Best Tempur-Pedic Mattress Alternatives
After 25 years in the business, Tempur-Pedic continues to be a popular mattress brand name, offering a wide variety of patented memory foam sleep products and sleeping surfaces throughout the years. Their initial success was driven by their introduction of the memory foam mattress to the sleep industry, a new material that redefined how people viewed their personal sleep choices. This shook up the competition and has continued to be a driving force behind brand name innovation and customer satisfaction.
With the recent advances in technology that helps drive down material cost and product construction – combined with tech based advertising – the sleep industry has been experiencing a new wave of sleep experiences. This has brought about a variety of new mattress startups that offer both quality and cost effectiveness, and their popularity only continues to grow. This competition has resulted in a larger selection of brand name alternative for fractions of the cost, so today we’re going to compare some of Tempur-Pedic’s top sellers with their competition, so you can better understand what differences (if any) truly exist.
1. Leesa Mattress – Editor's Choice
- Best of both memory foam and spring hybrid
- Excellent edge support
- 5 layers of coil and foam
- 100 Day Trial Period
- 10 Year Warranty
2. Novosbed by GoodMorning.com Mattress
- Good motion transfer
- Firmness guarantee (optional mattress topper at no charge to adjust to your preference)
- Excellent construction durability
- 120 Day Trial Period
- 15 Year Warranty
3. Loom and Leaf Mattress
- Cooling layer
- Hassle free trial and warranty
- Good for combo sleepers
- 180 Day Trial Period
- 15 Year Warranty
4. Amerisleep AS3
- Great pressure relief
- Great value
- Cool sleeping surface
- 100 Day Trial Period
- 20 Year Warranty
5. Alexander Signature Select
- Sleeps cool for a soft surface
- Comfort of memory foam with limited ‘sink’
- Good Value
- 100 Day Trial Period
- 20 Year Warranty
Table Of Contents
- Our Review Process
- Top Rated Tempur-Pedic Alternatives
- 1. Leesa Hybrid Mattress
- 2. Runner Up – Novosbed
- 3. Best for Combo Sleepers – Loom & Leaf
- 4. Best for Cooling – Amerisleep Liberty AS3
- 5. Best for Pressure Relief – Alexander Signature Select
- Consider Your Needs
- Materials Used
- Tips to Consider Before Purchase
- Conclusion
- Additional Resources
Top Rated Tempur-Pedic Alternatives
1. Leesa Hybrid Mattress – Editor's Choice
Highlights
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Dimensions: 60″ x 80″ x 10″ (Queen)
- Material: Memory foam, coiled springs
Pros
- Best of both memory foam and spring hybrid
- Excellent edge support
- 5 layers of coil and foam
Cons
- May be too firm for side sleepers
- Some heat retention issues
- Slight motion transfer
The Leesa Hybrid Mattress (formerly Sapira mattress) is a hybrid of both memory foam and coiled springs to provide a little more response than traditional memory foam, with exceptional edge support. Its medium-firm comfort lends itself to sleepers who prefer a firmer surface, but also can be comfortable for side sleepers due to the relief from pressure points the memory foam provides.
Created with 5 layers of coils and foam to total 11 inches, the top comfort layer is a 1.5 inch breathable memory foam which is further supported by another 1.5 inches of memory foam, which works as a pressure relief layer. Both of these layers are of higher quality foam which transition into a 1 inch layer of foam supported by 6 inches of pocketed coils. The final layer is a 1 inch foam to help cushion your body and work as a base for the above layers.
Considered excellent value, this is a good alternative compared to the Tempur-Pedic Flex Prima, a medium-firm option in Tempur’s hybrid mattress series. The materials used are considered high quality and, despite being a new product, initial reviews are consistently full of praise of overall comfort.
2. Runner Up – Novosbed
Highlights
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
- Dimensions: 60″ x 80″ x 11″ (Queen)
- Material: Memory foam
Pros
- Good motion transfer
- Firmness guarantee (optional mattress topper at no charge to adjust to your preference)
- Excellent construction durability
Cons
- Slight off gassing
- Edge of bed support may be weak for heavier bodies
- May not be comfortable for side sleepers
The Novosbed Firm mattress option is considered to distribute weight well and helps alleviate pressure points without sacrificing support. What seriously sells this particular mattress is that the company will send you additional toppers at no charge to help adjust your firmness level. This is an excellent feature and is popular with people sleeping with partners.
The first comfort layer is a 2 inch ultra dense airflow memory foam to help create a cooler sleeping surface. This is supported by a further 2 inches of ultra dense foam, which rests on a 7 inch premium foam base support.
The memory foam is of high quality and provides a great alternative to the Tempur-Contour Supreme in terms of firmness and foam comfort. Due to the firmness of the mattress, it has less chance of your body sinking into the frame, but it does allow for the traditional memory foam contouring that has become so popular. Furthermore, the mattress seems to have no heat complaints, meaning the construction breathes well and doesn’t allow for high heat retention.
3. Best for Combo Sleepers – Loom & Leaf
Highlights
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, Cal King, Split Cal King
- Dimensions: 60″ x 80″ x 12″ (Queen)
- Material: Memory foam, organic cotton quilted cover
Pros
- Cooling layer
- Hassle free trial and warranty
- Good for combo sleepers
Cons
- Softest option offered by the company
- Might be too firm for lighter bodies
Despite the name of this mattress, it’s the softest option provided by the company since they claim that anything softer results in unhealthy lack of support. They also suggest that companies who offer anything softer may be using lower quality materials to soften up the surface, resulting in a quick breakdown of comfort.
This mattress has a four-layer construction that totals 12 inches. It consists of an initial 2 inches of density that’s incorporated into their patented gel-on-gel design, which includes a gel panel on top for a cooler night’s rest. The next 2.5 inch layer is a visco-elastic memory foam that provides deep, contouring support. Thirdly, this layer is followed by 2 inch transition loft pad to transfer weight and heat, and the final layer is a 5.5 inch high density foam core that supports each of the above layers.
Though the first 4.5 inches of memory foam are not of as high quality as the initial Tempur-Contour Rhapsody Luxe layer, it’s still extremely plush and provides an excellent alternative in value and comfort. The medium-firm surface is comparable to the firmness of the Tempur product and is highly rated by reviewers as a good combination mattress for multiple sleeping positions. It’s also praised as a cool sleeping surface due to its unique gel construction.
4. Best for Cooling – Amerisleep Liberty AS3
Highlights
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, Cal King
- Dimensions: 60″ x 80″ x 12″ (Queen)
- Material: Memory foam
Pros
- Great pressure relief
- Great value
- Cool sleeping surface
Cons
- Weaker edge support
- Lower motion transfer
Considered both supportive and plush, the Amerisleep Liberty is another newer product to be introduced to the sleep industry. It’s labelled as a medium to medium-soft sleeping surface by consumers, and comes standard with a Celliant, thermoreactive fiber cover that helps keep you sleeping cool.
Made from a 3 layer construction, this mattress is topped with 3 inches of memory foam which is further supported by a 2 inch, channeled airflow layer that also helps distribute heat and weight. The remaining 7 inch foundational support layer is made of a 1.5 pound foam construction.
Despite the overall build not being of as high quality as the Tempur-Cloud Prima, it’s both thicker and of different materials which has been well received by consumers – especially combo sleepers or those with partners who sleep in different positions. This particular memory foam still has that sinking contouring feel, which may not be for everyone, but their sleep trial with free pickup for returns helps alleviate worries about online purchases and wasted money.
5. Best for Pressure Relief – Alexander Signature Select
Highlights
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split Cal King
- Dimensions: 60″ x 80″ x 13″ (Queen)
- Material: Memory foam, quilted organic cotton cover
Pros
- Sleeps cool for a soft surface
- Comfort of memory foam with limited ‘sink’
- Good Value
Cons
- Motion isolation could be better
- May not be comfortable for back or stomach sleepers
Like it’s luxury firm counterpart described above, the Alexander Signature Soft boasts a 1.5 inch quilted plush pillow top which consumers describe as a nice addition to an overall soft, yet supportive mattress. This particular model is a decent alternative to Tempur-Pedic’s softest mattress, the Tempur-Cloud Luxe, and has some very similar features.
The first comfort layer is a 2 inch gel-infused memory foam to help create a cooler sleeping surface. This is supported by another 2 inches of viscoelastic foam to alleviate pressure points. 3 inches of Smartflow air flow foam support the above layers and rest upon a 4 inch supportive base.
The slight hug and body contouring is a great alternative to the more traditional sink of soft memory foam surfaces, and provides pressure relief for side sleepers. Weight distribution seems to be well balanced, and back, stomach as well as combo sleepers may find this a perfect alternative to firmer mattresses.
Consider Your Needs
Before jumping into your search for the best mattress, consider first your specific needs. If you’ve been drawn to the Tempur-Pedic brand name due to personal experience, then you’re aware of the quality and comfort that this company offers. However, many fans of Tempur products often struggle to justify the high cost that often accompanies the purchase, and so these alternatives may be right up your alley.
If you’ve yet to experience sleeping on memory foam, you may want to do a bit of homework first. Not all memory foam is created equal, nor does it feel the same from one comfort level to the next. Memory foam is a popular mattress surface choice, because rather than holding you ‘up’ like many traditional spring coiled systems do, it ‘sinks’ and conforms to your body shape and weight. This alleviates pressure points and aids in correct spinal alignment. Like other bed surfaces, memory foam can be both soft (plush) or firm.
Side sleepers need a softer surface in order align their spine, and memory foam provides the support their head, shoulders and hips need without creating uncomfortable pressure. Back and stomach sleepers need support for the natural curvature of their spine and often prefer a firmer surface. This helps keep undue stress from being applied to their lower back or shoulders during the night.
Materials Used
Memory foam is a viscoelastic polyurethane foam created as an open-celled design for increased airflow. The design came out in the 1960’s and 70’s in response to NASA’s need for better cushioning within their space program. The scientists behind the idea bought the rights, and through the company they developed the Tempur-Pedic memory foam used today.
Although the specific Tempur formula is still top secret, the technology behind it has been used and reused for decades to create a variety of memory foam products.
Quality Doesn’t Always Equal a Higher Price
The key to unlocking the quality of a memory foam mattress lies in understanding the difference between density and comfort. The density of foam is measured in pounds per cubic square feet. The higher the density, the higher the quality (and weight), as it will compress less over time and has a higher ‘bounce back’ after weight application.
A mid-range foam density falls between 3.5 and 5.0 lbs/cu.ft with higher and lower qualities falling to either side. Much of your mattress construction will have a layer or two of quality memory foam to make up the first few inches, which will then be supported by a thicker, lower density non-memory foam product. Essentially, what you’re paying for (and want to focus on before making a purchase) is your initial mattress layer quality.
It’s also important to note that the density of the foam is not at all related to how plush or firm the surface is, nor does it determine quality. This measurement is determined by the indentation load deflection (ILD) that determines firmness levels. The higher the ILD, number the more firm the foam is. This is also true of thickness, as the thicker the foam is, the higher the ILD will be.
Polyurethane and convoluted foams are the ‘budget-friendly’ foams with lower durability over time, but are used to hold up and support memory foams used in the mattress construction. They are a completely acceptable material for what they’re being used for, but your mattress cost shouldn’t reflect this foam as part of the the higher quality comfort you’re paying for. Mattress companies should provide insight to how much of each type of foam is being used, and at what densities they’re being offered. The Tempur Company has a long history of not being as forthcoming about this information as others.
Shopping Experiences
How you shop for a mattress can have a huge impact upon the overall cost of the product. Showroom warehouses often tack on the brick and mortar components of company markup and commissions, whereas factory direct sellers cut the middleman out of the equation and can offer you reduced prices that better reflect the true cost of the item you’re receiving.
However, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t purchase the mattress you fell in love with on the showroom floor. Many times you can pick up a discontinued or closeout mattress for a fraction of the cost, so it pays you to take your time and look for exactly what you want. For example, Tempur-Pedic recently revamped an entire line of mattresses and were offering the older models for deep discounts.
Tips to Consider Before Purchase
Buying a mattress is a big investment, both in time spent for research and money. It’s also major in that you’ll be spending approximately a third of your life sleeping on it. Making sure to cover all your bases and consider your options is an important step before making a final decision.
What Can You Afford?
Budget constraints can make or break your purchasing decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly, but neither should giving up on getting exactly what you want in a mattress. Looking over alternatives that provide the same quality and comfort is easier than ever by taking the time to research what’s currently available.
Are You Sure Memory Foam is What You Want?
Memory foam is not for everyone. If you’ve never experienced sleeping on a memory foam mattress, see if you have any friends or family that will let you sleep over, or at the very least, go spend 10-15 minutes laying on one in a showroom.
Have You Checked With Multiple Sales Outlets?
As mentioned, online shopping is bigger and better than ever. Not only can you cross reference sales prices, but you can also read up on unbiased reviews and consumer reports to help you decide on what you need and want.
Can You Test the Product Out?
Many companies, Tempur-Pedic included, offer a sleep trial or no-hassle warranty which allows you to return the product within a set amount of time for a full refund if you’re not satisfied. This takes the anxiety out of online shopping if you like to touch and feel your mattress before buying.
Conclusion
Overall, if you’ve been on the search for a Tempur-Pedic alternative for any reason – or simply like the idea of memory foam without too hefty a price tag and decent return policies – you should really explore the many options available to you. We’ve outlined five of the most popular mattresses among consumers today, so if you’re currently on the lookout for your next mattress to last you many years to come, we hope you find our product suggestions and buyer’s guide helpful in your search.