Written by Lisa Bowman, Fortune Recommends Sleep Writer
Nectar launched in 2016 with the aim of providing Americans with comfy and affordable memory foam mattresses. The first mattress produced was the all-foam Nectar Classic, with its hybrid sister, the Nectar Classic Hybrid, appearing in 2022. This is the cheapest of Nectar’s hybrid offerings, which also include the Nectar Premier Hybrid and Nectar Luxe Hybrid.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Nectar Classic Hybrid to help you decide if it deserves your shortlist. Our team of experts has spent hours scrutinizing this bed, assessing it for key factors like comfort, responsiveness, how well it supports different body types and sleeping styles, the level of pressure relief offered, what cooling materials are used, and if it’s suitable for couples. Read on for our extensive review to discover if this could be the best mattress for you.
Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress
Key product features
What you should know
The 12-inch Nectar Hybrid combines gel memory foam, polyfoam, and coils to provide a comfortable yet supportive sleeping experience. Its versatile, medium-firm feel suits a wide variety of sleepers.
- Although this bed contains memory foam, it only has a thin layer, so it offers minimal sinkage with an ‘on top of’ the bed feel rather than the deep hug of a traditional memory foam bed.
- At $1,483 for a queen, we believe this bed offers good value. It’s made with durable materials, has a generous 365-night trial and Forever Warranty™, sturdy support, great edge support, and excellent motion isolation.
- Our testers believe back and stomach sleepers will get the most out of this supportive mattress, although some heavier sleepers may require a firmer mattress.
- Couples may love this bed’s great edge support, motion isolation, versatile feel, and cooling capabilities.
- This bed has a breathable, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial cover that allows heat to escape and prevents the build-up of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress overview
The Nectar Hybrid is a 12-inch mattress made up of layers of foam and a coil support unit, which we found to have a medium-firm feel. It starts with a breathable, moisture-wicking cover that disperses body heat to help keep you cool. While the cover doesn’t feel particularly luxe, it’s soft, has good stretch, and contains an antimicrobial treatment, which adds durability.
This is followed by a one-inch layer of therapeutic gel memory foam for pressure relief and contouring. This foam has a slow response time, allowing for an element of sinkage, although as this memory layer is shallow, we found our body didn’t sink as much as it might in a traditional memory foam bed. However, if you love a deep memory foam hug, this may not be the bed for you—our testers reported feeling more on top of the bed in a gentle cradle.
The next layer features three inches of dynamic response poly foam that has a faster response time than the layer above. This helps the bed adapt to your movements and keep your spine supported. The bed’s main support unit is the innerspring layer, featuring eight-inch tall individually pocketed coils that support your body, push back against the slow response foam, and minimize motion transfer. Two layers of stronger coils around the perimeter of the bed give the mattress strong edge support, which allows you to sleep and sit close to the edge securely. This sits on top of a thin poly foam base layer that provides support and durability for the rest of the bed. The mattress’s side has handles that make it easier to move when needed. This feature is handy as the mattress weighs around 101 pounds for a queen size.
Despite having a top layer of slow response memory foam, we found this bed fairly easy to move around on as the springy coil unit and dynamic response foam push back against the memory layer, offering a small element of bounce. Plus, the minimal sinkage leaves you feeling more on top of the bed than ‘in’ it, allowing for ease of movement. This could appeal to combination sleepers and people with mobility issues who may want a foam-like feel without being stuck. However, if you’re looking for a super bouncy bed, the Nectar Hybrid may not be the one.
We think this bed could work well for many sleepers, although we don’t think it’s a plush enough mattress for side sleepers, who may experience uncomfortable pressure build-up in this position. As lighter sleepers don’t have as much body weight to activate the comfort layer, they should note that they may experience the bed as firm rather than medium-firm. Although this bed has great support thanks to the dense foam and sturdy coil unit, certain heavier-weight sleepers may require something firmer to prevent their hips from bottoming out, which can cause aches and pains. (1)
Cooling is provided by the breathable cover and coil unit that allows for airflow. Nectar claims the cover is cool to the touch, which we only slightly experienced—it wasn’t especially cool, but it didn’t retain heat. Foam has a tendency to trap heat due to its density, but this bed manages to keep its cool as it only has four inches of foam above the coil unit. We think the majority of sleepers should manage to stay cool on the Nectar Hybrid, although particularly hot sleepers may disagree.
Mattresses containing synthetic foams have a high potential for off-gassing, which is the odor associated with releasing chemicals from the foams. These chemicals are called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and while they can smell a bit pungent and linger for days, they’re considered harmless to human health. (2) Thankfully, we didn’t notice much off-gassing with this bed, which is great for sensitive noses as it means you can sleep on it that night.
At $1,483 for a queen, we think this bed is pretty good value. It’s made with quality, durable materials, has great edge support and motion isolation and comes with a generous 365-night trial and Forever Warranty™.
What customers are saying
The Nectar Hybrid has many customer reviews on Amazon, with the majority being positive and raving about how comfortable the mattress is.
“Last night was our first night using the bed, almost like sleeping on a cloud. I could feel my body being supported properly all night long. Both my husband, who has back problems, and I said it was the best sleep we’ve had in a long time. No aches and pains when we woke up.”
”EarthMommaIN,” Amazon customer
Another customer, Jeremy de Armond, commented that they’re “sleeping better and feeling better” since sleeping on the Nectar Hybrid. They write: “My whole skeleton seems like it’s moving back into a more normal position. We’ve needed a new bed for a long time.”
Some reviews mention the bed’s weight, which is fairly heavy at 101 pounds for a queen. This may be too heavy for some people to install on their own, so Nectar’s white glove delivery, which costs 199 dollars for in-home set up, could be a good option for these customers.
A number of negative reviews complain about the bed’s edge support, with an anonymous Amazon customer writing: “I’m sleeping better at times, but it’s so soft on the edges I feel like I’m holding on for dear life. I keep waking up in a panic.” In contrast to this review, our testers found the bed to have good edge support, so this may depend on your body weight.
Specs
| Price (queen) | $1,483 |
| Material | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium-firm |
| Height | 12” tall |
| Weight (queen) | 101 lbs |
| Adjustable base compatible | Yes |
| Trial period | 365 nights |
| Warranty | Forever Warranty™ |
| Shipping | Free within the contiguous U.S., $250 to Alaska and Hawaii, white glove delivery is available for $199 |
| CertiPUR-US® certified | Yes |
| Made in the USA | No |
Our Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress experience
Pressure relief
With only a thin 1-inch layer of gel memory foam, the Nectar Hybrid doesn’t excel at pressure relief, which may be an issue for some side sleepers, as pressure can build up at the hips and shoulders. Our tester found their hips sank deeper than their shoulders when sleeping on the side, leading to a misaligned spine and discomfort at the shoulders. A poorly aligned spine can cause pain and lower-quality sleep. (1, 12)
Support
Experts generally recommend medium-firm mattresses like the Nectar Hybrid to help alleviate back pain. (3) Our testers loved the body contouring feel of this mattress while back sleeping, reporting that their spines felt in alignment with weight evenly distributed, which can help alleviate aches and pains. (1) Stomach sleeping was also comfortable, with the coil unit providing ample support to lift the hips. However, we’re not sure that this bed will provide enough support for heavier stomach sleepers, who may require a firmer bed to keep their hips lifted in this sleeping position.
Cooling
Memory foam is made of a dense, synthetic material that doesn’t allow for much airflow, which means it can trap body heat and raise your body temperature, potentially disrupting your sleep. (4) The Nectar Hybrid combats this by adding gel to the memory foam, which helps disperse body heat. (5) Plus, the upper foam layers in this mattress are only four inches thick in total, which means there’s less material to trap heat, and the coil unit below also helps to keep the bed breezy.
The moisture-wicking cover feels slightly cool to the touch and is made from a breathable fabric that allows heat to escape from the layers beneath. There’s also not a lot of sinkage in this bed, which leaves more of your body’s surface area exposed to cooling air.
Overall, our testers found this bed to be pleasant for temperature regulation and think all but the sweatiest of sleepers should feel comfortable. If you’re concerned about sleeping too hot, check out the Nectar Premier Hybrid. The brand claims this mattress is 60 percent cooler than the Classic Hybrid, or the Nectar Luxe Hybrid, which is said to offer twice as much cooling as the Classic.
Bounce
This bed features a springy coil unit and a layer of dynamic response foam, but the top layer of slow-sinking memory foam muffles most of the springiness from these layers. It’s got a slight bounce that prevents you from feeling stuck in the bed, but it’s certainly not a bouncy mattress. So, if you prefer your bed to have trampoline-like qualities, we wouldn’t recommend the Nectar Hybrid.
Motion isolation
A bed with good motion isolation prevents movement from traveling from one side of the bed to the other, which is important if you share your bed and don’t want to be disturbed by your partner or pet wriggling around. The Nectar Hybrid has a top layer of slow-response memory foam that muffles movement from the dynamic response foam and coil unit, giving it excellent motion isolation. Our testers reported very little motion, which makes this a great mattress for couples.
Edge support
Edge support is important if you share your bed as it allows you to use the whole surface area without feeling like you’re going to roll off. People with mobility issues also need good edge support as it provides a secure perimeter when getting in and out of bed. Our testers reported minimal compression when sitting on the edge, which makes sense as there’s not a huge amount of foam on this bed. They felt slightly less secure when laying close to the side, but not enough to bother them; this bed has great edge support.
Performance for couples
With great cooling, excellent motion isolation, and good edge support, we think this mattress could be a solid choice for couples. It’s also easy to move around on and has a slight bounce, which could make it a decent mattress for sex. Plus, its medium-firm feel is incredibly versatile, which can be important for co-sleepers of different shapes and sizes who need to compromise regarding firmness. However, some heavier sleepers may require a firmer bed to provide the required support, while lighter sleepers should note that they’ll experience this bed as firmer than average.
Shipping
The Nectar Hybrid is delivered to your door compressed in a box. Shipping is free to the contiguous United States, with a $250 fee for shoppers in Alaska and Hawaii. A queen-size mattress weighs 101 pounds, which may be too heavy for some people to maneuver. Luckily, Nectar offers a white glove delivery service for an additional $199 per heavy item. This includes in-home set-up and old mattress removal.
Trial and warranty
Buying a bed online is always a bit of a risk, but Nectar offers a generous 365-night trial with this bed. You can return it for free at any point within the trial, so long as you’ve owned it for at least 30 days. Nectar’s Forever Warranty™ means you’ll receive a new mattress in the first 10 years if defects are due to materials or workmanship. After 10 years, the mattress will be repaired.
How we rated the Nectar Classic Hybrid
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress in categories such as materials, comfort, cooling, and support. Hover over the icons to learn more about these different topics, or scroll down for a more detailed analysis on each one.
Compare the Nectar Classic Hybrid
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| Nectar Classic Hybrid | Nectar Premier Hybrid | Nectar Luxe Hybrid | Nectar Classic Memory Foam | |
| Rating | ||||
| Best for | Back and stomach sleepers | Combination sleepers | Hot sleepers | Memory foam lovers |
| Price (queen) | $1,483 | $2,017 | $2,076 | $1,387 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam |
| Trial period | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights |
Who is the Nectar Hybrid best for?
The Nectar Classic Hybrid is an excellent fit for many sleepers as it has a versatile, medium-firm feel. We think it’s supportive enough for most people, as it has dense foams and a strong coil support layer. However, some sleepers on the heavier end of the scale may need a firmer bed to properly align their spine. Lighter sleepers have less body weight to sink through the layers, which means they’ll likely find this bed feels much firmer than medium-firm—this could work for light back and stomach sleepers who love a harder bed. We don’t think this bed offers enough sinkage and pressure relief for most side sleepers, who might prefer a softer bed to avoid aches and pains at the shoulders and hips.
Nectar Hybrid vs. memory foam
The Nectar Classic Hybrid is the hybrid version of Nectar’s flagship product, the Nectar Classic, which is an all-foam. Both beds have 12-inch profiles, a breathable cover, a one-inch layer of therapeutic gel memory foam, and a three-inch layer of dynamic response poly foam. However, the memory foam version features a conventional foam support layer rather than the coil unit in the hybrid model. This provides slightly less support but more pressure relief, which could appeal to lighter sleepers and side sleepers. The memory foam model is also cheaper at $1,387 for a queen, compared to $1,483 for a hybrid queen.
Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress pricing
| Size | Price |
| Twin | $1,013 |
| Twin XL | $1,096 |
| Full | $1,338 |
| Queen | $1,483 |
| King | $1,785 |
| California King | $1,785 |
| Split King | $2,326 |
Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress trial and warranty
The Nectar Classic Hybrid comes with a lengthy 365-night trial that gives you a whole year to decide if it’s the mattress for you. However, Nectar requires you to have owned the mattress for at least 30 nights before initiating a return, as mattresses can take a few weeks to break in.
Nectar’s Forever Warranty™ covers you for manufacturing defects with workmanship and materials for the entire life of the mattress. In the first 10 years of ownership, the mattress will be replaced with a new one, and after 10 years, it will be repaired.
How to choose the right mattress for you
Getting enough quality sleep is essential for good mental and physical health, and your mattress can play a big part in this. (6, 7, 11) What works for one person may not be right for another, so it’s important to consider the following when choosing a new mattress:
Mattress type
The main types of mattresses are innerspring, foam, hybrid (a combination of innerspring and foam), and latex, a foam or hybrid featuring natural or synthetic latex layers. You can even buy fancy, adjustable air beds that allow you to adjust the firmness level. There are almost limitless variants within each category. Foam beds tend to excel at pressure relief, sinkage, and motion isolation, while beds featuring an innerspring usually offer superior support, bounce, and cooling.
Firmness
Firmness is subjective as different body weights experience mattresses differently. For example, lighter sleepers may find mattresses feel firmer as they have less body weight to push down into the layers, while heavier people will sink further, experiencing the same mattress as much softer. However, manufacturers give a general idea of firmness based on the average body weight. Finding the correct firmness for you means a comfortable and supportive mattress, allowing your spine to sit in its natural position, which should diminish skeletal pain and promote better sleep. (1)
Sleeping position
Your preferred sleeping position will dictate the sort of mattress you need—stomach sleepers require a more supportive sleeping surface to help keep the hips elevated in line with the spine. In contrast, side sleepers often prefer softer mattresses with deeper sinkage to avoid uncomfortable pressure build-up at the hips and shoulders. Back sleepers are often recommended medium-firm mattresses to help distribute body weight more evenly. (3)
The best mattress for combination sleepers will cater to each position. If you move around a lot during the night, choosing a responsive mattress that allows you to move easily is best. Studies show that sleeping on a responsive surface (rather than one with deep, slow-moving sinkage) uses less muscle activity when switching positions, which promotes more restorative sleep. (8)
Body temperature
If you live in a warm climate or often wake up in sweat, you must choose a mattress that promotes temperature regulation, as being too hot can negatively impact sleep quality. (4) Hybrids often sleep cooler as their coil units allow air to circulate, which helps disperse heat. However, this can be affected by the types of foams used in the comfort layers. Hot sleepers should look for mattresses with open-cell foams that allow heat to escape better than more dense foams or foams with phase-change materials that prevent heat from being trapped. (9, 5)
Research also shows that beds with more responsive surfaces are better at regulating temperature, as they keep the body on top of the bed, exposing it to more air. (10) Check out our pick of the best cooling mattresses if you’re a particularly sweaty sleeper.
Couples
If you share your bed with a partner, you should look for a mattress that’s a good compromise for both your body weights and sleeping styles. Some companies even offer split mattresses that allow you to have a different firmness on each side. Two bodies in a bed can raise the temperature, so a mattress with good cooling technology may be essential. If you prefer to spread out rather than spoon in the middle, make sure your new bed has good edge support, which allows you to use the whole surface area. Light sleeper? A mattress with great motion isolation should prevent you from being disturbed if your partner tosses and turns.
FAQs
How firm is the Nectar Hybrid?
The Nectar Classic Hybrid is a medium-firm mattress with the most versatile firmness rating. However, mattress firmness can be subjective depending on body weight. Lighter people often experience mattresses as firmer, while heavier people will find the same mattress feels softer.
How long does the Nectar Hybrid last?
The Nectar Hybrid is built to last, with durable, quality materials and workmanship. Your Nectar should last you at least 10 years, as it comes with a Forever Warranty™ that will replace the mattress with a new one should any manufacturing defects occur. After this period, the mattress will be repaired.
Our experts
Lola Ravid, BSN, RN
Lola Ravid is a Registered Nurse with a Public Health Certification who is passionate about research and education. She has over ten years of combined experience working with children and caregivers in hospitals and public schools. Her experience as a nurse, combined with her love for bridging health and educational gaps, inspired her to become a writer. She writes with an evidence-based approach to encourage and elevate the art of informed decision-making.
Krista Manning
Krista Manning is an accomplished medical copy editor and fact-checker who stands out in the pharmaceutical, health, and wellness domains. With a meticulous eye for detail and a command of medical language, Krista ensures the accuracy and clarity of content. Beyond her professional expertise, Krista is an advocate for mental health awareness. Recognizing the crucial intersection of psychological and physical well-being, she actively contributes to projects that promote mental health awareness within the healthcare narrative. Krista’s commitment extends beyond the pages she edits, emphasizing the holistic nature of health communication.
Lisa Bowman
Fortune Recommends Sleep Writer
About Author
Lisa is a sleep writer for Fortune Recommends, which combines two of her greatest passions – writing and sleeping. She can also be found writing about fitness, sustainability, and vegan food.
Her life revolves around her two rescue dogs (who she shares her bed with) and if she’s not running around after them, she’s likely doing yoga, buying new plants, or enjoying a sunset rum at the beach.