Most people have heard of innerspring and memory foam mattresses, but not many are familiar with hybrid mattresses. The increasingly popular type strikes a balance between two worlds – the memory foam and innerspring materials constructed into one. There are also latex and spring variants, as well as memory foam and latex. The combination of design elements and materials results in a very satisfactory mattress.
The intermarriage between an innerspring system and specialty foams results in a bed that caters to the needs of multiple kinds of sleepers. The intention here is to mitigate downsides while offering the best features.
As you can imagine, there are plenty of brands and models to choose from. We’ll cover what to look for when selecting the best hybrid mattress. But, to make things simple, we’ve narrowed down our top selections for 2022, which you can read all about below.
Hybrid Mattress Buying Guide
What Is A Hybrid Mattress?
We’ve all heard of both spring and memory foam mattresses. But hybrid mattresses are much newer than the previously mentioned, and not everyone knows exactly what they are. Let’s look at the creation of these mattresses and discuss the different types available on the market.
There are typically two types of hybrid mattresses. These are spring and memory foam or spring and latex. Combining latex and memory foam is also an option, but not as common. Below is a brief description of the most common designs.
The Top Area
The top layer usually has a thickness of between 3 to 4 inches and is made up of either memory foam (or some variation of proprietary foam) or latex.
Middle Section
Towards the middle of the mattress is the support core. The core of the bed usually consists of hundreds of small independently moving small springs. Its thickness varies anywhere between 6 and 8 inches. Depending on the manufacturer, the springs may be individually wrapped or continuous. The layer offers support, firmness, and the bounce of an innerspring mattress. Here, you’ll sometimes find a transition layer that helps unify the springs below and foam (or latex) above.
The Base
This features high-density foam, which is usually 1-inch thick. Apart from offering the much-needed padding to the coils above, the bottom provides stability and confers shape to the mattress.
The components of mattresses may vary from one brand to another. Some models have thicker mattresses compared to others, which implies a difference in the size of each component.
What Are The Benefits Of Hybrid Mattresses?
Hybrid mattresses are great for a number of reasons. The most notable benefits they offer to users include:
Excellent breathability
The mattress structure allows for airflow. The coils create plenty of space within the mattress. In turn, this prevents the mattress from retaining the build-up of body heat. Also, some manufacturers may infuse foam with materials such as copper or graphite on the top to enhance the free flow of air.
They are very supportive
Hybrid mattresses are generally very supportive. The addition of pocketed coils provides plenty of support, which is what most back and stomach sleepers need the most, while the individually moving springs enable the enhanced contouring for side sleepers.
They offer a decent balance of comfort and support
The top layers make the comfort area and usually is memory foam. It can be soft or firm. This offers an excellent sleeping surface. On the other hand, the coil core offers support, i.e., ensures you don’t sink into the mattress too deep. Such a combination makes the hybrid mattress both comfortable and supportive.
Good edge support
Foam mattresses are the worst when it comes to edge support, but when you add the spring core, the foam has an excellent base to allow for better edge support. The latex hybrid mattress coupling has even better performance in this category compared to the hybrid memory foam design.
Excellent durability
Coils in hybrid mattresses are usually made of steel, so they are very durable. Foam and latex are both durable, too, with the latter offering the lengthiest lifespan. Therefore the best value hybrid mattress, in our opinion, would be a latex hybrid. However, both can stand up to many years of use without yielding to sagging.
What Are The Hybrid Mattress Common Complaints?
Indeed, hybrid mattresses feature some drawbacks. They include:
They are pricey
A top rated hybrid mattress can be very costly, especially latex variants. For this reason, they might not fit everyone’s budget.
Motion isolation
Motion transfer on this mattress is slightly higher than an all-foam counterpart. If someone moves on the bed, you may feel the disturbance. But they perform better than an innerspring mattress. Pocket coil construction helps reduce motion transfer.
Considerably heavier
Hybrid mattresses weigh more than the all-foam mattresses. That makes it cumbersome to move it around. While not a deal-breaker, it might be an issue when you want to move home, or even when rotating it.
Who Should Use Hybrid Mattresses?
Now that some aspects of hybrid mattresses are more apparent to you, who should then should buy these mattresses?
- Hot sleepers: The coil chamber promotes airflow, which helps to regulate temperature.
- Those who want to sleep ‘on’ the mattress: Even a plush hybrid mattress can give the feeling of floating, i.e., you sleep on top of bed/no sinking.
- If you want a long-lasting mattress: A hybrid bed can easily last over a decade.
- People with back pain: The foam and contouring nature of the support core means that spinal alignment is excellent with this type of mattress.
- Heavier sleeper: Coils confer better support than all-foam. Essentially, the combination supports more bodyweight than pure memory foam.
How To Choose The Best Hybrid Mattress
As with buying any type of mattress, there are numerous factors to consider. Here are some specific pointers concerning hybrids:
Mattress price
The cost of a mattress is usually of great concern to many sleepers. Hybrid mattresses are excellent. However, they have a premium price tag on them—majority retail at well above $1000. Nonetheless, most brands offer huge discounts pretty much all year round, for example, during times like Labor Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday, etc. So the best thing is to decide on the amount of money you need to spend first, but also bear in mid sales in this industry can save hundreds off a price tag.
Size of the mattress
There are about 6 standard mattress sizes – Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and Cali King. Measure your bed if you have one already that you’ll continue to use, and then make sure you get the right mattress based on the dimensions.
Pocket spring or continuous spring?
Most manufacturers use the small, individually pocketed coils for better motion isolation. Each spring in the hybrid mattress moves independently; thus, providing more support than the open spring counterparts.
On the other hand, continuous coil mattresses are a budget-friendly option. The coil system of such mattresses is a single looped wire. Another version, open coil system, features single springs fixed together with one wire. They are both cheap options, but they aren’t as comfortable or long-lasting as the pocket springs.
Mattress firmness
Whether you want a firm hybrid mattress or one that’s plush, the choice is out there to pick accordingly. Some models have multiple firmnesses in one, while others have a selection for you to choose from at checkout.
Your specific needs
A good hybrid mattress should give decent support and comfort to any sleepers. But this should be more for people with special needs such as back pains. For example, proper spine alignment while sleeping is paramount. Additionally, it should relieve pressure at the joints. If you are heavier, consider buying a hybrid firm mattress, and if you are lighter, a soft option might be better.
Warranty and sleep trial
Let’s hope you never need to use the warranty, but it’s always handy to have a lengthy warranty at your disposal. In our experience, hybrid mattresses will not sag or deform easily, but still, seeking a 10-year and above warranty is preferable.
As for sleep trial, trying a mattress at home for several weeks is the new norm. Not many people return a mattress within the sleep trial, but make sure the trial length suits your fancy. But, realistically, anything over 90-days is good, and more than enough time to decide.
Our Favorite Hybrid Mattress
Best Hybrid Mattress (Top 8 Roundup)
To present the best hybrid mattress, we evaluated 25 products and narrowed it down to just 8. We then checked 17 different sources for data validation which totalled 45 hours of research. Below are some of the criteria we evaluated when selecting our roundup:
- The type of hybrid construction
- The arrangement of the layers involved
- How well it performs in terms of comfort and support
Here’s our top picks at a glance
- Layla Hybrid – Editor’s Pick
- Bear Hybrid – Best For Athletes & Active People
- Titan – Best For Heavy People
- WinkBed – Lifetime Warranty
- Saatva Classic – Best For Couples/Sex
- Leesa Hybrid – Sleeps Cool
- Dreamcloud – Premium Feel
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an effective hybrid mattress in a box, neither of the above will disappoint. Each has been handpicked and selected from a plethora of choices. However, to find the best hybrid mattress for your particular needs can be a little more tricky, considering the multiple brands in the market today.
Personally, our favorite in 2022 currently still stands as the Layla Hybrid. It has a flippable dual-firmness to choose from, the cooling copper is extremely effective, and the comfort and support are on point for all sleeping positions. Also, the trial and warranty are in line with the industry standard in this mid-price range category.
Ultimately, when it comes to your buying decision, it should be guided with facts like size, budget, mattress material, and the contouring you need.
Author Info
Helen is a passionate writer contributing her expertise in sleep science and wellness to our readers. With a background in psychology and a love for exploring the intricacies of a good night’s rest, she aims to help readers achieve improved sleep and overall well-being through her insightful articles.