Saatva HD Mattress Review By Industry Expert: Is It Best Mattress For Heavy People?
Detailed Report And Findings On Saatva’s Mattress For “Bigger Bodies” And Couples
Our Saatva HD Mattress review takes a close look at a mattress designed to specifically target mattress shoppers that have been largely swept to the side in the mattress industry. I know this because years ago I created a mattress for my own company called “The Titan” that also tried to fill this void.
Designed specifically for individuals over 300 lbs., heavier couples, or even folks looking for a very firm mattress. It is a 15.5″ tall pocketed coil hybrid mattress consisting of a 3″ quilted pillow top section to provide an inviting and comfortable initial feel, under which is a layer of fairly firm 1.5″ layer of natural latex. Cost is $2,745 for a queen (60″x80″) size mattress, and $3,245 in king (76″x80″) size.
Natural latex is anti-microbial, resists dust mite, is unlikely to compress over time. It’s also instantly responsive, and this can make it easier to turn on, change positions, and make getting in and out of bed easier. I’ve always considered natural latex near the top of any supportive mattress a good design element since it adds “personality” to the initial body contact experience.
The build of The Saatva HD Mattress also includes a fairly dense 1.5″ layer memory foam , which is really good at reducing pressure and minimizing motion transfer. Together with natural latex, this provides 3″ of pressure relieving and motion absorbing architecture.
To provide buoyancy and further uplifting support, and to help eliminate any possibility of sinking, immersion, or having a “dig your way out” kind of experience, another 2″ layer of high density foam that is pretty firm, is built in just underneath. High density foam elements are critical to building in a sense of supportive lift. Having all of these components situated above the innerspring section provides the comfortable and restful feel that this heavier sleeper mattress alternative provides.
The heart and lungs of The Saatva HD Mattress is without question the firmer 12.5 gauge tempered steel wound coil unit.
This style of offset coils is vastly different than pocketed coils found in most online bed in a box options that can be rolled and compressed and squeezed into a UPS or FedEx size box.
The primary reason Saatva ships all of their mattresses flat and in original bench built configuration without being mashed down, is to maintain the integrity of this coil system all the way to your bedroom.
Further, offset coils are much more effective at reducing motion transfer and distributing weight sideways instead of down, which also reduces pressure points.
I’ve advised and even designed custom made mattresses for people that weigh as much as 900lbs. and from a manufacturing and design standpoint.
It’s impossible to build an all foam mattress that will not collapse in the center without using an offset coil system such as the unit used in the Saatva HD Mattress system.
For Heavier Couples, The Saatva HD Mattress Is A Revelation
For many couple where both partners are 250 lbs. and over, there are several problematic issues that confront them. In most cases, a typical innerspring mattress can hold two individuals that weigh 200 lb. each- at best.
Unless the proper coil system is used to provide underlying support, sinking in the middle will be an issue. Coils need to be of a certain gauge, which means diameter or thickness, and thinner gauges will easily compress and not offer the resistance required.
Typically, an entire coil section is built into a mattress at a manufacturing facility, and the rest of the mattress is basically built around it. These coils can be one continuous coiled unit, or they can be a span of individual pocketed coils that are kept together with a fabric top and bottom.
In typical innerspring mattresses coils fall between 13-gauge and 17-gauge, the smaller the gauge meaning the thicker the diameter of the steel. Low-gauge coils are a whole lot firmer, resist getting “memory” in them from constantly being tensioned, even though higher gauge coils are a bit “springier” and bouncier.
Overall coil count can vary, too, when considering the quality of a mattress. Coil count can vary from 400 or so to 1500, especially when you consider the latest generation of 1″ tall coils that are often slipped in near the top of the mattress, called “nano-coils”. These types of coils would serve no purpose however in a mattress designed to support greater weights, say above a 200 lb. person.
Our Saatva HD Mattress review includes our 10 parameters for scoring using a combination of physical evaluations and a sampling of online reviews by genuine owners. Note that the reviews were obtained from sites other than the Saatva.Com web site to keep them as third party as possible. Also, keep in mind that reviewers tend to be larger people or larger couples, though we did not have weights disclosed to us.
Saatva Recommends Using Specialized Foundations, Not Conventional Box Springs Or Foundations
Based on my own experience as well as straight from the Saatva web site, The Saatva HD Mattress should not be used with conventional foundations or box springs not specifically made for mattresses that can hold more than 250lbs.
Saatva builds highly reinforced foundations that are to be used with the mattress and 80% of customers who purchase the HD mattress also purchased the foundations alongside. The foundations are made using a solid wood frame that is beefier than most foundations and have a solid deck surface and not slats. The specialized foundations are wrapped in a simulated suede material.
You can choose from two different foundation heights, one that is 4.75″ tall, and one that is 8.75″ tall, so that when you add the mattress you can have an option for varying heights. Of course, the overall height is also a function of your bed frame, whether wood or metal.
If you are using a heavy duty platform bed base, you do not need to purchase the optional foundation set.
How We Rated The Saatva HD Mattress
- Overall Comfort– initial feel, level of immersion, initial body contact experience 9.4
- Support– spine alignment, pain relief, pressure relief, no pain onset 9.8
- Solo Sleeper– overall impressions with comfort, ease of turning, back and side 9.2
- Couple Experience- sink in middle, snuggling rating, motion transfer 9.6
- Edge Support– as experienced by 190lb test subject 9.8
- Sex– as reported by online reviews and voluntary reporting 9.5
- Motion Transfer Minimization- center, with couple 9.4
- Cost Value– 1-10 rating based on the quality and value compared to other brands 9.0
- Trial Period, Warranty, And General Customer Service Appeal 10
- Shipping And Delivery Experience– ease of delivery, ship time, setup 10
The Saatva HD Mattress: Explaining And Interpreting Our Findings
1. Overall Comfort: 9.4 out of 10
Since The Saatva HD Mattress is available in only one firmness which is specifically targeted at bigger bodies, so if you are a couple shopping and one is more petite than the other, this may be a reason to opt out of this options. The level of firmness can be described as 8 out of 10. The comfort level, based upon the initial body contact sensation and ease of turning and having good cooling qualities in the pillow top, bubbled up our comfort rating to 9.4 out of 10
Bottom line: if you’ve just about given up on a mattress that will not only keep you from crashing through the bottom and want something inviting and cushy right up top- this is a great option.
Also note that the layer of natural latex is zoned and may provide better relief at hips and shoulders, and the memory foam layer will help with pressure relief along with the pillow top component. For bigger bodies, and especially couples, buoyancy is a big issue, and most all foam mattresses are not designed to handle more than say 250-350lbs. of combined weight.
Mattress designers with experience know that a stiffer and more resilient coil system has to be used underneath to prevent sinking, and the art of creating a comfortable surface up to involves the remaining bottom to top foam and textile layers used in precisely the right densities and thicknesses.
2. Support: 9.8 out of 10
Always the important consideration in all of my mattress reviews. Saatva has a different tactical approach to mattress design and how it offers proper spine alignment and support by focusing on two key elements- the pillowtop piece and the continuous coil unit underneath inside The Saatva HD Mattress.
Support is different than comfort. I like to explain that comfort is all about that first impression you get from someone when you meet them, and support is just like it says- how supportive they are of you, how they keep you lifted over time.
We gave a 9.8 out of 10 ranking in the support category based largely on owner feedback about the ability for both partners to sleep on their sides.
When you are lying on your side and you weight over 250-300lbs., I describe this as the knife’s edge, where you are maxing out the ability of a mattress to keep you elevated sufficiently enough so you don’t experience pain and a rock hard sensation.
Saatva’s design team was pretty good at selecting the optimal level of firmness for this mattress, being firmer than I’ve typically observed, since Saatva ships their mattresses uncompressed.
Also, for edge support, larger people and especially older people with bigger bodies experience much greater difficulty transferring in and out of mattresses that don’t have any built in edge support.
The Saatva HD Mattress has a stiffer high density foam perimeter edge that sits right next to the coil unit, so you have a comfortable, slightly softer edge that’s still capable of supporting you while sitting upright.
3. Solo Sleeper: 9.2 out of 10
The Saatva HD Mattress is a terrific option for solo sleeper that are heavier than 300lbs, but even if you are of typical height and weight, since it has a much firmer build, if you prefer very firm options, it’s a good choice.
I scored it pretty high because I’ve worked with obese persons who have terrible sleep issues that cannot find an option that won’t fail within months- if not weeks. Buying an investment grade mattress option that is backed with a solid warranty and a decent return policy is almost impossible.
Another solo sleeper advantage is that unless you are able to physically move a 175 lb. mattress into your bedroom after being dropped in your driveway by your FedEx guy, it’s worth getting the free delivery and setup service that Saatva brings to the table with your order.
Even better, what the company describes as White Glove setup, every customer also has the option to have their old mattress removed at no charge. Honestly, if you are a solo sleeper, free shipping, setup, and old mattress removal is a real value added proposition.
4. Couple Experience: 9.6 out of 10
What’s the one thing that couples struggle with when mattress shopping? It’s definitely motion transfer. For bigger couples, it’s especially tough and even the slightest movement can send shock waves through the top of a mattress, typically innerspring mattresses that are too soft, or all latex mattresses with not dampening pillowtop built in.
NIH published a study specifically addressing motion transfer , indicating that auditory levels when moving around at night become enhanced if one partner is sleeping restlessly or tossing and turning.
This is because we are hard wired to respond to predatory alerts, much like cats, who sleep just below fully alert to protect themselves. We’re not cats however, and require deep REM sleep to get the benefits we need. So, it’s essential to invest in a mattress with minimal motion transfer.
The use of Talalay natural latex under the quilted pillow top is another feature I like, and warrants the 9.6 out of 10 score I gave the HD model such a high score. Also, the use of pretty buttoned up pillow top that is tufted makes a difference in the couples experience as well.
5. Edge Support: 9.8 out of 10
For bigger bodies and heavier couple especially, edge support is critical. Saatva uses a very firm foam “rail” that is built around the entire edge of the mattress to provide proper support for sitting and getting in and out of bed.
The rigid foam rail built into the side of the Saatva HD Mattress (and in other models they build) prevents compression of the talalay latex, memory foam, and supportive foam layers that sit inside the edge and under the pillowtop piece.
The continuous coil unit does not have sit directly at the edge of the mattress either, and the foam rail contains it to prevent damage to the outer fabric.
It is unlikely that you will find this feature in any rolled and compressed bed in a box option because mashing and compression could easily damage this component.
Also, by incorporating a perimeter foam rail, you also increase the available surface area of the mattress, which is ideal for couples, and when the entire family comes on board.
People with disabilities should also consider this mattress as well. You can also check out my Best Mattress For People With Disabilities page for enhanced information.
It’s one of few options that include free shipping, setup service, and removal of existing bedding, and Saatva also offers a full line of products like sheets, mattress protectors, adjustable bases, and other top of the bed products.
6. Sex And Intimacy: 9.5 out of 10
I rank the Saatva HD Mattress very high because of personal reviews written by owners who describe it as not exceptionally bouncy, supportive, and offering minimal motion transfer. Over the last few years, people have expressed more interest in the importance of sex when they consider a mattress purchase. Even just 10 years ago, it was not something you’d read about, and would not be something you’d ask a hovering salesperson about in a retail store showroom.
If you are looking for something with a lot more bounce, you could consider Natural Latex Mattresses which are a bit springier allowing for better “grip” on bodies, but – you might not find something firm enough for larger couples that keeps your from being trapped.
For sleeping close together in the middle, The Saatva HD Mattress is fantastic in my opinion, and reviewers have mentioned that they generally prefer a mattress that’s firm for intimacy. Bigger couples should find it perfect for lovemaking, as it is very easy to move around on.
7. Bounce, Liveliness, And Motion Transfer: 9.4 out of 10
We found that the Saatva HD Mattress offers substantial benefits when it comes to dampening motion transfer, which is a common rant heard from larger couples, especially when there are light sleepers and restless sleepers involved.
The pilowtop section, which has quilted form an and organic outer fabric covering, has a lot of motion dampening ability, thanks mainly to the 3″ layer of specialized gel/memory foam that Saatva uses. Generally mattresses made with smooth-top coverings, where the fabric is not quilted and is very thin, will transfer motion directly to the surface.
Many people want a mattress with a lot of bounce and spring action to it, as it is much easier to turn on surfaces that are highly responsive. For excellent motion dampening, though, pillowtop mattress are hard to beat. When you combine a pillowtop mattress with an innerspring support system you create the perfect storm of subtle bounciness without the jiggle factor that keeps light sleepers awake.
8. Cost vs. Value Delivered: 9.0 out of 10
If you’ve read anything online at all about Saatva Mattresses, you already know that is considered a luxury online brand. You can’t buy them in retail stores, though the company makes it extremely easy to order a mattress online, have it shipped and set up in your home, and offers an outstanding, 365 day no questions asked trial period.
When you consider the cost, and factor in the concierge level delivery and the complimentary setup service you receive, I find the value of The Saatva HD Mattress to be extremely high. Also, with a lifetime warranty that covers workmanship and defects (including depressions, rutting, and upholstery), online reviews by actual owners reflect confidence and trust in the brand.
9. Trial Period, Warranty, Customer Service 10 out of 10
Saatva’s premium delivery and setup service, factory and fulfillment network of 15 strategically located facilities helped drive up my score for this category.
The turnaround time of 9-21 days to receive your mattress is acceptable considering each mattress is made to order and not rolled and compressed, collecting dust in a dusty warehouse. Customer service is something I thoroughly checked out too, with 6 different chat questions regarding pretty technical questions being answered rapidly and effectively. The best part about their customer service: NO BOTS on the chat line. Genuine human beings. That alone is worth a healthy five stars!
10. Shipping And Delivery Experience 10 out of 10
Shipping and delivery is typically reliable with most online mattress companies, but with enhanced services, the ability to coordinate production and scheduling in home setup services takes some effort. I did it for years with my own online mattress companies.
Even more difficult is handling COI’s (certificates of insurance) often required by co-ops, apartment buildings, and condos before a delivery can be made. Saatva will handle that for you provided you send them a copy of the building COI prior to delivery date, a really nice feature that takes the consumer out of the loop.
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