I'm tracking the best luxury mattresses and their affordable alternatives in the Black Friday sales LIVE — Helix, Nectar, Avocado Green and more

Ready for an affordable alternative to the Tempur-Adapt?

Okay, while this isn't necessarily a 'new' Black Friday deal, the Nectar Classic one of the best value memory foam mattresses you can shop today. Here's why:

The Nectar Classic is an all-foam mattress with a build made up of three foam layers and a cooling cover. This makes it an excellent mattress for couples because these layers absorb motion, making it less likely you'll be disturbed if you're a bed sharer.

While it does have some of that classic memory foam cushioning, you won't sink into the bed. So both side and back sleepers should feel enough support. For this reason, it's also a good alternative to the Tempur-Adapt for those who prefer a slightly softer feel.

This mattress is Nectar's entry-level mattress and it's always sold at $649 for a queen. If you wanted even more pressure relief, or an extra touch of luxury, you could opt for the Nectar Premier, which incorporates thicker foam and more cooling materials and sells for $949 for a queen.

Looking for luxury memory foam? We've got you covered...

Tempur-Pedic is one of the most well-known mattress brands there is... and it's known for its specialist, pressure-relieving foams (first used by NASA to cushion pilots during take off).

And its most popular, luxury mattress, the Tempur-Adapt has dropped by $200 this Black Friday.

With layers of specialist memory foam, this mattress delivers excellent pressure relief — and while we think it's most suited to back sleepers, side sleepers who like a firmer feel should also find this mattress comfortable.

With an 11" height and a relatively simple design, this mattress won't necessarily feel like a 'luxury' mattress made from several layers of plush material. But what makes this mattress luxury is how exceptionally supportive it is. Our lead tester, who experiences back pain in the mornings, found that this mattress alleviated the issue almost completely.

A cool-to-touch cover and the open-cell foam used is designed to keep the mattress cool — however, during testing we noticed that heat did build beneath us. For this reason, we wouldn't recommend the Tempur-Adapt to hot sleepers. Instead, consider the cheap Siena Signature mattress which aced our temperature regulation tests.

Tempur-Pedic mattress sales are notoriously hard to predict. While we've seen this $200 off Black Friday deal before (most recently for Labor Day), we don't expect the price to drop any lower than $1,999 for a queen. So it's worth shopping before the deal ends.

What makes a mattress good for side sleepers?

As a side sleeper myself, I know that when a mattress ISN'T good for side sleepers, you really feel it.

When sleeping on your side, pressure can easily build up in the shoulders, hips and knees because this is where the majority of your body weight is focused. If a mattress is too firm, these areas are likely to become sore and painful - sometimes even causing poor spine alignment.

The key is cushioning.

That doesn't mean a mattress so soft you sink into the middle of it. Instead, all you need are cushioning layers that contour around the body and 'give' just enough to relieve pressure, but not so much that your hips sink too far.

So the best mattresses for side sleepers have those all-important comfort layers near the top of the bed that cradle the body. Consider browsing through the best pillow-top mattresses of the year, as these are great at relieving pressure.

Comfort on a budget...

Don't panic side sleepers!

If you're looking for luxury but don't have thousands of pounds to drop on a new bed, the current Black Friday deal on the EGOHOME 12" Black Hybrid mattress is one of the best we've seen — and we think it's a worthy rival of the Midnight Luxe.

This EGOHOME has some impressive features considering its price. Here's a quick overview of my favorites:

CopperGel AeroFusion Foam: Copper in mattresses can be especially effectively for regulating temperature throughout the night. This is because it conducts heat away from the body.

Anti-Heat Graphene cover: Graphite is one of the most effective cooling materials, so we expect this mattress to help keep even the hottest sleepers cool.

BraceSleeper Comfort Foam: This layer of foam encase the coils and with them, delivers a good balance of support and comfort.

After our EGOHOME Black 12" Hybrid review, we'd recommend this mattress to those who experience hot flashes or night sweats, thanks to its excellent cooling capabilities.

But the reason it's a great, budget alternative to the Helix Midnight Luxe is because of its medium feel and excellent pressure relief. Our lead reviewers found that the cushioning around the shoulders in particular was fantastic.

Under $400 for a queen mattress with this many luxury features is quite frankly a steal. And in the Black Friday sales, you can get the EGOHOME Black 12" Hybrid mattress for $352 (was $799).

One for the side sleepers...

Next up is one of the best mattress deals for side sleepers we've found so far: 27% off the Helix Midnight Luxe. This is one of the most luxury mattresses side sleepers can buy. Here's what you need to know:

My editor, Nicola Appleton, is obsessed with the Helix Midnight Luxe. And after putting it to the test in our Sleep Lab and sleeping on it for a few nights on a trip to the 3Z factory in Arizona, I understand why.

Another hybrid, the Midnight Luxe is truly indulgent with a seven layer build designed with side sleepers in particular in mind. And the plush, quilted pillow top layer with gel memory foam contours around pressure points perfectly. It also has GlacioTex and Tencel (specialist cooling materials) to help keep temperatures down.

Beneath this are layers of high-density memory foam for even more pressure relief, as well as an ErgoAlign layer that offers zoned support to the lumbar area. Plus, you'll get even more responsive support from the layer of individually wrapped coils.

In the Helix Black Friday sale, you can get 27% off with our code TOMS27. This brings a queen down to $1,751 (was $2,398.66).

I've tested both the Saatva Classic and the DreamCloud Classic: Here's how to choose between them

I've been lucky enough to test the Saatva Classic in our Sleep Lab and sleep on the DreamCloud Classic for three weeks.

That puts me in a good position to help you choose between the two. While both suit most sleepers and have a cushioning, responsive feel, here's my advice:

Opt for the Saatva if...

You experience back pain: The lumbar support features in the Saatva Classic make it an excellent mattress for back pain. More affordable alternatives won't deliver that kind of specialist support designed to ease back pain.

You sleep hot: When we retested the Saatva Classic, we were very impressed by its ability to keep things cool. It excelled in temperature regulating, meaning hot sleepers shouldn't feel warmth build beneath them. The DreamCloud was less effective in this area.

You sleep on your stomach: The DreamCloud is slightly too soft for stomach sleeping, but Saatva's support means its suitable for just about any sleeping position. Especially considering you can choose from three different firmness options...

Opt for the DreamCloud if...

You're a heavier sleeper: The DreamCloud Classic has a weight capacity of 1,000lbs compared to Saatva's 600lbs, so heavier sleepers will get more durable support from DreamCloud.

You're looking for best value: The DreamCloud Classic is by far the best value mattress we've ever tested. What you get for your money is unbeatable.

Is there an affordable alternative to the Saatva Classic?

So, while the Saatva Classic is good value for what you get, it's still a large investment. If you're looking for luxury that remains at a mid-range price ($600-$1,000 for a queen), consider the DreamCloud Classic which is currently $699 for a queen, plus $599 of free bedding:

I've personally slept on the DreamCloud Classic for three weeks, so I can attest to just how comfortable it is. As one of the best hybrid mattresses you can buy this year, the DreamCloud incorporates layers of responsive and therapeutic memory foam as well as innerspring coils to create a medium feel mattress (neither too firm or too soft) with a responsive, slightly bouncy feel.

As a side sleeper, I loved the feel of this mattress. I didn't sink into it, but stayed on top of the mattress, aligned. It has a more plush feel than the Saatva, which helps stop pressure from building in the shoulders, hips and knees.

While back sleepers should still feel supported, stomach sleepers will likely find it too soft. The DreamCloud is missing the advanced lumbar support of the Saatva, but most sleepers should still feel enough support to sleep comfortably and pain free.

While the price of a queen ($699) remains the same throughout the year, the current DreamCloud mattress sale offers $599 of free bedding with every purchase, making it even better value. In fact, the DreamCloud Classic is the best value mattress we've ever tested.

The number 1 best luxury mattress deal this Black Friday...

Okay here we are. Drum roll please...

First up, is not just the best luxury mattress of the year, but the best mattress we've ever tested: The Saatva Classic.

I was recently part of the panel that retested this mattress for an updated Saatva Classic review, and I was not disappointed. As soon as I lay on it, the thing that struck me most was how comfortable back sleeping felt.

I'm a side sleeper, primarily because I've never found a bed that supports my back properly. But the Saatva was different, and here's why:

• High density memory foam lumbar crown: This layer sits beneath the Euro pillow top and relieves pressure in the lumbar zone. It also draws heat away from the body to help temperature regulation.
• Active Spinal Wire: This is incorporated into the layer and its technology that helps keep the spine aligned.
• Zoned quilting: Above this layer is quilted cover that's zoned for lumbar support, meaning you can feel extra support in the third of the mattress where your back sits.

These features, plus the innerspring system, meant that I stayed on top of the mattress and didn't sink into it. The mattress cushioned and contoured my body, filling in the gap where my spine naturally arches. The result? Instant comfort.

But what makes this mattress really luxurious, comparable to hotel mattresses, is the quality of the craftmanship and the materials. Each mattress is made to order, crafted in the USA.

So, while the Saatva sells at a premium price (usually $2,139 for a queen), it's actually impressive value for what you get. So, with $400 off in the Saatva mattress sales, it's an excellent time to invest. We don't think this bed will drop any lower in price for a long time.

Still out of your budget? No worries. Hold tight for the more affordable mattress deal we recommend you shop...

Good (late) morning shoppers!

The big day itself is here: Black Friday. And that means insane price drops and huge discounts on big mattress brands like Saatva, Nectar, Helix and more...

I'm Lauren Jeffries, the Sleep Features Editor for Tom's Guide, and I'm bringing you the latest luxury mattress deals in the Black Friday sales and their budget alternatives so there's something for everyone.

I look after our guide to the best luxury mattresses of the year, which means I get to sleep on some pretty impressive beds (I know, it's a dream job — literally).

But luxury doesn't always mean spending a fortune. Which is why I'm determined to find the ultimate budget alternatives in this year's Black Friday deals.

Don't go anywhere, I'll be back with our number 1 luxury mattress deal of the year in no time...