What is the Best Mattress for Athletes?

Sleep may be a crucial part of the body’s development, but it’s also a way to recharge and recover. The more stress your body is subject to the more important sleep becomes. A special category of sleepers is represented by athletes because, together with nutrition and training, it’s what pushes them toward performance. Studies have shown that not only do athletes need a strict sleeping schedule, but also need more sleep compared to people who are not that active.

The ideal scenario involves 7 to 10 hours of sleep every night, in order to improve cognitive functions and help the body recover from the physical strain, it’s subjected to during the day.

Rank	Product	Highlights	Trial / Warranty
#1	Saatva Mattress check price	Three different firmness options to choose from. Provides enhanced lumbar support. Was named the best mattress for athletes by Men’s Journal. Made with eco-friendly materials.	120 Day Trial Period 15 Year Warranty
#2	Casper Wave Mattress check price	Made from five different layers that work together to provide the best support and body contouring. The level of support provided aligns the body in 33 points. Great support for combination sleepers. Can provide good spinal alignment for side sleepers.	100 Day Trial Period 10 Year Warranty
#3	Brentwood Cypress Bamboo Gel 13 Inch Mattress check price	Cover made with New Zealand wool which is organic and moisture wicking. Has a special layer that enhances the mattress’ breathability. Has a generous 7.5-inch base layer to absorb weight. Doesn’t have any chemical smell upon unboxing.	120 Day Trial Period 25 Year Warranty
#4	Helix Mattress check price	Dual comfort features provide different firmness levels for each side of the mattress. The sleeping quiz analyzes the results to suggest the best mattress configuration for you. The pocketed coils provide support and minimal motion transfer. The layer of coils compensates the edge support lost by the memory foam.	100 Day Trial Period 10 Year Warranty
#5	Bear Mattress check price	Offers great pressure point relief. Is comfortable for athletes that like to sleep on their back and their side. The foams used in the construction of the mattress are Certi-Pur Certified.	100 Day Trial Period 10 Year Warranty
#6	Brooklyn Bedding Signature Series check price	Provides great pressure relief without the feeling of being stuck in a single position. Is bouncy and responsive, making it easy to move in bed. Runs cool enough as not to wake you up feeling hot sweaty. Is great for side sleepers because of the soft top layers.	120 Day Trial Period 10 Year Warranty
#7	Lull Mattress check price	Minimal motion transfer. Very good customer service. The top memory foam layer is injected with gel polymer for better breathability. Acts as a good mattress for those who need therapeutic support.	100 Day Trial Period 10 Year Warranty

The Best Beds for Athletes

We always talk about the importance of high-quality sleep and how it’s crucial for pretty much anyone, not just athletes. But when your daily routine is even more dependent on how well and how much you’ve slept the night before, choosing the right mattress becomes mandatory in the performance process. So, whether you’re an athlete or someone who simply understand why investing in a good bed is a must, here are the key features to look for when shopping.

Spinal Alignment

Proper spinal alignment or dealing with a bad back is something that can make or break a mattress deal. Sadly, people who opt to sleep on cheap and uncomfortable mattresses most likely don’t understand how important this is, particularly when your job implies you sitting on an office chair for eight hours every day (in what we believe to be an improper position for your spine).

Everyone who understands biology, sports or health will tell you that your hips, shoulders, and ears should be aligned in order for your spine to stay in the correct position. While some mattresses are good for proper spinal alignment, the fact that you sleep with a partner should also weigh in on this decision. An unsuitable mattress will cause an imbalance in the support given to your spine when your partner switched to another sleeping position, which means that motion transfer is important in a bed that’s good for your spine.

Support & Contouring

With mattresses, it’s tricky to try and give you a precise formula to help you determine which is the best choice for support and comfort. A bed that’s comfortable for you might not be that comfortable for someone else. Your weight is a factor that determines which type of bed is better for you.

It’s pointless to buy a mattress with a supportive top layer if you are so lightweight that you won’t even get to apply the pressure required for the layer to take the shape of your body and give you the support and countering you need. If that’s the case, you need a softer mattress. Generally speaking, it’s good to choose a mattress that has three layers of supports. High-density foam is almost mandatory, as memory foam has the best body contouring properties.

Pressure Points

Depending on the position in which you lie down on the mattress, some of your body’s parts will sink into the surface and apply great pressure against the bed. These are called pressure points and, if you’re using the wrong type of bed, these pressure points are going to start to hurt when you get out of bed. Have you ever tried sleeping a full eight hours on your side, on a mattress that’s very firm and doesn’t allow your shoulders to sink in? If you have, then you already know that your shoulders hurt the minute you get up. That’s because the firmness of the mattress presses heavily against your shoulders, instead of allowing them to sink in and provide them with support. Long story short, pressure points cause pain if you’re sleeping on the wrong mattress.

One of the best materials to help solve this problem is beds with memory foam. That’s because the biggest advantage in sleeping on memory foam is that it “memorizes” the shape of your body and embraces your curves to give you the indentations needed, whenever needed.

Top 9 Best Mattress for Athlete Reviews

1. Saatva Mattress

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 80 x 60 inches for the Queen size (Saatva allows customers to choose between two available heights: 11.5 or 14.5 inches)
• Weight: about 110 pounds for the 11.5 inches Queen sized model
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

Between Plush Soft, Firm and Luxury Firm, the Saatva mattress seems to gather everything an athlete could need for proper rest and relaxation. Thanks to coil-on-coil construction that works closely with the enhanced lumbar support, there’s a good reason why the Saatva mattress was chosen the best mattress for athletes by Men’s Journal. Despite its spicy price, it’s a very good option for those who often experience lower back pain problems, whether they are subject to physical strain or just spend too many hours working in uncomfortable positions.

Aside from giving all the support you need, the mattress is also designed to be eco-friendly, which is always a plus in today’s competitive market. The cotton pillow top is organic and the mattress isn’t subject to any chemical use. The coils are made from recycled steel and the entire product received antimicrobial treatment.

Pros

• Three different firmness options to choose from.
• Provides enhanced lumbar support.
• Was named the best mattress for athletes by Men’s Journal.
• Made with eco-friendly materials.
• Comes in two different height options.

Cons

• Spicy price.

Read our full review.

2. Casper Wave

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 11.5 inches
• Weight: 86 pounds
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

There a lot of things that make the Casper Wave mattress stand out from the crowd. First off, it supports your body in 33 different points, which means that it basically acts like a cradle for different body parts, enhancing the comfort given. Because of its design, it should be able to support just about any body type and every individual sleeping position. In order to achieve all that, the mattress is divided into five different layers, each with a specific role in providing comfort and support.

The first layer measures 1 inch in thickness and it’s made of weightless foam, which is soft and very comfortable. Moving on, there’s a 1.5-inch layer of latex, because who doesn’t love a bouncy mattress? Then you have a 1.5-inch layer of memory foam, which works hand-in-hand with the aforementioned layer of latex in order to make sure it provides good body contouring. Next, there’s another 1.5-inch layer, only this one is made from high resilience foam combines with polymer channel inserts, followed by a 5.5-inch layer of contour-cut support. The number of channel inserts can be either 36 or 38, depending on the size chosen. These channels are meant to adjust to your shoulders and hips and give them full support, thanks to the technology Casper likes to call Hyper Targeted Support™.

The reason why this hybrid mattress is so good is that each layer used can counter the negative effects of other layers while bringing benefits to the table. There layers all work together to provide proper contouring and pressure point alleviation.

Pros

• Made from five different layers that work together to provide the best support and body contouring.
• The level of support provided aligns the body in 33 points.
• Great support for combination sleepers.
• Can provide good spinal alignment for side sleepers.
• Available in the US and Canada

Cons

• Some sleeper finds the transition from their old mattress to the Casper Wave too lengthy.

Read our full review.

3. Brentwood Bamboo Gel 13

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 13 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 53 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

A lot can go inside a 13-inch mattress, so the questions is: What makes the Brentwood Bamboo Gel 13 mattress so awesome? The first thing to stand out if the wool cover. Wool is known for having moisture wicking properties, but it also provides elasticity and durability. Next, you have the 3.5-inch layer of gel memory foam, meant to keep you cool and give you the plush feeling we all love to get from a mattress. For even more ventilation, Brentwood added a 2-inch layer of Airluxe, which is backed up by a 7.5-inch layer of therapeutic foam. The final 2 layers work the mattresses together to provide the sleeper with a durable and supporting product.

Is this mattress good for athletes? It really depends on what type of firmness they need. the Brentwood Bamboo Gel 13 mattress falls under the medium category of beds, being suitable for a wide range of sleepers, being neither too firm, nor too soft. Those who want a different firmness can opt for the additional topper sold by Brentwood. One of the main reasons why this mattress is so loved amongst athletes is because it runs cool and allows the skin to breathe no matter the room temperature. Athletes prefer sleeping at cooler temperatures because it helps regulate their circadian rhythm.

Pros

• Cover made with New Zealand wool which is organic and moisture wicking.
• Has a special layer that enhances the mattress’ breathability.
• Has a generous 7.5-inch base layer to absorb weight.
• Doesn’t have any chemical smell upon unboxing.

Cons

• A lot of complaints that underline the difference between the firmness expectations upon purchase and the actual firmness felt by the sleeper.

Read our full review.

4. GhostBed Mattress

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 11 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 85 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

The GhostBed mattress will WOW sleepers starting from the top. Its cover is made from a combination of viscose and polyester, resulting in a thin and breathable layer. Underneath it lies a 1.5 inch layer of latex foam, which is quick to respond to pressure, so that the sleeper can easily switch positions at night. the compression layer that comes next is 2 inches thick and made of gel memory foam. This is what supports you body and gives it that sinking feeling. The base layer is made from 7.5 inches of polyfoam which gives the mattress durability and even weight distribution.

GhostBed is a manufacturer that puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of athletes sleeping on a suitable mattress. It’s no secret that this category of sleepers is a special one because the effort put into competitive training and performance takes its toll on their bodies and they need all the pressure relief and relaxation they can get. That’s why they find it important for the mattress to be both supportive and breathable. This is why they’ve chosen the latex and gel-infused memory foam combination for this specific product.

Pros

• The mattress is developed with the athlete’s support in mind.
• Features gel-infused memory foam for more body cooling.
• The top layer is thin and breathable.
• The high-density base adds breathability to the product.

Cons

• Isn’t very efficient in terms of motion transfer.

Read our full review:

5. Airweave Mattress Advanced

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 60 x 80 x 8.5 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 69 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

The minute you hear about the Airweave mattress, the first thing that should come to mind is the word “air-fiber”. this is the materials that stands at the very core of this product, promising to evenly distribute the sleeper’s weight on the entire surface of the mattress, while providing just the right amount of temperature regulation. this layer is made with interwoven airfiber, which should encourage airflow to keep you as comfortable as possible. What’s even more amazing about the mattress is the ease of maintenance. The cover can be removed and washed, while the airfiber core can be rinsed with water.

Since spinal alignment is very important for athletes, we couldn’t help but wonder how the Airweave mattress performs in this aspect. We’re happy to report that the mattress manages to keep the spine aligned. Even more important is the dual-mode airfiber block, which can be flipped in order to provide you with more firmness, when needed.

Pros

• The cover can be easily removed and washed in the machine.
• Provides minimal motion transfer.
• Is made with airfiber for better breathability.
• Features a dual mode airfiber block, for firmness adjustment.

Cons

• The mattress is shipped in two separate boxes that may or may not arrive simultaneously.

6. Helix Mattress

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 60 x 80 x 10 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 95 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

The first thing that characterizes the Helix line of the mattress is firmness versatility. With the help of a sleeping quiz, Helix is looking to help people determine which mattress is best suited for their needs… and we couldn’t be happier. This means that instead of shoving the most expensive thing down your throat, Helix is looking to match you with a product that can actually perform as expected. Even more, Helix allows you to choose a mattress with a different firmness on each side, which is basically a dream come true if your mattress firmness preference doesn’t match that of your partner.

Depending on the answers you give on your sleep quiz, the layers of your mattress are interchangeable. The base is made with polyfoam with variable densities to make sure that you get the support you need. If the quiz determines that you need more support, the base will be higher and density, but also thicker. The center of the mattress is host to a multitude of tiny coils which are great at providing pressure relief. Because the coils are individually wrapped, they can adjust under the pressure of your body. this layer is 6 inches thick and also gives the mattress good edge support. On top, you can find a layer of poly foam or unique memory foam. This will depend on the firmness that best suits you.

But what we most appreciate about this mattress is the dual comfort option, that basically splits the mattress in half, each side having a different firmness level. This is great for athletes that have very specific mattress firmness tastes but can’t subject their sleeping partner to the same option.

Pros

• Dual comfort features provide different firmness levels for each side of the mattress.
• The sleeping quiz analyzes the results to suggest the best mattress configuration for you.
• The pocketed coils provide support and minimal motion transfer.
• The layer of coils compensates the edge support lost by the memory foam.

Cons

• Emits a slight chemical smell when unboxing.

Read our full review.

7. Bear Mattress

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 10 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 59 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

The Bear mattress is one of our most favorite choices in terms of athlete mattresses, because of the superior pressure point control. The 10-inch mattress features a combination of different types of foam to provide maximum support and comfort for your muscles. The Celliant cover is designed to absorb body heat and regulate temperature, so you’ll stay cool during the summer and warm during the winter. In fact, the material’s unique properties will absorb heat and turn it into infrared energy which is then transferred back to the sleeper. This temperature regulating cover is a great way to combat the foam natural properties of running hot.

Underneath the cover lies an inch of graphite-gel memory foam and is designed to provide extra cooling for your body. Next, we have the quick response foam layer. This particular layer act to provide body support, while making sure the spine is always in the correct position. Due to its density, this layer is also good at alleviating pressure points. At the base of the mattress lies a high-density support foam that evenly distributes the weight of the body on the surface of the mattress and backs up all the other layer to work in supporting all types of bodies.

Pros

• Offers great pressure point relief.
• Is comfortable for athletes that like to sleep on their back and their side.
• The foams used in the construction of the mattress are Certi-Pur Certified.

Cons

• Because it’s made entirely from foam, edge support is poor.

Read our full review.

8. Brooklyn Signature Hybrid Mattress

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 79 x 60 x 10 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 83.8 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

Starting from the top, the cover of the Brooklyn Signature inspired quality and good taste. It’s made from a combination of cotton and polyester and the soft feel is because of the quilted foam that enhances this layer. Underneath it, we find a 2-inch layer of what Brooklyn Bedding calls TitanFlex foam. When applying pressure on the mattress, this layer seems very similar to latex and it provides a good bounce. This is particularly good from when you’re suffering from muscle pain, as it facilitates movement during your sleep hours. This layer is also infused with TitaniumGel, to keep the mattress’ surface cool. Next comes the transition layer, which is actually a firmer version of the TitanFlex foam.

The base of the mattress is comprised of 6 inches of pocketed coils. They add even more bounciness to the mattress, not to mention that the space that’s left in between the coils provides a good airflow for better breathability. Since the coils and individually wrapped, motion transfer is kept to a minimum. The more pressure you apply on the mattress, the more you will feel the TitanFlex foam layer fighting back, which means that the mattress has just the right amount of sinkage (but always keep in mind that the response of the mattress depends on your sleeping position and your overall weight.

Pros

• Provides great pressure relief without the feeling of being stuck in a single position.
• Is bouncy and responsive, making it easy to move in bed.
• Runs cool enough as not to wake you up feeling hot sweaty.
• Is great for side sleepers because of the soft top layers.

Cons

• Mattress gets a little too soft after a year of use.

You may want to check out: Brooklyn Bedding Bloom Hybrid Mattress Review

Read our full review.

9. Lull Mattress

OVERVIEW

• Dimensions: 80 x 60 x 10 inches (for the Queen size)
• Weight: 29 pounds (for the Queen size)
• Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King

To end this roundup in style, we’ve decided to talk about what’s inside the Lull mattress that could possibly support and energize your body. Let’s start with the cover. It mixes polypropylene, rayon, and polyester to create elasticity and softness upon touching its surface. There are three main layers that compose the Lull mattress and we were interested in discovering what each of the does. To top it off, we have the 1.5 inches of memory foam comfort layer, which has good capabilities of contouring your body since memory foam is known for being able to take your shape. This is good for people who suffer from joint pains, but also for those with lower back problems. While this layer is injected with gel as to provide the sleeper with better breathability, tests have shown that the mattress tends to run a bit hot.

The next layer is made of 1.5 inches of premium foam that work together with the 7-inch layer of high-density polyurethane to provide the sleeper with therapeutic support. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding the “secret recipe” developed by Lull in order to air both athletes, as well as people who have muscle pains. As far as firmness is concerned, you can choose the one you like best, from soft, medium and firm. As always, your weight and favorite sleeping position should help you determine which is the right firmness for you.

Pros

• Minimal motion transfer.
• Very good customer service.
• The top memory foam layer is injected with gel polymer for better breathability.
• Acts as a good mattress for those who need therapeutic support.
• Is available in three different firmness options.

Cons

• Not all customers are satisfied with the firmness choice they made, so pick wisely!

Read our full review.

You may want to check out: The Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

Conclusion

The best mattress for athletes is the one that can provide the best muscle recovery. But in order to achieve that, you need a high number of uninterrupted sleep hours, which means that a mattress has to be, above all, comfortable and supporting. One very common myth states that the best mattress is the firmest one because a firm mattress provides more support and better spinal alignment. That’s not true. For example, if you like sleeping on the side, a firm mattress will create disturbing pressure points at your shoulders and hips and you will end up waking sore.

A firm mattress is good if you are a back or a stomach sleeper, but even then, it’s important for parts of your body to be able to sink into the mattress so that your spine will be correctly aligned. If you are lightweight, a firm mattress won’t help you achieve the correct position. Alternatively, overweight people will have their bodies sink into the mattress more and will need a firmer one. A new trend in mattresses for athletes is the Celliant technology. This implies that the fabric absorbs energy emitted from your body and then turns into some other form of energy that’s redirected back to your body. However, there are no significant studies conducted for us to draw an absolute conclusion on the subject, so I guess you have to try it out and see if it fits you.