The 9 Best Mattresses For Athletes: Doctor and Sleep Science Coach Tested

Bear designs its mattresses with athletes in mind, so when picking the best mattress for athletes, I naturally had to go with the Bear Elite Hybrid. This luxurious mattress is made from a combination of soft foam and supportive coils, and comes in three different firmness levels (Soft, Medium, and Firm), so you can pick the one that best fits your preferences and needs. 

After testing this mattress, my fellow product testers and I felt that Bear’s athlete-centered claims held water, as this mattress received at least 4 stars in back pressure relief, cooling, edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness. 

I typically work out in the evening, and it often takes my body temperature a while to regulate following my training and a warm shower. When it is time for bed, the last thing I want to deal with is a bed that traps body heat. So, I was very impressed when I conducted the cooling test on the Bear Elite. 

The initial surface temperature I recorded was 66.9 degrees, and when I took another reading after lying on the bed for five minutes, it had increased by fewer than 5 degrees. Further, I didn’t notice it heating up while I was on it. However, I deducted half a point, bringing the cooling score to a 4.5 out of 5, because although the bed felt cool-to-the-touch when I initially felt it, that crispness was gone once I lay on it.

When our chief medical product tester, Dr. Joe Tedesco, tested this mattress, he thought it would be an excellent bed for most side sleepers. “The softness provides great contouring, but there is good firmness to support you still when you’re on your side,” he said. “I don’t notice any pressure buildup at all.” 

Our lightweight tester, Kate Gorman, is an avid snowboarder who has dinged up her shoulders and collarbones while on the slopes. She said, “I like how this feels on my side. My hips and side feel supported. I usually experience more pain in my shoulder, but not when I was on the Bear Elite Hybrid.” 

As for back sleeping, although I am not a back sleeper, the Bear Elite Hybrid could help me adopt that sleeping position. As a middle-aged CrossFitter, I have a lot of aches and pains in my lower back. It was as if this mattress was actively pulling the discomfort from my lumbar region, allowing me to relax completely. 

Although the 14-inch Bear Elite Hybrid had terrific edge support when I was lying close to the perimeter, I felt a little less secure when I was sitting on the edge. The mattress’s height meant I had to slide my 5’4″ frame to the very edge to plant my feet on the ground. Although I didn’t find this to be overly problematic, I deducted a point because I think it could be an issue for those with mobility issues or folks who are shorter than I am. 

Also, while I think this mattress’s performance warrants its luxury price tag, it will be out of some athletes’ price range. Fortunately for those shoppers, mattresses like the Nectar Luxe allow you to sleep like a baller without spending like one.  

If you’re interested in this mattress, you can take a look at our full Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review for more information, or click here for our best deal. For more of our favorites, check out our roundup of the best mattresses.

It can be much harder to get a good night’s rest if your body temperature is high, and you’re much more likely to have a higher body temperature after a workout. That’s why it’s so important for athletes to have a cooling mattress like the Nectar Classic Hybrid, which uses a cooling cover to wick heat and sweat away and innerspring coils to promote airflow. This mattress scored a 4.5 out of 5 in cooling, but to show that it was as versatile as the athletes sleeping on it, it also scored a 4.3 in back pressure relief and motion isolation. These scores, plus a forever warranty and a 365-night sleep trial, helped the Nectar Classic Hybrid earn high marks overall.

We chose a hybrid mattress as our pick for best cooling because although some memory foam mattresses have started implementing cooling gels and other temperature-regulating technology to keep sleepers cool, you’ll get more breathability and extra cooling features from a mattress with a coil system. Dr. Dasgupta told me, “Some memory foam mattresses trap heat more than others. Excess heat can disrupt your sleep by making you sweaty or uncomfortable.” Sleeping on a mattress with top-notch cooling capabilities can promote high-quality sleep, which can affect your athletic performance. 

When my colleague and certified sleep science coach Kenny Timper used a thermal temperature gun to test how well this mattress dissipated his body heat, he was impressed. He noted that the surface temperature only went up around 6 degrees after he lay on the bed for 5 minutes. “The bed’s surface was fairly cool to the touch and very comfortable to lie on,” he said. “I didn’t notice it heating up beneath me while I was on it.” 

In addition to appreciating its chill vibe, Kenny liked how this bed felt on his side. He stated that the top layer did an excellent job of cushioning his joints and providing pain relief. At the same time, the support layer kept him from dipping too far into the mattress so that he experienced excellent spinal alignment. However, he was less enthusiastic about the Nectar’s responsiveness and edge support, and scored them 3 and 3.4, respectively. 

If you want a more responsive bed, check out the WinkBed. If you’re a side sleeper looking for support and comfort, you can find more information by reading our full Helix Midnight mattress review or clicking here for our best deal. To see some similar options, check out our roundup of the best mattresses for side sleepers. 

If you’re an athletic sleeper looking for a hybrid mattress to keep your body relaxed and supported after long workouts, I believe the DreamCloud mattress is for you. The cover of this mattress has been quilted with memory foam up top to contour the spine and give you some pressure relief right away, while the sturdy coils provide spine-aligning support. This mattress was an MVP during testing, scoring a 4.5 or higher in motion isolation and cooling, and a flawless 5 out of 5 in back pressure relief and responsiveness.

Athletes who sleep on their backs should be drawn to DreamCloud’s premier pressure relief. During the pressure relief tests, my colleague Riley Otis represented lightweight back sleepers, and I tested it for average-weight back sleepers. Although the difference in our weight sometimes means that we experience a bed’s pressure relief capability differently, that wasn’t the case for this mattress, as we both gave it 5 out of 5 stars. 

Riley said, “It did an excellent job keeping my hips in line with my shoulders. The foam, including that which is quilted into the cover, did a great job cushioning my hips and shoulders. Plus, this mattress was excellent at filling in the space at my lower back. I think it is a good match for back sleepers.” 

Athletes should also have little cause for concern when it comes to cooling. Before climbing on the bed for 5 minutes, Riley used a thermal gun to record its surface temperature, measuring it at 73.7 degrees. At the end of her test time, she took another reading and saw that it had only increased to 78 degrees, which we consider excellent cooling. Riley said that she thought the gel infusions in the bed’s foam helped keep the temperature neutral. 

Although this mattress hit several home runs throughout testing, I found it wasn’t ideal for side sleepers like me. The coils didn’t lift my hips high enough to keep them in line with my shoulders, causing some pain in my back. Another issue for side sleepers could be edge support. Riley said, “When I was on my side near the edge of the bed, I experienced a lot of sinkage. I didn’t feel stable and thought I could roll right off the edge.” For a bed with excellent edge support, try the Saatva Classic.   

If the DreamCloud sounds like a dream to you, get more information from our full DreamCloud mattress review, or click here for our best deal. For more of our favorites, check out our best hybrid mattresses roundup.

Many of the mattresses I recommend for side sleepers are on the softer side. However, since athletes require a good amount of support to lift their bodies and help them recover, I recommend the balanced feel of the Helix Midnight. This mattress has a universally appealing medium firmness. Plus, it is a hybrid mattress and includes plush memory foam and pocketed coils for pressure relief and support. Not only did this mattress land a 4.3 in side pressure relief, it also had scores of 4 out of 5 or above in back pressure relief, edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness. 

While the Midnight’s pressure relief scores first caught my attention, our testers’ hands-on evaluations sealed the deal for crowning this mattress as the best for side sleepers. Riley Otis, who tested the mattress on behalf of lightweight sleepers, said, “I really loved sleeping on my side on this mattress. I felt the perfect mix of cushioning and support. My hips and shoulders sank in a bit, providing soothing pressure relief, but they didn’t sink in too much, so my spine was still in a straight line.” 

Given that people who weigh under 130 pounds and those who come in at more than 230 can have vastly different experiences on beds, I knew the Midnight was a winner for athletes of all shapes and sizes when our heavyweight tester, Matt Schickling, similarly praised the bed. “This bed is very comfortable when I am on my side,” he said. “I don’t feel any pressure on my hips, which I usually do. My shoulders are supported and contoured.”

Also, if you are primarily a side sleeper but sometimes like to stretch out on your back and stomach, you’ll appreciate that Riley thought moving to her side from either of these positions was a “breeze”. She added, “While there are some layers of plush foam up top, its overall medium-firm feel prevented me from becoming trapped. I felt some slight bounce from the coil layer that helped with mobility.” 

However, this mattress may not be ideal for you if you’re an athlete who shares a bed with a restless partner. Riley recruited another tester to assess the Midnight’s ability to dampen motion. While Riley lay stationary on one side of the bed with a sleep mask covering her eyes, her testing buddy climbed in and out of bed and changed positions. Riley said, “I could feel my partner’s movements. It was pretty disruptive, and it jostled my body when he switched positions. 

When gauging how well the Midnight did at temperature regulation, Riley said that she wouldn’t recommend it to sleepers prone to overheating. She noted that it heated up more than 10 degrees after she lounged on it for five minutes. “The longer I lay there, the more I could feel it heating up below me. The areas where my body came in contact were noticeably warmer than the untouched parts of the bed,” she said. Those who have a hard time cooling down at night should instead try the Leesa Sapira Hybrid Chill.

If you’re a side sleeper looking for support and comfort, find more information by reading our full Helix Midnight mattress review, or click here for our best deal. To see some similar options, check out our roundup of the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Stomach sleepers require a lot more support than any of the other sleeping positions. This often means they have difficulty finding the right mattress, which can be compounded for stomach-sleeping athletes, who need a mattress that relieves pain. The WinkBed is an excellent choice for athletes who sleep on their stomachs because it is offered in four different firmnesses — Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer, and Plus (designed for heavier people) — allowing you to select the one that works best for your body type. 

We tested the Luxury Firm model, which received 4.3 stars or higher in pressure relief, motion isolation, and edge support. Product expert Riley Otis thinks it is perfect for lightweight stomach sleepers; we recommend that average-weight stomach sleepers select either the Luxury Firm or Firm depending on where you fall in the range of 130 pounds to 230 pounds. Those weighing over 230 pounds will likely get the most benefit from the Firm or the Plus. 

When testing this bed on her stomach, Riley said that she felt nice cushioning at her hips and shoulders, but they didn’t sink too far, which kept her spine nicely aligned. Dr. Tedesco echoed Riley sentiments, stating, “Because this has a soft top, my legs are sinking into this mattress, and my ribs feel supported. I like this bed’s materials for supporting a stomach sleeper in the prone position. I don’t feel significant pressure anywhere, and it actually feels really good.” 

My colleague and Olympic weightlifter, Caine Wilkes, who represented heavyweight sleepers, and I, who tested for average weight sleepers, also appreciated the pressure relief provided by the WinkBed’s plushness. Caine said, ”The WinkBed has great cushioning, and I had no areas of pain or pressure when I was testing it.”  

However, the WinkBeds’s lack of responsiveness may not make this a great bed for sexually active folks or those with mobility issues. Riley stated that she felt inhibited by the pillow top and that moving around or switching positions took noticeable effort. Also, if you’re a particularly hot sleeper or an athlete who has a hard time cooling down after a workout, this mattress may not be the best fit, as it heated up almost nine degrees during the five minutes Riley lay on it. 

If you want a bed that has stellar cooling and responsiveness, check out the Silk & Snow Hybrid. To find out more about this mattress, take a look at our full WinkBed mattress review or click here for best deal. For more of our favorites, check out our roundup for the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

As a middle-aged athlete, I know a thing or two about joint pain. When the discomfort in my hip started keeping me up at night, I decided it was time for a new mattress. It didn’t take long for me to settle on the Nolah Evolution. It’s available in three firmnesses — Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm — and I chose the model we tested in the sleep studio – Luxury Firm. After sleeping on this mattress for over a year, I can confirm that it earned its individual scores of 4.3 in pressure relief, 4.5 in cooling, 4.6 in edge support, and a perfect 5 in motion isolation. 

I am a side sleeper, which exacerbated the consistent pain in my hip and the occasional shoulder ache. My old memory foam mattress provided a lot of contouring around these areas, but it lacked support, which led to pressure buildup and spinal misalignment. However, the Evolution has a cushiony pillow top and incredibly supportive coils. So, now I have the best of both worlds, and my joint pain has improved so much.

Also, while I am a mediocre CrossFitter, when you work with Olympian weightlifter Caine Wilkes, it’s always a good idea to ask him to test a mattress you are considering for the best for athletes with joint pain. Caine was also a big fan of this mattress and praised the pressure relief he felt on his side and back. “I gotta admit that I was a little surprised by how much support this mattress gave me, given the softness of the pillowtop,” he said. “I get great contouring in my lower back and no pressure buildup. I loved how evenly supported I felt.”

Although this doesn’t affect joint pain, I would be remiss if I didn’t shout out the Evolution’s motion isolation performance. When my husband goes to sleep, he turns into a 200-pound hummingbird that survives solely on Red Bull. In case you’re wondering, this can wake me up. However, this mattress does such a good job at dampening his wild movements that I sleep through more of his rumbling and tumbling than I don’t. 

It’s evident that I am a fan of this mattress, but I will note that the soft pillow top offers some resistance when you’re changing positions. While this hasn’t caused any major issues for us, it may if your joint pain stems from mobility issues. Also, Nolah’s boxes consistently arrive looking like they fell off the truck and bounced onto your porch. Since this happened with deliveries at my house and the sleep studio, it seems to be a manufacturer issue, rather than a delivery company one. For a mattress that costs as much as this one, I would like for it to arrive in a more secure box. 

If you want a comfortable but more affordable mattress, check out the DreamCloud Hybrid. If you’re ready to evolve, take a look at our full Nolah Evolution mattress review, or click here for our best deal. For more pain-relieving mattresses, check out our roundup for the best mattresses for arthritis.

When it comes to the best mattresses for muscle recovery, it’s hard to beat the Bear. The company specifically markets its products to athletes who need post-workout recovery. The manufacturer’s dedication to muscle recovery includes topping its mattress with a Celliant-infused cover — a material believed to assist with temperature regulation, muscle recovery, and blood flow. The Bear Original put up scores of 4 out of 5 or higher in categories like responsiveness, motion isolation, edge support, and cooling.

My colleague and competitive weightlifter, Kate Meier, has been sleeping on the Bear Original for over three years. She said that she chose it because of how it performs for athletic recovery. “I have shoulder and lower back issues from time to time, and I wanted a mattress that would help my muscles and joints recover,” she said. Kate’s original mattress was a queen size, and when she decided to upgrade to a king, she chose the Bear Original again, so it seems that this bed provided Kate with the muscle recovery she was looking for. 

Although we tested this mattress without the Celliant-infused cover, which potentially adds additional cooling capabilities, we were still impressed with how well it performed in our cooling test. My colleague and certified sleep science coach Riley Otis tested the Bear’s ability to regulate body temperature. She said, “I thought this mattress had a nice cool-to-the-touch feel when I first lay on it, and it remained that way the entire time I was on it, which is impressive for an all-foam bed.” Riley recorded that the Bear went up around 5 degrees over the 5 minutes she lay on it. The thermal gun readings and Riley’s evaluation helped the Bear earn a nearly perfect score.

The Bear mattress is also a good choice for those who share a bed with a restless partner, as its all-foam layers basically eat up movements created by a bedmate. Riley tested this by lying on the mattress while a coworker mimicked a partner getting in and out of bed and changing positions. “I was impressed by the motion isolation on the Bear Original,” Riley said. “I could detect a very slight disturbance on the bed’s sleep surface when my colleague got into the bed and switched positions. However, I didn’t feel movement on my side of the bed — I could just tell someone applied pressure to the other side. I could not detect my colleague getting out of bed, which was very impressive.”

However, for a manufacturer who touts the benefits of its Celliant cover, I wish it were included with all the mattresses rather than being an add-on. Further, we found that the edge support on this bed was a little lacking. Riley said that although she never felt like she was going to slide off, the bed did sink considerably. Since Riley is a lightweight sleeper, we think this might be even more of an issue for those who weigh more than her.

If you would like a Bear bed with better edge support, try the Elite Hybrid. However, if you’re ready to hibernate on the Original, take a look at our full Bear mattress review for more information, or click here for our best deal. 

Back pain is a common problem for many sleepers — and even more so if you’re an athlete. If your back is sore from lifting weights, tackling a rival team, or hitting home runs, allow us to direct you to the Saatva. This mattress is as versatile as it is luxurious, earning a 4 in back pressure relief and cooling, a 4.8 in edge support, and a perfect 5 in responsiveness.

In addition to its stellar performance scores, the Saatva is also Dr. Tedesco-approved for back pain. After testing it, he said, “Pressure on the Saatva is very evenly distributed when I am on my back. My spine is in a neutral position and very supported. This is a great bed for people with back pain, no matter their sleeping position.”

My colleague and certified sleep science coach Melanie Kassel decided on this mattress, in part, because of its excellent pressure relief. After sleeping on it for over a year, she knows that she made the right call when she bought the Saatva. “I feel much more buoyed by the springs while getting some nice pressure relief from the initial foam layers,” she said. “It’s just the right mix of upper softness with a sturdy core. I always look forward to coming home to my Saatva after traveling!”

Much of the top-notch pressure relief comes from the hybrid construction that combines coils and foams. The memory foam topper is meant specifically for your lumbar region, which helps the Saatva create a targeted pain relief for the back. At the same time, the pocketed coil base layer ensures that sleepers are supported throughout the night, especially when keeping the spine in a neutral alignment.

As well-rounded and liked as the Saatva is, it falls almost comically short when it comes to motion isolation. When my coworkers Kenny Timper and Livvi DiCiccio performed the motion isolation partner test, Kenny said, “I can feel every little thing Livvi did and could tell exactly what she was doing despite being blindfolded, definitely not amazing for motion isolation at all.”

For a bed that will keep you from feeling all of your partner’s movements, try the Nectar Premier. For more information, read our full Saatva mattress review, or click here for our best deal. For more of our favorites, check out our roundup of the best mattresses for back pain.

If you’re a weightlifter, you can often benefit from a firm mattress, as a firmer bed tends to do a better job of supporting thicker musculature. The Titan Plus by Brooklyn Bedding was designed to be durable and supportive. Although it was designed with plus-sized sleepers in mind, we found that it works for other weight groups, as well. 

Additionally, this bed was a testing all-star, racking up a 4 in back pressure relief, a 4.5 in cooling, a 4.6 in edge support, and flawless 5s in motion isolation and responsiveness.

Although this mattress is slightly firmer than what I would choose in a mattress, as a part-time weightlifter, I appreciated the support it gave me. I was particularly fond of it on my stomach because it kept my hips elevated, preventing the pinching I often feel in my lower back when I am in this position. If I had this mattress, I would be more prone to sleep prone.  

On the flip side, Dr. Tedesco said that he was more comfortable on Titan Plus when he was on his side, noting that he didn’t experience any pressure buildup in this position. “I feel like my spine is pretty aligned on my side,” he said. “I was looking for pressure buildup in my shoulder but haven’t felt much. My shoulder, ribs, pelvis, knee, and ankle feel like they all take the same amount of pressure.”

Weightlifters should also appreciate how easy it is to move their frames on this bed. When I tested its responsiveness, I was impressed with how easy it was to move from one position to another, as the buoyant nature of the Titan Plus provided little to no resistance.

As well-rounded as this bed is, we don’t recommend it for side sleepers under 130 pounds. This isn’t particularly shocking considering its firmness and that it is marketed to those over 230 pounds. However, the Titan’s lightweight tester, Asha Birjah, said, “I feel a ton of pressure and strain on my neck and shoulders on this bed.”

Lightweight side sleepers should look at the Helix Sunset. For more information on this mattress, check out our full Titan Plus review.