Looking for the best mattress for athletes and weightlifters in 2024?
If so, you are not alone. Many gym-goers and athletes need a mattress that can help them sleep well and also speed up recovery after their intense training routines. As a matter of fact, a normal mattress is not good enough for such people. They need extra support so that their bodies can be ready to take the onslaught of another grueling training session as soon as they hit the gym or field the next day.
Contents
List of Best Mattresses for Athletes/Weightlifters in 2024:
So, without much ado, here are the topmost brands that cater to this specific section of sleepers:
| Best For | Brand | Check Review |
| Editor’s Pick | Bear Mattress | |
| Best Value Mattress | Layla Mattress | |
| Best Support | Brooklyn Bedding Spartan | |
| Best for Heavy Athletes | Bear Hybrid |
Best Mattresses for Athletes 2024 Reviews
As mentioned above, athletes, bodybuilders and weightlifter need proper rest after an intense training session so that their bodies can recover or heal quickly. It is during this process that their muscles and strength grow.
So, let’s review each of the mattresses listed above in detail taking into account their pros, cons, construction, prices, and other features:
1. Editor’s Pick – Bear Mattress
One mattress that stands out as being the ultimate bed for athletes, bodybuilders, and weightlifters is the Bear Mattress.
It is perhaps the only mattress that comes with a cover made of a special fabric called Celliant. This material is engineered in a way that it absorbs body heat, converts it into infrared rays and transmits it back into the sleeper’s body.
By doing so, it helps improve blood circulation in the body and provides relief from pain and pressure, facilitating quick recovery which is what athletes and bodybuilders so badly need.
Additionally, Celliant also helps regulate temperature well and it makes the Bear Mattress one of the coolest memory foam mattresses on the market, beating all the competition effortlessly.
This is a Medium-Firm mattress that offers good back support.
- Side & Back Sleepers – This all-foam mattress adapts to the sleeper’s body quickly and provides a balance of both pressure relief and support. It is good for both side sleepers as well as back sleepers.
- Athletes and Bodybuilders who weigh 230 lbs or less -Since the Bear Mattress has a Medium-Firm feel it is perfectly suited for average weight sleepers as well as for lightweight sleepers.
- Back and Hip Pain Sufferers – The comfort layer on top cradles the body and conforms to the body just enough so that it does not sink into the mattress, thereby relieving pressure from hips, shoulders and other pressure points. It also provides good lumbar support and is a great option for people suffering from back pain.
- Budget Buyers – Even though the Bear Mattress comes with some rare and high-quality materials, it is quite competitively priced and is a perfect choice for people looking for a good mattress on a budget.
- Heavyweight Athletes – This is a mattress that has a Medium firm feel and is not apt for heavyweight athletes or people who weigh more than 230 pounds.
- Stomach Sleepers – Stomach sleepers may find the mattress too soft and it may make them sink deep into the mattress misaligning their spine and resulting in pain.
How is the Bear Mattress Constructed?
- On top of the mattress is a cover made from a fabric called Celliant that is not just breathable but also converts the trapped body heat into infrared energy that is again absorbed by the body and leads to faster healing.
- Beneath the cover of the mattress is a layer comprising of Graphite-Gel infused memory foam that not only cushions the body but also allows good airflow so that the sleeper can sleep cool.
- Next is the transition layer made up of memory foam that is quite responsive. It not only relieves pressure but also provides ample back support.
- The support core is made up of high-density foam that not only gives a sturdy base to the mattress but also enhances its durability.
- Made in the US
- Ensures faster recovery (Unique feature)
- Helps sleep cool
- Offers good pressure relief
- Isolates motion well
- Great for couples who share a bed
- No noise
- Weaker edges that get compressed when someone sits or sleeps close to the edge
- Not the perfect choice for having sex since it lacks bounce
PRICE, SLEEP TRIAL AND WARRANTY:
The Bear Mattress is a perfect choice for athletes and bodybuilders and it comes with a reasonable price tag. Some of the prices include the following:
- Queen size comes for just
$800$640 - King size comes for just
$900$720 - Twin mattress comes for just
$500$400
It is available in a couple of other sizes that include Twin XL, and California King.
The Bear Mattress comes with a 100-nights sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty.
2. Best Value Mattress for Athletes – Layla Mattress
Even though there a couple of options available, Layla Mattress stands out since it is a flippable model and is a great choice for athletes, bodybuilders, and sportspersons who want to change the firmness of their bed rather than sleep on the same firmness setting each and every night. All they need to do is just flip the mattress and they have a different firmness setting.
Layla Mattress is Medium Soft (4) on one side and Firm (7 on firmness scale) on the other side. Moreover, it is a lightweight mattress that is very easy to rotate or flip.
Copper Infused Comfort Layers – One of the most important features of this mattress is that the comfort layers comprise of copper-infused memory foam which help in athletic recovery by improving blood flow in the sleeper’s body. Additionally, copper-infused memory foam helps you sleep cool too.
- Side & Back Sleepers – The soft side of the mattress is great for pressure relief and as such it is one of the best mattresses for athletes and bodybuilders who are side sleepers. The firm side, on the other hand, provides excellent back support while keeping the spine well-aligned. This side is a great option for back sleepers.
- Athletes and Bodybuilders in all weight groups -Since it is a flippable mattress, it suits a wide range of sleepers across all weight groups. The soft side is perfectly suited for lightweight sleepers and the firmer side suits both average and heavy sleepers.
- Those that have shifting firmness preferences – Its important to keep in mind that athletes and bodybuilders often suffer from injuries and this could change their comfort needs. Accordingly, they would like to change the firmness of their bed and Layla Mattress helps them do so with ease by just flipping the mattress.
- Value Seekers – It is a mattresses that is usable from both sides. In other words, you are getting two mattresses for the price of one. This is a great value for money.
- Stomach Sleepers – Lalyla mattress is not the right choice for bodybuilders and sportspersons who sleep on their stomach. This is because even on the Firm side, it may sink your body too deep into the mattress misaligning your spine and resulting in pains and aches when you wake up.
- Those looking for a bed with stronger edges– Like most memory foam mattresses, Layla does not have strong edges and you may experience “rolling-off” if you sleep or sit near the edges.
How is the Layla Mattress Constructed?
- On top of the mattress is a cooling cover. While on the soft side it has a white/grey hexagon stitching pattern and on the firm side it is back/grey in color. This cover is made up of luxurious fabric that comes with Thermo-Gel cooling technology and helps you sleep cool.
- Below the cover (on the soft side) is a 3-inch copper-gel infused memory foam that provides good cushioning and a deep hug to the sleeper’s body. On the firm side, this memory foam is just 1-inch thick to give maximum support to the body. In both cases, this foam ensures quick cooling effect and helps the sleeper sleep without feeling hot.
- Next is a layer of 2-inch thick maximum airflow support foam (on the soft side). This layer not only ensures maximum cooling but also offers Zoned support to ensure maximum pressure relief while allowing good lumbar support.
- Below this layer is 4-inch thick support foam which not only gives a sturdy base to the mattress but also isolates motion extremely well. It also limits bounce.
- Can be used from both sides
- Helps improve blood circulation
- Great pressure relief
- Good back support
- Isolates motion well
- No noise
- Great for couples
- Since there is no bounce, it is not the best mattress for having sex
- Lacks edge support and sleepers might experience the so called “rolling-off” the bed if they sit or sleep near the edges.
- Even though it is better than most memory foam mattresses when it comes to temperature control, it is not for hot sleepers.
PRICE, SLEEP TRIAL AND WARRANTY:
The Layla Mattress is quite popular among memory foam lovers and it’s a great choice for athletes and bodybuilders. Some of the prices include the following:
- Queen size comes for just
$1049$849 - King size comes for just
$1149$999 - Twin mattress comes for just
$649$499
It is available in a couple of other sizes that include Twin XL, Full, and California King.
The Layla Mattress comes with a 120-nights sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.
3. Best Support for Athletes – Spartan from Brooklyn Bedding
Spartan by Brooklyn Bedding is another mattress that is specifically for physically active people. It helps them rest better so that they can wake up rejuvenated and refreshed. Much like the Celliant fabric that the Bear Mattress comes with, Spartan also has a special fabric cover that uses far infrared rays to convert into energy that the sleeper’s body absorbs and it enhances blood circulation in the body to help your body recover faster and rest better.
Not just this, Spartan is a mattress that promotes faster muscle recovery too so that you can be ready for another intense training session when you wake up the next morning.
Unlike the Bear Mattress, Spartan is a hybrid that has multiple layers of foam and a support core made up of innerspring or coil.
This makes it suitable even for couples since it has stronger edges as compared to all-foam mattresses. One of the shortfalls of the Bear Mattress is that it has weaker edges. The Spartan comes with better edge support giving sleepers more space to sleep.
- Athletes of all kinds– This mattress is just perfect for all kinds of physically active people whether they are bodybuilders, athletes, weightlifters, sportspersons etc. The unique fabric cover on top of the mattress speeds up muscle recovery which is a great help for such people.
- Sleepers of all weights and sleeping positions -Now, this is a mattress that comes with 3 different firmness levels to choose from. Thus, almost all sleepers can get what they desire according to their preferred sleeping position as well as their body weight.
- Athletes who sleep hot – This is one hybrid that is even cooler than other hybrids on the market and this is mainly because of the special fabric used in the top cover as well as the coil core that allows extremely good airflow.
- People with pressure point issues – One of the most important benefits of this mattress is that it offers amazing pressure relief because of top comfort layers. Not just this, it also helps distribute body weight evenly over the mattress, which again helps relieve pressure from main pressure points such as hips and shoulders.
- Memory Foam Lovers – If you are someone who just loves the hug offered by a memory foam mattress, then Spartan is not a mattress for you. You need to consider other alternatives. Even though it provides good body contouring it is a hybrid and it has a good bounce.
- Shoppers on a Budget – This mattress offers great quality but it comes with a higher price point. It is not the ideal choice for people looking for a mattress on a budget.
How is the Spartan Constructed?
- The cover of the mattress is made up of a special fabric that Far Infrared Technology to convert your body heat into waves of energy that are reflected back to the body which when absorbed helps in faster muscle recovery and also helps the sleeper rest better. Additionally, the cover is highly breathable allowing good airflow.
- Next comes a 1.5-inch thick Copper Gel infused Energex foam that not only offers great pressure relief but also helps you sleep cool by dissipating heat.
- Below this layer is another 2″ thick layer of Titan Flex foam. This layer comes with immediate response technology which allows the mattress to adjust quickly each time you move in the bed.
- The next layer is made up of once inch thick swirl memory foam which allows even better body contouring. This layer also allows for better cooling.
- Beneath these foam layers is an 8″ thick support core that is made up of 1,032 individually encased Ascension X® coils which offers great pressure relief and also limits motion transfer to a great extent.
- The last layer is made of one-inch thick high-density foam that gives a sturdy mase to the mattress and also adds to its durability.
- Made in the US
- Exceptionally cool (Cooler than most other hybrids)
- Offers excellent pressure relief
- Good motion isolation
- Good bounce
- Great for having sex
- Sturdy edges that allow more surface area for sleeping
- Durable
- The only flip side is that it could be slightly noisy.
- Comes with a steeper price tag.
PRICE, SLEEP TRIAL AND WARRANTY:
The Spartan is one of the best mattresses around, especially for physically active people and hot sleepers. There are not many mattresses that can match up to the cooling feature of this mattress. The prices are listed below:
- Queen size comes for just
$1999$1599.20 - King size comes for just
$2399$1919.20 - Twin mattress comes for just
$1099$879.20
It is available in a couple of other sizes that include Twin XL, Full, and California King.
The Spartan comes with a 120-nights sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty.
4. Best Mattress for Heavy Bodybuilders/Athletes – Bear Hybrid
Now, this one is for professional bodybuilders and athletes who fall in the heavyweight category. The Bear Hybrid, as the name suggests, is a hybrid that consists of a couple of foam layers combined with a support core made up of innerspring or coil to give a solid foundation and support to the mattress so that it can give outstanding back support to the sleeper.
The Bear Hybrid is a Medium Firm (6 on the firmness scale) and sleeps exceptionally cool.
It also comes with the Celliant cover on top of it which uses infrared rays to help your body recover faster and to improve blood circulation in your body, making you sleep and rest better so that you wake up rejuvenated, refreshed, and recharged.
- Side and Back Sleepers – This is a Medium (6) Firm mattress that suits side and back sleepers by offering good pressure relief as well as back support.
- Heavyweight athletes/bodybuilders -This is a great option for heavyweight athletes and bodybuilders since the Cellinat cover speeds up recovery and helps in muscle growth.
- Couples – Even though hybrids are not good at motion isolation, the Bear Hybrid is great at it. All-foam comfort layers on top with a pocketed coil core as the base, the Bear Hybrid is exceptionally effective at isolating movement. Thus, it is great for couples.
- Hot Sleepers – This is an amazingly cool mattress that allows good airflow. It suits all hot sleepers whether athletes or not.
- Stomach Sleepers – This mattress is a Medium Firm feel and is not apt for stomach sleepers who might find it too soft for themselves. It can make them sink too deep into the mattress resulting in misalingment of the spine resulting in pains and aches.
- Those who want a very soft or very hard mattress – The Bear Hybrids is rated at 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale and is Medium Firm. So, if someone wants a mattress that is on either end of the spectrum ie., very soft or very hard, then he/she should look for some other brand.
- People who don’t like a hybrid feel – This is a hybrid that lets you sink in just enough to relieve pressure from main pressure points but it does not conform to your body like a memory foam mattress. So, if you want to experience deep hugging, it is not the right mattress for you. Similarly, if you want to sleep on top of the mattress, the Bear Hybrid will make your body sink into the mattress and you should seek some other brand. This is a mattress that tries to achieve a balance between body-hugging and support.
How is the Bear Hybrid Constructed?
- On top of the mattress is hand-quilted Celliant fabric cover that uses infrared rays to speed up recovery in your body.
- The second layer comprises of hypersoft cooling gel foam to delivers a cool and cloud-like feeling.
- Next comes a layer with premium comfort foam which adapts well to all body types and sleep positions.
- Beneath this is a layer a transition layer made up of foam that not only helps with pressure relief but also helps you sleep cool.
- The support core is made up of an edge coil system for superior support and alignment.
- The base is made up of high-density polyfoam to add durability to the mattress.
- Cooler than most hybrids
- Good pressure relief
- Great for heavyweight athletes
- Good for lovemaking
- Highly durable
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified
- Edge support is less than most other hybrids
- Motion isolation is also less as compared to other mattresses
PRICE, SLEEP TRIAL AND WARRANTY:
The Bear Mattress is one of the best mattresses around for heavyweight athletes and bodybuilders. The prices are mentioned below:
- Queen size comes for just
$1390$1112 - King size comes for just
$1690$1352 - Twin mattress comes for just
$1090$872
It is available in a couple of other sizes that include Twin XL, Full, and California King.
The Bear Hybrid comes with a 100-nights sleep trial and a 20 years limited warranty.
Why is Sleep Important for Athletes?
Sleep is important for everyone and for athletes, bodybuilders, and other sportspersons it acquires even greater meaning because it is the time when their bodies heal themselves from their grueling training sessions.
Most people do not know this but the fact is that your body secretes Human growth hormone or (HGH) during deep sleep or what is called REM phase of sleep. HGH is important since it the master hormone in your body that regulates all growth processes include muscle recovery and growth. Lack of sleep disturbs this cycle and can lower HGH in your body and this could have a direct impact on your recovery and muscle growth.
Thus, the importance of sleep cannot be understated when it comes to athletes, bodybuilders, and weightlifters.
Desirable Features of Best Mattresses for Athletes
So far, so good!
It’s clear that athletes and bodybuilders need to sleep well and for enough hours (6-8 hours each night) but their sleep can be affected by their mattress. So, let’ have a look at some of the main features that their mattress should have so that they can sleep well:
One of the most common problems that sleepers experience is that if feeling hot and sweating while in deep sleep. Some mattresses such as those that are made of memory foam tend to trap body heat die to close body-conforming raising the body’s temperature making the sleepers sweat.
Athletes and bodybuilders should be able to find a mattress that helps them sleep cool without sweating.
There are some mattresses that come with phase change material or PCM or Celliant cover that allows good airflow and breathability making the sleeper sleep cool.
Moreover, a lot of foams now come with gel, copper, and graphite infusions to keep sleepers sleep cool.
Pressure relief is another attribute to watch out for. This is particularly true in the case of side sleepers. If you sleep on your side then your mattress should relieve pressure from the main pressure points in your body such as the hips and shoulders. These are the parts of your body that are supposed to be heavier than other parts and thus, they tend to be the main pressure points.
Memory foam and latex layers perfectly handle this problem by relieving pressure.
There are different kind of mattress that an athlete may choose from and some of them are listed below:
- Memory foam mattresses – Mattresses that are made of memory foam are usually great at relieving pressure but they tend to trap heat because of close body contouring.
- Innerspring mattresses – Innerspring or coil mattresses are made with steel coils and they have a good bounce. They allow good airflow and help you sleep cool but they produce a lot of noise. Coil mattresses are not as effective as memory foam in terms or relieving pressure but they have strong edges.
- Hybrid mattresses – A hybrid, as the name suggests, is a mix of different kinds of materials. Hybrids have grown tremendously in terms of popularity since they combine two or more materials to overcome the disadvantages of others while giving users the ultimate sleep experience. Hybrids usually have foam or latex in the comfort layers and innerspring or coil in the support core.
- Latex mattresses – These mattresses come with good bounce and are cooler too. Moreover, they offer good pressure relief. Both latex and latex hybrids are quite popular with athletes.
As far as athletes are concerned, almost all types of mattresses can actually work. It is more of a preference thing and you should choose one that you feel comfortable sleeping in. If you want your bed to be soft and slow-moving then you should opt for a memory foam mattress and if you want your bed to have a bounce then you should consider a mattress that has latex in the comfort layers.
Similarly, those that want a balance between body-contouring and support should opt for a hybrid that has comfort layers of foam or latex and the support core made up of coil or innerspring.
Athletes and bodybuilders, like all of us, sleep in various positions and their preferred sleeping position is one of the factors that can help determine their choice of mattress. Let’s check out how your sleeping position can affect the choice of mattress that you make:
- Those who are side-sleepers would be better off with a mattress that is soft and provides better pressure relief. One of the most distinctive features of memory foam mattresses is that they excel in proving pressure relief from the main pressure points in your body such as your hips and shoulders.
- Athletes and bodybuilders who are back-sleepers should opt for a mattress that is medium or medium-firm, offering a balance of comfort and support. Such a mattress allows their hips to sink just enough so that their spine is in perfect alignment with the rest of the body. Not just this, such a mattress also provides good back support, which is what back-sleepers require.
- Stomach Sleepers, on the other hand, should opt for a firm mattress that prevents their belly to get sunk too deep into the mattress so that their spine is well-aligned.
Everybody prefers a particular level of firmness when it comes to their mattress and it is no different in the case of people that are physically active.
While some athletes and bodybuilders would prefer their mattress to be soft, others would opt for a medium or a firm mattress so that it provides ample support. Sleeping positions, as mentioned above, has a major role to play in here.
If someone is a side sleeper and he opts for a mattress that is firm, then he is not going to experience pressure relief to the extent that a soft mattress can deliver, and thus, he is going to wake up with pains and aches in pressure points such as hips, shoulder, neck etc.
Similarly, if an athlete who is a stomach sleeper sleeps on a mattress that is soft, then his belly is going to sink too deep into the mattress misaligning his spine and he might wake up with pain in his lower back.
Thus, it is important to choose a mattress in accordance with your preferred sleeping position so that it has just the right degree of firmness to your spine in neutral alignment with the rest of the body.
It is important for athletes and bodybuilders to choose a mattress according to their body weight and height. People who weigh less than 130 lbs are usually classified as lightweight sleepers and for such people, a light memory foam mattress can be an ideal choice but for a heavily built person who weighs more than 230 lbs, such a mattress may not deliver enough support or even provide enough pressure relief.
Bigger guys should opt for a mattress that has a solid support base like that offered by a coil mattress or a hybrid that has thicker comfort layers on top that will prevent them from sinking too deep into the mattress.
Moreover, there are some brands that are making mattresses especially for athletes with certain extra features such as the Celliant cover that helps speed up muscle recovery and also boosts muscle growth through infrared technology. Such mattresses are a great option for physically active people to get the best results from their hard and intense training sessions.
FAQ’s
Conclusion:
Athletes and bodybuilders are some of the most physically active people and they need enough rest so that their bodies can recover and heal quickly. A good mattress is important so that they can sleep peacefully and wake up recharged and re-energized every morning. So, if you are an athlete or gym buff, take your pick and choose any one of the mattresses listed above!
