Nectar Hybrid Mattress review in brief
We’re big fans of Nectar’s original, all-foam model and rate it as one of the best mattresses you can currently buy (you can read more about it in our Nectar memory foam mattress review). So how does the Nectar Hybrid Mattress stack up against the original?
The Nectar Hybrid Mattress is the brand's mid-range hybrid model. Designed with a combination of foams and microcoils, we slept on a double Nectar Hybrid mattress for six weeks, testing it on all major areas of performance, including pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support and cooling. Our complete Nectar Hybrid mattress review is below, but if you're short on time, here's the short version....
The Nectar Hybrid sits between the Nectar Essential Hybrid and the Nectar Premier Hybrid. We've tried those as well, so you can also read our Nectar Essential Hybrid mattress review and Nectar Premier Hybrid mattress review to compare them. Our testers found the Nectar Hybrid most suited to side sleepers, although many back sleepers should also enjoy sleeping on it. Nectar rates it a 6-6.5 out of 10 on its firmness scale, but we felt it slept slightly firmer at around 7 out of 10.
Type: Hybrid
Materials: Memory foam, other foam, microcoils, polyester and polypropylene (cover)
Firmness: Medium-firm (Nectar rate at 6-6.5/10; we rate at 7/10)
Depth: 25cm
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Sale Price: from £499 at Nectar
There’s plenty of cushioning from the foams in the mattress so that most side sleepers won’t feel any pressure build-up around the shoulders and hips, although lightweight side sleepers may find it too firm. Despite this, our main tester did feel that it was a little lacking in lower back support, with the mattress dipping further than they would have liked despite the zoned support foam. We also felt that the mattress wasn’t firm enough for stomach sleepers, who are likely to find their hips sinking in too far and throwing out spinal alignment.
On the other hand, motion isolation was good, and we think it’s unlikely you’ll be disturbed by a partner unless they’re dancing vigorously in their sleep. We were also impressed by the excellent temperature regulation – our hottest sleeper never felt uncomfortable on the mattress, which we tested during a fairly rubbish British summer. Edge support could have been stronger, and we did notice some dipping while sitting on the edge. However, it’s by no means the worst culprit in this area.
Where the mattress did fall fractionally was with the fit of the cover. It doesn’t fit brilliantly and is loose, leading to fitted sheets above it ruckling up more easily. The cover also isn’t washable and instead can only be spot-cleaned. But overall our testers slept well on the mattress and would recommend it to a range of sleepers. Thanks to regular sales, you won't ever have to pay full price for it – and you'll receive a lifetime warranty and a one-year trial, too.
Nectar Hybrid Mattress review: Price & trial
- Mid-range price after regular sales
- Additional savings with bundle deals
- 365-night trial and lifetime warranty
The Nectar Hybrid Mattress sits in the middle of Nectar’s hybrid lineup and is in the mid-range price bracket overall. Regular Nectar mattress sales mean there’s usually an offer on, either money off or a free bedding bundle. We've also experienced some luck haggling with the Nectar AI chatbot for a discount if there wasn't one ongoing.
Nectar mattresses have what's called a 'Total Value,' which is essentially the brand's RRP. It's based on the average of three comparable mattresses sold elsewhere, according to Nectar. As prices fluctuate all the time, so does this 'Total Value.' This could potentially mean lower prices from Nectar in the upcoming Black Friday sales.
Here are the current sale prices for the Nectar Hybrid Mattress as of September 2024:
- Twin: £499
- Small Double: £599
- Double: £649
- King RRP: £699
- Super King RRP: £749
You'll be able to save with occasional Nectar Hybrid bundle deals, as well, which include a bed frame, mattress protector, bedding set, duvet and up to two pillows. Extras with all Nectar mattresses are superb. You’ll get a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty and free named day shipping. There’s also the option to have your old mattress removed, although you’ll need to pay £45 for this.
Nectar Hybrid Mattress review: Materials & design
- A 25cm mattress with six layers
- Quilted cooling cover and microcoils
- 7-zone supportive foam base
Made up of six layers, the Nectar Hybrid Mattress is 25cm deep. It’s easy to move around and find fitted sheets that neatly fit.
Starting at the top, you’ll find a quilted polypropylene cooling cover that’s designed to dissipate heat. (This cover is removable, but not washable.) Underneath this is the dynamic support layer – a breathable layer of foam that is also meant to help regulate temperature whilst providing some bounce to the surface.
Next up you’ll find 1,600 individually encapsulated micro springs, which Nectar say are specifically designed to help circulate fresh air when you move. Of course, this might just be marketing speak, but spring layers will naturally increase breathability as there are gaps in between the springs to allow for airflow.
Underneath this is a layer of pressure-relieving memory foam to contour to the body, followed by a 7-zone foam base for different levels of support. The mattress is finished off with positioning base material that prevents the mattress from moving about on your bed frame.
Nectar uses foams that are CertiPUR certified, ensuring they're low in emissions that affect indoor air quality and free from formaldehyde, lead, mercury and other toxins.
Nectar Hybrid Mattress review: Firmness & comfort
- A medium-firm mattress that we rate a 7/10
- Particularly suited for back and side sleepers
- Zoned base offers more support where needed
Our main tester has slept on all three Nectar hybrid mattresses in the UK range and thought the Nectar Hybrid was slightly firmer than the rest. Nectar rate this mattress at 6-6.5 (out of 10), but we felt it had slightly less sinkage in its foam layers and provided a firmer sleeping surface. We rate the Nectar Hybrid a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of comfort for the vast majority of back and side sleepers. The foams are cushioning and give plenty of pressure relief. This was confirmed when we placed a 20kg weight into the middle of the mattress and measured a sinkage of 9.5cm.
Our lead tester - who shares a bed with her husband and array of foster cats -alternates between sleeping on her back and side and found the mattress comfortable in either position. However, as a lightweight sleeper, she did feel a little pressure build up on their hip when side sleeping. For this reason, we’d suggest it's better suited to average and heavier weight side sleepers.
Back sleepers should have plenty of support from the coils and zoned base. Our lightweight tester did feel the mattress dip a little in the lumbar but was a fan of firmer support in this region due to lower back pain. We think most sleepers will enjoy the curve of the foam moulding to the back.
However, we believe the Nectar Hybrid will be too soft for stomach sleepers, as their midsections will likely sink below the rest of their bodies. (The Otty Firm mattress is particularly suited to those who like to sleep on their front.)
Of course, mattress firmness is subjective and influenced by a number of factors, such as any aches and pains, body weight, sleeping style and whether or not you share your bed with a partner. Nectar offer a one-year trial, which is plenty of time to decide whether or not it's right for you.
Nectar Hybrid Mattress review: Performance
- Very good motion isolation
- Excellent temperature regulation
- Edge support could be better
Our main tester and her husband slept on a UK double Nectar Hybrid Mattress for six weeks, inviting other adults of varying body types and sleeping styles to try it out to get a wider view of how the mattress feels.
As well as recording our own experiences, we also carried out several objective and real-world tests to gauge motion isolation, temperature regulation and edge support per our mattress methodology. Here's how we got on...
Motion isolation
Decent motion isolation is particularly important on a mattress if you’re sharing it with a restless sleeper. Motion can reverberate across the mattress and disturb sleep – plus, you don’t want a mattress that shifts markedly when someone gets in or out of it.
The Nectar Hybrid provided good motion isolation, with neither of our testers being disturbed by the other’s movement during the night. This is down to the multiple layers of foam in the mattress on either side of the micro springs layer, which helps to prevent any movement being felt.
This was backed up by a simple drop test. We used an empty wine glass, dropping a 4kg weight at varying distances from the glass to observe movement. There was no movement at 60cm and 25cm, with the glass falling over gently at 10cm. Provided neither one of you thrashes violently throughout the night, we think you should fare well here.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Temperature regulation
We tested the Nectar Hybrid Mattress through late July and August in an admittedly fairly dismal British summer, sleeping under a 4.5 tog duvet. Although our main tester is of a fairly reptilian disposition when it comes to sleeping temperature, her husband is a hot sleeper and is always used as the guinea pig for temperature regulation. He felt cool throughout the night, even on the odd night when temperatures were higher.
The quilted cooling cover is woven with polyester and polypropylene, a plastic with high resistance to heat. Cooling is also helped by the layer of breathable dynamic support foam and the bed of micro coils, which promote airflow. Of course, really hot sleepers probably won’t find this mattress cooling enough but it should be comfortable for the vast majority of sleepers.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Edge support
Edge support is important in a mattress as it allows sleepers to spread out and use the full width of the bed, as well as making it easier to get in and out of bed and sit comfortably on it.
This was the one area of the mattress that we found slightly disappointing. We tested the sinkage of the Nectar Hybrid by placing a 20kg weight at its edge and found that it sank by 10.5cm – a full cm more than in its centre. (Ideally, the centre should sink more, as that's where you need pressure relief.) The mattress does sink at the edges, and this is particularly noticeable when getting in and out of bed.
It's by no means the worst we’ve seen and it’s still fairly easy to sit on the bed, it’s just that you will sink as you do so. This, coupled with the fact that the mattress isn’t as tall as some of its competitors, could make it a little bit more of a struggle to stand up easily if you have any mobility problems.
That said, when sleeping on the bed, the sinkage was far less noticeable, and we never felt that we were in danger of rolling out of bed.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Nectar Hybrid Mattress review: Delivery & setup
- Free named day delivery; mattress removal costs £45
- Delivery to a room of your choosing for £25
- Can sleep on it in 3-5 hours but takes up to 2 days to fully expand
Our Nectar Hybrid Mattress arrived by standard delivery to our front door. The night before delivery we received a three-hour time slot via text message, making the whole process very simple. At checkout you have the option of choosing a day for your delivery and, for £25, you can upgrade delivery to a room of your choosing. Mattress removal is also available at a cost of £45.
The Nectar Hybrid Mattress was delivered rolled and boxed. Inside the box you’ll find an instruction booklet and a cutter. Unpacking the mattress was simple – we simply sliced the plastic open (carefully) with the cutter and rolled it out to expand. For once, the cutter was actually of quite good quality; we’ve had some that have snapped immediately. The mattress took a little while to start expanding but, once it did, it was ready to sleep on after about five hours. Do note that full expansion can take up to 48 hours.
We did notice a little off-gassing for an hour or two, but it wasn’t particularly pungent and faded quickly. We also liked the fact that the mattress was fairly light whilst rolled up, which made it easier to carry upstairs. However, the lack of handles on the bed is a shame as it does make it a little less easy to turn around and rotate.
Nectar Hybrid Mattress review: Customer reviews
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 350 reviews (September 2024)
- Praise for the balance of comfort and support
- Criticism for lack of durability and a too-firm feel
As well as our own experiences with this mattress, we also looked at customer reviews to see what other sleepers thought of the Nectar Hybrid. Reviews on the Nectar website are gathered from TrustPilot, where the brand as a whole has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, with 71% of those reviews being five stars.
Reviews for the Nectar Hybrid Mattress are positive, receiving 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 350 reviews (September 2024). A lot of sleepers enjoyed the slightly firmer feel of the springs, combined with softer foams for comfort. Some also claimed this mattress had helped with aches and pains.
However, criticism came from those who thought the mattress was too firm, and there were a few complaints about the mattress sagging over time.
Should you buy the Nectar Hybrid Mattress?
The Nectar Hybrid is the firmest of the three Nectar hybrid mattress options we've tested, but we still felt that the foams provided plenty of comfort for side and back sleeping. There’s ample contouring around the shoulders and hips, but lightweight side sleepers may not find it quite soft enough, nor will strict stomach sleepers or heavier sleepers receive the level of support they need.
The mattress provided excellent temperature regulation, and the hot sleeper on our testing panel never felt uncomfortable overnight, even during an uncomfortable British summer. Motion isolation is also excellent, as we don't think you'll be disturbed by a partner moving about. Edge support was a little disappointing though and we wish the cover fitted better (and was washable).
Those quibbles aside, we think the Nectar Hybrid is a comfortable mattress for a wide range of sleepers. If you can't quite afford its more luxe (and pricier) sibling, the Nectar Premier Hybrid, the Nectar Hybrid is a sound alternative if you don't mind a slightly firmer feel and a shorter profile.
