Best Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattress buying guide

If you are tasked with buying a new mattress, you probably find you are facing a daunting number of things to think about. Once you have decided on a hybrid bed as your best option, there are a number of different factors to consider in narrowing down your choices to the bed that’s best for you. No matter where you are in the mattress buying process, we are here to help. The following are our top considerations for anyone on the market for a hybrid mattress.

Who should consider buying a hybrid mattress?

In our opinion, there is a hybrid mattress on the market for just about every kind of sleeper. They are available in a range of firmness levels, materials, and constructions to cater for every sleep preference. Generally speaking, if you consider yourself one of the following, a hybrid mattress could be worth the investment.

• Heavy people. Hybrid mattresses offer more support and durability than their all-foam or latex counterparts and are always our top recommendation for people who weigh in a bit heavier.
• Sex appeal. The springs in hybrid mattresses generally give them a greater responsiveness. Even very responsive foams and latex are given a little extra give when supported by springs, which gives them real sex appeal for couples.
• Hot sleepers. The easy airflow through the coils of hybrid mattresses means they usually sleep a little cooler than beds made from dense foams or with restricted breathability.

Advantages of hybrid mattresses

As above, hybrid mattresses are some of the best mattresses for heavy people, shoppers who are worried about responsiveness for sex, and hot sleepers. There are some other noteworthy benefits to hybrid mattresses, however. Firstly, the combination of materials usually means hybrid beds are that little bit more durable and long-lasting than, say, all-foam or full-latex mattresses. This comes down to the quality of the individual mattress and some factors unique to you like weight and usage.

While hybrid mattresses come in all shapes and sizes, common amongst most of them is the ability of the combination of materials to offer amazing support, balanced with just the right amount of comfort and pressure relief from comfort layers of foam, latex, and other materials.

Disadvantages of hybrid mattresses

As with all things in life, you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth – and mattresses are no different. Hybrid mattresses have a range of benefits, which often give them the upperhand over other models. However, there are a few things to look out for too. As they age, for instance, some coils have been known to become noisy with age. They also have a notorious reputation for poor motion isolation, although this has been addressed by many leading mattress brands.

Although not true of every hybrid mattress, all that goes into them comes at the cost of weight with some of them. Many hybrid mattresses aren’t too laborious to move between two people, but it’s something to look out for if you move frequently or are worried about this point.

What to look for in a hybrid mattress

The hybrid mattress that’s best for you requires a merging of your requirements and preferences with a bed made to meet those points. The same principles apply across mattresses of varying construction. If you are a side sleeper, you need something softer and pressure-relieving for your hips and shoulders in this position. Back and stomach sleepers need support and firmer mattresses usually provide the right spinal alignment for long-term comfort.

While the coils in hybrid mattresses make them a little cooler, the comfort layers make a difference on this point too. Keep an eye out for materials designed for cooling, like gel, graphite, and charcoal foams and active cooling covers.

As with any mattress, you can expect a sleep trial and warranty period. Some companies are very generous with these policies but, as with any warranty for any item, you should familiarize yourself with the warranty policies prior to purchase to avoid potential disappointment.

Memory foam vs hybrid

There are some key differences between hybrid mattresses and memory foam varieties. Very few memory foam mattresses are suitable for heavier people because they tend to sink through the layers more quickly, going beyond the comfort layers into the support layers. This can be uncomfortable and, over the long term, can affect the longevity of the bed. Across all body types, memory foam is at risk of sagging over time – something which is a little less prevalent on hybrid mattresses, where the support layer is coils. This, too, offers support for people in heavy weight categories.

Another primary difference between all-foam and hybrid mattresses is temperature. Memory foam has a reputation for trapping heat. Hybrid mattresses naturally promote airflow and are generally cooler than foam alternatives.

Where foam comes out on top is on the topic of motion isolation. Traditional memory foam is well-known for deadening motion. While some hybrid models do a very good job on this front, the majority simply do not perform on the same level.

Individually pocketed coils

When we talk about pocketed coils, we aren’t talking about the flimsy, slinky-type spring you probably have in mind. Coils have evolved from the innersprings of yesteryear. These days, coils are made in a range of densities, coil gauges, and coil counts. Some are made to ergonomically support the body. For the most part, most hybrid models have individually pocketed coils, which means they are wrapped in a material (often cotton), and stitched together to give them individual, yet collective motion (which is far better at isolating motion transfer than traditional innerspring mattresses).