping on hard surfaces that he sometimes naps on a yoga mat on our hardwood floor, raved about the pressure relief and comfort he felt from the foam filling in the small of his back while he slept.
The fine print: Standard shipping is free, though Leesa also offers white-glove delivery for an additional $100. For an additional $50, the two-person team will also dispose of your old mattress and box spring. You have 100 days to try your Leesa mattress; if you don’t like it, the company will coordinate a pickup from your home, then refund the full purchase price.
The tl;dr: This is a foam mattress but a substantial one that offers excellent pressure relief. It should suit all kinds of sleepers and is a good mattress for anyone who doesn’t want to overthink it.
The Aviya Mattress
How I sleep: I am not loyal to any one position, so my ideal mattress is a jack-of-all-trades with support for my back, but which is also cushy enough to let me comfortably flop around on my stomach and side.
What to know: Aviya does things the old-school way and ships its mattress without compressing it in a box first. The mattress itself is a hybrid model with three layers of high-density foam over a coiled innerspring system. It offers three options for firmness: plush, luxury firm (Aviya’s most popular style and the one I tested), and firm. It’s possible you’ve already unwittingly slept on one, as a couple of popular (but undisclosed) hotel chains use the Aviya luxury firm bed. That may be because Sleep Advisor, Sleepopolis, and Real Mattress Reviews gave it a near-perfect all-around score for comfort, materials, and support.
How I slept: Flopping down, I was immediately taken by how plush yet delightfully bouncy this mattress was. The innersprings are a big plus, but they’re buried far beneath the layers of foam. I was amazed at just how propped-up and aligned my body felt while supine, yet how comfortably I slept thanks to the padding of the quilted foam top. Which shouldn’t bother back-sleepers, I’d think, because of the lack of give in this mattress — there is virtually no sinkage, which I tested by dropping two ten-pound weights on top of it. But the plush top still lends itself well to dozing on your side or stomach. I’d even go so far as to say that sleeping on this changed my perception of what soft-but-supportive means.
The fine print: Aviya provides free shipping, which includes in-the-door delivery through a third-party service. However, that might not cover getting the mattress upstairs in a walk-up apartment (it didn’t at my Brooklyn brownstone), so customers living in cities should ask ahead of time. Mattress setup and removal are available for an additional fee, and Aviya will set this up during a two-hour window, Mondays through Fridays only.
The tl;dr: The Aviya is supportive but soft and is another can’t-go-wrong choice for those who don’t want to overthink it but know that they’d prefer an innerspring system.
The Casper Original Mattress
How I sleep: I’m a stomach-sleeper — I often can’t fall asleep at all unless I’m fully prostrate — but often wake up on my side, and I like a mattress that feels fluffy without having too much give.
What to know: If you’re reading this, what don’t you know about Casper? It wasn’t the first mattress-in-a-box company to launch, but it quickly became the most prominent, thanks to factors like shiny branding and venture-capital funding. The original premise of Casper was that one mattress could make everyone happy. The company has abandoned this Goldilocksian ideal and made two other models (read on for those), but this is the original: a four-layer foam construction with firmer support around the shoulders and hips in the newest update.
How I slept: I owned a Casper before this project (as did several other Strategist staffers), so my evaluation is actually based on a year’s worth of sleep. And it was great. I didn’t have any sleep complaints before, but graduating from my Ikea mattress to the Casper was like flipping a light switch. It’s definitely a foam mattress, and for some people (like Strategist writer Liza Corsillo), that makes it feel hot. It also makes some people call it a soft mattress (Karen Iorio Adelson, Strategist senior writer). I found it to be squarely in the middle, with absolutely no painful give around the back, but cushy enough that collapsing into it at the end of the day felt like a reward. (Lori also had one and liked it.) Casper has become the de facto mattress, the one bought by people who don’t shop obsessively and who say, “I just have a Casper.” But, honestly, the ubiquity is deserved.
The fine print: You get the standard (with mattress start-ups, at least) 100 days to decide if you like your Casper. Free shipping and returns come with that, and the company says it tries to donate returned mattresses when possible. Formerly called the Casper Mattress, the company has rebranded this as the Casper Original Mattress and claims that the latest version has “enhanced support and cooling features,” as well as a “new cover made with recycled materials.”
The tl;dr: As a company, Casper is a well-oiled machine that makes delivery a cinch and offers other high-quality products along with the mattress, which is convenient if you want new, say, pillows. As for the mattress, it skews just a tad softer, and hot sleepers don’t always love the foam. For everyone else, you can’t go wrong.
Tuft & Needle Original Mattress
How I sleep: I mostly sleep on my back but also switch to my side during the night. I prefer a mattress that’s on the firmer side.
What to know: Tuft & Needle launched early, in 2012, and in 2018, it was acquired by Serta Simmons. Tuft & Needle offers only two options, the original mattress and the Mint, an upgraded version of the original. The original has just two layers of material: a seven-inch support layer of dense foam as the base and a three-inch top comfort layer of proprietary Adaptive Foam infused with a “cooling gel” and graphite to keep sleepers cool. Its simplicity may explain its lower price — it’s a couple hundred dollars less than other foam competitors — but its appeal is meant to be broad and is aimed at a wide range of sleeping preferences and body weights.
How I slept: Right off the bat, the mattress felt substantial. The textured fabric cover felt plush to the touch, and when I pressed my open hand down on the mattress, it bounced back with a friendly spring. Lying on the Tuft & Needle for the first time, I immediately felt embraced. Sleeping on my back, I felt supported and cocooned at the same time, and when I turned to my side, the transition felt natural. The company calls its in-house T & N Adaptive foam “soft and comfy while still being bouncy and supportive,” and I completely agree. While I may revert to a coil-spring mattress eventually, I can see myself keeping the Tuft & Needle for a long time. My husband also really likes it, and he’s a back- and stomach-sleeper whose temperature runs a little hotter than mine. It’s a solid introduction to a compressed mattress-in-a-box.
The fine print: Shipping is free, and if you don’t like it after a 100-day trial, the brand offers a full refund and free removal to a charity of your choice. It also comes with a ten-year warranty.
The tl;dr: Another crowd pleaser for anyone who’s happy with foam, Tuft & Needle is a very smart choice for anyone looking to spend a bit less.
The best ecoconscious mattress
How I sleep: I’ll start out on my back but usually end up sleeping on my side with a pillow or the edge of a comforter stuffed between my knees for hip comfort. I prefer a firm cool mattress since I run hot; I usually wake up with one leg free of any covers. I share the bed with a side-sleeper who runs just as hot (and sometimes sweaty) as I do.
What to know: Avocado set out to create the greenest mattress on the market using nontoxic natural and organic materials (as well as ecofriendly production processes). The brand offers two different mattresses: the Green and the Vegan, which is like the Green minus the wool. Both are foam-coil hybrids that layer ecoconscious natural Dunlop latex (made from tree sap), recycled steel coils, organic cotton, organic wool, and hydrated silica (a food-grade-quality flame retardant). You can choose from the standard mattress, which rates a 7 out of 10 in firmness according to Avocado’s own system, or the same mattress with an additional two-inch plush Dunlop latex pillow top — the one I tested — which rates a 6. If it matters to you, Avocado also makes its mattresses in California and negates its shipping and delivery emissions through carbon-offset projects.
How I slept: The first thing I noticed about the Avocado Green mattress was its height compared to my previous Casper mattress. The Casper measures ten inches, and the Avocado with additional pillow-top (I went for it despite liking firm beds after reading that it provides more support for side-sleepers) measures 13 inches. I’ve never preferred a tall bed, but there was definitely something decadent about flopping down on a giant slab of rising dough. It took a few nights to get used to the feeling that I was floating above the mattress, rather than sinking into it, but two weeks in, I felt incredibly well supported and less affected by my boyfriend shifting and changing positions (the mattress has 1,130 individually wrapped coils). And though I was skeptical, I now look forward to splaying myself out on the cushy pillow-top layer — it’s by far the fanciest part of my apartment. While some people won’t care about things like petroleum-based polyurethane foams or chemical adhesives, I appreciated knowing the Avocado lacked those things. What it does have makes the mattress naturally anti-microbial, more breathable, and dust-mite resistant. I’ll always be the kind of person who prefers sleeping with the window open (partly because I don’t have control over the heat in my apartment), but hot sleepers should know that the Green mattress is a big improvement over my Casper, which made my night sweats worse.
The fine print: Avocado lets you test a mattress for 100 days with free returns if you don’t like it, and it offers a 25-year warranty. Delivery was easy — I got a call a few days out to schedule a drop-off window and again on the delivery day to let me know my mattress was ten minutes away. I opted for an additional mattress-pad cover (because dog accidents happen) and two standard pillows, which came separately via FedEx.
The tl;dr: If you want a lot of support plus cushioning, Avocado is a foam-coil-hybrid mattress that will give you both. The layers of organic wool and cotton help to regulate body temperature and wick away moisture for warmer sleepers, too. For those who prefer a very firm mattress, the pillow-topper is an added expense that you may not enjoy (you don’t need it). And it’s especially good for any sustainable/ecoconscious types, though you don’t have to be to appreciate it.
The best firm mattresses
What to know: Allswell is Walmart’s mattress-in-a-box brand, and it launched in 2017. It offers two models: the 12-inch-tall luxe hybrid, which I tested, and a newer, cheaper hybrid mattress simply called the Allswell. The luxe hybrid is one of the compressed mattresses that still has coils in addition to foam that’s mercury- and lead-free. The reviews on the young brand are solid: Sleep Sherpa called Allswell a breakout brand; Mattress Clarity points out that its firmness makes it well-suited for back and stomach-sleepers.
How I slept: The strangest thing happened the first time I slept on the Allswell: I laid down on my back to assess the mattress, noting how buoyant I felt. And then I stayed that way and passed out. (It’s almost physiologically impossible for me to do this.) Perhaps I was feeling emotionally spent — I had just crawled into bed after seeing A Star Is Born — but more accurately, there was something comfortably paralyzing about letting this very firm mattress straighten out my skeleton. If I was writing taglines, I’d call the luxe hybrid “sumptuously Spartan.” The plush topper is soft, to be sure, but you float firmly atop the mattress instead of nestling in. I slept like a rock for eight hours, several nights in a row. In the mornings, while my alarm clock snoozed, I’d return to my back from a fetal position and could practically feel my spine unfurling again, realigning for the day.
The fine print: Allswell offers tiered shipping options: free shipping; white-glove delivery ($99); white-glove delivery and old-mattress removal (also $99, but only if you waive the 100-night free trial period); white-glove delivery and paid old-mattress removal ($149), in which you keep the 100-day-return option.
The tl;dr: Allswell has made a stellar firm mattress: You’re being good to your spine, but the feel is still comfortable. It’s also a remarkable value for the price.
The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
What to know: The Casper Wave Hybrid is a souped-up, premium version of the original Casper that’s designed to provide targeted support for your back, neck, and shoulders along 33 points in the mattress through a contoured foam and dome-shaped gel pods (the gel pods are new to the Wave Hybrid) that are said to work for all shapes and sizes. It’s made of five layers of foam (including a frequently raved about top layer of “flo” foam), has a more luxurious texture and a thick, removable cover, and, at $2,295 for a queen, is very much the “luxury” option. The Wave Hybrid earned an almost perfect score from Sleep Advisor, which was gung ho for the support and overall quality.
How I slept: If you’re familiar with the regular Casper, the first thing you’ll notice is that the Wave Hybrid is firmer. But as almost every review mentions, the top of the mattress has a lovely plush feeling to it that lends itself well to stomach-dozing and side-snoozing. The mattress felt too stiff for my taste, but friends of mine who like firm mattresses inherited it and they love it. One is a side-sleeper and the other prefers dozing off on her stomach, then flipping onto her back at night, and they reported that — at the risk of sounding hyperbolic — “the Casper Wave has been revolutionary.” It took them a few nights to get used to the firmness of the mattress, but after that, they were smitten. “My hips don’t sink in like they used to with our old mattress, so it makes me feel almost weightless,” one of them noted. The rumors about this mattress running hot (as does the original Casper) are true, but fixable: Having tested this during a New York City heat wave, I would absolutely recommend removing the wool cover if you burn up at night.
The fine print: Casper provides free shipping with free white-glove delivery and mattress pickup if you live within its “in-home delivery and setup markets.” In parts of New York and Los Angeles, delivery can be as early as the same day. As a repeat Casper user now, I’m consistently impressed by how headache-free and speedy the process is. Formerly called the Casper Wave Mattress, the company has rebranded this as the Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress and claims that the latest version has “enhanced support and cooling features,” as well as a “new cover made with recycled materials.”
The tl;dr: The Casper Wave Hybrid is not an entry-level mattress — it’s a mattress for sleep obsessives and mattress-heads, especially those who want something firmer.
Signature Sleep Honest Elements 7” Mattress
How I sleep: Chest down, with one arm under a pillow that’s under my head and one leg bent 90 degrees at the knee (I also typically shift from side to side a good seven or eight times before I manage to drift off).
What to know: Like others on this list, the Honest Elements mattress arrives in a big box — but the buyer does all the unpacking and setup (pulling the mattress out, cutting away plastic shrink wrap, and letting the mattress expand for a few hours). Looking at it, my first impression of the seven-inch-deep mattress was skeptical at best, but that skepticism turned out to be unwarranted. Like the above Wave Hybrid (which I’ve also slept on), this has an upper layer that’s largely composed of naturally moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating wool. But unlike the Wave Hybrid’s wool layer, this can’t be removed. The next layer is made of an organic-cotton foam, which lets your body settle in for custom comfort. Beneath the foam layer is a layer composed of hundreds of individually encased springs, which maximize the custom comfort and support of the mattress — which I’d call pretty firm, because while you sink into the foam some, it’s not supersoft or fluffy at all. One thing this doesn’t have, though, is a reinforced perimeter. This lack of a firm edge means it is not as easy to get into and out of bed, and less comfortable to sit on the edge of the mattress to, say, put on your socks and shoes. The lack of edge support also might mean that the mattress will break down faster than a comparable choice, but I haven’t noticed any degradation in mine. Thankfully, if it does start to show serious wear, Signature Sleep mattresses come with a decent warranty (more on that in the fine print below).
How I slept: Manufacturers recommend giving these types of mattresses 48 hours to fully “open” before use, but I waited maybe ten minutes before lying down on mine for the first time and slept on it within hours of delivery. I found the mattress to breathe well: It allowed airflow that kept me evenly cool, and drew away moisture that might otherwise leave me feeling hot and sweaty or cold and clammy depending on the ambient conditions. Maybe because it only has one foam layer, I did find myself moving around a few times before settling fully — but I did ultimately settle. Worth noting that no two sleepers will leave the exact same impression on the mattress because the springs compress to accommodate exact weight, body shape, and position. The springs also reduce motion transfer almost to zero, so you are highly unlikely to wake your partner as you get in and out of bed or adjust your position. Which is good, as I shift around a lot and usually get out of bed at least once a night.
The fine print: You’re getting a great mattress (and they throw in a cover with your purchase) at a great price, so don’t expect too many perks beyond the bedding itself. It shows up in a box, but it’s on you to unpack, set up, and clear out your old mattress. The Honest Elements is backed by a ten-year warranty, so if it breaks down sometime during the first decade of use, you can get it replaced for a flat $75 to cover shipping.
The tl;dr: Having slept on a more expensive Casper mattress, if you’re watching your budget, don’t even think twice — go with a Signature Sleep. That said, if you have the money, know you may well enjoy a Casper for the better part of two decades, thanks to its superior construction.
The best soft mattresses
Helix Dusk Mattress
What to know: Helix doesn’t offer one style of mattress-in-a-box. It has nine, ranging from plush to firm, including three speciality mattresses: two split-firmness mattresses, which have one plush and one firm side, and an extra-supportive mattress specifically designed for plus-size and “big and tall” customers. This level of personalization is why Sleepopolis calls the Helix the best mattress for couples, especially those with competing sleep styles. For those, a short quiz guides you toward the ideal combination of springs and foam. However, all of Helix’s mattresses have the same basic hybrid construction, with a bottom layer of hundreds of wire coils topped by two layers of foam.
How I slept: According to the quiz, our best option was the Dual Extra, with the split-firmness construction; unfortunately, the smallest size available for that style is a queen, and we have a full-size frame. So we went for the next option, the Dusk, which offers what’s described by the company as “medium feel” on the top and extra support from the middle layers of metal coils. It’s their middle-of-the-road option, neither firm nor plush. With that description, I was surprised by how soft the top layer felt, and I fully sank into it when I laid down. My partner (who grew up sleeping on a futon) referred to a “waterbed effect” he experienced when he tried to get out of bed and his hand sank into the mattress. But even though the Dusk registered more as medium-soft than medium-firm, I felt supported by the denser mattress base.
The fine print: Helix ships for free and offers a 100-night sleep trial. If you are unhappy with the mattress for any reason, you can return it for a full refund.
The tl;dr: As a rule of thumb, Helix’s mattresses run soft. The 100-night trial period means that couples curious about the dual-construction options should absolutely give it a try.
The best mattresses for achy backs
The WinkBed Mattress
How I sleep: I change positions a lot during the night, and have happily slept on soft beds all my life. The beds at my parents’ house are so soft I have to actually roll out of them. My boyfriend, on the other hand, would gladly sleep on a mattress fashioned out of a block of cement. Our mattress, which used to be my mattress, is soft, with a pillow topper on it, and tortures him nightly with back pain. Needless to say, he was thrilled when I told him we’d be testing Wink’s most popular mattress: the “luxury firm.”
What to know: Wink is an interesting company. Its mattresses are handmade to order in Wisconsin, and many of the people working at its factory have been building beds by hand for most of their careers. Wink CEO Dan Adler says certain techniques — like hand-sewing the mattress quilt and tape edge, and laying the innersprings by hand — ensure the quality of construction on every mattress. From top to bottom, these have a thin layer of foam (for comfiness), air springs (to keep things cool), a support pad (to keep your lumbar area well-supported), and tempered steel coils (for pushback, and to keep the mattress from losing shape). Wink beds come in soft, luxury firm, and firm.
How I slept: Though I bristled at the word “firm,” I quickly converted from “will only sleep on pillows” to “I think I’m a firm mattress person.” Because the memory foam layer is thin, it still felt soft without enveloping my body. The mattress also seems to have saved my boyfriend’s back. He claims he hasn’t woken up with pain since we started sleeping on it. The springs also seem to absorb other movement — my boyfriend often comes to bed much later than I do, and I found that I noticed him flopping down a whole lot less on the Wink than I did on my old bed. I also find that I’m comfortable on the Wink on my back, side, or stomach.
The fine print: Wink ships free and offers white-glove delivery for $99. Customers get 120 days to decide if they like it. If not, they’ll pick it up for free and give a full refund.
The tl;dr: Wink’s middle-ground hybrid option (not even its firmest) was firm and supportive enough to rid one sleeper of nightly backaches.
Comments
Post a Comment