Trying to choose the best mattress is overwhelming. The sheer number of options can make the mattress-buying process feel kind of like a nightmare. Choosing your next mattress thoughtfully is crucial because a mattress is the most important piece of furniture you own. Think about it, we spend ⅓ of our lives sleeping on a mattress! And a bed can either keep our spines aligned and supported for deeper sleep or cause neck, shoulder, and back pain and keep us tossing and turning.
Here are the three signs that you need a mattress:
- Your mattress is sagging or squeaking when you move.
- You don’t feel rested when you wake up in the morning.
- Your back or hips ache or hurt after an entire night’s sleep.
Today there are hundreds, if not thousands, of mattresses to choose from. It’s confusing and often overwhelming with so many different brands and choices. When selecting a mattress, there are really just four things to consider.
- Quality of materials
- Type of mattress
- The price
- Personal preferences (mattress size, body type, sleeping position, firmness)
Mattress Quality:
So to help you find the best mattress for your unique needs, we must do so through the lens of these considerations. Let’s first talk about quality.
A quality mattress is crafted with the highest quality materials. Not all beds and mattress manufacturers are the same! For example, if you buy a pair of custom handmade Italian leather shoes, they will fit and feel very different from shoes made from pleather “fake leather” not crafted for your feet. A quality mattress will last at least a decade, whereas a low-quality mattress will last about 5 years; if you value quality, look for companies that source from the highest possible sources.
Examples of high-quality mattress materials:
- Organic Talalay latex (Latex mattresses are prized for their durability, superior cooling, and excellent pressure relief.)
- Organic foam
- Organic cotton
- Organic wool
These quality materials are also naturally cooling, non-toxic and better for our health and the health of the planet.
Mattress Type:
The main types of mattresses are:
- Innerspring
- Foam
- Latex
- Hybrid (a combination of innerspring, foam, or latex)
Each type of mattress has its pros and cons, but ultimately, what’s most important is the quality and construction of the materials and one that caters to your personal preferences.
Mattress Prices:
There is truth in the saying, “You get what you pay for.” When it comes to mattresses, this is very true. You don’t have to spend a small fortune to afford a great mattress. Mattress pricing ranges greatly, and depending on the size and type of your mattress you are interested in, the price will vary. I like to look at mattresses as an investment in health vs. a cost because it does make a difference in the quality of sleep, which is directly related to quality of life. Expect to pay on the low end, $1,300, and on the high end, $10,000+ for a quality premium mattress.
Mattress Preferences:
First, let’s start with mattress size. Depending on how much you weigh and how tall you are, how much space you want between you and your bed partner, and the size of your bedroom, all play a role in determining the right mattress size.
Generally speaking, if you are of average height and weight and sleep with a bed partner, the smallest bed size I recommend is a queen-size mattress. If you have the bedroom space, go with a larger king-size mattress.
Next, let’s consider body type. If you are overweight or very muscular, you’ll want to consider a mattress with solid side support and firm enough to support your extra body weight.
Depending on what sleeping position you sleep in also determines what type of mattress firmness would be best for your unique needs. Depending on your primary sleeping position, mattress companies now recommend certain firmness types and styles.
Sleeping on your side is the most common position — 68.7% of people predominantly sleep on their side. So statistically, you’re probably a side sleeper too and want to consider a medium firmness, not too hard yet not too soft. Medium firmness is sometimes called “plush” or “Mid Contour,” depending on the brand and company. Back and stomach sleepers will want to go with a firmer mattress to keep the spine supported.
After searching and testing many mattresses, I narrowed down the best companies and mattresses based on the above criteria.
Sleep Science Academy’s Approved Mattress Brands:
PranaSleep
I personally sleep on a king-sized Dharma Elite Mattress. It offers top-of-the-line comfort, support, and cushioning layers handmade with a 100% natural Talalay latex core.
This mattress is imported from the Netherlands and offers premium body-contouring pressure relief, while the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification ensures its materials’ highest quality and safety.
It also has a cooling SensICE cover that dissipates heat at the surface and a lofted organic wool topper that helps regulate body temperature.
This mattress is top-of-the-line and the price reflects the quality at $10,799.99. If you do the math of the life of this quality mattress, it costs a little more than just $1,000 per year for superior quality and comfort. I get not everyone can afford this level of quality and comfort. That being said, Prana offers premium mattresses for as low as $1,329.99.
Explore the PranaSleep mattress line here: Get FREE shipping by using this link 👉🏼 Free Shipping
Essentia
Essentia is an amazing mattress that offers organic mattresses without compromise. Featuring patented Beyond Latex™ organic foams enhanced with activated quartz for Active Cooling and EMF Protection. These certified organic mattresses offer a unique sleep experience that provides ultimate support, unmatched deep sleep, luxurious comfort, and clean bedroom air, using certified organic ingredients.
I know Jack, this company’s owner, whose story is inspiring. Jack’s journey to creating Essentia began after experiencing a family member’s battle with cancer. Knowing that you spend a third of your life sleeping, after discovering that the mattress can be the most toxic item in your home, Jack set out to develop a healthy sleep surface that offered pressure relief and posture support without introducing toxic chemicals to the bedroom. 18 years ago, Jack patented Essentia’s Beyond Latex™ organic foam.
Although I don’t own an Essentia mattress yet, I have tried them in 3 different showrooms. They are really comfortable, especially if you like the memory foam therapeutic type feel.
Their mattress price range starts at $2,448.00. Remember, you get what you pay for, and investing in quality isn’t cheap.
Explore Essentia’s mattress line here: https://tinyurl.com/yckcu587
Saatva
Saatva is a more budget-friendly brand that still offers quality mattresses. Handcrafting their mattresses in America with a nationwide network of factories allows them to source the highest quality materials at scale at a lower cost. That means better prices for premium quality. Every handcrafted Saatva mattress is made to order, never compressed, and stuffed into a small shipping box. Instead, they deliver it factory-fresh to your room for free. They use eco-friendly foams in their mattresses, organic cotton, innerspring coils made out of recycled steel and sustainably sourced natural latex.
They also offer
- 365-night home trial
- Free delivery & setup
- Free mattress removal
- Lifetime warranty
Prices start at around $1500.
Explore Saatva mattress line here: https://tinyurl.com/493464bx