A new study by SFGATE has revealed both the best firm and the best soft mattresses of 2022.

Researchers at the sleep experts SFGATE analysed a number of mattresses based on their firmness, price, material, and size variation, as well as other factors, to find the best mattresses in a range of different categories.

The Amerisleep AS5 was found to be the best soft mattress of 2022, and the Layla Hybrid came out on top of the list of the best firm mattresses.

But how do the two winning mattresses fare when compared with one another?

Before we answer that, let’s first take a look at some of the details of these two winning mattresses.

The best soft mattress of 2022: The Amerisleep AS5

The Amerisleep AS5 was revealed as the best soft mattress of 2022. With a rating of 3 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale, it is not the softest mattress on the market but it offers more support than a regular softer mattress.

The AS5 is a soft memory foam mattress that has a height of about 14 inches. There are four foam layers within the AS5, each of which is wrapped in temperature-regulating fabric. Soft memory foam mattresses, such as this one, are ideal for side sleepers and anyone who is particularly lightweight.

The top layer is made of Bio-Pur memory foam, a plant-derived material that stays cool at night while also responding to movements much more swiftly than regular memory foam. Bio-Pur is an innovative material that is exclusive to Amerisleep mattresses.

Beneath the memory foam layer is another layer made of Active Flex foam, named so because the material flexes under the sleeper to create a more buoyant cushion. Unlike other transition foams, the Active Flex adds buoyancy without reducing the AS5’s plush feel. Instead, it deepens the bed’s compression capabilities.

The third layer of Affinity foam is a more traditional transition layer. The Affinity foam features five zones of targeted support at the head, back, hips, shoulders, and feet feature more added support.

The final layer of the Amerisleep AS5 is made of Bio-Core foam, a structural foam that promotes a sag-free mattress.

The Amerisleep AS5 is available in Twin, Twin XL, Full (double), Queen, King, California King, and Split King. It has a sleep Trial of 100 nights and a 20-year warranty. Depending on the size you opt for, it retails between $1,449 and $2,998.

The best firm mattress 2022: The Layla Hybrid

The Layla Hybrid was the best firm mattress of 2022. In fact, the Layla is available as a soft or firm mattress as it is flippable, with each side offering a different firmness. The two sides score 4 (softer side) and 7 (firmer side) out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale. The firmer side, which we will be focussing on, is a medium-firm mattress that is great for back and stomach sleepers as it offers support to encourage healthy spinal alignment.

As its name suggests, the Layla Hybrid is a hybrid mattress that combines springs and foam to give it a unique balance of durability and support.

The top layer of the firmer side (or the bottom layer of its softer side) is a thin, one-inch layer of copper-gel memory foam. The copper gel infusion keeps the surface cool and dry while keeping harmful bacteria out of the mattress.

The top layer of its softer side (or the bottom layer of its firmer side) is also made of copper-gel memory foam, but it is 2.5 inches thick, which offers far more cushioning and pressure relief.

The perimeter of the bed is supported by 6 inches of individually wrapped coils, offering uncompromising edge support. Between the top and bottom layers of the mattress is 2 inches of Max Airflow Support Foam. The foam possesses deep channels to improve air circulation. This transition layer also offers targeted support.

The Layla Hybrid is available in Twin, Twin XL, Full (double), Queen, King, California King. It comes with a sleep trial period of 120 nights and a 10-year warranty.

The Layla Hybrid ranges from $1,099 to $1,699 depending on the size you choose.

The best firm vs the best soft mattress of 2022

The Layla Hybrid and the Amerisleep AS5 are the best firm and soft mattresses of 2022 respectively. Amerisleep has carefully crafted a soft mattress that avoids the pitfalls of many other softer mattresses, and Layla Hybrid is cleverly designed to offer both soft and firm options for people who prefer to have a choice over the firmness of the bed they sleep on.

There are pros and cons to sleeping on softer mattresses and firmer mattresses and ultimately, your decision of mattress should be based on what kind of sleeper you are. Read on as we unpack which kind of mattress is better for your sleeping style.

Pros and cons of firm mattresses

Firm mattresses are best for people who sleep on their backs or on their stomachs. A firmer mattress provides a more even and stable surface, which offers support for healthy spinal alignment when sleeping on your back or stomach.

A firm mattress is also good for anyone who experiences back pain. Firmer mattresses encourage the bones to absorb the pressure of your body weight while you sleep, which means less is taken by the muscles in your back. This also improves the circulation in your body.

However, although a firm mattress is good for stomach and back sleeping, neither of those two positions is recommended in favour of side sleeping. Back sleeping can lead to snoring and sleep apnoea, and stomach sleeping can result in neck pain.

Firm mattresses can also take a while to get used to and many find them uncomfortable to begin with. And although firm mattresses are great for some back pain, if you have an ongoing issue such as arthritis or scoliosis a firm mattress can actually exacerbate the pain.

The Layla Hybrid is flippable and offers a softer alternative for anyone who grows uncomfortable on the firm side. Because it offers both soft and firm variations, you can rest assured that you have the option to switch it around if it is not currently working for you.

Pros and cons of soft mattresses

A softer mattress is usually recommended for those who are experiencing back pain on a standard mattress, or those who have pre-existing back problems. They are also recommended for lighter individuals as a harder mattress can end up not compressing for them at all.

Softer mattresses are generally considered better for those who sleep on their side, as they better cushion the shoulders and hips. Side sleeping is the most popular and best-recommended sleeping position, and it is particularly good for people who snore or who suffer from sleep apnea.

However, although softer mattresses can seem comfier and more luxurious than firmer ones, they can actually cause back problems for back and stomach sleepers and those of a heavier weight.

Softer mattresses are also not a great option for bed sharers. If one partner is heavier than the other, the heavier partner can sink into the bed and make the mattress surface unbalanced.

The Amerisleep AS5 is made of foam that works to create targeted, resilient support, thus avoiding many of the problems that a soft mattress normally incurs. It is specifically designed to offer both comfort and support, and Amerisleep claims that sleeping on their mattress is almost like sleeping on your own little cloud.

Summary

SFGATE judged the Amerisleep AS5 to be the best soft mattress and the Layla Hybrid to be the best firm mattress of 2022. Both mattresses are commended for the way in which they avoid many of the problems typically associated with firmer or softer mattresses.

Different sleeping styles and body types are better suited to different mattress types. While firmer mattresses are best for stomach and back sleepers and softer mattresses are generally better for side sleepers, the best thing about both AS5 and the Layla is that they are well designed to suit a variety of sleeping styles. The adaptability and innovation of both are likely what led SFGATE to judge them as two of the best mattresses of 2022.