If you’ve wound up here, chances are you’re trying to decide between buying a Nectar or DreamCloud mattress. And I get it — these are two of the most popular beds on the market, known for being irresistibly plush and pressure-relieving. But which one is the best and, more importantly, best for you?
To find out, take a peek at my full Nectar vs. DreamCloud comparison below! I dive deep to reveal each bed’s strengths (and glaring weaknesses) so you can make the purchasing decision that’s going to be 100% right for you.
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Mattress Similarities
Though we’ll spend most of our time in this comparison going over the differences between the two beds, I think we should start with their similarities. Sure, these mattresses aren’t really anything alike, but they do share some important characteristics.
- Pressure Relief – Both mattresses are built with pressure relief in mind. This means they’re engineered to alleviate tension at sensitive spots along the body, though, as we’ll see, they do it in very different ways.
- True to Form – I’d also argue that the Nectar and DreamCloud really embody the designs they’re going after. Uh… what? I’m basically just saying the Nectar is a textbook example of a memory foam mattress, as the DreamCloud is one for a hybrid.
What are These Beds Made of?
Now that we’ve gotten the similarities out of the way, let’s get into the good stuff aka what sets these mattresses apart. To answer that, I’m going to begin by dissecting each bed’s respective construction layer-by-layer so you can see for yourself how their designs differ. However, I do encourage you to check out my full Nectar and DreamCloud reviews for an even clearer picture.
Nectar
Cover – The cover is comprised of both cotton and Tencel, an eco-friendly material known for its softness and breathability. There’s also an inch of gel memory foam quilted into the cover, which provides some immediate comfort.
Comfort – Directly below the cover, you’ll find 3” of memory foam. This material has an incredibly slow response to pressure, allowing for deep sinkage and body-contouring. As the foam conforms to the curves of your body, you’re likely to feel more “in” the bed than “on top” of it, which could be nice for strict side sleepers.
Transition – Up next you’ll encounter a transitional layer of memory foam, which has a slightly
quicker response to pressure than the one above it. This section is meant to ease the sleeper into the firmer base below and help extend the contouring further into the mattress.
Foundation – Rounding out the construction we’ve got 6” of high-density poly foam. This section gives the bed its stability and shape, providing a firm foundation upon which the softer foams can react.
Thoughts: That’s a whole lot of memory foam, meaning most folks are going to sink deeply into the Nectar for some intense pressure relief.
DreamCloud
Cover – Made of a cashmere and polyester blend, the cover is luxuriously soft. It’s also quilted with memory foam, which provides the sleeper with some instant pressure relief.
Foam – Below the cover, you’ll find three thin layers of foam. While these sections are soft to the touch and provide some satisfying sinkage, they also have a pretty quick response to pressure, so you’re not likely to feel too stuck in the bed. The middle of these three layers is particularly important for the temperature regulation as it’s comprised of perforated latex foam. Latex in general is great at dissipating heat, so the addition of these small ventilations encourages even more breathability and cooling.
Pocketed Coils – The bottom layer of foam transitions into the firm pocketed coil support system. These individually wrapped springs give the bed some excellent bounce, and help to disperse motion throughout the structure. The coils also aid in regulating temperature as the spaces between them allow for steady air flow.
Foundation – A thin layer of high-density polyfoam lies at the base of the mattress, functioning to cradle the pocketed coils and provide a sound foundation for the structure.
Thoughts: Several layers of both gentle foam and firm coils make for a balanced construction that could be great for combo sleepers.
Nectar vs. DreamCloud
Spot any differences? No? Well then let me help you, because I noticed quite a few. Though both beds were designed with pressure relief in mind, they achieve this aim in intriguingly divergent ways.
First and foremost, let’s talk numbers, baby! The DreamCloud has more layers than the Nectar does, which results in it having a more “balanced” feel. When I say balanced, I really just mean that no one material is dominating the mattress — not the sink of memory foam nor the bounce of latex. All the different foams (and coils) work in tandem to create a structure that strikes a real sweet spot between give and buoyant lift.
The Nectar, on the other hand, is a little more “one note,” thanks to its heavy use of memory foam, which makes up a whopping five inches of the construction. This translates to a bed that really embodies the material itself, intense sinkage and all. This may not be a great fit for some sleepers (namely those who doze primarily on their backs or stomachs), but could be a real winner for side sleepers.
Other important differences include the inclusion of pocketed coils in the DreamCloud (which makes it far bouncier than the Nectar) and the absence of any targeted cooling properties in the Nectar (which make it a little hotter than the DreamCloud).
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How do These Beds Feel?
After assessing each bed’s material make-up, it’s time to get into how these bad boys feel. To start, let’s take a moment to chat firmness.
Since every sleeper is going to experience firmness a little differently (depending on body shape, size, and weight), I always like to invite a few of my coworkers to test out the bed along with me. Once we’ve each given it a look, we share our personal firmness ratings with one another, and then average them out together for the scores you see below.
Nectar
There was some variation in our responses, but we did end up landing on an average firmness rating of 6.5, which syncs up perfectly with the industry standard for medium firmness.
Personally, I gave the bed a 6, as I found its thick layers of memory foam produced a gentle, pressure-relieving vibe. No matter the position I stretched out in, I could feel myself sinking deeply into the structure, with the memory foam contouring snuggly to my curves. While this vibe translated to a softer rating from me, some folks may find memory foam has a firmer feel as it gradually hugs the body.
Though this deep sinkage and body-contouring could work wonders for alleviating tension at the shoulders, hips, and lumbar region (making it a great fit for side sleepers), it does mean you’re likely to feel more “in” the mattress than “on top” of it. This stuck-in-the-bed vibe could be particularly ill-suited for combo sleepers who need to move around and change positions in the night.
DreamCloud
My testers and I all landed within the 6-7 range, winding up with an average firmness rating of 6.5, which lines it up perfectly not only with the industry standard for medium firmness, but also our score for the Nectar.
However, I really think this bed is more of a 7, as its pocketed coil system does quite a lot to lift the sleeper up and out of the structure. While you’ll likely feel some slight sinkage into the plush cover and top foam layers, the individually wrapped coils make up a huge portion of the bed and create more of an “on top” of the mattress vibe.
This could be a solid fit for a wide range of sleepers, though I think it would probably be best suited for combo sleepers who need to change positions easily. The mobility on the DreamCloud is really fantastic, and is especially effective because it doesn’t dampen the bed’s ability to relieve pressure across the body (as other hybrid mattresses on the market tend to do).
Which Bed is Right for You?
Well, my friends, we’ve arrived at the end of our journey! After taking a look at these bed’s designs, and assessing their unique feels, it’s time to wrap up this comparison with some final observations.
Though I can’t make your purchasing decision for you (sorry!), these points should help clarify what I believe to be the most important distinctions between these beds.
To Foam or Not to Foam
Perhaps the most noticeable difference is how these mattresses handle foam. In the DreamCloud, we see a thin cross-section of different foam materials over a tall pocketed coil system. This produces a slight, gentle give, but any contouring you might otherwise experience with the foams is quickly mitigated by the wrapped coils for more of an “on top” of the bed feel.
The Nectar, on the other hand, utilizes a ton of memory foam, which means sinkage reigns supreme. You’ll definitely get more of a “hug” feel from this mattress, as the five inches of memory foam up top contour to the curves of your body.
Verdict: If you want deep sinkage, go with the Nectar. If you’re after more of a supportive lift, with enough bounce to move around, opt for the DreamCloud.
Keep it Cool
The DreamCloud’s hybrid construction also lends itself quite nicely to temperature regulation. Not only is there naturally cooling latex in the top section of the mattress, but the individually wrapped coils in the core provide a lot of great space for air to flow throughout the structure. If you sleep hot, I think the DreamCloud could make an excellent choice for you.
Though there are some cooling properties at work in the Nectar (like the gel memory foam quilted into the cover), the massive amount of memory foam is going to make for a slightly warmer bed in general. Memory foam has a bit of a reputation for absorbing and trapping body heat, so may not be the best fit for some sleepers.
Verdict: Wanna keep it cool? Snag the DreamCloud. Don’t mind the heat? Stick with the Nectar.
Nectar vs. Dreamcloud Pricing
And finally, let’s talk price. Between the two mattresses, the Nectar is much less expensive than the DreamCloud, by about $500 for each respective size. To see the full price breakdown, check out the table below:
| Size | Nectar | DreamCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $399 | $599 |
| Twin XL | $469 | $799 |
| Full | $599 | $999 |
| Queen | $699 | $1,199 |
| King | $899 | $1,299 |
| California King | $899 | $1,299 |
Comparison Summary
To close things out, I’m going to provide a quick recap of all my favorite features each bed has to offer.
Nectar
- With its thick top section of pressure-relieving memory foam, the Nectar could be an excellent choice for side sleepers.
- In general, I’d recommend this mattress to any and all memory foam fans as it perfectly embodies the aspects of the material.
DreamCloud
- A mixed construction of pocketed coils and foams makes the DreamCloud a wonderful firm option for those in need of support.
- Though this firmness could work for a lot of folks, I think it could be particularly well-suited for couples who need to share the bed.
Well folks, that’s it! Still don’t feel like you know which bed you should go with? Feel free to leave a comment on the YouTube video above for a personal recommendation!
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