Best Hybrid Mattress

If you sleep with a partner, you may want to consider a bed with good motion isolation. If your partner tends to toss and turn, the motion can disturb your sleep and wake you up. A bed with good motion isolation is able to prevent motion vibrations from traveling across the mattress and affecting the sleeper on the other side.

The motion isolation test involves dropping a 10-pound steel ball onto one side of the mattress from three different heights and measuring the disturbance on the other side using a seismometer. The seismometer displays the disturbance via a graph where the larger the lines, the worse the motion isolation.  

When we take a look at the DreamCloud’s seismograph, we see large and abrupt spikes. This tells us that you’re likely to feel larger movements from a partner at night, such as getting in and out of bed. This isn’t the worst motion isolation I’ve ever seen, but very light sleepers may be easily woken up.

I thought the DreamCloud mattress felt incredibly supportive when I tested it. As I mentioned earlier, this bed leans slightly firm due to its support layer of tall, individually wrapped coils. The foams up top are slightly softer, but the coils did a great job lifting my body out of the structure and preventing too much sinkage. I felt most supported when sleeping on my back due to the balance of pressure relief and solid support that promotes spinal alignment.

When I assess a mattress for cooling, I first take a look at its materials and construction. The DreamCloud is a hybrid mattress, so it contains a tall layer of coils. These coils add space to the bed and allow air to flow in and out without becoming trapped. Hybrid mattresses are typically more cooling than foam mattresses in general due to this feature. The DreamCloud also contains a layer of gel memory foam. Although memory foam is known for trapping heat, the gel infusion helps dissipate heat away from the body.

I next quantify the bed’s cooling abilities using a thermal gun. I first measured the initial temperature of the bed and then measured how much it heated up after I spent five minutes lying on it. The DreamCloud’s initial temperature only increased by 7 degrees, which indicates great cooling. I think this bed could be a good choice for sleepers who tend to overheat at night.

Edge support refers to how strong the mattress is around the perimeter. A mattress with strong edge support will be just as sturdy and stable along the edges as it is in the very center. If you sleep with another person or simply like to spread out, you may want to pay close attention to this category, as strong edge support can make a mattress feel larger. Strong edge support can also be a durability indicator, as weak edge support can lead to premature mattress sagging.

When I sat on the edge of the DreamCloud, I felt very stable. The mattress sank slightly under my weight, but the tall layer of coils didn’t collapse too much and kept me lifted. I never felt like I was about to slip off the bed, so I’d say the edge support is strong.

When I test pressure relief in mattresses, I start by rolling a specialized mat onto the bed and then laying on it in different sleeping positions. The mat is able to sense pressure and translate the results into an easy-to-read graphic using thermal imaging. Areas displaying red and yellow indicate high pressure buildup, and areas displaying blue and green indicate low pressure buildup.

If we take a look at my DreamCloud pressure map, we can see a ton of blue at the lower back when back sleeping. When in this position, I felt the foam filling in the space at my lumbar region. When side sleeping, I felt a bit of pressure building at my shoulders and hips, and this is reflected by the touch of yellow on the map. I think back sleepers are the best candidates for pressure relief on this bed, while side sleepers may want a softer bed with a bit more sinkage.

When I performed the seismometer test on the Helix Midnight Luxe, I found pretty average results. The lines on the graph are pretty condensed, indicating motion disturbance dissipated relatively quickly. However, I also performed the wine glass test, which involves placing a full glass of wine on one side of the bed and then rolling around on the other side and observing how much the liquid in the glass moves. The wine glass actually ended up tipping over due to my motion, which is not ideal. I think you’re likely to feel your partner moving around at night unless you’re a sound sleeper.

Like all hybrid mattresses, the Helix Midnight Luxe’s support layer is constructed from coils. However, the Midnight Luxe’s coils are zoned for support, meaning their firmness fluctuates depending on which part of the body needs more support. I thought these coils did a great job promoting a neutral spinal alignment. I was also impressed by the top layer of High-Grade Helix Responsive Foam, which provided some initial support before transitioning the sleeper onto the coils.

The Helix Midnight Luxe comes with a Tencel cover, which is a material derived from Eucalyptus. Tencel is naturally cooling and helps with temperature regulation. The bed’s pillow top layer is quilted with gel foam, which helps with additional cooling. The comfort layer is a layer of Copper Gel Memory Foam. The copper and gel infusions help prevent heat from becoming trapped in the foam. Finally, the airy coils add breathability and help the bed cool down even more. Based on the materials and construction, I would already recommend this bed to hot sleepers.

When I performed the thermal gun test on the Helix Midnight Luxe, I found a temperature increase of 3.3 degrees after laying on it for 5 minutes. These are some of the best cooling results I have ever seen, so I think hot sleepers will be able to sleep nice and cool on this bed.

The Helix Midnight Luxe contains reinforced edges to prevent mattress sagging. I felt very supported and lifted, and there wasn’t a lot of sinkage when putting my full weight on the edges. While the standard Helix Midnight model only has two sides with edge reinforcement, all four sides of the Helix Midnight Luxe are reinforced.

When we take a look at the Helix Midnight Luxe’s pressure map, we see blue and green when side and back sleeping. I felt really comfortable in either position, and I thought the soft pillow top helped a lot with initial contouring. I gave this bed 5 stars for pressure relief because I think it could help sleepers with back, shoulder, or hip pain.

Since hybrid beds contain coils, they usually have a certain level of bounce that allows motion to transfer to the other side of the bed. However, I didn’t find the WinkBed overly bouncy, so I had high hopes for its motion-isolating abilities. Looking at the seismograph, I can confidently say this bed has good motion isolation. The pillow top and foam layer were able to absorb some of the initial movement and prevent too much disturbance from reaching the other side of the bed. I think you’re unlikely to wake up due to a partner tossing and turning.

The WinkBed feels very similar to a traditional innerspring mattress. I definitely felt more “on” the bed than “in” the bed due to the extra-tall layer of individually wrapped coils. These coils are zoned for support, so they’re softer and firmer depending on the body part they’re supporting. I felt the most supported when sleeping on my back, but I also think the bed is supportive enough for side sleepers.

Straightaway, this bed is super breathable due to the extra-tall coil layer. There’s a lot of room for air to flow through the mattress rather than becoming trapped. The WinkBed also has a moisture-wicking Tencel cover and a gel-infused Euro pillow top for extra cooling. I’ll also note that the bed felt cool to the touch. When I tested the bed with my thermal gun, I found a 7-degree temperature increase after 5 minutes of lying on the bed. These are good results, so I’d recommend the WinkBed to hot sleepers.

The edge support on the WinkBed was pretty solid. There was barely any sinkage when I sat directly on the edge of the bed. I pulled out a yardstick to measure exactly how much the layers collapsed, which ended up being less than half an inch. When lying directly on the edge of the bed, I felt a bit more unstable. However, I think this bed performed well overall in this category and could be a good choice for sleepers who like to spread out.

Out of the three WinkBed models, I tested the Luxury Firm bed for pressure relief. Looking at the pressure map, there’s an even distribution of pressure when I sleep on my back. When sleeping on my side, there was a bit of pressure starting to build at the hips and shoulders. If you’re a combination sleeper who doesn’t spend the entire night on your side, then the luxury firm model could be a good option. Strict side sleepers may want to opt for the Softer model for a bit more sinkage.

With two layers of bouncy coils, I had low expectations for the Saatva in the motion transfer category. My suspicions were confirmed by the seismograph, which displayed some pretty harsh lines. Now, these aren’t the worst results ever, but I still think you’re likely to feel a partner moving around. You may be able to sleep through typical tossing and turning, but larger movements may disturb your sleep.

I gave the Saatva 5 stars for support because of its coil-on-coil construction. These two coil layers lift the sleeper up and out of the structure and prevent them from sinking too far. There’s also a layer of memory foam zoned for support, which helps promote proper spinal alignment while adding some slight cushion. This foam layer also contains Saatva’s Spinal Wire for even more spinal support. The Saatva’s high-quality materials and sturdy construction made me feel secure and supported.

We know that coils can help with airflow and breathability. With two layers of coils, the Saatva has a very airy construction that hot sleepers can appreciate. When using the thermal gun, I found a mattress temperature increase of 9.3 degrees after five minutes of laying on the bed. This indicates good cooling, and I didn’t feel like I was overheating when testing this bed.

The Saatva has some of the best edge support I’ve ever seen in a mattress, which isn’t something I say a lot. The edges felt exactly the same as the center of the bed– supportive and strong. When I sat on the edge of the bed, I measured less than half an inch of sinkage. I think these edges can appeal to sleepers with mobility issues who rely on strong edges to get in and out of bed.

I tested pressure relief on the Luxury Firm model of the Saatva. Looking at the pressure map, there’s mostly blue and green when back and side sleeping. I think this model is the best choice for back sleepers, as it balances pressure relief with support quite well. Stomach sleepers may find better back pain relief from the Firm model.

Taking a glance at the Silk & Snow Hybrid’s seismometer results, I’d say this bed has impressive motion isolation. The lines on the graph are pretty small with very minimal spiking. The graph levels out quickly, which means the disturbance isn’t too large. I think most sleepers won’t be woken up by a tossing and turning partner, so I’d definitely recommend this bed to couples.

The main support system in the Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress is a layer of individually pocketed coils. These coils are zoned for support, so you should find the right level of support at every part of the body. The comfort layer is made from 2 inches of high-density memory foam, which adds support while letting the sleeper sink in a bit.

The Silk & Snow Hybrid contains gel-infused foam, which helps regulate temperature and prevent heat trapping. Plenty of air is able to flow in and out of the mattress due to the coil layer, making the bed very breathable. When testing the bed with my thermal gun, I found a 7.9 degree temperature increase. This means the Silk & Snow has good cooling abilities overall.

The coils in this mattress are encased in foam around the perimeter. In theory, this foam should reinforce the edges and help them be stronger. However, I was less than impressed with the Silk & Snow Hybrid’s edge support. I felt pretty stable when lying along the edge of the bed, but I sank very far into the bed when sitting directly on the edge.

Taking a look at the Silk & Snow Hybrid’s pressure map, I’m happy with the blue and green in the back and side sleeping positions. I do see a bit of yellow beginning to form at my shoulder when side sleeping, so people with preexisting shoulder pain may want a slightly softer bed. But overall, I think back and side sleepers can both find nice pressure relief and contouring from the Silk & Snow Hybrid.

Based on the seismometer test, I think the Nolah Evolution is a great choice for anyone with a restless partner. The lines on the graph are small with minimal spiking, which indicates low motion transfer. Although the bed has some bounce, the foam layers help absorb motion and prevent it from traveling to the other side of the bed.

The main support system in the Nolah Evolution is a layer of patented HDMax EcoSupport Coils. These coils work to lift the sleeper’s spine into neutral alignment and prevent them from sinking too far into the bed. I also found a good amount of support from the two comfort layers and the transition layer. When laying on this bed, I felt stable and comfortable, and I didn’t feel any abnormal bending of the spine.

The layer of HDMax EcoSupport Coils allow for plenty of air to flow through the bed, keeping the sleeper cool. Additional cooling comes from the two comfort layers. The first layer contains Nolah’s ArticTex fibers, which were designed to keep the foam cool. The second layer is made from Nolah’s AirFoamICE, which contains a graphite infusion that helps regulate the temperature. I haven’t used the thermal gun on the Nolah Evolution yet, but those results are coming soon. However, I was overall very impressed with this bed’s cooling construction, and I felt quite cool when lying on it.

The 8-inch layer of HDMax EcoSupport Coils help the Nolah Evolution have very strong edges. Proprietary Edge-Tech support foam encases the coils, which adds some additional reinforcement.. When sitting on the edge of the bed, I noticed some sinkage but still felt supported. I felt even more supported when lying on the edges, and I didn’t feel like I was about to fall off the bed.

As a true medium-firm mattress, the Nolah Evolution is a great choice for sleepers with back pain. Looking at the pressure map, there’s only blue and green when back and side sleeping. When I slept on my back, I thought the bed did a great job keeping my spine aligned while offering some cushioning at the lower back. The foam also cushions the hips and shoulders when side sleeping, so I’d recommend this bed to both back and side sleepers.