Sleeping is more than just lying down and pretending to be dead for 6 to 10 hours – it is an active experience that greatly affects your quality of life. I learned that the hard way, after years of bad sleep left me with chronic back pains. Because of that, you should pay extra care to the way you sleep and the mattress you’re using.
Of course, the right mattress for you is dependent on a lot of things, including your body size, weight, and your sleeping technique. If you sleep on your stomach, the mattress you should get is far different than the one you’d get if you were sleeping on your back.
However, these days it is generally accepted that sleeping on your side is the best since it allows you to breathe better – it sure did help me a lot. So, today I’ll present you with a roundup that aims to find the best mattress for side sleepers on the market right now.
See the Best Side Sleeper Mattresses 
The Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
The Art of Sleeping
How to Buy the Right Mattress
Reviews of the 10 Best Mattresses for Sleeping on Your Side
My Top Pick – Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress
See the Best Side Sleeper Mattresses
Here’s a short summary of how the products I reviewed here held up in each of the relevant categories, as well as my personal rating for them.
For a more detailed look at these products, keep reading.
Reviews of the 10 Best Mattresses for Sleeping on Your Side
Now, I’ll get into the fine details for each of the products and tell you what’s good and what’s bad about them so you can make an informed decision. However, despite some of the flaws, I still think all of these products do have some merit to them. In the end, I’ll pick one as the best out of them all.
Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress
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This is a great and extremely thick memory foam mattress that will be able to support almost anybody, no matter their weight or size. The firmness is quite good, but it remains comfortable – it is not hard as a rock as some other thick mattresses can be. It’s also quite firm around the edges, providing adequate edge protection for anyone sleeping on it.
This is because it’s made out of many different layers of foam which all mesh well to produce a great product that is comfy but firm.
One of the best parts about it, however, is the price. This product is incredibly affordable, and you probably won’t find a better mattress at this price range, it is simply exquisite. It will last for a long time as well since it is well-made and the materials hold up quite well under duress.
Of course, it is not without its flaws, the largest of which is the fact that it doesn’t breathe well so you might have issues if you sleep hot.
There are a few other niggling issues with it, but luckily they are mostly temporary – just don’t expect to use this mattress as soon as you get it. It takes up to three or four days for this mattress to expand to its full size and be completely usable. Another factor is the chemical smell emanating from it, but that also goes away within a few days.
Once you get over those issues, this mattress is probably the best one you can get for a price this low, and it’s honestly a high-quality product that you shouldn’t pass up on.
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Pros
- It is quite a firm and thick mattress that doesn’t budge even when put under a lot of weight.
- You will find it easy to set up, and it remains stable with good edge protection to boot.
- For a mattress of this size and thickness, this price is a bargain, and you will hardly be able to find a better deal.
Cons
- It doesn’t breathe well so you might get quite hot while sleeping on it.
- The smell is quite bad at first, but it gets better with some use.
- It takes a while to expand to full size since it’s vacuum sealed.
Cheap mattresses are not always necessarily bad and you should try them out before buying. This is a great example of a cheap mattresses with great quality.
LinenSpa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress
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Here we have a hybrid mattress that combines layers of foam on the outside with the support of innerspring mechanisms. That carries some upsides and downsides with it, and one of the largest upsides is the fact that it can support a lot of weight but still stay quite soft, unlike a pure spring mattress which might cause you back problems. There are no such issues with this product.
However, there are downsides to this design as well, the most prominent being that a hybrid mattress needs to be a lot thicker to have both enough foam and enough space for the springs. At eight inches, this mattress just isn’t thick enough which might cause some issues with comfort.
There are no issues with heat though since the mixed materials provide enough ventilation so you won’t experience an inability to fall asleep due to sweating. It has no weird chemical smells either, and it doesn’t retain body smells so it needs to be washed less than other mattresses.
While it is mostly firm on the center, the edges are a bit suspect so you should sleep near the middle since you might fall off otherwise.
Despite being decently firm, this mattress is not well-suited for heavier people, and you will probably sink into it if you weigh more than the average person. The proper support is simply not quite there.
The price is quite affordable though, but you still might want to think twice.
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Pros
- It comes at an amazingly affordable price for a mattress of this size.
- You won’t be hot sleeping on this mattress since it doesn’t retain a lot of heat.
- There is no weird chemical smell with this mattress, and it’s easy to set up.
- It is a comfortable and soft mattress.
Cons
- Bad edge support means you’ll easily fall off the edge of the bed with this one.
- The mattress is quite thin so you might have problems if you use it on its own.
- You will probably sink into it if you’re a heavier person.
If you’re sweating a lot while sleeping, you mattress may be the problem, rather than your covers or pillow, as a lot of people think. Mattresses without proper ventilation or cooling materials can disrupt your sleep, especially during the summer months.
Tuft & Needle Mattress
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This is an exceedingly expensive foam mattress that has a lot of good qualities and might be worth the price if you have the money to spare.
For starters, it is great during the summer months due to the materials used in its construction. It’s quite well-ventilated, and there is a layer of cooling gel on top of it that provides even better protection from heat. By using this mattress, you will most likely eliminate any problems with hot sleeping.
It is also an incredibly firm mattress that can withstand a lot of weight and it is more than thick enough to do that, at 10 inches. There’s no chance of it sinking completely under your weight, and you don’t have to worry about it. This is due to being made out of special adaptive foam that is better at holding weight than memory foam or latex foam.
This material is great when you’re sleeping with your partner since it moves less when you get up or lie down, and you won’t disturb the other person.
Now, all that said, there are some issues present with this mattress that might make it a bit undesirable for some. Some customers considered it to be too firm for their tastes and that likely may be the case with you as well. The edge support is also less than adequate.
However, the most damning thing may the fact that some of the materials used in its construction are of poor quality, and the same goes for the stitching. It is not a durable mattress, sadly. Because of that, it might not be worth the hefty price.
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Pros
- This mattress has a layer of cooling gel on top, meaning that you won’t get hot while sleeping on it, even during the summer months.
- It is quite a firm mattress that can withstand a lot of weight.
- There is no chance of it sinking under your weight, and it is quite thick.
Cons
- The edge support is quite poor so make sure not to sleep near the edge with this mattress – you might fall off.
- It might be too hard for some people, and there are some customers complaining about it.
- The price is quite steep, and the mattress doesn’t seem to be exceptionally durable.
Edge support is more important for a mattress than you might think. You never know how important it is until you’ve slept on a mattress that’s poor in that regard. For safety’s sake, don’t put mattresses with poor edge support on top bunks of bunk beds.
Zinus 8 Inch Hybrid Green Tea Foam and Spring Mattress
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Here we have another hybrid mattress that’s made out of good foam with heavy-duty springs stuffed inside. There’s a lot to like about it as well, but it does have some issues too.
It is a decently thick mattress at 8 inches, but due to being a hybrid mattress this might not be thick enough for some people and cause them some discomfort. However, it is quite a firm mattress in practice, and it can support a lot of weight without budging, which is quite nice.
There are issues with people feeling the springs under the foam, though. It seems that the foam is not thick or dense enough to stop heavier people from sensing the springs on their body. Again, this might cause discomfort so you should test it before you buy it.
The foam does have some nice qualities, including a great smell that’s built into it as well as protection from bacteria. Or at least, that’s what the manufacturer claims – the reality is completely different. The smell is a strong and nasty chemical odor that lasts for weeks, which is quite a huge issue.
The edge protection is great, though, so you probably won’t fall off the sides unless you’re extra carless.
While it does have issues, it also comes at an affordable price. If you need a mattress that’s decent enough but you won’t use often, this might be a good choice. It is also decently durable despite the low price point.
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Pros
- This mattress comes at a price that’s much lower than those of its competitors
- Great edge protection, you won’t have troubles falling out of the sides of your bed
- This is a firm mattress that can support a lot of weight
Cons
- You might feel the springs under the mattress, especially if you’re a heavier person
- It is quite a thin mattress, and there’s not a lot of padding so you might have some issues with comfort
- There’s a strong chemical odor coming from it, and it lasts for a few weeks.
Chemical odor in mattresses is normal if it lasts for a few days and goes away. It’s natural and poses no health risks unless you have asthma or some chemical allergies. However, it is concerning if it lasts for weeks on end.
Zinus 6 Inch Hybrid Foam and Spring Mattress
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Here we have a mattress that is quite similar to the previous one that we described and comes from the same manufacturer but has some significant differences.
One thing that isn’t different is the great price. Well, it is a bit different, since this one is even more affordable and it could be a good choice for a guest room or a bed that you won’t use that often.
The first major difference is that this mattress is quite a bit cooler than the previous Zinus product and it will keep the heat away during the summer months.
However, it is also quite a bit thinner at only 6 inches, meaning that problems with comfort might arise for most people. It doesn’t have nearly enough padding to stop you from feeling the springs beneath the foam when you sleep on it. That, combined with the high firmness of this product, could cause significant back issues for some people.
There are also significant issues with the durability of this mattress, and it can fall apart in a matter of months if you use it a lot. It is certainly not made for constant use by heavy adults, so it might be suitable for a kid or occasional use by adults.
The edge protection is great, though, so you probably won’t fall off the sides unless you’re extra carless.
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Pros
- The edge protection is decent, so you can easily sleep on the edges of your bed.
- Most people will find this mattress to be affordable.
- You will be able to sleep well on it even if you are a hot sleeper since it doesn’t retain a lot of heat.
Cons
- The springs can be felt when you sleep on it, especially for heavier adults, so that might cause discomfort.
- The mattress is quite thin, and it has some issues with durability.
- For some people, it might be a bit too firm and cause some back problems.
Spring mattresses have a bad rap these days but they are still a valid alternative to foam mattresses. They are firmer and can hold more weight, but the reason they are so maligned is the springs – a lot of people find the feeling of springs under their back discomforting. It is all down to personal tastes though.
LUCID 5 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress
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Here we have a memory foam mattress that comes at quite an affordable price for most consumers and has some decent upsides to it. For starters, it is quite firm, and it provides a lot of edge support meaning that it will be difficult for you to sink into it or fall from it when you’re near the edge.
Despite that, it is soft and comfortable which means you won’t’ experience and back pains while using it. The cooling layer on top also means that you won’t sleep hot while on it.
Sadly, that’s where most of the upsides end and I would have to judge that it might not be worth the price despite how low it is. Well, at least if you’re buying it for an adult. As you can see, it is quite a thin mattress at only 5 inches.
But that’s just what’s advertised – it usually never expands to full size and stands at only 4 inches thick. There’s not a lot that can be done about this and you will probably have to use some mattress toppings with it since it’s overly thin. It might be good enough for small children, but it is simply a no-go for adults.
There are some other issues, but this is the most important one. If you want to buy it for your kid, it’s fine, but otherwise, you could skip it.
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Pros
- Decently firm, so you won’t sink into it when you lie down.
- The price of this product is quite affordable for most people.
- It is quite soft and comfortable, so there won’t be any problems with back pains or anything of the like.
Cons
- The mattress is quite small, so you might have problems finding sheets that fit it
- There is a horrible chemical smell that stays in them for a while after unpacking it.
- Not only is it thin, but it’s also thinner than advertised, being a 4-inch mattress at best.
It can be difficult to find sheets that fit your mattress perfectly, so you might have to size down a bigger sheet. This is isn’t much of an issue but it is something that puts a lot of people off mattresses that aren’t in standard sizes.
Signature Sleep Contour 8 Inch Reversible Independently Encased Coil Mattress
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Again, we have a hybrid mattress on our hand that has some decent upsides but also contains a few flaws that may make you want to reconsider. But let me start with the positives here before moving on to anything else.
For starters, it is quite an inexpensive mattress that most people can afford and you will probably find it to be one of the better ones in this price bracket.
Another thing that differentiates it from a lot of other hybrid mattresses is that the foam layer is thick and dense enough to eliminate the feeling of coils under it. Once you lay down, you’ll feel like you’re lying down on a foam mattress, with the support of a coil mattress. It is firm, but not too much, and it will be comfortable for almost anyone.
The bad part is that it is not a durable mattress at all. The seams are bad, and they might come undone in a matter of a few months. That is the largest issue here and one that can’t be overlooked. It means this mattress is simply not well-suited for constant, heavy use.
The edges are also not firm enough so be careful when sleeping on the sides.
It’s still a good product though, but make sure not to overuse it.
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Pros
- Overall, it’s quite a firm mattress but not too firm, and it is soft enough to be comfortable for almost anyone
- It is quite inexpensive, so most people will be able to afford it, no problem.
- Despite being a hybrid mattress, you won’t feel the coils when you lay down on it.
Cons
- This mattress will smell bad for a few days after unpacking it, but it is manageable.
- The edges are not supportive enough so you might want to stay off the sides of the bed when sleeping.
- You will find that this mattress is not durable enough and the seams might start to come undone after some use.
Another reason coil mattresses are maligned is because they need more stitching that foam ones and they might fall apart faster. Foam mattresses can be used even if the casing fails, but that’s not the case with most coil mattresses.
Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam 8 Inch Mattress
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One of the best parts of this memory foam mattress is not only the fact that it comes at a great price, but also that it defies the stereotypes that come with that. This is also a highly durable mattress that will be able to support most people and will undoubtedly last for a long time to come after you purchase it.
Another great thing about it is that disperses heat incredibly well so you won’t have any problems sleeping on it during the summer months.
However, you might have some issues with it when you first get it. There’s a long waiting period to use it since it takes a while to expand to full size. Even then, it might not expand fully at all, so you could end up with a 7-inch mattress.
Another issue is the smell that just stays around it for too long. It is also too firm for some people so make sure to test it before you lay down your cash.
Overall, it is still quite a good product that I would personally recommend, but you do have to deal with some annoyances if you get it. Because of that, you should think twice before purchasing it.
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Pros
- The mattress is quite durable and well-put-together, so it is bound to last for a long time.
- Its price is quite decent and affordable for most consumers.
- Works well to disperse heat so you won’t get hot sleeping in it.
Cons
- It takes a long time to inflate to its full size and, even then, the size is smaller than what is indicated.
- The mattress is quite firm and might be too firm for a lot of people and cause some back pain issues.
- You will smell a strong chemical odor coming from it, and it will take a long time for it to disperse.
Mattresses are usually compressed into boxes by special machines. This process makes them take up less space during storing and shipping. Most of them can return to full size after this process, though it takes them a while. However, some mattresses made out of poor materials might never return to full size – sadly, you can’t tell which ones have this problem until you buy and unpack them.
LUCID 10 Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress
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This is quite a premium-quality mattress that’s made from two layers of memory foam and comes at a good price that won’t make a huge dent in your wallet. The two layers provide great support, and the mattress can withstand a ton of weight without budging too much, meaning that it can comfortably support an above-average adult.
It is also supremely thick and soft enough to be comfortable for most people, but I would still suggest trying it out in the shop before deciding to buy it. You never truly know if it fits you until you do that.
There are, however, downsides to this mattress. One significant flaw is the fact that it’s advertised as having a cooling layer of memory foam on top that prevents it from gathering heat. However, in practice, this does nothing, and you will still be quite hot when using this mattress regardless of that. During the summer months, it will be particularly difficult.
It might also take a while for it to expand to full size after you get it and the edge protection is not quite up to snuff.
In the end, I would still recommend this mattress wholeheartedly since it does provide great quality for this price that you won’t get in most other mattresses.
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Pros
- It is quite a firm mattress, but it is still soft enough to be comfortable for most people.
- You will find it to be quite thick and it will be able to withstand a lot of weight.
- It won’t tax your budget too much since its price is highly affordable for most consumers.
Cons
- You will have to wait for around two days after unpacking until the mattress expands to its full size.
- If you’re hot while sleeping, this mattress won’t keep you cool, and you will probably sweat a lot.
- It’s not the most durable mattress out there, and the edges are quite soft so it might fall apart sooner rather than later.
Plenty of people out there conflate the thickness of a mattress for quality, but that is not always the case. Super-thick mattresses might be less supportive or firm than ones that are half their thickness. You should almost always test a mattress instead of relying on the thickness to judge the quality.
Cr Sleep Memory Foam Mattress
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This is a memory foam mattress that will probably prove to be quite good for you during the summer months since it is supremely well-ventilated and doesn’t get too hot at all. The comfort it provides is great, and it will also eliminate any back issues you might have from sleeping on mattresses that are too firm.
With that being said, this is a mattress that is definitely not firm enough to be used by most adults. Unless you are exceedingly light or a child, you will sink into this mattress like a stone in the water. The edge protection is good, but that’s about as far as decent firmness goes for this product.
The center is especially suspect, and it will probably start sagging after a couple of months if an adult is using it. For kids, it will be fine but don’t put a lot of weight on it, or it might become useless quite soon after purchase. This is despite its thickness of 8 inches.
Though that is the advertised thickness, it might not expand to full size when you get it which is another issue altogether.
At this price point, it is a bit difficult for me to recommend it, despite some obvious upsides which it does have.
There are, however, downsides to this mattress. One significant flaw is the fact that it’s advertised as having a cooling layer of memory foam on top that prevents it from gathering heat. However, in practice, this does nothing, and you will still be quite hot when using this mattress regardless of that. During the summer months, it will be particularly difficult.
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Pros
- This is quite a large mattress that is well ventilated so you won’t get hot when sleeping on it during the summer months.
- The edge protection is more than adequate, and it is quite firm on the edges.
- You will find it to be quite comfortable and soft; it will easily eliminate any back issues from sleeping.
Cons
- You probably won’t get an 8-inch mattress when you buy this one since it rarely expands to full size.
- The center of the mattress starts sagging after a few months of constant use.
- Not firm enough for adult use, it is a mattress better suited for children and lighter people.
Good edge protection, meaning high firmness on the edges, is a good thing. However, too much of a good thing can be bad. If the level of firmness between the edges and the center is too different, the center will start to sag. After a while, this will make the mattress feel like a hammock, which is not what you want.
The Benefits of Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
During much of history, sleep was seen as a passive thing, a necessary thing for sure but not anything that’s too vital. It was mostly ignored by doctors and other medical experts in favor of focusing on other things.
However, in the past hundred years or so, more attention has been given to the process of sleeping than ever before. There has been a lot of research into it, and it has been found out that the quality of sleep affects almost everything in our day-to-day lives. That’s because it has a large impact not only on our mood but also on our health.
For starters, the amount of sleep that’s needed is different for each person, and it is possible that it’s genetically coded. This means that you can’t “get used” to having less sleep than you need and not everyone is hardcoded to need a continuous 8 hours of sleep. You need to find out what amount of sleep works best for you.
But what if you constantly get less sleep than you need?
Well, it starts to affect your body and mind greatly. One of the first things it affects is your memory. The brain is surprisingly active during sleep, and it is suggested that sleep is used to consolidate your memory from the previous day. If you don’t get enough sleep, the stuff you learned the previous day won’t stick as well. Constant lack of sleep will also affect your short-term memory. You can’t remember where the keys you just put down are? Lack of sleep may be the reason.
A lack of sleep might stifle your creative drive as well since less memory consolidation and restructuring leads to less new ideas. The emotional stress also contributes to this.
One other side effect of a lack of sleep is a shorter attention span, especially when it comes to children but it affects adults as well. In the worst cases, it can result in symptoms similar to ADHD.
The stress that mounts from lack of sleep can also eventually lead to depression and other emotional and mental problems.
However, a lack of quality sleep doesn’t only affect your mind. The entire body is impacted.
Because of this, a lack of sleep highly correlates with life expectancy and people who didn’t get enough sleep tended to die younger.
The things that a lack of sleep can do to your body are frightening. It can impact your weight and make you gain weight faster; it increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, high pressure and stroke; it lowers your immunity and pain threshold; and much more.
These risks are incurred not only by a long-term lack of sleep, as you might think. Even a four-day disturbance of sleep patterns heightened blood pressure and caused blood glucose levels similar to those in pre-diabetic patients.
So, to sum it all up – getting a good night’s sleep is hugely important for your health and you’re quality of life. If you’re not sleeping well, you should take steps to fix it as soon as you can.
But what can you do about the poor quality of your sleep? Well, I’ll go into a few tips right now.
The Art of Sleeping
I’ve seen a lot of people who sleep poorly and just accept it as a fact of life – that’s just how it is, and I have to deal with it! Right?
No! That’s not the right attitude at all! Sure, it may seem difficult to fix the way you sleep, it might look like a daunting task, but it can be done one small step a time if you try hard enough. And you should, for your sake.
So, how to do it?
Well, for starters, you should take a good look at your sleeping habits. If you’re not going to sleep and waking up on a consistent schedule, that might be an issue. Almost everything about your body can be trained, and that includes sleeping. Once you do, you might see yourself falling asleep much easier and waking up far fresher than usual.
The amount of light you’re exposed to also plays a part – increase exposure during the day, reduce exposure during the night and that will surely help with regulating your melanin levels.
Another thing you can do is to employ relaxation techniques to fall asleep easier. Breathing techniques, muscle relaxation and even visualizing something relaxing and peaceful are all helpful in reducing your stress and keeping your mind off of bad places that it might wander to.
The position that you’re sleeping in also matters a lot, and all different positions have their upsides and downsides. Sleeping on your back can decrease acid reflux and neck pain, but it might also cause problems with sleep apnea. Sleeping on the stomach can help reduce snoring, but it is bad in almost every other regard.
However, sleeping on your side, in a loose fetal position, is one of the best ways to sleep. It helps reduce neck and back pains; it reduces snoring and helps with sleep apnea; it improves your circulation, etc. The only major downside is that it can cause wrinkles on your face.
Of course, one of the best things you can do is to improve your sleeping environment. You can air out your room, reduce the lighting and noise that might be going around and change stuff around on your bed.
What you’re sleeping on greatly affects how you sleep. The bed should be big enough, the cover should leave room to stretch, and the pillow should be comfortable for your head and neck.
Lastly, there’s the mattress. It should be firm enough, so you don’t sink into it, but it shouldn’t be hard enough to cause back pains. The material shouldn’t be absorbing heat and causing you to wake up because of sweating, and it should be firm on the edges to reduce the risk of falling off. There’s more to consider, but we’ll cover that in-depth a bit later.
So, you see, there’s a lot you can do to improve your sleep quality and buying a good mattress is one of those things. So, to that end, here are a few tips on how to get yourself a good one.
How to Buy the Right Mattress
Some people out there might think that almost any mattress is good enough – as long as you’re not sleeping on the ground, it’s all good! Well, that’s not quite right, and if you get a bad mattress, it might be even worse for you than sleeping on the cold hard ground.
There is a multitude of different factors you need to consider when purchasing a mattress to make sure it’s the right one for you. Here, I run down some of the most important aspects of a mattress that you should think about when shopping for one.
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Materials
The material the mattress is made out of is one of the most important things to take into account when purchasing it.
Based on their overall construction and design, mattresses are divided into two overall types – spring mattresses and foam mattresses. The difference is that the first ones contain springs inside of them to facilitate firmness, while the other type is made from special latex or memory foam which helps them retain their shape.
Spring mattresses are the traditional choice, and they are firmer, but can also be uncomfortably hard. The real issue with them is the fact that springs can come loose and poke through the fabric, which makes for a rude awakening.
They are divided into two subtypes. Open spring mattresses contain springs made form one piece of metal wire, and they present a lighter but cheaper and less comfortable option. Pocket spring mattresses, as their name implies, have separate springs in pockets of fabric, making them safer and more comfortable but also more expensive.
Foam mattresses are softer and more comfortable than spring mattresses, but they tend to provide less support. Memory foam mattresses will conform to your body, but you tend to sink into them. Latex mattresses are cooler, but they can be a bit too firm and too heavy.
Mixed mattresses also exist, combining layers of foam with inner springs.
Of course, there is more to this, and the quality of the materials involved is also important since it will determine the lifespan of your mattress. Cheaper options will wear out sooner, but they might still be good for guest rooms or similar, less-used beds. Different materials also absorb body heat differently, so some may be cooler than others and so on.
Overall, consider all the options presented and make the best choice for you.
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Size
The size of the mattress is also important for a wide variety of reasons, the first one being – will it fit your bed? But there are other reasons why it’s a big deal.
When we refer to size, there are two factors to consider – the size of the surface of the mattress and its thickness.
The surface size is important because you need to have enough space to lie on so you can be comfortable and relaxed when sleeping instead of constricted and tense. It also has to fit the bed you’re buying your mattress for.
The thickness is important for a wide variety of reasons. The thicker the mattress is, the better and more expensive it is, in general. Thicker ones provide better support and comfort, are more durable and will retain less heat. Getting an 8-inch mattress is usually fine enough, but thicker ones also exist.
Of course, if you’re low on cash you could get a thinner mattress, but then you will most definitely have to use mattress covers and toppings to get the most out of it.
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Firmness
Different people prefer different firmness in their mattresses, and this depends on their weight and the way they sleep. People sleeping on their stomachs will need firmer mattresses than those sleeping on their side.
For side sleepers, softer mattresses are the best ones since they will allow you to sink into them which will keep your spine in a straight position, thus avoiding any possible back pains. Extremely firm mattresses are not good if you sleep on your side.
Of course, this is also modulated by your weight and the more you weigh, the firmer the mattress that you’ll need. Always try to test out a mattress before buying it and see if your spine sits straight when you lie on it on your side. If it bends below you like a hammock or doesn’t budge, it’s no good.
Adequate firmness around the edges is also important, to prevent you from slipping and falling from the bed in your sleep. This is usually called ‘edge support,’ and it’s especially pertinent when buying mattresses with a small surface or mattresses for children.
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Comfort
The softness and thickness of a mattress determine how comfortable it will be, but this differs from person to person. Some of that is covered in the part of the article on mattress firmness. However, other factors impact the comfort a mattress provides.
For example, how good the materials are, especially when it comes to spring mattresses. Can you feel the springs under you as you sleep? That can be quite uncomfortable.
Many mattresses are also packed in tight packages for a long time, leading to them smelling somewhat when unpacked. Some mattresses will lose the chemical smell in a day – others might smell for weeks or months after unpacking. It can be quite uncomfortable to sleep on a smelly mattress.
There are other things to consider, but these are the major ones.
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Price and Value for Money
Lastly, but not least importantly, there’s the price of the mattress you’re buying. You don’t want to be ripped off and get a shoddy, uncomfortable mattress at a high cost.
Look for mattresses with better materials and more thickness – the thicker it is, the more valuable it is. Some of the best mattresses will cost you upwards of 1000 dollars, but you don’t have to overpay – you can get decent ones even in the 150 to 300-dollar range.
Of course, the value that a mattress has for you depends on how much you value a good night’s sleep and what kind of comfort you need. Make sure to always test mattresses before buying them, when you can.
My Top Pick – Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress
In the end, despite some bad things I might have said about some of these products, I do consider them all to be quite good, and I didn’t put them in this list without good reason. However, there is one that I must pick as the best for me, and that is the Zinus Memory Foam 12-inch Mattress. Above all others, this is the one that was the most amicable for me.
The reason for that is simply the quality it provides at such a great and affordable price. When it comes to sheer value and comfort for your money, none of the other mattresses presented here can top it.
But it might be different for you! These are the best mattresses for side sleepers after all. I just hope this helped you make an informed choice and get the right mattress for you. If you liked this article, please share it around and share your opinions in the comments. I hope you have a good night’s sleep after getting your new mattress!
