Updated on Sep. 17, 2024
There's a lot to love about this award-winning mattress, but is this innerspring bed worth the investment? Here's my Saatva mattress review.
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When researching the best mattresses, the Saatva brand name came up over and over again. That’s why we decided to put it to the test ourselves. I spent about a year sleeping on the Saatva Classic mattress.
The average person spends about one-third of their life sleeping, so it makes sense to spend that time on the best mattress you can find. “Mattresses that are old, rutted or stiff to the user are uncomfortable. And if you don’t find your bed comfortable, your body will want to fight going there,” says Christine Stevens, a sleep expert and coach based out of Washington, D.C. “On the other hand, if you make your bed a sanctuary that you look forward to going to and your body finds comfortable, you’ll relax and be more inclined to fall asleep.”
“You have to look at sleep as a performance activity,” adds Michael Breus, PhD, aka The Sleep Doctor. “A runner can run a race in flip flops, but without the right equipment, their performance will certainly suffer. It’s the same for sleep. If you have the best sleep products, you will sleep better, and a mattress is the centerpiece of your sleeping equipment.”
Here’s how my experience with the Saatva Classic mattress has gone so far.
Saatva offers eight different luxurious mattresses, including a mattress designed for chronic back and joint conditions, a hybrid innerspring designed for bigger bodies and two organic options. For this Saatva mattress review, I tested the Saatva Classic mattress.
The Saatva Classic is a hybrid mattress, meaning it takes the best elements of other mattress types and combines them into a calibrated comfort experience. Its multi-layers structure starts with a 3-inch contouring “Lumber Zone Quilting” that provides extra support, followed by middle layers of memory foam for ultra-firm back support. A network of responsive coils reduces potential sleep disruptions caused by movement, meaning if you share a bed, your tossing and turning won’t wake your partner.
From the three firmness options, I picked luxury firm, which falls smack dab in the middle, offering an optimal balance of plush comfort and superior support. This feature is also extra important if you struggle with back pain. As if it could get better, the Classic mattress in luxury firm is quite literally the best Saatva option for any type of sleeper (side, stomach, back), and ideal if you and your partner can’t agree on a firmness level.
This mattress is a real treat for hot sleepers, too, thanks to a dual-coil design for properly dispersing body heat and a breathable organic cotton cover. It’s also one-sided, so there’s no need to worry about flipping the mattress every few months.
VIA MERCHANT
The Saatva Classic mattress combines the support of an innerspring with the plush feel of memory foam.
Saatva offers a variety of mattresses at a variety of comfort levels. There are three to choose from: plush soft (comfort level three), luxury firm (comfort level five to seven) and firm (comfort level eight). It’s offered in eight sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king and split California king. There are also two height options: 11.5 and 14.5 inches.
Complimentary white glove service is included with every Saatva mattress, meaning the company delivers tje mattress, sets it up and takes your old mattress away—free of charge. It comes with a generous 365-night home trial, so if you decide it’s not the right bed for you, it can be returned. If you fall in love with it like I did, you can expect it to last for years, with a lifetime warranty guarding against any defects.
As for construction, the Saatva Classic is free of fiberglass and chemical flame retardants, and is treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. It comes wrapped in an organic cotton cover that’s naturally breathable and hypoallergenic.
It took 10 days for my Saatva Classic mattress to arrive after placing my order. Unlike boxed beds that you have to set up yourself, Saatva includes white glove mattress delivery with every purchase. Not only did their delivery team help set up my new mattress, but they also removed my old one. All I had to do was put on a fresh pair of sheets and I was good to go.
Some brand-new mattresses have a slightly chemical odor upon arrival, but the Saatva smelled like nothing at all. And, unlike even the best mattress in a box, I didn’t have to wait hours (or days) for my mattress to fully re-inflate. The first night, I was immediately impressed with the firmness and support. Lying flat on my back, I didn’t once feel my lower back starting to sink. On my side, my spine stayed in perfect alignment.
Over the course of the first few nights, I woke up well rested and pain free, and never once woke up in the middle of the night from overheating. My partner has told me that I feel like a furnace when I sleep; the Saatva’s double-coal design lets air flow through the mattress, so I stayed cool and comfortable all night long. Another thing my partner told me? That they couldn’t feel me rolling over throughout the night, thanks to the responsive coils that reduce motion transfer.
After one year of use, I can confidently say that switching from an ultra-plush memory foam bed to the Saatva luxury firm hybrid mattress was an excellent decision. I used to wake up with neck and lower back pain due to “sinking” into my previous mattress, but now I wake up refreshed thanks to my Saatva bed. I also appreciate that the mattress hasn’t become super plush over time. I rest easy knowing this investment bed is going to last me and my partner several years.
Now, if hotel-level firmness isn’t your thing, you’re in luck. This Saatva hybrid pick is also available in a plush soft firmness level (and a firm level, which is even less plush than the luxury firm model). I highly recommend the plush soft option for sleepers who are unwilling to give up that luxurious “burrowing” feeling.
I’ll leave my Saatva review at this: If you’re tired of restless nights due to feeling your partner move around in the middle of the night, or annoying back pain from sinking into beds, this hybrid mattress is exactly what you’ve been missing. Yes, it’s an investment, but you won’t need—nor want—to upgrade it for years. And to help extend the longevity of your new Saatva mattress, I recommend purchasing a mattress protector as well as a handy mattress vacuum cleaner.
Pros
Cons
According to other real-world tested customer reviews, Saatva is good for back pain, neck pain and all sorts of other sleeping-related discomforts. Verified reviewer, Vicki R., writes, “I ordered the Saatva Classic in the luxury firm, as I have seven herniated discs. My old mattress was too soft and I had been sleeping on the floor half the night, each night, trying to straighten my spine. I was worn out! The first night I slept in my Saatva Classic I was in heaven! It was the first night I had slept a solid sleep in at least two years!” And five-star reviewer, Jessica, writes that she and her partner “…suffer from back, shoulder and joint pain and are waking up rested and pain free. I can’t recommend it enough.”
According to the company website, whether or not you’ll need to use a box spring with your Saatva mattress depends on the the base you’re putting it on, and which type of mattress you’re purchasing. If you have a platform bed, adjustable base or an existing mattress support system that’s in good shape, you probably won’t need to purchase a new box spring for your Saatva mattress. It’s recommended to purchase a box spring if your existing box spring or bed foundation is old, damaged or creaking. The Saatva HD mattress should be purchased along with the matching HD foundation in order for it to provide the promised levels of support.
Most Saatva mattresses are designed to not need flipping, though rotating them every few months is recommended to help prevent any permanent indentations. However, there are two dual-sided models that have been designed to be flippable—Zenhaven and Saatva Youth—as each side provides a different level of comfort.
The Saatva Classic mattress has over 3,200 reviews, resulting in an average of 4.8 out of five stars, on the company’s website. Here’s what real-life customers are saying in their Saatva mattress reviews:
“Best mattress I’ve ever owned,” writes five-star reviewer, Bruce M. “I have so many things wrong with my back that neurosurgeons won’t operate. I’ve had to resort to prescription medications to have some relief. The first night that I slept on my new Saatva Classic, I got up the next morning with extremely less pain. I slept six straight hours without waking up. I hadn’t slept that long in years. I’m happy to say that I have been able to reduce the [number] of pain meds that I take. I would highly recommend this mattress to anyone with back problems.”
“I can’t speak more highly about my new Saatva Classic mattress in luxury firm,” adds Patricia A., a five-star reviewer. “It’s beautiful, high quality, comfortable and gives me the best sleep without hurting my back. I actually returned the plush soft for the luxury firm. The exchange was seamless. I didn’t realize at purchase that the mattress was made upon order and the delivery was seven to 10 days. I did not mind the wait, and I was very pleased to learn that the mattress was manufactured here in the U.S.”
Five-star reviewer, Joseph P., raves, “We are seniors and have been waking up almost every day with a sore back, hips, etc. We ordered the Saatva Classic 11.5-inch since we have a split king adjustable frame. From the first night we said ‘finally, this is the one.’ We do not toss and turn 15 times a night to get off our sore hips; in fact we only turn one to three times now! My back is much better, and we didn’t even really break in the mattress yet! We are very pleased, and also saved a lot of money.”
It’s worth noting how Saatva compares to other popular mattresses you can order online, like the Helix Midnight Elite, the Zinus Green Tea and the Cocoon Chill. Saatva is not a bed-in-a-box brand that you need to set up yourself, nor does it need to spend several days re-inflating after being tightly compressed. These mattresses are ready-to-go and delivered the old-fashioned way, with the company’s free White Glove Service making things easy.
As for how it compares to the rest of Saatva’s mattress portfolio; The Saatva Classic is the most versatile option that’ll make just about anybody happy—a huge plus for couples who may have different preferences when it comes to their mattress needs. No matter if you’re a side, back or stomach sleeper, the Classic keeps you supported. The rest of Saatva’s collection addresses specific sleep needs, like a cooling mattress, an adjustable firmness mattress and a cradling memory foam mattress.
Writing this Saatva mattress review has shown me that there’s no need to sacrifice plushness for support. The Saatva Classic makes me feel like I’m sleeping in a luxe hotel every night where I never have to check out. It’s also a fantastic mattress for couples who need to compromise. Before the Saatva, my partner and I strongly disagreed on the firm-to-plush ratio. After a year of use, he claims he hasn’t gotten a better night’s sleep since trying the Saatva—and neither have I!
VIA MERCHANT
Bring the luxury of a five-star hotel room to your own bedroom with the award-winning Saatva mattress.
The only place to buy the Saatva Classic Mattress is through the company’s website. A queen-sized mattress retails $1,995, but the company frequently runs sales with generous discounts.
P.S. For another one of our top picks, check out our Cocoon mattress review, too.
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