Saatva positions its Contour5 as a luxurious cooling memory foam mattress with body-hugging comfort with enhanced lumbar support and cooling technology. It replaces its original all-foam Loom & Leaf mattress. I was interested in testing it out, considering that I had tried Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid years ago. The hybrid was too firm for my liking, and yet, I couldn't deny that it was very breathable and had great edge support. Although the Saatva Contour5 mattress is made entirely of memory foam, I expected it to be on the firmer side — but not as firm as a hybrid mattress, offering that "just right" feel that I like.
When I tested a queen-sized Saatva Contour5 in a medium firmness option in August in Texas, it surprised me in some ways and not in others. For one, the mattress had a softer and plusher feel, and despite its many design elements meant to make it more breathable, it retained more heat than other memory foam mattresses I've tested. At least the motion isolation was impressive.
Keep reading for my full review of the Saatva Contour5 and why choosing the right firmness option — of which there are two — can really make a difference in your sleep experience. Don't forget to look at our guides for best mattresses and Saatva mattress review guide to see how the Contour5 compares.
The Saatva Contour5 is a luxury memory foam mattress available in two firmness options. It melds various high-density, nontoxic CertiPUR-US certified memory foam layers with lumbar support infused with phase change material. It offers a soft and cozy feel and great motion isolation despite poor edge support and sleeping warmer than we expected.
- Two firmness options
- Body-hugging feel
- Great motion isolation
- May take time for your body to adjust
- Retains heat
- Poor edge support
Design
The Saatva Contour5 has seven layers and can be ordered in two firmness options — medium or firm. An organic cotton cover contributes to the mattress's breathability, while a Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, or mildew. Underneath the cover, a GREENGUARD-Gold Certified nontoxic flame barrier made with cellulose fibers covers all sides of the mattress.
The CoolVent System with Lumbar Zone PCM Matrix sits between the nontoxic barrier and the CertiPUR-US certified foam layers. This material is designed to keep the mattress's surface (and the lumbar region in particular) cooler by absorbing and dissipating body heat with phase change material. It works in conjunction with the first foam layer, a 1.5-inch gel-infused high-density memory foam layer that has channels for air to flow through.
The gel-infused memory foam layer and a three-inch layer of memory foam beneath it contribute to the body-hugging feel of the mattress, as well as the Contour5's pressure relief and support. A two-inch loft layer sits above the six-inch support foam base. This loft layer's density is what makes the mattress a medium or firm option.
Our review of the Saatva Contour5 Mattress
Delivery
All Saatva mattresses come with free white glove delivery service (that includes mattress removal at no cost) that can be scheduled at your convenience. Upon arriving, the delivery drivers moved my old mattress to another room and brought in the Contour5. I didn't notice any off-gassing smells when the plastic wrapping was removed. Setup took about 20 minutes, and I was able to sleep on the mattress immediately.
Comfort and Support
The Saatva Contour5 has a soft and plush surface that feels almost squishy when you lie down. The foam bounces back quickly, resulting in a softer contouring effect, like a cloud hugging your body.
The Saatva Contour5 comes in two different firmness options — medium or firm. I tested the medium; however, I wish I'd tested the firm. On the website, Saatva notes that the medium firmness option ranges between 5-7 on a 10-point scale, and that the firm is an 8 out of 10. I've tested my fair share of mattresses and sleep best on mattresses that are 6-7 on a firmness scale, which is why I didn't order the firm option, as an 8 sounded too firm. Unfortunately, when my Contour5 arrived, it felt more like a 5 or a 5.5 out of 10. That is still within the range that Saatva advertises, but just too soft for me.
The Saatva Contour5 medium firmness option was softer in feel than I prefer, which is not to say that it's uncomfortable. Many people will like how the medium firmness option would feel, like my mother who I had lie on the mattress. She found it more comfortable than I did, likely because she prefers softer mattresses. If this makes a difference, I'm 5'5" and 175 pounds, an average weight sleeper, while my mother skews more petite in weight at 135 pounds, but similar height. As a combination sleeper, I can sleep on my stomach, back, or side, but in my time testing the Contour5, I didn't quite find a position that I loved. Sleeping on my stomach and back resulted in my lower back and stomach sinking into the mattress and causing lower back pain. Perhaps this is why I most often slept on my side. In that position, it felt like my hips sank just enough to align my spine.
During the first week of testing, I woke up each morning with soreness across my upper and lower back. In that sense, I can't say that the mattress's pressure relief was the best. According to Saatva, it is not uncommon for people to need a few weeks to a month to adjust to the feel of their mattresses. I definitely got more used to the Contour5 as time went on; however, the medium firmness was definitely too soft for me, and I would need to exchange it for the firm option for long-term satisfaction.
Heat dissipation
Since memory foam mattresses aren't the most naturally cooling mattresses, Saatva integrated some design aspects to make the Contour5 cooler like an organic cotton cover and ventilated foam. The brand also added 1.5-inch gel-infused memory foam and phase change material to keep the surface cooler by dissipating body heat and regulating the temperature at the center of the mattress. Even with all these design elements, I slept warm on the Contour5.
I ran a temperature test to determine how well the mattress retains and disperses heat. The mattress's base reading was 79.1 degrees. After lying on it, the temperature increased to 85 degrees. Two minutes later, it dropped to 81 degrees. From the reading alone, I'd say that the mattress does a decent job dispersing heat (at least when I got off it). However, the test did not match my experience sleeping on the Contour5.
I've tested memory foam mattresses that are labeled as "cooling mattresses," and unfortunately, I did not find that to be the case with the Contour5. Most nights, I slept warm on the mattress — so not hot, but definitely not cool either. The mattress's warmth prompted me to sleep with no clothes under microfiber sheets and a lightweight comforter, with the ceiling fan and air conditioner set at 77 degrees.
Some nights, I awoke sweating, so I brought a fan into the room, but it didn't seem to make a difference. I don't have a history of sleeping warm or hot on mattresses, so I conclude that the Contour5 is not the ideal mattress for a hot sleeper. If you decide to move forward with it, you should consider cooling sheets or lowering the A/C further when you sleep.
Edge support
Great edge support can make sitting on the side of the bed and getting ready in the morning easier. Not only that, but great edge support ensures the mattress lasts longer and that you can sleep near the edge without slipping off. Most memory foam mattresses have poor edge support because they lack reinforcement, and the Saatva Contour5 was no different.
To test the edge support, I measured 24 inches between the floor of my bedroom and the top of the mattress. When I sat along the side or the foot of the bed, the mattress dipped considerably to 17 inches (a seven-inch difference), and I had to take care not to slip off.
While sleeping near the edge, I didn't feel the mattress give way. However, I tested this by aligning my body on the edge and then turning on my side. I reached about 75-80 degrees before I felt myself struggling not to fall off the bed. During this test, the mattress dipped.
Overall, I wouldn't advise sitting along the edge of the mattress, and sleeping near the edge might not be ideal for some, either.
Motion isolation
Waking up in the middle of the night because your partner changed positions is not ideal, which is why you want a mattress with fantastic motion isolation. I ran two different tests to determine the Saatva Contour5's motion isolation capabilities, and I'm happy to report that it succeeded well.
First, I had a friend get in and out of bed and change positions, and I barely felt their movement. The second test involved placing an unopened soda can in the center of the mattress and putting my phone 12 inches away. A vibrometer app ran on my phone while, on the other side of the mattress, I dropped a 15 pound dumbbell from a height of four feet, five different times. This resulted in a 2.8 mean reading on the vibrometer app and a rating of I or Instrumental, which is "only felt by animals." According to the app, the vibrations were low.
If the edge support were better, we would be able to recommend the Saatva Contour5 to couples. That said, at least you won't feel kids, partners, or pets moving that much when sleeping on this mattress.
Trial period and warranty
Saatva notes that it may take a few weeks for your body to adjust to its mattresses; however, if you want to take advantage of its 365-night sleep trial, you can. This means that you can sleep on the mattress for up to a year and return or exchange it within that time. The only drawback to their trial period is the $99 processing fee for delivery and pickup. This means if you want to exchange for a different firmness, you're also on the hook for another $99 — at least there isn't a minimum break-in period.
The lifetime warranty initially sounded great, but I found quite a few restrictions related to it. In the first two years, if you experience any defects in workmanship or materials, Saatva will replace your mattress with a new one at no cost. However, from three years and on, Saatva will repair your mattress (rather than replace it), and you'll be charged a $149 processing fee for that service. I've seen better 10-year warranties for budget and mid-range mattresses that cost a third of the price.
Most memory foam mattresses don't last more than 10 years before they break down, so if the brand only repairs your mattress after the 10-year mark, rather than replacing it, you'll probably have to use the warranty more than you expect. I doubt that the repairs will ultimately "fix" a mattress whose materials do not last longer than 10 years, which could result in body pain and poor sleep.
Saatva is also very particular about the bed frame its mattresses are used on. If the mattress has slats that are more than four inches apart, it won't be covered under the warranty. Furthermore, those who order a queen or larger, must have a bed frame with 5 or 6 legs, including a center support.
Cons to consider
Although some memory foam mattresses are fairly breathable, we couldn't say the same with the Saatva Contour5, despite the many features it has to keep sleepers cool and the brand's cooling claims. Using cotton sheets or dropping the air conditioning considerably might help, but those who sleep hot will probably do better with a hybrid version of this mattress.
Poor edge support doesn't help either. Not only will you dip far when sitting on the edge, but you might even feel the edges shift if you sleep near them. Despite having great motion isolation, the edge support makes it hard to recommend this mattress to couples.
I did not find this mattress particularly comfortable to sleep on. I woke up the first week with a sore back. However, this is likely because I tested the medium option rather than the firm option. Sometimes a better sleep experience can be had by ordering the right firmness level, and thankfully, this mattress comes in a firmer option. Too bad Saatva would charge me a processing fee to exchange the medium firmness option for a firm option.
Lastly, the Saatva Contour5 is one of the most expensive memory foam mattresses on the market, and because of its price tag, we expected it to perform high in all areas. However, users might find it difficult to invest in this mattress when there are other memory foam mattresses that are more affordable and excel in cooling and/or edge support.
What are your alternatives?
Saatva has a huge catalog of mattresses, so if you like the brand, it won't be difficult to find something that's a better fit. The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid was a bit too firm for me, but at least it does a better job with heat dispersion and allows me to sleep on my stomach or back. A few Business Insider writers are also big fans of the Saatva Classic, an innerspring mattress that isn't too soft or firm, but right in between. It's also quite breathable with excellent edge support and available in three firmness options to tailor to your needs.
If you want to stick to a memory foam mattress, back and stomach sleepers would do better with Casper's The One mattress. Not only is it considerably more affordable, but it performed well in terms of temperature regulation and motion isolation, too.
The Tempur-Pedic Cloud Mattress is rated as our best memory foam mattress and is best suited to combination sleepers. Among Tempur-Pedic mattresses, it's the brand's only option that ships in a box as opposed to white-glove delivery. The warranty is only 10 years with a shorter 90-night trial, but at least the mattress achieves great heat dissipation. The Contour5, however, is more aligned in pricing with the ProAdapt mattresses, offered in soft, medium, and firm firmnesses and a hybrid option.
For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best mattresses.
The bottom line
Although the Saatva Contour5 is branded as a cooling memory foam mattress, it does an average job in terms of breathability despite intentional design choices that should theoretically help keep you cool. That's not to say it should be overlooked since it excelled in terms of motion isolation, has a soft, body-hugging surface, and can be ordered in two firmness options to tailor to your sleep position. Included white glove delivery is also a bonus for those who don't want to struggle through setup.
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