What Is Hybrid Mattress? A Comprehensive Guide

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In today's fast-paced world, getting a good night's sleep is crucial for maintaining our overall well-being. One key factor that can significantly impact the quality of your sleep is your choice of mattress. With numerous options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is best suited for your needs. One popular choice that has gained prominence in recent years is the hybrid mattress. In this article, we will delve into the world of hybrid mattresses, exploring their construction, benefits, and why they might be the ideal choice for your next mattress purchase.

hybrid mattress layers

What is a Hybrid Mattress?

A hybrid mattress is a type of mattress that combines different materials and technologies from different types of mattresses into one, hence the name "hybrid." The innerspring and foam comfort systems are combined in a hybrid mattress to provide you with plenty of support and comfort.

The advantages of an all-foam mattress can be mixed with the added bounce of innerspring mattresses in this model. It can give you a contouring surface to reduce any pressure or discomfort you may feel, like a typical foam mattress.

Additionally, the hybrid mattress has metal coils underneath the comfort system that affect the feel and performance of the mattress. With that being said, this model has exceptional responsiveness and edge support, like any innerspring mattress.

Hybrid mattresses offer great support and comfort, making them a really popular choice.

Hybrid Mattress Construction

The construction of this type of mattress is really fascinating because it blends the softness you get from a foam mattress with the solid support and responsiveness of an innerspring coiled mattress. This model has a comfort, transitional, and support layer just like any other mattress, however, there are plenty of details and materials that go into each one.

The comfort layer in this mattress is at least 3 inches thick and can be made of memory foam, latex, micro-coils, polyfoam, or a blend of these materials. This layer can mold your body shape and help alleviate pressure because of the materials used.

The transitional layer in the hybrid mattress is typically made of polyfoam, memory foam, or latex, and it is responsible for the extra support and cushioning effect.

The support layer for this type of mattress is made of metal coils that come in different types, thicknesses, and numbers.

You may find a layer of gel foam in some hybrid mattresses that add a cooling effect, but it all depends on the brand and manufacturer. Typically, a hybrid mattress is mainly composed of an innerspring core and memory or latex foam.

Make sure to do your research before heading out to buy a hybrid mattress because some companies out there only combine both latex and memory foam layers without an innerspring.

A reviewer's hands testing the layers of a hybrid mattress

Types

Hybrid mattresses come in different materials and types of construction, which can alter the benefits you can get from them. Each company can have its own design for the comfort layer and innerspring.

The comfort layer in a hybrid mattress can consist of:

  • Memory Foam: Memory foam’s main feature is that it can mold the shape of your body and alleviate pressure from certain areas in your body.
  • Polyfoam: Polyfoam can give you a firmer surface to sleep on compared to memory foam and moderately conforms to your body shape.
  • Latex: Latex is also able to conform to your body, but it can give you a more responsive feeling.
  • Micro-coils: The top comfort layer is layered with small metal coils that improve breathability and support.

Usually, the innerspring in a hybrid mattress is composed of pocketed coils, also known as Marshal coils. These coils are pretty small and are wrapped in fabric, giving each one the ability to move separately from one another. This feature can reduce motion and your likelihood of waking up if the person next to you moves around during sleep or gets out of bed frequently.

However, you can occasionally find less common types of coils that can be found in hybrid mattresses, which include:

  • Bonnell coils: These coils are designed in an hourglass shape, joined and moved together as a single unit.
  • Continuous coils: These coils form rows of coils designed from a single wire that give you solid support but provide more motion transfer.
  • Offset coils: Offset coils resemble Bonnell coils but have been altered to provide more motion isolation.

Why Choose Hybrid Mattresses?

  • Supportive: The innerspring base of hybrid mattresses is pretty supportive for your body while you’re lying on the mattress. Also, the coils give the mattress a really sturdy feel along the edges, so you don’t feel like you’re sinking.
  • Contouring: Hybrid mattresses typically include memory foam in the comfort layer, which gives the mattress the ability to contour your body shape. This feature additionally helps alleviate pressure in different areas of your body.
  • Isolates Motion: The memory foam inside the hybrid mattresses is included to absorb shock and reduce motion transfer, making it ideal for couples. Having memory foam in the comfort layer of this mattress can eliminate the possibility of motion happening on one side of the bed being felt on the other side.
  • Responsiveness: The innerspring core in this type of mattress adds more responsiveness, meaning that the mattress can quickly adjust to your movements. This makes it super easy for you to move around on the mattress and get out of bed.

Why Avoid Hybrid Mattresses?

  • Costly: Hybrid mattresses typically cost more than any other type of mattress and can be found at an average of $1,200 to $2,000 for a queen-sized mattress, which can be quite costly to some. But there are plenty of companies that offer this kind of mattress, and you might find it on sale or at a discounted price.
  • Heavy: Hybrid mattresses are pretty heavy and bulky compared to other types of mattresses because of the innerspring core. This makes the mattress difficult for you to handle and ship from one place to another, increasing shipping costs. Avoid buying this mattress if you’re considering getting it for an older adult because it will be problematic for them to set up.
  • Not that bouncy: Hybrid mattresses are not nearly as springy as innerspring mattresses due to the foam comfort layer on top of the springs. For those who enjoy the added support that bounciness offers, the fact that it takes much more pressure to feel the bounce can be a drawback.
  • May Overheat: Hybrid mattresses are cooler than memory foam mattresses, yet they can still give you a warm effect depending on the design of the comfort layer. The thicker the comfort layer of your hybrid mattress is, the warmer it will make you feel. So, consider this point if you're a temperature-sensitive sleeper before making a purchase.

Conclusion

A hybrid mattress is a foam and spring-coiled mattress mixed into one, combining the designs and benefits of the two types in one model. Hybrid mattresses offer a wide range of benefits.

It can give you solid edge support, eliminate motion transfer, have high responsiveness, and have contouring effects.

If you prefer the comfort of foam with the bounce and support of a pocket-sprung mattress, this model is a great option.

However, the hybrid mattress has its own set of disadvantages, such as being heavy and costly. So, it’s best to take into consideration these factors when you’re out to buy a new hybrid mattress.

Dom Abraham

Editorial Director

As the lead content writer at Sleepiverse. Dom pours his heart into writing mattress reviews, bedding product reviews, and medically-reviewed health articles. Dom is from Portugal and likes to spend his free time writing on the beach as it gives him a sense of comfort. Aside from writing mattress reviews in front of the soothing beach view, Dom likes to experiment with new amazing food ideas.