Our mattress lab tests assess a range of factors, including support for back and side sleepers. But in this roundup, we focus on each mattress’s ability to support side sleepers specifically.
To test this, we map points on the spine while subjects lie on their side on each mattress. We then connect those dots and compare how much the spine diverges from a horizontal line. The better the spinal alignment, the better the support. This test is performed for small and large side sleepers; we then use these data points to calculate a score for average-sized sleepers.
Beyond support, we also test mattresses for firmness level, heat retention, stability, and durability. In addition, we consider scores for mattress comfort and owner satisfaction, according to data from survey results based on almost 67,000 mattresses.
