'I'm no longer waking up with a stiff lower back': Saatva's RX mattress saved our tester from painful sleep, and it's $400 off in the Presidents' Day sales

(Image credit: Saatva)

Back pain is something many of us struggle with at one point or another, and the mattress you sleep on can make it so better or worse. One of our reviewers, Alison Barretta, has intermittent back pain and mild scoliosis, and when she tested the Saatva RX mattress, down to $1,5999 at Saatva (was $1,999), she noticed 'a marked improvement in pain when resting on my side.'

The RX is Saatva's only mattress made with a Therapeutic Support Core. In plain English, that means the RX is designed to adjust to your body curve's every time you move.

There's $400 off the RX with in the Saatva Presidents' Day sale, reducing a queen to $3,049. That's $50 more than the cheapest price we saw a queen RX sell for during Black Friday, but it's still a good price for a luxury hybrid bed designed specifically for sleepers with chronic back and joint pain – comparable specialist mattresses are usually more expensive. You'll also get a lifetime warranty, free White Glove Delivery, and a year's sleep trial.

Our score: ★★★★½
User score: ★★★★½ (360+ reviews)

Saatva, of course, is more famous for the Classic Innerspring Hybrid, the top-rated option in our overall best mattress guide and the highest scoring bed we've tested.

While we rate the Classic (see our Saatva Classic mattress review) for general aches and pains, the RX is specifically designed for people with chronic back and joint pain and the higher price tag reflects that.

Here's why we rate it for sleepers with back pain...

Instant relief while sleeping

Nearly 65 million Americans have reported back pain at some point in their lives, and many of the testers on our sleep team are among them. Our main tester for the Saatva RX, Alison, found instant relief from her pain when testing the mattress.

Alison also assembled a testing panel of people with different body weights, health needs, and sleeping positions.

The Saatva Rx was a unanimous hit among our back sleepers, who found that it gave enough support and evenly distributed their weight to reduce pressure.

Our side sleeper testers felt this mattress achieved the perfect balance of comfort and support, with plenty of give along the shoulders, hips, and knees.

Saatva RX mattress review image shows our lead tester feeling out the breathable organic cotton cover. — (Image credit: Future / Alison Barretta)

The Saatva RX also received a 4.5/5 score for temperature regulation. This is important if you have back pain as tossing and turning during the night to find a cooler spot can aggravate the pain you're already experiencing.

We're also impressed with the edge support of the Saatva RX. Solid edge support is crucial for those with extra mobility requirements, and who need robust support getting in and out of the bed.

Alison has also slept on the Saatva Classic and is well-placed to describe the difference between these two top-rated hybrid mattresses.

"If you're dealing with severe aches and pains, the Saatva RX takes the full-body comfort of the Saatva Classic to another level," Alison said. No wonder it's our recommendation for most people searching for the best mattress for back pain.

Alternatives worth considering

The Siena Signature is the top option in our best cheap mattress guide, with our testers giving it a 4/5 stars. Right now at Amazon, a queen is $349. Last Black Friday the Siena Signature was down to $244, so we wouldn't be surprised if the Siena drops further in price on Presidents' Day itself. Today though it's still $10 cheaper at Amazon than at Siena. You'll also still get a 180-night trial and a ten-year limited warranty.

Our Siena Signature Mattress review score: ★★★★
User score: ★★★★½ (800+ reviews)

You can save 40% on the Elite Hybrid when you use the code TOMS40. This beats the general Bear mattress sale of 30% off. This brings the price of a twin down to $1113 (was $1998) and a queen to $1,370 (was $2,284). This is the same price we saw over Black Friday, and doubt there will be a bigger deal than this. You'll also get a free bedding bundle that includes two pillows and a mattress protector with your purchase.

Our Bear Elite Mattress review score: ★★★★½
User score: ★★★★½ (4,000+ reviews)

Alexis recently joined the Tom's Guide Sleep Team as a Deals Writer. She is passionate about helping others get better sleep and even more passionate about finding a great deal, whether that's on some of the top mattress brands out there like Saatva, Nectar and DreamCloud, or on leading sleep tech like smart trackers. She is an experienced writer and editor in the lifestyle industry and has worked on major UK and US publications, including Daily Mail, Space.com, and Black Women Rising Magazine.