Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-09 & 2020-10)

BEST TECH

PURPLE HYBRID QUEEN

Price: $1,599 (Queen)

Return Policy: 100 nights (includes

shipping) Warranty: 10 years

The Purple uses a cushy polymer

grid under your body that makes

this the softest-feeling mattress

we tested. It’s rigid when the mate-

rial is vertical, but gives easily when

bent, allowing your body to sink in a

bit where it needs to while support-

ing you elsewhere. That, says Purple,

helps keep your spine in ideal align-

ment. “There’s a definite softness

to the grid, which you feel when you

press down or first lie down to sleep,”

said our tester. “But I felt like my body

was supported head to toe.” The grid

leaves plenty of room for air to move,

making it cooler than some other

memory-foam options. The mattress

also impressed with its high-quality

construction. It’s heavy and thick,

with sturdy seams. Overall, it’s a

great option for anyone who wants a

softer-feeling foam mattress.

ECO-FRIENDLY

AVOCADO GREEN

Price: $1,799 (Queen, with

pillow top) Return Policy: 1 year

(includes shipping)

Warranty: 25 years

This impressive mattress is made in

California and has a ton of environ-

mentally friendly features, making

it a great choice for anyone who

wants a more sustainable option.

The Green is latex, wool, and cot-

ton (all organically certified), with a

cushioning layer of recycled-steel

coils underneath. And the pil-

low top is made of organic latex.

While you can also get a vegan ver-

sion of the mattress without the

wool, the material helps make the

Green naturally fire-resistant, reg-

ulate temperature, wick moisture,

and prevent dust mites. Those

natural fibers also allow air to cir-

culate so the mattress doesn’t feel

as hot as some traditional memo-

ry-foam options. Keep in mind that

this is another relatively firm mat-

tress—something to consider for

petite side sleepers like our tester

or anyone who wants that squishy

marshmallow feel. You also have

the option of getting this mattress

with no pillow top, a removable

two-inch topper, or a permanently

attached one.

BEST HYBRID

CASPER WAVE

HYBRID

Price: $2,595 (Queen)

Return Policy: 100 nights

(includes shipping)

Warranty: 10 years

This hybrid features multi-

ple layers of Casper's new

foam tech, called Airscape,

which Casper claims is

cooler and allows better

airflow, though we didn’t

perceive a huge cooling

effect here. It also features

Casper’s new Zoned Sup-

port system, which is firmer

in areas where you need it

most (under the hips, for

example) and more relaxed

in others. Gel pods in key

areas boost comfort and

pressure relief. We noticed

real benefits during our test.

“The zone at the head of the

mattress is firmer, while the

middle zone compresses

further to cradle your mid-

section while aiding in spinal

alignment,” our test edi-

tor said. Compared with

Casper’s standard foam

mattress, the Wave Hybrid

offers a little more sup-

port—ideal for people who

need extra relief or who

are very active and want a

mattress to help with their

muscle recovery.

In our quest to find the best mattresses, we researched the market

and interviewed experts to select 11 top options to test. For each

brand, we evaluated the ordering process and delivery times, as well

as warranty and return policies. When the mattresses arrived, we

noted the condition of each, the effort it took to set them up, and the

intensity of any off-gassing. Then we slept on the mattresses for 60 to 90 days and

scored them on their construction, support, comfort, value, and the length of the

break-in period. We’re confident one of the mattresses here will meet your needs.

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September/October 2020 75