I tried 'the best mattress of the year' but this $650 bed in a box alternative felt just as good to me

As part of the Tom’s Guide Sleep Team, I spend a lot of my time testing mattresses. From the cheap and cheerful to the pinnacles of luxury. And the best mattress of the year, the Saatva Classic, did not disappoint.

An innerspring hybrid bed made up of five layers of high-quality materials, available in three different firmness options and two heights, it’ll provide ultimate comfort and support to just about anyone. But that comes at a price. With an MSRP of $2,139 for a queen, you’re certainly in the premium price range.

So when I tried the DreamCloud Classic, a $649 competitor, I was shocked by just how well it stood up next to the Saatva. In fact, to me, it felt just as good, and I believe that it's well worth considering if you're shopping for a new mattress in the Labor Day mattress sales. Here’s why.

My opinion on the Saatva Classic

I’m not going to lie and say the Saatva Classic felt just like any other mattress. As soon as I lay down on it, it felt luxurious. And not just a marshmallow soft kind of luxury that offers no actual support, but a high-quality, supremely comfortable and elevating kind of luxurious.

As a side sleeper predominantly, I rarely settle on my back for long. An arched spine means that pressure and tension can usually build up on my lower back, which leads to me tossing and turning from side to side.

But when I laid down on the Saatva, the lumbar support lifted my hips and contoured to my back, meaning there were no gaps between me and the mattress. This instantly relieved pressure and meant I could lie comfortably in that position with no lack of support to worry about.

It’s also a very stable mattress. I personally hate feeling like I’m being eaten up by 12 inches of soft memory foam; it’s a claustrophobe’s nightmare. So being able to move freely on the Saatva was a big tick for me.

Motion transfer was minimal, edge support was strong and the bed itself had some bounce to it. All in all, that means you can use the whole surface of the mattress and expect the same level of support no matter where you lie.

Saatva Classic mattress: twin was $1,399 now $999 at Saatva
While the Saatva Classic does sit at a premium price point, we think it's well worth the investment. Saatva mattress sales run throughout the year and right now is one of the best deals you can get. There's $400 off for the Saatva Labor Day sale when you follow our links, which brings the price of a queen down to $1,739 (was $2,139). You'll also get a 365-night sleep trial, free white glove delivery and a lifetime warranty.

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Why the DreamCloud felt just as good to me

So that sounds like a rave review, right? You’re not wrong. The Saatva scored a full five stars when we reviewed it. But my head has been turned. Enter the DreamCloud Classic. Comparable in almost every aspect and less than half the price. Here’s why I think it felt just as good.

Effective pressure relief

With a queen costing $649, the DreamCloud Classic Hybrid (you can also opt for a memory foam model) is not necessarily within the ‘budget’ price range, but it’s definitely affordable.

I usually expect to sink either too much or too little into mattresses that sit in this price bracket, simply because the construction and materials aren’t usually as high-quality as more premium options.

After all, the DreamCloud is a vacuum-packed, rolled mattress that's delivered in a box — whereas the Saatva is shipped flat to preserve the integrity of its support.

However, when I lay on the DreamCloud, I sunk just enough to feel the material cushion and contour around my body, but not enough to lose support. Ultimately, I felt weightless. Almost as if I was floating on a cloud (sorry).

In fact, I’d go as far as to say I actually preferred the feeling of the DreamCloud for side sleeping. Although I think if I tried the Plush feel for the Saatva Classic I would feel differently (we've only reviewed the Luxury Firm option.) It's no surprise that the DreamCloud scored 4.5 out of 5 for pressure relief in our DreamCloud mattress review.

Good edge support

I like to sleep right up to the edge of my mattress. Whether that’s because I love having the maximum amount of space possible on the bed or because I want to get as far away from my snoring partner as possible, I’m not sure. But it means I depend on strong edges.

The Saatva’s edge support is second to none. Thanks to its reinforced perimeter, I could comfortably lie half off and half on the mattress without even feeling like I was going to tip. Pretty impressive.

I wasn’t expecting this level of support from the DreamCloud, but it honestly wasn’t far off. With a softer feel, you’d expect the edges to sink more than the Saatva, but they still felt stable and supportive. They didn’t collapse under my weight and I can still sleep right up to the edge and remain supported and comfortable.

Edge support might sound like a less important feature of a mattress, but for me (and any couple) it’s essential. If the edges begin to collapse when you’re a few inches away from them, you will lose precious bed space, making your queen quickly feel like a pokey twin dorm bed.

Bouyant support

As I mentioned, although the pressure relief was excellent, I didn’t sink too far into the mattress. I really enjoyed feeling buoyant and elevated as well as cozy and comfortable.

This comes from the layer of responsive foam as well as the layer of eight inches of individually wrapped coils.

While the DreamCloud is missing Saatva’s excellent Lumbar Crown, which features high-density foam and a Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire, its combination of layers provide more than adequate support.

DreamCloud Classic Hybrid mattress: twin from $399 at DreamCloud
DreamCloud mattress sales run constantly throughout the year — you won't ever find the beds sold at their 'total value' price. This means a queen size is a very reasonable $649. It also means that you don't have to wait for a sales event to get the best deal. You'll get the same benefits as Saatva, too (apart from the white glove delivery).

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So, which would I choose?

There are obvious reasons why the Saatva is more than double the price of the DreamCloud. Handcrafted in the US, high-quality materials like organic cotton, and customizable options means it’s a bed that’ll suit just about anyone.

The DreamCloud on the other hand, has only one firmness option (medium firm). However, after testing, we do think it’s suitable for all sleeping positions.

Ultimately, I’d personally choose the DreamCloud Classic. I don’t have any issues that need advanced support like joint pain or back pain and, whilst the Saatva Classic feels next-level luxurious, I’m not sure I’d get enough additional benefit out of it to justify the extra money.

However, if you’re a heavier sleeper, need more support or are looking for a mattress that will deliver excellent results across all areas like motion isolation, edge support and pressure relief, you can’t beat the Saatva Classic. Still undecided? Read our DreamCloud Classic vs Saatva Classic comparison piece.