With 5-plus years of mattress-testing experience, we use our different sleeping-position and body-type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews.
Most online mattress brands offer a free trial, free shipping and a warranty, but some brands are more generous with their policies than others.
Motion isolation, edge support and temperature are important features for couples or people who sleep hot to consider. Hot sleepers should consider a mattress that boasts special cooling features. Couples want minimal motion transfer and a strong, supportive bed perimeter.
Sleepers who are over 230 pounds should turn to hybrid mattresses since those beds tend to be extra supportive and durable. All-foam or softer mattresses are better for petite body types because they are more pressure-relieving. Average body types can choose between either all-foam or hybrid. Remember that your body type will determine how firm a mattress will feel to you.
There are essentially two mattress types: hybrid and all-foam. Hybrid mattresses are constructed with steel coils and foam, but all-foam mattresses are just as their name implies.
The feel of a mattress depends on the materials it is made of. Hybrid mattresses with coils with latex foam have more bounce, while memory foam and poly foam beds are cushiony and pressure-relieving.
The right firmness level for you depends on your sleeping position and overall preference. A firm mattress offers more support for back and stomach sleepers, while a soft mattress is more pressure-relieving for side sleepers. Medium mattresses fall in the sweet spot right in between for those who switch positions.
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
We spend a third of our day in bed -- well, people who are lucky enough to actually achieve 8 hours of shut-eye do. Most people assume that, since it's an item we spend so much time in contact with, only the latest and greatest (and most expensive) mattresses will do. In fact, according to a CNET survey, 46% of US adults plan to invest in a better mattress or bedding this year, spending up to $1,000 annually on a better night's rest.
Thankfully, mattress technologies and price-saving, direct-to-consumer bed-in-a-box websites that cut out the cost of physical stores have brought quality mattresses down to a fraction of the cost you'd expect. There are plenty of affordable options on the market, making it easier to experience or give the gift of top-level comfort and support, including specialized models like cooling mattresses.
... continue reading