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The 7 Best Mattresses For Athletes Of 2023 To Optimize Recovery & Performance
No matter your level of athleticism, one thing that unites us all is the need for recovery—and when you're pushing your body to its limit during the day, quality sleep becomes even more critical at night.
The right bedroom setup can make or break the way your body and your mind recover, along with the level you're able to perform at the next day. The best mattresses for athletes provide supported, restful sleep, so you can wake up ready to tackle your next workout.
"For any athlete, rest and recovery are extremely important features of high performance, and getting a good quality sleep is vital for that to happen," confirms Kirstie Griffiths, D.C., chiropractor and yoga teacher.
Research backs this up too, showing that sleep is one of the most important recovery tools for athletes1, both physically and mentally2. That's why it's critical for every kind of athlete to have a mattress that fits their needs and creates a restful recovery environment.
Below, find our picks for the best mattresses for athletes.
- Best mattress for athletes for weightlifters: Helix Midnight
- Best cooling mattress for athletes: Nectar Premier Copper Mattress
- Best mattress for athletes for spinal alignment: Birch Luxe
- Best infrared mattress for athletes: Brooklyn Bedding Spartan
- Best mattress for athletes for muscle recovery: GhostBed Venus Williams Legend Hybrid Mattress
- Best mattress for athletes for pressure relief: Haven LUX Pillowtop Hybrid
- Best adjustable mattress for athletes: ReST 5-Zone Smart Bed
How we picked the best mattresses for athletes
- Materials: We spoke with experts to determine which materials are best for athletes and prioritized those in our selection process.
- Expert advice: We leaned heavily on expert input throughout our analysis of each mattress.
- Reviews: It's always helpful to gain a larger perspective about each product. That's why we took a close look at the customer reviews to determine our picks.
- Price: Since everyone's budget is different, we found high-quality mattresses at a variety of price points.
How to choose
Ultimately, it comes down to what will give you the most comfort and support through the night. Consider these factors as you select the best mattress for you.
Firmness: Griffiths says that even though most people think a plush or soft mattress will be the most comfortable, it's a misconception. "Most people tend to have less pain waking up in the morning when they select a medium to firm mattress," she explains.
Pressure relief: Even weight distribution is especially important for athletes, as it prevents you from waking up in the middle of the night with a sore hip or shoulder (which will definitely get in the way of your game).
Cooling: If you tend to sleep hot, something temperature-regulating could make or break your body's recovery. "Being able to sleep in cooler temperatures improves quality of sleep and aids in recovery," confirms Gabrielle Lesnett, running coach and physical therapist, adding that some toppers and mattress models even feature built-in fans.
Lifestyle needs: Finding a mattress that suits your lifestyle is crucial. For example, if you sleep with a partner, Griffiths recommends a king mattress. "Most people when sharing a bed will face away from their partners if they are in close proximity, which means you always end up sleeping on the same side of your body and this can lead to back pain and shoulder issues," she says. Choosing something with a bit more space will be extremely helpful.
What mattress firmness and thickness is best for athletes?
Both Lesnett and Griffiths agree that a medium-firm mattress tends to be the best choice. "Typically, a mattress with medium to high firmness is preferred to support your body and prevent the body from sinking into the mattress into an asymmetrical position," Lesnett adds.
Image by Helix
Image by Helix
Image by Helix Midnight Mattress
This hybrid model combines foam with up to 950 individually-wrapped, 8-inch coils for a comfy-yet-supported feel. Side sleepers specifically will benefit from the way this mattress contours to your body, thanks to the ergonomic support and cushioning of its middle foam layer. And per our expert's recommendation, it's medium-firm with pressure-point relief that makes it ideal for athletes and weightlifters.
The details
The details
Sleep hot? There’s also an option to add a cooling cover for an additional $149.
Weightlifters who are looking for a bit more targeted lumbar support and back pressure relief might want to try the brand’s Luxe model, which has two additional layers and a quilted pillow top for additional comfort.
Shipped via Fed Ex, it comes compressed in a box. Once dropped at your doorstep, it should be a fairly easy set up.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Pressure-relieving
- Cooling
- Multiple firmness options
Cons
- Unclear materials
What customers say
What customers say
This mattress exceeds most expectations with a rating just below a perfect 5-stars. According to one shopper, “This mattress is the perfect blend of soft comfort and firm support. I fall asleep so fast now. As an athlete rest and recovery is essential to my lifestyle and this mattress is a true oasis. Thank you nectar for this treasure.”
We’ve featured this bed in our picks for the best mattresses for pressure points, and while it uses synthetic materials, the design is a solid option for athletes who prefer the feel of memory foam—especially if you tend to sleep hot.
The details
The details
The dual-action cooling cover uses heat-conductive copper fibers to keep you cool throughout the night, while the gel-infused memory foam reacts to your body to aid with body temperature regulation. When paired with memory foam—which adapts to your body to relieve pressure points and encourage spinal alignment—the combo becomes the ultimate pick for athletes that want to experience less aches, pains, and stiffness at night.
Similar to other options, the mattress ships compressed and rolled in a box. However, it's on the heavier side, and the brand recommends giving the mattress at least 24 hours to expand before putting it to use.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Cooling
- Great for back, stomach, and side sleepers
Cons
- Not the best edge support
What customers say
What customers say
This mattress exceeds most expectations with a rating just below a perfect 5-stars. According to one shopper, “This mattress is the perfect blend of soft comfort and firm support. I fall asleep so fast now. As an athlete rest and recovery is essential to my lifestyle and this mattress is a true oasis. Thank you nectar for this treasure.”
Image by Birch
This eco-friendly hybrid mattress is made with organic, sustainably-sourced materials, and has multiple certifications, including: GREENGUARD gold certified, GOTS Certified Organic and fair-trade certified factory.
The details
The details
With targeted lumbar support to keep your body in alignment, and layered latex for adequate pressure relief, this is a great pick for any athlete. It’s particularly supportive for stomach sleepers, thanks to the overall firmer feel, and side sleepers will love the way it cradles their hips and shoulders.
If you’re suffering from an injury (or you tend to overdo it in your workouts), this is one of our favorite mattresses for back pain, too. The organic materials also create a naturally cool sleep environment. It will be shipped in a box (compressed and rolled up), and you shouldn't experience any off-gassing smells.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Organic, sustainably sourced materials
- Cooling
- Great for side & stomach sleepers
Cons
- Only one firmness option
What an expert says
What an expert says
Sleep doctor Meredith Brokerick, M.D., sleeps on this mattress, and praises its high-quality materials as a crucial factor when it comes to selecting a mattress.
Image by Brooklyn Bedding
Image by Brooklyn Bedding
Another model created specifically with recovery in mind, this mattress has far infrared ray technology woven into its cover, which helps turn your body heat into energy to promote blood flow and muscle recovery.
The details
The details
The 8-inch base is made with more than 1,000 coils, providing pressure-relieving support for your joints. Add the gel-infused memory foam layer and you'll get added body temperature regulation to keep you cool all night.
Although it arrives compressed in a box, you'll want to give this mattress some time to fully expand. Once it does, you'll be able to sleep on it right away with minimal off-gassing smells. While some reviewers find this mattress to be too soft overall, there are three firmness options to choose from: soft, medium, and firm. If you end up not liking yours, you have 120 nights to return it.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Far infrared technology
- Cooling
- Pressure-relieving
Cons
- Some find it too soft
What customers say
What customers say
This bed has an overall rating of 4.7 out of five stars from plenty of reviewers who mention relief from back and shoulder pain. A shopper raves, “Within the first 3 nights, I no longer had achy back & shoulder pain upon awakening. Don't get me wrong—I am an athlete and still have "soreness"—but it is related directly to my training and NOT my recovery!”
Image by GhostBed
If you want the best mattress for athletes, why not go directly to the source? Co-designed by Venus Williams, this mattress uses a proprietary blend of far infrared minerals, which reacts to your natural body heat and reflects it back to you as far infrared light (which research has shown to be impactful for fitness recovery3). These infrared waves increase circulation and blood flow, targeting sore muscles and tissues for a better recovery.
The details
The details
While memory foam is not a sustainable choice, the mattress has a cooling cover made from 25% recycled water bottles, which is a decent nod at sustainability. Plus, if you do decide to return your mattress, it will be donated or recycled. Bonus: It can be slept on as soon as it arrives and is unpacked from the box.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Far infrared technology
- Designed by a professional athlete
- Made with 25% recycled water bottles
Cons
- Memory foam
Image by Haven
Image by Haven
Griffiths herself sleeps on this plant-based, hybrid mattress, and she gives it extra points for sustainability and high quality materials. The advanced pressure relief option is great for athletes, as it adds extra plushness for the shoulders and hips, while still supporting your neck, head, and lower body.
The details
The details
With a 100% bamboo top cover, cool gel foam, natural latex, natural copper, and open cell foams, this bed was built to keep you cool. It’s also certified by the Canadian Chiropractic Association for promoting proper spinal alignment, providing pressure relief, and offering a high level of support. Plus, this company emphasizes social responsibility, and donates one mattress for every 10 purchased. Shipping on your rolled-and-compressed mattress is free.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Natural latex
- Chiropractor-approved
Cons
- On the firmer side
- Heavy
What customers say
What customers say
This mattress has more than 700 5-star ratings. People rave about the way it’s relieved their aches and pains, with one person even writing, “I was thinking my morning aches, pains and stiffness were just something that came with getting older but after a few nights on our new Haven mattress I was waking up without the stiff aching shoulders and hips. An amazing improvement—I love it! Thank you!”
One of the best smart beds on the market, the ReST Bed is a standout in smart bed technology. The perfect pick for athletes who want to supercharge their sleep experience, it's beloved by triathlon champions, Ironman champions, and professional athletes alike, who all speak openly about their love for this mattress.
The details
The details
While it’s not a sustainable choice (not many smart beds are), the smart features ensure a curated sleep experience, with a sensor that reads your body’s pressure points, and silently adjusts to relieve them. The bed tracks and houses your sleep data in its corresponding app—which you can use to control the firmness, too, if you prefer a manual adjustment.
There’s also an option to memory-lock your preferences for side or back sleeping, so the bed will adjust settings as you move positions throughout the night. This level of customization is key for athletes.
This mattress comes with free in-home delivery, so the brand will send a two-man team to deliver and install your bed into the room of your choice, at no additional cost to you. You can also have them remove your current mattress, for a one-time fee of $149.
Pros & cons
Pros & cons
Pros
- Pressure relief and contouring
- Built-in sensors to collect sleep data
- Over 60,000 firmness combinations
Cons
- Not sustainable
What customers say
What customers say
The bed has a 4.8 rating overall with a ton of rave reviews about its comfort and the difference the smart features make in their sleep routine. A shopper writes, "This is truly an amazing mattress. It automatically adjusts to your body's pressure points while you sleep. There are several preset positions, but my personal favorite is the zero gravity. Customer service is excellent, too."
FAQ
What type of mattress is best for athletes?
Unfortunately, as Lesnett states, there isn't a one-size-fits-all mattress. To find the best one for you, take the above factors into consideration, along with your desired level of firmness and your typical sleep position.
What is the healthiest type of mattress?
Griffiths says the healthiest type of mattress is one that supports your body but also the health of the planet—and we agree.
What is the best sleeping position for athletes?
"The best sleeping position is the one you find most comfortable because it means you have a higher chance of getting a deep sleep, and that is the phase of sleep where restorative processes and healing takes place," Griffiths confirms.
Other considerations for sleep
Again, sleep is critical for athletic recovery and performance. While the right mattress will make a huge difference, there are a lot of other factors to consider as well. To set yourself up for your most restorative sleep yet, our experts recommend taking the below into account.
A good pillow: "A good pillow is just as important as a good mattress," Griffiths stresses. She recommends a latex pillow because it better retains its shape, meaning the joints in your neck are less likely to get compressed.
Rotating your mattress: "I would recommend rotating your mattress every four to six months, and getting a new mattress at least every 10 years," says Lesnett. "You spend (hopefully) a third of your day in bed, so it is worth the investment!" Pro tip: A flippable mattress has an even longer lifespan.
Sleep hygiene: Both recommend a consistent bedtime and less screen time before bed, as well as other tools like "blackout curtains, ear plugs, a health tracking device, such as an Oura ring, which can give a very detailed analysis on sleep quality and recovery," suggests Griffiths.
For more tips about capitalizing on your new mattress and achieving your best performance-enhancing sleep, try these sleep products or sleep supplements.
The takeaway
Athletes need quality sleep to perform at their best—and finding the right mattress is a crucial step in your muscle recovery routine.
While you're considering your physical well-being and athletic performance, you might want to think about investing in a massage gun or compression boots or carve out some time in your day for our favorite recovery-boosting practices.
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