If you’ve been having trouble finding the exact level of firmness you need in a bed, you might like the Saatva Solaire. This high-tech air bed allows you to choose your preferred firmness level. Better yet, each side of the bed is adjustable, making the Solaire a great option for couples who have different sleep preferences.
So, what exactly does an air bed feel like, and will it provide pressure relief, motion isolation, and comfort? I ran a series of tests to answer those questions for you.
Keep reading for my entire, in-depth Saatva Solaire review! If you’re short on time, head over to my handy summary.
The Saatva Solaire uses air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness level of your bed for precision comfort.
Is the Saatva Solaire a Good Mattress for You?
Saatva is an online mattress company that aims to create durable luxury mattresses. The brand offers several great models that I’ll discuss in more detail below. But for now, let’s dig into the Saatva Solaire. This adjustable air bed is Saatva’s take on the Sleep Number mattress, and could work well for several different people. Take a look below to see who I’d recommend it for.
Who I recommend the Saatva Solaire for
- The Solaire offers personalized support, and can be set to 50 different firmness levels. So, it should feel comfortable in almost any sleeping position.
- If you buy a queen size or larger, you can set each side of the Solaire to a different firmness level. This is a huge advantage for couples with different sleeping preferences.
- The Solaire sleeps cool thanks to a breathable latex foam layer (and plenty of airflow).
Who I don’t recommend the Saatva Solaire for
- Sleepers looking for a traditional mattress might not like the Solaire. This high-tech bed does take a little getting used to. I might steer these folks to our best mattress for seniors roundup, which features a lot of traditional-feeling mattresses.
- Budget shoppers might want to choose a different mattress. The Solaire is on the pricier side because it features adjustable bed technology. One of our best mattresses for the money could be a better fit.
What Does the Saatva Solaire Mattress Feel Like?
Testing out the firmness level of the Solaire is a bit different from testing out the firmness of a different bed. The Solaire’s remote-controlled air chamber can be adjusted to the comfort level that best suits your needs. You can choose a setting from 1-50, with 1 being the softest and 50 being the firmest.
I tested out all 50 settings on the Solaire and found the firmness to fall anywhere between the 4-8 range, with 4 being a super soft feel and 8 being pretty darn firm.
That means almost any sleeper should be able to find a firmness setting that feels comfortable to them! I’d recommend strict side sleepers select a setting in the 20s to get deep pressure relief and sinkage around the shoulders and hips. Stomach sleepers will likely prefer a setting in the 40-50 range that helps them keep their hips positioned on top of the mattress. This firm support should keep their spines neutrally aligned and help them prevent back pain. Back sleepers will likely prefer a medium firmness level, which should be around 30-35.
To adjust the firmness level, simply use the up and down arrows on the remote that comes with the Solaire. It might take a few nights to get the firmness level just right. Be patient and play around with it until you find the perfect amount of inflation in the air chamber.
The Saatva Solaire uses air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness level of your bed for precision comfort.
Testing the Saatva Solaire Mattress
I also ran the Solaire through a few tests to give you an idea of the pressure relief, motion transfer, and edge support capabilities this mattress offers.
Pressure Relief
Regardless of the firmness setting, I thought the Solaire provided satisfying pressure relief as I didn’t really experience any points of tension at my low back, shoulders, or hips. To verify this, I decided to run an actual pressure test using a pressure map.
I placed a pressure map down on the bed and it recorded how my body interacted with the mattress in real time. Blue and green areas indicate low pressure and yellow and red areas indicate high pressure. I ran this test twice, once with the firmness level set at 20 (medium soft) and once with it set at 40 (firm).Pressure map for the Saatva Solaire set at 40/50
Back — My weight was evenly distributed when the Solaire was at both the 20 and 40 settings. Regardless of firmness level, back sleepers shouldn’t have an issue with pressure points forming across the body on this mattress.
Side — I was pretty impressed with these pressure relief results, even when I rolled over to my side on the firm setting. The foam in the cover and comfort layer definitely helped cradle my body in both settings, but I did prefer the feel of the level 20 setting when I was on my side.
Stomach — You’ll see blue across the board on the pressure map reading above, which shows level 40. I felt really comfortable on my stomach at this firmness setting. However, I did feel my hips sink into the mattress when it was set to level 20. So I’d advise stomach sleepers to stick to a firmer setting that supports their hips and lower back.
Motion Transfer
Next up is a motion transfer test, which will uncover the amount of movement you’ll likely detect from one side of the bed to the other. If you sleep with a partner who loves to move around a lot at night, you’ll definitely want a mattress that absorbs and dampens motion.
To illustrate this motion transfer, I dropped a 10 lb. steel ball from heights of 4 inches, 8 inches and 12 inches and measured the disturbance it caused: the bigger the lines, the bigger the disturbance.
I was really impressed with the Solaire’s ability to isolate motion from one side of the bed to the other. Based on these test results, you shouldn’t feel a ton of movement on either side of the bed, even if each side is set to a different firmness level.
I also think the Solaire is one of the best mattresses for couples who have different sleep preferences. Since you can adjust each side of the bed to a different firmness level, partners with very different body weights or firmness preferences should be able to share this bed more comfortably than a non-adjustable mattress.
Edge Support
Edge support is a measure of whether or not you’ll be able to sleep all the way on the edge of the bed without feeling like its sides might collapse under your weight. I tested out the edges of the Solaire, and was pretty happy with what I found.
The Solaire’s air chambers are surrounded by a poly foam layer that increases the edge support on this bed. Overall, I’d say the Solaire has much better edge support than the average air mattress, and better edge support than many foam mattresses on the market. So if you like sitting or lying on the edge of your bed, you’ll probably like the Solaire.
What is the Saatva Solaire Mattress Made Of?
The Saatva Solaire is an air bed, but it’s not like any air mattress you might have slept on while glamping. Above and below the air chambers are various layers of memory foam, latex, and poly foam that promote pressure relief, comfort, and support.
Let’s dive into bed to see what this looks like:
Cover — The Solaire’s organic cotton cover is quilted with some memory foam to offer initial pressure relief.
Comfort Layer — Below the cover, you’ll find a plush top layer of gel memory foam, which has a slow response to pressure and offers body-contouring and sinkage. This foam is also CertiPUR-US® Certified, which means it’s free of harmful chemicals and heavy metals.
Transition Layer — A five-zone layer of talalay latex foam offers some bounce and support to the mattress. Below the latex is a thin moisture barrier that will prevent any condensation.
Support Layer — Up next are the Solaire’s vulcanized air chambers! These chambers are surrounded by a power edge enclosure to prevent any sagging. The air chambers are adjustable and controlled via remote. Sizes queen and up feature two air chambers, so you can set each side of the bed to a different firmness level. The air chambers feature a multi-directional box baffle design which prevents deflating overnight.
Base Layer — All of the layers above are supported by a section of high-density poly foam, which provides a strong foundation.
My Final Thoughts about the Saatva Solaire Mattress
So, should you buy the Saatva Solaire? I wish I could answer for each and every one of you, but that would be impossible. What I can do is leave you with some final pros and cons to help you come to an educated decision on your own.
The Saatva Solaire uses air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness level of your bed for precision comfort.
My favorite things about the Saatva Solaire mattress
My favorite thing about the Solaire is how customizable it is. Almost any sleeper should be able to find a firmness setting that works for them. And couples might especially appreciate the Solaire’s customizability, breathability, and low motion transfer.
Another nice perk for couples interested in using an adjustable base is that the Saatva offers the Solaire in a standard model and an upper-flex model. The upper-flex model is split down the middle so that one side can be in a down position and the other can be in an upright position. Which means one partner can sleep lying down and the other can sleep sitting up! This model was designed to work with Saatva’s Lineal adjustable bed, which I’d recommend checking out if you’re interested in this feature.
My Saatva Solaire mattress complaints
This Saatva is pretty high-tech, so it may require a little trouble-shooting. My main complaint was that the remote control sticks a little when you change the firmness setting.
I also want to note that because the Solaire is an air bed it may deflate a little overnight. If this does happen to you you can click the “memory button” on the remote to re-inflate it to your preferred firmness level. But if you’re particularly concerned about troubleshooting, I’d recommend looking into a non-adjustable bed. One of our best hybrid mattresses might do the trick.
How Much Does the Saatva Solaire Cost?
Full pricing for the Saatva Solaire is below and you can use our Saatva mattress coupons to save on your purchase!
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin XL | 38" x 80" | $2,147 |
| Full | 54" x 75" | $2,895 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | $3,045 |
| King | 76" x 80" | $3,595 |
| California King | 72" x 84" | $3,595 |
| Split King | 38" x 80" (x2) | $4,294 |
The Saatva Solaire uses air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness level of your bed for precision comfort.
Saatva Solaire Mattress Policies and FAQs
How do the air chambers in the Saatva Solaire mattress work?
In sizes queen and up, the Saatva Solaire features two connected air chambers, allowing different sides of the bed to have different firmnesses. The air chamber itself has multi-directional box baffle design which helps maintain air pressure from edge to edge and top to bottom for even support.
Does the Saatva Solaire come with a sleep trial?
Yes, the Saatva Solaire mattress offers a 180-night sleep trial.
Does Saatva offer a mattress warranty?
Yes, the Solaire comes with a 25-year warranty.
How does the Saatva Solaire ship?
Saatva offers free white glove delivery. That means Saatva will deliver and set up your new Solaire in the room of your choice for free. The team also offers old mattress removal.
Do you need to use a box spring with the Saatva Solaire?
No, you won’t need a box spring with this bed. Any hard flat surface will work to support it. It’s also compatible with adjustable bases. You can take a look at Saatva’s Lineal adjustable bed if you’re interested in an adjustable base.
Saatva Solaire Mattress Vs
Now that we have a better idea of what the Saatva Solaire mattress feels like, I was curious to compare the bed to its main competitor: Sleep Number. Both companies feature air chambers for adjustable firmness levels. Still, there are a few key differences:
Saatva Solaire Mattress vs Sleep Number 360 i10 Mattress
- Sleep Number is probably the biggest name in the adjustable air bed space, and the i10 shares a similar construction with the Solaire.
- Sleep Number mattresses come with a Sleep IQ app, which collects sleep quality and quantity data for sleepers.
- The Sleep Number is the softest sleep number mattress available thanks to an extra-thick layer of memory foam.
- Check out the Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Bed review for more info on this mattress.
Saatva Solaire Mattress vs Sleep Number 360 i8 Mattress
- Like the i10, the Sleep Number i8 is more expensive than the Solaire. But, the i8 is significantly less expensive than the i10.
- The i8 sleeps nice and cool, which is a nice perk for hot sleepers.
- Like the i10 and Solaire, the i8 is an adjustable air bed that offers many different firmness options.
- For more on this Sleep Number mattress read the full Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed review.
The Saatva Solaire uses air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness level of your bed for precision comfort.
Other Models from Saatva
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, Saatva sells a few other mattresses. Below, I’ll compare the Solaire to three of Saatva’s popular models below.
Saatva Solaire Mattress vs Loom & Leaf Mattress
- The Loom & Leaf is a memory foam mattress that emphasizes pressure relief, contouring, and support.
- While you won’t be able to adjust the firmness level with a click of a button, you can choose between two different firmness levels when you purchase a Loom & Leaf.
- The Loom & Leaf uses a special gel memory foam, which usually does a better job at keeping cool than normal memory foam does.
- Read more in the full Loom & Leaf mattress review!
Saatva Solaire Mattress vs Zenhaven mattress
- Instead of latex and memory foam layers, the Zenhaven just uses a latex layer, which is known for being bouncy and breathable.
- The Zenhaven is a great option for eco-friendly shoppers. In addition to all-natural latex, it features organic cotton and wool.
- The Zenhaven is a flippable mattress featuring a soft and firm side.
- Get all the deets in the Zenhaven mattress review.
Saatva Solaire Mattress vs Saatva Classic Mattress
- The Saatva Classic is a high-quality innerspring mattress with a bouncy feel.
- The Classic features a euro pillow top to add some pressure relief. The result is a great balance of pressure relief and support.
- The Classic is great for combination and stomach sleepers who like a firmer feel.
- Find out more in the full Saatva mattress review.
The Saatva Solaire uses air chambers to allow you to adjust the firmness level of your bed for precision comfort.
Still note sure if the Solaire is the right new mattress below? Take a look at some of our ratings below to decide!
Saatva Solaire Mattress
- Materials
- Comfort
- Support
- Value
- Cooling
- Edge Support
- Trial
- Warranty
