Nectar Sleep and Tempur-Pedic are two popular companies known for their foam mattresses. In this review, I’ll be comparing the original Nectar mattress and the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress. Although these mattresses both feature thick layers of pressure-relieving foam, they have quite a few differences and may appeal to different types of sleepers.
So how do you know which memory foam mattress is the one of your dreams? I’ll cover their construction, how it feels to sleep on them, and perform a variety of tests to assess key qualities such as cooling, motion isolation, pressure relief, and more.
Read on for our full comparison or skip down to my review summary if you’re in a hurry.
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt
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| Nectar Mattress | TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress | |
| Rating | ||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 |
| Material | Foam | Foam |
| Cooling | — | |
| Best For |
Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Couples
|
Back Sleepers,
Hot Sleepers, Seniors |
Before we jump into the nitty gritty of these mattresses, here’s a brief overview of the strong points of the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt, as well as which type of sleepers are best suited for them.
| Nectar is best for… | TEMPUR-Adapt is best for… |
| People with sensitive joints | Couples |
| Back and side sleepers | Hot sleepers |
| Budget shoppers | Back sleepers |
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt: Comparison Video
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt: Top Similarities
- Construction: The Nectar and Tempur-Adapt are both billed as their brand’s classic models and are all-foam mattresses
- Pressure relief: These mattresses both offer excellent sinkage and contouring, leading to some awesome pressure relief.
- Motion isolation: Both mattresses feature low motion transfer, so you’re unlikely to be disturbed by any movement when sharing the bed, which makes both mattresses the best for couples.
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt: Top Differences
- Delivery: The Nectar is a bed-in-a-box mattress that ships for free and requires a few days to decompress and completely take its shape. The TEMPUR-Adapt also ships for free but comes with free white glove delivery. Rather than compressed in a box, workers will come to your home and set up the mattress for you.
- Feeling: While these are both all-foam mattresses, the Nectar has softer and faster-moving foam, while the TEMPUR-Adapt has classic slow, quicksand-like foam.
- Price: The Nectar is quite a bit cheaper than the TEMPUR-Adapt and is considered a true budget-friendly option.
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt: Construction & Feel Differences
Now that you know the basics, let’s dive into these mattresses’ feel and construction. Before we start, it’s important to note that all of these factors are inherently subjective, and they can change a lot depending on one’s body size, shape, and weight.
What’s the Firmness Difference?
Firmness can be a difficult concept to pinpoint because it really depends on the sleeper. What feels firm to a lightweight sleeper may feel a lot softer to a heavier sleeper. That’s why we always have multiple Certified Sleep Science Coaches lay on the mattress and give it a firmness score. We then calculate the average of these scores for our final rating. We rate firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Our industry standard for a medium-firm mattress is a 6.5 out of 10.
We rated the Nectar a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, so it’s just a touch softer than a standard medium-firm mattress. The top layers of foam provide some initial softness and allow you to sink in a bit, which is great for side sleepers or anyone with joint pain.
The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Adapt scored a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, meaning it’s a true medium-firm mattress. The foams in this mattress are slower moving, so it can feel softer the longer you lay on it.
What Does Each Mattress Feel Like?
You’ve seen how we rated these mattresses in terms of firmness; the Nectar scored a 6 out of 10 and the TEMPUR-Adapt scored a 6.5 out of 10. But how do these numbers correlate to how the mattresses actually feel?
The all-foam construction of the Nectar mattress is meant to offer sinkage and pressure relief. When I first laid down on the Nectar, I thought it was a bit firmer than a 6 out of 10. However, the foam in this mattress moved pretty fast, and I quickly sunk in and experienced the promised pressure relief. How long it takes for the foam to contour to your body will depend on your body type. Some sleepers may sink in right away, while others may take a bit longer to do so. Nevertheless, the mattress feels quite plush and comforting, and it’s definitely a good pick for those who enjoy a softer mattress. The Nectar’s feel could be ideal for people struggling with joint pain, especially shoulder pain, as the soft foams really cradle sensitive pressure points.
The foams in the TEMPUR-Adapt are more slow-moving and feel a bit like quicksand. I sunk into the foam layers, but the process was very gradual as the foam adapted to my weight and the curves of my body. Because the foam is slow-moving, it can feel softer the longer you lay on it. This mattress feels truly medium-firm; although I experienced sinkage and contouring, I also felt supported thanks to the bottom layers of high-density foam. I also want to note that the TEMPUR-Adapt’s cover feels cool to the touch.
How Does The Construction Differ?
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt Per Body Type
Every mattress will feel different to sleepers depending on their individual preferences and attributes, like body weight and sleeping position. Below, we’ll take a look at how the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt mattresses perform for a variety of sleepers.
Nectar Body Weight Scale
| Body Weight | Side | Back | Stomach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (under 130lbs) |
unpleasant | good | good |
| Average (130-250lbs) |
excellent | excellent | unpleasant |
| Heavy (over 250lbs) |
unpleasant | unpleasant | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Light (under 130lbs) | |
|---|---|
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | good |
| Stomach Sleeper | good |
| Body Weight: Average (130-150lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | excellent |
| Back Sleeper | excellent |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Heavy (over 250lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
TEMPUR-Adapt Body Weight Scale
| Body Weight | Side | Back | Stomach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light (under 130lbs) |
unpleasant | good | unpleasant |
| Average (130-250lbs) |
excellent | excellent | unpleasant |
| Heavy (over 250lbs) |
unpleasant | unpleasant | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Light (under 130lbs) | |
|---|---|
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | good |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Average (130-150lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | excellent |
| Back Sleeper | excellent |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Body Weight: Heavy (over 250lbs) | |
| Side Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Back Sleeper | unpleasant |
| Stomach Sleeper | unpleasant |
Nectar vs Tempur-Adapt Comparing Mattress Performance
Here at Sleepopolis, our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches put every mattress we review through a series of tests. These tests help give us an objective view of who these mattresses could be good for, as well as what it’s like to sleep on them every night. Below, I’ll discuss how the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt performed on tests like cooling, motion transfer, edge support, and more.
Temperature
All-foam mattresses tend to have a reputation for trapping heat, so I was skeptical when testing these mattresses for cooling. However, I was really satisfied with the Nectar’s cooling abilities. The Nectar’s comfort layer is made of cooling gel-foam, which does a lot to keep the mattress from overheating.
Similar to the Nectar, I had low expectations for the TEMPUR-Adapt’s cooling abilities. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how cool this mattress slept. One of the first things I noticed was the mattress cover – it’s cool to the touch, heat-wicking, and super breathable. I found the TEMPUR-Adapt to be even more cooling than the Nectar.
Motion Isolation
If you share the bed with a partner, pet, or child, you may experience sleep disturbance from their movement at night. Whether it’s regular tossing and turning or getting in and out of bed, their movement can travel to your side of the bed and wake you up. A bed with low motion transfer is able to isolate motion and prevent you from feeling it on your side. We determine motion isolation using a seismometer test, which involves dropping a 10-pound steel ball onto the mattress from gradually increasing heights. The seismometer measures the disturbance and displays the results on a graph.
Looking at the seismometer test results, I think the Nectar does a great job at isolating motion. There’s a bit of a spike from the highest drop, but this level represents jumping on the bed. You might feel particularly large movements like this one from your partner, but I don’t foresee normal tossing and turning being an issue with this mattress (unless you’re a particularly light sleeper).
As you can see on the graph, the motion isolation on the TEMPUR-Adapt is excellent. These lines are quite small, which indicates that you’re unlikely to feel any motion from the other side of the bed. Even larger movements, like getting in and out of bed, shouldn’t be an issue with the TEMPUR-Adapt.
Edge Support
Edge support is an important factor to consider when purchasing a mattress because it can directly correlate to durability and help predict if it’s prone to premature sagging. A mattress with strong edges will be just as sturdy along the perimeter as it is in the center, which can allow you to use the full surface of the mattress. This is great for couples because it helps the mattress feel bigger.
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the Nectar’s edge support. I felt like I was slipping off the bed when sleeping near the perimeter, and I instantly sank pretty far down when I sat directly on the edge. I was curious just how far I was really sinking, so I grabbed a yard stick and took a measurement. I found that the edges had sunk a full 8 inches under my weight, which is disappointing considering the mattress has a 12-inch profile.
The TEMPUR-Adapt has better edge support than the Nectar. All-foam beds tend to have poor edge support because there are no steel coils to add extra support. However, I thought the TEMPUR-Adapt had decent edge support, and I didn’t feel at risk of falling off the bed when laying on the edges. I felt a bit of sinkage when sitting on the edge, but it was nothing too concerning.
Pressure Relief
At Sleepopolis, we test how well a mattress relieves pressure by rolling a specialized mat onto its surface and laying on it in different sleeping positions. This mat can sense pressure and translate the results into an easy-to-read graphic via thermal imaging. The map displays areas with high pressure buildup in reds and yellows and areas with low pressure buildup in blues and greens.
When taking a peek at the Nectar’s pressure map, we can see a lot of blue and green, which indicates great pressure relief. This bed provides a lot of sinkage, so it’s able to cradle pressure points and provide relief at the shoulders, back, and hips.
The TEMPUR-Adapt also performed well on this test, especially in the back and shoulder region shown in mostly blue and green. There’s a bit of pressure beginning to build at the hips when side sleeping, but this mattress overall does a really nice job at cradling pressure points and providing relief.
Pain Relief
How well a mattress can relieve pressure can correlate to how well it can relieve pain. When there’s high pressure buildup in a certain area, pain in that area can occur over time. Likewise, low pressure buildup in specific areas means the mattress cradles those joints and combats pain.
Based on the pressure map, I think the Nectar is a solid choice for sleepers with back pain, especially back sleepers. Sleepers with shoulder pain should also find a lot of cushioning support with this mattress. The Nectar can also help with hip pain, but those with severe hip problems may want a slightly softer mattress for extra sinkage. I think the Nectar is an overall good choice for sleepers needing pain relief in any of these areas.
The TEMPUR-Adapt could be a nice pick for back and side sleepers with back or shoulder pain. There’s a bit of pressure beginning to build at the hips, so sleepers with preexisting hip pain may want a softer mattress for even more pressure relief. But overall, I’m happy with these results.
Durability
When we assess durability, we take a peek at the mattress’s construction and examine the quality of the materials. I’ll note that the foams in the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt are CertiPUR-US Certified, which adds credit to their durability. Both mattresses include high-density support foam, which provides a solid and durable foundation.
We also take edge support into consideration, as this can indicate whether the mattress is prone to sagging. In this area, the TEMPUR-Adapt beats the Nectar. The Nectar lacks edge support, which indicates that it may sag over time.
Finally, the company policies can speak to the mattresses’ durability. This is a less important factor to consider when assessing durability, but it’s still worth noting. The Nectar comes with a lifetime warranty, which shows the brand’s confidence in the bed’s ability to withstand the test of time.
Company Policies
Nectar Policies
- Trial period – 365-night sleep trial
- Shipping – Free shipping
- Mattress Warranty – Lifetime warranty
Tempur-Adapt Policies
- Trial period – 90-night sleep trial
- Shipping – Free white glove delivery
- Mattress Warranty – 10-year warranty
Nectar Customer Service Rating
Stellar: I gave Nectar this rating because their chat function was easy to use and quickly connected me with a representative. The Nectar representative was eager to answer every question I threw at them, and they were patient and friendly. This particular agent even offered to jump on a phone call to help me place an order. I felt valued as a customer, especially since the representative took their time with me and did not disconnect until they confirmed that all my questions were answered.
Tempur-Pedic Customer Service Rating
Great: I was impressed with Tempur-Pedic’s customer service. The online chat feature does start out with automatic responses, but they’re quite detailed and capable of answering frequently asked questions. You can also easily switch the chat to a live agent if you require further information. They also have customer support and sleep experts available by phone, which is a plus.
Comparing Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt Price
Price point can be a super important component when deciding on a new mattress. Take a look at the table below to compare costs. And be sure to use our Nectar coupon codes and our Tempur-Pedic coupon codes to save some extra money.
Prices listed are before discount or offer on each bed.
| Size | Nectar | TEMPUR-Adapt |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $599 | $1,949 |
| Twin XL | $769 | $1,949 |
| Full | $899 | $2,299 |
| Queen | $999 | $2,449 |
| King | $1,299 | $3,149 |
| California King | $1,299 | $3,149 |
| Split King | $1,338 | $3,898 |
Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt
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Nectar vs TEMPUR-Adapt Frequently Asked Questions
How do the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt ship?
Both mattresses ship for free, but Tempur-Pedic offers additional free white glove delivery.
What are the return policies for the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt mattresses?
Nectar will allow you to request a return no earlier than 30 days after delivery and no later than 365 days after delivery. Tempur-Pedic allows returns after 30 days, but will not accept returns after the 90-night sleep trial ends.
Are the Nectar and TEMPUR-Adapt mattresses good for hot sleepers?
Both mattresses sleep relatively cool, but the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress sleeps slightly cooler. For more cooling mattresses, check out our best mattress for hot sleepers roundup.
What is a sleep trial?
A sleep trial is the number of days a company allows you to try out a mattress before returning it. In this case, Nectar allows customers to sleep on their mattresses for up to 365 nights before becoming ineligible for returns. Tempur-Pedic has a shorter sleep trial of 90 nights.
Our Final Take
Before we finish up the review, I’d like to highlight what I like most about the Nectar, and point out some of my complaints.
As we wrap up this review, I’d like to highlight what I like most about the Nectar, and point out some of my complaints.
Our Review Process
Our Sleepopolis reviewers personally test each mattress. We start by unboxing the mattress to figure out how difficult (or easy) it is to get the mattress from the box to the bed. Then, we spend time laying on the bed in different positions, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. Next, we perform our Sleepopolis tests, using specialized tools to measure qualities like motion transfer, bounce, and pressure relief. Our last step is to open up the mattress and take a look at each layer. These steps allow us to give our final verdict on the mattress. Jump back to our mattress picks.
