Are you a fan of innerspring mattresses or memory foam mattresses? This is the main thing you are going to want to consider if you are choosing between the Saatva and Nectar mattresses. Do you want the support and durability of coils or the soft sinking comfort of memory foam?
If you aren’t really sure, don’t worry. I have the information you need to make the right decision. Will the Saatva or Nectar be the one for you? Read on for my full comparison.
Key Similarities
- They are both very popular mattresses.
- Both are only available online.
- They are both a good fit for back and side sleepers.
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Key Differences
- The Nectar is more affordable than the Saatva.
- They incorporate very different materials in their construction.
- The Nectar is softer than the Saatva.
- The Saatva has a traditional innerspring feel, and the Nectar has a classic memory foam feel.
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Saatva Construction
- The custom slim Luxury Firm version is 11.5” tall.
- The cover is quilted with foam to create a Euro Top.
- The next layer is a thin memory foam layer.
- This is followed by a layer of individually wrapped micro coils.
- Finally, high-grade coils make up the bottom layer.
- There is a foam encasement which helps with edge support.
Read my full Saatva mattress review
Nectar Construction
- The mattress is 11” tall.
- The cover is soft and woven together with Tencel fabric. There is 1” of gel memory foam quilted into it.
- Next, there is a 3” layer of a soft, slow-responding, gel memory foam.
- Then, there is around 1” of a foam transition layer.
- Finally, the base layer is around 6” thick.
Read my full Nectar mattress review
Construction Differences/Notes
- The tops of these mattresses are very different. The Saatva has a tufted cover, quilted with polyfoam. The Nectar has a thin cover and then memory foam. This gives the Saatva a pillow top feel, and the Nectar a classic memory foam feel.
- The top layer of the Nectar is 4” of a soft memory foam. This makes the mattress a better fit for side sleepers. The foam allows you to sink in, so the Nectar should give great pressure relief.
- The Saatva should be a longer-lasting mattress. The two layers of coils should make this a durable mattress. It should last longer than the all-foam Nectar.
- The Saatva should also be the more breathable mattress. The coils allow for good airflow. The memory foam in Nectar should not be as breathable. Overall, the Saatva should be the cooler sleeping mattress.
Firmness/Feel Differences
In terms of firmness, the Saatva felt like a 7/10, and the Nectar felt like a 6/10. I believe most sleepers will agree that the Saatva is the firmer of these two mattresses.
Back sleeping on the Saatva, I feel very well supported. My hips sink into that pillow top just the right amount, and the rest of my body is held up by the mattress.
On my side, I am surprised by the pressure relief I feel. The pillow top does a very nice job of relieving pressure on my shoulders and hips. Also, when I am lying on my stomach, I feel good support.
On the Nectar, I am supported while I am back sleeping. The memory foam conforms to my body and presses up into my lumbar area. That being said, I would say that I feel better support on the Saatva.
The Nectar performs best when I am on my side. I slowly sink into that memory foam and feel almost no pressure on my shoulders and hips. This memory foam is not firm enough to support me when I am on my stomach.
In terms of feel, the Saatva has that luxury hotel mattress feel. You get the support of coils with the soft feel of a pillow top. You definitely sleep on top of the mattress. The Nectar, on the other hand, has that classic memory foam feel. You get that true quicksand experience.
See more of what I thought of Saatva’s pillow top feel.
Now, watch what I thought of Nectar’s soft memory foam.
Motion Transfer Differences
Memory foam is usually a safe bet when it comes to handling motion transfer. The material absorbs motion so that it won’t really move across the mattress.
So, I was not surprised that the Nectar dealt with motion transfer better than the Saatva. During my tests, the glass barely moved when I pressed into the mattress. Also, when Marten moved around on the other side of the mattress, I felt less of his movement on my side. The Nectar should be the better mattress for couples.
Compare that motion transfer to the all foam Nectar
Edge Support
The Saatva is the firmer mattress, so I expected it to have better edge support. It also has two layers of coils and foam encasement to add further stabilize the edge.
Sitting down near the edge of the Saatva, I feel more secure than I do on the Nectar. Lying down, I feel less like I am going to be ejected from the bed.
You can see the differences in edge support in the photos below.
Marten’s Take
Marten is a staff writer for us. He has a much different body type from me. He is 6’7″ and weighs about 230 lbs (I am 5’9″ and 160 lbs.). Here is what he thought about these mattresses:
In terms of firmness, I thought the Saatva was a 7/10, and the Nectar was a 6/10.
In terms of sleeping positions, I feel very nice back sleeping on the Saatva. My hips sink in just the right amount, and I feel great support. On my side, I feel pretty good pressure relief. Even as a heavier person, I feel like the pillow top does a good job or relieving pressure on my shoulders and hips. On my stomach, I do need more support. I feel like I am bowing in at the hips.
Over on the Nectar, I feel well supported when I am on my back. My hips sink in a bit, and the foam presses up into my lumbar area. While at first, I do feel some pressure on my side, I do slowly sink into the mattress and feel the pressure on my shoulder and hips melt away. On my stomach, I also need more support on the Nectar. I am bowing in at the hips.
If you are a heavier back sleeper, either mattress could work for you. If you like a memory foam feel, the Nectar is the right choice. If you like a pillow top feel, choose the Saatva. I did feel good pressure relief on both mattresses, but I did feel the best side sleeping on the Nectar. Again, it really comes down to feel preferences.
If you are a heavier stomach sleeper, I don’t think either mattress will be supportive enough for you.
As a larger person, Marten had a bit different experience on these two mattresses. While he also thought the Saatva was better on his back, and the Nectar was better on his side, the Saatva was not quite supportive enough when he was on his stomach.
Pick Saatva If:
- You prefer a traditional innerspring mattress with a pillow top. The Saatva has a coil on coil construction with a pillow top. If you have had success with hotel mattresses or like the support offered by coils and the softness of a pillow top, the Saatva is a clear choice.
- You like to sleep on top of your mattress. While the pillow top is soft, you don’t really sink too far into the mattress. If you prefer to sleep on top of your mattress and move around easily, the Saatva should work for you.
- You want a firmer mattress. Between these two mattresses, the Saatva is the firmer mattress. If you are a heavier person or sleep mostly on your back and stomach, the Saatva should give you more support.
RELATED: Best Innerspring Mattresses
Pick Nectar If:
- You prefer the classic memory foam feel. If you like to sink in and sleep “in” your mattress, the Nectar is the way to go. It has that quicksand feel that comes with soft memory foam.
- You are a side sleeper. The soft memory foam in the Nectar does a great job of relieving pressure. You should sink into the mattress and feel little pressure on your shoulders and hips.
- You want a more affordable mattress. Between the two mattresses, the Nectar is cheaper. If money is your main concern, I would consider the Nectar.
RELATED: Best Memory Foam Mattresses
Overall
If you consider these points, choosing between the Saatva and the Nectar shouldn’t be too hard. If you like innerspring mattress and like a pillow top feel, the Saatva should work for you. If you like soft memory foam and sleep on your side, I would choose the Nectar. Please leave any specific comments or questions about the Saatva or the Casper in the comment section below.
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