“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. 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. 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. What customers say: Another well-reviewed pick with more than 5,00 ratings, this mattress earns shout outs from shoppers with back pain. A reviewer writes, “I am an athletic person and have done it all, PT, yoga, core workouts, etc. Within 2 to 3 days of sleeping on this mattress, the pain is gone. Literally gone.” 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. 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.” This hybrid is made with copper-infused memory foam, which gives a cooling effect, and individually-encased coils from edge-to-edge, so you have more room to sprawl out without sacrificing support. It’s a medium-firm mattress that’s on the thicker side at 13-inches, yet design still offers great motion transfer control—which is beneficial if you’re sleeping with a partner that tends to move around a lot. The materials are GREENGUARD Gold-certified for low emissions, the foams are CertiPUR-US Certified, and all mattresses are made in the United States. The mattress will ship within two to seven days, arriving compressed and rolled in a box. Keep in mind that you may need an extra set of hands to help with setup. What customers say: This mattress has more than 3,000 reviews yet still retains a 4.4-star rating overall. What’s more, it’s athlete-approved. One writes, “I’m an athlete, so sleep recovery is mission critical. I did a month of research before buying my mattress on various mattresses and all high end brands tailored to athletes. I ended up choosing a Bear Hybrid because they state it’s the best choice for somebody who has multiple sleeping positions. I was using a 15-year-old mattress and didn’t really realize how much it was affecting my recovery… Now I do. It’s noticeable & my sleep metric data (Oura ring) shows it.” 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. 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. 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. 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!” 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. What customers say: While this mattress only has 58 reviews so far, 97% of those people would recommend it to a friend—and it has 4.8 out of five stars overall. A reviewer says, “The best sleep ever. I’m amazed with how comfortable it is and how I feel when I wake up every day. I cannot stop raving about the quality we are getting with this bed.” Others mention the infrared technology, saying they believe it has been helpful in their recovery process. 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. 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!” 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. 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.” 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.
