Sleep Number Beds: Your Best Choices Explained
If you have ever been mattress and bed shopping within the last few decades, you most likely have heard about the Sleep Number Bed systems. With constantly evolving comfort choices, these beds are considered some of the most technologically advanced in the current sleep industry.
Not only are they some of the only smart beds available, they are capable of providing you a wholly unique, completely adjustable (and personalized) sleep experience. Plus they have dual comfort capabilities in all models. The best Sleep Number Bed is going to be specific to your own personalized needs, but are most definitely worth taking a closer look at.
1. SLEEP NUMBER 360® c4 SMART BED – Editor's Choice
- Pressure Relief: mid-range
- Cooling: no
- Support Layer: 3”
- Mattress Profile: 9”
2. SLEEP NUMBER 360® p6 SMART BED
- Pressure Relief: Moderate to high
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 5”
- Mattress Profile: 11”
3. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i7 SMART BED
- Pressure Relief: high to maximum
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 5”
- Mattress Profile: 11”
4. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i8 SMART BED
- Pressure Relief: maximum
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 6”
- Mattress Profile: 12”
5. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i10 SMART BED
- Pressure Relief: Maximum
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 7”
Table Of Contents
- Sleep Number Beds: Your Best Choices
- 1. SLEEP NUMBER 360® c4 SMART BED
- 2. SLEEP NUMBER 360® p6 SMART BED
- 3. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i7 SMART BED
- 4. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i8 SMART BED
- 5. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i10 SMART BED
- What is a Sleep Number Bed?
- Bed Material and Design
- SleepIQ Technology
- Sleep Number Smart Bed Series
- Classic
- Performance
- Innovative
- Conclusion
Sleep Number Beds: Your Best Choices
1. SLEEP NUMBER 360® c4 SMART BED – Editor's Choice
Highlights
- Pressure Relief: mid-range
- Cooling: no
- Support Layer: 3”
- Mattress Profile: 9”
Pros
- Sleep tracking technology helps you learn to sleep better Great for back and stomach sleepers Dual comfort options great for sleep partners Split top bed option another great option for sleep partners
Cons
- Some complaints of mattress being too firm Not a top pick for side sleeping
This Classic choice provides a 9 inch profile with a full 3 inches of their gel-infused, Ergonomex foam that relieves pressure points, and contours to your body shape and size. Considered an overall firmer choice due to the thinner comfort layer, this bed comes in a twin through California king size and everything in between. All choices come as a dual bed design except the twin and full choices, and you have an optional queen size single control as well.
Who Should Buy This Bed:
This bed is made for firm mattress lovers, and those who are more lightweight in stature to provide proper surface comfort.
2. SLEEP NUMBER 360® p6 SMART BED
Highlights
- Pressure Relief: Moderate to high
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 5”
- Mattress Profile: 11”
This Performance bed choice is made specifically for enhanced pressure relief for body recovery. Considered a plush surface comfort with underlying firm support, this falls in the mid range of foundational comfort, and also includes a Coolgenex foam layer for advanced cooling technology. The 5 inches of supper level foam support tops an 11 inch bed profile. It is available in twin XL and queen through California king size options with the queen having optional single control if desired.
Who Should Buy This Bed:
Made for body recovery, this is a great choice for athletes, or anyone who leads an active lifestyle.
3. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i7 SMART BED
Highlights
- Pressure Relief: high to maximum
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 5”
- Mattress Profile: 11”
The Innovative series of beds are by far some of the most favored, and include thick, temperature regulating foam blends for spinal support and a comfortable night’s rest. This is the most firm of the Innovative line, and has a 5 inch foam surface as part of the overall 11 inch bed profile. The ThermaLux foam regulates temperature, while the patented Ergonomex foam flexes and contours to your body shape. It is available in a twin XL up to a California king, with the twin and full sizes only available as a single control, and the queen providing a choice of single or dual.
Who Should Buy This Bed:
If the need for a slightly firmer surface in needed, but you have trouble regulating temperature through the night, this is a choice worth considering.
4. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i8 SMART BED
Highlights
- Pressure Relief: maximum
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 6”
- Mattress Profile: 12”
This next step up from the i7 is similar in most features, but does have a full 6 inches of layered, temperature regulating foam in a 12 inch bed profile. This extra inch of foam is made to help absorb and distribute weight for those who need the added cushioning, and who prefer the higher mattress profile. It is available in the same sizes as the i7.
Who Should Buy This Bed:
Heavier bodies, or those who require a deeper surface comfort, may prefer this model. The temperature regulating foam also works well for hot sleepers.
5. SLEEP NUMBER 360® i10 SMART BED
Highlights
- Pressure Relief: Maximum
- Cooling: yes
- Support Layer: 7”
- Mattress Profile: 13”
Pros
- Sleep tracking technology helps you sleep more efficiently -Great breathability -Easy to move -A+ BBB rating
Cons
- Expensive
Like the other Innovative models before it, the i10 boasts temperature regulating foam layers, and is designed for maximum pressure relief. This is the largest profiled bed offered by the company at 13 inches in height, and boasting a full 7 inches of support foam. Offered only in queen through California king sizes, you have the option of single, or dual control for the queen.
Who Should Buy This Bed:
Created for deeper contouring, this bed is designed for heavier, larger bodies to provide support in any sleep position. It is considered the most supportive, most cooling, and largest mattresses available.
What is a Sleep Number Bed?
Sleep Number is a type of adjustable bed that uses air chambers to provide customized comfort. Their use of technology is unparalleled, and all of their beds are equipped with sleep tracking sensors to help you monitor your own sleep habits to provide bed adjustments, and work towards getting the sleep you deserve.
The company was founded when the owners found themselves struggling to find a true dual comfort for both them and their partners, their alternative was to create their own–and they haven’t looked back since. Their unique approach to the bed industry has allowed them to grow since 1987 into one of the only companies to manufacture full bed sleep tracking advancements. They also offer adjustable bases that work with their beds, children’s beds, temperature balancing bedding, sheets, and even pillows.
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Bed Material and Design
Their three series of beds are defined by initial comfort choices- reflected in the depth, and type, of foam used for each model. The foam is layered over air chambers which are adjustable through the use of a remote, as well as via a smartphone app. Each bed also is covered with a flexible, breathable polyester blend cover that moves with your bed adjustments and body movements.
The air chambers also adjust slightly independent of your settings to help accommodate your nocturnal movements. This is to help keep pressure point reduction at a minimum, and allow your body to rest in a a neutral, spinal supported position. When used with a FlexFit base (explained below) you can even take advantage of the snore control feature, as well as the split king choices that are offered for even more dual comfort control.
SleepIQ Technology
Currently, all Sleep Number beds come equipped with their patented SleepIQ technology that syncs via an app on your smartphone. These are supported by both Apple and Android products and is very detailed in its measurements of respirations, heartbeat, and movements. It also can sync with other apps to provide a larger overview of your overall fitness and health.
These measurements are graphed and reported on weekly and monthly basis to provide you a more holistic understanding of your sleep habits, as well as nutrition, water intake, and overall exercise if you have chosen to sync with other apps.
Sleep Number Smart Bed Series
There are 3 different series of beds which contain 7 different models. Occasionally they also produce a limited edition series bed to gauge reactions to new ideas and comforts to help meet consumer needs. These all have small variances from one another, and are made to help ‘fine tune’ the sleep experience.
Classic
The Classic Models include c2 and c4 and the thinner beds to provide a more firm initial support. These are made for smaller, lighter body frames.
Performance
The Performance models are defined by the p5 and p6, and are considered a good balance between firm and soft to produce a plush support. The p6 includes an additional cooling material.
Innovative
The Innovative models surround deep foam and cooling comforts. The i7, i8, and i10 are also often joined by a limited edition model as well.
FlexFit Bases
Sleep Number also offers optional FlexFit base choices. These can work with existing furniture, and also sync with your SleepIQ app for adjustment purchases. Depending on which choice is best for you, you can take advantage of the ability to adjust your head, foot, both, and even provide heat and massage. These are made to work with split king bed choices as well, and include snore control features. Some even feature lighting.
Warranty
Sleep Number beds all come with a 100 night warranty that includes set up and shipping. It does take time to get used to a new mattress, and with all the adjustments you can make with these particular beds, the company wants to ensure that you have enough time to fully adjust to it. A 25 year warranty covers material defects for both the mattress and hardware. The repair or replacement is at a prorated cost that goes off when it was purchased.
How to Choose the Best Sleep Number Bed for You
Sleep Number actually makes it fairly easy to help you decide which bed might be best for you. They do have showrooms, but they also keep their choices very limited and each bed is similar to one another in relation to features to keep you from having to try and make sense of a lot of details that can become confusing.
Mainly, the biggest differences you need to pay attention to are the bed profile depths in relation to the amount of foam offered for comfort, cooling properties if you sleep hot, and if you are interested in a split king choice for use with a FlexFit base. The following Sleep Number reviews go over the most popular choices within each series to provide you a decent overview of what they have to offer.
Because of their similarities, their pros and cons are listed here:
Pros
- Proper spinal alignment with Sleep Number adjustments
- Choice of foam thicknesses for different body types
- 100 night sleep trial for exchanges and returns
Cons
- Requires proper bed support
- Takes time to find perfect adjustments
- Smartphone is required to take full advantage of it
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Conclusion
Your sleep experience should always be a good one. Your health depends on not only the proper amount of rest, but a true, deep rest that allows you to step through your sleep cycle for body and brain rejuvenation. Sleep Number beds allow you to track your sleep habits and provides you a way to more closely monitor what works, and what doesn’t, to adjust your comfort and get the sleep you deserve. The best bed for you is truly dependent upon your own body shape, weight, and specific needs.