What type of mattress is right for you? (2025)
By Julia Forbes | Published: 2025-10-31 09:31:00 | Source: WIRED
This is especially true for areas where body weight is concentrated when lying down, especially around the hips and shoulders. The padded coils also aim to outperform traditional coils in the area of motion isolation, meaning that when you move, the single coil takes the heat in terms of motion and prevents the bed from reenacting a small earthquake. Thanks to the interconnection of conventional coils, it does not take much for the feeling of movement to be transmitted along the entire surface of the bed.
Fun fact: You don’t need a box spring with a hybrid mattress. I see this is a frequent question, and pocketed coils in hybrids eliminate the need for one. Box springs are designed to provide more support and raise the performance level of traditional coil beds, which will align specific sections of the coils for more support. Nowadays, you actually can empty Your Warranty If you use a box spring with a hybrid mattress – be sure to check those fine print.
The Nolah Evolution seamlessly combines some great memory foam and pocketed coils, both of which resist the buildup of tension in pressure points. I like it as an option for side sleepers for this reason, but it’s also suitable for back and stomach sleepers as well. Coils also make it easier to move around, which is helpful for co-sleepers.
Another solid hybrid we tested is Helix Midnight Luxwhich is our top pick overall in our best mattresses guide. They also use pressure-relieving foams and pocket coils to provide targeted lumbar support.
Courtesy of Helix Sleep
Sleeping snail
Midnight Luxe with ErgoAlign
Memory foam
We actually have NASA To thank for this one. If you Google those early space missions, it’s no surprise that something was needed to keep astronauts from getting jostled inside the rockets; Hence, memory foam was born. It has evolved a lot from those initial iterations, especially when Tempur with your hands It burst onto the scene in the 1980s with a vision to become the foundation of sleep products. Today, memory foam stands in its own right when it comes to unique texture and compression.
Memory foam is an umbrella term for all of the iterations created by today’s mattress brands, but let’s turn to a mattress manufacturing expert for this.
“Memory foam is produced by combining liquid polyurethane with various chemicals, such as polyols and isocyanates, to enhance viscosity and density,” says Merwin. Without deleting the periodic table of elements and giving you a science lesson in the chemical components of this substance, here’s what you need to know: These compounds form a flexible foam that has very small bubbles inside it. How it works: When you lie on it, your body transfers heat to the surface, and it flows into these air pockets, which in turn allows it to become softer and contours to your body.
But for the science nerds reading this, Merwin’s got you covered: “The main ingredient is a polymer that creates an open cell structure, allowing the material to respond to heat and pressure. This is what gives memory foam its distinctive shape or ‘cradle’ feel.” During the manufacturing process, a liquid foam mixture is poured onto a moving line, where it expands and hardens into large foam blocks, which we call ‘cakes.’ Quality.
To say that it’s a natural fit for those who need to relieve pressure from their mattress might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s arguably the most notable feature of this material. It also reduces the feeling of motion for more restless sleepers, which also makes it an attractive option for couples. Arguably the biggest problem that memory foam has is heat retention, because once heat enters these air chambers, they turn into something like microscopic saunas that can make an all-around mattress a nightmare for those who sleep warm. This is where different iterations of foam come into play, with some brands incorporating elements like graphite, copper, gel, or more advanced cooling technology like phase change materials into the foams they use.
Three layers of foam make up the Bear Original, but its certifications and cooling cap are here to help dispel any rumors circulating about the downsides of memory foam. You won’t find any eyebrow-raising chemicals here thanks to CertiPur-US and GreenGuard Gold certifications. Additionally, you can add a Celliant cover for a cooler feel.
Image: bear bed
bear
Original foam mattress
the Nectar Premier It’s another memory foam option that we’ve tested and liked, especially for side sleepers. Their foam layers are stacked so you feel more pressure relief on top, but you get more than enough support via a firmer foam layer on the bottom.
Courtesy of Nectar
Sleep nectar
Nectar Premier
rubber
The same things that go into making tires, balloons, and sports equipment can also be used in making mattresses good Stuff too. Latex works similarly to memory foam when it comes to relieving pressure, but is more reactive to your movements. Think of a rubber band that springs back into shape when released; It’s very 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 you’ll typically find with mattresses: Dunlop and Talalay. These names refer to the production process and resulting product, in which liquid rubber is poured into molds, and ignited at high temperatures (called “molds”).VulcanizationAnd yes, I have to resist doing what Spock did “Live long and prosper.” manual signal each time), and freeze the flash to preserve the feeling. Dunlop is a firmer latex foam, thus a firmer feel. Talalay gives a more luxurious feel. Latex is generally very temperature-balanced when it comes to temperature as well, preventing heat from accumulating within your mattress to maintain a pleasant room temperature feel.
WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson praised the Birch Luxe Natural’s organic latex construction, noting great lumbar support and good temperature regulation.
Courtesy of Birch
Birch
Luxurious natural bedding
Smart mattresses/adjustable beds
The mechanisms behind smart or adjustable mattresses include air chambers that can inflate or deflate on demand, allowing you to adjust your body’s level of firmness via a controller or remote (depending on the model or brand).
Features can vary between brands, especially depending on whether you choose the base brand as well. The smart mattress itself can become firmer or softer at the touch of a button, and some models may consist exclusively of foam layers over an air chamber core. in case Sleep number The P6 mattress, which I’m currently testing, has small custom air chambers under the cover that instantly respond to areas of high pressure and adjust support levels accordingly.
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