Best Mattress for College Students

Amerisleep AS2

Labeled as the “Best Mattress for Back Pain” by Business Insider, our AS2 is a 12-inch memory foam bed specifically designed for back and stomach sleepers. The medium-firm mattress supplies a steady yet soft feel fit to protect your spine’s alignment and relieve pressure.

Beneath our ultra-breathable cover is a 2-inch comfortable pressure-relieving surface constructed from Bio-Pur®.

This plush material is immediately followed by a 3-inch Affinity transition layer with HIVE® technology. Innovative HIVE® technology shapes the Affinity foam into hundreds of strategically shaped hexagons, creating a zoned-support system to prevent and alleviate back pain.

Last but certainly not least, is a 7-inch Bio-Core® layer. This sturdy base foam reinforces the top two layers, ensuring long-lasting support, comfort, and pain relief.

Amerisleep AS3

The Amerisleep AS3 offers sleepers a dream-like balance of soft and supportive, making it our best selling bed. While fit for most sleepers, the improved pressure relief from 12 inches of medium-feel memory foam has proven especially beneficial to combination and side sleepers.

The AS3 has a slightly thicker comfort layer. 3 inches of Bio-Pur® material produces cloud-like comfort with notable contouring and cushioning capabilities.

Sleeper’s may feel nothing but soft foam. However, 2 inches of Affinity material with HIVE® technology maintains deliberate support while the 7-inch Bio-Core® base contributes to the durability of our highly-revered mattress.

AS3 Hybrid

Like its memory foam alternative, this medium-feel mattress is a great option for side and combination sleepers. The AS3 Hybrid features a methodical combination of foam and coils.

3 inches of a Bio-Pur® comfort layer and 8 inches of pocketed coils make for a soft yet springy bed. The additional support of the coils may prove useful to average weight and heavy sleepers. However, petite sleepers may benefit from the extra give of our memory foam version.

This hybrid mattress is also fit for high-temperature sleepers. Unlike traditional innerspring mattresses, the coils are disconnected and individually wrapped in fabric. Spaced coils not only encourage constant airflow but isolate motion much easier than the connected coils on a traditional innerspring bed. When you toss and turn on an innerspring mattress, its linked coils bounce together, easily transferring your movement across the bed.

The AS3 is complete with a 1-inch thick Bio-Core® base, ensuring it to be a high-quality mattress.

Amerisleep AS4

The AS4 is a 12-inch, medium-soft memory foam mattress offering ample pressure-relief without causing excessive sinkage. This mattress’s thicker comfort layer is a better choice for combination and side sleepers seeking a softer mattress because it allows for extra cushioning of the shoulders and hips.

Crafted from 4-inches of Bio-Pur® material, this mattress has the thickest top layer Amerisleep offers. Its especially plush surface effortlessly contours and cushions the body.

It has only 1-inch of Affinity with HIVE® technology keeping the mattress soft while providing appropriate support. The AS3 also has a 7-inch base layer of Bio-Core® to prevent the sagging often associated with soft memory foam mattresses.

Amerisleep AS5

Soft mattresses are typically designed to meet the needs of lightweight sleepers (anyone weighing less than 130 pounds). However, the AS5 was created to offer heavier sleepers a soft memory foam mattress with enough support to keep their body from dipping too far into the bed, making it our most advanced option. Standing 14 inches tall, it is our thickest and softest mattress.

Like the AS3, this mattress has a 3-inch cushiony Bio-Pur® top layer, a 2-inch Affinity transition layer with HIVE® technology, and a 7-inch stable Bio-Core® base. So what sets it apart?

A 2-inch layer of bouncy Active Flex rests between the Bio-Pur® and Affinity layer. Active Flex is a latex-like transition designed to give the soft bed a lifting feel while enhancing support. Many consumers report soft memory foam to sink excessively, making them feel “stuck” and sometimes leading to pain, but the quick responsiveness of Active Flex will curb uncomfortable sinkage, guaranteeing all-sized sleepers can enjoy the feel of a soft mattress without sacrificing support.

AS5 Hybrid

Our innovative AS5 is also available as a hybrid mattress, best fit for side, combination, or heavy sleepers.

3 inches of Bio-Pur® keep the mattress remarkably soft while 2 inches of buoyant Active Flex effortlessly adapts to your movement. These layers are followed by 8 inches of pocketed coils and a 1-inch Bio-Core® base, creating a soft, supportive, and springy mattress.

Reasons to Choose Amerisleep

At Amerisleep, we offer mattresses for shoppers seeking a high-quality bed on a tighter budget, making our beds an excellent choice for college students. Let’s discuss the unique benefits of the features we mentioned above.

Bio-Pur®

Bio-Pur® material makes up the top comfort layer in all of Amerisleep’s mattresses. This material has proven itself to be superior to traditional memory foam in terms of sustainability, breathability, and responsiveness.

Bio-Pur® is partially plant-based making it an appealing choice for eco-conscious consumers. Most memory foam mattresses are constructed from pure petroleum, but we replace a portion of this crude oil with plant-based castor oil. This practice results in a more sustainable, eco-friendly foam. The use of natural materials also lessens the irritating odor associated with new memory foam products.

This odor is the direct result of off-gassing. When the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used to create traditional memory foam begin to break down, they release a disturbing scent into the air. If you are sensitive to smells or simply don’t want to fill your new dorm room with this alarming aroma, Bio-Pur® material may prove beneficial to you.

Most appealing to hot sleepers, Bio-Pur® has an open-cell structure. An open-cell structure leaves space between the foam’s particles, allowing air to flow freely through our top layer and in turn, reducing body heat retention. This additional space also makes the foam less dense, meaning it quickly bounces back to its original shape so you never feel stuck. Bio-Pur®’s open-cell design eases movement making it ideal for college athletes with consistently sore muscles or restless sleepers frequently switching positions.

Affinity Layer with HIVE® Technology

The Affinity layer with HIVE® technology serves as a transition from the top comfort layer to the bottom support layer in all of our memory foam mattresses. This foam layer has been refined to meet the needs of anyone with pain seeming to worsen while asleep or upon waking.

Like Bio-Pur®, Affinity material has an open-cell design permitting constant airflow necessary to cool off hot sleepers. The breathable foam is then purposefully shaped to provide targeted support. Here’s how it works.

HIVE® technology forms Affinity foam into hundreds of hexagon cutouts that are strategically placed into five comfort zones: the head, back, shoulders, hips, and feet.

The hexagons are compact beneath your head, back, and feet. When pressure is applied, they do not easily expand. Rather, they push back against these areas, maintaining the neutral position of your spine.

However, the hexagons below your shoulders and hips are spread farther apart. When you lie down, the foam layer will surround and cushion these heavy areas, relieving any pressure they may otherwise place on your back.

Bio-Core® Layer

This is the support core found in all of our mattresses. The main purpose of this dense material is to uphold the foam layers above it, but it also curbs excessive sinking as well as premature sagging and soft-spots. Our Bio-Core® layer results in long-lasting mattresses, allowing us to grant industry-leading warranty coverage.

Warranty and Sleep Trial

We offer our customers a 20-year warranty, guaranteeing your mattress will last through your college years.

During the first decade, we will replace any Amerisleep mattress displaying a defect covered by your warranty free of charge. During the second decade, we will replace it for half the price you paid.

Although memory foam mattresses are a specialty of ours, we recognize many consumers worry they will exhibit premature sagging. That’s why we cover sagging above an inch.

In addition to a two-decade warranty, we also extend a risk-free, 100-night sleep trial to our customers. If you and your mattress just don’t mesh, we will facilitate a full refund and help you donate the mattress to a charitable organization in your area.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a New Mattress for College

Finding the right mattress is usually dependent on the type of sleeper you are, but college complicates mattress selection. We are forced to consider mattress size and how in the world we’re going to get it up to our dorm room. Let’s discuss how to find the best mattress based on your specific sleeping habits as well as the limitations set by your college circumstances.

Mattress Size

More often than not, dorm rooms fit two twin or twin XL mattresses, so if you are living on campus, these sizes may be your only options. If you are a new college student, we suggest contacting your campus housing facility to ensure you purchase the correct sized bed.

Transporting Your New Mattress

An overlooked but significant obstacle many college students face is transporting their mattresses. Many students attend college out of state and are required to fit the majority of their life into a car. If this is the case, consider purchasing a mattress in a box—a mattress compressed and packaged into a compact and easy to carry box.

All of Amerisleep’s mattresses are placed in a 16”x16”x44” box and take only 24 hours to expand.

Note: You can still sleep on our Amerisleep bed in a box mattresses before the 24-hour mark without causing any damage to the foam layers, please do keep in mind though that the mattress may not feel as comfortable as it will once fully expanded.

Sleeping Position

Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is the most common. This position places the majority of your body weight on the hips and shoulders. Since these are already heavy body parts, a mattress capable of relieving these areas is necessary for pain-free sleep. For that reason, we suggest a medium mattress. Medium feels are soft enough to cushion your hips and shoulders but sturdy enough to maintain optimal spinal alignment.

Back Sleepers

If you are a back sleeper, we advise a medium-firm mattress, ideally one with zoned-support targeting your head, back, shoulders, and hips. This type of mattress will push back against your torso and head, safeguarding the natural curve of your spine. The softer sections of the mattress will surround and relieve the weight of your hips and shoulders, preventing them from placing excess pressure on your lower back.

Stomach Sleepers

We strongly recommend avoiding stomach sleeping because it can strain your neck and back, but if you cannot, opt for a firmer mattress. Stomach sleepers tend to place the most pressure on their hips, knees, and chest. These areas deeply descend into a mattress too soft, causing your spine to settle into an unnatural arch, resulting in morning pain.

Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers are also extremely common. If you roll from your back to side to stomach throughout the night, a medium mattress will supply an optimal level of comfort. Medium mattresses are the perfect balance of soft and supportive, so no matter how you end up you will experience significant pressure relief while maintaining the neutral position of your spine.

Body Type

• Light weight sleepers (less than 130 pounds): If you weigh less than 130 pounds, we advise medium to soft mattresses. It will be difficult for anything firmer to react to and relieve the heaviest parts of your body. Instead, your lower back will carry the weight, potentially causing pain.
• Average weight sleepers (130 to 230 pounds): Average weight sleepers should use a medium or firm mattress. To determine your ideal firmness level, contemplate your sleeping position as well.
• Heavy sleepers (more than 230 pounds): Heavy sleepers apply more pressure on a mattress, causing areas that should remain elevated to sink. For this reason, we recommend a firm mattress for heavy sleepers. A firm mattress will adequately respond to a heavy sleeper’s hips and shoulders while keeping their head, back, and feet supported.

Still, some heavy sleepers report firm mattresses to be too hard for them. If this is the case, browse for a mattress with a response layer like Active Flex. A bouncy layer will quickly absorb and release pressure, allowing heavy sleepers to reap the benefits of a soft mattress without losing support.

FAQs

Can I bring my own mattress to college?

The bedding items you are allowed to bring to college will depend on your living circumstances. Many dorm rooms supply a mattress. However, dorm mattresses are often used and in unsatisfactory condition. If you find this to be true, you can ask your campus housing if you may substitute their supplied mattress with your own.

What is the difference between a twin and twin XL bed?

Twin XL mattresses are 5 inches longer than twin mattress. Their extended length makes them an ideal choice for single adult sleepers on a tight budget. When using a Twin XL mattress, remember twin sized bedding will be a tight fit.

Should I get a mattress topper for college?

If you are not allowed to supply your own mattress, we strongly recommend investing in a mattress topper for college. Mattress toppers are comfort layers you place on top of your bed to increase or decrease its firmness. A used dorm room mattress will more than likely be depleted in either comfort or support and a mattress topper is an easy way to enhance it.

How can I make my college mattress more comfortable?

To make your college mattress more comfortable begin by adding a mattress topper. This will add an adequate amount of comfort and support. You can complete your bed with high-quality bed sheets and a pillow sized for your mattress both of which are just as crucial to good sleep.

How do I choose a good mattress?

Mattress selection requires methodical and individualized research and if you’re reading this post, you’re probably in the middle of it. The easiest way to choose the best mattress is to analyze your sleeping position and body type. Once you have found a mattress recommended for the type of sleeper you are, we suggest finding one with a sleep-trial so if you find it isn’t the best choice, you can return it and continue shopping.

Conclusion

Your college years don’t have to be filled with uncomfortable mattresses and a lack of sleep, both of which have become a norm. In fact, a good night’s sleep may be the single most important thing for college students. Without it, their academic performance, physical health, and ability to cope with stress are put at risk. The easiest way to find quality sleep is to invest in a mattress fit to meet your unique needs. The right mattress will undoubtedly increase your chances of success in college and we encourage you to find it by following the advice of this article.