Hey all, I had been sleeping on a Tuft and Needle memory foam mattress for the past 10 or so years. It wasn’t super comfortable but wasn’t uncomfortable either. I guess my body probably adapted to it but I would typically have slight lower back pain.
Decided that I wanted an upgrade and went with the Nolah Evolution 15 due to reviews on sleep websites and Reddit. Unfortunately I’m not really enjoying the mattress at all. Back pain is still there, the mattress has some give but ultimately I just don’t find it comfortable at all as it feels like it sags when I’m laying there for a while. Not comfortable when laying on my side of back. To be clear, I have the luxury firm model.
Anyone have recommendations for a side sleeper looking for comfort and alleviated back pain? I’m not really sure if soft or firm is best for my body type/sleep style. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
Hello DJD1719 and welcome to the Mattress Underground,
I’m sorry to hear that your mattress is not working out for you. Back pain can be caused by either a too soft mattress or a too firm mattress, so it is tricky. However, since you have mentioned a ‘sagging feel’ I’m wondering if you need a firm mattress for your back. The trick is to then accommodate the pressure point relief you need when sleeping on your side.
One way to tell is to take someone with you when you are mattress shopping. When you lay on the mattress, particularly on your side, have them check to see whether your spine is straight. That should give you some information to work with and help you know whether soft or firm (or somewhere in between) is best for you.
Often the answer is a firm support layer for your back with a cushioned top layer for pressure point relief, such as the Hudson Luxe here.
Additionally, you’ve probably found some helpful articles here on the MUG. This one helps detail how to think about your body type as it relates to mattresses.
Hope this is informational to you. Let us know if we can help!
If positioned correctly on the mattress, your spine should be neutral (straight). Of course, this is easier to see when sleeping on your side. If the mattress is too soft or too firm, There will be dips in your spine, or alternatively, if it is too firm, there could be pain.
At that price point, we do not have many options. I’m not sure what size you are looking for. The Naturepedic Chorus fits that price point in Twin or TXL with a sale on, but it is a little above it in Full size and above. However, I would say that it has a ‘cushion-firm’ feel to it, so you would definitely want to try it in a showroom to see how comfortable it is for you.
I appreciate all of your help. I’m looking for a Twin so that does fit my budget. In general do you think latex would be a good idea? I’ve heard it’s a bit firmer.
Latex can be firmer - or not, depending on the type of latex. The Hudson Luxe I mentioned earlier has another model without the topper called the Hudson. It is on sale and a little closer to your budget, but it looks like it would be a bit over. It is a pretty firm mattress, as the configuration is 5 inches of firm and 3 inches of medium dunlop latex.
The Chorus has more ‘give’ to it and may not be as much support as you are looking for.
Also, as a side sleeper, having a pillow between the knees may help keep your spine aligned and reduce pain.
I hope this helps. If you have questions, feel free to give us a call.