The 4 Best Firm Mattresses For Extra Supportive Sleep

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The world's gone too soft, and it's happened in more ways than one. No one appreciates hard things anymore. Stiff clothing got replaced with athleisure. Instead of hitting the gym or building one at home to sort yourself out, people will spend thousands on weird wellness tech (I'm guilty of that one). And, ever since the memory foam mattress craze kicked off, we've all given up on a key piece of conventional wisdom: Hard mattresses are good for you.

Maybe I, a back and stomach sleeper, am biased, but everything is just way too soft these days. My girlfriend loves our squishy side-sleeper mattress, but I want nothing more than to sleep on a tatami mat rolled out on the floor. Recently, I slept on a hotel mattress that was harder than anything I'd slept on in years—best sleep of my life. It's tough, being a firm mattress lover. In a world where the experts favorite mattresses trend plush, you can feel like a freak for wanting a firm mattress. But, you're not a freak, reader. I'm here with you, and I'm here to help you.

I've tested mattresses, and the Esquire team has tested a ton of mattresses. Collectively, we've helped thousands find the mattress they actually want, and this time around we're focussing on firm mattresses. These are the picks that won't coddle you, but they'll straighten you out. These are the types of mattresses your chiropractor would recommend. These are the best firm mattresses we've tested.

Classic Mattress

Mattress-in-a-box companies—which are the go-to for anyone under 50—struggle with firm mattresses. So, it makes sense that Saatva rules the category, because the company doesn't do mattress-in-a-box. Saatva has a white glove service that delivers a regular ole mattress directly to your bedroom.

That means, on the firmer models, Saatva can really pack in the dense filling without worrying about how it rolls into a tube. The Saatva Classic pairs classic coils with more modern, contouring pocketed coils, and it all gets topped off with firm foam. The result is as perfect a foam mattress as we've ever felt. But, it's not the most firm mattress on this list. This is a mattress that your side-sleeping partner could also be comfortable on, which is why it gets top spot. It'll straighten your back out without compromising on everyone else's comfort.

Another thing that Saatva is good at is making mattresses for larger sleepers, who generally prefer more firm options. The Classic is great for bigger bodies, but if you need something specialized, the Saatva HD is specifically designed for sleepers up to 500 pounds.

Plank Firm Luxe

When it comes to a dedicated firm mattress brand, no one is beating Plank, even though it's just a side brand of Brooklyn Bedding. Plank's whole thing is firm mattresses. The Firm Luxe is our favorite option from Plank, mostly because it's a rival to that Saatva Classic. If you want the firmest mattress we could find, go for the Plank Firm.

The cool think about the Firm Luxe is that it's flippable. One side I'd call "Luxury Firm." It'll work for you, and it won't kill a partner. The other side is Plank's most firm offering—only for firm mattress lovers.

Plank says it's inspired by tatami mats, and you can really feel that in this mattress. It doesn't coddle you at all. For heavier sleepers, anyone with back pain, or stomach sleepers, this is the most firm option out there.

Hybrid Luxury Firm Mattress

When we put together our editors' favorite mattresses, a lot of plush and mattresses got awards. Lauren Kranc, our social media editor, stood up for the firm mattress and recommended Aireloom's Hybrid Luxury Firm.

If you want a truly firm mattress, an old school style might be what you actually need, and that's what this mattress is. Aireloom has been around since the 1940s, and this mattress is a great testament to that heritage. It's based on coils. That's right, coils! Over 1,000 of 'em. There's a memory foam topper to care for your pressure points, but other than that it's a classic-feeling mattress.

If you've been struggling with newer models, take it back to the classic. You'll be surprised how good it feels.

Avocado Green Mattress

Most of the earthy and organic mattress companies have a tough time putting out a great firm mattress. One brand that's able to do it incredibly well is Avocado. The brand's classic Green Mattress is a triumph.

Even though it's a newer brand, it's closer to that Aireloom than the other two mattresses. A latex and wool top replaces memory foam, but at the base of this bed, you've got over 1,000 individually wrapped coils. Nothing fancy. There's not a million layers of different natural materials to try and mimic memory foam. It's just soft top layer, supportive layer of coils. It's remarkably simple, and it makes a remarkably comfortable mattress.

Who Needs a Firm Mattress?

Conventional wisdom used to say everyone needed a firm mattress. I'm not a sleep doctor—though I am a firm mattress apologist—and that makes sense to me. Humans evolved sleeping on the ground, a hard surface—feels like biologically we should keep doing that.

But really, there are a few groups of people who benefit massively from firm mattresses. They are:

Stomach Sleepers: You freaks. You just can't sleep in a more healthy position. I'm one of you, so I get it. A firm mattress will keep you from putting undue pressure on your lower back.

Bigger Sleepers: Heavier bodies need more support, simple as. Firm beds—and special made beds like Saatva's HD—push back and keep you in good alignment.

Those With Back or Joint Pain: Chiropractors love to recommend firm beds, for good reason. When you sink down into soft beds, it's more likely that your spine will be out of alignment, or that your body will compensate by overworking accessory tendons and muscles. A firm mattress keeps any of that from happeing.

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