The Best Mattresses for Athletes in 2024, According to Sleep Experts

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Athleticism isn’t just about how hard you can push your body—the best athletes know that rest is an essential part of any fitness plan. In fact, improper sleep can negatively affect performance, including accuracy, strength and reaction time. Choosing the appropriate mattress can be the key to getting restorative sleep. The right amount of comfort, support and pressure relief in a mattress can help you keep up with your active lifestyle. Whether you’re a professional athlete or simply enjoy an active lifestyle, the best mattress for athletes will help aid in recovery so you can get the most from your downtime.

With athletes in mind, our mattress experts have honed in on 11 of the top recovery mattresses available. We discuss which mattresses can help recovery, alleviate soreness and have you waking up energized. Read on to discover the best mattress for athletes, so you can add good sleep to your pre-game routine in 2024.

Our Picks for the Best Mattress for Athletes in 2024:

• Best Customizable Mattress for Athletes: Helix Midnight Luxe
• Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes: Nectar
• Best Luxury Mattress for Athletes: Saatva Classic
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Athletes: DreamCloud Original
• Best Cooling Mattress for Athletes: WinkBeds EcoCloud
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution
• Best Mattress for Recovery: Bear Hybrid
• Best Memory Foam Mattress for Athletes: Leesa

Best Customizable Mattress for Athletes: Helix Midnight Luxe

Key Info:

• Price range: $1,099 - $2,299
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Firmness: Medium
• Trial length: 100 nights
• Warranty: 10 to 15 years
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King or California King

Who it's best for:

• Athletes and people with active lifestyles
• Combination sleepers
• Couples

Highlights:

• Luxury memory foam encourages pressure point relief
• Lumbar support targets the back’s curves
• Cooling technology pulls heat from the body for better sleep

We know that mattresses aren’t one-size-fits-all and for athletes who want a little extra, the Helix Midnight Luxe can be customized with accessories to suit specific sleeping needs.

For the cover, you can choose an ultra-breathable Tencel cover or upgrade to the “GlacioTex Cooling Cover” to reduce body heat.

Our testers liked the Helix thanks to the mattress’s luxury memory foam construction, which provides pressure point relief on the hips and shoulders. The Helix’s zoning technology also provides lumbar support by contouring to pressure points. We were able to move into different positions without interrupting someone on the other side of the bed.

The Helix comes with a 100-day trial, as well as a 10 to 15-year warranty. The mattress also comes with free shipping and returns throughout the U.S.

Best Affordable Mattress for Athletes: Nectar

Key Info:

• Price range: $499 - $1,338
• Mattress type: Gel memory foam
• Firmness: Medium-firm
• Trial length: 365 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King or Split King

Who it's best for:

• Athletes and people with active lifestyles
• Hot sleepers
• Couples
• Side, back and stomach sleepers

Highlights:

• Gel memory foam provides exceptional pressure relief
• Quilted cover gives the bed a comfortable, floating feel
• Works with all sleep positions, including combination sleepers

Our testers appreciate the Nectar mattress for delivering many of the features normally found in a high-end mattress at a more affordable price-point.

Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the Nectar is still thoughtfully designed with active lifestyles in mind. First, the gel memory foam technology helps athletes wake pain-free by evenly distributing body weight while cushioning pressure points and joints. The Nectar “Smart Layer” relieves pressure while the “Dynamic Support Layer” adjusts to the sleeper’s body type and sleep position. Finally, the solid base layer ensures support and durability for the layers above.

Related Post: The Best Cheap Mattresses to Buy

Temperature regulation can be an issue for athletes who often run warm after workouts, but our testers say this mattress’s cooling technology wicks away heat. This feature also works great for couples, who compound the body heat in the bed and can have issues with overheating. And, with reliable motion transfer, the mattress can work for couples concerned with waking each other by shifting in bed.

Nectar gives athletes an entire year to test the mattress and comes with a lifetime warranty. The mattress also comes with free shipping and returns throughout the U.S.

Best Luxury Mattress for Athletes: Saatva Classic

Key Info:

• Price range: $887—$2,046
• Mattress type: Hybrid innerspring
• Firmness: Three options: Plush soft, luxury firm or firm
• Trial length: 365 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King or Split King

Who it's best for:

• Athletes and people with active lifestyles
• People with back pain
• Side, back and stomach sleepers

Highlights:

• Patented LumbarZone technology encourages healthy spinal alignment
• Durable dual-coil design works to eliminate sagging 
• 3-inch pillowtop comes standard, in three firmnesses

Athletes who suffer from back pain should check out the Saatva Classic. This mattress offers durable coil-on-coil construction for traditional innerspring comfort, and comes in three firmness options so you can choose which one works best for you—Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm.

But the real key is the LumbarZone quilting, which is designed to offer support in the center third of the mattress, to keep your spine aligned correctly as you sleep. A plush 3” Euro pillow top adds cushion without sucking you in.

In our testing, we found the Saatva Classic to be a good choice for combination sleepers, who change position during the night and want to avoid feeling like they’re “stuck” in the mattress. Our testers agreed that this mattress runs a little firmer than others in the industry, so keep that in mind as you’re choosing between the firmness options. 

Saatva also offers free in-room delivery and setup, and can remove your existing mattress for you for an additional fee. 

Best Hybrid Mattress for Athletes: DreamCloud Original

Key Info:

• Price range: $699—$1,299
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Firmness: Firm
• Trial length: 365 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Who it's best for:

• Athletes and people with active lifestyles
• Hot sleepers
• Seniors
• Back sleepers

Highlights:

• Quilted foam and cashmere cover
• Gel memory foam layer contours to your shape
• Innerspring coils provide support
• Bouncy, responsive feel that makes it easy to move around

Athletes who appreciate the bounce and responsiveness of a traditional innerspring mattress, but also want the softness of memory foam should try the DreamCloud Original.

This mattress features three layers of foam stacked on top of its innerspring individually wrapped custom coils, which adapt to your body. Testers felt the firm mattress would be a good match for back sleepers, who need extra support to stay comfortable. The coil construction also means that air has a chance to circulate, keeping sleepers cooler than similar all-foam mattresses.

Best Cooling Mattress for Athletes: WinkBeds EcoCloud

Key Info:

• Price range: $1,099—$2,099
• Mattress type: Hybrid innerspring
• Firmness: Medium firm
• Trial length: 120 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Who it’s Best for:

• Athletes and active people
• Side sleepers
• People who want an all-organic bed

Highlights:

• Made from eco-friendly materials
• Zoned support to combat back pain
• Quite bouncy, for easy movement as you sleep

The WinkBeds EcoCloud was created with environmental sustainability in mind. The cover is made from organic cotton and New Zealand wool, while the inside is composed of recycled steel springs and natural latex. That innerspring construction means that it’s a good choice for people who sleep hot—the springs allow for airflow inside the mattress, which cools you down as you sleep.

This mattress is medium firm, making it a good choice for side sleepers, who need a bit of give to their mattress for comfort. Our testers loved its edge support—one remarked that they felt especially secure while laying near the side of this mattress, and weren’t worried about rolling off at all.

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution

Key Info:

• Price range: $999—$2,398
• Mattress type: Foam
• Firmness: Plush, luxury firm, firm
• Trial length: 120 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King

Who It’s Best for:

• Athletes and active people
• Side sleepers
• People who want a memory foam mattress, but sleep hot

Highlights:

• Uses a proprietary material called Nolah AirFoamICE™ to help you keep cool
• Offers great pressure relief for lower back, making it a good choice for those with low back pain
• Seven-layer hybrid design features a responsive combined foam and coil support system

Want the feel of foam, without the heat? The Nolah Evolution mattress ditches memory foam and latex in favor of the brand’s proprietary Nolah AirFoamICE™, which helps dissipate heat better than high-end memory foam. This way, sleepers who run hot can get a cool night's rest without worrying about overheating disrupting their snoozing.

The Evolution also offers solid pressure relief for those who sleep on their sides. Overall, this mattress has a good balance of softness, which allows for the body to sink comfortably into it while still being supported enough to prevent getting stuck within. 

Best Memory Foam Mattress for Athletes: Leesa

Key Info:

• Price range: $749 - $1,199
• Mattress type: Memory foam
• Firmness: Medium-firm
• Trial length: 100 nights
• Warranty: 10 years
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King or California King

Who it's best for:

• Athletes and people with active lifestyles
• Side sleepers
• Hot sleepers

Highlights:

• Memory foam balances comfort and support
• Cooling technology improves temperature control
• Contouring relieves pressure throughout the body

Our active testers love memory foam mattresses because their pressure relief can help maintain joint health and prevent pain. When it comes to memory foam, the Leesa mattress offers the right balance for comfort and responsiveness.

The bed’s memory foam construction allows the Leesa to relieve pressure in the back, hips and shoulders, making it a reliable mattress for side sleepers. But to be clear, this bed works well for the gamut of sleep positions — in fact, our testers couldn’t find a sleep style that they didn’t like on the Leesa.

Cooling is often an issue for foam as it retains heat, but the Leesa performed above average in this category. Its cooling features, like its breathable cover and heat-wicking foam, help hot sleepers to avoid waking up in an uncomfortable sweat. This is essential for those who have trouble regulating their body temperature after a workout.

The Leesa comes with a 100-day trial and a 10-year warranty. The company also includes free shipping and returns throughout the U.S.

Best Mattress for Recovery: Bear Hybrid

Key Info:

• Price range: $974 - $2,097
• Mattress type: Hybrid
• Firmness: Medium-firm
• Trial length: 120 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King or Split King

Who it's best for:

• Athletes and people with active lifestyles
• Side, back and stomach sleepers
• Hot sleepers

Highlights:

• Infrared technology speeds up muscle recovery
• Eliminates unnecessary body heat for a cooler sleep
• Balances body contouring and spinal alignment

Our testers found that the Bear Hybrid keeps the body at just the right temperature and position for restorative sleep. Cooling memory foam works with the system of 1,300 coils to allow additional airflow and rid the mattress of extra heat.

The bed’s responsive foam accommodates different body types and sleeping positions, allowing side, back and stomach sleepers to feel supported. The mattress also reduces motion transfer so if you have to get up for an early morning run, your movement won’t wake your partner as you get out of bed.

The Bear mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial so that you can test the mattress over a span of four months. The company also offers a lifetime warranty along with free shipping and returns throughout the U.S.

How To Choose the Best Mattress as an Athlete

Spine alignment

The best mattress for athletes can relieve pressure on the spine that comes with strenuous activities. Aligning the spine keeps pressure off pressure points and joints for extra relief - this is key when searching for a good bed for back pain.

Athletic performance

Some exercise puts more stress on the back, hips, shoulders and other pressure points. Mattresses can either exacerbate that pressure by providing the wrong type of support for your sleep type or work to rid your body of this extra tension.

Muscle recovery

Some mattress materials use infrared technology, leveraging the body’s own energy to enhance muscle recovery. Some brands such as Bear also claim that copper-infused fibers may improve recovery by increasing circulation and relieving muscle tension.

Firmness

The correct degree of mattress firmness is based on the sleeper’s preference. You want to strike a balance between feeling supported and comfortable. A firmness level that feels right in the mattress shop might not feel sustainable over weeks or months, which is why we recommend a mattress with a sleep trial, so you can get a realistic picture of daily life with your bed.

Body temperature

Some athletes have a harder time staying cool while sleeping. However, popular brands like the ones on this list tout the latest cooling technology to offer better temperature control. One example is dual phase technology, which is material designed to cool when temperatures run hot, but also recognize cold temperatures and keeps you warm when needed.

Motion isolation

For light sleepers, couples and pet parents, motion isolation is key. When you’re getting up for that early morning jog, your movements are limited to your side of the bed and are less likely to wake your partner.

Type of mattress

It’s not just about a firmer mattress versus a softer bed when new mattress shopping. In fact, the type of mattress you buy will largely determine whether you toss and turn or get a good night’s sleep. Here’s the rundown on the most prominent mattress types:

• Innerspring: With innerspring mattresses, a set of pocketed coils act as a support system to relieve pressure where needed. The more coils your mattress has, the more contouring, support and durability it offers. They’re typically much cooler than foam beds, which naturally retain heat within the high-density materials.

• Memory foam: When it comes to memory foam mattresses, your best option will strike balance between softness and firmness. The best memory foam mattress for athletes also limit motion transfer between sides of the bed and are responsive for those who toss and turn in the night. Hot sleepers want to seek memory foam with specific cooling designs and check reviews around heat retention. Memory foam is a material that is known to trap heat, so often memory foam mattresses are not the best choice for hot sleepers unless they were specifically designed with something like a cooling cover.

• Latex: Latex mattresses, which can be made from natural, synthetic or blended latex foams, are known to offer pain relief, comfort and have a longer lifespan than standard memory foam beds. We recommend a mixture of the three latex options for the best sleeping experience.

• Hybrid: Combining the best of innerspring and memory foam, hybrid beds are popular for offering the comfort of foam with the support and airflow of spring beds. The use of multiple materials can help sleepers get the benefits of different mattress types in one.

Shopping for a mattress online

Bed-in-a-box brands are gaining popularity because they’re that easy — after you click purchase, the bed is delivered to your door. You simply unbox it and start your sleep trial. As far as savings, budget shoppers will likely have better luck online where they can more easily comparison shop and find discounts on mattresses.

Shipping

Part of finding the best mattress for athletes is knowing where you can save in the purchasing process. One way is to shop with companies that offer free shipping and returns. If the bed doesn’t work out, you don’t want to be penalized for sending it back.

Trial period

Some manufacturers offer trial periods for testing out your mattress so you can be sure that it’s right for your needs. Trial periods can range from three months to a whole year and this idea is central to online mattress shopping. Especially since it’s the only way to know if a bed has the right feel. Be aware that most beds have a break-in period and will sleep differently (usually softer) after a few weeks.

Warranty

Another way to save money in your mattress shopping is to compare the terms and lengths of the manufacturer warranties. This gives you a chance to return the mattress for free if it has a defect, but this shouldn’t be considered an extension of a trial period. These warranties are often only valid for manufacturer defects.

Mattresses for Athletes FAQs

What mattresses do pro-athletes sleep on?

That's hard to say, but we like to think that Venus Williams sleeps on the Venus Williams Legend mattress by GhostBed. It's safe to assume that a lot of NFL pro-football players sleep on Sleep Number beds since the two brands are currently partners.

If you’re more of an NBA fan, rumor has it that Tempur-Pedic made Shaq a mattress long enough to fit his 7-foot, 1-inch tall frame. Otherwise, some of the best beds for athletes on the market include the Bear Pro, the Brooklyn Bedding Spartan Hybrid and the TEMPUR-ProAdapt.

Is a soft or firm mattress better for athletes?

There’s no exact science behind firmness levels and athletes—it’s up to your needs. Your preferred firmness will be best able to meet your athletic needs, because sleeping easily and comfortably is the priority. Many athletes like the support of mattresses on the firmer half of the scale. On our list, that range includes the Brooklyn Spartan, Ghostbed Flex or Purple Hybrid.

How much do the best mattresses cost?

Online mattresses can range in price from $400 to $3,000, which can make the decision-making process challenging. But if you’re an athlete or simply an active person looking for the right bed, you’ll likely want to prioritize certain factors such as size, cooling properties, high-quality materials and other higher-end add-ons, like pillow tops and cooling panels. This will likely put you in more of the $1,500 to $3,000 range, with a few more affordable exceptions like the Nectar.

When is the best time of the year to get a mattress?

The mattress industry typically offers its best discounts and promotions over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, or holiday weekends like Labor Day or Memorial Day. These sale events can make a mattress that would be a stretch for your budget more affordable.

Final Thoughts

For the average person, the journey to getting restful sleep starts with finding the right mattress. And for an athlete, quality sleep is all the more important: Studies show that elite athletes typically need at least eight hours of sleep to feel restored. So if your mattress has you tossing and turning, or waking up in pain, those hours will be wasted.

Do be sure to speak to a doctor if healthy sleep still feels unattainable even after replacing a sagging or uncomfortable mattress. And if you’re new online mattress just simply isn’t feeling right, rest assured that most brands offer lengthy sleep trails to give you ample time to test for yourself.

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.