Nectar Classic Mattress review: One of the best mattresses you can buy for under $1,000

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In my six years as Business Insider's sleep reporter, I've tested over 100 mattresses ranging from $200 to $14,000. I've learned that to get a truly quality mattress that will last you a decade, you should expect to spend at least $1,000. That said, you can certainly get a solid night's sleep for less: Take the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress, which retails for $649 for a queen and is one of the best mattresses we've found for under $1,000. 

Nectar recently updated its entire lineup. The main differences of its flagship memory foam mattress are that the top gel foam layer is slightly thicker and the base foam layer is a little thinner. Also, the cover has a new look. Overall, though, the only difference I noticed was that the bed didn't dissipate heat as well.

Still, while testing the Nectar Classic mattress, I had some of my best nights of sleep. It's an all-around great budget option, performing well in my tests and backed by a lifetime warranty and a 365-night home trial. Its medium firmness works for all sleep styles, and couples will appreciate the motion isolation and edge support. If you're considering the Nectar, we've outlined everything you need to know before buying below.

Design

The Nectar Classic Mattress features a two-piece cover. The top is quilted poly-blend with polyethylene, designed to offer a cool-to-the-touch feel. The bottom cover keeps the foam layers in position so they don't shift. While the cover is technically removable, Nectar cautions against it because they're hard to put on again, and it voids the warranty.

The three foam layers are CertiPUR-US certified. The top layer is pressure-relieving gel memory foam. The next responsive support layer helps keep your spine aligned. The bottom motion isolation layer gives the bed durability and support.

Our review of the Nectar Classic Mattress

Setup

The Nectar Classic Mattress arrives at your door in a box the size of a mini fridge. Included are setup instructions and a letter opener-style cutter. I just dumped it out of the box onto my adjustable bed frame. Then, I carefully cut through the plastic, making sure not to damage the mattress. The whole process took less than five minutes.

There was a mild initial odor, but that dissipated, and the mattress expanded to full size by the time I went to bed 10 hours later.

If you want to skip setting the mattress up yourself, Nectar offers "Premium In-Home Setup" for $199. With this service, Nectar works with a local service provider to set up your mattress in your home and remove your old mattress.

Comfort

The Nectar Classic Mattress is medium firm. While testing it, I was most comfortable sleeping on my side, but I wasn't uncomfortable sleeping on my stomach or back. 

I sleep wearing the Garmin Forerunner 945 watch. Each morning, it assigns me a sleep score based on how much deep, REM, restless, and overall sleep I get. While testing the Nectar, my average (68) was above my overall average for the year (64), and I even had several nights in a row over 70. The bed objectively helped me sleep well.

One complaint I had with the previous Nectar was I had trouble maintaining a neutral spine and, thus, staying comfortable. The new model improves on this. Using the Mattress Checker app, I found my spine had a deviation angle of 4.5 degrees, where an angle of six or less is considered good. Subjectively, I felt more comfortable.

Heat dissipation

I use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature immediately after I get up from the bed and two minutes later.

To test heat retention, I use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the mattress right before lying down and after I get up to gauge how cool it stays. Then, I take another measurement two minutes later to assess how well it dissipates heat. The Nectar was about average in how cool it stayed, increasing by about 20 degrees, from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while I lay on it. Yet, its heat dissipation was subpar, dropping by about nine degrees in two minutes.

Subjectively, there were a few nights when I felt a little warmer than I would have liked.

Motion isolation

The Nectar Mattress passed the bowling ball test, meaning it has great motion isolation.

I measure motion isolation in two ways. I drop a bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress so that it lands a foot from a soda can. If the can stays upright, the bed has excellent motion isolation. If it falls, the motion transfer could use improvement. I also use a vibrometer to measure the vibrations on the other side of the bed.

The Nectar Classic demonstrated outstanding motion isolation by both measurements and my subjective experience. The can didn't tip when I dropped the bowling ball, and the vibrometer registered less intense vibrations than most mattresses. Based on our tests, we'd expect you're less likely to have disturbed sleep on the Nectar mattress when your partner shifts at night.

Edge support

Couples benefit from good edge support, which gives them more room to spread out comfortably. When lying on the edge of the Nectar, I felt fully supported, and I had to roll quite far before I actually fell off the bed — my standard test. I also used a yardstick to measure how much the mattress sank as I sat on it. It sank 3 inches, less than the 3.5-inch average for mattresses I've tested.

Trial period and warranty

Nectar's home trial is 365 nights and provides a "forever warranty." Several brands match these, but I don't know of any with longer trial periods or warranties.

If you choose to return your mattress during the trial period, you will receive a full refund. This is impressive, as other brands have loopholes, like return shipping or restocking fees. Nectar does not.

The warranty, however,  has loopholes, including:

• Only valid for the original purchaser of the mattress
• Void if you remove the cover
• If the mattress is over 10 years old, Nectar can repair (not replace) it and charge you shipping both ways.

Who should buy the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress?

The $649 Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress is the best mattress I've tested for under $1,000. I'd recommend you go with this bed if you have a similar budget and know you like a mattress with medium firmness or share a bed with someone else. The firmness appeals to a broad range of sleepers and the motion isolation and edge support cater to couples.

What are your alternatives?

Nectar offers its signature mattress in a hybrid version with individually wrapped pocket coils for added durability and support. The brand also has Premier, Luxe, and Ultra lines in all-foam or hybrid styles.

According to the graphic on the Nectar site, the $949 Premier offers better comfort, support, and cooling than the original. The $1,249 Luxe is designed for soft, cool comfort. The $1,799 Ultra provides zoned ergonomic support along with the best support, cooling, and comfort of the brand's offerings. We haven't tested these alternatives yet.

If I had $1,200 to spend, I'd consider the more dynamic DreamCloud Premier Hybrid. As the budget increased, I'd turn to the top three most comfortable mattresses I've ever slept on: the Leesa Sapira Hybrid, Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud, and Sleep Number i8.

If $599 is too steep, you can find other lower-priced mattresses in our best cheap mattress guide. If you're interested in mattresses with similar features, check out the best mattress for side sleepers guide. While plenty of viable and highly reviewed alternatives exist in our comprehensive best mattress guide, those looking specifically for foam mattresses like the Nectar will want to visit our best foam mattress guide. Also, check out our guides to the best mattress for back pain and the best hybrid mattress.

The bottom line

At $599, you won't find a better bed than the Nectar Classic. I've tested 13 mattresses at this price or lower, and none compare. It has excellent edge support, motion isolation, spinal alignment, and a medium firmness that will appeal to back, stomach, and side sleepers. You can return it within 365 days if you don't like it. If you do like it, you're covered for a lifetime.