Best Mattress for Sciatica (2024): Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

The Amerisleep AS2 medium-firm mattress is made to facilitate healthy spinal alignment. Verywell Health even calls it the best mattress for back pain. If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, the AS2 is perfect for you.

While a firmer bed, the Amerisleep AS2 features a plush and breathable cover crafted from a unique fiber blend that shares qualities with Celliant, which a material known for its exceptional energy transfer properties.

Here is what some of the thousands of reviews said about the Amerisleep AS3 firmness for back sleepers. While most are satisfied, some say the firmness doesn’t last:

Me: My husband & I have both had surgeries – him – his hip – me MAJOR back surgery & these mattresses are so incredibly comfortable and give great support without being too firm — no pressure points anywhere – just the right amount of softness — they’re great!

Shan: Place where we regularly sleep on the mattress sides have basically collapsed without any firmness/support. Middle of bed still very firm. Loved the bed when we first got it, but now buying a different bed 8 months later.

Marcos: I’ve had memory foam and standard mattresses previously, this is one of the best mattresses I’ve used. At 65, I need a firm mattress that doesn’t get out of shape.

The top layer contains 3 inches of Bio-Pur®, a  plant-based memory foam that is more breathable and more responsive than traditional memory foam. The open-cell structure of Bio-Pur® wicks away heat while you’re sleeping to give you a cooler night’s rest.

The Affinity layer with HIVE® technology is an ergonomic transition foam. This layer is what makes the Amerisleep AS2 one of the best mattresses for sciatica. It contains a 5-zone support system made of hundreds of hexagonal-shaped segments. The 2-inch Affinity layer helps your body get the stability it needs and gives you a weightless sensation that can have sciatic nerve pressure relief.

The last layer is the Bio-Core®— 7 inches of eco-friendly, high-density foam built that prevents sagging.

The Amerisleep AS2 mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial. If you want to return the mattress after the adjustment period, you can contact Amerisleep and they will give you a full refund.

Lying down on the Zoma Start, the first thing you’ll notice is that they are highly responsive for all-foam mattresses. This is all thanks to the layer of bouncy Reactiv™ transition foam that springs back as soon as you move and offers dynamic support.

This medium mattress also offers tons of versatility for all kinds of sleepers. It is on the more supportive end of a medium feel. So it can accommodate some back sleepers and virtually all combo sleepers at once. This is perfect for combo sleepers who tend to favor their backs. It also is a good fit for those who suffer from back pain.

Back sleepers love the Zoma Start. Here is what some had to say:

Asia R: I got this mattress for myself and one for my mom. It’s probably the most supportive bed I’ve owned. My mom also mentioned it’s helped with her back aches.

Geena R: It is definitely a medium firm mattress with minimal sinkage just for your pressure points and I would say it benefits back sleeper the most. I move a lot in my sleep and I haven’t had any trouble moving or any of my limbs falling asleep from the firmness.

Zac: My wife has a bad back and searched tirelessly for a good mattress that didn’t break the bank. So glad we found Zoma. We sleep SO well and the customer service has been incredible.

The Zoma Start starts off with a cooling, ventilated cover that breathes all night to wick away heat and sweat. This cover works with the gel memory foam comfort layer to ensure your sleep surface stays cool all night. The gel memory foam also offers a high degree of compression and pressure relief to ensure you get the contouring you need.

Underneath the comfort layer, you’ll find a bouncy transition layer made of Reactiv™ foam. This layer offers buoyancy and dynamic support. It also springs back as soon as you move to ensure that the sleep surface does not have issues with body impressions or slow response time.

Finally, a layer of highly durable base foam ensures there is no sinkage in this mattress. It keeps you lifted onto the sleep surface and provides total spinal alignment. Best of all, this base foam layer increases the durability of the entire mattress.

You can expect it to fight sagging and soft spot development for at least 10 years. That means it will last just as long as many more expensive mattresses.

Nolah’s special AirFoam™ has a cushioning, responsive feel—similar to traditional memory foam, AirFoam™ conforms to the body, pressure relief points without trapping heat or making the sleeper feel stuck inside the mattress. The mattress is also encased in soft, natural viscose material to wick away moisture.

Based on customer feedback, the Original 10” helped relieve their bodily pain and made it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Here is what others had to say:

Myrna E: I bought this for my guest room just before Christmas. Its so comfy that I haven’t slept in my own bed since! Clearly, it’s time to order a second one for myself.

Margareta M: In retrospect maybe I should have gone for the 12″ mattress. This mattress is softer than I anticipated; however, I’ve slept better and longer on Nolah 10 than I had on any I’ve owned in the past 10 years.

James: My daughter has back issues going from a standard bed to this has made a world of difference. For the price this beats the other big brands.

The Tencel™ cover is soft and breathable. This breathable material will keep moisture at bay, promoting a cool and dry sleep.

The 2-inch AirFoam™ layer targets pressure relief in the shoulders and hips, reducing aches and pains while keeping you cool thanks to its advanced open-cell construction. This foam layer cradles the body and provides full support. Nolah also features variations of AirFoam™ in their other beds, the Signature 12” and Evolution 15”.

The 1-inch high-resilience foam promotes durability and provides a responsive bounce, making it easier to switch sleep positions and prevent sleepers from feeling “stuck”— another important feature to combat sciatica nerve pain. Lastly, the 7-inch breathable base is made from high-density foam to provide support and reinforce the top layers.

The feel of the Saatva Classic depends on the firmness you choose, with the soft option quick to provide a touch of cloudlike comfort while the firmer options still feel supportive, even with the 3-inch thick pillow top. The cotton fabric feels gentle against the skin, with supportive foam and coils ensuring comfort.

Reviewers of the Saatva mattress had mixed feelings on this mattress for back sleeping. Here are some reviews:

Kara K: Delivery was so much faster than expected, came in about a week of ordering! Love the white glove delivery service. The mattress is unfortunately too firm for us. We got the luxury firm, the most popular middle firmness version. It is definitely one of the firmest mattresses I have ever laid on. My husband and I are side, Read more about review stating Luxury Firm is Too firmback and stomach sleepers. This is not comfortable for side or stomach sleepers…back sleeping ONLY!

Lindsey: This mattress did not work for me. It was too firm for my back and I have had to go in a different direction to be able to sleep comfortably. The reason I am giving this mattress a higher rating is because of their customer service.

Bert: Having issues with lower back and shoulders, I opted for the Plush Soft. If I sleep on my back with CPAP (sleep apnea), the mattress is wonderfully comfortable.

At the top, the Saatva Classic mattress features the brand’s exclusive luxury Euro pillow top system. This pillow top is made from foam that is able to provide a cushioning effect, without making you feel like you are sinking into the mattress. Organic cotton covers the surface, and this fabric is treated with a botanical compound that ensures microbes don’t settle inside the mattress.

The memory foam underneath the pillow top has active wire support to target the back area, minimizing the chances of misalignment. The density of the foam ensures durable, lasting support night after night.

The pillow top layer is followed by a dual coil system, going beyond merely adequate levels of support to create a highly responsive mattress. The transition is a pocketed coil system for motion isolation and high amounts of reactivity. These coils are also zoned for added support under the back area.

This ensures you get support on top of the bed, but without causing the bed to feel hard. At the base of the Saatva Classic Mattress, a standard spring system is also used. This makes the mattress more durable and adds further support.

The mattress is also able to offer excellent edge support with its sturdy foam rails. This provides a larger surface to sleep on, making it an excellent mattress for couples too.

Side sleepers may find the Bear Mattress too firm, but back and stomach sleepers will find this mattress greatly rejuvenating. For a softer bed, consider Bear’s Hybrid or Pro models.

While traditional memory foam can feel too soft and retain heat, the Bear implements cooling Celliant® technology to pull heat away from your body in the Bear Original, along with the two other beds they offer. You’re less likely to wake up feeling hot when sleeping on the Bear Mattress. At the same time, the foam layers conform to your body weight, pressure relief points for a pain-free rest.

While Bear Mattress does not have as much of a long of a track record of reviews as some of our other mattresses, we found plenty offering their thoughts, here are a few:

Doug D: I’ve slept on BEAR’S Original — Hybrid for a month. I’ve got my aches and pains, but some are now less. I don’t toss & turn nearly as much. I’ll never looking back on my number bed – ugh! This bear gets more rest in my new “den.” I’m very glad I didn’t get a mattress thicker than the 10″ this comes in.

Kelly A: Bed was of good quality, but more firm than medium-firm for my partner and I (back/side sleeper; side/stomach sleeper). Return process went pretty smoothly. Would recommend for those looking for a nice firm mattress!

Cynthis S: Great for growing athletic teenager! My growing son loves and he’s sleeping much better

The breathable polyester mattress cover uses FDA-determined Celliant® technology to improve your blood circulation, by transforming body heat into infrared energy. Bear also features this technology in their two other beds, the Bear Pro and Bear Hybrid.

The 2-inch layer of graphite-gel memory foam pulls heat away to keep you cool as you sleep. The 3-inch responsive transition foam layer contours to the body weight to relieve pressure points, which is especially helpful for those with sciatica who often move during the night.

The base of the mattress is a 5-inch high-density support foam, adding durability while reinforcing the top layers of the mattress.

As our top recommendation for a medium-firm mattress, the Tuft & Needle is best for buyers who enjoy gentle support that promotes recovery. However, some side sleepers may find the surface too unyielding, particularly if they’re a lightweight sleeper.

Generally, people who buy mattresses for back pain and sciatica, they are doing so because they are happy with it for themselves. With Tuft & Needle, this is no exception:

KB722: We bought our first T&N bed in 2017 and immediately fell in love. We still have it 6 years later and it’s survived 3 moves with no issue! We rotate every ~6 months just to keep it fresh. Best night of sleep ever. We loved our mattress so much that when it was time to upgrade our guest room we had to get another T&N. Our guests have raved about it as well!

Tracy B: This is our second mattress from Tuft and Needle and it’s just as wonderful as the first one. This purchase is for our guest room and our guest said it’s perfect!

Johnni: So nice, bought it twice. Loved it so much, bought it for our guest room

Next to the T&N Original is the T&N Mint and Hybrid. They contain the same Adaptive® foam as the Original, but have more luxurious designs and softer feels.

The top layer contains 3 inches of T&N Adaptive® foam, a graphite-gel infused poly-foam more responsive than traditional memory foam. Graphite-gel pulls heat away from the body, keeping sleepers cool. T&N Adaptive® foam provides a balance of pressure point relief and comfort, perfect for sciatica patients.

The high-density, 7-inch poly-foam base layer provides lasting support without sagging.

The Avocado Green mattress is a hybrid mattress made with latex foam and innerspring coils—so you get the contouring of foam but a slight bounce from the spring coils. For a more luxury firm feel, you can opt to add a European-style topper to the Avocado Green mattress, giving the comfort layer a full 5 inches of plush latex foam.

Avocado Green is typically a highly regarded mattress, however, for back sleepers, reviews are mixed:

Shannon B: It’s better than the 12 year old mattress that we were sleeping on, but only marginally. Expected a bit more comfort for the money, honestly. It traps way more heat than I thought a hybrid would. Good if you are a back sleeper, but not as good if you are a side sleeper.

Thomas B: Purchased a built in pillow top because a mattress and separate pillow top were not available, which we have a set. This is not comfortable an hurts my back.

Lorraine: I’ve slept on my Avacado Green only 4 nights and I loved it immediately. I’m mostly back sleeper with shoulder and hip pain. I sometimes swich to my side which when it feels a bit too firm. Fortunately, I bought a topper a few years ago for my previous mattress so adding that to my Avacado has made all the difference.

For side sleepers or people who prefer a little extra cushioning, the Avocado Green Mattress comes with an optional pillow top for an added fee. The pillow top variation of the mattress has a medium feel and, unlike mattress toppers, the pillow top is sewn directly onto the mattress and won’t slip out of place.

The Avocado Green Mattress will keep your back aligned and ease pressure points thanks to its 2-inch layer of Dunlop latex. Dunlop latex also draws heat away from the body and makes it easier to switch sleep positions each night.

8 inches of pocketed coils are arranged into  5 support zones, providing cushioning for the shoulders and hips and firm support for the head, back, and legs. Pocketed coils reduce motion transfer and provide more bounce to the bed. A 1-inch Dunlop latex foam forms the base layer.

The SoftFlex mattress cover and the grid-like comfort layer creates a responsive surface with a medium feel. This gives the surface a bouncy feel, as the material is quick to flex under the body and snap back into shape.

We surveyed hundreds of people on what they thought about the Purple Mattress, here is what some had to say:

Michael J: We’ve had our original Purple mattress for over a month but knew the first night we made the right decision.

Marilyn J: The mattress, sheets and mattress cover have been just okay. I was hoping for better – my sleep has not improved and I still have muscle soreness when I wake up.

Thomas P: I have had the best sleep do my life on this mattress, I am sure every other review says the same but it is true. There are some issues with the mattress, but it is just the both gritty, but other than the minuscule problems it is a great mattress.

The 2-inch Purple Grid™ contours to your body, offering support without feeling too firm. The material sinks under pressure, while open channels provide optimal airflow for pressure relief and cooling. A 3.5-inch transitional layer of poly-foam aligns the spine and prevents deep sinkage. The 4-inch poly-foam base evenly supports the body without sinking and reinforces the top layers.

Customers note how the Purple Mattress has a healthy amount of bounce, unlike some other all-foam beds. They also mention how the Purple Grid™ is excellent for soothing pain, with some reviewers noting how the bed greatly improves their muscle recovery time.

This mattress features multiple cooling technologies to make it both breathable and thermoconductive. So the first thing you’ll notice when lying down on it is its amazing cool-touch feel. This cool feel won’t dissipate as the night wears on, so you won’t have to worry about overheating while you sleep.

You’ll also notice the responsiveness of the Classic. This is thanks to its aerated latex foam comfort layer. Latex is extremely springy, so it bounces back underneath your body as soon as you move. That’s perfect for active sleepers who like to toss and turn.

As with many other value mattresses, the GhostBed gets raving reviews:

Joshua H: Perfect level of firmness and comfort. A little less cooling than preferred, but still much better than other pure foam mattresses I’ve tried. Overall very satisfied with the price and comfort level.

Shawn M: About 30 days in and so far I really like our ghost bed. I needed a firm mattress, but didn’t want it to be rock hard. We topped ours with a thinner, good quality pillow top cover, and the combination is great! We also love that it’s made in the USA.

Paige W: Amazing Quality For The Price! When I decided to upgrade to a King mattress, I did a TON or research on the best mattress companies. My biggest concerns were fiberglass, longevity, and warranty. The communication was phenomenal and the shipping was so fast! The mattress is a true medium-firm.

The first layer of the GhostBed Classic is its plush cover. The smooth and soft cover offers a smooth and breathable feel for maximum comfort.

The aerated latex comfort layer comes next. This non-allergenic latex features tiny holes throughout its surface to ensure warm air travels out and cool air travels in throughout the night. So you never have to worry about waking up in a sweat.

Next, a gel memory foam transition layer helps provide even more contouring than the latex foam alone. It also offers a buffer between your body and the high-density support foam below. The gel memory foam is thermoconductive, so it helps draw heat away from your body to ensure ideal temperature regulation throughout the mattress.

Finally, the high-density support foam offers lots of lift and support. It will fight sinkage to keep you lifted onto the sleep surface without sacrificing contouring or pressure relief. It also offers incredible durability, which is why the Classic comes with a 20-year warranty.