The Layla mattress is a copper-infused memory foam mattress is the best mattress for sciatica. With dual sides that each feature different firmness settings, you’ll get targeted relief for any pressure or pain you feel in your lower back.
Top 5 Best Mattress for Sciatica Compared
#1 Layla Mattress – Best Mattress for Sciatica
WHY WE LIKE IT: This unique foam mattress is perfect for people who suffer from sciatic pain on a nightly and daily basis. You can flip it to either side to get a different level of pressure depending on how you feel and what you need. It’s also durable and provides great motion isolation so your partner doesn’t feel you moving around.
- Flippable design
- Conforms close for pain relief
- Very good motion isolation
- Struggles with edge support
- Sometimes smells bad out of box
- Flipping the mattress is hard
Firmness 9/10
The Layla mattress’s most unique feature is the two built-in firmness options. On one side, you get a firm mattress with a rating of 7 out of 10 (with 10 being the firmest). If you need something a little softer, simply flip the mattress to the other side, where you’ll get medium-soft firmness (4 out of 10).
Unfortunately, the mattress—like other mattresses—is heavy and bulky, which makes it a little more difficult to flip over, especially if you’re in pain. However, the versatility is a great option to have overall.
Motion Isolation 9.5/10
Like most foam mattresses, motion isolation on the Layla foam mattress is great. You can toss and turn or get in and out without hardly bothering anyone else sleeping in your bed. On the flip side, you also won’t be disturbed by any sleeping partners.
The foam hugs and conforms to your body, which can help to relieve pain in a more effective way.
Warranty 10/10
Layla offers a superb, lifetime warranty for all of their mattresses. If, throughout the life of the mattress, you notice visible sagging or indentations that measure deeper than an inch, Layla will repair or replace your mattress for free.
As with any warranty, however, there are always exceptions. Layla specifically warns you not to pinch the mattress’s foam when flipping, as it may tear the foam.
Trial Length 9/10
You can sleep with the Layla mattress for up to 120 nights total before committing to keeping it forever. If you decide you don’t like the mattress within those 120 nights, you can get a full refund. Rather than return the mattress, Layla requests that you donate it to a local charity organization. Unfortunately, the company requires you to wait a full 2 weeks to break in the mattress before requesting a refund. This can slow down the process of purchasing another mattress.
#2 Nectar Mattress – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Sciatica
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Nectar mattress excels when it comes to motion isolation and body conformity with its affordable high-density foam. This mattress offers a hard-to-beat value when you consider how much it cost and just what it offers you.
- Excellent motion isolation
- 365 night sleep trial
- Affordable high-density foam
- Super weak edge support
- Customer service isn’t great
- Can sleep hot
Firmness 8/10
All Nectar mattress come in a medium-firm firmness rating, which equates to a 6 on our 10 point scale. This level of firmness is just firm enough for people suffering from sciatica. It provides enough cushioning and conformity without hugging your body too tightly or allowing you to sink deep into the mattress.
Motion Isolation 9.5/10
During our tests of motion isolation, we found very minimal movement on the opposite side of the Nectar mattress as we moved around. This is great for people with sciatic pain who often need to shift during the night to find a more comfortable position. With such a great motion isolation capability, anyone sleeping in your bed won’t be disturbed by your movements, and vice versa.
Warranty 10/10
Like our top choice—the Layla mattress—the Nectar mattress offers a lifetime warranty, which they refer to as the Forever Warranty. Your mattress is covered mainly against visible indentions on the mattresses surface greater than 1.5 inches.
For the first 10 years, Nectar will replace your mattress with a new model at absolutely no cost to you. After the first 10 years, the company will still replace your defective model with a new one, but you will be responsible for covering shipping fees both for the receiving the new mattress and shipping the old one back (about $100).
Trial Length 10/10
You can try out the Nectar address for a total of 365 days before deciding if you want to keep it forever. This is much longer than most of the other mattresses on the market, and it gives you plenty of time to make a final decision.
Unfortunately, there is a minimum 30-day break-in time frame that you have to adhere to before returning the mattress. If you do decide to return the mattress, Nectar will cover all shipping costs.
#3 Casper Mattress – Best Mattress in a Box for Sciatica
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Casper mattress is the original bed-in-a-box company. With tons of marketing and celebrity support behind this mattress, you’ve probably already heard of it. The original Casper mattress provides consistent conforming to your body, which is great for relieving sciatic pain.
- Sleeps cool
- Little to no noise
- Company is highly rated
- Fairly heavy and hard to move
- Higher prices
- Not as durable as others
Firmness 9/10
The Casper offers a medium firmness that we rate at a 7 out of 10. This is the perfect level of firmness for people with sciatica. This foam mattress provides consistent body conforming, which is sometimes harder to find in a foam mattress. This consistent body conformity is really great for sciatica, as it keeps your body in the same place for a longer period of time while you’re sleeping.
Motion Isolation 9.5/10
Like most foam mattresses, the Casper mattress gives you really great motion isolation. When you do need to move during the night or when your partner does, this mattress won’t translate those motions to the other person.
Warranty 9/10
You’ll get a 100-day warranty with the purchase of any Casper warranty, which is the standard for the mattress industry as a whole. If you experience any defects or noticeable sagging and indentation within those 10 years, Casper will replace your mattress with a new one.
Keep in mind that while Casper will pay for shipping costs to get your old mattress back to them, you’ll be responsible for paying shipping fees on the new mattress. Also, if you get an upgraded model because your old model is discontinued, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Trial Length 9/10
Casper provides a standard 100-night trial period. Fortunately, there isn’t any kind of break-in period with this sleep trial. If you don’t like the mattress, you could return it within the hour you receive it. If you do decide to return the Casper mattress, the company will give you a full refund, including any shipping fees you paid, and will send a courier service to pick up your mattress and donate or recycle it.
Read more on Casper Mattress Review
#4 Purple 2 Mattress – Best Cool Sleeping Mattress for Sciatica
WHY WE LIKE IT: Purple is another online mattress vendor that relies on funny viral marketing to get their product seen by the masses. Their Purple 2 mattress offers a unique take to mattresses, using what the company calls the Smart Grid—a buckling column gel later—to relieve pressure and pain. This is a great choice for anyone suffering from lower back pain.
- Very cool sleeping
- Great motion isolation and conformity
- Free shipping
- Heavier than most mattresses
- More expensive
- Low profile
Firmness 8.5/10
The Purple 2 mattress is considered medium-firm and rates at 6.5 out of 10. While this isn’t in the ideal 7-8 zone for sciatica, it’s pretty close and still does a great job of providing just enough firmness to relieve pressure and pain. The Smart Grid conforms to your body really well while still sleeping exceptionally cool so you don’t get hot during the night.
Motion Isolation 9.5/10
The Smart Grid gel does its job well when it comes to motion isolation. We found the Purple mattress to be one of the best mattresses when it comes to isolating any movements from either side of the bed.
Warranty 9/10
You get a standard 10-year warranty with the Purple 2 mattress, which covers indentations deeper than one inch and any cracking or splitting. Keep in mind that Purple requires you to use your mattress some kind of flat, solid surface or non-spring foundation. These surfaces support the weight of the mattress to better protect it against indentation and excess wear and tear. Using it on the floor or anything else will void your warranty.
Trial Length 9/10
Purple also offers a standard 100-night sleep trial for all new and interested buyers. While there isn’t any kind of break-in period for the trial, Purple still recommends you try out the mattress for at least 30 days before returning it. If you decide to return the mattress after the trial, Purple will cover all shipping and handling costs to and from your home.
#5 Brooklyn Bedding Aurora – Best Hybrid Mattress for Sciatica
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora mattress is a hybrid mattress, meaning it combines two or more kinds of support systems to give you better pain and pressure relief during sleep. It uses foam, coil support and phase-change materials to give you great comfort for your sciatica.
- Great price points for all models
- Plenty of firmness options
- Free shipping
- Mattresses can smell bad
- Required 30-night break-in
- Heavy and bulky
Firmness 8.5/10
While you can purchase the Aurora mattress in a variety of different firmness levels, we tested the firm option. This model rates at a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it perfect for anyone suffering with pain from sciatica.
Hybrid mattresses tend to struggle a bit more when it comes to body conformity, but the Brooklyn Aurora hugs your body well enough to relieve pressure points commonly associated with sciatic pain.
Motion Isolation 9.5/10
Hybrid mattresses also tend to struggle with motion isolation, but the Aurora doesn’t skip a bit. It features multiple thick layers that all work together to absorb and reduce any kind of motion transfer you may experience from moving around.
Warranty 9/10
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora hybrid mattress features a standard 10-year limited warranty, beginning on the date of purchase. They will repair or replace any of their mattresses that sag or have indentations greater than one inch.
The warranty is non-transferrable, and the company may decline to repair or replace the mattress if they think it is unsanitary to do so. If you keep your mattress clean, you should be able to avoid this situation.
Trial Length 9/10
When you purchase the Aurora mattress, you get a 120-night sleep trial, with a mandatory 30-night period of time that you need to break it in. If you decide to return the mattress, you won’t get any shipping costs refunded.
You are also only able to participate in the trial once per year. If you exchange your Aurora mattress for a different Brooklyn Bedding model, the new mattress will not be eligible for the sleep trial.
How Can Mattresses Help With Sciatica
Finding good pain relief for the sharp pains of sciatica (R) can be extremely difficult. If you’ve been dealing with this kind of pain for a while, you may have already been prescribed pain killers or you might already be going to physical therapy. But have you thought about how your mattress is helping or hurting you?
Most people think of mattresses simply as pieces of comfort, but they can have a profound impact on your back pain. In fact, sleeping on a mattress of poor quality for your entire life can actually cause more damage to your spine, nerves and muscles.
Good therapeutic mattresses can have the opposite effect. This is why it’s so important to find a good mattress for sciatica relief. You won’t want to cut corners here. A good mattress can literally be the line between a good back or a bad one.
How We Reviewed the Mattresses for Sciatica
Find all the comfortable details about these mattresses below.
- Firmness – Medium Firm Relieves the Most Pain
Finding good pain relief for the sharp pains of sciatica can be extremely difficult. If you’ve been dealing with this kind of pain for a while, you may have already been prescribed pain killers or you might already be going to physical therapy. But have you thought about how your mattress is helping or hurting you?
Most people think of mattresses simply as pieces of comfort, but they can have a profound impact on your back pain. In fact, sleeping on a mattress of poor quality for your entire life can actually cause more damage to your spine, nerves and muscles.
Good therapeutic mattresses can have the opposite effect. This is why it’s so important to find a good mattress for sciatica relief. You won’t want to cut corners here. A good mattress can literally be the line between a good back or a bad one.
- Motion Isolation – Less Movement is Better
Motion isolation refers to the effect mattresses have on preventing someone else in the bed feeling your movements and vice versa. If you feel every single movement from your sleeping partner, you can bet your back will also be feeling it. A bouncy bed that doesn’t offer good motion isolation can further exacerbate your sciatica.
The flip side is also true. People who suffer from sciatica often have to shift and move around to find a comfortable position throughout the night. Having a mattress with good motion isolation ensures that your partner will remain undisturbed during the times you’re moving around.
- Warranty – Longer Warranties Keep You Protected Longer
A mattress’s warranty is important to consider in any situation. Most mattresses carry a standard 10-year warranty that protects you against excessive indentation, cracks and tearing.
Note the fine print when it comes to mattresses, especially when it comes to shipping costs and specific exclusions. The best mattress companies will cover shipping costs when you utilize the warranty, but not all of them do.
Many warranties also include specific language surrounding the type of surface on which you place your mattress. If you don’t follow their specifications, you’ll likely void your warranty.
- Trial Length – The Best Trials Are Longer
Most mattress companies provide some kind of sleep trial, where you can try the mattress out for a certain length of time to determine if it’s right for you. This is an especially important consideration when shopping for a mattress for sciatica because you’ll want to be 100% sure your mattress works before you commit to keeping it.
The industry standard tends to stick around 100 to 120 nights for the sleep trial. This should be more than enough time to determine if the mattress you bought is right for you. However, some mattress companies require you to keep the mattress for a certain amount of time before returning it.
Read More: Best Online Mattress Stores
Top 10 Mattresses for Sciatica Compared
Let’s give the data a chance to talk. Check out the top statistics for mattresses for sciatica below.
Mattress Name – Firmness (out of 10) / Motion Isolation
- Layla Mattress – 4/7 /Very Good
- Nectar Mattress – 6/Very Good
- Casper Mattress – 7/Very Good
- Purple 2 Mattress – 6.5/Very Good
- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora – 7/Good
- Tuft & Needle Mattress – 6/Very Good
- Eco Terra Luxury Mattress – 6/Good
- Sleep Innovation Shiloh – 5.5/Very Good
- Lucid Mattress -6.5/Good
- Live & Sleep Ultra – 6/Good
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleeping on a mattress is a pretty simple deal, right? Well there might be more to it than you think. Check out the top asked questions about mattress for sciatica and their associated answers.
- What’s the best sleeping position for sciatica?
If you experience regular sciatic nerve pain, the best sleeping position will always be your side (R). Sleeping on your back can be okay, depending on the position of your legs. Sleeping on your stomach is the worst.
- Is sleeping on the floor really good for sciatic pain?
You may have had someone recommend you sleep on the hard floor to relieve your pain. In general, this isn’t a good idea. This is because sleeping on too hard of a surface can raise your hips to the point that they are no longer aligned with your spine. This means more pain for you, which we’re hoping to avoid!
- Do I need a different mattress if I’m pregnant?
If you’re pregnant and suffering from sciatic nerve pain, the mattresses on our list will still be good for you. However, you can provide additional relief with a body pillow, knee pillow or side sleeper pillow.
- Do I need a specialist’s recommendation before buying a mattress?
No, you can always buy a mattress without any kind of special recommendation. However, it might be worth it to speak to your doctor beforehand for additional recommendations.
Mattresses for Sciatica Features to Look Out For
Learn about the additional features you should take into account when purchasing a new mattress for sciatica.
- Durability
Good workouts last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Sitting in a chair for long periods of time can be incredibly uncomfortable, especially when you’re exercising. This is why it’s so important that the exercise bike you purchase provide features dedicated to comfort.
The best recumbent bikes feature padded seats and comfortable backrests with lumbar support. The seat and handlebars should also be fully adjustable to fit your height and stature.
Sometimes, you’ll just need to try a bike before you know if it’s comfortable enough. If you purchase one and it’s not to your liking, you should be able to return it within the first 30 days.
- Zoning
Zoning refers to the different parts of the mattress that offer a variety of support and firmness levels. Most mattresses are made of a bunch of different materials and features a few different layers. Mattress manufacturers understand that people’s hips and shoulders tend to be heavier than the rest of their body and will thus sink deeper into the mattress. Some mattresses feature different zones to account for this, creating softer areas for hips and shoulders and firmer areas everywhere else.
- Temp Control
If you suffer from sciatica, you’re probably already sleeping with a lot of discomfort and pain. As such, you definitely don’t want to be sleeping too hot or too cold. The best mattresses are much more breathable, which keeps you much cooler throughout the night.
- Size
What size of mattress should you purchase? This question is very subjective and depends on your personal preference. The mattresses on our list range from Twin to California King sizes. If you move around a lot to get comfortable, you may want to consider getting a Full or Queen size. If you sleep with a partner, you’ll definitely want to get at least a Queen size.
- Sex
Just because you have sciatic nerve pain doesn’t mean you have to avoid sex on your new mattress. The level of the mattress’s bounciness can have a large effect on sex, so you’ll want to be sure you take this into account. Foam mattresses are the best for sciatica, but they struggle when it comes to bounciness. You tend to sink deeper into foam mattresses, which can make sex a little more uncomfortable. As such, you’ll want to weigh the breathability of your mattress much more. There’s nothing worse than feeling too hot before, during or after intimate moments, and your mattress will determine that for you.
The post Best Mattress for Sciatica appeared first on Gadget Review.
