These Comfy Firm Mattresses Will Provide Way More Support Than Your Ex

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Does anyone else think firm mattresses deserve way more recognition? Soft mattresses are nice every once in a while, don’t get me wrong, but they always leave my spine feeling completely out of whack. Plush mattresses are also notorious for sinking in, which makes climbing out of bed in the morning damn near impossible!

So, in my opinion, firm is the superior mattress comfort level—especially for back and stomach sleepers. Benefits include reduced motion transfer, proper weight distribution, better spine alignment, improved circulation, and excellent support for your back, neck, and joints. In my quest to give these beds the hype they deserve, I searched high and low for the best firm mattresses on the market, based on high-tech design features and hundreds of five-star reviews. Below, you’ll find firm foam and hybrid innerspring options from popular brands like Allswell, Casper, Saatva, and Tempur-Pedic—and all eight meet my rigorous criteria for dramatically improving sleep habits.

Shopping for a new mattress can be a minefield. Luckily, you can rely on Cosmopolitan's team of experts to sift through thousands of options and highlight the ones that are actually worth your hard-earned money. Below, the eight best firm mattresses money can buy!

The Brick

With a name like The Brick, you know this mattress is going to be nice 'n' f-i-r-m. But it's so much more than that! The magic is in Allswell’s four-part system—which includes a layer of copper-infused memory foam for optimal freshness, two inches of supportive, high-density foam, individually-wrapped coils to minimize motion transfer, and a firm, quilted top layer. Alllll that for under $500? Sign me up!

• Mattress type: hybrid innerspring

• Warranty: 10 years

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

THE REVIEWS: "I was having some sciatica issues and wanted a more supportive firm bed and this has been great! I feel supported and comfortable at the same time and wake up with less back pain," writes one reviewer. "Highly recommend. Affordable and good quality. Easy to order and receive."

Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Y'all, it's 2023! If you're still waking up in a pile of your own sweat, stop what you're doing right now and add this mattress to your cart. The gel-infused memory foam is breathable and cool to the touch, while the high-tech cover wicks away heat and helps regulate your temperature while you snooze. Pure bliss, am I right?

• Mattress type: gel memory foam

• Warranty: lifetime

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

THE REVIEWS: "First and foremost, this mattress is incredibly comfortable. The memory foam layer conforms to my body, providing support and pressure relief in all the right places. I wake up feeling well-rested and without any aches or pains. The Nectar Mattress also features a layer of copper-infused foam, which provides additional cooling and helps to reduce motion transfer. I've noticed that I don't get as hot during the night as I used to, and I'm not disturbed by my partner's movements," one reviewer writes. "Another great feature of this mattress is its construction. It's made with high-quality materials and feels very durable. The cover is soft and breathable, and the foam layers are well-made and don't show any signs of sagging or wear."

Original Mattress

Why are customers absolutely obsessed with this Casper mattress, you ask? Here are just a few of the features that make it a bestseller: multi-zoned support to keep your spine aligned, high-quality foam that conforms to your body and relieves pressure, and a durable base that'll last ya forever.

• Mattress type: foam

• Warranty: 10 years (limited)

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

THE REVIEWS: "I've had it for two weeks, and I can say it’s been a dream. Sleeping on this mattress instantaneously removed all the pain in my lower back and neck. My old mattress lived a long life but it’s a night and day situation and how fast you can notice the difference for your body and enjoy a well-rested night of sleep," one reviewer writes. "Ever since I’ve gotten this mattress, I’ve been sleeping perfectly throughout the night without waking up from any discomfort. And every time I wake up in the morning after 7 to 8 hours of sleep, I wake up feeling reborn well-rested, and not in pain at all."

The WinkBed

This mattress is perfect for people who like to customize their purchases because it's available in four different levels of firmness: soft, luxury firm, firm, and plus. Luxury firm is the most popular of the models—it’s ideal for every type of sleeper and provides the perfect balance of contouring comfort and firm support. Highlights include individually-wrapped pocketed coils that provide targeted back support and pushback in areas with more pressure, extra edge support to prevent sagging, and an eco-friendly, moisture-wicking Tencel cover.

• Mattress type: hybrid innerspring

• Warranty: lifetime

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
  

THE REVIEWS: "So Comfortable! I LOVE this mattress! It's a godsend for someone like me, who gets back pain if the mattress I am on is too soft and can't sleep if the mattress is too firm. The WinkBeds mattress is really comfortable," writes one reviewer. "It combines just the right levels of firmness and softness to provide good support but still feels like a comfortable, premium item that I know will last for a long time. I was reluctant to buy online, but the prices are great so I decided to try it for the 101 days. Now I'm hooked and it's not going back."

Compare Mattresses

Comfortable yet solid, this mattress contours your body and helps with spinal alignment—especially for stomach and back sleepers. The firm top layer won’t sink in, and the cooling cover helps pull heat away from the body. Oh, and if you've got back pain, reviewers say Helix's pressure-relieving design works wonders.

• Mattress type: hybrid innerspring

• Warranty: 10-15 years

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king

THE REVIEWS: "We love our Helix Dawn mattress! We bought it to put in the extra bedroom where my 70-something-year-old mother sleeps when she visits. She said it is very comfortable," one reviewer writes. "Also, my husband, both our young adult daughters, and I have slept on it and everyone loves it! It's probably the most comfortable mattress in our house!"

Classic Mattress (Comfort Level: Firm)

The dual-coil design, made of recycled carbon steel that's tempered three times, makes this hybrid firm mattress extremely durable (so it's time to say goodbye to that sagging one you've had forever!). It’s also got a naturally breathable organic cotton cover, high-density memory foam for enhanced support, and Saatva’s signature Lumbar Zone Technology that helps with spinal alignment.

• Mattress type: hybrid innerspring

• Warranty: lifetime

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king

THE REVIEWS: "My husband and I like different firmness. We ordered a split king (one classic and one firm). We both love our beds and cannot believe how comfortable they are," one reviewer writes. "We have ordered replacement beds for our spare bedroom."

Legacy T&N Original Mattress

This option touts bounce-back support and breathability. Tuft & Needle’s signature Adaptive foam features cooling gel and heat-wicking graphite. It's compatible with most bed frames, plus it's got an open cell structure design—which basically means the mattress is flexible enough (and smart enough!) to respond and adjust where you need it most. It's ideal for stomach sleepers because the supportive foam won't create that uncomfortable arch in your back.

• Mattress type: foam

• Warranty: 10 years (limited)

• Available sizes: twin, twin XL, full, California king

THE REVIEWS: "This is my second T&N mattress. I had another high-end brand in-between my first and second and I hated it. Since sleeping on my new mattress, I am sleeping better and have no pain throughout the night," writes one reviewer. "I have had a cervical fusion, so I am very picky about my bed. I love this mattress, it is firm but not hard. It's perfect."

LuxeAdapt Firm Mattress

It's a classic for a reason, folks! I know that price tag is scary, but the comfort level and lifespan make it worth the investment. The LuxeAdapt features a removable, cool-to-touch outer cover, plus Tempur-Pedic's most advanced and ultra-conforming material to date. It instantly adapts to your weight, shape, and temperature for your best sleep ever.

• Mattress type: memory foam

• Warranty: 10 years (limited)

• Available sizes: queen and king

THE REVIEWS: "When first laid down on it, it felt like a rock. But, I like a firm mattress, so I tested it that night. Very happy with this mattress. Yes, it initially feels very hard. But once I laid on it for a little bit, it became an extremely comfortable and pleasurable "rock", that I was more than happy to sleep on all night long," one reviewer writes. "If you like a soft mattress, then you won't like this one. But, if you like a firm mattress, then I highly recommend it! I am so very pleased with my choice!"

How to choose the best firm mattress

Choosing the firm mattress that’s right for you can be a challenge—especially since all eight on this list are pretty freaking amazing! So here are a few things to keep in mind that’ll make the process of narrowing 'em down so much easier.

What is your sleep style?

When shopping for a new mattress, you’ll want to consider your sleeping style. Do you sleep on your stomach, back, side, or a combination of all three? Keep in mind that firm mattresses are ideal for stomach and back sleepers because they don't sink in under your shoulders and hips (like plush mattresses), which creates an uncomfortable arch in your lower back.

And side sleepers, you can totally hop on the firm mattress bandwagon as well! You don't have to worry about the arch in your lower back and you might want less pressure against your shoulders and hips, so consider purchasing one that falls in between medium-firm and firm (think: a 7 on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest). I think you'll love The WinkBed by WinkBeds.

Do you share a bed with someone?

If the answer is yes, the chances that you have the exact same sleeping habits as your partner are slim. Whether that involves tossing and turning or frequent trips to the bathroom, look for a firm mattress that’s available in a split size like the Classic Mattress by Saatva to help prevent motion transfer. And that way, you get to choose the firmness level you prefer, while your partner gets to choose the firmness level they prefer.

Consider your budget and lifestyle

If you’re a student or young professional who’s renting and potentially moving again in the near future, I suggest choosing an affordable firm mattress like The Brick by Allswell. But if you’re the proud owner of your forever home (and you have a bit more cash saved up!), it might be time to invest in a firm mattress that’ll last ya forever. The iconic Tempur-Pedic, perhaps?!

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