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If you suffer from Ankylosing spondylitis then you know that the body pain, inflammation, and stiffness can make sleeping painful. Our team of sleep experts tested out products from all of the top brands, making sure that they have features that help relieve the symptoms of this disorder. After countless hours of research, we narrowed them down to the top 5 brands. Our editor’s choice is Puffy Mattress.
Top Picks for Best mattress for ankylosing spondylitis
- Puffy Mattress – editor’s choice
- Saatva Classic – best for all sleeper types
- Bear Elite Hybrid – best hybrid mattress
- Natural Form Refresh – best for stomach and back sleepers
- Plushbeds Cool Bliss – best cooling mattress
#1. Puffy Mattress
Check Current Price | Editor’s Choice | Review
Pros
- Excellent Support
- Relieve pressure points
- Minimal motion transfer
- Sleeps cool
Cons
- Not suitable for combination sleepers
Who should buy Puffy Mattress?
- Couples
- Light sleepers
- All sleeper types
- People who sleep hot
Our experience with Puffy Mattress
The standard Puffy mattress is a three-layered memory foam mattress that has a polyfoam support core designed to provide support and balance to people suffering from persistent and chronic pain.
The memory foam contours the whole body and minimizes strain on a sleeper’s main pressure points resulting in pain relief. We found this mattress to be suitable for all sleeper types except combination sleepers as it isn’t responsive enough for them to comfortably shift sleeping positions.
Firmness
The Puffy mattress sits on a 6-8 on the mattress firmness scale. A medium-firm mattress like the Puffy mattress is ideal for almost all sleeper types. Even experts recommend a medium firmness to stomach, back and side sleepers as it helps provide proper spinal alignment.
We found the Puffy mattress to be most suited to people suffering from inflamed bones and sore backs. It will help back and stomach sleepers in particular as the medium firmness provides ample support for their backs and hips. The Puffy mattress is not just supportive but also cushiony enough to help with sensitive areas such as the main pressure points.
We found the Puffy mattress to offer great motion isolation to people who sleep with a partner – even those who have varying sleeping positions. If that is the case, then you won’t be disturbed by any movement, no matter how much your partner moves about.
We found that the mattress didn’t offer a lot of edge support to sleepers who tend to sleep closer to the edge. Strong edge support is one of the key factors that helps extend the lifespan of a mattress, so this could be something that you might want to explore more.
Construction:
The Puffy mattress is 12″ tall and has five layers:
- Mattress cover
- Memory foam layer
- Transition layer
- Support layer
- Base layer
The Puffy mattress comes encased in a stain-resistant and washable cover. It is ideal for families with young children who are prone to accidents.
The first layer of the mattress is a 2″ thick proprietary Cooling Cloud™ foam that helps regulate temperature. This layer is excellent at wicking away moisture and heat throughout the night making it a great choice for people who tend to sleep hot.
Right below the topmost layer sits a 2″ thick plush dual cloud foam layer. The cloud foam layer helps the mattress cradle your whole body which helps with pain relief.
There is a 6″ thick high-density foam with a contour-adapt coil base sitting below the comfort layer bringing stability and support to the mattress. All these layers are encased in a grip base cover to bring sturdiness to the mattress.
All of Puffy’s mattresses are CertiPur-US certifiedand Oeko-Tex certified, meaning the materials used to make these mattresses are free from any toxic chemicals.
Sizes
Puffy mattresses are available in 6 sizes. The mattress is 10″ thick and their mattresses are compatible with most bed bases, bed frames and bases.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
Durability
The Puffy mattress comes with a 101-night sleep trial and is backed by generous lifetime warranty. The mattresses are made in the USA and designed to fit on any type of frame or foundation.
Buy: Puffy
#2. Saatva Classic Mattress
Check Current Price | Best For All Sleeper Types | Review
Pros
- Supportive
- Pillow-top
- Cooling
- Great for back pain relief
- Luxury mattress feel
Cons
- Shipped full-size
Who should buy Saatva Classic Mattress?
- All sleepers types
- Hot sleepers
- Athletes
- Chronic back pain sufferers such as spondylitis
- Couples who prefer different sleeping styles
- Those who prefer white glove delivery
Our experience with Saatva Classic Mattress
The Saatva Classic mattress comes in three firmness options – Plush Soft, Luxury firm, and firm. All variants feature a plush pillow top that helps recreate a luxury hotel experience and makes you feel extremely comfortable.
The Saatva mattress offers a patented spinal zone technology to enhance back support particularly for spondylitis sufferers. Even athletes who need quick recovery will benefit a lot from this mattress.
Firmness
The Saatva Classic mattress offers 3 firmness levels:
- Plush Soft: Saavta’s Classic plush soft variant sits on a 3-5/10 on a mattress firmness scale. It offers a deep body hugging feel for people who need body contouring for pain relief. This variant is ideal for strict side sleepers as well as some combination sleepers. If you are a combination sleeper and like a true memory foam feel, then this mattress is great pick for you.
- Luxury Firm: The luxury firm variant sits on a 5-6/10 on a mattress firmness scale. This version comes in medium-firm yet still brings that luxury hotel mattress feel. However, firmness is subjective to weight, height, and sleeping position – what feels firm to you might feel softer to a heavier individual.
- Firm: This variant sits on a 7/10 on the mattress firmness scale and might not be as firm as you expect. The pillow top feature of the mattress keeps it cushiony and comfortable. The firm variant is a great option for strict stomach and back sleepers who like cuddly feel as well. The support coming from the base of the mattress and the upper layers compliment each other by offering a comfortable sleep environment. You don’t feel like you are sleeping on an extra-firm mattress but a supportive soft mattress.
Construction
The Saatva Classic mattress has a coil-on-coil system making it extra springier compared to other hybrid mattresses. It comes in two heights – 11.5″ and 14.5″. The mattress is comprised of five layers:
- Euro-pillow top layer
- Polyfoam layer
- Pocketed coil layer
- Memory foam layer
- Support base layer
The Saatva Classic mattress has a 3″ thick euro-pillow top for extra comfort and cushion. This plush layer is covered in a breathable and hypoallergenic cotton cover that’s treated with Saatva’s exclusive Guardian botanical antimicrobial treatment. If you are someone who suffers from year-long allergies, then this might just be the mattress for you.
Right under the euro-top, there is a high density polyfoam layer surrounding the perimeter of the mattress reinforcing enhanced edge support. This not only prevents the mattress from undue sagging but also brings responsiveness to the mattress.
We found Saatva’s Classic to be a great fit for people who suffer from arthritis or fragile knees. Even combination sleepers who shift sleeping positions a lot during the night will find it very comfortable.
The Saatva Classis has a coil on coil system, and the first layer of pocketed coils is an 884 proprietary lumber zone® made from 14.5-guage recycled steel. The coils in this mattress help the sleeper move around easily while adding a more responsive feel to the mattress.
There is a high density CertiPur-US certified memory foam acting as a transition layer under the first layer of pocketed coils. The foam and coil layers work seamlessly together to provide the ultimate pressure relief to anyone suffering from severe body pain.
The Saatva Classic’s base unit is made up of 416 tempered steel, 13 gauge coils offering maximum support to the sleeper. The coil on coil system helps regulate temperature as well for people who tend to sleep hot. A hybrid mattress like the Saatva Classic prevents mold and mildew.
Sizes
The Saatva Classic mattress comes in 8 different mattress sizes. It measures 11.5″ or 14.5″ and is compatible with most bed bases and bed frames, including an adjustable bed base.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- Split King
- California King
- Split Cal King
Durability
The Saatva Classic mattress comes with a 365-night sleep trial and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Saatva offers free shipping for all their mattresses.
Buy: Saatva Classic
#3. Bear Elite Hybrid
Check Current Price | Best Hybrid | 25% Off Coupon: SLEEPLINE25 | Review
Pros:
- Three firmness options
- Great for back pain relief
- Zoned support
- Cooling
- Strong edge support
Cons:
- Above average price
- Slight off-gassing
Save 25% with coupon code “SLEEPLINE25”
Who should buy the Bear Elite Hybrid?
- People with degenerative disc disease
- Couples
- All sleeper types
- Hot sleepers
- Those who prefer hybrid mattresses
Our experience with Bear Elite Hybrid mattress
Save 25% with coupon code SLEEPLINE25
The Bear Elite Hybrid is the latest addition to company’s impressive mattress lineup. Like the name suggests, it’s a world-class luxury mattress that features extra comfort and durable support.
The Bear Elite Hybrid mattress could be a great fit for most individuals regardless of body type and sleeping position. Moreover, it’s an excellent pressure relieving mattress for individuals who suffer from degenerative disc disease.
Firmness
The thickest mattress of the Bear family, Elite comes in three firmness options: Luxury Plush, Luxury Firm, and Extra Firm.
Luxury Plush
We found luxury plush variant to be a 5/10 on the firmness scale, making it a medium-soft to medium mattress. We found this variant to be great fit for side sleepers, especially those who weigh 130 lbs. and love the cradle-in feel of memory foam mattresses.
Luxury Firm
We found the luxury firm variant to sit on a 6/10 on the mattress firmness scale. This variant is medium to medium-firm and offers support along with the comfort of a pillow top. A vast majority of sleepers find this level of firmness suitable and it is also recommended by doctors. Average-weight stomach and back sleepers will be most comfortable on this variant.
Extra-Firm
We found the extra-firm variant to be an 8/10 making it ideal for back and stomach sleepers as it helps maintain spinal alignment. This variant is ideal for people who weigh above 230 lbs.
Unlike pure memory foam mattresses, hybrid mattresses tend to perform poorly in isolating motion due to the use of coils. However, this isn’t the case with the Bear Elite Hybrid because it contains individually pocketed coils which transfer less motion compared to traditional interconnected coils. The mattress also features strong edge support which is great for those who like lying or sitting near the edge of a mattress.
Construction
The Bear Elite Hybrid mattress is 14″ tall and is comprised of six layers:
- Euro top
- Memory foam layer
- Zonal layer
- First coil layer
- Edge coil layer
- Support base
The Bear Elite comes with hypersoft hand-quilted cushioned cover. The combination of PCM Fabric and Celliant fiber enhances all-night cooling and helps in recovery. The euro top is not only super comfortable and also prevents any sinking in or stuck feeling.
Right underneath the cover sits a layer of copper-infused memory foam which has a slow response to pressure and offers immediate body-contouring. Copper is not only an excellent thermal conductor but also naturally antimicrobial, meaning it does not retain body heat like any traditional memory foam mattress would. The Bear Elite is a great pick for hot sleepers.
The second foam layer is a zoned and cut comfort foam that provides targeted pressure relief for different areas of your body. It also helps evenly distribute body weight to maintain neutral spinal alignment. This layer assists a great deal in pressure relief particularly for people with consistent body and joint pains.
Next up is a support layer which is made up of individually pocketed coils to add responsiveness and durability to the mattress. These coils are wrapped to transfer less motion and eliminate disturbing noise while you move around your bed. Not to mention there are also edge-to-edge coils around the perimeter of the mattress for reinforced edge support.
The coil system and all the foam layers above it rest on a layer of high-density support foam. Aside from providing added durability and support to the mattress, this layer also maintains its overall shape by keeping everything in place.
The Bear Elite comes certified by both GreenGuard Gold and CertiPUR-US. The mattress checks all the boxes for safety, low VOC emissions, and zero heavy metals.
Sizes
The Bear Elite Hybrid comes in 7 sizes and is compatible with most foundations and bed frames including adjustable bed bases.
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
- Split King
Durability
The Bear Elite mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial and is backed by an incredible lifetime warranty. Bear offers free shipping for all their mattresses for orders within the contiguous United States.
Buy: Bear Elite Hybrid
#4. Natural Form Refresh Mattress
Check Current Price | Best For Stomach Sleepers | $100 Off Coupon: Sleepline100 | Review
Pros
- Adjustable firmness levels
- Sleeps cool
- Eco-conscious people
- Excellent motion isolation
- Great for people suffering from back pain
Cons
- Might be too soft for some people
- Slight off-gassing
Save $100 with coupon code “Sleepline100”
Who should buy Natural Form Refresh Mattress?
- Thick mattress lovers
- Chronic back/joint pain sufferer
- All sleeper types
- Couples with the same sleeping styles
Our experience with Natural Form Refresh Mattress
If you are a back pain sufferer, you might want to look at the Natural Form’s award-winning Refresh mattress. The adjustable firmness level makes it suitable for all types of sleepers – stomach, back, side, or combination depending upon the firmness you choose.
We found the mattress cooling enough to wick away heat throughout the night. The Refresh mattress offers great motion isolation which makes it ideal for couples with a fidgety partner. The mattress has a soft feel but the firmness is adjustable.
Firmness
The Refresh mattress sits on a 5-8 on the firmness scale depending upon how you adjust it. It is supportive particularly for heavier sleepers as it offers ample support because of the significant amount of air pods in the mattress.
The Refresh mattress offers support and pressure relief through its exclusive air pods technology. If you have been suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, the mattress is definitely something you should try.
The adjustable firmness makes it ideal for all sleeper types. As a combination sleeper, I felt well-supported on the mattress as the mattress offers excellent response. However, if you are a strict side sleeper, the Refresh might be a bit firm for your preference. You should ideally look for a softer mattress like Amerisleep’s AS5.
The Refresh mattress offers reasonable motion isolation making it suitable for couples with restless partners or fidgety pets. We found that the mattress offers the best bits of both an air bed and a memory foam mattress.
Construction
The Refresh mattress is an 11″ tall mattress and consists of 4 layers:
- Mattress cover
- Comfort layer
- Air pod system
- Firmness control base
The Refresh mattress is encased in Australian natural Merino wool, that has been proven to be temperature regulating. Natural Form has made an extra effort to ensure hot sleepers can sleep comfortably on this mattress.
Right under the wool cover sits a comfort layer composed of a hybrid foam blend – more responsive and firm than memory foam. The firmness not only comes with the air pod system but also from the foam layer.
The Refresh mattress’ air pod system can house up to 80 pods on each side – depending upon the mattress size. The Refresh model carries 10 times more air pods compared to its other models. Natural Form patents the air pod technology and is exclusively available in their mattresses.
There are external dual sided dials through which you can manually control air pods. You can very easily set the firmness level that is right for you. If you are a medium-firm mattress lover like myself, you can twist a dial on the mattress and set the firmness level.
Natural Form recommends to keep the bed on its ‘optimum setting’ which is a setting that actually conforms to your body weight and shape. They recommend to keep it on this setting for the first two weeks to reflect the correct volume and pressure to displace your body weight.
The base of the mattress keeps the air pod system and upper layers intact. Unlike regular air beds, the base makes the mattress a bit more stable and sturdy.
Sizes
The Refresh mattress is available in 9 sizes. The mattress is 11″ thick and compatible with most bed bases, bed frames and bases but Natural Form recommends that it works best with adjustable beds.
- Twin XL
- Full
- Full XL
- Queen
- Olympic Queen
- King
- California King
- Split King
- Split California King
Durability
The Refresh mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and is backed by a 10-year warranty. Since the mattresses are shipped full-sized, Natural Form offers an in-house setup and delivery that is similar to white glove delivery for a nominal fee.
Buy: Natural Form Refresh
#5. PlushBeds Cool Bliss
Check Current Price | Best For Cooling Mattress | $100 Off Coupon: SL100
Pros
- Great for People who suffer from body pain
- Pressure relieving
- Responsive
- GreenGuard gold certified
- Sleeps cool
Cons
- Not suitable for heavier sleepers
- Weak edge support
Save $100 with coupon code “Sleepline100”
Who should buy Plushbeds Cool Bliss Mattress
- People who like plush mattresses
- Combination and side sleepers
- People who sleep hot
- Those who suffer from chronic body pain
Our experience with Plushbeds Cool Bliss Mattress
The Plushbeds Cool Bliss mattress comes in a luxurious stretch knit mattress cover. It features the a proprietary memory foam alternative which is not only cooling but also extremely supportive.
The Cool Bliss is a plush, soft mattress that will suit side and combination sleepers the most. Its breathable cover and open cell technology offers a more cooling sleep. The Cool Bliss mattress features average motion isolating properties and fair edge support.
Firmness
The Cool Bliss mattress sits on a 5/10 on the mattress firmness scale making it a medium-soft to medium mattress. It’s suitable for many sleeper types, including those who sleep only on their sides. We do not recommend this bed to heavy-set sleepers however as this bed will only let them sink in. Heavier sleepers might want to have a look at Airweave mattresses.
We found that the mattress sleeps pretty cool because of the gel memory foam layers. There is an added ventilation layer to channel the air circulation all throughout the mattress ensuring a cooler sleeping environment.
The Cool Bliss mattress contours and cradles the body from head to toe and helps relieve pressure from your shoulders and hips. It is somewhat of a hybrid mattress as made with the combination of memory foam and latex which creates a soft yet supportive bed.
We don’t recommend this to people who sleep close to the corner of the bed. If you are someone who likes to sleep close to the edge, then you might want to look at the Nolah mattress instead.
Construction
The mattress is a 12″ tall mattress and consists of 5 layers:
- Mattress cover
- Comfort layer
- Latex layer
- Transition layer
- Base layer
The Cool Bliss mattress comes with a breathable mattress cover with advanced cooling properties to keep the mattress cool and dry throughout the night.
The topmost layer of the Cool Bliss is a 2″ thick patented gel memory foam that helps dissipate body heat much faster than any traditional memory foam. This layer is highly breathable and offers great pressure relief.
The second layer is a 2″ thick organic Dunlop latex layer from Arpico (GOLS certified) that naturally helps mold the mattress to your body. The certification ensures that 95% of the materials used are organic and free from any toxins.
The transition layer of the Cool Bliss is a 2″ thick built-in internal ventilation for channeling heat away from the body. This layer maximizes air flow by creating necessary circulation throughout the entire mattress. If you tend to sleep hot, this mattress might be a great pick for you.
There is a 5″ high-density polyurethane foam layer offering great support to the body that is on par with any other premium quality innerspring mattress. This layer also helps evenly distribute support and prevents it from developing any soft spots. The dense construction of the foam layers guarantees against premature sagging.
We experienced no instances of off-gassing with the Cool Bliss mattress which is common in most bed-in-box mattresses.
Sizes
The PlushBeds Cool Bliss mattress comes in 7 sizes and measures 12″ thick. It is compatible with all frames, foundations and bed bases including an adjustable bed frame
Durability
PlushBeds offers a 100-night sleep trial for the Cool Bliss mattress as well as free shipping within the continental United States. It is backed with a generous 25-year warranty.
Buy: PlushBed Cool Bliss
Quick Comparison
| Brand | Puffy | Saatva Classic | Bear Elite | Natural Form Refresh | PlushBeds Cool Bliss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| Thickness (inches) | 10 | 11.5-14.5 | 14 | 11 | 12 |
| Feel | Medium-Firm | Optional | Medium Soft to Firm | Optional | Medium firm |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal to none | Minimal | Minimal to none | Minimal to none |
| Hybrid | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Adjustable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Edge Support | Very good | Fair | Very good | Very Good | |
| Sleeping Position | Side and Back sleepers | All sleeper types | All sleeper types | All sleeper types | All sleeper types |
| Trial (nights) | 101 | 365 | 120 | 100 | 100 |
| Warranty (years) | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 | 25 |
| Link to buy | Buy Puffy | Buy Saatva Classic Foam | Buy Bear Elite Hybrid | Buy Refresh Mattress | Buy PlushBeds Cool Bliss |
Ideal construction of a mattress for ankylosis spondylitis
A medium-firm mattress offering sufficient support for spinal alignment is ideal for people suffering from ankylosis spondylitis. There are multiple brands using various foams and even blended versions to provide ideal level of firmness for back pain sufferers.
Hybrid mattresses are popular among the vast majority of people and even recommended by most experts. However, you have to find your best fit according to your body weight, preferred sleeping position, and affected area from spondylitis.
FAQs:
The general rule of thumb is that a firm mattress is ideal for spondylitis. You can choose from latex mattresses, memory foam mattresses, or an innerspring mattresses.
Adjustable bed frames are workable when you are either scheduled for back surgery or recovering from it.
There are multiple factors that aggravate ankylosing spondylitis – food choices, smoking, bad posture, lack of exercise, and uncomfortable mattress can worsen the pains caused by spondylitis.
Conclusion
Now that you know everything there is to know about buying a mattress for Ankylosing spondylitis, you should feel comfortable making a great buying decision.
Hybrid mattresses with powerful innerspring support cores and memory foam comfort layers are ideal for relieving the symptoms of this disorder. Medium-firm is the ideal firmness level. You also want a brand that can comfortably be supported on a platform bed base.
Next step: Now it a great time to revisit our #1 pick. Puffy is our editor’s choice for best mattress for Ankylosing spondylitis because it offers maximum support, contouring, and pressure relief.
How We Rate Mattresses
We rate mattresses using the following criteria:
- Comfort
- Structural integrity and durability
- Firmness and support
Learn more about our mattress rating process and methodology here.
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