Saatva Rx Mattress Review—Is It Worth the Hype?

The Satatva Rx is described as a luxury hybrid with a mix of foam-topped microcoils and a memory foam lumbar support zone. It’s softer than you might think (plush might be a better word in this case), so it’s hard to imagine it would help with back pain, but I’ve found its inner workings are more adaptive than other hybrids. Its thought-out mix of pressure relief and support suggests it may help with spinal alignment.

The logic of the cradling effect is definitely felt when you first lie down, as it hits your pressure points. This might not be firm enough for everyone (and your weight may be a big factor), but over the last few months, I’ve noticed how it contours my body without feeling like I’m sinking or sagging. I didn’t feel that movement was difficult on this mattress as I rolled from back to side sleeping (which may be the case with competitors); it was easier than my old pillowtop, where I felt I had sunk so far in that I had to push myself out of the mattress (not the core exercise I wanted).

The lumbar support feels great on the lower back and is a unique feature that hits in just the right place. This region of the mattress has more memory foam, so it offers stronger support without feeling too stiff. I think this one feature alone has made a big difference for me since previously my lower back seemed to sag further into the old mattress, and getting up was a painful struggle; it took some time for the soreness to go away as I sat on the edge. I no longer feel that, and I get out of bed much more easily.

The construction of the Saaatva Rx is solid and looks well-made. I’m sure the interior is as thoughtful and well put together as the outside. It looks pricey. One big thing that I didn’t notice right away is that the mattress keeps me much cooler than my old mattress. I’m an obsessive bed maker (I cannot leave the house with an unmade bed), but my old mattress still felt a little warm to the touch when I’d go to make it. This one feels much cooler in the morning. It’s a small thing, but I’ve had it through the summer and never felt warm in it. Saatva describes the reason for this as not just a breathable cover but an open-cell structure inside that’s more ventilated than other luxury mattresses, and the addition of thermally conductive fibers that move heat away. It’s not just a boast.

I’ve read that softer mattresses tend to wear a bit quicker. Saatva claims the construction of the Rx with its flexible coils, polyfoam wrap, and memory foam top is more durable than other hybrids. So far, I see no trace of wear on it and no sagging. There was also no smell to it when I first got it. The Rx has white glove delivery, and while I did not actually see gloves, they will carry it to where you need it and take away the old mattress and do it much more quickly than you might think. You don’t want to have to lift this mattress—it’s heavy.

I do notice the edge has more give than my old mattress, but since I’m not sitting there as much, it’s not a big deal. I’m both a back and side sleeper, so here’s what I’ve noticed about the Saatva Rx: If you’re a side sleeper, the layer of small coils won’t let you sink too far in, and I felt no pressure on my hips or shoulders since the mattress is meant to keep you level. If you’re a back sleeper, those same coils have great support on the upper back, and the memory foam lumbar area has enough give so you don’t feel much resistance as it keeps you in alignment. This allows the lower back to stretch out. I’m not sure how a much heavier person might feel on this mattress. I’m not super heavy, but I think your comfort and relief will decrease with more weight on this bed. Even though my shoulders feel supported, I can feel my neck/upper spine pulling down a bit, but I found that one pillow works better on this mattress than my usual two.

I also notice—and here I’m so grateful—that there’s very little motion transfer when my wife moves around. This is a huge difference from our previous pillowtop. My wife also has some lower back and shoulder pain and thrashes about like she’s in a nighttime Zumba class and hits HARD. After a few months, though, she says she feels less pain and stiffness, sleeps better, and moves around a lot less. I’ve only been slugged once. She wakes up with less complaining about her back and shoulder than in the last few years. If the bed made coffee, she’d be complete.

I had been window shopping for a new mattress for a while now—my old mattress was over 12 years old; well past its prime. I recall it was expensive at the time, so that’s probably why it lasted. The looking process was confusing with so many brands and options, but I kept coming back to Saatva, which had so many excellent reviews. It worked out really well that I was able to test one, and it certainly lives up to all those great reviews. I think the Saatva brand—and the Rx in particular—is a solid choice for anyone suffering with back pain and beyond. This is a really restorative mattress and well worth the investment.