Published on Oct. 14, 2024
Trying to decide between Saatva and Avocado mattresses? We’ve tested mattresses from both brands. Here’s how to decide which is better for you.
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Choosing the right mattress—especially when shopping online—can be a nightmare. There are countless retailers, all of which make bold claims about things like comfort, technology and luxury materials. With so many big-brand bedding companies claiming to be the best, how do you decide which mattress to go with? Don’t fret; we’ve got you covered like a cozy comforter.
In order to help you choose the best mattress, we tested the Saatva Classic Mattress and the Avocado Ultimate Organic Mattress for more than 365 nights. We also tapped Derek Hales, Founder and CEO of NapLab who has tested over 390 mattresses and hundreds of other sleep products. Here’s everything we learned.
Saatva’s motto is “premium quality without traditional retail markups.” By cutting out the middleman, Saatva can offer direct-to-you pricing and luxury products at a much lower price than other luxury retailers.
Avocado’s mission is to make healthy sleep accessible and affordable to all. Avocado’s luxury mattresses are handcrafted in Los Angeles using 100% certified organic and non-toxic materials.
Saatva offers luxury beds at affordable prices
Contouring memory foam, cooling technology and moisture-wicking organic cotton make this mattress topper ideal for hot sleepers.
A combination of latex and coils makes this one of the brand's top cooling mattresses.
Avocado offers organic beds at affordable prices
The Avocado mattress topper is made with organic latex and cotton. It is available in six sizes, two heights and medium or plush feels.
This hybrid mattress offers all of the comfort and benefits of an organic mattress at an affordable price point.
Saatva and Avocado both sell high quality, non-toxic mattresses and bedding. They even sell furniture. But that’s where the similarities end.
“The biggest difference between the Avocado Ultimate Organic and Saatva Classic is simply mattress type and material construction,” says Hales. “The Avocado is an organic, all-natural latex hybrid, and the Saatva is a more traditional coil style mattress.”
Saatva makes it easy to choose a mattress that suits your individual needs as they offer a variety of luxury mattresses. Start by choosing from a classic innerspring, hybrid or foam mattress. Then choose from memory foam or latex. There are even dual-sided mattresses and mattresses designed for bigger bodies. Saatva also orders free white glove delivery and haul away service.
Avocado mattresses are made with organic latex, wool and cotton. They arrive tightly wrapped in recyclable plastic in a cardboard box which means you’ll have to haul it in and set it up yourself. They also offer a vegan mattress which is made without wool.
The Saatva Classic Mattress has a multi-layer coiled structure that starts with a pillow topper and high-density memory foam, then individually wrapped coils and a base coiled unit that allows for better airflow and a cooler night’s sleep. The layers of responsive coils reduce potential sleep disruptions caused by movement, so if you share a bed, your tossing and turning won’t disturb your partner.
As for materials, the Saatva Classic is free of fiberglass and chemical flame retardants. Plus, it’s made with an antimicrobial treatment to prevent the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. The organic cotton cover is hypoallergenic, too.
The mattress is offered in eight sizes (twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king and split California king) and has two height options: 11.5 and 14.5 inches. Additionally, there are three firmness levels to choose from: plush soft, luxury firm and firm.
Our tester, Editor Madi Koetting, picked the luxury firm model for her Saatva mattress review, which falls in the middle regarding firmness. The luxury firm feel offers plush comfort and support, which is great if you struggle with back pain. It’s also the optimal option for combo sleepers (side, stomach, back) and a good option if you and your partner desire different firmness levels.
The dual-coil design will help disperse body heat if you’re a hot sleeper. Plus, the organic cotton cover is breathable, which helps keep you cool. It’s also one-sided, so you won’t have to worry about flipping the mattress every few months.
Complimentary white glove service is included with every purchase of a Saatva mattress. The company will send a delivery team to set up your bed and remove your old mattress—free of charge. Saatva also offers a 365-night home trial, so you can return a mattress if it’s not right for you. If you fall in love with it like Koetting did, you can expect it to last for years with a lifetime warranty guarding against any defects.
“After one year of use, I can confidently say that switching from an ultra-plush memory foam bed to the Saatva luxury firm hybrid mattress was an excellent decision. I used to wake up with neck and lower back pain due to ‘sinking’ into my previous mattress, but now I wake up refreshed thanks to my Saatva bed,” Koetting says. “I also appreciate that the mattress hasn’t become super plush over time, and I rest easy knowing this investment bed will last me and my partner several years.”
“If hotel-level firmness isn’t your thing, you’re in luck,” Koetting adds. “This Saatva hybrid pick is also available in a plush soft firmness level and a firm level, which is even less plush than the luxury firm model. I highly recommend the plush soft option for sleepers who are unwilling to give up that luxurious ‘burrowing’ feeling.”
Every Avocado mattress is handcrafted using 100% certified organic materials. Unlike conventional mattresses, organic mattresses are made with natural materials like wool, cotton and latex, which ensures they’re free of potentially toxic foams, chemical fire retardants and off-gassing materials.
The Avocado Ultimate Organic Mattress has a medium-firm feel, what Avocado calls a “gentle firm.” A medium firmness level is great for anyone with back pain, stomach and side sleepers, and heavier individuals. The plush version of the mattress, which adds an extra two inches of support, is ideal for side sleepers because it provides additional pressure relief. Additionally, the innerspring layer is divided into five support zones to distribute weight evenly across the mattress, providing immediate pressure relief for the shoulders, back and hips.
Regarding temperature control, a two-inch, all-natural latex foam is a comfort layer, which most sleepers find cooler than memory foam. To add additional cooling effects, we recommend topping the mattress with a set of cooling sheets. Below the latex are individually wrapped coils to reduce motion transfer. The button-tufted top layer is crafted from soft organic cotton with moisture-wicking properties.
Editor Megan Wood used to review luxury hotel mattresses. She says, “I’ve tossed and turned on my fair share of expensive but sagging beds and woken up with an achy back.” After testing the Avocado Green mattress for more than 365 nights, she says, “Vacations aside, I’ve slept on the Avocado Green mattress for an entire year, and I’m thrilled to report that I’m just as happy with it now as I was on the first night.”
“I used to sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees for better alignment. With the Avocado Green mattress, I ditched the pillow,” Wood says. “The mattress has held up to the addition of my boyfriend and his dog on most nights. I haven’t experienced any sagging, worn spots or discomfort. And I sleep better knowing my loved ones aren’t inhaling fire retardants through the night. Sleeping with a pillow between my knees is a distant memory.”
“My only change was to invest in a mattress protector to keep the Avocado clean and free from stains and spills,” Wood adds. “I’ve recommended the Avocado to multiple friends who are also thrilled with the upgrade to better sleep with fewer chemicals.”
I asked Derek Hales—as someone who has tested both the Avocado and Saatva mattresses for himself—to pinpoint the primary differences. Here’s the bottom line regarding Saatva versus Avocado: “Avocado’s latex hybrid design gives it a more polarizing feel. Latex as a material type is highly durable, but it’s also springy, resilient, heavy and dense, and it creates a more generalized body contouring hug. This feeling is neither good nor bad, but it is specific,” he says. “To be comfortable on the Avocado matress, you’ll need to absolutely love the feel of latex.”
“The Saatva Classic is built from layers of coils and foam and designed to create a balanced and even feel that many different types of sleepers can enjoy,” he says. “It’s also available in three firmness levels, which means a wide range of people with different body types and sleeping positions will find it comfortable. In my view, Saatva Classic is a mattress made for mass appeal.”
When asked about the performance between the two, Hales said the Saatva had better cooling, higher bounce, and significantly better pressure relief. “The Avocado’s advantage is its slightly better material responsiveness (due to the latex top layers).”
According to other real-world tested customer reviews, Saatva is good for back pain, neck pain and other sleeping-related discomforts because it offers a plush feel with enough support for a wide range of sleeping positions.
According to the company website, whether you’ll need to use a box spring with your Saatva mattress depends on the base you’re putting it on. If you have a platform bed, adjustable base or an existing mattress support system that’s in good shape, you probably won’t need to purchase a new box spring.
Avocado’s long list of organic certifications includes Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program. The company has net-zero carbon emissions, making its mattresses ideal choices for eco-conscious shoppers.
At Family Handyman, we have personally tested dozens of mattresses. We’ve covered everything from the best box mattresses to the best non-toxic mattresses. And while having an excuse to catch up on our beauty sleep is a pretty cool job, our ultimate goal is to help you make informed shopping decisions based on real-life testing before you buy. We will never recommend a product that does not meet or exceed our expectations.
