
Alison Barretta
Based in Philadelphia, 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 mattresses to immersive luxury 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

Don't let your FSA dollars expire! Buy a smart bed in the after Christmas mattress sales instead
By Alison Barretta published
With FSA funds, you have to use them before you lose them at the end of the year. Consider spending them on a new smart bed in the after Christmas sales.

Hurry! Get Tempur-Pedic's bed-in-a-box at 30% off in this year's after Christmas mattress sales before it's too late
By Alison Barretta published
No sweat if you missed Tempur-Pedic's Black Friday offer for its Tempur-Cloud bed-in-a-box. It's returned as an after Christmas mattress deal for a limited time.

This AI-powered smart bed is $500 off in the after Christmas sales — but this deal won't be around for long
By Alison Barretta last updated
Bryte is back with another discount, with $500 off its AI-powered smart bed during its after Christmas sale.

What are mattress covers made from? Everything you need to know
By Alison Barretta published
An easy guide to the different types of mattress covers and how they affect your sleep comfort.

Saatva Classic vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid: Which pillow top mattress should you buy
By Rachael Penn published
In our Saatva Classic vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid showdown, we compare these two popular mattresses to help you find the right fit for your needs and budget.

Nectar Classic vs Nectar Luxe: Which memory foam mattress should you buy for aches and pains?
By Alison Barretta published
Our Nectar Classic vs Nectar Luxe showdown compares the design and performance of these memory foam mattresses based on our hands-on testing.

Which Nectar mattress should you buy if you have back pain? I’m a bed tester — here’s my advice
By Jo Plumridge published
Here are the three Nectar mattresses I recommend based on our testing, research, and customer reviews...

Rare deal alert — get a custom-made Pluto Pillow for just $105 while you still can this Cyber Monday
By Alison Barretta published
Pluto Pillow hosts one deal a year, and this is it. Save $20 on its award-winning customizable pillow.

Should you buy a past-season mattress in the Cyber Monday sales? I'm a sleep deals writer — here's my take
By Alison Barretta published
I weigh up the pros and cons of buying past-season mattresses in Cyber Monday and closeout sales.

Need an air mattress for holiday guests? Here's 3 under $65 in the Black Friday sales
By Becky George published
Finding a high-quality air mattress can be challenging, but we’ve rounded up 3 top performers, now available at Black Friday prices.

The Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress is 27% off this Black Friday — why I think it's worth upgrading from the cheaper model
By Alison Barretta published
Side sleepers can now save 27% on the Midnight Luxe Mattress thanks to an exclusive Black Friday deal at Helix

Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress review
By Alison Barretta last updated
The Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress is a handcrafted luxury foam offering that comes in two firmness options, but how does it fare for those with back pain? We tested it for three weeks to find out.

Puffy Cloud mattress review
By Jonathan Knoder last updated
The all-foam Puffy Cloud is an affordable mid-range mattress – we tried it for a month to see if it really is a back sleepers dream?

I slept on the $7,000 Bryte Balance AI-powered smart bed — here's why I think it's worth the money
By Alison Barretta published
I slept on the $7,000 Bryte Balance AI-powered smart bed at the Park Terrace Hotel in New York City — here how I found it

I tried the Tempur-Adapt + Cooling Mattress Topper — here's why you should buy in Black Friday sales
By Alison Barretta published
Experience cooler comfort for up to 55% less with Amazon's Black Friday deal on Tempur-Pedic's Tempur-Adapt + Cooling Mattress Topper

Is your mattress past its prime? Here's why Black Friday is the right time to replace it
By Alison Barretta last updated
See how often you should replace your mattress and learn when it's time for a change. If that's right now, you're in luck as Black Friday mattress sales are under way

Is the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress worth it for side sleepers? We tried it to find out
By Alison Barretta published
The Helix Sunset Luxe could be the ideal choice for lighter weight side sleepers seeking a softer, pillow-top mattress. Here's what we discovered during our hands-on review...

Is the Helix Midnight Elite mattress worth it? I tried it — here's what I think
By Alison Barretta published
The Helix Midnight Elite one of the most luxurious mattresses for side sleepers I've seen, but is it worth the money? I tried it to find out...

Saatva returns policy: Key things to know before buying
By Jack Ridsdale published
We’ve looked through the Saatva returns policy with a fine-toothed comb. Here’s what we learned about how to return a Saatva mattress and other products…

Sleep Number has released a new smart mattress — and it's a game-changer for hot sleepers
By Alison Barretta published
The Sleep Number ClimateCool is the brand's newest temperature-controlled smart bed. Here's what you need to know.

I'm a mattress tester — 3 red flags to avoid when buying a bed in Labor Day sales
By Alison Barretta published
Don't lose sleep because of buyer's remorse — just follow these smart Labor Day mattress shopping tips instead.

I have a bad back — here are the 3 luxury mattresses I'd buy during Labor Day sales
By Alison Barretta published
I'm a mattress tester with a bad back. These are the luxury beds I'd go for in today's Labor Day sales

Should you buy a mattress in the Labor Day sales or wait for Black Friday?
By Alison Barretta published
Labor Day mattress sales are live, but is it wise to wait until Black Friday to buy? As a veteran deal hunter and mattress tester, here's my take...
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