the Saatva Classic Mattress Is a Back Sleeper’s Dream + Photos

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• Mattresses with poor edge support make you feel like you’re going to fall off, not asleep.
• After testing 50 mattresses, I’ve found the Saatva Classic has the best edge support.
• It also dissipates heat well, comes with free in-home setup, and has two coil layers for durability.

Your weight isn’t evenly distributed across your body, so why should a mattress offer the same feel from your head to your toes? The zoned support of the Saatva Classic Mattress addresses this by providing pressure-point relief around the hips and shoulders and firmer foam in certain areas to keep your spine aligned.

The Saatva Classic also comes with free in-home setup and old mattress removal, is made of eco-friendly foams, and has impressive edge support and heat dissipation properties. Read on to learn why we recommend it for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and couples.

Design and specs

Setup

I was surprised when Saatva told me delivery people would set up the Classic Mattress for me. Free white-glove delivery is almost unheard of with beds at this price point. They also remove your old mattress and foundation for free.

The delivery people called to schedule a time for delivery and arrived roughly at the agreed-upon time, with a call about 25 minutes before arrival. They delivered two mattresses and took a total of 10 minutes to complete the setup. I was very impressed.

Review of the Saatva Classic Mattress

The Saatva Classic Mattress has a unique dual-coil design with zoned support and pressure-point relief. The Euro pillow-top is made of organic cotton for a cooler feel. Below that is memory foam certified by CertiPUR-US, meaning it’s made without ozone depleters, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and other harmful materials. This foam is firmer in the middle third for better back support.

The pocket coils below are also firmer in the middle and designed to contour to your body. Next, the base coil layer helps with durability and airflow. High-density foam borders the springs for better edge support.

In addition to sleeping on mattresses for 14 nights, I put every bed through several objective tests. I test edge support by sitting on the side and using a ruler to measure how much it sinks. On average, mattresses sink about 3.5 inches. The Saatva Classic Mattress only dropped 2 inches.

I also lie down on the very edge and see how far I can roll before falling off. My body was virtually perpendicular to the bed before I tumbled. The Saatva Classic has the best edge support I’ve seen, making it great for effortlessly getting up in the morning and when you sleep with a bed-hog who almost pushes you off the mattress.

When purchasing the mattress, you can pick from three comfort options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm. I tested Luxury Firm, which was firmer than I preferred when laying on my side. Yet, it felt much better on my back and stomach and kept my spine aligned.

Each morning, I used a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the mattress when I awoke and again two minutes after getting up. Then, I compared the temperatures to determine how well it dissipated heat. The Saatva Classic is one of the best heat-dissipating mattresses I’ve tested, an excellent option for hot sleepers.

Cons to consider

As mentioned above, the Luxury Firm Saatva Classic is a bad choice for most side sleepers. My hips and shoulders couldn’t sink in enough to allow for optimal spinal alignment. I’d recommend side sleepers try the Plush Soft comfort option instead.

The motion isolation properties of the Saatva Classic are just so-so. I didn’t feel others’ movements too strongly when lying on the bed. But when I dropped a bowling ball so that it landed a foot from a soda can (my bowling ball test), the can fell over each time, suggesting the motion isolation is subpar. The bowling ball bounced significantly, which couples might appreciate for activities other than sleeping.

Trial and warranty

Many of the top online mattress retailers, including Casper and Leesa, offer a 100-night risk-free home trial. Saatva’s trial is significantly longer: 180 nights. However, it isn’t risk-free. Saatva deducts $99 from your refund if you decide to return the mattress. Most top brands give you a full refund.

The Saatva Classic’s 15-year warranty is also longer than the 10 years the top brands offer. The warranty features common stipulations. For instance, the bed must only be used on a solid surface or slats spaced less than 4 inches apart.

During the first two years of the warranty, Saatva will replace the defective mattress with a brand new one at no cost to you. From years three to 15, they will repair or re-cover the mattress for $198. Or you can get a steeply discounted new mattress. Visit Saatva’s site for the details.

Should you buy it?

I’d recommend the Luxury Firm Saatva Classic to most back and stomach sleepers, especially if you tend to sleep hot. Side sleepers might instead prefer the Plush Soft Saatva Classic, which I haven’t tested yet. The best mattress for side sleepers I’ve tested is the Casper Nova Hybrid.

The firmness, edge support, and bounce will appeal to couples, but you may want to look elsewhere if you share a bed with someone who tosses and turns due to the poor motion isolation.

If the Saatva Classic isn’t a good fit for your needs or budget, check out our guide to the best mattresses for other options. For instance, a good budget alternative is the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress. It doesn’t have the same dynamic zoned support, but it’s just as firm as the Luxury Firm Saatva Classic and dissipates heat well.

The bottom line

While the Saatva Classic in Luxury Firm wasn’t ideal for side sleepers, stomach and back sleepers will love it. I was impressed with the free white-glove delivery and mattress removal. And its heat dissipation properties kept me from overheating. If these features sound appealing and you’re looking for a luxury experience at an affordable price, the Saatva Classic is the way to go.

Pros: Unparalleled edge support, great heat dissipation, made of CertiPUR-US certified foam, zoned support, good bounce, free white-glove delivery and old mattress removal, long warranty and home trial

Cons: Luxury Firm is too firm for most side sleepers, so-so motion isolation, fees deducted from refund if you choose to return the bed