Alison Barretta

Alison Barretta

Expert mattress tester

Based in Philadelphia, USA, freelance writer and editor Alison Barretta has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over 15 years. Since 2020 she's been helping Tom's Guide expand its robust library of sleep content by researching the latest trends, speaking with renowned experts, and going behind the scenes at Saatva, Casper, Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, and 3Z Brands. Alison has reviewed everything from budget memory foam mattresses and luxurious innerspring beds to immersive sound pods and $7,000 smart beds that automatically adjust to your every move. When she isn't reviewing mattresses or searching for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found practicing yoga and martial arts, experimenting with recipes, getting too invested in the Philadelphia Flyers, and snoozing with her cat / assistant mattress tester Alex.

Latest articles by Alison Barretta

A couple sit on the Casper The One mattress in a bedroom, a Tom's Guide price drop deals graphic (left)

The best Casper mattress sales for September 2025: 35% off bed bundles

By Alison Barretta last updated

In September's Casper mattress sale you can save big with extended Labor Day discounts, including 35% off bundles.

Mattresses
The Saatva Classic Luxury Innerspring Hybrid mattress photographed in a blue bedroom, with a blue Tom's Guide Price Drop image overlaid on the bottom right hand corner of the image

Saatva mattress sale September 2025: Save up to $525 on handcrafted beds

By Claire Davies last updated

You can still save up to $525 on a luxury mattress in the last chance Labor Day sale at Saatva — our guide to the deals.

Mattresses
A close-up shot of the corner of the Zinus Green Team Memory Foam Mattress with a deals badge in the bottom left-hand corner.

Zinus mattress sales September 2025: Save on dorm room-ready beds

By Ruth Jones, Alison Barretta last updated

Explore our expert guide to this month's Zinus mattress deals, which lets you save better on these affordable beds, ideal for college students.

Mattresses
A woman sits on the Siena Memory Foam Mattress with a deals label

Siena mattress sale and deals for September 2025: Budget beds from just $149

By Frances Daniels last updated

You can now snag deals up to 60% off on budget-friendly Siena mattresses reducing the prices even better this month.

Mattresses
The Tom's Guide Sleep Editor jumping onto a mattress that's on sale for Labor Day

I'm a mattress sales veteran — these are the 25+ best extended Labor Day deals still live this morning

By Claire Davies last updated

I'm tracking the Labor Day sleep and mattress sales — these are the best 25+ deals still live today on mattresses, bedding, pillows, sleep tech and more

Mattresses
A woman sits on the edge of the Nectar Premier memory foam mattress in our sleep testing studio, checking the edge support and pressure relief. In the right hand corner, a close up of her hand pressing into the surface of the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses are excellent for people with aches and pains — after rigorous testing, these are the 3 we'd buy in Labor Day sales

By Alison Barretta published

Find out which memory foam mattresses our expert testers recommend you check out in this weekend's sales if back and hip pain keep you up at night.

Mattresses
The Helix Midnight Luxe mattress in a bedroom, with a Tom's Guide badge overlaid saying "ACT FAST!"

I Track Mattress Prices for a Living and This Is the Number One Reason You Shouldn’t Wait Until Black Friday To Buy a New Bed

By Alison Barretta published

Should you wait until Black Friday to buy a mattress? Normally, I'd say yes, but here's why I'm recommending you shop for a new bed during the Labor Day sales.

Mattresses
The DreamCloud Classic being inspected by two young women in a blue dorm room. A deals badge with the words "PRICE DROP" is seen in the bottom left hand corner.

This Labor Day Mattress Bundle Provides Everything You Need to Upgrade Your Twin XL Dorm Bed — All for Just $549 This Labor Day

By Alison Barretta published

Here's the DreamCloud Labor Day mattress deal we think makes the grade — and it even comes with $599 worth of free bedding.

Mattresses
We test the best cheap mattress, the Siena Memory Foam, to find out if its good value

Best cheap mattress 2025: 7 expert-tested budget beds under $500 for a queen

By Claire Davies, Frances Daniels last updated

We've tested a variety of budget beds, and these cheap mattresses offered us high-quality comfort at a low-cost.

Mattresses
Two women sit on the Saatva Classic mattress in a bedroom. they're looking at the mattress trying to decide if this is the right one for their sleep needs

The best luxury mattress 2025: Top 10 picks tested by sleep experts

By Alison Barretta last updated

Our team of mattress testers with nearly 5 years of experience have chosen the 10 most luxurious mattresses they've ever slept on.

Mattresses
The Siena Memory Foam Mattress placed on a white bed frame in our blue testing bedroom

Siena Memory Foam Mattress review: Excellent support on a budget

By Alison Barretta last updated

We've retested the Siena Mattress to see if this affordable memory foam bed can deliver high quality comfort for low budgets.

Mattresses
The new Tempur-Adapt mattress in medium on display at the Tempur-Pedic retail store in Warrington, PA

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress review: 'legendary pressure relief' and impressive support

By Alison Barretta last updated

We slept on the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress and assessed its performance across comfort, support, motion isolation and more.

Mattresses
Saatva Viewing Room Philly exterior

Where can you buy a Saatva mattress?

By Ruth Jones last updated

Is it better to buy a Saatva mattress online or in person at one of its Viewing Rooms? We have all the details.

Mattresses
Our lead reviewer, Alison, takes a nap on her side to test out the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper's cooling comfort

Struggling to sleep in the heat? A mattress topper can help — look for these 3 materials to stay cool at night

By Alison Barretta published

I test cooling mattress toppers for a living, and here are the heat-dissipating materials I rely on for a refreshing, sweat-free sleep.

Mattress Toppers
A woman stands next to the Saatva Classic Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, pressing her hands into the medium-firm surface to test the pressure relief

The best Saatva mattresses in 2025: Our expert guide

By Alison Barretta last updated

The Saatva Classic is our number one mattress. Discover the rest of the line-up with our guide to the best Saatva mattresses, tested and chosen by experts.

Mattresses
Two people sit on top of the Plank Firm flippable double-sided mattress in a bedroom

The best firm mattress 2025, approved by sleep experts

By Alison Barretta last updated

Time to upgrade your bed to something more supportive and solid? We've slept on and tested the latest firm mattresses to bring you our guide to the very best options.

Mattresses
Nolah Evolution mattress on a bed in a bedroom

Nolah Evolution 15 mattress review 2025

By Alison Barretta last updated

We reviewed the Nolah Evolution 15 hybrid mattress to find out how this popular bed performs in terms of comfort, cooling and support for different sleep styles.

Mattresses
The Allswell Mattress with no bedding in a clean, light-colored bedroom.

The Allswell mattress review 2025: hybrid support at a low price

By Alison Barretta last updated

The Allswell mattress promises medium-firm comfort and a cooler sleep, but does it deliver? We slept on it for a month to find out...

Mattresses
High-Density Foam Mattress Topper

Saatva High-Density Foam Mattress Topper review 2025: thin but comfort-boosting luxury for side sleepers

By Alison Barretta last updated

The Saatva High-Density Foam Mattress Topper promises to give beds a premium comfort boost, but does it? We slept on it for three weeks to find out...

Mattress Toppers
Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress in a bedroom

Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress review

By Alison Barretta last updated

We review the Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress to discover whether this budget-friendly, all-natural bed is good for your sleep as well as the planet

Mattresses
Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper on top of a Lucid mattress

Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper review 2025: An affordable way to add cool comfort to hard beds

By Alison Barretta last updated

The Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper promises a cost-effective way to make your bed extremely plush. We tested it for two weeks to see if it delivers...

Mattress Toppers
Saatva Mattress Topper

Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper review 2025: cooling back support for all beds and sleep positions

By Alison Barretta last updated

The Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper promises cooling comfort for all sleepers, but does it deliver? We slept on it for two weeks to find out

Mattress Toppers
The DreamCloud Hybrid Memory Foam Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, shot from above

DreamCloud Mattress review 2025

By Alison Barretta last updated

We tested the DreamCloud Mattress for three weeks to see if this affordable hybrid can deliver the luxury sleep it promises.

Mattresses
The image shows the white Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Latex Pillow against a white background

Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Latex Pillow review

By Alison Barretta last updated

We slept on Coop's brand-new adjustable latex pillow for one month. Is it another winning addition to the brand's prolific product lineup? Here's how we fared.

Pillows & Bedding
Suitcase next to a hotel bed

What mattresses do hotels use? The Ritz, Hilton, Premier Inn and more

By Alison Barretta last updated

Explore the mattresses each hotel uses around the world — plus the best deals so you can recreate hotel luxury at home

Mattresses
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