Best Mattress for Athletes

Physically active people typically need a mattress that alleviates pressure and soreness, provides sturdy support, and maintains a comfortable temperature night after night. The Bear Elite Hybrid checks all of these boxes, and you can choose from three firmness levels based on your body type, primary sleep position, and personal preferences. Thanks to the foam-over-coil construction, all three designs deliver a balance of pressure relief, motion isolation, and strong reinforcement.

The Elite Hybrid begins with a memory foam comfort layer, which is infused with cooling gel intended to dissipate heat from the surface.Transitional polyfoam provides additional cushioning, but this layer is divided into five firmness zones to push back against the extra weight from your midsection while cradling the head and legs. Pocketed coils and dense base foam make up the support core. Thicker coils along the perimeter help prevent sinkage when you lie close to the edges or get in and out of bed.

A cover composed of Celliant-blend fabric encases the mattress. Celliant is a material engineered to capture and release body heat on contact, and maintain a cool feel at all times. This was evident during our temperature control tests. We detected minimal heat buildup on the Elite Hybrid’s surface, and none of our testers felt uncomfortably warm. Our team was also impressed with the mattress’ edge support and ease of movement — two performance areas where foam hybrids often fall short.

We tested each of the Elite Hybrid’s three firmness levels. The medium (5) feel provides the deepest contouring, and was popular among our side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds. At the other end of the spectrum, the firm (8) design conforms to a minimal extent and feels exceptionally stable. We recommend this model to back and stomach sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds. If you’re seeking a combination of cushioning and reinforcement, the medium firm (6) Elite Hybrid should meet your needs. This model earned favorable ratings from our testers between 130 and 230 pounds across all three position groups.

Bear offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S., and you’ll receive two free pillows with your order. The company’s sleep trial runs for 120 nights. If you decide to keep the Elite Hybrid, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty against structural defects. You can purchase an accident protection plan for stains and other types of physical damage not covered under the standard warranty.

The Layla Memory Foam Mattress is a flippable mattress with a different firmness level on either side. Sleepers can choose between a medium soft (4) and a firm (7) side, which both feature pressure-relieving memory foam. We found the softer side earned the highest marks from side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds, while the firmer side performed best with back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds.

A top layer of memory foam cushions your joints, reducing pressure in areas like the shoulders and hips while pushing back in areas that need more support. The memory foam is infused with copper, which is meant to draw heat away from your body. The medium soft side has an extra transitional layer that uses surface modification technology (SMT) to provide zoned support. The two sides share a sturdy, high-density polyfoam core located between the comfort layers.

The medium soft side offers a plusher feel that excels at relieving pressure points and prevents motion from transferring across the bed. The firm side has its benefits as well, with a responsive surface and reasonable temperature regulation for a bed made of foam, a material known for heat retention.

The Layla Memory Foam Mattress ships free to customers in the contiguous U.S. Layla offers a lifetime warranty and gives customers 120 nights to try out the mattress.

Finding the right mattress for your sleep position is pivotal to alleviating the aches and pains that occur after physical workouts. Helix Sleep’s extensive mattress line includes more than a dozen hybrid models, each one designed for specific body types and sleep positions. The Helix Midnight is intended for side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, but our testing has shown the mattress is both comfortable and supportive for most side and back sleepers weighing 230 pounds or less.

The Midnight begins with a memory foam comfort layer, followed by a polyfoam transitional layer. The mattress is considered medium firm (6) but these foam layers create a plush, adaptive feel with deep cushioning around the shoulders and hips – two common areas of pressure buildup for side sleepers. Both foam layers absorb movement well and can cut down on sleep disruptions for co-sleepers. This makes the Midnight a good choice for anyone who easily awakens when their partner changes positions or gets in and out of bed.

The Midnight’s support core consists of pocketed coils over a base layer of high-density polyfoam. Extra reinforcement along the perimeter makes the mattress feel stable and prevents sinkage along the edges. Steady air circulation through the coil system and a breathable knit cover also help the mattress sleep cool. For an additional fee, you can add a proprietary GlacioTex cooling cover with phase change material that dissipates body heat on contact.

If you’re intrigued by the Midnight’s design but worry the mattress is too soft or too firm, we recommend taking the Helix Sleep mattress survey on the company’s website. This comprehensive questionnaire uses your weight, height, sleep position, and other factors to determine which Helix hybrid is best suited to you.

An affordable price-point and free shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. make the Midnight a solid option for value-seeking U.S. customers. You’ll also receive two Helix pillows with your purchase at no extra cost. The mattress comes with a sleep trial that runs for 100 nights, and those who choose to keep their purchase also receive a 10-year warranty against structural defects.

The Spartan is one of Brooklyn Bedding’s most popular mattresses to date – especially with athletes. The bed’s most prominent feature is a cover infused with Far Infrared Rays (FAR) technology, which is meant to promote muscle recovery in athletes or anyone with an active lifestyle.

The bed is available in three firmness options that correspond to medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (7) feels. The mattress starts with CopperFlex polyfoam layer followed by a memory foam layer that enhances pressure relief. The two softer models feature a third layer of memory foam, while the firmest model has a polyfoam layer for a more responsive feel. Pocketed coils over a base layer of dense foam make up the support core.

Temperature control is a major strength we noticed during our hands-on mattress tests. The Spartan’s FAR cover is fairly breathable and the foam layers shouldn’t retain too much heat. Another cooling component is the coil system, which generates enough airflow throughout the interior to maintain a comfortable temperature for sleeping. With so many firmness options to choose from, the Spartan should feel comfortable for most sleepers regardless of their sleep position or body type. Sleepers over 230 pounds may find the firm model most comfortable, while those under 230 pounds may prefer the two softer models.

The Spartan is available in seven sizes, including a split California king for couples who use adjustable bed bases. The price-point falls well below average for that of a hybrid model, and shipping is free of charge for customers in the contiguous U.S. Brooklyn Bedding backs each purchase with a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.

For many sleepers, physically active lifestyles and back pain go hand in hand. Those who wake up with stiffness or soreness in the shoulders, lumbar region, and hips should invest in a mattress that reduces pressure and supports the body in equal measure. The WinkBed is a great starting point. This luxury hybrid combines the cushioning of adaptive foam with a robust coil system to help ensure less pain in your upper or lower back.

The WinkBed is available in four firmness levels. These include three options for the standard WinkBed, which contains a layer of plush foam quilted into the cover followed by a denser foam to cushion and reinforce your body. The Softer (4) WinkBed is a medium soft (4) feel, and best suited to side and back sleepers under 130 pounds. These sleepers generally need deep conforming to feel less pain and pressure along the spine. The Luxury Firm is medium firm (6), making it the most balanced option for anyone weighing up to 230 pounds regardless of their sleep position. The Firmer (7) WinkBed provides the most support among standard models, so this may be ideal for people who weigh more than 230 pounds.

The fourth option is the WinkBed Plus (8), which – like the Firmer WinkBed – is geared toward those weighing more than 230 pounds. Unlike the Firmer with a second foam layer, the Plus contains 2.5 inches of responsive latex. The latex is divided into different firmness zones, ensuring extra reinforcement for the midsection and a softer feel elsewhere. Sleepers in this weight range who dislike the feel of foam should consider the Plus.

All versions of the mattress contain a pocketed coil support core. Like the latex layer in the Plus, the WinkBed’s coils are zoned for additional support where it’s needed and gentler cradling for lighter areas of the body. You’ll feel heavy push-back around the chest, back, stomach, and hips, but the foam layers serve as a buffer to prevent the mattress from feeling too stiff. The coils are also reinforced along the perimeter to prevent sinkage when you lie near the edges of get up in the morning.

The Plus costs slightly more than standard WinkBeds, but all models are priced within average ranges for hybrid mattresses. WinkBed also ships the mattress free of charge anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Your purchase includes a 120-night sleep trial. If you aren’t satisfied with your initial firmness selection, you can exchange the original mattress for a model with a new feel within 30 to 90 days of the delivery date. Your replacement mattress also comes with a 60-night trial. WinkBeds backs all mattresses with lifetime warranties.

The Nolah Evolution 15 is a hybrid mattress with a plush Euro-top and zoned support coils. This well-rounded design offers a mix of support and cushioning ideal for promoting healthy spinal alignment.

The mattress has an above-average profile that begins with a cover composed of ArcticTex, a soft fabric that feels cool to the touch. The cover is quilted with a thick layer of foam, and a breathable gusset helps release some of the heat that tends to get trapped in foam. Beneath is a layer of AirFoam, a specialized foam engineered to draw heat from the body and enhance cushioning in the shoulders, followed by two layers of transitional polyfoam with a firmer feel. The support core is made of pocketed coils that are zoned to provide enhanced support to the lumbar region and moderate pressure relief in the upper body. The edge is reinforced to prevent sagging when you sit or sleep near the perimeter.

Shoppers can pick from three firmness options – plush, luxury firm, and firm, which correspond to medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8) on a 10-point firmness scale. All three models provide good to excellent pressure relief and motion isolation due to the thick foam surface. The range of firmness options means that most sleepers should be able to find a model that suits them, regardless of sleep position and body type.

The Nolah Evolution 15 comes with a 120-night sleep trial, which allows customers to return the bed for a full refund following an initial 30-night break-in period. The bed also includes a lifetime warranty and ships free to the contiguous U.S.

Even alignment is key to reducing pain and pressure points while you sleep, and some mattresses support the spine better than others. Take the Silk & Snow Hybrid, which features elements in the comfort system and support core intended to promote proper alignment. A dense foam pad rests beneath your lower back to deliver extra cushioning for your lumbar region and hips, while zoned coils feel more robust around your midsection to prevent excessive sinkage beneath your torso and hips.

The Silk & Snow Hybrid features a Euro-top containing adaptive polyfoam and memory foam. Although the mattress is medium firm (6), these materials give the surface a plush feel and cradle your body closely. The top layer is infused with cooling gel meant to draw heat away from your body. A thick foam encasement wraps the base layer’s perimeter, creating extra pushback when you get in and out of bed or sleep close to the edges. Air flows freely through the coils, so the mattress maintains a comfortable temperature most nights.

Most of our testing team awarded positive ratings to the Silk & Snow Hybrid. Side sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds and back sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds were particularly impressed. In terms of performance, the mattress earned high marks for edge support, temperature control, and ease of movement. We noticed some movement transferring across the surface during motion isolation tests, so light sleepers who share their bed with a partner should take that into account.

Below-average pricing and free shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. and provincial Canada make the Silk & Snow Hybrid a solid choice for shoppers with tight budgets. The sleep trial runs for 100 nights. If you keep the mattress after the return period ends, your purchase is further covered under a 15-year warranty.

Many mattresses on the market today are suitable for people who weigh more than 230 pounds, but Brooklyn Bedding’s Titan Plus Luxe is one of the only models specifically designed for this weight group. Dense foam layers over robust coils ensure adequate cushioning for your sore spots and sturdy support to prevent deep sinkage. Athletes in particular can benefit from the Plus Luxe’s body-cradling and pressure-relieving abilities.

Three individual layers make up the Euro-top comfort system. The first is composed of memory foam infused with cooling gel to dissipate heat from the surface. Two layers of dense, responsive polyfoam provide additional contouring while pushing back against your weight to keep you on an even plane. The pocketed coils are engineered to move independently from one another, resulting in strong reinforcement without too much motion transfer.

As expected, this mattress fared well among members of our testing team who weigh more than 230 pounds across all three sleep positions. Back sleepers between 130 to 230 pounds also gave the Plus Luxe favorable ratings. Conversely, people who weigh less than 130 pounds will probably find the mattress too firm and a model that conforms more closely.

Overall, we found the Plus Luxe very balanced. The coils provide enough bounce to help you move on the surface and the perimeter feels stable, but the foam layers absorb movement well and reduce pressure buildup. We also gave the mattress high marks for temperature control. If you’re an exceptionally hot sleeper, you can upgrade to a cover made of GlacioTex, a material that captures and releases body heat.

Seven sizes are available, including a split California king for couples who share adjustable beds. The sticker price is below average for a hybrid and Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Your sleep trial spans 120 nights in length. If you’re satisfied with the mattress when the trial ends, it’s covered under a 10-year warranty against workmanship defects.

The Lulu Original Mattress is a medium firm (6) all-foam model designed with athletes in mind. It measures 10 inches tall, featuring a comfort layer of gel-infused memory foam over a high-density foam base. The standout feature of this mattress, however, lies in the cover, which uses a proprietary Lulu ION Miracle Yarn that reflects Far Infrared Rays back towards the sleeper, which is intended to improve tissue oxygenation by dilating blood vessels and increasing circulation.

The goal of this material is to shorten recovery times and increase sleepers’ energy levels. It is designed to work through your mattress protector, sheets, and clothing. The cover itself is removable and machine washable.

The comfort layer of gel-infused memory foam effectively contours to the sleeper, isolating motion and preventing pressure points. The firmer high-density base foam beneath reinforces the bed and provides support, keeping the sleepers’ body on an even plane. The bed’s medium firm feel and all-foam construction best suits sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds.

The mattress is made in the U.S. of American materials. Lulu backs the mattress with a 101-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty and free shipping, though they do require customers to allow for a 28-night adjustment period before beginning the return process.