Every year, new mattress technologies are developed resulting in newer and higher quality mattresses. Currently, there are numerous mattress brands in the market, and consumers may often find it difficult to filter through all these brands in search of a quality mattress. In recognition of this, here are six quality mattresses worth checking out, from the Purple mattress (see review) to the Saatva mattress.
Study after study has identified sleep as an important part of good health alongside balanced nutrition and regular exercise. In fact, poor quality of sleep is associated with problems such as depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even a lack of concentration.
Furthermore, a sleepless workforce is a less productive workforce which is not good for the nation’s economy. One study for example established that sleep-related fatigue results in losses worth $150 billion on an annual basis due to absenteeism, lost productivity, and workplace accidents.
According to experts, the key to better quality sleep may lie in getting a new quality mattress. One study for example established that sleeping on a new mattress is directly linked with a significant reduction in stress levels.
In another study, sleeping on a new mattress was found to improve sleep quality and comfort by 62% and 70.8% respectively. In addition to that, the study found that sleeping on a new mattress resulted in reduced back pain as well as reduced stiffness of the back.
1. Leesa Mattress
The Leesa is a foam combo mattress that features two major components; layered foams and a cover. The layered foams consist of 3 layers;
- The top layer of 2” patented latex like the type of foam known as Avena. This layer provides cooling, bounce, and comfort among other functions.
- The middle layer is made of 2” memory foam and acts as the primary provider of support and pressure relief.
- The bottom layer is made of 6” of high-density support foam and is the foundation layer of the mattress.
The second major component is the cover which is a kind of fabric that wraps the three layers of foam. Aside from just covering, it also plays an aesthetic role and features a simple and sleek 4-bar design.
Avena foam is very responsive, and it molds well and quickly in response to the body. Although memory foam tends to “sleep hot” the use of Avena foam, which has a cooling effect, tackles this issue in the Leesa.
The mattress designed for those sleepers who prefer mattresses of medium firmness. Most experts give it a 6/10 on the durability scale. The medium firmness also makes it a good mattress for people who sleep both in different positions (back, stomach, side).
However, couples and overweight people may not like the reasonable firmness of the mattress. In addition to that, the mattress does not have good edge support; yet another problem for couples and overweight people. The durability of the mattress is also questionable with data suggesting that the Leesa has a lifespan of 6 years – very short when compared to its competitors.
The Leesa mattress is only sold online and comes at a relatively more affordable price than most of its competitors (from $525 for a twin size to $1070 for a California king size). In addition to that, shipping is free.
Leesa has a ten-year warranty on its mattresses and also provides a free trial period of 100 nights after which the customer has the option of returning the mattress at no fee and with a full money-back guarantee. Lastly, out of every ten mattresses, Leesa sells, they donate one mattress to homeless shelters or other needy persons who are quite noble.
2. Purple Mattress
Unlike its competitors, the Purple mattress uses a combination of foam and new innovative materials known as hyper-elastic polymers. It is the purple color of this polymer that the mattress derives its name. The polymer is made using Purple “smart grid” technology which enhances its ability to provide cooling and comfort.
The mattress comprises of two major components. The first layer has three different layers of both foam and the polymer material.
- The topmost layer is responsible for the provision of cooling and comfort. It features 2” of the hyper-elastic polymer. The polymer top allows it to “sleep cool.”
- The middle layer is responsible for providing transitional support. It features 3.5” of polyurethane foam. It also provides deep compression support which enhances the suitability of the mattress for heavier persons.
- The bottom layer is the foundational layer, and it features 4” of polyurethane foam.
The Purple mattress also features a rather classy and durable all-white cover made of a combination of polyester, viscose, and polyester-lycra. The cover is very breathable and very soft to the touch. The breathability of the cover also helps to prevent any heat build-up while sleeping.
The Purple mattress has a medium firmness of between 6.5 and 7 out of a possible 10 on the firmness scale. Despite the firmness, Purple is good at providing excellent pressure relief and comfort. The firmness makes it ideal for people experiencing back pains and other chronic pains.
The Purple polymer material also springs back easily and fast making it a good mattress for sex. Interestingly, the great bounce also comes with minimal motion transfer. These properties make it a particularly ideal mattress for;
- Couples
- People who prefer sleeping cool.
- Who are looking for pressure relief e.g. those with back pain.
- People who sleep in multiple positions
- Those looking for a mattress with minimal motion transfer.
- Customers who are sensitive to the environment (the Purple mattress is Green, and CertiPUR-US certified.
At a thickness of 9.5,” the Purple is thinner than most other mattresses (the average is 11”). It is also shorter than most other mattresses meaning it is not ideal for tall people and especially those taller than 6ft 3”. It also has poor edge support.
One of the biggest uncertainties about the Purple mattress, however, is its durability. This is because the Purple mattress only entered the market in 2016 and is therefore still unproven regarding durability.
Just like the Leesa mattress, it provides a ten-year warranty with a 100-night free sleep trial with a full money-back guarantee. Shipping is also free. Anyone interested in a Purple mattress will have to fork out between $699 for a Twin XL size and $1299 for a California king size.
3. Amerisleep Liberty Mattress
When it comes to memory foam mattresses, none beats Amerisleep’s Liberty Mattress. The design of the mattress is meant to ensure that sleepers enjoy the plush nature of memory foam without compromising on support or firmness.
The Liberty mattress is also thicker than most other mattresses; the thickness enhances durability and also provides more support compression. This is a 12” mattress that consists of 3 different layers of foam
- The top layer is 3” of Bio-Pur plant-based memory foam. The use of Bio-Pur foam provides for soothing pressure relief, and because it is high-density foam, it provides excellent buoyancy. In addition to that, the foam’s open-celled construction allows for easy cooling and breathability hence maintaining a cool sleeping surface.
- The middle layer is also called the affinity layer. It consists of 2” of transition foam and is meant to complement the Bio-Pur memory foam. It provides support and also enhances the responsiveness of the mattress to the sleeper.
- The bottom layer acts as the foundation of the mattress. It consists of 7” of high-density Bio-Core foam which provides deep compression support for sleepers and also serves as the core support of the mattress.
These layers wrapped in a cover made of Celliant, spandex, and polyester. The Celliant turns the sleeper’s body heat into infrared light.
Studies have indicated that Celliant and infrared light can increase one’s blood flow hence allowing for improved oxygenation of the body. This results in better and higher quality sleep, better regulation of temperature, and even a significant reduction in pain.
Research also suggests that Celliant can help people fall asleep faster. The cover also features the Greenguard fiber fire barrier.
The Liberty mattress scores a 5/10 on the scale of firmness making it a medium-firm mattress. The quality of the materials used coupled with the medium-firmness of the mattress allows it to provide good pressure relief while at the same time accommodating deeper sinkage with great support.
The mattress does not seem to do quite well with people who sleep on their stomachs, and they are mixed results when it comes to those who sleep on their back.
However, data indicates that the mattress is ideal for those who sleep on their sides and even heavier people who sleep on their backs and change sleeping positions often.
Perhaps what sets aside the Liberty from other mattresses is its right edge support and durable foams that ensure that the edge of the mattress does not lose its shape or its resilience. The icing on the cake is the fact that it provides the comfort of memory foam while at the same time allows a sound sleep to people.
The Liberty mattress has a lifespan of between 10 and 12 years; significantly longer than most of its competitors. Furthermore, the mattress uses Variable Pressure Foaming to manufacture its mattresses meaning that there is almost no presence of Volatile Organic Compound subsequently meaning no smell at all. Like the Purple mattress, the Liberty is CertiPUR-US certified.
The Liberty mattress ranges from $899 for a Twin size mattress ($649 with discounts) and $1699 for a California king size ($1449 with discounts). There is a 100 day free trial with no restocking fees and no need to pay the initial cost of shipping.
The trial period starts from the day of delivery rather than the day of purchase. This is backed up by a full refund policy. According to the 20-year warranty, Amerisleep will replace or repair any mattress that develops a defect in the first 10 years at no cost whatsoever. Between the 11th and 20th year, the company will pro-rate the cost of replacement/repair.
4. The Saatva Mattress
The Saatva mattress is a hybrid mattress that combines the use of both memory foam and steel coils. Saatva mattresses are manufactured using “coil on coil” technology. The mattress consists of two layers of steel coils, a foam encasement, and a pillow like a top. Five distinct layers are identified;
- The first layer is a cover made from 100% organic cotton which is soft and very breathable. It is soft to the touch and is quite similar to the cover used on the Loom & Leaf mattress (a high-end luxury foam mattress also from Saatva).
It also features a Euro-style pillow top which makes it even softer and more comfortable. The pillow top also enhances midsection support and improved alignment of the spine.
- The second layer is meant to enhance lumbar support. It features a thin layer of memory foam; roughly 1”.
- The third layer is comprised of contour coils swathed in memory foam. These coils are meant to contour to the sleeper’s body and also minimize motion transfer.
Since each coil molds and contours to the sleeper’s body, the layer provides support and comfort in whichever sleeping position an individual chooses. A Queen size Saatva mattress has 884 such coils. The foam encasing also enhances the durability of the coils.
- The fourth layer is comprised of high profile steel coils. It acts as the support base of the mattress. They also prevent the mattress from sagging hence maintaining the shape.
- The final layer of the mattress is the side edge layer which is a layer of memory foam that wraps and protects the two layers of coils. The side edge support which is 5” thick memory foam particularly improves support while sitting or sleeping along the edge of the mattress.
One thing that sets Saatva aside from its competitors is the fact that they have three different levels of firmness or comfort for its mattresses.
i. Saatva plush soft has a firmness of approximately 3.5/10 making it the softest mattress in their range of mattresses. This is best for side sleepers and sleepers who like a mattress that “hugs.”
ii. The Saatva Luxury Firm provides a firmness of 6/10 on the firmness scale and is more suitable for sleepers who prefer medium-firmness. These are suitable for all sleeping positions and for those who switch sleeping positions a lot at night.
iii. The Saatva firm mattress is the option with the most firmness; scoring 8/10 on the firmness scale. This is best for those who sleep on their backs and their stomachs.
The “coil on coil” construction ensures the great circulation of air subsequently leading to a cooler sleeping surface.
However, when compared to mattresses such as the Purple mattress and the Liberty mattress, the Saatva scores poorly when it comes to minimizing motion transfer. As a matter of fact, customers switching from memory foam mattresses are likely to get disappointed with the motion isolation capabilities of the mattress.
According to the manufacturers, a Saatva mattress can last between 12 and 15 years. This lifespan is significantly higher than the lifespan of most other innerspring mattresses (average is about six years). However, this claim is still largely unsubstantiated.
Another significant advantage of Saatva is that it does not smell. The lack of bad smell is because of the mattress made from bio-soy foam off-gases during the manufacturing process.
The Saatva is quite affordable going for between $599 for a Twin size mattress and $1399 for a California king size mattress.
Shipping costs an extra $99 and may take between 7 and 15 days (though it involves full delivery service). For an extra $39, the Saatva guys will even take the old mattress away. Saatva has a 15 year warranty period. The company will replace any mattress that develops a defect in the first 2 years at no cost whatsoever.
Between the 3rd and the 15th year, Saatva will repair any defective mattress at no cost. However, this company’s warranty guarantees the mattress only for those who use platform beds. The trial period for the mattress is 120 nights.