How Saatva Contour5 Compares to Other Memory Foam Mattresses

There are a lot of memory foam mattresses on the market, so it can be hard to determine which one is right for you if you’re currently in the process of choosing a new one.

You may have wondered whether those lower-priced foam mattresses in a box are actually good quality—or maybe you’ve asked yourself if the super-pricey memory foam mattresses you’ve seen at your local mattress store are really worth the money.

We recently introduced a premium memory foam mattress, Contour5, to our collection here at Saatva—and we happen to believe it stands above all of the competition. Ahead, we’re breaking down how

Contour5

Contour5

The most luxurious memory foam with adaptive cooling & body-hugging support

compares to other memory foam mattresses so you can see the difference for yourself.

Saatva Contour5 vs. other memory foam mattresses

1. Construction

Contour5 is a luxurious cooling memory foam mattress that instantly contours to your body. It contains a body-hugging core made up of high-density memory foam that gives the mattress its luxe body-cradling feel and superb pressure relief. On top of the core is a layer of gel-infused high-density memory foam that provides body contouring, pressure relief, and cooling comfort.

The denser the foam, the more durable and supportive the mattress. Mattresses in a box contain less dense foams so they can be flattened and stuffed into a shipping box. When these mattresses are compressed, the foam’s cells can break, leading to a shorter lifespan for the mattress and a less supportive sleep surface.

Watch this video to see what can happen when a mattress is crushed:

Then watch this video to see how a Saatva mattress is crafted to understand the difference:

2. Foam density

Foam density is a key consideration when shopping for a memory foam mattress. As we mentioned, the higher the foam density, the more durable and supportive the mattress. A premium memory foam has a density of 4 to 5 pounds per cubic foot.

Contour5 uses 5-lb memory foam in its core and 4-lb gel-infused memory foam in its cooling comfort layer. A mattress made with high-density memory foam like this should last you anywhere from 10 to 15 years.

On the other hand, a mattress in a box will usually be made with lower-density foam (3 pounds or less) and therefore have a shorter lifespan and offer less support. Perhaps that’s why many of the mattress in a box brands don’t disclose foam density on their websites.

Wirecutter reports that Casper’s foam density is at least 2.5 pounds per cubic foot. Leesa’s Original mattress contains 3-lb memory foam, according to Mattress Clarity. Nectar Classic, meanwhile, has 2.1-lb memory foam, per GoodBed.com.

Other, more expensive, traditional retail brands also don’t disclose the foam density in their memory foam mattresses—so you have no idea if what you’re buying is truly a quality product.

3. Comfort options

Contour5 comes in two comfort options to suit every sleep style. Saatva uses a firmness scale of 1-10 (with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest) to describe our comfort options.

Contour5’s Medium is a 5-7 on the scale. It hugs the body without allowing the hips to sink too far. It’s ideal for side, back, and combination sleepers and couples with different firmness preferences.

Contour5’s Firm offers less of a body-hugging feel and is more responsive. It’s ideal for back and stomach sleepers or those who need or prefer a firm mattress.

Many mattress in a box options only have a single comfort choice, usually in the medium range. For example, Casper The One is medium-firm. Purple Mattress, Leesa Original, and Nectar Premier all also have a medium-firm feel.

4. Cooling features

One of the common complaints about traditional memory foam mattresses is that they sleep hot. Newer variations usually contain cooling features to help combat this.

Contour5 features adaptive cooling technology to help keep your body at an optimal temperature while you sleep. For starters, it has a layer of gel-infused memory foam that has airflow channels throughout so the mattress never sleeps hot.

Additionally, Contour5 has a CoolVent™ system with our Lumbar Zone® PCM Matrix, a phase change material that absorbs and dissipates excess body heat to keep you comfortable all night long.

Casper The One contains open-cell foam, which the brand says enhances airflow to prevent overheating, but the mattress doesn’t have any added cooling features. Leesa Original contains a layer of “breathable foam” but no other cooling features.

Purple’s mattresses don’t actually contain memory foam. Instead, they have a proprietary grid made out of hyper-elastic polymer that’s supposed to allow for airflow.

Necar Classic has a cooling cover, but the memory foam itself doesn’t have any cooling properties. The more expensive Premier model has more cooling fibers, according to the brand.

5. Lumbar support

Lumbar support refers to additional reinforcement in the center third of the mattress, where most of your body weight lies. It’s essential for supporting your back and helping you maintain proper spinal alignment while you sleep.

Contour5 features our patented Lumbar Zone® PCM Matrix, which is strategically positioned at the center third of the mattress to help regulate body temperature, absorb and disperse excess body heat, and deliver enhanced lower back support.

Many mattresses that come in a box don’t have added lumbar support. Casper One and Leesa Original, for example, don’t have added lumbar support.

6. Off-gassing

Off-gassing is the term for the smell caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) escaping from foams as they expand. This is a common issue with boxed mattresses as they may emit odors when they’re first unwrapped.

Due to off-gassing, you may not be able to sleep on your mattress right away. Brands like Casper and Nectar say you may have to wait up to 72 hours until the mattress is fully expanded and ready to use.

You don’t have to worry about off-gassing with Contour5—or any Saatva mattress, for that matter. Because Saatva mattresses are made to order and not boxed, shrink-wrapped, or kept in inventory, any off-gassing of materials takes place in the factory, not in your home.

That also means you can sleep on your new Saatva mattress right away (although we recommend putting sheets on the bed first!).

7. Manufactured in USA

Every Saatva mattress, Contour5 included, is crafted and assembled in one of our US factories, using premium quality materials that comply with the highest standards of health and environmental safety. In fact, Contour5’s foams are CertiPUR-US®¹ certified to be free of harmful chemicals.

Not every mattress in a box is manufactured in the US. According to the Nectar website, its products are “sourced and manufactured in places such as Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Mexico, and the USA.”

Additionally, in 2021, Nectar’s parent company, Resident Home, entered into a settlement with the FTC over false claims that its Dreamcloud mattresses were made with US-sourced materials.

8. Delivery, setup, and returns

Every Saatva mattress, Contour5 included, comes with free in-home white glove delivery, setup, and removal of your old mattress.

Plus, all of our mattresses come with a 365-night home trial so you can test one out before deciding if it’s right for you.

When it comes to returns and exchanges, we’ll pick up your mattress and you’ll only be responsible for a $99 processing fee.

Boxed mattresses, on the other hand, are a different matter. Yes, most of them come with free shipping—but you’ll have to lug the mattress into your home and get it to your bedroom.

The problem with that? Memory foam mattresses can be quite heavy! A queen-size Nectar Classic, for example, weighs 83 pounds, while a queen-size Purple Mattress is 88 pounds.

What about home trials? Casper, Leesa, and Purple offer a 100-night home trial, which is significantly less time than what we give to try our mattresses. Nectar offers a 365-night home trial.

Most mattress in a box brands won’t come pick up a mattress if you’d like to return it. In some cases, such as with Leesa and Nectar, the brands will help you find a local donation center where you can drop off your mattress.

Keep in mind that some of these brands, like Casper, require you to sleep on your mattress for 30 nights before you can initiate a return. Saatva doesn’t have a mandatory minimum trial period.

9. Warranty

We stand behind the quality of our products, which is why all of our mattresses, Contour5 included, carry a lifetime warranty.

If a mattress is deemed defective during the first two years, we’ll replace it with a brand-new mattress, free of charge.

Starting in year three and for as long as you own your mattress, we’ll repair and re-cover your mattress. You’ll be responsible only for a $149 processing fee.

Casper and Purple carry 10-year limited warranties, while Leesa comes with a 10-year full replacement warranty. Nectar carries a lifetime warranty.

10. Customer satisfaction

Any mattress brand (including ours) will tout its positive customer reviews and high star ratings. But if you really want a view into customer satisfaction, look to independent third-party sources.

One such source is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Saatva is BBB accredited, with a customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. The BBB gives the business an A+ rating, which is a measure of how the company interacts with customers when it comes to complaints.

Mattress in a box brands vary with customer satisfaction. Casper is BBB accredited and has an A+ rating but gets 1.09 out of 5 stars for customer satisfaction. Purple is BBB accredited, has an A+ rating, and gets 3.44 out of 5 stars for customer satisfaction.

The bottom line: It’s no surprise we have such high ratings when you consider that our customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, by phone, online chat, and email.

Find the best memory foam mattress for you at Saatva

Contour5 Mattress

Luxurious body-hugging feel and pressure relief with 3” of ultra-premium, high-density 5-lb memory foam.

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FAQs

Is Saatva mattress made in China?

No. All Saatva mattresses, Contour5 included, are crafted and assembled in our American factories.

Is Saatva a boxed mattress?

No. None of our mattresses, Contour5 included, are boxed. Each Saatva mattress is made-to-order and delivered fresh.

Is Saatva a clean brand?

Yes. Saatva uses eco-friendly, better-for-you materials in all of our products. Contour5, for example, contains CertiPUR-US® certified foams inside the mattress that are free of harmful chemicals and a hypoallergenic cover made with organic cotton.

How long is the Saatva mattress warranty?

We offer a lifetime warranty on all of our mattresses.

Shop the Saatva Contour5 mattress for better sleep

If you’re ready to purchase a new memory foam mattress,

Contour5

Contour5

The most luxurious memory foam with adaptive cooling & body-hugging support

is the best option—and now you can see how it beats the competition in many categories. It’s made with premium materials to ensure you’re comfortable all night long and comes with generous home trial and warranty policies.

For a closer look at Contour5, check out our mattress page, where you can find full specs, a diagram of the layers, and more information about the latest addition to our luxury mattress lineup.

1. CertiPUR-US® is a registered trademark of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc.
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