Is it time for a new mattress? If you find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night as you try to navigate a comfortable sleep position or if you continually wake with a tired, aching back, then a brand new mattress may be just the ticket. But before you rush out and make what will likely be a pretty pricey 10-year commitment to this important piece of furniture, take the time to do a little research into the best product for your budget and sleep style.
Now for those who have already checked out the advantages of a memory foam mattress and decided this is the route they want to go, you’ll have noticed there are dozens if not hundreds of options on the market and that’s where we can step in to help you narrow the choices.
Memory Foam Doctor has reviewed some of the top mattress brands in North America, sorted them by comfort level, support, fabrication and even their suitability to various sleep styles in order to provide you with a comprehensive comparison of the various benefits they bring to the table.
The comparison we offer below is suited to those who typically fall asleep on their back and tend to remain in that position (or on their side) throughout the night. You’ll be looking for a medium-firm to firm mattress (ranging from a 3 to 7 level of firmness) that can deliver not only the soft, curve-hugging comfort you expect from memory foam but superior support that ensures your spine reverts to a neutral position regardless of how often you move in the night. Both Casper and Leesa deliver high quality mattresses that offer consistent, effective lumbar support and one of these two options may just be the ideal fit for you.
Background
Casper’s dream of producing a bed that provided consumers of all shapes, sizes and sleep styles with the “highest level of comfort and support” began in 2014 and within their first two years of operation, this US-based on-line memory foam mattress manufacturer enjoyed sales of over $100 million. Using consumer insights to develop their “ideal formula” for a superior mattress product, their design team clearly got something right because they are now considered a leading brand in the highly competitive bed-in-a-box industry.
Why is Casper a Great Mattress for Back and Side Sleepers?
The criterion critical to back sleepers is level of firmness. Firm to medium-firm is a must because it not only delivers the contouring comfort you expect with memory foam, but the resistance needed to support the entire back including the lower lumbar region. With the Casper mattress you get a 9.5-inch thick mattress that uses 4 different types of foam as well as zoned support to direct the firmness to the areas that need a little extra push-back with the softer, less-firm zones delivering cushioning where its needed.
Construction
Cover
Casper’s 100% polyester cover is not only highly porous for ideal breathability and a cooler sleep surface, but fully zippered for easy removal and cleaning.
Top Layer
Casper offers a 1.5-inch layer of synthetic Dunlop latex foam. At 3.3 PCF, this ultra-soft material not only sleeps cooler because of enhanced aeration, but adds a little extra spring for those who are concerned about “sinkage” and the difficulty some memory foam mattresses can present when it comes to rolling over or getting out of bed.
Second Layer
Casper uses a high-density 4.0 PCF layer of memory foam to distribute body weight across the entire sleep surface for continual relief at key pressure points. This open-cell foam works in tandem with the upper latex layer to deliver superior support to the entire back while simultaneously providing enhanced air flow
Third Layer
Casper’s patented Hyper-Targeted zoned support includes a high resiliency foam with polymer network to deliver enhanced ergonomics that target your lower lumbar region allowing your spine to remain in a neutral position regardless of how often you move in the night.
Bottom Layer
Casper uses a high-density poly foam base that not only provides uniform support to the upper comfort and transitional layers of foam, but absorbs shock and mattress movement for improved durability.
Additional Benefits
Cooler Sleep Surface
Casper’s use of latex foam, open-cell construction and a porous, breathable mattress cover ensures continual air movement across the entire sleep surface, for a cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Allergen Free
Casper manufacturers their mattresses using materials that are free of harmful, ozone-depleting chemicals and emissions. This helps to ensure minimal to zero off-gassing when you first set up your mattress and makes it a great choice for those with allergies and sensitivities.
Trial Period / Warranty
Purchasers of the Casper mattress receive a 100-night trial period with a 100% money back guarantee. If the mattress fails to meet your expectations, Casper will pick it up at no cost to you. They also provide a 10-year limited warranty that covers mattress deterioration.
Background
Manufactured entirely in the United States, Leesa’s design team were committed to re-imagining your sleep and purchase experience by producing an exceptional grade of mattress that, because it is sold strictly on-line without the middle man, provides consumers with a top-quality product at a more affordable price. Because they’re dedicated to giving back to their communities, Leesa regularly donates mattresses to those in need… so you can sleep easier knowing your purchase has helped those less fortunate.
Why is Leesa a Great Mattress for Back and Side Sleepers?
The Leesa mattress’ super firm bottom layer and Avena memory foam top ensure ideal spinal alignment regardless of your sleep position. Weight distribution and its ability to rapidly adapt to your body’s contours mean that pressure is always taken off joints and that your lower lumbar region is continually supported regardless of how often you move in the night. As a result, you’ll sleep sounder and you can expect your mornings to be pain-free.
Construction
Cover
The Leesa mattress cover is a single piece of thinner, lightweight poly-lycra blend fabric that not only tightly secures the entire three layers of memory foam, but ensures you’ll be able to experience the soft, contouring sensation that is synonymous with this style of mattress.
Top Layer
Leesa’s upper surface is a 2-inch thick top layer of their proprietary Avena foam that delivers a cooler, more comfortable sleep experience. Similar to latex foam, Avena has the same super soft texture and ability to dissipate body heat, however it’s actually much more durable than latex which means a longer bed-life. And when you add in the little extra “bounce” the Avena foam provides, you have a bed that is super easy to move around in and is a snap to get in and out of – not always the case with some memory foam products.
Second Layer
Leesa’s second layer features 2-inches of 3-PCF memory foam for deeper compression support and instant contour cradling to help your spine remain in a neutral position throughout the sleep process. This important layer distributes your body weight across the entire bed surface, supporting your natural curves and taking pressure off key points of contact such as your shoulders, hips, knees and lower back.
Bottom Layer
Leesa’s core support foam base includes 6-inches of high-density foam that is specially designed to support any size of sleeper and help the upper layers to deliver a uniform level of comfort and support. Because this high-density foam is also very breathable, it works in conjunction with the middle and top layers to absorb excess heat and ensure a cooler sleeping surface.
Comfort
Minimal Off-Gassing
Unlike many of the memory foam mattresses on the market, Leesa does not use ozone-depleting chemicals, heavy metals or contain formaldehyde. As a result, it’s an ideal choice for those suffering from allergies or whose skin is sensitive to chemicals.
Cool Benefits
Leesa’s Avena foam top layer is not only aerated for enhanced air movement but is made with a breathable foam that allows body heat to dissipate quickly for a cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Trial Period / Warranty
Leesa provides a 100-night trial period and 10-year warranty (with 100% money back guarantee) that is fairly standard with this type of mattress. If you’re unhappy with your mattress at any time during the 100-night period, Leesa will pick it
Leave a Comment