Saatva HD Mattress Review: Firm But Superbly Comfortable For All Sizes
For larger people, finding the right mattress can be tough. Memory foam mattresses often lack the structure needed to support bigger frames, and—across the board—mattresses feel softer than advertised. The Saatva HD, however, is specifically designed for people who weigh up to 500 pounds, or couples together weighing up to 1,000 pounds (for queen, king or California king sizes).
I slept on the Saatva HD Mattress for 30 nights to see how its pressure relief, support and other … [+]
As a plus-size person myself, I tested the Saatva HD for 30 nights to see if it lives up to its claims. Although I’m slightly smaller than the target market for this bed, it’s one of the best beds I’ve ever slept on. In my opinion, it’s very thoughtfully engineered to provide a comfortable and supportive sleep surface for bigger people. In this in-depth Saatva HD Mattress review, I detail its standout features and who may want a different option.
Saatva HD Construction, Firmness And Feel
Firm And Solid Without Rigidity
The Saatva HD is a 15.5-inch tall hybrid mattress made with several supportive foam and latex layers over a bed of responsive steel coils. Here’s a breakdown of each individual layer:
- Cover: Breathable organic cotton treated with Guardin, an antimicrobial substance that helps inhibit mold and bacterial growth
- Euro pillow top: 3 inches thick, made with foam and soft fill material
- Pressure-relief layer: 1.5 inches thick, made from vented latex, featuring zoned lumbar support to relieve pressure on the spine
- Contouring layer: 1.5 inches of high-density memory foam; contours to the body to provide comfort and pressure relief
- Dense comfort layer: 2 inches of dense comfort foam for further support
- Coil innerspring system: 12.5-gauge recycled-steel coils with Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire, which helps to support the lower back
- Base layer: 2 inches of hard, high-density foam
Additionally, the perimeter of the mattress features 6-inch-tall firm foam rails to improve edge support and mattress stability.
The layers of the Saatva HD Mattress.
Saatva says this mattress provides a medium-firm feel for sleepers 300 pounds or more, while having a firmer feel for smaller people. My husband and I agree: this is the firmest mattress we’ve ever slept on. I would rate it a 9 out of 10 for firmness. For reference, we are both under 300 pounds, but I am plus-size and my husband is fairly thin.
Because of this firmness, neither of us sinks into the mattress at all. In fact, to get the photo below, I really had to press into the mattress forcefully. Notice my fingertips going pale.
Despite its firmness, the Saatva HD Mattress provides enough cushion to relieve pressure in the … [+]
Still, it doesn’t feel hard or unforgiving in any sleeping position, thanks to the thick pillow top. As a side sleeper, I find it extremely comfortable. I occasionally stomach-sleep, and it’s comfy in that position too. However, the mattress is designed for back sleepers, likely to accommodate people with mobility limitations.
Saatva HD Mattress Features
Pressure Relief And Support For Larger People
I’ve tested several different mattresses in the past year and a half for Forbes Vetted, and so far the Saatva HD is my favorite. It’s an extremely well-designed bed with many features that bigger people are likely to appreciate. As a larger person myself, I find that it offers a great balance of comfort and support. I also like that, despite not feeling at all cloudlike, it still feels luxurious.
Another thing that really impressed me about this mattress is that it’s appealing to sleepers of all sizes—big and small—who prefer firm beds. My husband, who has a much thinner frame than I do, adores this bed. During my research, I also found several chat threads online in which non-plus-size people described buying the Saatva HD after trying it in a Saatva showroom.
Here are some more specific details about the Saatva HD’s comfort and performance.
Pressure Relief
Before switching to this mattress, my husband and I both noticed our old mattress was starting to sag slightly and cause some mild lower back pain. However, both of us have been pain- and twinge-free for the entire time I’ve been testing this mattress. Although I wouldn’t describe this mattress as “cradling,” it does cushion just enough to reduce pressure in areas such as the hips, back and shoulders.
The only sleeping position in which I noticed any pressure buildup on this mattress was on my stomach—a mild discomfort in my hips and lower back. My husband also reported some nearly imperceptible pressure buildup on his hips when side-sleeping, which could be due to his thinner frame on a very firm mattress designed for larger people.
Cooling
I’ve always been a cold sleeper. I sleep with socks, pants and a fleecy weighted blanket. I don’t sink into this mattress at all, so it doesn’t warm me up throughout the night. My husband is a hot sleeper, and he says it’s comfortable—not actively cooling, but it doesn’t trap heat.
The Saatva HD doesn’t feature any specific cooling tech, but the cotton cover is breathable, and the mattress contains a layer of perforated latex to improve airflow. The firm feel also helps prevent you from sinking into it and overheating.
While the Saatva HD doesn’t have specific cooling technology, its cotton cover is breathable.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer on this bed is strikingly minimal. To test it, I closed my eyes and had my husband sit on the bed, then drop his weight on it, then flail around on the bed. With my eyes closed, I couldn’t tell that he had sat down on the bed at all. I could barely feel him drop his weight on the bed, and the motion I felt from his flailing around was significantly hampered.
I woke up on a couple of occasions wondering if he had come to bed yet because I hadn’t felt him get in, only to find him lying next to me fast asleep. The minimal motion transfer also helps prevent my six-month-old, who sleeps next to me in a co-sleeper bassinet, from waking up to our movements—a small blessing.
Support
The Saatva HD provides an outstanding level of support across the entire surface of the mattress and all around the perimeter.
Support is excellent across the entire Saatva HD Mattress, and you don’t feel like you’re falling … [+]
If you get close enough to the edge of the mattress while sitting, it does start to slightly collapse—especially at the corners. However, when you’re lying on the bed, the edge support is much more robust. I can lie on the very edge of the bed without feeling like I’m going to fall off. The support level also doesn’t change in the middle of the mattress. It provides a consistent degree of support across the entire sleep surface, with no sinking.
Ease Of Movement
I toss and turn from side to side throughout the night, and occasionally roll onto my stomach. I’m also in and out of bed to tend to little ones pretty regularly, so it’s very important to me that I can easily get in and out of bed. With its firm sleep surface, the Saatva HD is really easy to move around on, climb in and out of and switch positions on. It was also a relief to be able to move around so easily without disturbing my husband, thanks to the mattress’s extremely limited motion transfer. Also, unlike some other firm mattresses, it’s not very bouncy—just solid.
Other Things Worth Noting
We had to get a new bed frame and the Saatva HD Foundation for this mattress. Unless you have a very specific platform bed frame already, you probably will too. The bed is heavier than most and does not work with a traditional box spring or most slatted bed frames, according to Saatva. Here are the configurations it does recommend:
- Saatva HD Mattress on the Saatva HD Foundation, directly on the floor
- Saatva HD Mattress on the Saatva HD Foundation, on a standard bed frame
- Saatva HD Mattress on a platform bed frame that has a solid surface, or that has at least 3-inch-wide slats no more than 4 inches apart
The Saatva HD Foundation seems very sturdy and durable, and I’m also pleased with the Saatva Universal Bed Frame. It sits high enough that we can still store things under the bed. However, these are extra expenses to be aware of.
About Saatva
Saatva is a premium mattress brand, and my experiences with Saatva and its delivery partners were excellent. Here are a few things to know about the brand as a whole before you order the Saatva HD.
Shipping And Delivery
Saatva offers free white-glove delivery and setup, as well as mattress removal and disposal if you need it. Delivery is completed through a third-party agency. For me, it went very smoothly. I received a call to schedule a day and time for delivery later in the week, and the driver called me on the day of delivery when he was on his way to my house.
I was mistakenly sent two different Saatva HD Foundation pieces (a twin and twin XL, instead of two twin pieces), and both Saatva and the delivery company took care of it promptly.
Trial Period And Returns
Saatva offers an extended in-home trial period of 365 days. At any time during this period, you can pay a $99 processing fee to exchange your current Saatva for a different Saatva mattress, or return the bed and receive a full refund (minus the $99 processing fee).
Warranty
Saatva’s lifetime mattress warranty covers manufacturing defects as long as the original owner possesses the mattress. For the first two years, the warranty covers a no-cost replacement bed. From year three onward, the bed can be repaired and re-covered for a $149 processing fee. Alternatively, you can have the bed completely replaced during this period, but you have to pay a portion of the purchase price that depends on the age of your mattress plus a $99 processing fee.
Other Company Highlights
All of Saatva’s mattresses are made to order in factories across the U.S. This allows the company to reduce its environmental impact, since it doesn’t need extensive warehouse space and its products are shipped less than 100 miles on average after manufacture. Saatva also recycles all of the wood, plastic and foam scraps from its factories.
Additionally, Saatva uses eco-friendly materials, such as CertiPUR-US-certified foams, organic cotton and recycled-steel coils.
Other Mattresses From The Brand
Interested in Saatva, but don’t think the Saatva HD is the right fit? Consider these mattresses:
Final Thoughts
The Saatva HD Mattress is, hands down, the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on. It’s extremely firm, but the pillow top keeps it comfy. It also provides truly outstanding motion isolation, and the edge support when you’re lying down is great. My husband and I each felt a bit of pressure in our hips when lying down in certain sleeping positions (side for him and stomach for me), but our experience with this mattress has been overwhelmingly positive in every other regard. Not only would I wholeheartedly recommend this mattress for people over 300 pounds, I would also recommend it for anyone smaller who’s looking for a truly firm mattress.
How I Tested The Saatva HD
I slept on the Saatva HD for 30 nights before writing this review, keeping detailed notes along the way. I also asked my husband for his honest thoughts about each factor I reviewed—firmness, comfort, coolness, edge support, motion isolation, ease of movement and pressure relief. I am a plus-size combination side and stomach sleeper who stays cold at night, and my husband is an average-build side sleeper who sleeps hot. I sat on the sides and corner of the bed to test seated edge support, and lay on the middle of the bed and then rolled toward the outside to test lying edge support. To test motion isolation, I closed my eyes while my husband sat on, fell on and flailed around on the bed. We both made note of comfort, pressure relief and coolness throughout our time using the bed as well.
My Expertise
I’ve been writing about mattresses and sleep for Forbes Vetted for nearly two years, and in that time I’ve reviewed several mattresses and bedding products. I tried 11 different mattress toppers in order to name the best mattress toppers for side sleepers, and I’ve also reviewed the Amerisleep AS5 Mattress and the Helix Midnight Mattress.