Best Mattress for Athletes

Sleep affects an athlete’s performance, but athletes may not know just how much a poor night of sleep can cost them. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the chances of a sports injury, disease, or obesity. And athletes need more sleep than most to keep up with their active lifestyle.

The best mattress for athletes should help them reach the deeper stages of sleep for better, faster recovery. In this guide, we cover what an athlete should look for in a mattress and other steps they can take to improve their sleep.

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Best Memory Foam Mattress for Athletes: Zoma Mattress

We designed our Zoma Mattress specifically to help athletes achieve peak performance. By improving your sleep, your body can recover faster and you can perform better. Three foam layers make up the 12-inch thick mattress, each layer with its unique purpose.

First is a 2-inch top layer of gel-infused memory foam. The cooling gels within this top layer help the sleeper stay cool, while the soft memory foam contours to the body for pressure and pain relief.

The first layer also includes our Triangulex™ technology for added breathability and zoned support. The midsection of the foam is solid, to keep the hips and torso elevated, but the shoulders and legs areas contain triangle-shaped cutouts. These cutouts allow for more contouring, giving extra relief to your shoulders and legs.

Second is a 2-inch layer of highly-responsive Reactiv™ foam. Reactiv™ has a latex-like nature that adds bounce and keeps a sleeper from sinking too deeply into the mattress.

Third and last is our 8-inch base layer of Support+ foam. Support+ foam gives the mattress shape and structural support.

The Zoma Mattress is protected by a polyester mattress cover with a little bit of elastane added for stretchability. As the cover stretches, it makes air channels to allow for better air circulation.

Our Zoma Mattress is $699 for a queen; it comes with free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty. If you’re not satisfied with your mattress after a month, just give us a call and we will issue a full refund.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Athletes: Zoma Hybrid

Our Zoma Hybrid has a different design than our classic memory foam mattress, but it offers the same recovery benefits with some added bounce. Four layers comprise this 12-inch hybrid.

The top layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam. Gel foam wicks away heat for a cooler night’s sleep. Aerated channels in this layer improve the bed’s contouring and cooling abilities.

Next, 2 inches of Reactiv™ foam. Reactiv™ foam helps the bed adapt to your movements and prevents you from bottoming out on the bed’s support core.

The support core is 7 inches of pocketed coils. What are pocketed coils? They are coils that we have wrapped in packets, providing a buffer between each coil. This design feature reduces motion transfer and cuts down on the squeaks and creaks that innerspring coils produce.

Underneath the coils is an inch of base foam. Its sturdy surface gives the coils a firm base, which keeps the coils aligned.

The layers of a Zoma Hybrid are wrapped in a soft, breathable mattress cover.

A queen size Zoma Hybrid is priced at $999. Like the traditional Zoma Mattress, a hybrid includes free shipping and returns, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty.

Best Luxury Mattress for Athletes: Zoma Boost

Focusing on self-improvement needn’t mean skimping on luxuries and ways to treat yourself. On the contrary, a thick luxury mattress like the Zoma Boost may just be what you need, with cooling materials that deter body heat build-up and soft cushion that hugs joints and muscles sore after a workout.

The Zoma Boost’s ultra-cool fabric cover is soft, breathable, and pleasantly cool like a brush of powdery snow on the skin. It’s unlike many of the thick and heavy covers found on other mattresses.

But it’s not just about the cover, the Zoma Boost is built for comfort from the inside out. The top layer of hypersoft foam is quilted and 2 inches thick, providing a cloud-like comfort that hugs your body and releases tension.

Underneath that layer is graphite-infused memory foam, which deepens the embrace of the mattress and ensures it stays cool throughout the night. These two top layers keep athletes in a gentle embrace that enfolds sensitive areas and releases tension.

The Zoma Boost’s transition layer is made of Reactiv™, a bouncy material that balances out the compressive comfort of the top foams, limiting unwanted sinkage and making it easy to move across the mattress.

The support core of the Zoma Boost is made of motion-isolating pocketed coils that contour to your body’s shape, reacting immediately as you move across the bed. The coils have reinforced sides to make it easy to get in and out of bed.

Top athletes also know not to put unnecessary strain on their bodies, and in the spirit of that, we have included carrying handles along the sides for easy lifting. These handles come in handy when it’s time to change sheets.

Its CertiPUR-US® certified foam layers ensure the mattress is less likely to off-gas and that its production is free of potentially harmful materials. With its free shipping, 100-night sleep trial, and 10-year warranty, the Zoma Boost is the perfect mattress for anyone looking for more restorative sleep.

Sleep Needed for Athletes

The importance of getting a good night’s sleep is well known, but you may not know athletes need more sleep than the average person. Athletes should aim to get an extra hour or so of shut-eye each night so that they can spend more time in the restorative stages of sleep.

Getting more sleep can improve a player’s performance. A 2011 study looked at the sleep habits of 11 college basketball players. After two to four weeks spent establishing their baseline, players tried to spend at least 10 hours asleep for five to seven weeks.

Athletic performance was measured after every practice, and the study found the players’ throw accuracy improved after getting more sleep.

For the best recovery, we recommend going to bed an hour earlier rather than taking a nap during the day. This is because it takes time to reach the deeper stages of sleep, so a nap won’t help you recover as well as sleeping for an uninterrupted period. That said, a 2018 study found that an hour or a two-hour daytime nap can help athletes get the full sleep they need.

And what if you don’t get enough sleep? You may do damage beyond just being tired.

A 2014 review observed student-athletes who regularly get less than eight hours of sleep are more likely to injure themselves. A 2017 review further noted that sleep-deprived student-athletes are not only at greater risk of sports injuries but also more likely to develop a serious illness or chronic disease.

Sleep deprivation may also throw off an athlete’s diet. A 2014 study found that a lack of sleep changes our responses to food— we may find unhealthy food more appealing and increase how much we’re eating.

Sleep is important to athletes, and finding the right mattress is a key part of getting the sleep they need.

What an Athlete Needs From a Mattress

To find the best mattress, athletes need to look for a bed with the right mix of pressure relief and support, along with cooling features and motion isolation.

Pressure Relief and Support

A mattress with good pressure relief and support can promote recovery and prevent soreness. By minimizing the pressure that can build up in parts of the body, a quality mattress can soothe the aches and pain an athlete may have.

A supportive mattress is not only durable but should offer zoned support for better spinal alignment. The mattress should be firmer around the torso and flexible around the shoulders and hips, as these areas often experience pressure buildup.

Temperature Control

Many athletes are at risk of sleeping hot because exercising raises the body’s core temperature. A cooling mattress for hot sleepers can prevent an athlete from waking up overheated by their surroundings.

Cooling technology can be found in the mattress and the mattress cover. Cooling gels, copper, graphite, and charcoal can help a mattress stay cool by absorbing heat and moisture and moving both away from the body.

Covers may include breathable materials such as cotton and bamboo, or sleep technology such as Celliant® fabric or phase-change material. Celliant® takes body heat and converts it into infrared energy, which has been found to help people get better sleep. Phase-change material absorbs body heat until it reaches a temperature limit, whereupon it will stop absorbing heat and distribute it across the mattress.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation keeps a sleeper’s movements from disturbing themselves or others. Restless sleepers or those who share a bed can benefit from a mattress that isolates movement.

Foam mattresses such as memory foam and latex are the best materials to prevent motion transfer. Hybrid mattresses with a memory foam comfort layer and wrapped coils can provide adequate motion isolation. Most innerspring mattresses are too bouncy to offer decent motion isolation.

Mattress Types for Athletes

There are four main mattress types on the market an athlete can choose from. However, some mattresses are better for an athlete than others. Athletes need a sturdy mattress that can alleviate pressure and keep their body temperatures low.

Memory Foam

What draws many people to a memory foam mattress is its feel. The material is giving and molds itself to a sleeper’s body for full support and pressure relief. Memory foam is also excellent at preventing motion transfer and keeps quiet as a sleeper moves on top, preventing sleep disturbances.

Memory foam mattresses can provide the pressure and pain relief athletes need, but they should look for one with cooling features. Traditional memory can absorb too much body heat, creating a hot sleeping surface. Most manufacturers add a cooling component such as gel beads or copper to help heat dissipate.

Latex

Latex mattresses may be made with natural or synthetic latex. Natural latex is more durable and made from rubber tree sap, while synthetic latex is made with a combination of organic compounds. Because natural latex is made without harming the rubber tree or creating pollutants, it’s one of the more eco-friendly mattress options.

Latex is firmer and more responsive than memory foam but still conforms closely to a sleeper’s body. Plus, a natural latex mattress is durable and can last up to 15 years. However, while a latex mattress can be a good choice for an athlete, they often have high price tags.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are easy to find in most mattress stores and inexpensive as well. Most of the mattress consists of a coil support system, which makes for a bouncy bed. A thin comfort layer tops the mattress, providing minimal pressure relief.

We recommend athletes avoid sleeping on an innerspring mattress, as they tend to provide little comfort and pressure relief. An innerspring mattress can also be a short-lived mattress, as their coils can sag in as little as 5 years.

Hybrid

Hybrids were designed to offer the best of memory foam and innerspring mattresses while minimizing their drawbacks. To qualify as a hybrid mattress, a bed must have 2 to 3 inches of foam on top of a coil support system. The coils provide more air circulation than a foam mattress, while the foam adds more contouring ability than an innerspring mattress.

Most athletes can sleep fine on a hybrid mattress. The coils keep the mattress cool and are typically wrapped for better motion isolation. However, hybrid mattresses can be expensive, and their average lifespan of six or so years may not be worth the price tag.

Sleeping Positions

There are three main sleep positions— side, back, and stomach. If you’re unsure what type of sleeper you are, keep track of how you tend to fall asleep and wake up. Your sleep position influences what mattress firmness is best for you, as different positions need different firmnesses to keep the spine in a neutral alignment.

Side Sleeping

Side sleeping is arguably the healthiest sleeping position, as it offers a wide variety of benefits. By sleeping on their right side, a person can reduce pressure on the heart, open up their airway for better breathing, and prevent neurodegenerative diseases by helping the brain clean out waste proteins. Pressure tends to accumulate in a side sleeper’s shoulders and hips, however, which can cause pain if their mattress doesn’t contain pressure-relieving materials.

Soft to medium mattresses suit most side sleepers. Side sleepers may also want to keep a second pillow between their legs to reduce pressure and promote hip alignment. If you’re a side sleeper who struggles with how to place your arms, try hugging a pillow as you drift off.

Back Sleeping

Back sleeping naturally keeps the spine in neutral alignment, although back sleepers risk snoring and the development of sleep apnea. A second pillow under the knees can minimize pressure on the lower back.

A medium-firm to firm mattress suits most back sleepers. Sleepers who like a softer mattress may want to consider a medium mattress with zoned support.

Stomach Sleeping

Stomach sleepers risk chronic back pain and neck pain with their preferred position. Gravity pushes the torso into the mattress, extending the spine beyond its curvature. Stomach sleepers also have to keep their neck twisted to the side for hours to breathe.

We recommend stomach sleepers switch to side sleeping or back sleeping; however, if stomach sleeping is the only way you can fall asleep, a firm mattress can keep your spine aligned.

Mattress Firmness

Every sleeper has a firmness level that best suits them, determined by their sleeping position, body type, and personal preferences.

Heavier people need a firmer mattress to better take on their weight, while a lightweight sleeper needs more soft cushioning from their mattress.  The table below breaks it down.

Mattress companies measure firmness options by using the firmness scale of 1 through 10, with 1 as the softest possible mattress and 10 as the firmest. Most mattresses on the market fall between a 3 and an 8.

Firmness can differ by company and depend on the materials used, so take a moment to skim customer feedback and mattress reviews to see if anyone was surprised by a too firm or too soft mattress.

Sleep Trial, Warranty, and Return Policy

Many mattresses include not just the mattress and a cover, but also three policies— a sleep trial, a warranty, and a return policy. We recommend a mattress with a sleep trial and a warranty as they serve as the mark of a company’s faith in its product.

Sleep Trial

Sleep trials started as a way to reassure customers who bought the first bed in a box mattresses, though nowadays you’ll find some store mattresses with attached trial periods. Most sleep trials last between 90 to 120 days. Typically, it takes a sleeper about 30 days to adjust to a new mattress.

Warranty

You can get an idea of a mattress’s expected lifespan by looking at its attached warranty. Most mattresses come with a 10-year warranty, although a few lower-priced mattresses have warranties for 5 years or less.

Some mattress warranties last 20 to 25 years, although these are often prorated. A few mattresses come with lifetime warranties, although this may not be the deal you expect as warranties often do not cover expected damage from typical wear and tear.

Warranties commonly cover these defects:

• Sagging beyond an inch
• Torn seams
• Coils bursting through the mattress
• Splits or cracks in the foam
• Tears in the cover or damage to the zipper

We advise looking for a mattress that covers sagging around an inch and to avoid any warranty that will only cover sagging greater than two inches. Sagging is a sign of a mattress with compromised support, so it’s best to know if you can get it taken care of before it becomes a serious problem. Sleeping on a sagging mattress can mean developing health issues such as lower back pain or hip pain.

Return Policy

Return policies differ from sleep trials as they only allow for a return and tend to span only 30 days. It’s always a good idea to know how to make a return before you’ve even bought the mattress.

A return policy outlines how you can make a return and what condition the mattress must be in to be eligible for return. You may not be able to return your mattress if it’s been opened or if it’s been treated poorly.

Some companies have hidden fees for returns, such as a transportation fee or a restocking fee. And if you paid a shipping fee when you originally bought your mattress, it may not be refunded if you return it. If you have any questions about whether or not you’ll receive a full refund, reach out to customer service.

You may not be able to make a return immediately, as some companies ask that you give yourself a chance to adjust to a mattress before deciding it’s not for you.

See why Sleep Foundation ranks the Zoma Mattress as one of the top mattresses for athletes.

More Tips for Better Sleep

It may take more than a good mattress to help you get the full night of rest you need to reach peak performance. By changing up your habits for better sleep hygiene, you should see your play improve as well.

First, establish a sleep schedule that includes a set sleep time and wake time. Remember active athletes need at least an extra hour of sleep. Keep to your sleep schedule even on the weekends— yes, this means no sleeping in.

Come up with activities to help you wind down in the evening and better get your brain in gear for sleeping. These can include reading a book (not on a tablet), journaling, light stretches, and taking a warm bath.

There are a few things you’ll want to avoid in the later hours of the evening for a better night of sleep:

• Do not ingest caffeine up to six hours before bed.
• Turn off your electronics two hours before bedtime. The bright lights may keep you awake longer.
• Avoid eating close to bedtime. If you’re hungry, a light snack should be okay.

Don’t get frustrated if you can’t fall asleep right on schedule. Instead, give yourself 15 to 20 minutes. If you’re still awake, get out of bed and do a light activity like read a book or drink warm milk. Return to bed when you feel tired.

Did We Help?

Sleep is often overlooked in an athlete’s regimen but its importance cannot be overstated. More sleep can improve an athlete’s performance, while those who get less sleep may give a tired performance or even injure themselves. A high-quality mattress can promote muscle recovery for better sleep, and a sleep schedule can ensure an athlete gets the extra sleep they need for a great performance.