We've been testing mattresses, bedding and sleep accessories for years -- a few members have been doing this for eight years already. We estimate that our team has rolled around and slept on 350 different mattresses from dozens of brands, ranging from bigwigs like Serta and Tempur-Pedic to niche players like Sonu and Airweave.
Our bed testers have varying body weights and types, heights, genders and sleep preferences, which allows us to provide an overarching assessment of each mattress from a multitude of viewpoints. Many mattresses are tested for long periods of time, ranging from a month or two up to five years.
CNET's sleep team consistently takes mattresses home for long-term reviews, such as our 30-night mattress testing series as a couple. Dillon Lopez/CNET
We test gel mattresses like we would any other bed, with a tighter focus on temperature. When a new mattress arrives at our testing facility, it undergoes a strategic set of hands-on testing. We analyze characteristics such as firmness, feel, temperature regulation, motion isolation, edge support and other unique features the mattress may have.
Firmness
In the mattress industry, firmness is rated numerically on a scale of 1 (softest) to 10 (firmest). We also use straightforward terminology like "soft" or "medium-firm" to describe it. Our team takes turns assessing and rating the firmness of each bed, allowing us to make solid recommendations about which sleeping position and body type it best suits. After subjectively analyzing the firmness, we let our one-of-a-kind Mattress Smasher do its thing and provide us with an objective firmness score.
Feel
We also subjectively review the feel of each mattress, which is separate from firmness. Does the bed feel bouncy and responsive? Is it easy to switch positions? Or does it conform and contour around our curves and hold our shape for a while? Does the mattress have a soft, plush pillow top feel, or is it more neutral? Can we feel any coils or zoned support? We do our best to describe exactly what it feels like to lie on each bed to help you determine if it's right for you since we know you can't test them all yourself.
Examining the memory foam layers of the Nectar Ultra. You can see the foam holds your shape and is slow to respond. Dillon Lopez/CNET
Temperature regulation
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