If you’re in the market for a new mattress, there are a few different material options to choose from, but each of these will dictate the cost of the bed. You may know, memory foam mattresses can come in at the high-end whereas innerspring mattresses are a little more affordable. That said if you’re not too keen on an expensive memory foam, or a rigid innerspring option, there’s a third alternate option that offers the best of both worlds, and those are hybrid mattress.
These beds blend both memory foam, or gel memory foam with innerspring or pocket springs to give you an affordable, comfortable night’s sleep in the most price effective way.
We suggest that if you’re in the market for a cheap sub-$250 mattress that your consider this type of mattress as you’ll be getting the most bang for your buck.
It can be hard to know which mattress brands to choose from, and which models to consider, especially when you’re searching the lower-end. There’s always the risk of buying into a poorly designed mattress that exacerbates back pain, lacks a pillow top layer or any sort of edge support. With that said, we’ve done the hard work for you and scoured the reviews and sites for the best hybrid mattress online so you don’t have to.
Selecting a Hybrid Mattress
When it comes to choosing the best mattress, it’s always good to start with your sleeping position and where you live. If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll want to choose a hybrid mattress that’s more on the soft side, with a plush top layer for pressure relief.
For back and stomach sleepers, this upper foam layer doesn’t need to be so soft, and a medium-firm spring base is suggested to make sure you’re getting the most weight off your pressure points.
Although hybrid mattresses are breathable by design, thanks to their coil spring cores, the high-density foam and comfort foam found in the top layer might counteract this. Because foam acts as a ‘heat sink’ in some cases, you’ll want to be on the lookout for a hybrid mattress with ‘cooling gel’ or some other type of technology that keeps the bed cool.
Finally, although this isn’t an essential, it’s good to look for a trial period, CertiPUR-US certification and a guarantee that ensures you’re not buying into a cheap mattress that’s a dud.
Dreamfoam Bedding Arctic Dreams 10-Inch Cooling Gel Mattress, Twin
Up first on our list is Dreamfoam’s Arctic Dreams hybrid mattress with infused cooling gel. This mattress comes in at $219 for the twin and $349 for a Queen, though discounts often bring this below $250 on a routine basis.
On the Arctic Dreams mattress, you’ll be greeted with fantastic breathability thanks to the cooling gel polyfoam blend, and with 952 coils embedded in the core, there’s more than enough support for every body type. It’s important to note that these coils are topped with a 2.5 inch Energex foam and latex foam blend that prevents too much rigidity, perfect for contouring.
This mattress is also a bed-in-a-box mattress, making it easy to unpack and get on to a bed frame.
Adding to the comfort level, the Dreamfoam mattress offers a lot more material and technology than most other hybrid mattresses for this price point. There’s a 0.75 inch quilted foam topper that makes for a soft-touch upper layer, a 2.5 inch gel foam below this and then you’ll find a 6 inch deep coil support system to prevent sagging of the upper layers. On the bottom of the mattress, there’s a 1 inch thick base foam that minimises motion transfer and enhances the sleeping experience.
Reviewers of this mattress have made it known that a good night’s sleep comes easily on this bed and the firmness level is ideal for side and back sleepers alike.
Mattress America Frost 13 Inch Hybrid Pocket Coil Pillow Top Mattress Gel Infused Memory Foam
To a mattress with a coil-based pillow top gel memory foam, the Mattress America hybrid mattress is the ideal option for those looking for a queen size mattress that’s often on sale for below $250. You’ll find a memory foam layer topping this mattress, and a 10 inch coil core below that which makes sure there’s plenty of support below the ultra-plush cushioning.
Mattress America makes it clear that this comfortable mattress is designed not to provide too much sinkage, but instead keeps sleepers supported and their spinal and joints in alignment. This is the ultimate hybrid mattress for anyone who isn’t too big a fan of the super-sinkage found in some memory foam beds.
Another bed-in-a-box mattress, this variant is also easy to transport from the delivery to the bed frame, and coming in queen and king size, there’s plenty of space to sprawl out on this bed.
All mattresses in this range come in firm to medium-firm firmness levels, which, again, is ideal for anyone who’s dealing with a little too much back pain when sleeping. You’ll be able to rely on the relatively thin upper comfort layer for weight removal from your joints, and then fall asleep assured that the firm coils are keeping the spine in alignment.
There’s a 25-year warranty here and a price point of between $249 to $419 depending on retailer sales and mattress size.
LINENSPA 10 Inch Latex Hybrid Mattress – Supportive – Responsive Feel – Medium Firm
A different type of hybrid mattress, a latex-foam model, the Linenspa seamlessly blends the best of memory foam and latex into one supportive affordable bed.
There are four rather thick layers of foam and latex here which offer a comfy experience on the Linenspa mattress, and we’re glad to say that the latex and foam design doesn’t result in an overly hot sleeping experience.
For sleepers in warmer climates, the foam and latex have body heat drawn out through the 8 inch coil springs, keeping the body-contouring upper layers cool and supportive. It’s good to note that this mattress type is ideal for those who’d like to remain in one sleeping position for long periods of time. For example, if you’ve found a pain-free position, the mattress will keep you cool and comfortable in that spot for longer, relieving pain for extended periods.
Added bounce comes with the latex-spring design as well, so if you’re not a fan of the subdued movements of memory foam, this bouncy hybrid will be a great alternative for you.
A 10-year warranty is also included by Linenspa to cover defects in the manufacturing process.
WEEKENDER 10 Inch Hybrid Mattress – Memory Foam and Motion Isolating Springs
Another medium-firm hybrid landing on our list is the Weekender 10 inch mattress that boasts a somewhat rare feature – motion isolation.
For anyone who sleeps with a partner that moves just a little too much, this mattress is your best bet at under $250 to cancel out this moment. The springs are designed to isolate movement, though when paired with the 2.5 inches of gel memory foam and comfort foam atop the mattress, you’re getting a double-whammy of motion isolation.
In addition to movement isolation, there’s optimal breathability and airflow here as well as a firmness level that makes sure tummy and back sleepers get ideal spinal support.
The 2.5 inches of contouring memory foam are also ideal for side sleepers who need a little extra sinkage for the hips and shoulders, though the firmness might make side-sleeping a little uncomfortable depending on your position.
There’s a double-polyester fabric here that makes sure the mattress is wrapped in a durable material and reduces the likelihood of tears and rips.
A 10-year warranty is also included for manufacturing problems.
Hybrid Mattress Everest 12″ Pillow Top
Another Mattress America variant, the hybrid Everest mattress is the right mattress for anyone who is looking for a cloud-like pillow top, paired with ultimate support from coil springs.
With an upper layer that’s a little more comfortable than most, sleepers can rely on the Everest to take weight off the hips and shoulders for pressure relief. This is then paired with one of the firmest coil springs that many mattress reviews have seen. There’s little ‘squish’ here but more of a solid and supportive feel.
We’d like to add that this mattress might be your best bet if you’re looking to cancel out hip pain that comes from a dipping lower back. The firmness of this mattress will reject any non-essential sinkage, which is perfect for stomach sleepers and back sleepers who don’t want to risk damaging their back.
Breathability is also touted as a feature here, and reviewers stand by this. The upper comfort layer is relatively hollow which supports airflow, and the coil springs beneath ensure there’s plenty of space for body height to be expelled out the bottom and sides of the mattress.
The mattress has also garnered CertiPUR-US Certification, which is a plus for buyers considering the Everest to help them in alleviating their joint pain.
A long 15-year warranty also offers peace of mind for customers buying into the Everest.
Considerations for a Hybrid Mattress
With our top hybrid mattresses out of the way, there are a few things that are important to consider when buying a hybrid or combination model. Although these are a somewhat popular and well-trusted type of mattress, there are a few things to be on the look out for.
To get the best night’s sleep, a good quality product and a posture-supporting rest, take a look at some of the considerations below.
Choose the Right ‘Blend’
The most common combination of materials in a hybrid mattress are innerspring or coil springs and memory foam. Manufacturers use the memory foam for the comfort atop the coil springs, and rely on stiff springs for back support.
However, there are more options than just memory foam. Some sleepers find the ‘sinkage’ in the foam a little too much, so latex might be a good material to consider. Latex mimics springs in a way, and offers a good ‘bounce’ when compared to memory and high-density foams.
For back pain, it might be a good idea to forgo a memory foam topper, and choose latex for added support, so keep this in mind too.
Don’t Forget Temperature Regulation
Unlike an all-spring mattress, a hybrid model will have the dense foam topper we talked about above, and that means heat retention. If you’re living in a city that’s quite warm, then you’ll want to stray from a foam that lacks a cooling gel.
In a lot of cases, your coil spring core will draw heat away from the upper levels of the mattress, though if the foam is too dense or if the latex isn’t designed for airflow, the top of your bed will be far too warm for your to feel comfortable.
Our biggest suggestion here is to look for hybrids that tout ‘cooling gel’ ‘gel beads’ or ‘optimal airflow’ otherwise you might be stuck with a sweaty, uncomfortable night’s sleep.
