Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain

Helix’s Luxe hybrid line consists of six models, each intended for different body types and sleep positions. The Midnight Luxe was initially designed for side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, but we’ve found the mattress is a solid pick across most weight groups for people who use this position. The tried-and-true combo of thick foam layers and sturdy coils delivers the cushioning and support side sleepers need to reduce pain and pressure buildup in the shoulders and hips.

Why We Like It

Not surprisingly, the Midnight Luxe earned its highest marks from side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, but lighter and heavier side sleepers on our team also felt comfortable and adequately supported on the mattress and ratings were favorable across all three weight categories. We also found the mattress isolates motion well and provides enough cushioning to alleviate pressure — most competing hybrids struggle in these areas.

The foam layers may absorb some heat, but the moisture-wicking cover offsets this issue to a noticeable degree. If you’re an exceptionally hot sleeper, the GlacioTex cover upgrade may be worth the extra money. This cutting-edge material dissipates body heat and feels cool to the touch at all times.

How Does It Feel?

The Midnight Luxe’s comfort system contains two layers of plush memory foam. Memory foam softens when it comes into contact with body heat, so you’ll feel the mattress slowly mold to your body’s contours when you get into bed. Dense transitional foam pushes back against your weight as you sink into the mattress. For added pushback, the pocketed coils are thicker beneath your torso and hips.

Both cover materials provide some measure of cooling. Tencel is a eucalyptus-derived fabric prized for its breathability and moisture-wicking abilities, but the GlacioTex phase change material is your best bet if you feel excessively hot in bed or your local climate is prone to extreme conditions.

High-quality memory foam mattresses can be expensive, but that isn’t the case with Silk & Snow’s flagship all-foam mattress. You’ll pay a below-average sticker price, receive two pillows with your order at no extra cost, and qualify for free shipping if you reside in the contiguous U.S. or any of the Canadian provinces. This sort of deal is hard to come by in the online mattress industry, and the S&S is well made to boot.

Why We Like It

Memory foam mattresses like the S&S are usually big hits with side sleepers on our testing team, especially those with softer, more adaptive designs. This model was particularly popular among our side sleepers who weigh 230 pounds or less. Heavier side sleepers on our team noticed a bit of sinkage, so their ratings were slightly lower but still favorable. The mattress also earned high marks from back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds.

Motion isolation is a major strength. All three foam layers absorb movement well and significantly reduce motion transfer, which is a major benefit for anyone who shares their bed with a restless partner. Although the top layer is infused with cooling gel and the cover promotes air circulation, you may notice some heat buildup — cooling sheets can help mitigate this issue.

How Does It Feel?

Two firmness options are available. The medium (5) design is a good match for side sleepers up to 230 pounds because it offers a nice balance of cushioning and support. Back and stomach sleepers who weigh 130 pounds or more should consider the firm (7) model, which provides stronger support and won’t sink as much beneath their weight.<br><br>The top layer of the mattress is composed of memory foam that’s infused with cooling gel to offset heat retention and maintain a comfortable surface temperature. Transitional polyfoam provides extra cushioning while creating a buffer between your body and the support core, which is made of high-density polyfoam. A breathable poly-spandex cover encases the mattress.

The Saatva Rx is one of the only mainstream mattresses on the market today specifically designed for people with back pain. A medium soft (4) feel with thick foam layers makes this luxury hybrid particularly well suited to side sleepers, who can benefit from the comfort system’s cloud-like cradling. Our tests also show the Rx produces less motion transfer than most competing coil mattresses.

Why We Like It

During hands-on tests, the Rx earned praise from side sleepers on our team across all three weight groups, though those weighing up to 230 pounds were particularly impressed. Side and back sleepers under 130 pounds also felt comfortable on the mattress, while heavier testers in these sleep position groups sank to an excessive degree — we recommend a firmer model for these folks.

Since the Rx is relatively soft compared to other hybrids, the mattress excelled in testing areas like motion isolation and pressure relief where coil mattresses often underperform. At the same time, the Rx lacks sturdy edge support and most of our testers sank to some degree when moving on the surface. We also noticed some heat retention from the foam layer, though this was somewhat counteracted by the breathable organic cotton cover.

How Does It Feel?

The Rx features a Euro-top surface cushioned with memory foam and polyfoam layers, giving the mattress a cushy and adaptive feel. These materials contour closely, forming a cradle for your body’s unique curves. Transitional microcoils form a nice buffer between your body and the support core, pushing back against your weight without making the mattress feel too stiff.

The Rx’s pocketed coil support core is unique because each spring is tipped with 1-inch foam cubes. This heightens the mattress’ plush feel and also minimizes motion transfer — a major benefit for couples. The cover is composed of soft organic cotton that’s been treated with Guardin, an antimicrobial agent intended to stave off dust mites and harmful bacteria. All orders come with free White Glove delivery and 365-night sleep trials.

Bear’s Elite Hybrid is a solid choice for people who experience painful pressure buildup while they sleep. The foam layers contour evenly to distribute your weight, promote even alignment, and reduce pressure in sensitive areas like the shoulders and hips. Zoned transitional and coil layers also work to minimize sinkage and keep your body on an even plane.

Why We Like It

Our team tested all three of the Elite Hybrid’s firmness levels. Side sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds preferred the Luxury Plush, which registers as a medium or 5 on our 10-point firmness scale. This is the softest adaptive design, so lighter side sleepers get plenty of cushioning and won’t sink too much. Our side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds gave the highest ratings to the Luxury Firm (6) design, citing its balanced feel as a key strength, while those weighing more than 230 pounds appreciated the robust support of the Firm (8) model.

All three designs sleep fairly cool. While foam can absorb and trap body heat, the Elite Hybrid’s top layer is infused with gel and the cover is woven with Celliant fibers intended to release heat from the surface. The coils circulate plenty of air for added breathability.

How Does It Feel?

Each firmness level has a distinct feel. The Luxury Plush is cushy and adaptive, the Luxury Firm lightly contours to the body, and the Firm withstands compression and feels even from head to toe. One notable feature is the transitional foam layer, which is divided into five zones with stronger support beneath your midsection and gentler cradling for lighter areas of your body. The coils are also zoned, so uncomfortable sinkage around the torso and hips shouldn’t be an issue as long as you choose a firmness level that aligns with your body type.

Why We Like It

There’s a lot to be said about the long-term value of a flippable mattress like the Layla Hybrid. One side is plush and adaptive while the other is firm and supportive, so you’re essentially getting two mattresses for the price of one. This may prove worth the investment if your firmness needs and preferences change over time — or if you like to switch up the feel of your sleep surface every so often.

Reversible design aside, the Layla Hybrid brings a lot to the table in terms of quality and performance. The memory foam layers on both sides are infused with cooling copper gel and air flows freely through the coil system, so this mattress sleeps exceptionally cool. Our testers were also impressed with the zoned support system. You can really feel the extra reinforcement around your midsection — especially on the firm side — and this prevents uncomfortable sinkage in these areas.

How Does It Feel?

If you’re a side sleeper, chances are you’ll find at least one of the Layla Hybrid’s two surfaces comfortable. One side of this flippable mattress contains thick foam layers for a deep, pressure-relieving cradle best suited to side sleepers under 130 pounds. Those who weigh 130 pounds or more will likely prefer the firmer side, which doesn’t contour as closely but still provides noticeable cushioning around the shoulders and hips.

Since the support core contains pocketed coils, you may notice a light bounce in response to movement on either surface. This is to be expected from a hybrid. That said, the zoned layout of the coils means robust reinforcement for heavier areas of your body and gentler cradling for the head and legs. The mattress is encased in a breathable zip-off cover, which you can remove and machine-wash for cleaning.