Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers

Hybrid mattress buying guide for side sleepers

Side sleepers have a few simple needs to cater for sleep in this position. However, confusing or misleading marketing messages – or trying to cater for couples with different sleep needs in one mattress – can mean years on the wrong mattress. Follow the tips in this guide to find out all you need to know about shopping for a hybrid mattress as a side sleeper.

What is a hybrid mattress?

A hybrid mattress marries coils and a comfort layer (usually of foam or latex) to offer support and pressure relief in a durable, usually quite responsive, bed. Most offer similar construction, featuring a thin layer of support foam at the base of the bed, followed by a layer of coils. Comfort layers may vary, but many have a layer of transitional foam and a top layer of foam or latex. Some brands have also incorporated micro coils to offer dual coil support. As with other mattress types, they are available in a range of different feels and with a world of features to choose from.

What are the benefits of hybrid mattresses?

Hybrid mattresses offer a few benefits over all-foam and latex varieties.

• This includes durability. The coils of these beds tend to give them a few added years in the general lifespan of a bed, which is a big plus for any consumer.
• They also generally offer superior support, with the combination of materials tempering support with pressure relief.
• On top of this, they are also more responsive than foam and latex beds – a feel favored by many sleepers and couples.
• Hybrid mattresses are our preferred choice for people in heavier weight brackets and so will work for all shapes and sizes.

The benefits of being a side sleeper

While it may feel like your sleep position isn’t something you can control, research has shown that being a side sleeper comes with certain health benefits. Some of these include:

• Where you have achieved correct alignment, side sleeping can reduce joint and back pain.
• It reduces disruption in breathing – and so snoring and your risk of associated serious illnesses and conditions.
• It can be good for your gut, reducing constipation and bloating and reducing heartburn and other gastrointestinal issues.

It’s also been said that sleeping on your left is better than your right – an interesting thought for side sleepers.

How firm should a mattress be for side sleepers?

Side sleepers need to keep aligned, but they also need softness and pressure relief to prevent shoulder and hip pain. As a general rule, the softer the better for side sleepers. However, if you are a combination sleeper, it may be worth giving some thought to the firmness required for when you are sleeping on your back or stomach. If you share your bed with someone who is not a primary side sleeper, you are also going to have to compromise when it comes to firmness – unless you opt for a split model.

That said, mattresses all the way up to a medium-firm can work for many side sleepers in average weight categories. Ultimately, the ideal firmness comes down to your sleep circumstances and preferences, but also to your weight.

Weight and firmness for side sleepers

As we have said many times before, the heavier you are, the softer a mattress will feel. The lighter you are, the firmer it will feel. Most mattresses are marketed to average sized people, so this is something to keep in mind if you are of small or large stature. If you are a heavy side sleeper and you aren’t buying a mattress specifically made for big and tall people, it could be worth looking a little firmer on the spectrum.

The top mattress accessory for side sleepers

If you are looking for a little bit of extra pressure relief – or if your mattress feels that little bit too firm for your liking – a mattress topper is a great accessory. Alternatively, keep an eye out for the option of an additional pillowtop at the time of ordering. Pillowtops can elevate the pressure relief of mattresses to make them a perfect fit for side sleepers.