When it comes to mattresses, the plush, cloud-like feel is not always a good idea. In fact, a mattress that is too soft will make your body sink into the bed, causing lousy posture and consequently back and neck pain.
On the other hand, Firm mattresses provide some pushback, which helps align your spine and relieve back pain.
If you are a stomach sleeper, a firmer bed is the best because it keeps your spine well aligned so you can sleep soundly all night long.
Firm mattresses are also better able to handle heavier weights and provide the support needed.
But aren’t memory foam mattresses supposed to be soft and plush?
Ideally, yes. Memory foam mattresses became popular because of the comfort factor, where they conform to your body and reduce pressure on your spine.
However, no memory foam mattress is made of just memory foam. In most cases, memory foam is usually the top comfort layer, meaning there are other layers beneath it providing support and structure.
How soft or firm the mattress feels depends on the thickness of the memory foam layer. If it is too thick, the bed will be soft and vice versa. The other layers beneath the memory foam also play a role in the firmness.
How is Mattress Firmness Measured?
Because firmness is subjective from person to person, mattress companies use a standard firmness scale to rate how firm a particular mattress is. This scale uses a scoring system from 1 to 10, with one being very soft and ten being extremely hard.
Most memory foam mattresses fall under medium firmness, which is between 5 and 7. A firm mattress is around 7 or 8, and experts recommend you don’t go past 8 because too firm can be uncomfortable.
The 8 Best Firm Mattresses on The Market
1. Luxury Mattress: Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress
If you want that luxury feel on your mattress, the Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress is perfect. It features a 5-pound memory foam layer on top and high density support foam at the bottom, which on top of providing optimum support, also creates a feeling of floating on the bed.
This luxury mattress is also fitted with a gel-infused layer that helps keep it cool all night long and an antimicrobial soft quilted organic cotton cover for extra comfort.
Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress is available in two firmness options. The firm one scores an 8 and is ideal for stomach and back sleepers and anyone who struggles with back pain.
Scoring between 5 and 7, the relaxed firm, is their most popular option because it combines the mooshy comfort of memory foam with the contouring support of high-density support foam.
If you want to learn more about these Satvaa mattresses you can do so on their website by going here.
2. Coolest Mattress: Brooklyn Aurora
If coolness is essential to your sleeping, this Brooklyn Aurora memory foam hybrid will make you very happy. The firm mattress scores a good 8 out of 10 in firmness, so you know your spine will be set straight.
Brooklyn Aurora uses three foam layers that work together to provide a firm and supportive sleeping surface. In each of these layers is TitanCool, a cooling technology that draws heat away from the body, leaving you cool and comfortable.
Beneath the three foam layers is a support core with two components; 1-inch high-density polyfoam and an 8-inch layer of individually pocketed innerspring coils. While all these components make it exceptionally firm, the mattress also has bounce and excellent motion isolation.
Check the price and other information about the Brooklyn Aurora here.
3. Most comfortable: Diamond Grateful Hybrid
The Diamond Grateful Hybrid mattress is made with optimum comfort and breathability in mind. It includes a memory foam layer ventilated with holes to increase airflow and pocketed coil support core that adds more air circulation.
Heavier individuals or those who like to sleep on their back or stomach can go with the firmest option, which scores an 8 on the firmness scale. The pocketed coils reinforce the edges very well, while high-density foam encasing the coils give enough pushback to make getting up easy.
If you want a mattress that perfectly hits the balance between body contouring and support, this Grateful Hybrid is the one for you.
Check the price and other information about the Diamond Grateful Hybrid mattress on their website here.
4. Best Flippable Mattress: Layla Hybrid
Every day is different, and your mattress should be too. The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with a medium firmness on one side, and a 7.5 feel on the other.
Both sides have a comfort layer consisting of copper-infused memory foam that conforms closely to your body to relieve pressure points. The copper infusion is designed to keep the memory foam from trapping too much heat so you can sleep cool all night.
As for the support, Layla Hybrid mattress is made with pocketed coils that promote airflow as well. The mattress tests incredibly well in motion isolation, edge support, and pressure relief.
Layla is our favourite mattress supplier, they’re reputable, have a great customer support and are very generous with sleep trials, free shipping and long warranties. You can learn more about the Layla Hybrid mattress here.
5. Best for Back & Stomach Sleepers: Amerisleep AS1
Amerisleep mattresses come in three firmness levels, and the AS1 is the firmest. Like all the others, AS1 boasts the plant-based Bio-Pur® memory foam with open-cell design wicks to keep you cool all night.
Not only is Bio-Pur® more breathable than traditional memory foam, but it’s also more responsive and better for the environment.
Back and stomach sleepers will revel at the pressure relief and support this mattress provides, not to mention extra cushioning, thanks to two layers of supportive foam. The AS1 won’t sag or develop soft softs, and it bounces right back after you move.
The AS1 is also very good for people with back pain, thanks to the materials and structure that makes up the mattress.
As if all those wonderful features weren’t enough, Amerisleep AS1 also comes with free shipping, a 100-night risk-free trial, and a 20-year warranty. It’s truly everything you want in a mattress and more.
If you want to learn more about the Amerisleep AS1 you can do so over at their store here.
6. Best for Back Pain: Casper Wave Hybrid
The Casper Wave Hybrid is the perfect mattress for anyone who suffers from back pain. It has a 5-layer support system that’s designed to relieve pressure from your back as well as the spine.
This system works together so well that 9 out of 10 people who use the Casper Wave Hybrid experience less back pain in a week.
How is that possible?
Well, the mattress has supportive gel pods strategically placed right under your waist and lower back, keeping your spine aligned and prevents any sinking. Gel pods provide more support than memory foam alone, which means less pain and more sleep.
To make things even more comfortable, the mattress has not one but three layers of AirScape™ perforated breathable foam and innovative springs allowing hot air and body heat to escape as you sleep.
You can find out more information as well as the price of the Casper Wave Hybrid on Amazon here.
7. Best for Side Sleepers: Helix Plus Hybrid
While firm mattresses are recommended for back and stomach sleepers, side sleepers who weigh over 130 pounds can also benefit from a little firmness. This Helix Plus Hybrid mattress provides that firm feel without sacrificing pressure relief and contouring.
The comfort system of this mattress combines two separate layers of memory foam with the added support of pocketed innerspring coils. The topmost layer is Helix’s firm memory foam that helps resist sinking on top of promoting pressure relief.
Under that is a layer of latex-like polyfoam that supplements the firm feel and adds more responsiveness. Then there is a second layer of memory foam and a thin layer of dense polyfoam to absorb pressure and noise from the innerspring coils.
The mattress sleeps relatively cool and passes motion isolation and edge support with flying colors.
You can learn more about the Helix Plus Hybrid on their website here.
8. Best Edge Support: WinkBed
The WinkBed brings a blend of bounce and cushioning, excellent edge support, and a lifetime warranty. Like the Amerisleep, you will find this mattress in 4 firmness levels, with the firmest two scoring 7 and 8 on the firmness scale.
WinkBed Plus boasts a unique comfort system that features a polyfoam layer and a 2.5-inch layer of latex. While the high-density polyfoam provides the support needed, the latex layer offers that extra bounce, contouring, and some coolness so you can sleep soundly.
However, what makes this mattress stand out is the zoned, pocketed coil system that provides targeted support and proper spinal alignment. The system also gives this mattress above average edge support and motion isolation.
It is truly a high profile mattress at 13.5-inch thickness, so you may need some deep sheets.
You can find more info about the WinkBed on their website by going here.
Final Verdict
Each of these firm Mattresses bring something unique to the table, whether it’s excellent edge support, cooling mechanism, or targeted pressure relief. If we had to choose one, the Layla Hybrid takes the cup with its great pressure relief, support and cooling properties.
