Saatva Review

Overview

Founded in 2011 by Ron Rudzin and Ricky Joshi, Saatva is a company that has been delivering high-quality, luxury mattresses since their launch. Sold exclusively online, their website offers customers the ability to customize the product to their personal requirements. No “one size fits all” attitude here, Saatva is all about enhancing the customer experience and providing quality products at an affordable price point.

Saatva is a play on the Sanskrit word “sattva” which translates to “pure”; a fitting name for a company that takes environmental concerns seriously. Their luxury mattresses are touted as being sustainable products, comprised of organic cotton and eco-friendly foams. With recycled steel being used in the springs, their goal is to ensure that the company’s carbon footprint is drastically smaller than competitor brands.

On the Saatva website, customers can select between the Classic, the HD, or the Latex Hybrid – as well as three different comfort levels. In addition, the Saatva company also offers two other mattresses, Zenhaven and Loom & Leaf, as well as a youth Saatva and a crib mattress.

How is Saatva Classic Mattress Rated?

Overall, the Saatva Classic mattress scores well for almost all types of sleepers, with the possible exception of those who prefer sleeping on their side. This is due to the fact that these mattresses are very firm, so while it will give you excellent support, it won’t allow you to sink down into it. 

When you purchase your mattress you are able to select from three different firmness options: Firm, Luxury Firm, and Plush Soft. The overall construction of each mattress is fairly similar, with the main difference being in the type of foam used. All three will begin with a 1.25” Euro top cover, which is then followed by ⅜” lumbar memory foam; it is here that the mattress can be customized. 

Plush Soft, as the name suggests, is their softest foam and this is the best option if you are a side sleeper. While the added 2.5” super soft regular foam won’t allow for an individual to sink in, it will conform to the shape of your body giving a softer and more enveloping feel. The Plush Soft option is also the ideal choice for smaller individuals, mainly those under 130 lbs, as you may not have the weight needed to get firmer options to respond to your body. For couples, this option may also be ideal, as it offers the most motion isolation of the three. If you have a bed partner who tosses and turns throughout the night, the Plush Soft will help ensure you are left undisturbed.

Luxury Firm is the brand’s flagship foam and it typically scores well across the board for all types of sleepers. Here the mattress is comprised of the exact same materials as the Plush Soft, minus the added super soft regular foam layer you will find in the aforementioned product. Luxury Firm is the ideal choice for average-sized individuals as it falls under the category of being medium-firm. If you suffer from back pain, the Luxury Firm may help with reducing this, as it is designed to give support while also still contouring to the shape of your body; it is these properties that make it a near-perfect choice for the average back sleeper. With regards to motion isolation, it does not perform as well as the Plush Soft, but it does minimize movement to a healthy degree. 

The Firm mattress is the sturdiest option available from Saatva and is designed for a specific set of individuals. For those who weigh over 230 lbs, the Firm option is the ideal choice, as it will provide you with more support than any of the previously mentioned firmnesses. Stomach sleepers will also find the Firm mattress to be a good choice, as it will reduce neck pain by preventing your lumbar region from sinking down during the night. Regardless of weight, the Firm mattress is not suitable for side sleepers, as it will not conform to the shape of body and will lack support as well as comfort. In terms of construction, the super soft regular foam layer is omitted, as well as the 1oz of Dacron fabric in the top cover. In the middle layer, the ⅝” soft regular foam which is seen in the Plush Soft and Luxury Firm, has been replaced with ⅞” regular foam. These changes do affect the motion isolation, and you will feel more bounce and movement that in previous options. 

Saatva Classic Product Features

We’ve discussed the differences between the firmness options above, but there is more to the construction of each mattress than just the foam layers. Besides selecting the firmness suitable for you, there is also an option to select the desired thickness of the mattress. The two options available are the 11.5” model and the 14.5” model. In terms of performance, there is no difference and the thickness selected will not impact the comfort or support provided. This decision will come down to mostly aesthetics and whether you prefer being higher up off the ground at night. Elderly individuals, and people who are quite short, may find the 14.5” model poses some difficulty with getting on and off, especially if they use a mattress topper which adds additional height. Compared with other brands, the Saatva Classic mattress is thicker so opting to forgo a topper may be necessary for individuals with unique needs.

Once a firmness and height have been decided upon, the website will allow you to select between six sizes that range from Twin to California King. For those ordering a King sized mattress, it is important to note that the item is split into two parts for ease of delivery and to allow it to fit through standard doorways. All other sizes are delivered as one solid piece and should also fit comfortably through doorways, with the exception of the Queen; customers are able to split their Queen if they prefer for an additional cost.

Besides the differences discussed in regards to firmness, all of the Classic mattresses have the same construction which is comprised of three individual layers: the top layer, middle layer, and base layer. The top layer features 1.25” of super soft regular foam, or 1.5” of firm regular foam if you select the Firm option. There is also ¾” fiber in all three, and well as 1 oz of Dacron in the Plush Soft and Luxury Firm models. The top layer is then finished off with an organic cotton cover that keeps the mattress protected and is both hypoallergenic and flame retardant thanks to the natural thistle barrier that they use.

For the middle layer, all Classic mattresses have ⅜” of lumbar memory foam, as well as an additional foam that affects the firmness. Plush Soft contains both 2.5” of super soft regular foam and ⅝” of soft regular foam, while the Luxury firm only features the ⅝” of soft regular foam. Firm mattresses lack both of those, and instead contains a ⅞” regular foam layer only. In addition to the foam, all mattresses are equipped with 4” pocket coils which is one part of their unique dual-coil system. Each pocket coil is made of recycled steel and is then individually wrapped within the foam encasement to help reduce motion transfer, as well as to help provide added comfort and body contouring.

The second half of the dual-coil system is seen in the base layer of each Classic mattress. Here you will find individually wrapped steel dual-coil system which are hourglass shaped and used to construct innerspring mattresses. These coils are what changes the height between the 11.5” model and the 14.5” model. For the 11.5” mattress, the coils are tightened down to 4” and 14.5” mattresses have coils that are 7” in height. The tightness does not affect anything besides the height of the mattress, and will not impact the comfort or firmness in any way.

With regards to the types of mattresses available on the market, the two most common options are innerspring and memory foam. The differences between the two are significant and which option you prefer is simply personal preference. Innerspring mattresses, like the one’s created by Saatva, are firmer and offer more support but fall short in terms of body contouring. Additionally, innersprings are less equipped at motion isolation which means you are more likely to feel your bed partner moving in the night. One area were innerspring mattress excel, however, is with airflow and heat reduction. Memory Foam can often feel hot throughout the night, whereas the airy interior of an innerspring allows for a cooler sleeping experience.

Saatva Foundations

Some may feel that a box spring is not a necessity, and that is a personal choice that can be made. However, Saatva brand does recommend using one with their mattresses. A good box spring, or foundation, will allow for ample airflow to ensure that your mattress can breathe. It will also provide a solid base for your mattress to sit, allowing for better shock absorption and reducing the overall wear and tear that occurs. When purchasing a Saatva mattress you can opt to use your own boxspring or foundation, or you can go with the brand’s recommendation of adding on their own foundation. 

The standard foundation offered by Saatva is available in both a standard 8.75” model as well as a low-profile 4.75” model. They are both extremely rigid, providing durable support for your mattress regardless of the size you choose. The same eco-friendly foams are used in the construction, as well as an organic cotton covering over top. 

In addition to their standard foundation, Saatva offers the Lineal adjustable base which can be paired with any of their 11.5” mattresses, including the Zenhaven and Loom & Leaf. This adjustable base offers a variety of beneficial features that will take your bed from stationary to interactive. By using the included remote, the bed is easily adjusted at both the head and the feet to either increase or decrease the height. One of the most popular features on the Lineal is the Zero-Gravity preset, an option that mimicks the position of astronauts when they enter space and is believed to reduce strain and stress on the body. In this position, the feet are raised to the same height as the heart, a very comfortable way to lay if you suffer from back problems or poor circulation.

To increase relaxation, the Lineal adjustable base features a full-body wave massage option with three speeds, as well as a leg only or head only massage. For ease of movement, the base has a wall-hugging design that ensures the top of the mattress stays against the wall and instead moves the head up and down instead of back and forth. A subtle feature, but it will aid in your overall position so that your nightstand is always within reach and reduce the chance of damage to your wall.

Saatva Mattress Pricing

The price of owning a Saatva mattress will depend on which model you ultimately select. Features such as firmness and height come at no extra charge, and you are free to opt for whatever you want. For those who prefer a more customizable experience, you have the option of adding on a bed frame, a foundation, or the Lineal adjustable bed, each of which is available for an additional charge. 

How Does Saatva Compare?

By comparing the Saatva mattress with four other popular mattresses we are able to get an idea of where it stands. Cost-wise, Saatva sits closer to the bottom of the chart, although it isn’t the cheapest, as Nectar comes in at just over $300 less. But when comparing Saatva with box-store brands, the price difference is significant, with nearly $1,000 or more in savings.

Serta and Stearns & Foster both feature a pillow-top design that is similar to Saatva, but the small difference is that Saatva does have a Euro design which means the top sits flush to the mattress. Simmons BeautyRest Black line is available in both an innerspring and memory foam model, and depending on which is opted for will change the top. For their foam models, they utilize a patented design called Surfacecool which is made from a gel memory foam. In their innerspring models, however, there is no added topper to the mattress. Nectar, another online mattress company, similar to Saatva, only offers a memory foam mattress and like with Simmon’s that is topped with a gel memory foam.

Height wise all of the mattress are about equal, with the exception of the Nectar which is around 2” – 3” shorter than the others. The chart above showcases the taller of the Saatva mattresses, but there is an option to reduce the height down to 11.5” if you so choose. Industry standard is anything above 10”, so the majority of the compared mattresses would be considered above-average in height.

The lumbar region is simply the lower back, and it is where many people tend to experience their back pain. Due to the curvature of the spine, proper support at night is a necessity in order to reduce strain and pressure. While most mattresses are designed to support the body at night, very few include added features specifically for lumbar support. The Saatva brand offers two features for lumbar support: a dual-coil system and the Lineal adjustable bed. Most innerspring mattresses feature only one set of coils inside, but Saatva doubles the layers between the foam to add an extra layer of padding. This additional layer is what makes their mattresses a bit firmer, but also is what will support your lumbar region while you sleep. For those who suffer from back pain, innerspring mattresses are recommended over memory foam, as the foam is typically softer and will allow your back to sink in rather than be pushed up and supported.

In terms of firmness, most mattresses are available in a range of options and this is true for most of the products compared above. The exception to this is with Nectar whose mattress is only available in one firmness – a 6. The firmness scale runs from 1 – 10 with 1 being the softest option available and 10 being the firmest. Saatva and Serta are both similar in their ranges, sticking around a medium-firm average. Simmons and Stearns & Foster are the options with the widest range, allowing buyers to select from a mattress at almost any point along the scale.

Company Information

Saatva has expanded from a completely online store to include  a brick and mortar presence allowing customers to try their mattresses in person. They serve the entire United States, and have their 19 factories and 145 distribution centers all located within the USA. Since their conception they have grown considerably, with an increase in revenue of over $246.4 million since 2014. Their success has been rapid and noticeable, having been placed on Forbes list of top internet companies in 2015.

Saatva’s headquarters are located in New York, New York but they do not have a facility that is open to the public. For those wishing to contact Saatva, you can do so via phone or email which are both listed on their website.

Given that there is no physical store where a customer can make a purchase, all orders must be done via their online website or over the phone with one of their customer representatives. It may seem unnerving to order a mattress without trying it first, but Saatva does offer a 365 day trial period in which you can test out the mattress and decide if you would like to keep it. After the 365 days, if you no longer want the mattress, you can return it completely free of charge.

Bottom Line

The Saatva mattress is a high-quality, luxury mattress that is sure to make anyone’s night rest more enjoyable. With a medium-firm build it is great for the majority of sleep positions and will even aid those who experience back pain. The low price-point may appear questionable, but Saatva is extremely transparent in regards to cost and they are up front about both materials as well as any additional costs you may incur.

The firmness level may deter side-sleepers from trying it out, but with their risk-free trial period it is absolutely worth giving it a shot. If you are unhappy with your purchase you are able to return the product for a full-money back guarantee. Customers pay just a $99 return fee.

Environmental concerns are a hot topic in today’s world, and Saatva ensures that they are taking the necessary steps to reduce their carbon footprint and create a product that is environmentally sustainable. From the use of recycled steel to their eco-friendly foams, Saatva does deliver on their promise. The mattresses are not 100% organic, but they are focused on creating a green product that is comprised of at least 30% soy materials. The chemical-free construction ensures that the mattress is hypoallergenic and even the flame retardant feature is created through the use of natural thistle.

Overall, the Saatva mattress is a great choice for those in the market for a new mattress. While it does fall a bit short with side-sleepers and light weight individuals, the lumbar support it offers is highly-desirable. If you add on their Lineal adjustable bed you are in for a real treat, as the ability to adjust based on your needs is worth the additional cost. It is by no means a perfect mattress or company, but it is one that has numerous happy customers and ensure their support staff is accommodating to all who contact them. For a durable, comfortable, and supportive mattress you can’t go wrong with Saatva.