Could a plush hybrid mattress be your ideal this Memorial day? Hybrid beds (foam and coils) feature heavily in our best mattress of the year guide, but many of these come in a medium firm rating only. For brands that only make one mattress, medium firm is seen as the best ‘one size fits all’ option, and it’s fair to say that they are a good fit for a variety of sleeping styles.
But, as we all know, one size doesn’t really fit all. So if you’re not sleeping well on an existing medium firm mattress or are wondering if a plush hybrid would be a better buy in the Memorial Day mattress sales, this is the guide for you. We’ll explain what a plush hybrid mattress is and the five signs that suggest you'd sleep far better on one. Let’s get started…
What is a plush hybrid mattress?
A plush hybrid mattress, sometimes called a medium soft hybrid mattress, is one with a firmness rating of 4/10 or under, and many of this year's best hybrid mattresses for all sleepers are available in a plush comfort level. These mattresses provide a soft and cushioning feel at the top for enhanced pressure relief, whilst also including a layer of coils for added support.
The coils can also be good news for hot sleepers, as they’ll help more air to circulate. In general, plush hybrid mattresses can sleep a little warmer, due to the fact you’ll sink deeper into the mattress.
The comfort materials on the top of the coils can be made up of a variety of foams and fillings. Memory foam is a popular choice, as it contours to the sleeper and gives a body hugging feel.
The ultimate plush hybrid mattresses often have a pillow tip, which is an extra layer of soft padding sewn onto the top. These are made up of materials such as fiberfill, foam, or latex, adding an extra plushness to the mattress. Our round up of the best pillow top mattresses should be your first stop if you’re on the hunt for a plush hybrid mattress.
Today's top plush hybrid mattress sales
- Saatva: Get $400 off our top-rated bed
- Tempur-Pedic: up to $2,399 off cooling beds
- DreamCloud: up to 50% off our top Saatva rival
- Helix Sleep: 30% off + two free pillows
- Casper: up to 35% off foam and hybrid
- Avocado: up to 20% off organic mattresses
- Bear: 35% off + $500 of free bedding
5 signs you need a plush hybrid mattress, not a medium firm
1. You sleep on your side
Side sleepers need more cushioning around high impact pressure areas such as the shoulders, hips, and knees. If you sleep on your side for hours on end, you’ll be putting continuous pressure on these parts of the body and, without enough cushioning and pressure relief, you’re likely to wake up with pain.
Many of our recommended best mattresses for side sleepers are plush hybrid options, as whilst side sleepers need cushioning, they also need support to stop their hips from sinking too far into the mattress, throwing the spine out of alignment. The extra support from a coil layer allows for plenty of pressure relief, without letting sleepers sink too far into the mattress.
2. You’re a lightweight build
We should stress that again, one size doesn’t fit all here, but lighter weight sleepers often need a plusher bed. With less weight to push into the mattress, lightweight sleepers will still need contouring around their joints to prevent pressure from building up.
Of course, there will be some lightweight sleepers who prefer a firmer mattress, but in general a plush mattress is a better option. Adding in the hybrid element also helps to ensure that lightweight sleepers don’t sink in too far, which can be a problem with all-foam beds.
A plush hybrid will provide just the right blend of comfort and support for smaller bodies. There is one caveat to this and that’s lightweight stomach sleepers, who will need a firmer mattress to keep their hips aligned with the spine.
3. You’re waking up with aches and pains
As you’ll no doubt be aware, waking up with aches and pains doesn’t necessarily mean that your mattress is too firm. In fact, many of the best mattresses for back pain are medium firm. But some pain is definitely related to sleeping on a mattress that’s too firm.
If your joints are pressure against a surface that’s too firm, pressure points can build up as there’s no give in the mattress. As mentioned above, this is particularly noticeable if you’re a side sleeper, as you’ll be putting a lot of pressure on your shoulders, hips, and knees through the night.
If you’re waking up with aches and pains in these joints, it’s likely that your mattress is too firm for your sleeping style. You may also notice pain in your neck – often down to us involuntarily tensing up as we sleep due to the pressure points forming at our joints.
4. You like a more contouring feel
Many of the plush hybrid mattresses on the market offer a combination of body-hugging foams, combined with supportive coils. This means you can experience the ‘hug’ which memory foam is famous for, without being completely enveloped by the mattress.
A mattress that isn’t cradling you sufficiently is not going to lead to a restful night’s sleep
Many hybrid beds come in a medium firm rating, but there are plusher hybrids available too. A lot of them have a quilted pillow top, combined with multiple comfort layers before you get to the coil layer.
Meaning that you’ll get far more sinkage and body contouring with these mattresses than you would with a medium firm option. Deeper sinkage in a mattress can also be really useful if you’re prone to tossing and turning at night, as the ‘hug’ will help to keep you in one place.
5. You’re not getting enough sleep
Probably the most common sign that your mattress isn’t right for you is that you’re not getting enough sleep. If you’re currently sleeping on a firmer mattress and waking up frequently through the night, or waking up feeling exhausted in the morning, then the mattress could be the culprit. Struggling to find a comfortable position on a mattress that isn’t cradling you sufficiently is not going to lead to a restful night’s sleep.
Of course, before you blame the mattress, do look at other things that could be preventing you from getting enough sleep. Many of us simply go to bed too late, and then lie there staring at the blue screens of our devices. Neither of these things are conducive to rest. Try these tips for resetting your sleep schedule before you rush out to purchase a new mattress.
