Original Mattress

We got our son a twin Leesa Kids mattress earlier this year. He's 4 now and seems very happy and comfortable with! I agree it's a Medium-Firm feel as described that should hold up well for years. We slept on a Leesa original for ten years and just bought a replacement this Black Friday, because compared to his it was obvious how soft ours got. I'm sleeping so much better. Edit: I originally typed Leesa Youth but I think we got him a Leesa Kids, sorry. I'm sure it's comparable though!

If you’re already leaning toward the Leesa, just go for it. Plus it’s one of the best-reviewed memory foam mattress for a reason. Hits that sweet spot of pressure relief without the sinking feeling. If you've done the research and like the specs, you're probably gonna love it.

Leesa Original 💯👌

**Update 5/21/26** \- Thank you for an amazing AMA and thank you to everyone who asked a question. I hope this thread was able to help! I will continue to answer any questions that come in until the thread archives. If you need a personalized mattress recommendation be sure to use my mattress quiz here -[ https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/](https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/) (I manually respond to all of these requests, it's not an automated form). For all other questions please feel free to DM, chat, or email me here -[ https://naplab.com/contact/](https://naplab.com/contact/) \- And for all else, check out my site at[ https://naplab.com/](https://naplab.com/) \- there you can find all of my reviews, comparisons, best of lists, research guides, and a more. Not sure where to start? My [best mattress](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/) guide can help. Hi Reddit! My name is Derek Hales. I am a professional mattress tester and I’ve been testing mattresses since 2014. Over the years, I’ve tested 558 mattresses (and counting) from 116 different brands.  5 years ago I launched [NapLab.com](http://NapLab.com) and developed a new way to test mattresses. Instead of merely sleeping on a mattress and then writing a subjective assessment, I use a battery of 10 objective and data-driven tests (with 64 individual data points) to help quantify the performance criteria that are important for most sleepers. [Derek in our mattress testing garage](https://preview.redd.it/a4m6jfzdeb2h1.png?width=2000&format=png&auto=webp&s=c321e47ceca62a659200ed1bf97c9e7b0ccd9c8f) **My testing process includes:** * Objective durability tests using a 3700-pound industrial mattress testing machine called a rollator (see photos & videos in the imgur link below) * Thermal photographs to assess cooling performance / heat retention * Motion Transfer Testing - IE, how much energy and motion will you feel on the mattress when your partner moves around. We use an accelerometer to objectively measure the intensity and duration of motion transfer across the mattress * Sex performance testing using a weighted equation including 5 factors (bounce, edge support, noise, pressure relief, and cooling) * High FPS video and high resolution photo analysis to take precise & objective measurements for sinkage, material responsiveness, edge support, and bounce * In-depth Material Analysis - foam density tests using a densimeter (a plastic box that does digitally controlled water displacement density measurements) and coil gauge (thickness) using a digital caliper  * You can see our full range of tests and testing process here - [https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/](https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/) I’ve spent the majority of my adult life working to create videos, photographs, data, comparisons, guides, and reviews that can help people find a mattress that is perfectly suited to their needs. Over the years I’ve assembled a small team of friends and family to help me test mattresses bigger and better than I could do alone. Happy to answer any questions about mattresses, sleep, NapLab, the sleep / mattress industry, or anything else on your mind 🙂 Proof - [https://imgur.com/a/naplab-u-derek-naplab-reddit-ama-2026-proof-swQsrAI](https://imgur.com/a/naplab-u-derek-naplab-reddit-ama-2026-proof-swQsrAI) More Proof - we really love mattresses, so we made a [parody of the Pokemon Pokerap with 150 mattress brands](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV-pR6eXmTU) (just dropped today!) PS - if you need help choosing a mattress check out my mattress quiz - [https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/](https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/) \- I provide personalized mattress recommendations based on your needs, preferences, and budget. FYI, the quiz isn’t automated, I manually review all submissions so it does take me a little time to answer, but I can usually respond within 24 hours. 

The first 120 mattresses we tested my wife and just had sex on the mattress a few times over the course of a week. I would document those experiences and use them to determine our sex score. Our more recent 438+ mattress tests use more objective and quantifiable data. Our sex score is a simple equation where we look at 5 different factors. Each factor is given a specific weight based on how important we think that factor is for most people. Our sex equation considers bounce (65%), sitting edge support (20%), pressure relief (5%), cooling (5%), and noise (5%). Bounce is the most important, representing 65% of the score. You can see more about our testing and scoring process for sex here - [https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex](https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex)

I generally go out of my way to avoid testing mattresses that are relabeled or otherwise very similar to others models we've already tested. So it's not something I've come across a ton. That said, it absolutely happens. Major brands will sell very similar designs with very similar materials at different retailers with different SKUs at different prices (based on whatever they think the customers at that retail location is willing to pay). It's one of the most anti-consumer practices still going on in the mattress world.

Best under $1000 that we've tested so far is the Leesa Original Best under $700 that we've tested so far the Boring AF Best under $500 that we've tested so far is the SweetNight Coolnest You might find our tool here helpful - [https://naplab.com/mattress-comparisons/?\_mattress\_price=195.00%2C1000.00&\_mattress\_shipping=usa](https://naplab.com/mattress-comparisons/?_mattress_price=195.00%2C1000.00&_mattress_shipping=usa) I've preset it to show everything under $1,000 sorted by overall score. You can adjust the price slider to immediately find the best performer at your budget.

Absolutely. We can and do frequently test and review mattresses that do not have affiliate / referral programs. Ultimately, I want to test mattresses and write reviews on the brands that my readers are most interested in. Most of those are bigger brands that have referral programs, but some aren't, and that's perfectly fine. If enough readers are looking / requesting a review, we'll order that mattress, test it, and write the review. Regarding custom mattresses - I haven't done much in the world of custom made mattresses. It's something I've long considered, but most of the brands that make those types of mattresses are incredibly small and as such, just not something most of my readers are interested in.

Most side sleepers need a medium to medium-firm feel and moderate to deep sinkage. In addition, for most side sleepers I recommend a hybrid mattress (1 or more foam layers atop a layer of pocketed coils). The best mattress we've tested for side sleepers is Winkbed. You can find the full list of best side sleepers mattresses ranked here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-side-sleepers/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-side-sleepers/)

The best mattress we've tested to date is the Winkbed. It's a high performance hybrid that's $1.7K (Queen), which I'd argue is a very reasonable price given the performance and material quality. You can see my review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/winkbed-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/winkbed-review/) The mattress I've personally slept on since 2017 is a mattress called Loom & Leaf. It's a higher-end memory foam mattress. Memory foam as a material type isn't ideal for everyone, but my wife and I simply love the body contouring hug, low motion transfer, and incredible pressure relief it creates more than the drawbacks. You can see my review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/loom-leaf-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/loom-leaf-review/)

If you're out of the trial period, probably not. While the trial periods are quite generous while they are active, as soon as you're out of the trial period most brands will not accept a return / refund except through the warranty. And warranties generally only cover defects and a certain level of sagging / dips. These policies are pretty typical and standard industry wide across most brands. Winkbed does have their 50% replacement guarantee, which lets you get any new Winkbed for 50% off. You'll still keep the mattress you have.

From 2014 to 2017 I was sleeping on a new mattress each week. Beginning in mid 2017 I started exclusively sleeping on Loom and Leaf. I slept on that nightly until 2023, we then moved that mattress to a guest room and bought a new Loom & Leaf mattress. My original Loom & Leaf mattress seemed to be holding up fine, we just needed a mattress for a guest room and it felt like the best choice.

Take a look at the Helix Sunset Elite. This is a high-end hybrid mattress with a soft feel. It's a mix of foam, pillow top, pockets, and other material types. Full review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/helix-sunset-elite-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/helix-sunset-elite-review/) \- It also has a deep level of sinkage. While the Luxe Breeze is a great mattress, it sounds to me that it's incompatible with your preferences. Perhaps due to the memory foam, perhaps due to the minimal sinkage, more likely a combination of both.

So the good news is we've got some options. First, I know you mentioned you can't sleep on your back due to snoring, but I may have some advice to help that. 1) The best option would be to get an adjustable foundation. This would let you raise the head and foot of the mattress, which in your case will both help to open the airway (reducing snoring), while also alleviating pressure on the lower back and, in many cases, the sciatic nerve. 2) If getting an adjustable isn't an option, you can get most of the way there by simply using a wedge pillow for your upper body and a regular pillow for the feet. The wedge pillow is nice because it's big solid block of foam (better than just stacking pillows together). 3) If neither of the above sound like good solutions then we'll tackle this while sleeping on your side. First, put a pillow between your legs. That'll help reduce pressure and keep the spine in alignment. Second, make sure you're using a sufficiently tall enough pillow for your head. Side sleepers especially need taller pillows to keep the neck supported. If the neck isn't support it can create ripple issues down the spine, causing pressure points elsewhere. 4) If it's possible to get a new mattress it would be worth considering an HD / Plus-size mattress. Most mattresses are tuned to support up to 250-300 pounds. If you're over that then the mattress may simply not be providing sufficient support. In which case, a plus-sized / HD mattress can help, because they use materials and designs that support 300-500 pounds. If you've got a regular mattress you could simply be seeing too much sinkage in the middle of the mattress, which means spine is misaligned, which means pressure points, which means more sciatic / lower back pains. Take a look at this page here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-heavy-people/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-heavy-people/) \- it can walk you through the good options for those HD mattresses.

For me personally? No, I've not had a mattress I used for long-term personal use that was just a night-and-day type improvement to my sleep. That said, I've also only really slept on high performance / high quality mattresses for personal use in the last 12 years. Before that, I was a young 20-something that also could sleep on anything. That said, I have talked to countless NapLab readers who have had life changing experiences by getting a new mattress. I'd say it really depends on 1) what you're currently sleeping on and 2) your body's needs. Depending on your age, injuries, personal health, and other preferences, a mattress can make a massive positive impact to your sleeping experience.

In terms of cooling performance, systems like the Eight Sleep are genuinely impressive. They really do make a significant impact on cooling. That said, based on my personal experiences, emails I've exchanged with my readers, and reviews I've read on the wider internet, they are also high maintenance and prone to leaking. Beyond that, and arguably more distressing, is simply the price. Eight Sleep's Pod 5 is $2.6K for a Queen and $25 / month (for the mid tier version). While there are certainly some sleepers who could justify that price, I think most sleepers are better off pursuing improved cooling through sheets, protectors, fans, and other less complex / less expensive methods.

Latex is highly durable, resists heat retention, is highly responsiveness (easy to move around, you'll never feel stuck), a natural product (comes from rubber trees), and great for sex (due to high bounce). However, latex also creates higher motion transfer (easy to disturb your sleeping partner), is incredibly heavy and difficult to move, and has a very unique feel. The unique feel I would argue is the biggest downside to latex. The feel of latex creates a more generalized body contouring hug, is more restrained in how to holds the body, and is highly polarizing. Some sleepers really love the feel of latex, some really hate it. If you're considering latex you should definitely try it out in person first. While the pros are notable, it's not a perfect material for all sleepers.

If you've had it for less than 1-2 months, it's probably just your body adjusting to the feel. If it's longer than that then it could be there are more pressure points that you're body is feeling, even if they aren't causing you to consciously wake up. To that end, you might consider using a sleep tracking (even just an app on your phone) for a few weeks to see how deeply your sleeping. You might be moving around more in your sleep than your realize. One possible solution would be adding a mattress pad or mattress topper, which can help improve comfort and pressure relief further.

Quite by accident. My wife and I got married and needed a new mattress in 2014. I ended up doing a ton of research, had a terrible in-store experience, and bought a mattress online. That first mattress we liked, but it wasn't amazing, so we returned it and then I bought another bed online. It was better so we kept that one. As a fun weekend hobby project I built a website and wrote reviews for those 2 mattresses that I had tried. People really love the reviews and asked me to test other mattresses. So I kept ordering mattresses, testing them, and then writing reviews. It quickly blew up, was getting a ton of traffic, and within a few months I was able to leave my full time job and started my career as a professional mattress tester. In the first year we didn't have our expensive testing equipment or even nice cameras. I shot videos on my phone and did photographs with an old Nikon I had from when I was a kid. Our other equipment beyond that was pretty simple stuff, yard stick, ruler, medicine balls, etc. Gradually over time we expanded our tests and our equipment, adding nice cameras, professional lighting equipment, quality mics, etc. and then in more recent years we've grown big enough to afford the same type of industrial and technologically advanced equipment that bigger mattress brands use. I wouldn't recommend taking out a loan. Instead, start small, use what you have, and gradually grow into more complex and expensive testing if the reviews / site / channel does well.

Over the years we've explored other options for cooling tests, including temperature readings under the person, inside the mattress (at various material levels), extended multiple hour tests (across various testing protocols), tests with heated water (seeing how long a drum of heated water takes to return to X temperature in the drum and the impact on the mattress itself), and more. Each of these testing protocols came up against roadblocks and in many cases, I worried what we were testing wasn't truly reflective of a real person's experience on the mattress. All that said, I'm always looking for ways we can improve / expand our testing, especially in cases where we can bring data that's closer to a real world experience. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'll compile these with others from the thread at the end of the AMA and see if there are improvements we can make.

We use a mattress durability testing machine called a rollator. Basically, it's a 240 pound wooden rolling pin that rolls 100,000 times across the mattress, a process that takes around 5 days of 24/7 rolling. We use a digitally controlled measurement plate to take precise before and after measurements of the mattress height, sinkage, and firmness. This gives us objective data on how the mattress holds up, if it's losing height (sagging), and if it's getting softer. This page explains our durability testing process in greater detail - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/)

I don't have the data to know how it would compare to a 200 lbs. weight sitting in one place for a long period of time. Though that's something I'll consider testing in the future. That said, the mattress rollator test is the industry standard across all major mattress brands within the US. This test has been used since 1994 and by all accounts is the most trusted method of durability testing that we have. I'm glad to hear the mattress you bought is working out well! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Medium-firm to firm is best for most sleepers who struggle with back pain. Very few need soft, as the soft simply allows the lower back to sink too deeply into the mattress, often causing the spine to drop out of alignment with the body thereby creating pressure points on the lower back. There are a ton of medium-firm to firm mattress brands on the market. You can find the best medium-firms we've tested here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-medium-firm-mattress/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-medium-firm-mattress/) And the best firm mattresses here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-firm-mattress/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-firm-mattress/)

We get a decent number of questions about the sex rating. People are mostly intrigued by the idea that we'd test it at all and want to know how we test. That said, the vast majority of questions and interest we get are more about what mattress to buy for X type of sleeper. Certainly I think our earlier scoring systems were less-than-great. The scores were all too high and too close together. Over the years we've made our scoring system more difficult to earn the highest scores, which has helped create more clear scoring distinctions between different mattress models and make it more clear who is the best (and who is the worst). Lastly, thanks for sharing your feedback about your experience on NapLab (and elsewhere). I'm glad to hear the we're hitting the right marks and the site is easy to use. I hope your new mattress a perfect fit for you! And if not, be sure to email me via the quiz tool and I can help you find something better suited to your needs.

Yes, pillow tests / reviews is definitely something I'm considering for the future. Earlier in my career I did a ton of pillow testing, but more recently we've just been overwhelmed trying to keep up with all of the new mattresses that launch every year. In any case, we're going to start doing a pilot testing program of pillow reviews via shorts videos. If we see good traction there then we'll likely expand those reviews elsewhere.

Value scoring is something we've worked on behind the scenes a few times over the years. Despite our work, we've yet to find a value scoring formula that feels good, fair, and that it actually adds something to the review. In my view, the value scoring would be less about materials and more about overall performance per dollar. In any case, it's good to know you and others are interested in it. Historically, we just haven't had that many people ask for a value score, so I've not been in a rush to add it. If we continue to get more requests for value scoring I'll circle back around to our work on it and see if we can come up with something. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

In this situation I'd go with a hybrid mattress type, medium-firm feel, and a budget of around $1K. The vast majority of sleepers will be comfortable with this type and this firmness level. With these parameters in mind, the ideal choice is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid (medium version). Review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/brooklyn-bedding-signature-hybrid-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/brooklyn-bedding-signature-hybrid-review/) If you need to keep the budget to $700 (for a Queen) then I'd recommend the Boring AF. Review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/boring-mattress-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/boring-mattress-review/)

Regarding Purple - I've been really unimpressed. While I really liked Purple when they first launched, I think their newest mattress design refresh was a significant step backwards. Performance was worse and the prices are higher than ever. As a result, it's not a brand I often recommend. Regarding DTC brands more broadly - it really depends. Some are incredible and some are essentially scams. For the high performance / high quality DTC brands they are a fantastic way to get a really high-end mattress at a very reasonable price point, since they don't have the same type of overhead, margins, transportation costs, etc. that more traditional / legacy brands and retailers do. A $2K DTC brand is going to be more like $4K for an equivalent brand / design / materials from a traditional retailer in a brick-and-mortar store.

I would say 3Z is the most consistent. They have a dozen or so in-house brands (including Brooklyn Bedding, Bear, Leesa, Nolah, Helix, and others) and also build mattresses for 50 or so other brands. Their build and material quality is always incredibly consistent and incredibly solid. For me personally, I'd pay up to $3K for a Queen. Diminishing returns after $3K really picks up and I think in the vast majority of cases it just doesn't make any sense to spend more than $3K.

Unfortunately, I have not tested many mattresses available in Europe. That said, many popular brands in Europe also sell different model versions within the US. I've tested many of those models, so I can provide you with a gut check on some of the most popular brands available to you. In addition, I've also listed information on other popular brands, some of which I haven't tested. Emma - I've tested a ton of models from the US and Canada and always found them to be good quality and good value mattresses. That said, the last few models I tested from Canada were pretty bad. Emma recently discontinued those models and launched 2 new models, so I'm hopeful the new models will be better. Nectar - same as Emma. I've tested a ton of US models and always found them to be solid. Simba - same as Emma / Nectar, good mattresses, though rarely at the same level as Emma / Nectar. I'd go with Emma or Nectar over Simba in most cases. Tempur - expensive, but a good choice if you like the feel of memory foam. Bett1 - not one I've tested, but feedback from my readers has always been really positive. In looking at their product page it seems to use good materials and a proven design. I expect the performance will be great. Dormeo - I haven't done full testing on this brand, but I have tried them at mattress trade shows and conferences. They seem to be a solid brand, but also one that's really expensive. IKEA - I've tested numerous models in the US and been incredibly disappointed with everything I've tested to date. I would recommend any of the above brands before IKEA.

3 primary reasons: 1) Insufficient support via the frame / foundation. It's possible your bunkie board isn't rigid or supportive enough for that mattress. 2) You're not using a mattress protector. In doing so, water from sweat, breathing, and oils from your head / skin are getting into the mattress and breaking down the foams. 3) The mattress is made with materials that are not durable and are simply breaking down with time Could be 1 of these issues or a combination of issues.

The least expensive, easiest, and most impactful thing you can do to improve cooling is 1) get a more breathable set of sheets and 2) get a more breathable mattress protector. When it comes to cooling sheets, protectors, and bedding, I've yet to find anything better than Bedgear or SHEEX. I've been using these for personal use for nearly a decade. If you're looking to replace the mattress here's what I advise: 1) Look for a hybrid (foam on top of coils; avoid all foam mattresses) 2) Look for mattresses that have less memory foam 3) Look for a mattress that uses phase change materials and/or thermo reactive / cooling fibers (these are often included within the cover and/or just below the cover) 4) Spend at least $1.5K (for a Queen; cheaper models just don't have enough budget room to get quality cooling materials within them) While there are absolutely exceptions to these rules, the above guidelines will get you far better cooling outcomes in most cases. Shopping for a cooling mattress is really difficult. It's very easy for a mattress brand to make their mattress look and sound like it's incredible for cooling. And because mattress brands know everyone wants a cool mattress they will aggressively market their cooling features, even if the cooling performance isn't all that great. Even with my experience, while I can make pretty good educated guesses on how good / bad cooling performance will be, until I actually test it, lie on it, feel it, cut it open, and take thermal photographs of the mattress, I'm never 100% certain on what the performance will be like. Lastly, take a look at our list of the best cooling mattresses we've tested so far here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-cooling/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-cooling/)

Tempurpedic makes a solid mattress. That said, they are indeed outrageously expensive. At a minimum, I think it would be worthwhile to explore other options to see if you could get something at a similar performance level and material quality for less money. There are a ton of really good options that compete very similarly to Tempurpedic's performance / quality, but at considerably lower price points. If you send in your requirements / needs / budget here - [naplab.com/mattress-quiz/](http://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/) \- I can get you a personalized recommendation back later today.

In general, yes, price is correlated to quality. But there is a point for diminishing returns. For DTC / online mattress brands you start to see diminishing returns at around $2K for a Queen, but especially once you hit $3K for a Queen. Mattresses that are less than $1K for a Queen are very hit or miss (and mostly miss). That said, there are a few gems in that sub-$1K bracket (see my favorites here - https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-affordable-mattress/). Brick-and-mortar retailers and traditional / legacy brands are all over the place when it comes to diminishing returns. It varies more widely and by specific brands. In general, you won't find terrible expensive mattresses. They might not be amazing, but they are not terrible. Also, in general, you will not find awesome, cheap mattresses. There is simply only so much you a mattress manufacturer can do with respect to materials and material quality when they have less margin to work with. I always recommend spending at least $1K (Queen) for a new mattress.

I won't say all, but most are missing transparency around the materials that go into the mattress. I'd really like to see the mattress law tag become closer to a nutrition label. There should be greater clarity on what's in the mattress, foam specs, foam density, foam formulations (at a high level), coil gauge, coil specs, method used to achieve fire resistance, etc. Consumers should know with greater confidence what they are actually buying.

Winkbed is offered in 4 firmness options and designed to meet the needs of most sleepers. It's also the best performing mattress I've tested so far. As a result, it's able to cover multiple best of categories. Lastly, the best mattress for stomach sleepers list you were looking for is here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-stomach-sleepers/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-stomach-sleepers/)

1) Always use a waterproof mattress protector 2) Rotate the mattress at the 6 month mark and then every 12 months after that (if you prefer, you can rotate more often, just make sure you keep a consistent schedule so it wears evenly) 3) Use a high performance foundation / frame. That can be a box spring or other types of foundations. You want to make sure it's rigid, fully supportive, no broken slats, no gaps more than 3", support slats that are 3" thick or more, and with 5 or more supportive legs below. Take a look at this guide here for more - [https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-bed-frame/](https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-bed-frame/)

The first 120 mattresses we tested my wife and just had sex on the mattress a few times over the course of a week. I would document those experiences and use them to determine our sex score. Our more recent 438+ mattress tests use more objective and quantifiable data. Our sex score is a simple equation where we look at 5 different factors. Each factor is given a specific weight based on how important we think that factor is for most people. Our sex equation considers bounce (65%), sitting edge support (20%), pressure relief (5%), cooling (5%), and noise (5%). Bounce is the most important, representing 65% of the score. You can see more about our testing and scoring process for sex here - [https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex](https://naplab.com/how-we-test-mattresses/#h-sex) Fortunately, I got married in 2014 and also started mattress testing in the same year. So I've always had the same partner for tests 😄

Earlier in my career I did a bunch of testing on adjustable bases / foundation. For the most part, I found the quality and performance to be very similar across most brands. While many mattress brands sell an adjustable foundation that they market as their brand, the reality is they aren't building their own adjustable bases. Instead, they simply have a 3rd party build it that allows them to white-label the base. Ergomotion, Leggett & Platt, Reverie, and Malouf are the manufacturers behind most adjustable foundations being sold in the US.

I think MU is a good resource. I've always respected their work. As far as latex vs. memory foam goes, here are the highlights: Latex - highly responsive, durable, resists heat retention, natural...but, high motion transfer, heavy, has a polarizing feel that not everyone likes, and doesn't create much body contouring Memory Foam - excellent pressure relief, more body contouring hug, lower motion transfer, great support...but, more prone to heat retention, edge support can be worse, worse for sex, ease of movement is harder, and quality is on a vast spectrum (some brands make amazing memory foam, some brands make a bad memory foam) This page breaks it down further - [https://naplab.com/guides/latex-vs-memory-foam/](https://naplab.com/guides/latex-vs-memory-foam/)

Quite by accident. My wife and I got married and needed a new mattress in 2014. I ended up doing a ton of research, had a terrible in-store experience, and bought a mattress online. That first mattress we liked, but it wasn't amazing, so we returned it and then I bought another bed online. It was better so we kept that one. As a fun weekend hobby project I built a website and wrote reviews for those 2 mattresses that I had tried. People really love the reviews and asked me to test other mattresses. So I kept ordering mattresses, testing them, and then writing reviews. It quickly blew up, was getting a ton of traffic, and within a few months I was able to leave my full time job and started my career as a professional mattress tester. If you want to do this yourself you could try following my path. Review the matttress(es) you have on-hand. And if you get traction start buying / reviewing other mattresses. You might be able to try mattresses at friends / families homes to help you build up your review base and your experience.

Something a bit softer may help. In addition, something with a little more sinkage may also help. The Tempurpedic mattresses I've tested have mostly had very little sinkage, which can be problematic for some side sleepers. Getting something with a little more sinkage to help bring the hips into alignment with the rest of the body can help. Take a look at the best options we've tested here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-side-sleepers/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-mattress-for-side-sleepers/)

Our longevity assessment is 2 fold. First, we're assessing the quality of the foam materials, coils, and overall design / build of the mattress. We document the material specs in each review and you can find compiled data here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/) \- we use this data to explain probable longevity outcomes in each review. Second, we conduct tests using a mattress durability testing machine (called a rollator). These tests show accelerated 10 years of use and give us precise data on how the mattress softens, sags, and loses height over time. You can see the full explainer here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/) \- We've only recently started collecting longevity data, so we only have 10 mattresses tested so far, but we're adding a new mattress each week.

Internal splits are fairly rare, but there are a few brands / models doing them. Take a look at these for internal splits: Bedgear M3 - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/bedgear-m3-performance-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/bedgear-m3-performance-review/) Nest Bedding Sparrow - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/nest-bedding-sparrow-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/nest-bedding-sparrow-review/) DLX - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/dlx-premier-hybrid-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/dlx-premier-hybrid-review/)

I haven't tested an Aireloom yet, but they are high up on my list to test. I've got a testing backlog I'm working to clear in the next few months and then we'll be ordering a couple of Airelooms for testing. Regarding Avocado - definitely they go hard when it comes to marketing / hype, but they are good mattresses...provided you like the latex feel. Latex isn't for everyone. Before you buy go try latex in-store and make sure that feel works for your body.

I have. In terms of cooling performance, systems like the Eight Sleep are genuinely impressive. They really do make a significant impact on cooling. That said, based on my personal experiences, emails I've exchanged with my readers, and reviews I've read on the wider internet, they are also high maintenance and prone to leaking. Beyond that, and arguably more distressing, is simply the price. Eight Sleep's Pod 5 is $2.6K for a Queen and $25 / month (for the mid tier version). While there are certainly some sleepers who could justify that price, I think most sleepers are better off pursuing improved cooling through sheets, protectors, fans, and other less complex / less expensive methods.

These are my favorite EU mattress brands: * **Emma** \- I've tested a ton of models from the US and Canada and always found them to be good quality and good value mattresses. * **Nectar** \- same as Emma. I've tested a ton of US models and always found them to be solid. * **Simba** \- same as Emma / Nectar, good mattresses, though rarely at the same level as Emma / Nectar. I'd go with Emma or Nectar over Simba in most cases. * **Tempur** \- expensive, but a good choice if you like the feel of memory foam. * **Bett1** \- not one I've tested, but feedback from my readers has always been really positive. In looking at their product page it seems to use good materials and a proven design. I expect the performance will be great.

The foundation, be it a box spring, modern foundation, platform bed, slats, metal, adjustable, or other foundation types are absolute critical to the performance of the mattress. A poor quality foundation fails to provide sufficient support to the mattress, which leads to earlier and deeper sagging, body impressions, dips, and deformations in the mattress. Those durability issues lead to comfort and support issues. An amazing mattress on a cheap foundation / frame will see its performance and longevity severely degraded.

1 - It's not something most people report, but it absolutely happens. I often document this exact issue on the mattresses that I test and review. It's especially common on cheaper mattresses, softer mattresses, and memory foam / memory foam hybrid mattresses (because they allow for too much sinkage). That said, don't make the mistake of believing all mattresses with reinforced edge support are bad. Reinforcing edge support materials are really helpful. That said, lower quality mattresses will create the of slant towards the center of the mattress. 2 - Yes, but it's going to soften around the same pace as the rest of the mattress, so it's not something that's going to fix itself over time. If edge support mismatch with the center is a problem on day 1, it'll continue to be a problem.

Here's the questions and thoughts I'm thinking about... 1) Is it hurting your back because it's soft or because it's just a it's not a great mattress (it performed below average in my tests) or because it's not a mattress design well suited to your needs? Any of these could be true (and so could all 3 at the same time). 2) Body needs can change over time, so while a soft mattress may have been good for you in previous years, perhaps that is no longer the case. 3) The vast majority of sleepers need a medium-firm / luxury-firm. Only you can really say what your body needs in terms of firmness. Based on what you've shared here I would be hesitant to go to another soft, but perhaps this is just a case of S&F being a poor fit for you and a different model would be better. If I had to make a gut call based on the information here I'd say step up to a medium / medium-firm. It's usually a more well rounded choice and as you say, you can always soften with a topper. It's much harder to improve support via a topper if you end up going too soft and get stuck with a mattress that you don't like.

My pleasure...though I'm sorry I don't have better news for you. For many major brands it seems like the build and material quality has gradually declined over the years. Really sad to see. And yes! If you've been watching mattress review stuff on YouTube you've probably seen me. Here's my channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@NapLabReviews](https://www.youtube.com/@NapLabReviews)

If you're out of the trial period, probably not. While the trial periods are quite generous while they are active, as soon as you're out of the trial period most brands will not accept a return / refund except through the warranty. And warranties generally only cover defects and a certain level of sagging / dips. These policies are pretty typical and standard industry wide across most brands. Winkbed does have their 50% replacement guarantee, which lets you get any new Winkbed for 50% off. You'll still keep the mattress you have.

It's pretty straight forward for most brands that offer a trial period. Basically, you have X number of days to try the mattress. Within the trial period you can request a refund / return. The mattress brand will typically try to get you to keep the mattress after you request a refund. They'll offer you a discount and/or a topper (if it's still soft / too firm). You can accept those offers if you think they'll fix your problem. But if not, just decline and request the refund / return be processed. Typically they will send a couple of guys to pickup the mattress and those often get donated to a local charity. In some cases, they end up in a landfill if there are no local charities that can accept the mattress. All that said, you should have zero expectation of getting a refund / return if it's AFTER the trial period. If the trial period is 100 days and you make a request on day 101, it's too late. While most mattress brands are very easy to work within during the trial period after the trial period is over you have very little chance of getting a refund / return. So don't make that mistake and wait until after the trial is over. One last note, most brands require a 30 day break in period. Basically, you cannot return the mattress in first 30 days. This gives the mattress a chance to break in and your body a chance to get used to it.

We don't have a specific test for fiberglass leaking, but we do always investigate to see if the mattress contains any fiberglass. In my view, if the mattress contains any fiberglass at all (whether or not the brand says it's likely to leak or not), then it's just better to avoid that mattress all together. You can see a full list of mattresses we've analyzed for fiberglass here - [https://naplab.com/guides/fiberglass-mattress/](https://naplab.com/guides/fiberglass-mattress/) Fortunately, Sweet Night uses fiberglass. If you still want to go that way I'd recommend getting a full encasement mattress protector so that if fiberglass does escape the mattress cover, it will not escape your protector cover.

Yes, pillow tests / reviews is definitely something I'm considering for the future. Earlier in my career I did a ton of pillow testing, but more recently we've just been overwhelmed trying to keep up with all of the new mattresses that launch every year. In any case, we're going to start doing a pilot testing program of pillow reviews via shorts videos. If we see good traction there then we'll likely expand those reviews elsewhere. Lastly, I 100% agree with your thoughts on the combination of great pillow + great mattress is critical to the best sleeping experience.

Our longevity assessment is 2 fold. First, we're assessing the quality of the foam materials, coils, and overall design / build of the mattress. We document the material specs in each review and you can find compiled data here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-foam-density-coil-gauge-tests/) \- we use this data to explain probable longevity outcomes in each review. Second, we conduct tests using a mattress durability testing machine (called a rollator). These tests show accelerated 10 years of use and give us precise data on how the mattress softens, sags, and loses height over time. You can see the full explainer here - [https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/](https://naplab.com/tools/mattress-durability-testing/) \- We've only recently started collecting longevity data, so we only have 10 mattresses tested so far, but we're adding a new mattress each week.

If he already likes the feel of latex I would stick with that. Saatva's Latex Hybrid is the best latex hybrid I've tested. It's got a medium-firm to slightly firm feel with minimal sinkage, which is great for helping to support pains from the lower back. Take a look at the review here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/saatva-latex-hybrid-review/](https://naplab.com/mattress-reviews/saatva-latex-hybrid-review/)

Black Friday / Cyber Monday, that said, these days are only very slightly better (and sometimes not any better) than the other big 4 mattress sales holidays of the year, which include President's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Mattress companies are *always* running specials, but you will see slightly better specials on the above 6 sale holidays. Usually mattress brands will have stuff on sale for 2-3 weeks before the specific holiday day and 1 week after.

Definitely. Helix is a solid brand and has earned great scores across most of their mattresses that we've tested. You can see how they compare and perform here - [https://naplab.com/mattress-comparisons/?\_mattress\_shipping=usa&\_mattress\_brand=helix](https://naplab.com/mattress-comparisons/?_mattress_shipping=usa&_mattress_brand=helix)

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles to find a quality mattress. Certainly the humidity where you're at is part of the problem. You should consider a full encasement mattress protector to help keep moisture out of the mattress. The more moisture in the mattress the faster it's going to break down. Given how well your body did with latex before I would do everything within your power to get a latex mattress shipped to you. Have you considered using a shipping forwarding service like https://www.shipito.com/en/? Basically, you order the latex mattress you want, it ships to an address in the US, and then they forward you the package to your home in Mexico.

For pillows, what I recommend for most is the Nest Bedding Easy Breather. It comes overstuffed with a memory foam + poly fiber fill. Most notably, it's fully adjustable. So you can get the exact height and density that works best for your body. This one has been in my rotation with handful of other pillows over the last decade. Other pillows my wife and I have been using for personal use since 2017 include Oreous (another adjustable pillow), Casper Original, SHEEX, and Ghostbed Down Alternative. I'd say Easy Breather and Oreous are the best choices for most, due to their adjustability.

Absolutely. It's something I've been considering for a long while, but we've just been overwhelmed with our queue around mattress tests. In the short term, we're about ready to pilot a program of pillow tests on our social channels. If that does well we'll start building a more formal testing program for the primary site / channel.

Latex and latex hybrids generally earn better than average scores. As a material type, latex is highly durable, responsive, avoids heat retention, and creates high bounce. That said, it also creates a more polarizing feel that's not for everyone, is heavy / hard to move, and creates lots of motion transfer. So there are pros and cons to consider. You can find a list of the best latex mattresses we've tested here - [https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-latex-mattress/](https://naplab.com/best-mattress/best-latex-mattress/)

0.5 is pretty big on my scale, probably not enough to justify purchasing a new mattress if your Helix Midnight is relatively new, but it really depends on your preferences and priorities. Cooling and pressure relief I've found are the biggest difference makers between mattresses earning scores in the 8.5-8.9 range and those that get into the 9.2-9.7 range. If you want the absolute best cooling and pressure relief, I think you could make an argument that it's worth the upgrade. The difference between an 8.7 and a 9.7 is significant.

I tested one earlier in my career, but that was it. By the time I started testing in 2014 they had essentially completely fallen out of popularity. Given my limited testing experience, I wouldn't say I have a strong opinion on water beds. But based on what I have tested and seen, it feels like more of a marketing gimmick than anything else.

Currently, our focus is on testing mattress performance and feel. There are other organizations that test around health, safety, sustainability, supply chain, fair trade, and environmental impact. In my view, the level of complexity in each of those areas is such that it requires an organization fully dedicated to that type of testing. As a result, I don't expect we'll expand our testing into this areas any time soon. That said, we do our best to compile all of the various certifications in those testing areas for each mattress we test so it's easy for our readers to see data around those aspects.

1) What firmness do you prefer? Most people need medium-firm 2) What mattress types do you prefer? Memory foam has more hug, poly foam more balanced, latex more restrained, hybrids more balanced, coil more traditional feeling (these are VERY high level). Hybrids are best for most people. 3) What thickness do you prefer? In general, thicker is better, I recommend 12"+ 4) What features are important? Think motion transfer, cooling, edge support, sex especially 5) What policies are important? Think trial period, refunds, returns, shipping costs, return costs. Make sure you fully understand these terms, especially when buying in-store I've explained all of the above and more in tremendous detail here - [https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-mattress/](https://naplab.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-mattress/) \- Take a look and let me know if you have any other questions.

I have a regular Leesa (I’m on my second because I loved mine and upgraded to a king sized bed). I considered the cooling one because I do sleep hot, but I didn’t love the softness compared to the original. My solution is cooling bamboo sheets. They always stay cool.

I’m on my second Leesa (upgraded from Queen to king) and it is the best Goldilocks mattress for me. I don’t have the hybrid, just the regular, and I don’t find it too hot.