9 Best Mattresses for Back Pain, Tested and Reviewed (2025)

Nearly a decade ago, I started waking up with back pain. Often it was just an ache, but some mornings it hurt so much I could barely get out of bed. I found out I have two permanent conditions in my spine: scoliosis, a sideways curvature that developed in my mid-twenties (usually teens develop it, but that didn't stop me in my twenties), and spondylosis in my lower spine, which is abnormal wear and tear on the cartilage. Both caused serious pain overnight, and I assumed it was just something I’d have to live with. But it turned out my flimsy, unsupportive mattress was a secondary culprit. It didn't offer the support I needed, and left me in more pain than when I had gone to bed. To cure this, I've tried everything: mattress pads, knee pillows, and mattresses that ranged from super-soft foam to ultra-firm planks. Some of these things worked, some didn't. I, or another WIRED reviewer, slept on the mattresses below—including our top pick, the Bear Elite Hybrid—for at least seven nights e ... Read full article.