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Written by
Logan Foley
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When you have to make a tough choice, the optimal outcome is often finding the “best of both worlds,” and a hybrid mattress represents the mattress industry’s pursuit of that lofty goal.
The term hybrid refers to the way that these mattresses combine materials and design elements found in other mattress types. Like an innerspring, a hybrid has a coil-based support core. Like a foam or latex mattress, a hybrid has a significant comfort system to enhance its performance.
Bringing these components together allows most hybrids to deliver a blend of pressure relief, bounce, edge support, and temperature regulation. The way any specific hybrid performs in these areas depends on its construction, allowing customers to choose from a diverse list of options to find the model that best meets their needs.
At the same time, the variation between hybrids can be confusing for some shoppers. At times, the balanced features may generate a “jack of all trades, master of none” effect for some sleepers. Hybrids can also come with a higher price tag than other mattress types.
| Choose a hybrid if: | – You like the bouncy feel of a coil-based mattress – You are a side sleeper and/or need at least moderate pressure relief – You weigh over 230 pounds and want a sturdy mattress – You like having multiple brands and models to choose from |
| Skip a hybrid if… | – Your top priority is deep contouring – You want the utmost in motion isolation – You need a mattress that is lighter and easier to move – You are shopping on a limited budget but still want multiple options to choose from |
With unique copper-infused memory foam and a zoned transitional layer for targeted support, the Layla Hybrid offers two firmness options due to flippable design.
Due to its unique flippable design, the Layla Hybrid mattress offers owners two firmness levels in one mattress – both medium and firm. This flexibility enables the bed to suit a diverse range of sleepers across all sizes and preferred sleep positions. The firm side is more popular among heavier sleepers, who experience better spinal alignment and support for their hips and shoulders with a thinner comfort layer, while sleepers below 230 pounds appreciate the deep pressure relieving cradle of the medium side.
The mattress is constructed with a comfort layer on either side consisting of low-density, copper-infused memory foam that aids in keeping the surface of the bed cool, while the pocketed coil support layer allows air to freely circulate, which further prevents heat build-up. The bed also features a reinforced perimeter, ensuring sleepers can comfortably use the entire sleep surface without experiencing a feeling of “roll-off.”
Individuals of all sizes and sleep positions experience good spinal alignment on the Layla Hybrid thanks to the zoned polyfoam transitional layer on each side, which supports the heavier areas of the body, such as the hips and shoulders, while cushioning the head and neck.
Layla offers free shipping for customers who reside in the contiguous U.S. and backs the mattress with a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
The Dreamcloud delivers tailored support for pressure point relief thanks to a memory foam comfort layer and zoned innerspring coils.
The Dreamcloud mattress brings a handful of features to the table that make it an attractive option among our list of the best hybrid mattresses. These features include a pressure-relieving design and customer-friendly warranty and return policies.
Comfort on the Dreamcloud starts with its polyester Euro-style pillow-top. This quilted cover adds an element of luxury that makes the mattress feel all the more inviting. Underneath the cover, the comfort system is built with a layer of gel-infused memory foam and a layer of polyfoam. Memory foam is a leading material for cushioning the high-impact parts of the body, which helps make the Dreamcloud a good fit for side sleepers who have pressure points near their hips and shoulders.
The memory foam layer brings significant motion isolation to the Dreamcloud, helping it reduce disturbances for people who share a bed. Most sleepers report few issues with heat retention on the Dreamcloud, which likely is thanks to the gel-infused foam and ventilation in the support core.
That support core is constructed of individually-wrapped coils. The coils hedge against excessive sink into the mattress and are arranged into five zones to give necessary support to heavier parts of the body. A bottom layer of polyfoam sits under the coils to add further stability and cut down on potential noise from the coils.
With a Medium Firm (6) feel, the Dreamcloud can provide comfortable sleep for a wide swath of sleepers. Customers have more than enough time to check the mattress out for themselves during an extended 365-night sleep trial, and over the longer term, the Dreamcloud comes with a lifetime warranty that includes coverage for defects in materials and workmanship.
The WinkBed uses a coil-on-coil design plus a foam-filled pillow top to relieve pressure while offering best-in-class edge support.
The WinkBed earns high marks for its overall performance and truly stands out when it comes to edge support. While it offers a sturdy feel, it also delivers notable pressure relief and the ability to meet the needs of sleepers of most body weights and sleeping positions.
A central element of the WinkBed’s design is its coil-on-coil construction. The bottom set of coils are in the support core. These pocketed springs are taller and organized to give the mattress a stouter feel around the edges and in other key support zones.
The top coils are micro-coils that form part of the mattress comfort system. Because they are individually-wrapped, each micro-coil retains a significant independent range of motion, allowing them to react directly to the pressure of the body. As a result, these coils can cut down on motion transfer and provide greater spinal support.
The other component of the comfort system is gel-infused polyfoam that is quilted into a pillow-top cover. The foam steps up the bed’s pressure relief and motion isolation, while the gel-infusion combined with the airflow around the coils works to prevent excess heat buildup.
Customers can choose a WinkBed in either a Medium Soft (4), Medium Firm (6), or Firm (7) level, meaning that there’s a WinkBed to match sleepers of almost any sleeping position or weight. People over 300 pounds can also look into the WinkBed Plus, a hybrid built for heavier people that employs latex in place of micro-coils.
For all models, WinkBeds provides a 120-night sleep trial to test out the bed and includes a lifetime warranty.
With notable contouring to promote spinal alignment, the Helix Midnight is an affordable option for shoppers who want a hybrid that employs a memory foam comfort layer.
Helix has an extensive product line, and the Helix Midnight, with its crowd-pleasing design, price, and firmness feel, is one of their most popular offerings.
The construction of the Helix Midnight starts with a 100% polyester cover that is smooth, soft, and retains little heat. Below the cover, the comfort system includes two layers of foam. The top layer is Helix’s formulation of memory foam, known as Memory Plus Foam. It compresses to accommodate pressure points but with slightly more bounce and less heat buildup than traditional memory foam.
Beneath the memory foam is a layer of transition polyfoam. This material is firmer, working along with the support core to keep sleepers from sinking too far into the bed.
The support core of the Helix Midnight also has two layers, the larger of which is made with pocketed innerspring coils. As in other hybrids, these coils improve edge support and responsiveness while transferring less motion than old-fashioned coils. A thin layer of high-density polyfoam serves as a shock-absorbing base for the coils.
The mattress has a Medium Firm (6) feel that works well for side sleepers over 130 pounds and most back and stomach sleepers under 230 pounds. Its price point makes the Helix Midnight a compelling choice for shoppers looking for a well-made yet affordable hybrid option. Shoppers wanting a step up can opt for the pricier Helix Midnight Luxe, which includes an extra layer of gel-infused foam and a zoned design to the innerspring coils.
The Helix Midnight comes with a 100-night risk-free sleep trial and is protected by a 10-year warranty covering mattress defects.
Two layers of distinct responsive polyfoams and a dynamic innerspring core drive the supportive feel of the well-built and affordable Brooklyn Bedding Signature hybrid.
Based on its solid construction, excellent price point, and reliable manufacturer, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature easily makes the cut as one of the best hybrid mattresses.
The Signature has a thick comfort system that measures up to a total of four inches. The top layer of this comfort system is two inches of TitanFlex foam, a gel-infused polyfoam produced for Brooklyn Bedding. The second layer is two inches of Energex polyfoam. Both of these foams have a more latex-like feel, providing significant responsiveness while lightly conforming to the body to relieve pressure.
The bounce and temperature regulation of the Signature are supplemented by the support core, which includes six inches of pocketed coils that rest on a thin layer of high-density polyfoam. The coils allow for plenty of ventilation and amplify the overall edge support provided by the mattress.
The Signature comes in three firmness levels: Soft , Medium, and Firm, which correspond to a Medium Soft (4), Medium Firm (6), and Firm (7) on our 10-point firmness scale. Most sleepers do best with the Medium, but side sleepers under 130 pounds may find the Soft to best suit their needs. Back and stomach sleepers along with people over 230 pounds usually prefer the Firm model.
Brooklyn Bedding has a history in the industry that dates back over two decades, giving them a more established reputation than many competitors. The company includes a 120-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty with all of their mattresses, including the Signature.
Powered by the company’s Adaptive Foam and a coil-on-coil interior, the Tuft & Needle Hybrid is another winner from this popular online brand.
Tuft & Needle established their brand with their two all-foam mattresses, but their third offering, the Tuft & Needle Hybrid, represents a strong step into coil-based design. With coil-on-coil construction and the much-beloved Adaptive Foam, it’s an intriguing option for mattress shoppers.
Three different materials are used to construct the comfort system of the Tuft & Needle Hybrid. The top layer is Adaptive Foam, a specialty polyfoam that drives the performance of the company’s other beds. This material is latex-like in its bounce and ability to promote spinal alignment through moderate conforming.
The Adaptive Foam is infused with graphite and gel to fight heat buildup. That goal is furthered by the second piece of the comfort system, a layer of micro-coils. Movement of air around those coils limits heat retention, and the coils themselves contribute extra responsiveness.
A layer of transition polyfoam rounds out the comfort system, which sits on top of a support core made of pocketed innerspring coils. The polyfoam helps provide cushioning for both sets of coils, and all of these materials strengthen the edge support of the mattress.
The Tuft & Needle Hybrid has a Medium (5) feel that is an especially good fit for the majority of side sleepers as well as people who are under 130 pounds.
The mattress comes with a no-strings-attached sleep trial that lasts 100 nights, and Tuft & Needle, which has received high marks for its customer service, provides a 10-year warranty that covers defects in manufacturing and materials.
With a Celliant cover that harnesses infrared energy, the Bear Hybrid takes nightly recovery to a new level and has extra appeal for athletes.
A distinguishing feature of the Bear Hybrid is its innovative cover that combines with the underlying layers to promote a restorative, cool, and comfortable night’s sleep.
The cover of the Bear Hybrid uses a material known as Celliant. This textile absorbs body heat and reflects it back as infrared energy. Early scientific studies indicate that this infrared energy may help muscles and other tissue in the body to recover overnight. This feature has made the Bear Hybrid a hit with athletes as well as people looking for a new mattress to help deal with back and hip pain.
The Celliant material stays cool, especially given that the layer underneath it is a gel-infused polyfoam. That polyfoam sits on top of two other polyfoam layers. Working together, the layers of this comfort system provide mild conforming that minimizes pressure at impact points without leading to significant sinking into the mattress.
The support core of the Bear Hybrid uses individually-wrapped innerspring coils that permit plenty of airflow. These coils boost the responsiveness of the mattress and add to edge support because they are reinforced around the perimeter. A bottom layer of polyfoam further steadies the mattress and keeps noise from the coils to a minimum.
The Bear Hybrid has a Medium Firm (6) feel that, along with its construction, works well for most back and side sleepers.
Customers can feel out the mattress at home during a 100-night sleep trial, and protection against defects comes from a 20-year warranty.
Hybrid mattresses tend to be most popular among people who value bounce in a mattress, including couples and combination sleepers. People over 230 pounds often appreciate a sturdy hybrid construction that supports the body without too much sink. Minimal heat retention by coils also makes hybrids a winner for hot sleepers.
But the appeal of hybrids can extend far beyond just those people thanks to the diverse ways that the comfort system of these mattresses can be constructed. With numerous hybrids on the market, most sleepers can find one that fits their needs.
Effective mattress shopping requires identifying your priorities and the mattresses that best align with them.
Hybrids tend to provide notable bounce. This is one of their most consistent characteristics along with above-average edge support and temperature regulation.
On the other hand, hybrids may not offer as much contouring or motion isolation as some other mattress types. Their price tag can also be out of reach for some shoppers.
Even though there are similarities between hybrids, not all of them have the same performance. Learning about the key factors that influence satisfaction with a mattress can help you decide on your priorities and pick out the hybrid that best fits them.
The feel of a hybrid can vary based on the details of how its interior layers are constructed. Nevertheless, some common characteristics help explain what it’s like to sleep on a hybrid.
There are two required elements for a mattress to be a true hybrid:
While the comfort system can be made of many different types of materials, the support core must be coil-based. The “springless hybrids” that are marketed by some manufacturers may be quality mattresses, but they are not true hybrids.
All hybrids have two common elements, but the way those components can be constructed creates diversity among the hybrids on the market in terms of price, feel, and performance.
A hybrid support core may utilize one of several different types of coils.
Pocket Coils
Also known as individually-wrapped or fabric-encased coils, pocket coils are made by covering each coil in cloth and then stitching the cloth together. This method of linking the coils gives them a greater ability to isolate motion and tailor to the body. Because of these features, pocket coils are by far the most commonly used in modern hybrids.
Bonnell Coils
A basic hourglass-shaped spring system, each coil in a Bonnell system is connected directly to the internal lattice structure that holds them all together. This means that the coils are less flexible and are more affected by the compression of nearby coils. Though they have a lower cost, Bonnell coils transfer more motion and offer less support.
Continuous Wire Coils
Continuous wire coils look a great deal like Bonnell coils and have a similar performance. The primary difference is that all of the springs are actually fashioned out of one single piece of wire.
Offset Coils
Offset coils give individual springs more flexibility by not connecting the coils themselves to the interior structure. Instead, they are attached by a small piece of metal. While the increased range of motion gives offset coils better motion isolation than Bonnell coils, they are not as effective as pocket coils in this regard.
Most hybrid comfort systems involve one or more types of foam that can play a central role in the overall mattress performance.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is known for its deep body conforming and slow response to pressure. Sleepers will get the sensation of being ‘hugged’ by their mattress, which relieves pressure. While usually hybrids mattresses have limited memory foam layer thickness, some hybrid models feature the deep-conforming of all-memory foam mattresses. Another effect of the conforming is great motion isolation. Motion hardly transfers across the surface of memory foam, making it a great option for couples and light sleepers.
It depends on the firmness of the mattress as a whole, but memory foam is generally suited for side and back sleepers. If you sleep on your stomach but still love the feel of memory foam, we recommend you opt for a firmer memory foam model hybrid model.
The biggest drawback of memory foam is that it tends to trap a lot of body heat, making for less temperature control. Nonetheless, since coil support cores allow for a lot of airflow throughout the mattress, this is often balanced in hybrid mattresses. Another potential drawback is the ‘stuck’ feeling some sleepers tend to get when trying to move around a bed with memory foam
Polyfoam
Polyfoam conforms to the sleepers body like memory foam, but is more responsive to pressure. This leads to slightly less pressure relief, but greater ease of movement and temperature control. Polyfoam isolates motion well, but not as well as memory foam.
Like memory foam, polyfoam hybrids generally suited to side and back back sleepers, while the firmest models with thin polyfoam can work for stomach sleepers. Polyfoam hybrids are generally the most affordable types of hybrids.
Polyfoam shares the same drawbacks as memory foam, but to a lesser extent. Polyfoam hybrids are generally a good all-around budget option.
Latex
Latex hybrids are some of the most luxurious mattresses on the market. Latex conforms moderately to the sleepers body, relieving some pressure, but not as much as memory foam. What makes latex stand out is its responsiveness. Latex has a nice bounce to it, which makes it easy to maneuver around the mattress. Latex is also known for its great temperature neutrality and durability — as latex hybrids are generally the most cool and long-lasting beds.
Since latex comes in multiple firmensses, they should be suitable for sleepers of any position or weight. If you’re heavier or sleep on your stomach, we recommend you look for a firmer model.
The one big drawback of latex is its price point. Latex hybrids are significantly more expensive than many types of beds. Also, if you have chronic pain issues or are just a huge fan of the deep conforming of memory foam, latex may not be the way to go.
A hybrid gets its name from the fact that it includes elements of both foam and innerspring mattresses. One way to help decide whether a hybrid is right for you is to consider its pros and cons in relation to those other mattress types.
| Memory Foam Mattresses | Hybrids | Innersprings | Latex Mattresses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Core | Polyfoam | Innerspring Coils | Innerspring Coils | Latex |
| Comfort System Profile | Significant | Minimal to Significant | Minimal or None | Significant |
| Comfort System Material | Memory foam | Memory foam, polyfoam, latex, and/or micro-coils | Fabrics (cotton, polyester) | Latex |
| Pressure Relief | High | Medium to High | Low | Low to Medium |
| Responsiveness / Ease of Movement | Low | Medium to High | High | High |
| Motion Isolation | High | Medium to High | Low | Medium |
| Temperature Regulation | Low | Medium to High | High | High |
| Durability | 6-8 years or longer | 6-8 years or longer | 5 years | 8 years or longer |
| Price Point | Medium to High | Medium to High | Low | High |
Most Queen hybrid mattresses cost between $1,200 and $2,000. That said, there are hybrids available, including in our list of top picks, with a retail price below $1,200. In addition, promotions and discounts frequently make even more expensive hybrids accessible at a lower price point.
Hybrids can have greater price variance than some other mattress types because of the different ways that the comfort system and support core can be constructed. Factors that can influence the price include:
As you read about comfort systems in hybrids, you may come across technical descriptions of the density and indentation load-deflection (ILD) of foam layers.
Foam density is a way of describing how heavy and compact the material is. It is determined by weighing a cube of foam that is one foot long on each side, forming a measurement called pounds per cubic foot (PCF).
Besides just affecting its weight, density can also impact durability and performance. Most important for customers to know is that a higher-density foam is less prone to wearing out. It can also offer a slightly firmer feel, although density is not perfectly correlated with firmness.
Customers should look for higher-density foams, especially in the comfort system, if they:
Looking at PCF numbers can be confusing because different types of foams naturally have different densities. Polyfoam has a wider range of densities depending on the part of the mattress in which it is being used.
| Type of Foam | Density Range |
|---|---|
| Memory foam | 3-5 PCF |
| Polyfoam (comfort system) | 2-4 PCF |
| Polyfoam (transition foam) | 1.5-3 PCF |
| Polyfoam (support core) | 1-2 PCF |
ILD is a method for quantifying how easily a material compresses. It is measured by seeing how much force must be applied to a foam before it compresses to a specified level.
ILD Table
| Firmness Category | ILD Measurement | Best for… |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 10-12 | People under 130 pounds |
| Medium | 12-14 | Side sleepers under 230 pounds |
| Medium firm | 14-16 | Most sleepers |
| Firm | 16-18 | Most stomach and back sleepers; people over 230 pounds |
Knowing the ILD of a material can give insight into its firmness but with two caveats:
Most hybrid mattresses should last for at least six years. The typical lifespan is six to eight years, but in some cases, they may continue performing at a high level for longer than that.
Hybrids typically last longer than innersprings. Their lifespan is comparable to foam mattresses and airbeds but shorter than most all-latex mattresses.
As with any mattress type, the durability of a hybrid will depend on its interior construction. If the hybrid is thoughtfully designed and then filled with high-quality materials, it will be far more likely for its useful life to extend beyond the normal range.
Use and maintenance of a mattress can affect durability as well. More weight can put greater strain on a mattress, so couples and people with a higher body weight may find that a mattress does not last as long. To promote the longevity of your mattress, consider the following tips:
As you prepare to seek out your ideal hybrid mattress, there are a few final considerations and useful pieces of information that can make you an informed and empowered shopper.
Coil count is a way of quantifying the total number of springs in a mattress. For most shoppers, this data point, especially viewed by itself, can be more misleading than helpful because the number of coils alone doesn’t tell you anything about their type, thickness, or quality. Don’t assume that a higher coil count means a higher-quality innerspring support core.
The gauge is the thickness of the coils. In counter-intuitive fashion, a higher gauge means a thinner coil. Most innerspring cores have coils with a gauge from 13 (thicker) to 18 (thinner). Lower gauge coils tend to provide a firmer, steadier feel and usually hold up better over time.
The support core may not have the same gauge of coils throughout. For example, lower gauge coils may be used around the perimeter for edge support or placed in a zoned arrangement to bolster the bed under certain parts of the body.
Some materials, most notably foams, can put off a noticeable smell when they are first set up in your home. The smell comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated during foam production. These VOCs are not a health risk, but they can be bothersome.
Off-gassing tends to be worse with lower-quality foams. All-foam mattresses normally off-gas more than hybrids.
Even when the smell is bad, it typically goes away within a few hours if your bedroom is well-ventilated. At worst, it should not last more than a few days.
Since hybrid mattresses often have both substantial comfort layers and support cores, they tend to have a higher-profile, or height, than other types of mattresses. The profile of a mattress doesn’t affect the comfort of a mattress in of itself, but taller mattresses have more room for layers, giving them more potential for increased support and conforming.
One thing people should consider when shopping for higher-profile mattresses is sheet size mattress that are twelve or more inches often require deep-pocketed sheets, as normal ones have the potential to slip off. Additionally, those with issues getting in an out of bed may prefer a taller mattress, although since many people use bed frames of varying heights, this isn’t always a factor.
