Nectar Classic Memory Foam
Type: Memory foam
Firmness option: Medium firm
Height: 12”
Sizes: 7
Sleep trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price (MSRP): from $1,063 at Nectar
Saatva Contour5
Type: Memory foam
Firmness option: Medium or Firm
Height: 12.5”
Sizes: 7
Sleep trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price (MSRP): from $1,899 at Saatva
If you’re looking for the soothing comfort of an all-foam mattress, Nectar and Saatva are two of the big names to consider. The Nectar Classic Memory Foam and Saatva Contour5 mattresses both offer an exceptionally comfortable night’s sleep, but which one is right for you?
With both brands featuring in our best mattresses guide, you can be sure that you’ll get great quality and a comfortable bed to sleep on. But there is a big price difference between the two brands, so is the more expensive Saatva worth the money?
In this Nectar Classic vs Saatva Contour5 we’ll look more closely at both mattresses, comparing design, comfort, support and more to help you decide which one to invest in.
Nectar Classic vs Saatva Contour5 Mattress: Price & Trial
- Both mattresses come with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty
- The Nectar Classic is never sold at MSRP and usually has around 50% off mattresses
- Regular Saatva sales take between 12-15% off the Saatva Contour5
An evergreen Nectar mattress sale means you’ll never pay full MSRP, with 50% off mattresses throughout the year. Prices start at $349 for a twin (MSRP $1,063) and, in fact, you’ll currently get 58% off a queen size, taking it down to $649 (MSRP $1,563).
Benefits are also great, particularly when you consider how much cheaper than many premium mattresses the Nectar is. You’ll get a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty and free shipping to your door.
Saatva mattress sales happen throughout the year, with only the summer months and immediately after holidays occasionally seeing no discounts at all. You’ll generally see 12-15% off MSRP, or tiered money-off discounts, but the biggest discounts have historically been saved for major sales events.
At present there aren’t any discounts on Saatva mattresses, which means you’ll pay $2,999 for a queen size. Discounts can take the price down by up to $400 so it’s worth waiting for the next sale. The Saatva also comes with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, but you’ll also get free white glove delivery and removal of your old mattress.
Nectar Classic vs Saatva Contour5 Mattress: Materials & Design
- The Nectar Classic is 12” high and has five layers
- The Saatva Contour5 is 12.5” high and has seven layers
- Both mattresses have an all-foam design
Starting at the top of the Nectar Classic, you’ll find a cover with cooling fibers to help promote airflow. The cover has an antimicrobial treatment applied for a healthy sleep surface. Up next is a one inch layer of pressure-relieving memory foam that contours to the body and gives some sinkage.
This is backed up by three inches of responsive support foam to promote spinal alignment. The main foundation of the mattress is provided by an eight inch layer of foundation foam. This not only gives the mattress structure but also reduces motion transfer. The mattress is finished off with a durable shift-resistant fabric cover that stops any layers from shifting out of place.
The Saatva Contour5 starts with a naturally breathable organic cotton cover, treated with the brand’s exclusive Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment that’s designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. Directly below this is a flame barrier made with nontoxic cellulose fibers. Up next is Saatva’s CoolVent System with Lumbar Zone and Phase Change Material (PCM).
The PCM helps to absorb and dissipate body heat, while the lumbar zone provides enhanced support. Underneath this is a layer of gel-infused memory foam with airflow channels to prevent heat becoming trapped.
The core of the mattress is a layer of dense ultra-premium 5lb memory foam for pressure relief, followed by a transition layer available in either a medium or firm firmness. The mattress is finished off with a high-density foam base.
Nectar Classic vs Saatva Contour5 Mattress: Comfort & Support
- The Nectar Classic is a medium firm mattress, rated at 7.5/10 by our testers
- The Saatva Contour5 is available in medium (5-7/10) and firm (8/10) firmness options
- The Saatva has enhanced lumbar support
Both mattresses won spots in our best memory foam mattresses guide, but are designed quite differently under the covers. In our Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress review, our testers felt the mattress rated as a true medium firm at 7.5/10 (Nectar rate the mattress as 6.5/10).
That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of contouring from the top layers, with this being one of the best mattresses for side sleepers you can buy. Most of our side sleepers loved the feel of the mattress, but it could be a little firm for lightweight side sleepers.
The updated foams in the Nectar also mean that the mattress is supportive enough for back and stomach sleepers, who should feel that their spines are kept aligned and hips lifted.
The big selling point of the Saatva Contour5 is the fact that you can buy it in two different firmness options – medium and firm. In our Saatva Contour5 mattress review, we tested the medium option and found it at the firmer end of the scale, rating it medium firm.
The mattress contoured to the body, but kept the spine aligned and pressure points cushioned in all sleeping positions. Our tester did sink into the mattress a little, but never far enough to feel unsupported. Stomach sleepers will probably prefer the firmer option, as it will add more support where needed around the hips.
And, as the version we tested was more of a medium firm feel, lightweight side sleepers may find the mattress too firm overall. The patented lumbar zone means that this mattress is also a great choice for those with aches and pains.
Nectar Classic vs Saatva Contour5 Mattress: Temperature Regulation
- All-foam mattresses will always sleep a little warmer than hybrid versions
- The Saatva Contour5 does do an excellent job of regulating temperature, with PCM to help dissipate heat
- The Nectar Classic also did a good job of keeping sleepers cool, but was tested in a cool October
We tested the Nectar Classic in October, with a room temperature of 16C. At this point, it did a great job of keeping sleepers cool, thanks to the breathable cover with cooling fibers.
This stays cool to the touch and helps to wick away moisture. However, we haven’t yet got any data on what this mattress will be like to sleep on in a hot summer.
The Saatva Contour5 contains PCM, which you’ll also find in the best cooling mattresses. This does a great job of absorbing and dissipating heat. It’s backed up by gel-infused memory foam, ventilated memory foam and a breathable cotton cover, all of which combine to make this one of the coolest all-foam mattresses you can buy.
Nectar Classic vs Saatva Contour5 Mattress: Which should you buy?
Buy the Nectar Classic if…
✅ You’re on a tighter budget: With the evergreen discounts available on the Nectar, you’ll be able to pick the mattress up for considerably less than the Saatva.
✅ You share your bed with a restless sleeper: One of the most impressive things about the Nectar Classic is how well it isolates motion. You shouldn’t be disturbed at all by a restless partner.
✅ You sleep on your stomach: Despite its all-foam design, we think the Nectar is supportive enough for stomach sleepers, who shouldn’t feel any dipping around the hip area.
Buy the Saatva Contour5 if…
✅ You’re a hot sleeper: Despite being an all-foam mattress the Contour5 does a great job of keeping sleepers cool with ventilated and gel-infused foams, a cotton cover and PCM to help dissipate heat away from the body.
✅ You have aches and pains: Saatva’s patented lumbar zone support does a fantastic job of keeping the spine aligned, helping to prevent any buildup of aches and pains and, in particular, lower back pain.
✅ You want to pick your firmness: The Saatva Contour5 comes in two firmness options, which means you can pick the one that best suits your sleeping style and body weight.
