Best Mattresses for Athletes

Written by Daniel Grogan, Editor & Mattress Tester

Methodology

Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed hundreds of mattresses and sleep products for over eight years using hands-on testing. We assess each sleep product for comfort, support, cooling, firmness, pressure relief, and more. Learn more.

In This Article

We’re going through the best mattresses for athletic folks. Here are our top picks based on their temperature-regulating, pressure-relieving abilities to help you unwind after a day of working out. Read on to find out more!

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If you’re an athlete, you know that sleep can greatly impact performance. Whether you want to run faster, jump higher, lift heavier, or have faster reaction times, a mattress that’s comfortable, supportive, and alleviates aches and pains is one of the linchpins of achieving healthy sleep each night.

Professional athletes and recreational exercisers should look for a mattress that feels good for their body type and sleeping position while catering to their unique needs. Keep reading for our curated list of the top-rated beds for athletes. We also share important considerations for selecting a mattress for as an athlete or active individual, such as mattress type and muscle recovery.

Best Mattresses for Athletes

• Nectar – Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes
• Bear Original – Best Mattress for Active Recovery
• Brooklyn Bedding Spartan – Best Mattress for Couples
• Helix Midnight Luxe – Best Customizable Bed for Athletes
• The WinkBed – Best Bed in a Box for Athletes
• Nolah Evolution – Best Cooling Mattress for Athletes
• Tempur ProAdapt – Best Mattress for All Sleeping Positions
• Saatva Classic – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Chosen by Experts and Advocates

Although we don’t have any professional athletes on the Mattress Nerd team, we’ve all done our time between the bases or on the gridiron. As such, we understand how important good rest and recovery is to achieving 100% capability on the field. The mattresses on this list excelled in performance factors (pressure relief, durability) that make them specifically good for athletes, whether you’re going for olympic gold or simply going for a morning run. To learn more about how we grade sleep products, check out our review process.

Nectar: Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes

Pros of the Nectar

Great pressure relief

Cool for a memory foam mattress

Stellar motion isolation

Cons of the Nectar

Not super responsive

Lacking edge support

Not every athlete can play for the NFL or get their picture on a Wheaties box. If you want a mattress that will support your athletics without breaking the bank, the Nectar has your name written all over it. 

Though a Queen size Nectar is marked at $1,298, the company often runs sales that bring the price down to below $1,000, and solid pressure relief (4 out of 5) and durability (4 out of 5) scores, this affordable mattress performs very well for athletes who want a bed that aids and recovery and supports substantial weight. Also, the Nectar mattress comes with a lifetime warranty—perfect for you athletes who plan to continue your active lifestyle for years to come.

What our testers say: “”The Nectar‘s poly-blend cover and gel memory foam layer will provide cooling: perfect for those who tend to sleep hot but still love the feel of memory foam. We think sleepers will be able to find comfort on their sides and back without feeling stuck in the comfort layers of this mattress.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Nectar

• Those with side and shoulder pain–The Nectar has stellar pressure relief, which should cushion problem areas.
• Hot sleepers who still want memory foam–All-foam mattresses tend to be hotter, but there are some cooling capabilities in the Nectar that make it more temperature neutral than the competition.
• Couples–With top-notch motion isolation, you won’t feel your partner moving on the other side of the bed.

Who Might not Like the Nectar

• Heavyweight sleepers–may find this mattress to be too soft for their needs, and should check out one of the firmer options on this list.
• Average-weight stomach sleepers–should check out a firmer mattress like the Plank Firm.

Other User Reviews

With thousands of reviews on Nectar’s website, the Nectar mattress has an average 4.8 out of 5 stars. The majority of negative reviews found the bed too firm, too soft, or thought it started to sink too quickly. But positive reviews praise its comfort and cushioning ability.

See our full Nectar Mattress review to learn more. Check out our best affordable mattresses roundup for additional options.

Bear: Best Mattress for Active Recovery

Pros of the Bear

Responsive

Pressure-relieving

Circulation-improving technology

Cons of the Bear

Sub-par motion isolation

Not firm enough for heavy folks

The Bear mattress’ standout feature is its cover, which features Celliant fibers. This recovery technology absorbs body heat, transforms it into infrared light, and redirects that light back into your muscles. This reaction is meant to improve circulation, which can encourage faster muscle recovery. It’s also made with pressure-relieving memory foam and a supportive foam base layer. This combination gives the mattress a good balance of body contouring and spinal support.

All of these qualities make the bed ideal for athletes who want the recovery benefits of improved circulation, temperature regulation, and whole body contouring.

What our testers say: “Made with recovery, pressure relief, and comfort in mind, the Bear mattress is ideal for back and stomach sleepers under 230 lbs, as well as heavyweight side sleepers. As a bonus, it’s affordable, especially considering its high-tech additions.” –Rachael, Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Bear

• Back and stomach sleepers–should enjoy the support that the Bear offers, promoting proper alignment and preventing sinkage.
• Combination sleepers–will be able to move around easily thanks to the Bear’s responsiveness.
• Budget shoppers–can enjoy Bear’s affordable price point.

Who Might not Like the Bear

• Heavyweight sleepers–won’t find the support they need on this mattress, and should look for something firmer.
• Extra hot sleepers–The Bear has some cooling technology in its cover, but if you’re often waking up in a cold sweat, check out our best cooling mattresses.
• Couples who are light sleepers–might feel each other moving around on the opposite side of the bed.

Other User Reviews

According to Bear’s website, the Bear Original scores about 4.5 out of 5 stars. The majority of reviewers praise the bed’s comfortable construction and comfort after upgrading from an old mattress. Negative reviews tend to fluctuate between saying the bed was too firm or too soft, indicative of personal preference issues.

See our full Bear Mattress Review to learn more. 

Brooklyn Bedding Spartan: Best Mattress for Couples

Pros of the Spartan

Amazing pressure relief

Sleeps cool

Good responsiveness

Cons of the Spartan

Expensive

Not for people looking for true firm or true soft mattresses

Regardless of their lifestyle, couples typically require a mattress that checks a specific set of boxes in order to sleep well together: motion isolation, edge support, and cooling. Active couples may need even more cooling and recovery-promoting features in order to achieve a good night’s sleep on the same mattress.

The Spartan offers all of these in a luxury hybrid design. The pocketed coils offer cooling and edge support, while a deep comfort system provides better-than-average motion isolation compared to most hybrids. Additionally, the Spartan has a performance fabric cover made with Nanobionic R-3, which promotes recovery. The cover is also infused with a phase-change material, which aids the coil core in promoting temperature regulation.

What testers say: “This bed has really amazing pressure relief and alignment for back sleepers. The soft foams really hug your spine.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Spartan

• Back sleepers–The Spartan scored a 5/5 for back sleepers of all body types in our tests!
• Couples–With pretty good motion isolation, you most likely won’t feel your partner moving around on the other side of the bed.

Who Might not Like the Spartan

• Side sleepers with shoulder pain–The pressure relief around the shoulders (especially for average-weight side sleepers) isn’t the best if you already have pain in that area.
• Budget shoppers–should steer clear of the Spartan, which has a higher price tag than other options on our list.

Other User Reviews

The Spartan scores a 4.8 out of 5 stars among reviewers on the Brooklyn Bedding site. Users love the Spartan mattresses support and comfort as well as Brooklyn Bedding’s commitment to outstanding customer service. Some felt that the bed slept hotter and less firm than they would have expected. 

See our full Brooklyn Bedding Spartan Mattress review to learn more. Check out our best mattresses for couples roundup for additional options.

Helix Midnight Luxe: Best Customizable Bed for Athletes

Pros of the Helix Midnight Luxe

Very responsive

Breathable

Great support for those with back pain

Cons of the Helix Midnight Luxe

Expensive

Okay motion transfer

Finding a mattress that offers the trifecta of healthy spinal alignment, pressure relief and comfort is important for anyone, but it’s especially crucial for professional athletes and regular exercisers whose lifestyle is dependent upon great sleep. Helix’s standard line of mattresses includes six hybrids that vary in firmness and materials to suit different needs.

The company offers an online sleep quiz to help you determine which model is best for you, and it includes questions about your weight, sleeping position of choice, and personal preferences. All six beds have strong airflow through the coil layers, so they’ll sleep cool, which is a plus for active individuals. They’re also high-value when compared to other hybrids: every size costs less than $1,400 before discounts are applied.

What our testers say: “When we used our pressure map (which uses heat mapping technology to indicate pressure distribution along the body), we saw great pressure relief in the hips, shoulder, and lower back from most types of sleepers.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Helix Midnight Luxe

• Combination sleepers–should enjoy the Helix Midnight Luxe’s responsiveness, which allows for great ease of movement as they switch positions.
• Hot sleepers–will appreciate this bed’s breathable layers, which promote a temperature-neutral sleep.

Who Might not Like the Helix Midnight Luxe

• Heavyweight stomach sleepers–may prefer something with more support, so check out our best firm mattresses.
• Budget shoppers–should look elsewhere, as Helix’s Luxe line is quite expensive. If you’re sold on a Helix, check out the original Helix Midnight.

Other User Reviews

On Helix’s website, the mattress scores 4.5 out of 5 stars. Negative reviews come mostly from side sleepers who found the mattress too firm and therefore uncomfortable for their tastes. Positive reviews cite pain relief, easy set-up, and overall comfort.

See our full Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress review to learn more. 

The WinkBed: Best Bed in a Box for Athletes

Pros of the WinkBed

Great for all body types

Great for all sleeping positions

Cooling and responsive

Cons of the WinkBed

Not the best motion isolation

Average pressure relief

A bed in a box is a relatively new concept that means your mattress is rolled and compressed for shipping. If you’re hoping to save yourself the trouble of visiting a physical mattress store and enjoy the perks of a sleep trial period, bed-in-a-box mattresses are good options.

The WinkBeds mattress has a Tencel cover that’s highly breathable and should aid in temperature control for athletes. It also features a euro-pillow top that feels plush to the touch yet maintains a supportive feel. The WinkBed also features a coil-on-coil design that includes a transition layer of flexible, zoned microcoils to promote spinal alignment and a pocketed coil support layer to prevent sagging while enhancing breathability and bounce. Best of all, it comes in four firmness options, making it suitable for a wide range of sleepers.

What our testers say: “We particularly love it for hot sleepers because of its great temperature regulation, and it’s great for combination sleepers because of its responsiveness. WinkBed is also a good choice for heavier sleepers who need firmer options.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the WinkBed

• Hot sleepers–should find a satisfyingly cool sleep on the WinkBed with its breathable construction.
• Combination sleepers–can move around easily on this bed’s responsive surface.

Who Might not Like the WinkBed

• Couples who are light sleepers–Since its motion isolation leaves something to be desired, the WinkBed isn’t the best option for couples who might wake each other up by moving in their sleep.
• Memory foam purists–As a hybrid bed, the WinkBed doesn’t have a classic “hugging” feel. If you’re looking for that, check out our best memory foam mattresses.

Other User Reviews

On the WinkBeds site, the WinkBed earns a 4.8 out of 5 stars. Most negative reviews focus on problems with delivery and removal. But overall, people seem satisfied and consider the bed supportive and sturdy. 

See our full WinkBeds Mattress review to learn more. Check out our best bed-in-a-box mattresses roundup for additional options.

Nolah Evolution: Best Cooling Mattress for Athletes

Pros of the Nolah Evolution

Cooling

Good motion isolation

Responsive and pressure-relieving

Cons of the Nolah Evolution

Expensive

Too soft for heavyweight sleepers

The Nolah Evolution claims to sleep exceptionally cool, and that was our experience in testing. It comes with advanced cooling features such as graphite-infused foam on top, breathable support coils below, and cooling fibers in the cover to help draw heat away. This allows for a more restful sleep for athletes who sleep hot.

The Nolah is also good at helping to prevent pain from non-supportive mattresses. Lightweight stomach sleepers should get the hip support they need to help prevent lower back pain. Back sleepers and most side sleepers will also find good cushioning support at the joints and good spinal alignment to keep you moving during the day.

What our testers say: “If you’re looking for a cooling hybrid with a balanced feel of comfort, support, and hotel-like quality, the Nolah Evolution 15” mattress could be a great option for you. While not cheap, you’ll get all the bells and whistles that you’d expect with a luxury mattress. The bed’s medium firmness can suit a wide variety of sleeper types, but we recommend it for lightweight and average-weight people who spend the majority of the night on their sides and backs.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Nolah Evolution

• Hot sleepers–should feel cool on the Nolah Evolution thanks to its cooling cover and breathable layers.
• Combination sleepers–especially those who sleep on their back and side, will appreciate the great ease of movement that this bed offers.

Who Might not Like the Nolah Evolution

• Heavyweight sleepers–should look for something firmer. Check out our best mattresses for heavy people for more options.
• Budget shoppers–The Nolah Evolution is considered a luxury mattress, so it drives a higher price.

Other User Reviews

Earning a 4.9 out of 5 stars on Nolah’s website, the Nolah Evolution seems to be a hit. Negative reviews tend to focus on personal preference or regrets about ordering the wrong firmness. Overall, customers are satisfied with the feel and comfort. Many reported their aches and pains disappearing after making the switch to Nolah Evolution.

Read our full Nolah Evolution Mattress Review for more details. If you aren’t interested in the Nolah Evolution mattress, check out our list of the best cooling mattresses for more great options.

Tempur-ProAdapt: Best Mattress for All Sleeping Positions

Pros of the Tempur-ProAdapt

Stellar motion isolation

Promotes great alignment

Cons of the Tempur-ProAdapt

Expensive

Not too responsive

The Tempur-ProAdapt offers a variety of firmness levels, meaning no matter which sleeping position you prefer to recover from exercise in, this mattress has you covered. It also offers excellent pressure relief and spinal alignment, two factors that help mitigate post-workout soreness. 

While the Tempur-ProAdapt comes at a steep cost ($3,199 for a Queen) the quality speaks for itself. If you value comfort and recovery, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than this mattress.

What our testers say: “An all-too-familiar feeling is when you can’t sleep because your partner is too busy tossing and turning waking you up. Fortunately for you, foam mattresses excel at muffle motion transfer, and the Tempur-Adapt is as good as it gets, even for an all-foam bed.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Tempur-ProAdapt

• Back sleepers–should appreciate the Tempur-ProAdapt’s ability to keep your spine in the proper position to relieve pressure and pain.
• Couples–will sleep soundly together thanks to this bed’s amazing motion isolation.

Who Might not Like the Tempur-ProAdapt

• Budget shopper–This bed is thousands of dollars more than others on this list, so choose wisely!
• Combination sleepers–might find it hard to move around on this bed’s “hugging” memory foam feel.

Other User Reviews

On the TEMPUR-Pedic site, the TEMPUR-ProAdapt has a 4.3 out of 5 stars. Negative reviews say that the bed is either too firm or too soft for their needs, as well as not super cooling. Positive reviews say the bed has provided much-needed pain relief.

See our full Tempur ProAdapt Mattress review to learn more. 

Saatva Classic: Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Pros of the Saatva Classic

Great for all body types

Great for all sleeping positions

Can provide relief from back pain

Cons of the Saatva Classic

Expensive

So-so motion isolation

While innerspring mattresses usually excel in responsiveness and breathability, most also lack enough foam to provide generous comfort or pressure relief. The Saatva is an exception, with a coil-on-coil construction and thick comfort layers that support the sleeper’s body while providing a gentle cradle.

Its coil layer allows it to sleep cool for most, and it’s available in three firmness settings that should suit most athletes regardless of their weight or sleeping position. That being said, the Saatva Classic really shines for back sleepers. The memory foam comfort layer offers contouring and pressure relief, while the two layers of coils support the spine in its natural s-curve.

What our testers say: “We recommend the Luxury Firm and Firm versions of the Saatva Classic for lightweight and average-weightback sleepers. Heavyweight back sleepers should choose the Firm model, as it offers a bit more support.” –Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Who Might Like the Saatva Classic

• All body types–With three firmness options, the Saatva Classic has everything you need: for a soft option for lightweight sleepers to a firm option for heavyweight sleepers.
• All sleeping positions–As said above, the same goes for sleeping positions!

Who Might not Like the Saatva Classic

• Couples who are light sleepers–will probably wake each other up moving, since the Saatva Classic only has average motion isolation capabilites.
• Budget sleepers–Saatva is a luxury brand and certainly worth the high price tag, but check out the other affordable options on here, like the Bear, if you’re on a budget.

Other User Reviews

According to Saatva’s website, the Classic comes in at 4.8 out of 5 stars. Reviews are generally positive, praising the bed’s high-quality construction and comfort. Some customers complained about issues with delivery or felt the bed didn’t hold up as long as they would’ve liked.

See our full Saatva Classic Mattress review to learn more. Not interested in the Saatva Classic? Check out our best mattresses for back sleepers for more options.

What Mattress Firmness is Best for Athletes?

Even for the average person, firmness is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when browsing for the right mattress. Firmness refers to how hard or soft a mattress feels, so it’s a subjective measure because how a bed feels to you will depend on your body weight, sleeping position and preferences. To simplify firmness and feel, most mattress companies designate a word, like “soft” or “medium-firm,” to each mattress model in their lineup. In our reviews, we rate them on a 1–10 scale (1 being very soft, 10 being very firm).

The most popular firmness levels are 4–7, but there are sleepers, including athletes, whose preferences may fall outside of that range. Petite side sleepers, for example, may feel best on a very plush mattress that allows their lightweight bodies to sink in. Plus-size back sleepers, on the other hand, usually feel best on a very firm, supportive bed that offers an even sleeping surface to keep the hips and shoulders elevated.

With that said, the “best” firmness level for any athlete will depend entirely upon their preferences, sleeping position and body weight, just like any other sleeper. As a rule of thumb, firmer mattresses are typically recommended for back and stomach sleepers, and softer mattresses are typically recommended for side sleepers. Before making a decision, we recommended learning more about firmness in our mattress firmness guide.

What Type of Mattress is Best for Athletes?

The five most popular types of mattresses sold today include innerspring, hybrid, all-foam, latex and airbed. Each offers unique pros and cons for athletes, so it’s important to understand them before making a decision. Here’s an overview of each type.

Innerspring

Innerspring beds are considered the most traditional mattress type, pairing a thin layer of foam with a steel coil, or innerspring, support system. Generally speaking, they have moderate price points, are available in many firmness options and stay cool. However, minimal comfort layers prevent them from offering the cushioning that most athletes want. They also tend to have high motion transfer rates, which can be an issue for couples. Head over to our best innerspring mattresses for more info.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses have thicker foam comfort layers and a pocketed coil support core. They offer some of the benefits of innerspring mattresses, such as durability, breathability and support, with the comfort and conforming of all-foam beds. As long as the right firmness level and feel is chosen, there aren’t any noteworthy drawbacks of this style for athletes. While they tend to be the most expensive mattress type, budget-friendly hybrid mattresses are available.

All-Foam

Memory foam mattresses and mixed foam mattresses combine layers of foam in varying densities. They tend to have lower-than-average price points. Memory foam beds, in particular, offer close conforming to help alleviate pain and pressure throughout the body. Foam beds also have above-average motion isolation, making them a good choice for athletic couples. If pressure relief is important to you, a foam mattress could be a good option, but keep in mind that they tend to sag quicker and will likely retain more heat than a hybrid or innerspring bed.

Related: Best Memory Foam Mattresses

Latex

Latex mattresses come in all-foam and hybrid designs. Most have at least one layer of latex in the comfort portion of the bed, and some have support cores that are made entirely of latex. These mattresses conform closely like memory foam but offer more bounce and sleep cooler. However, they can be expensive. Take a look at our best latex mattress roundup for some of our favorite options.

Airbed

Airbeds offer adjustable firmness for athletes who want to customize the feel of their mattress as needed. These are the most expensive mattresses on the market, but most offer close conforming, isolate motion well and sleep cool. On the downside, airbeds can be prone to mechanical breakdown, may sleep hot if they have thicker comfort layers and may produce noise from the air pumps. You can find more on this subject in our best air mattresses roundup

Muscle Recovery and Sleep

The relationship between sleep and muscle recovery is widely known, but it can be helpful to understand the science of sleep to understand how it impacts your body over time. Sleep occurs in two stages: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep.

REM sleep provides energy to the brain that supports it during waking hours. Non-REM sleep, or deep sleep, allows the brain to rest with very little activity, meaning that blood supply shifts to the muscles instead. During non-REM sleep, growth hormone is also secreted, which stimulates tissue growth and muscle repair.

Getting 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night is crucial, especially for athletes, but making sure you’re spending adequate time in the non-REM phase of sleep can make the difference between sleeping eight hours and feeling “groggy” and sleeping eight hours and feeling truly rejuvenated.

Athletes and Sleep FAQs

How much sleep do athletes need?

While it’s recommended that most adults sleep between seven and nine hour a night, athletes in training may need a little bit more. You may need to sleep for ten hours at night, or take an hour long nap during the day in order to achieve adequate muscle recovery. Lebron James, for example, has noted that he gets up to 12 hours of sleep each night, and clearly he’s doing something right.

Are firm mattresses best for athletes?

It depends on your body type, sleeping position, and preferences. If you’re a heavy stomach sleeper, then a firm mattress is likely to provide you with the most comfort in support. If you’re a light side sleeper, however, then you’ll probably want a softer mattress. In short, there’s no one right firmness level for athletes.

Which mattress is best for athletes?

You’ll want to take your specific situation into account when deciding on the best mattress for you. All of the mattresses on this list are good for athletes, but they’re good for different reasons. For example, the Saatva works well for athletes who sleep on their back and the GhostBed Flex is a great choice for athletes who tend to sleep hot. A little bit of research will help ensure that you’re making the best purchase for your particular needs.

Recap of the Top-Rated Mattresses for Athletes

Mattress Model	Award	Firmness
Nectar	Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes	6.5/10
Bear Original	Best for Active Recovery	7/10
Brooklyn Bedding Spartan	Best Mattress for Couples	Varies
Helix Midnight Luxe	Best Customizable Bed for Athletes	6/10
The WinkBed	Best Bed in a Box for Athletes	Varies
Nolah Evolution	Best Cooling Mattress for Athletes	5.5/10
Tempur ProAdapt	Best for All Sleeping Positions	Varies
Saatva Classic	Best Mattress for Active Back Sleepers	Varies