Live and Sleep is among the latest entrants in the competition for the best memory foam mattress brand. This is a Las Vegas-based company with a few seemingly great mattresses under its belt.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the Live and Sleep Classic mattress– a model that the manufacturer claims that it has been designed to love you back.
Important Tips when Buying a Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam mattresses are undeniably the most popular today. This material gets its name from its unique characteristic of conforming to the sleepers’ body shape during rest. It later regains its original shape after you rise.
This attribute means that a memory foam mattress will cradle you in different sleeping positions. It offers soft comfort around your pressure points; hips, shoulders, and joints for an interrupted night’s rest.
Consequently, a memory foam mattress renders lots of benefits to virtually anyone regardless of their sleeping styles.
Manufacturers also offer these mattresses in different types to cater for a large population in regard to weight, age, and comfort and support needs.
That being said, there’s a need to keep an eye on several important aspects of the mattress including;
Thickness
This refers to the overall height of the mattress. The ideal thickness depends on a few factors including your weight and sleeping posture.
Density
This explains how soft or firm the mattress feels; soft, medium, and hard. Generally, the heavier you are, the firmer the mattress needs to be. Medium-firmness offers a sweet spot for different sleeping postures.
Other important factors include;
- Certification
- Thermal retention and regulation
- Edge support
- Trial period and warranty
- Durability
- Previous buyers’ response
The Live and Sleep Mattress- what is it?
The Live and Sleep is a memory foam mattress that is only available online. It comes in 6 sizes; twin, twin xl, full, short queen, king, California.
This mattress costs way below what an average memory foam goes. It promises to help you sleep cool without sinking and getting stuck in the mattress.
The fact that this mattress is available online only also means that you’ll be getting it at a slightly cheaper price than most of its competitors.
This mattress is a sibling to the Live and Sleep Elite and Luxury mattresses. These are 2 other models from this manufacturer that incorporate a layer of cooling gel in their construction.
Of course, they sleep cooler but come at a slightly higher price tag.
In terms of competition, the Live and Sleep is in the same league with the Casper and Leesa mattresses that are currently the market leaders in this department.
However, these 2 mattresses are way too pricey compared to the Live and Sleep. Live and Sleep is able to keep its price down by removing the middleman and keeping construction simple yet effective.
Does the Sleep and Live Classic mattress fit you?
This mattress is yours if you;
- Want to enjoy the full benefits of a memory foam mattress without spending so much on it- As I have just told you, Live and Sleep sells its mattresses online to cut the additional expenses that middlemen bring.
In addition, this manufacturer does very little marketing. I bet this goes a long way in keeping the prices down.
- Don’t want a mattress that you’ll sink too much into it and feel stuck- personally, I don’t like the feel of being stuck in a gully. If you don’t like that feeling, as well, then this mattress might be yours.
- Are looking for a mattress with a medium firmness- while the Live and Sleep claims to be in the medium firmness, I found it to be slightly on the firmer side. Therefore, it might be a good bet for heavy side sleepers, stomach snoozers, and lightweight back sleepers.
- Share your bed with a partner (or pet) who moves a lot at night- as it’s the case with memory foam mattresses, the Live and Sleep mattress does a good job of absorbing energy and deadening motions from a partner who is always turning and tossing at night.
You might not want the Live and Sleep if you;
- Are generally biased against memory foam mattresses and prefer innerspring instead
- Want a mattress that is overly firm or soft
- Sleep hot on memory foam mattresses- perhaps the Elite and the Luxury might suffice since they have a layer of gel for thermal regulation.
- I’ll offer you several alternatives later in this article in case the Live and Sleep mattress does not suit you. So, stick around to the end.
Pros
- Medium firmness offers incredible support
- Has top-notch motion isolation (great for couples)
- Does not sleep so hot compared to several other memory foam mattresses
- Has above-average comfort level
- Has a generous trial/return period and a satisfactory warranty
- Good value for the dollar
Cons
- Available in only one firmness level- might not suit everyone
- Does not have any temperature control technology-might sleep hot in warm climate regions
In-depth Review of the Live and Sleep Mattress
Construction Design and Materials
The Live and Sleep features a basic construction without unnecessary bells and whistles. Unlike the Purple mattress that features 3 construction layers (see its review here), the Live and Sleep employs a simple 2-layer design.
Besides keeping the price down, the use of few materials also minimizes the drawbacks that could lead to uncomfortable sleep and rest and poor durability.
Its cover
The cover is made from a stretchy knit fabric that is soft to the touch and highly resilient. Thus, it regains its shape super-fast as you turn and toss.
Its thin and stretchy design, on the other hand, gives it its excellent contourability. It also means that you reap the full benefits of the layers beneath it without obstruction.
Comfort Layer
The comfort layer in this mattress is a 2.5-inch soft memory foam. This layer is responsible for the initial comfort.
When you first lie on the Live and Sleep, this layer feels soft at first but hardens as you bottom it out. Therefore, it gives you a relaxing hug that forms a cradle for optimum pressure relief.
Foundation
The second layer is a 7.5-inch high-density support core base. This layer dictates how deep the recessed parts of your body including the lumbar sink into the mattress.
The direct transition from a thin and soft layer to a high-density foam layer is what gives this mattress its medium firm feel.
How does it feel like to sleep on this mattress?
Firmness vs Your favorite sleeping style
The Live and Sleep is at 7 on our typical 1-10 density scale with 10 being the firmest. This is particularly because of the thin comfort layer.
But do know that the firmness feel may vary depending on your weight. For instance, lightweight sleepers (under 120lbs) may find it softer since they tend not to sink through the comfort layer.
On the other hand, heavy sleepers (above 180 pounds) especially those who sleep on their side may find it firmer since they’ll bottom out the comfort layer easily.
This mattress tends to favor stomach, side, and back sleepers in the 150-180lbs range. Above this range, side sleepers may start to experience a lot of pressure around the lumbar region and elbows.
On the same note, back sleepers may experience the feel of sleeping ‘’in’’ the mattress considering the low-density 2-inch comfort layer.
Motion Isolation
As it’s the case with memory foam, the Live and Sleep is an ace in localizing motion to the sleeper. This means that there is minimal motion transfer to your partner as you turn, toss, or get out bed.
This is a great aspect especially if you tend to be distracted easily from your sleep by little movements.
Edge Support
In my experience with memory foam mattresses, this model performs above average in edge support. In this regard, I would give it 7.5 out of 10 with 10 being the best.
What this means is that you have a larger usable surface on the bed. This makes it a good choice for couples and people who love sleeping on the edge.
In addition, its above-average edge support makes it a reliable mattress for sexually active couples who want to make use of every inch of the bed during intimacy.
Sleeping hot
One feature that separates the Sleep and Live Classic from its siblings, the Luxury and Elite, is that it does not employ a gel layer in its construction.
In case you are new to this, most manufacturers use gel beads (or liquid) to curb the issue of sleeping hot that is common with memory foam.
Therefore, the Classic is bound to sleep hotter than its siblings. But thanks to its medium-firmness, most previous buyers affirm that it does not get so hot to distract them from their sleep.
Off-gassing and your Safety
Off-gassing is the major problem that plagues most memory foam mattresses and the Live and Sleep is no exception.
This smell emanates from the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that break down to form unpleasant scents.
While some people may be allergic to these smells, they are not harmful to most people. In fact, going through the numerous feedbacks from previous buyers, there were no negative reports of difficulty breathing, nausea, and eye and nose irritation that are common with people who are allergic to these fumes.
If you worry so much about your health though, I always recommend going for a certipur-us certified mattress. Thus, you are assured that the manufacturer does not use any chemicals that may affect your health.
The good news is that this mattress is certipur-us certified for your safety. The ‘new mattress smell’ also dissipates within 24-48 hours.
Trial Period, Warranty, and Durability
These 2 aspects give you greater confidence when pulling the trigger for a new mattress today. Buying a mattress in-a-box denies you the benefit of trying out the mattress before committing.
Therefore, it’s important that you consider a brand that allows you try out the mattress at home and ship it back for an exchange if necessary.
Now, the Live and Sleep offers you a generous 100-day trial period. This is quite impressive considering that most brands offer 30-90 days.
Let’s agree that this is more than enough time for you to make up your mind on whether or not to keep this mattress.
This manufacturer also extends a 20-year warranty. Well, considering this mattress’ construction, I doubt it will live to see its 20th ‘birthday.’
Basically, this model is meant for people who are after an affordable mattress that won’t necessarily last forever. All in all, it’s great to deal with a manufacturer with so much confidence on its product.
What other people say about it
Going through the customers’ reviews and feedback from several online sellers, most previous buyers affirm that the Live and Sleep is hard to beat especially for its price.
Among other highlights, most people agree that this mattress is super comfortable and does not sleep hot.
Most buyers also seem to appreciate its slightly firmer feel thanks to the support and pain-relieving attributes that it offers.
In fact, several buyers compare its performance to high-end mattresses that cost between 2k and 6k.
Worth noting, however, is that several buyers report that it takes some nights to get used to the mattress.
Check out previous buyers’ reviews on Amazon here and at Live and Sleep’s website here.
Need more options?
As I always say, no mattress will fit everyone. In that case, here are 3 more mattresses in line with the Live and Sleep worth checking out.
Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam
Anyone who is eyeing the Live and Sleep is definitely looking for an affordable mattress. This makes the Zinus Ultima a viable contender.
This mattress is quite similar to the Live and Sleep in that it has a thickness of 10 inches and has a stretchy and breathable cover.
The major difference, however, is that the Ultima features a 3-layer construction design. It boasts a 3-inch memory foam comfort layer, 2-inch transition layer, and a 5-inch high-density core base.
This mattress has a medium-firm feel but it’s slightly softer than the Live and Sleep. Therefore, it might fit the bill for heavier side sleepers who might find our first recommendation stiffer for their needs.
LUCID B00474X5DO10-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Lucid 10-inch is yet another highly affordable and recommendable mattress today. Similar to the Live and Sleep, this mattress has a 2-layer construction and a medium-firmness feel.
Most users report that it feels on the firmer side. This mattress differs from the Live and Sleep in that it has a gel layer. Therefore, it might sleep even cooler than the Live and Sleep.
In addition, the gel-infused layer makes this mattress slightly denser. So, it won’t give in more to your weight compared to Live and Sleep.
Unfortunately, this gel layer also means that this mattress might deteriorate faster. In fact, several buyers report that it sags faster.
Classic Brands Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Most people have nicknamed the Classic Brands a miracle worker thanks to its excellent conformability and comfort.
This is a 10-inch memory foam mattress with gel beads construction for breathability. It also has a beautiful stretch knit cover that conforms in line with the layers beneath it.
Unlike the Live and Sleep, this mattress boasts a 3-layer build and makes you feel like you are sleeping in a cloud.
Conclusion
So, should you consider the Live and Sleep mattress? Well, this will depend on your needs and preferences.
If you are on a strict budget and want good value for each dollar, this mattress might suit you just fine. Its medium firmness design also makes it a wise choice for people with aching backs and joints including the seniors.
While I don’t find anything so unique about it, I find that it ticks most of the boxes that make a good memory foam mattress. First, it does not sleep hot and has low emissions.
In addition, it has good support even along the edges and does not sink too much to make it uncomfortable for the sleeper to turn or toss.
