Fun fact: You don’t need a box spring with a hybrid mattress. This is a recurring question I see, and the pocket coils on hybrids eliminate the need for them. Box springs were designed to provide additional support and lift performance over a traditional coil bed, which would align certain parts of the coils to provide additional support. Today, you might actually in vain your warranty if you use a box spring with a hybrid mattress—be sure to check that fine print.
Our favorite hybrid we’ve tested is this one Helix Midnight Luxewhich might be our top pick in our best mattress guide. It also uses pressure-relieving foams and pocketed coils to provide targeted lumbar support.
Helix Sleep
Midnight Luxe with ErgoAlign
Another amazing hybrid mattress, the Nolah Evolution, seamlessly combines premium memory foam with pocketed coils, both of which resist the formation of stress from pressure points. I like it as an option for side sleepers for this reason, but it also works for back and stomach sleepers. Coils make it easy to move around, which is helpful for co-sleepers.
The Innerspring
This is more of a history lesson than the type of mattress you want to buy (unless you really like this type of mattress; to each their own). “Traditional” innerspring mattresses are firm-feeling beds that you may have early memories of, given that the makeup is inner coils wrapped in a cover. It’s just as squeaky as you remember, too, since the type of coil used involves connecting each coil to act as a single unit.
These are Bonnell coils, and they connect the side-to-side and side-to-side coils. When you lie down and your weight is pressed into the mattress, all those coils act as “coils one for all and all for one” and simultaneously press down on the floor. It won’t do wonders for reducing pressure like modern hybrids will, but it is very responsive, meaning it will return to its original shape as you move around. So if you’re a sleeper who moves around in the middle of the night, the coils are a nice feature to have, so you get close support.
Why don’t traditional coils work with mats today? According to Merwin, the improved pocket coils are far superior to the old ones. “Unlike traditional coils that are bundled together and move as a unit, pocketed coils are individually sealed, allowing each coil to respond independently to movement and compression,” he said. “This design minimizes the transmission of motion, so when one person moves or gets off the bed, their partner feels very little disturbance. It also provides highly targeted support, body rotation in a way that improves spinal alignment and overall comfort.” Although you can still find innerspring mattresses with traditional coils out there, they are often phased out in favor of hybrids. Truth be told, I’ve only tested less than a handful over the years. If you’re dead set on this type of mattress, all the power to you, and have fun on your mattress treasure hunt.
The Saatva Classic is one of those modern, rare beds that rely on traditional coils in a second coil layer at the very bottom of the bed. This helps with overall stability and support, which WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell talked about can be beneficial for those with back pain.
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Memory Foam
We actually have NASA to thank for this. If you google images of those early space vehicles, it’s no surprise that something was needed to keep the astronauts from rolling between the rockets; hence, memory foam was born. It’s evolved quite a bit since those first iterations, especially when Tempur-Pedic arrived on the scene in the ’80s with the idea of becoming a staple of sleep products. Today, memory foam stands in a league of its own when it comes to a unique, compressive feel.
Memory foam is an umbrella term for all the different types of inflatable mattress products that have come up today, but let’s take a look at the mattress manufacturer.
“Memory foam is produced by mixing liquid polyurethane with various chemicals, such as polyols and isocyanates, to improve viscosity and density,” says Merwin. Without throwing out the material table and giving you a science lesson on the chemical components of this substance, here’s what you need to know: These compounds form a soft foam that holds tiny bubbles in it. The way it works is that, as you lie on it, your body heats up, flows into these pockets of air, which in turn allows it to soften to contour around your body.
But for those interested in science reading this, Merwin’s got you covered: “The main ingredient is a polymer that creates an open-cell structure, which allows the material to respond to heat and pressure. This is what gives memory foam its signature contouring or ‘hugging’ feel. During the manufacturing process, a liquid foam mixture is poured into a moving line, where it expands into large layers of foamues. At a high level, it’s a chemical compound and precision that transforms raw materials into a high-quality product.”
To say that it is naturally suitable for those who need stress relief from their mattress may be a bit on the nose, but it is undoubtedly the most outstanding feature of this material. It also reduces the sensation of movement in restless heavy sleepers, which also makes it an attractive option for couples. Undoubtedly, the biggest problem with memory foam is heat retention, as once the heat enters these air chambers, they turn into something like mini saunas that can make the entire mattress a nightmare for warm sleepers. This is where the various iterations of foam begin, as some brands incorporate materials such as graphite, copper, gel, or more advanced cooling technology as phase changers into the foams they use.
Three layers of foam make up the Bear Original, but its certifications and cooling cover are here to help dispel any rumors about memory foam being inferior. You won’t find any eyebrow growing chemicals here thanks to the CertiPur-US and GreenGuard Gold certifications. Also, you can add on the Celliant cover for a cool feeling.
Nectar Premier is another memory foam option that we tested and liked, especially for side sleepers. Its foam layers overlap each other for a more comfortable feel on top, but you get more than enough support with a firmer foam layer underneath.
Latex
The same materials that go into tires, balloons, and sports equipment can be used in mattresses—too good things, too. Latex works similarly to memory foam when it comes to pressure relief, but it’s more responsive to you moving around. Think of a rubber band that springs back into shape when released; well dang close to that. Many brands rely on organic rubber sap to make latex as we know it, and there are two categories of latex foam that you usually find with mattresses: Dunlop and Talalay. These words refer to the manufacturing process and the resulting product, as liquid rubber is poured into molds, heated at high temperatures (called “vulcanization” and yes, I have to resist doing Spock’s “live long and prosper” hand signal every now and then), and flash-frozen to preserve the feel. Dunlop is a firm latex foam, therefore, a firm feel. Talalay conveys a very sweet feeling. Latex tends to be equally good when it comes to temperature, too, keeping heat from building up in your mattress to maintain a nice, room-temperature feel.
Phone reviewer Scott Gilbertson applauded the organic latex construction of the Birch Luxe Natural, which offers great support for the back region and good temperature control.
Birch
Luxe Natural Mattress
Smart beds
Smart mattresses offer the ability to adjust their firmness level at the push of a button. They do this with internal air chambers or sensors that adjust the tension of the coils. To make your bed softer or firmer, you use the remote control or the app that comes with the product.
That’s not the only thing that sets this type of mattress apart. Some are also equipped with technical features, such as sleep trackers and self-adjusting pressure reduction layers, as in the case of the Sleep Number p6 smart bed. Smart beds are getting better and better as sleep technology advances.
