As the Sleep Features Editor for Tom’s Guide, I’ve tested my fair share of mattresses — from budget memory foam options to luxury pillow tops.
So, when I had the opportunity to test the best mattress of the year, and renowned for being one of the best mattresses in the world, I jumped at the chance. The Saatva Classic has a reputation for the perfect balance of ultimate comfort, support and luxury.
And, now with the Black Friday mattress sales picking up, it’s never been a better time to ask the question: Should you splurge or save?
Where the Saatva Classic wins…
As soon as I lay down on the Saatva Classic I was impressed. Chosen as this year's best hybrid mattress we've tested, it has a structure made up of individually wrapped coils, a memory foam lumbar crown and a plush pillow top, it’s a simple but impressive build. And, with the $400 off Saatva Black Friday sale, it's actually still impressive value for money, starting from $999.
The mattress is available in three different firmness feels, and I tried the Luxury Firm which Saatva described as having a ‘perfect balance of cushioning and uplifting support,’ sitting between five and seven out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Effective lumbar support straight away
What struck me most was the lumbar support that I could feel almost immediately. Thanks to the Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire and the ½” gel infused memory foam layer, I felt the mattress cushion my back, filling the gap where it arches and taking pressure off my spine.
Usually, I can’t sleep on my back because the mattresses I’ve tried don’t cradle my body enough — but on the Saatva Classic I was instantly comfortable and stayed in the position for a while.
When we put the mattress’s pressure relief to the test, it scored an impressive 5 out of 5 — the best pressure relief we’ve tested so far.
Cushioning and elevating
The next surprise was how elevated I was. Personally, I hate the sink of a soft memory foam bed, even the best memory foam mattresses can feel claustrophobic to me. So to feel like I could easily move around while still feeling the bed contour around my body was a relief.
It’s hard to find the ‘perfect’ feel, but I think I did in the Saatva
As someone who tosses and turns throughout the night, I need a bed that responds quickly to my movements. If I feel like I’m fighting through layers of foam, I’ll inevitably wake up in the night.
When it comes to the Saatva Classic, I think this is largely down to the plush pillow top layer that feels soft around the body, and the robust support beneath it from the coils. It’s hard to find the ‘perfect’ feel, but I think I did in the Saatva. It's one of the best pillow top mattresses I've tested so far.
Every sleep position was comfortable
While I’m largely a side sleeper, I’m someone who moves around a lot in their sleep. But not every mattress supports different sleeping positions — and it’s a hard task.
In general, back and stomach sleepers are likely to find a firmer mattress more comfortable, to keep their hips from sinking, while side sleepers need plenty of pressure relief around the hips, shoulders and knees.
But because of the balance of cushioning comfort and support, I felt immediately comfortable in every sleeping position on the Saatva — even stomach sleeping. And it wasn’t just me that felt this way, our testing panel made up of all different types of sleepers found it remained supportive no matter how they lay on it.
What I didn't like about it...
Okay, so this will be short and sweet because as you can imagine, there’s not much to dislike about the Saatva Classic.
Personally, even though I appreciate that it’s a good price for such a luxurious, well-crafted mattress and even though we always urge people to invest in the best mattress they can afford, my budget just doesn't stretch to anything over $1,000 for a queen.
So, that’s why I wanted to put its affordable competitor to the test, to find out whether you can reap the benefits of a luxury mattress at a fraction of the cost.
How does the DreamCloud hold up in comparison?
The DreamCloud Classic is the brand’s entry level mattress, starting at just $399 — plus, in the DreamCloud mattress sale you’ll also get $599 of free bedding included in your purchase.
However, despite the low price, the DreamCloud has made it to second place in this year’s best luxury mattress guide.
I’ve been sleeping on it for three weeks and now I understand why.
The medium feel was perfect for me as a side sleeper
Like the Saatva, the DreamCloud is a hybrid mattress, with two layers of memory foam on top of a layer of individually wrapped coils. You can expect a medium feel (DreamCloud describes it as firm but after extensive testing in our Sleep Lab, our panel decided it felt more like a six out of 10).
The medium feel was perfect for me as a side sleeper, although it’s certainly softer than the Saatva. I enjoyed the cozy feel and I didn’t sink too far into the bed — I still felt elevated, and my body was cushioned throughout the night.
The bed is also very responsive — almost bouncy. This meant changing positions was super easy in the night. Actually, after I swapped out my old mattress for the DreamCloud I stopped waking up in the night.
But, it’s not all good news. Obviously, there are certain drawbacks when opting for a more budget option, so let’s take a closer look.
What I didn't like about it...
It’s important to note that as a testing panel, we didn’t think the DreamCloud Classic would suit all sleepers like the Saatva. After objective pressure relief tests and collating feedback from the panel, as well as my experience at home, we wouldn’t recommend the DreamCloud Classic for stomach sleepers.
The softer feel means that the hips sink too far into the mattress when sleeping on your front, which throws the spine out of alignment and can cause some unnecessary pressure. This is likely because the DreamCloud lacks the zoned lumbar support found in the Saatva.
Some members of our testing panel also found that, despite the 1,000lbs weight capacity (compared to Saatva 650lbs), heavier sleepers experienced a ‘hammocking’ effect where the hip area sank too far into the bed, eventually leading to pain build up in the lumbar area.
The luxury hybrid I'd buy in the Black Friday sales
After testing both of these mattresses, I know which I’d buy in the Black Friday mattress sales. But everyone is different, and when it comes to a mattress, you need to prioritize your needs.
You just can't beat the excellent value of the DreamCloud — you get so much for your money
For me, the DreamCloud delivers excellent support and comfort within a budget I can afford, and I loved how responsive it was. I slept soundly all night and felt comfortable almost instantly.
There's a reason why the Saatva takes the top spot in so many of our buyer's guides — its performance is simply unbeatable. However, if you have a smaller budget this Black Friday, the DreamCloud is an excellent alternative. You just can't beat the excellent value of this bed — you get so much for your money.
However, there is a big caveat to this. I would advise the following sleepers to consider the Saatva over the DreamCloud:
Sleepers with back pain: The DreamCloud’s build can’t compare to the lumbar support features found in the best mattresses for back pain, including the Saatva Classic. Those with back pain or joint pain should opt for the Saatva to help distribute their body weight evenly and reduce pressure or strain on the body.
Stomach sleepers: Front sleepers need extra support and usually a firmer surface to stop the spine from being put under strain in the night. The DreamCloud doesn’t offer enough support here, but the Saatva will keep you comfortable.
You want to customize your bed: The DreamCloud only comes in one option, which limits the sleepers it’s suitable for. However, at Saatva you can choose from three different firmness options as well as two different heights, meaning you can create the perfect bed for your preferences.
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