Mattresses are an essential part of our lives. Without the right kind of mattress, getting a good night’s sleep will remain unattained.
But before you buy a mattress for yourself, there are several things you must remember. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a mattress that doesn’t suit your needs, your body, or your sleeping habits at all.
One of these is firmness.
Firmness is a crucial factor to remember while buying a mattress, but many people aren’t very aware of it. That is why we’ve created this buying guide for you, which will tell you all you need to know about the firmness of mattresses as well as our top four picks.
For more ideas, you can also refer to firm mattresses guides and articles. For instance, The Sleep Shop reviewed a handful of them.
What is the “firmness” of a mattress?
When we refer to a mattress as “firm”, we imply the “sinking effect” that the product has. Or more specifically, the lack thereof.
Now, firmness isn’t of just one type. When we talk about the firmness of mattresses, we classify them into any one of the following categories –
- Luxury Firm – Mostly found in luxury mattresses, the luxury firm is the softest kind of firmness. It gives the mattress the perfect amount of plushness and stability.
- Medium Firm – Medium-firm means anywhere between 7-8 on a scale of 10. This is firmer than the luxury firm, but it still has a bit of bounce to it.
- Firm – Firm falls towards the end of the scale in the 8-9 category, and this has little amount of bounce to it. These mattresses are pretty solid and great for those who suffer from muscle pains.
- Extra-firm – Finally, we have the extra-firm category which has almost no bounce at all. These mattresses aren’t widely available and are instead customized for clients.
Top 4 Firm Mattresses That You Should Check out
Now that you know what firmness is and what are its types, here are our top 4 picks for firm yet comfortable mattresses.
- Plank by Brooklyn Bedding
Our first pick on our list is the Plank by Brooklyn Bedding. This mattress gives you the option of choosing from two types of firmness. One side of the Plank has a firmness of 8 whereas the other side is extra-firm, with a firmness of 10. The Plank is perfect for those who suffer from posture and spinal pain issues, as well as for those who tend to sleep on their backs. It also comes at a pretty affordable price point. However, it is important to note here that this mattress isn’t suitable for everyone and might be too hard for most people. This is also not suitable for side sleepers, who need pressure relief or for those who tend to sleep light, as the mattress is prone to shifting if any movement occurs.
- Wakefit Orthopaedic Mattress
If you need a good amount of stability and firmness from your mattress, but at the same time, you want that soft feeling, the Wakefit Orthopaedic Mattress is the perfect one for you. The firmness on this is just perfect and provides a great deal of relief from back pain and spinal issues. It’s also great for pregnant women, who need a mattress that gives them comfort even on their back. The densely-packed memory foam shapes itself to suit the way you sleep while giving you the right kind of spinal support. Other than this, one of the best features about the Wakefit Orthopaedic Mattress is its temperature control ability, which promotes airflow and keeps the body cool even in the dead of summer.
- Winkbed
The third pick on our list is the Winkbed, which comes with features that are just as interesting as its name. The Winkbed offers the best of both worlds, with a good bounce and a significant amount of firmness. The coil-on-coil construction of the Winkbed gives it the perfect supportability. So that when you sleep, your body will receive all-round support. Its polyfoam body gives it a comfortable level of firmness, which makes it ideal for both backs as well as stomach sleepers. Something that you cannot see very often. The Winkbed also comes with great edge support, which allows the bed to maintain its structure and firmness, even if there is a lot of moving around or tossing-and-turning.
- Nectar Memory Foam
For all of you who want a high-quality and firm mattress but do not want to pay high prices, the Nectar Memory Foam mattress will be right up your alley. This mattress offers just the right amount of firmness, thus making it ideal for both those who need spinal support as well as those who prefer a bit of softness along with bounce. Beyond the firmness, one of the best features of the Nectar Memory Foam is its cooling capabilities. Memory foam is generally considered to be hot but the unique design of the Nectar mattress allows you to remain cool and hence, is a great option for hot sleepers.
