Best Amazon Mattress [Review] in 2021

Features to look for

Construction

Most good memory foam mattresses aren’t just made from memory foam. Instead, they have layers that provide a variety of benefits, helping to create a more comfortable and supportive product overall.

The most common form of construction for a memory foam mattress is a three-layer design.

The topmost layer is usually a comfort layer – which typically consists of the actual memory foam – that is designed to feel soft and cozy for sleepers.

The middle layer is typically a support layer of a stronger foam that helps to provide the body with healthy support, spinal alignment, and uplifting force so the mattress does not sink in too far. The final layer is known as the base layer.

It basically keeps the entire mattress together, promoting better durability, retaining the mattresses shape, and serving as a strong foundation for you to sleep on. Most mattresses also come with a top cover that encases all the aforementioned foam layers.

Do take note that while this is the most common form of mattress construction, it is not rare to see mattresses that have wildly different makes and structures.

Overall, you should take note of a memory foam mattress’ construction because it gives you a good idea of how the mattress will feel, what features it has, and whether it’s suited to you or not.

Memory foam mattresses may also come in hybrid form, meaning they’re a mixture of memory foam and some other variety of mattress. The two memory foam hybrids you will likely encounter are latex and innerspring hybrids.

Innerspring is a more traditional variety of mattress and is made up of coils within the mattress’ foam layers, and typically, innerspring offers a good balance to memory foam, with each material making up for the other’s weakness.

Meanwhile, latex hybrids aid memory foam it areas it lacks strength, such as in temperature regulation and response time.

Comfort, Firmness, and Support

While they don’t sound like they’re all the same thing, these three factors tie in very tightly together.

The perfect memory foam mattress balances all three of these characteristics well, though the amount of comfort and firmness you desire is mainly up to preference and the amount of support you should opt for depends on your weight and sleeping position.

Comfort typically refers to firmness or softness, although it does encompass other factors like heat retention and cover material. Still, you will mainly want to focus on how soft or firm a mattress is as a priority when it comes to comfort.

Whether you prefer to sink in a little into your mattress or you like a mattress that is unyielding, most manufacturers and brands will tell you where each mattress falls on the scale.

So how does support intertwine with comfort? In general, the more supportive a mattress is, the firmer it feels.

If you are a heavier individual, you will likely need a more supportive mattress in order to avoid the layers sinking in too far. Too much sinkage can lead to spinal misalignment and cause aches and pain in the joints and pressure points.

The kind of support you need also depends on the position you sleep in. Side sleepers need softer mattresses because their weight is pooled on smaller points while stomach sleepers need firmer mattresses for better spinal alignment.

Meanwhile, back sleepers should go for medium firm mattresses.

Comfort and support are arguably the two most important factors in choosing a mattress.

When you are purchasing online, you don’t get to test them out yourself before buying them, which is why you should be very aware of what mattress will work best for you before purchasing.

Motion Isolation

If you share your bed with a partner, and especially if one of you is a light sleeper, you will want to opt for a memory foam mattress with good motion isolation.

This feature is one that dictates the mattresses response to movement and pressure. A mattress with good motion isolation will allow one person to move freely on their side of the bed without waking the other.

Motion isolation has to do with the construction of a mattress, from the density of the foam to the types of layers used. Be sure to thoroughly read the specifications of a mattress’ make before purchasing if motion isolation is an important characteristic for you.

Edge Support

Many memory foam mattresses – being made of, well, foam – have a tendency to be a little less hardy along their sides.

While edge support is far from the most important features of a memory foam mattress, it’s still not a bad idea to look out for one that won’t sink in the corners or give in when weight is placed on its edges.

Plus-sized individuals and pregnant women may require edge support to prevent wear and tear to the sides of the mattress and also to prevent accidental falling when sitting too far on a corner.

If you often end up sleeping on the far sides of a mattress when you move around at night, you should also look for a mattress with good edge support. Ideally, a memory foam mattress will have uniform amounts of support throughout its body.

Response Time 

Memory foam mattresses are famous for their slow-moving, body-contouring features. For some, this is a very comfortable hugging feeling, while for others this feature makes them feel “stuck” in the foam.

This is because when you shift positions, the foam may have a slow response time that causes it to retain its previous shape before very gradually transitioning to your new weight distribution.

How fast you would like the response time to depend on you. A very slow response time will hug you tightly and can feel comfortable and sink-in luxurious.

A fast response time will give the mattress a bit of a bounce and prevent you from feeling suffocated when you adjust yourself. This is a matter of preference, so choose accordingly!

Temperature Regulation

For a long time, memory foam mattresses had a tendency to overheat. This makes sense given its material’s make, which naturally retains more heat, but sweating at night is never a comfortable situation.

Worse still, if your mattress makes you sweat, the moisture can actually cause faster deterioration or even serious damage to a memory foam mattress.

Luckily, most modern mattresses of this variety have characteristics that help temperature regulation, whether it’s from the way the foam itself is made or because of added features in the layers of the mattress.

Memory foam can be infused with heat diminishing gel, have a ventilated system, or allow for better, more even air flow. Whatever the case, make sure that the mattress you purchase has some sort of way to combat the heat.

Health and Safety

Memory foam mattresses typically have an off-gassing odor when they first arrive, which can carry an unpleasant and chemical-like smell.

This is a cause of worry for many buyers, so you should opt for a mattress that you know is made with safe ingredients and doesn’t use volatile organic compounds, flame retardants, or harmful, toxic chemicals during manufacturing.

Memory foam products that have been made in an environmentally conscious or safe and healthy manner typically have certifications, such as the CertiPUR-US certification or the GREENGUARD certification.

Keep an eye out for those when purchasing, as they are usually also hypoallergenic and safe for those with allergies or skin conditions!

Trial and Warranty

One of the best parts about buying memory foam mattresses from Amazon is the automatic trial period you get.

Amazon typically offers a 30-day period during which you can ask for returns or exchanges fuss-free, and this company policy overrides that of the brand’s in most cases if you are purchasing directly from Amazon.

With that being said, some mattress brands may also offer extended trial periods so you can attempt sleeping on your new mattress for a long time before deciding whether or not you want to keep it.

You should also take a look at the warranty period for each mattress you peruse. While warranty length doesn’t necessarily equate to mattress quality, it does have some bearing on it, and it can help you make a purchase with better peace of mind.

For example, a mattress with a one-year warranty will likely suffer wear and tear faster than one with a 10-year warranty.