Reviews on Hybrid Mattresses for the Curious

SetWidth540-hybrid-bannerAnd here we are! Best hybrid mattresses for your attention.

Believe me, there are lots and lots of hybrid mattresses. The thing with them is they only follow one basic concept, otherwise, they may have nothing to do with each other.

Of course, I’m not talking about only those hybrid mattresses that share at least one concept, like, innerspring/latex mattresses and memory foam/latex mattresses. It’s the concept of combination itself that is important here. But at the same time, this concept is probably not something that is particularly of interest to you.

  ImageNameCostRate
  ImageNameCostRate
Classic Brands Gramercy 14 Inch Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring MattressClassic Brands Gramercy 14 Inch Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress$$$4.9
WinkBeds - Mattress For Sale - Best Rated MattressWarehouse - Foam Mattress + AirSprings + Gel Hybrid$$$$4.8
LUCID 16 Inch Plush Memory Foam and Latex Mattress - Four-Layer - Infused with Bamboo Charcoal - Natural Latex and CertiPUR-US Certified Foam - 25-Year WarrantyLUCID 16 Inch Plush Memory Foam and Latex Mattress$$$4.7
Classic Brands Engage Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring MattressClassic Brands Engage Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress$$$4.8
Brentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress, CertiPUR-US, Made in USA, 25 Year Warranty, Natural Wool LayerBrentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress$$$4.5

Why would you write these reviews then?

imagesThat’s not too hard to answer.

Whereas you probably are not interested in the concept of a hybrid mattress as such, you may be interested in specific hybrid mattresses. For instance, some of you might want to look up memory foam/latex mattresses, some of you might want to get an innerspring/memory foam mattress, and so on and so forth.

However, you will only encounter hybrid memory foam mattresses in this reviews.

hybrid-550x360-updateBenefits of hybrid mattresses

They are rather obvious to those who have to deal with mattresses daily—or weekly at the very least. They take the best from both basic types of mattresses, which is obvious to anyone, but what would that “best” be?

Benefits of memory foam

memory-foam-bedding-perth-300x200In this instance, the most important quality is the precise support memory foam can provide. As a rule, memory foam layer would be on top, regardless of what other concepts the mattress incorporates.

The reason for memory foam being on top is the fact it reacts to body heat and pressure. Memory foam has been developed under NASA for crash protection. To function properly, memory foam should contact the skin as directly, as possible. Sometimes, even a sheet too thick would disrupt memory foam performance.

There is no point to put it between non-memory foam layers and most certainly not as the bottom layer.

Benefits of springs


Innerspring mattresses
are the oldest type of mattresses. They were introduced back in the 19th century. And yet, they still are around.

As you can guess, no mattress would still be around unless it was good enough. So what are the benefits of innerspring mattresses?

First of all, that would be the lower price, but that is not the case with hybrid mattresses. After all, they do not contain only coils only, which makes them expensive.

Second, springs provide support. It’s not the same as memory foam, however. Support, provided by springs is generally cruder, but they also have more height to give in. Depending on whether the coils are interwoven or pocketed, the type of support may vary.

talalay-latex-benefitsBenefits of latex

Latex is anti-allergenic, anti-microbial and mold-proof material. It is rather firm, although there is some give to it. And it is luxurious to the touch. It’s silky and cool.

Because of that, latex is often used as the top layer. In some instance, however, like in combination with memory foam, it may serve as a transition layer or even base due to the support if provides. Latex is more supple than foam.

Benefits of air mattress

Levitation girls over the field.

Not many of the best air mattresses are made in combination with any other kind of mattress, but some are. There is not much that can be said about their benefits other than their ability to be deflated as needed. I’m not going to review hybrid air mattresses since there is little point to it.

Drawbacks of combination

best-mattress-types_0Naturally, other than benefits there are some drawbacks. So what are drawbacks of combination in general?

As you might know, multi-purpose tools always are less reliable then simple one-purpose tools. This might apply to some hybrid mattresses. The reason for that is the combination of structural weaknesses of different types of mattresses. This is a rule for any hybrid air mattress. It’s rather easy to puncture one of those.

But structural weaknesses are not the only drawback possible. Sometimes, it’s about the addition of drawbacks typical of a certain type of mattresses. Thus, memory foam is typically reflecting heat back at the sleeper, unless it’s not countered specifically.

Drawbacks of nullification

Under drawbacks of nullification, I mean any situation when some perks of a type of mattress just aren’t there due to the layer’s position.

Innerspring mattresses almost never fall suffer these. Spring layer can easily be the support layer, more than that, it usually is!

Memory foam doesn’t suffer that either. It’s supposed to be on top, and it usually is.

But latex suffers this quite a lot. It’s often used as an in-between layer or even the core layer. Anti-allergenic properties of latex hardly matter in that case. Silky touch—you can’t touch it anyway. In short, latex function is reduced to support.

Top 5 list of Hybrid Mattresses

5. Brentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Brentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress, CertiPUR-US, Made in USA, 25 Year Warranty, Natural Wool LayerToday’s list is opened with this latex/memory foam mattress. The memory foam’s position is usual, which is, as I’ve already said, on top. The memory foam layer is gel-infused for cool sleeping.

The latex layer is used to provide uplifting support, while the memory foam layer comes into contact with your skin and conforms to your body’s outline perfectly. Thanks to that, you are given both the conforming qualities of memory foam and latex’s supple support.

There is also an Air Flow layer beneath the comfort layers and the core layer at the very bottom. The natural wool layer is the cover. It’s used for comfortable sleeping.

However, the mattress is soft. Not quite soft enough to call it uncomfortable, but that might be a bit of a problem for some people. I wouldn’t recommend this mattress for those who prefer firm mattresses, if case they know that. If not, I really advise you to try it out. To do that, you can order the mattress on Amazon.com.

The mattress comes in three comfort levels, so if you don’t know your preferences yet, I recommend getting the firm comfort level mattress.

Despite the fact this mattress is not an innerspring mattress, it has a bit of a problem with its edges. They tend to collapse if too much pressure is applied to them, and that might make your sleeping experience uncomfortable. But if you’re not a restless sleeper, you are not likely to experience this issue ever, and if you are, you it wouldn’t necessarily bother you even then.

Pros:Brentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress, CertiPUR-US, Made in USA, 25 Year Warranty, Natural Wool Layer

  • Meets Global Organic Latex Standard
  • CertiPUR-US certified
  • Airflow layer for ventilation
  • Gel infused for cool sleeping
  • Wool sleeping surface
  • Made in the U.S.A.

Cons:

  • Non-natural components included
  • Might be very soft
  • Edges collapseBrentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress, CertiPUR-US, Made in USA, 25 Year Warranty, Natural Wool Layer

4. Classic Brands Engage Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress

Classic Brands Engage Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring MattressA combination of memory foam and innerspring technologies. I’ve already done a review on this mattress (and the previous mattress as well), and I said back then it was a perfect marriage of two competing technologies. I still stand by those my words. It is a perfect decision.

The innerspring technology does not make the mattress any more expensive. Well, not much more expensive anyway. But what it does is provide prefect crude support, further refined by the gel memory foam. I really should mention the coils are pocketed. Thanks to that, any motion disturbance is eliminated.  You don’t have to worry about your partner sleeping restlessly or about waking them up when you need to leave the bed for a while in the night. Each coil is independent for another, so sitting on the springs would not dislocate anyone else.

The memory foam layer, in its turn, acts just like memory foam is supposed to. It reacts to your body heat and gives in under your weight. And let me tell you the memory foam is rather thick. You would sink in quite a bit before your body would hit the springs.

Such a combination is perfect for orthopedic use. The memory foam layer provides ultra-precise support.

The overall height of the mattress is eleven inches. The memory foam is gel-infused ,which prevents overheating due to the heat reflection.

If that sounds appealing to you, order this mattress on Amazon.com right now.

Pros:Classic Brands Engage Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress

  • CertiPUR-US Certified
  • Hybrid memory foam/innerspring mattress
  • Perfect orthopedic support
  • Quilted pillow-top knit cover
  • Breathing mattress

Cons:

  • Low-density foam
  • Soft

3. LUCID 16 Inch Plush Memory Foam and Latex Mattress

LUCID 16 Inch Plush Memory Foam and Latex Mattress - Four-Layer - Infused with Bamboo Charcoal - Natural Latex and CertiPUR-US Certified Foam - 25-Year WarrantyA thick mattress, if there is any. Sixteen inches is quite a bit.

Of course, thickness is not all as far as mattresses go, but it still is important.

This mattress is constructed of two layers of memory foam, a latex layer and a basic foam layer used as the support layer. And then there is a bamboo cover.

The top memory foam layer is infused with bamboo charcoal. Because of that, it is hypoallergenic and good at absorbing undesired scents, including the typical smell of a memory foam mattress.

The latex layer does not contact with your skin in any way. Its primary function is support (since it’s firmer than the memory foam).

Since the mattress is thick, it should be no surprise to us that it is heavy as well. And because of that, it’s very hard to move it around.

I don’t recommend getting something thick to cover the mattress with. First of all, it comes with a cover as it is. Second, if you’re separated from the memory foam layer too much, the foam will fail to react to your body heat. Without softening under the heat, the foam would be too firm and might make an unpleasant experience. Shouldn’t be any issue if you follow my advice and only buy some thin sheets to cover the mattress with.

You might want to follow another advice of mine as well, and look up this mattress on Amazon.com to read the reviews other customers left.

Pros:LUCID 16 Inch Plush Memory Foam and Latex Mattress - Four-Layer - Infused with Bamboo Charcoal - Natural Latex and CertiPUR-US Certified Foam - 25-Year Warranty

  • CertiPUR-US certified
  • Made in the U.S.A.
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Charcoal infused top layer
  • Memory foam/latex hybrid
  • 16 inches thick

Cons:

  • Very heavy
  • Might fail to react to your body heat

2. WinkBeds – Mattress For Sale – Best Rated Mattress

WinkBeds - Mattress For Sale - Best Rated MattressThis is not a cheap mattress. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that this is the most expensive mattress I’ve done a review on. A King Size mattress would cost you $1,300. And that’s with all discounts included. Without them, the mattress would cost square $4,000. And the company claims their costs are kept low so that the price remained as low as it can be.

Low or not, that’s still a lot for the average family. That’s a very high price. So why would I include the mattress into the reviews?

Because the mattress is as perfect as a mattress can be. If it weren’t for the price, I would give it the first place without second thoughts. Scratch that, I would have done a review dedicated to this mattress only.

Perhaps, you might object to me you only buy such expensive things offline. I am sorry to disappoint you, this would not work with this particular mattress. The company only sells it on the Internet. Therefore, Amazon.com is few of the places you can buy this mattress. Follow this link to do just that and acquire this handcrafted mattress for yourself… I failed to mention it earlier, didn’t I? Yes, this mattress is handcrafted, in the U.S.A., no less. And it comes with a free trial period of 101 nights.

And I’m yet to begin to actually talk about this mattress’s properties.

This is a memory foam/innerspring mattress. Price aside, this is the best mattress I can think of. The memory foam provides ideal comfort. The micro coils provide perfect support. This is the king of hybrid mattresses. And you will never regret getting it.

Pros:WinkBeds - Mattress For Sale - Best Rated Mattress

  • 101 nights trial
  • Made in the U.S.A.
  • Handcrafted
  • Perfect support
  • Perfect comfort
  • No overheating
  • CertiPUR-US certified

Cons:

  • Very high price
  • Very heavy

1. Classic Brands Gramercy 14 Inch Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress

Classic Brands Gramercy 14 Inch Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring MattressThis mattress has 8 layers proper and one extra—a stretch-knit cover with quilting. That includes three memory foam layers (two of which are infused with gel), the innerspring layer, three comfort foam layers and a fiber layer.

The price is medium. Not quite cheap, but not as expensive as the previous one.

The mattress’s overall height is 14 inches. The top memory foam layers are infused with gel to prevent hot sleeping. The innerspring layer is composed of individually pocketed coils. As you can expect, they eliminate motion transfer. It would be easier for you to shake up your partner yourself, rather than expect them to rise to your moving around.

What’s important is that the edge is corded. Thanks to that, the edges don’t collapse in a manner many other mattresses with pocketed coils do, which is certainly a boon. But that doesn’t mean they don’t collapse at all. The mattress’s edges do give in under heavy people.

The mattress is very comfortable. But since it has some memory foam in it, there is a specific smell. It does go away, but not immediately. You’d have to air it out for quite a bit.

And yet, this is the best hybrid mattress in my opinion. You would do well to order this mattress on Amazon.com.

Pros:Classic Brands Gramercy 14 Inch Hybrid Cool Gel Memory Foam and Innerspring Mattress

  • No motion transfer whatsoever
  • Straps around the base to pick the mattress up
  • Cool sleeping
  • CertiPUR-US certified
  • Smart packaging
  • Edge cord

Cons:

  • Odor
  • Soft
  • Edges do collapse under heavy people

Bottom line

2015-12-30_111455As you can see for yourself, every single hybrid mattress in this list is a combination of memory foam mattress and some other type. This not a coincidence. The most important quality of memory foam is the fact it can conform to one’s body outline. No other technology does that.

Any other technology would be used as the foundation for the memory foam.

The hybrid mattresses are generally some of the best mattresses there are. The combine the best qualities of the mattress types. That’s the idea. Of course, the downside of the mattresses sometimes shine through, but the general idea is mutual compensation of the drawbacks. And it works.

8 Comments

  1. Stella

    Its time for twin mattresses for my 4 and 6 year old boys. They had Naturpedic crib mattresses and then toddler beds. We would like to get them the best option out there but didn’t realize how expensive even a twin mattress can be.

    We are debating between the Naturpedic Organic Quilted Deluxe and the My Green Mattress Pure Echo. Both companies seem great, although Naturpedic is more expensive. And even those 2 companies have so many other options like double sided and higher end models. How does one choose?

    I think for such young kids (weighing 35-50pounds) spending $500 for a mattress which most likely will have to be upgraded to a full or queen when they grow and have actual “criteria” to meet should do the trick. But of course i tend to feel like I have to spend way more to get the best of the best…..but is it really worth it?

    Please advise.

    Thanks so much,
    Stella

    Reply
    1. About Mark About Mark Author

      Hello Stella!

      First of all, I’d like to congratulate you. They grow up so fast! =) And apologies for the delay. I do try to answer all the questions in the best way possible and as soon as possible whether they’re emailed to me or just posted here. It’s just that I’ve been really caught up for a little while.

      Second, an excellent choice! On both counts.

      Now, about which mattress to choose… Both of them are equally good if you ask me but of course there’s something about each of them that makes one better than the other in some way. Let’s consider the Pure Echo first.

      The Pure Echo is a very high-quality wool mattress. Other than the wool filling, it comes with several hundred pocketed coils, perfect for weight distribution and pressure relief, although inferior to memory foam in that particular department. Now, a mattress should have a fire barrier to be recognized as “safe”. I’m happy to tell you that this one is both legally and actually fireproof as well as chemicals-free. The wool itself acts as a fire barrier. I think that’s rather convenient if you’re looking for an organic mattress. It is not unusual for an otherwise “green” mattress to be literally soaked in flame retardants, you know. What’s even more important for those who have a limited budget is that this mattress is one of the cheapest ones made by My Green Mattress. You can purchase it for less than $490 on Amazon. And it is handcrafted.

      Now, the Naturepedic mattress … This is going to be a little bit trickier. For one, it is more expensive a mattress. I’ve no doubt you already knew about that. So the question is, is the price worth it?

      Wool, for all its qualities, is a potentially allergenic material. Now, the wool My Green Mattress’s Pure Echo is made of is relatively hypoallergenic, however, it is still capable of causing allergies. Much like latex, really. The Naturepedic mattress’s filling is made of natural cotton. As such, it no-sells the Pure Echo but only if allergy is a great concern. And I do mean “great”.

      The fire protection is quite similar, no harmful chemicals used, only natural fire barrier for you and yours =) Not so different, then. And this one is, too, handcrafted, except it comes with a luxury quilt. Is that important for you?

      What *is* very different is the warranty. Naturepedic offers one that is good for 20 years. Twice as long as what My Green Mattress suggests. The question is, do you need a warranty that covers 10 more years for, essentially, extra $150? The Naturepedic mattress would cost you $649, after all.

      If the answer is no, and your boys are not allergic, I would recommend the Pure Echo. It is cheaper and the other mattress is not really better, other than a tiny bit less allergenic and more luxurious. Besides, the coil count for the Naturepedic mattress is not even four hundred, versus some seven hundred the Pure Echo comes with. And the coil count is important for weight distribution.

      Hope this helps!

      Regards,
      Mark

      Reply
      1. Estella

        Thanks again Mark,
        I feel like buying a mattress just opens up such a big can or worms. I mean my girlfriends who buy the Naturpedic for $750-$1,000 (with foundation and mattress cover) end up buying a $700 non toxic bed frame and then $600 organic comforter and then the organic pillows and sheets leading to a grand total of $3000 +…a for a bed for a 3-5 year old shouldn’t cost so much, should it? I am standing there like “is this really happening”…. “or is this how much i need to spend to keep my kids heathy”.

        Reply
        1. About Mark About Mark Author

          I think buying a mattress is just like buying a car, only less expensive =) But if you want my opinion, $3,000 for a bed for a 5 y.o. is little over the board. Price does not equal health or even comfort. It just indicates how much work has been invested, and even then it’s a rough estimation.

          Reply
  2. Estella

    Wow Mark, thanks for all the great info. I think I will go with My Green Mattress, however i did read (maybe on your blog) that mites and other bed bugs are more frequently found in Wool beds. Is this true, and if so will the SafeRest Premium Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress Protector you recommend on on this website be a good addition to my mattress purchase?

    Thanks again, what a great service you are offering us. I can’t wait to share your site with my friends in the same dilemma.

    Sincerely,
    Stella

    Reply
    1. Estella

      Thanks Mark,
      One more question and i promise i am all set. I am not sure if i should get double sided mattresses…any thoughts on that. They are indeed pricier so its something to consider is suppose.

      Thanks,
      Stella

      Reply
      1. About Mark About Mark Author

        Well, a double sided mattress should last at least twice as long as a one-sided one provided they are very similar otherwise. Maybe even more, if you flip it regularly. That would prevent it from sagging, in theory at least. But in my experience double-sided mattresses are not better than one-sided ones, not by much. They are better, it’s just that that with one-sided mattresses manufacturers try to do their best on a more regular basis. When it comes to double-sided ones, they want to keep the costs low and have the demand for their product rise.

        In short, it’s just not that easy to find two mattresses (double-sided and one-sided) of the same quality. But if that is the case, the double-sided one would be better. If my memory serves me right, both of the mattresses we’ve been talking about come in two varieties: double-sided and one-sided. In this instance, the double sided mattress would be a better choice since the one-sided variety is its direct counterpart and thus, the “of similar quality” criterium most certainly applies. But that doesn’t mean you have to choose the double-sided version.

        Hope this helps.

        Best wishes,
        Mark

        Reply
  3. About Mark About Mark Author

    Let’s just say they have more potential hiding places in wool but they don’t feed on it. And that really depends on how exactly the mattress has been made. As for protection… ANY mattress protector would do the job, Stella, as long as it seals the mattress tightly enough. The SafeRest Premium (if you mean this one) is indeed a good choice, plus you’d save some $40 if you bought it now. Currently, it is one of the cheapest protectors =) Well, among those good enough.

    Regards,
    Mark

    Reply

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