Saatva Contour5 Mattress Review: Test Lab Ratings

“The Contour5 isolates motion better than the vast majority of mattresses we’ve tested, including many memory foam models. This, coupled with the sturdy edge support, makes the mattress a great option for couples.” – Brad

The Saatva Contour5 significantly isolates motion. This puts it in line with many of the best mattresses for couples. The foam core, thick comfort system, and generous use of memory foam absorb the vast majority of vibrations when a sleeper moves, preventing their partner from experiencing motion transfer.

Our vibration sensor picked up very little movement when we dropped a kettlebell on one side of the bed, and our testers also reported experiencing little to no motion transfer.

“The medium firm Contour5 provides excellent pressure relief — there’s a close contour, but not too much sink beneath the midsection. We didn’t rate the firm model as highly but it’s still above-average thanks to the thick foam layers.” – Jeremy

One of the most popular attributes of most memory foam mattresses is their close-conforming pressure relief, and the Saatva Contour5 follows suit. Its two layers of memory foam combine to total 4.5 inches, leaving ample room to sink into the surface. The close hug then redistributes a sleeper’s body weight, reducing how much pressure buildup they experience.

As we expected, the medium firm (6) version outperformed the firm (8) option in our pressure relief testing. However, our pressure mapping showed that both options spread out weight nicely, and our testing team reported that both provided sufficient pressure relief for comfort.

“For a memory foam mattress, the Contour5 sleeps pretty cool. The phase change infusion helps a lot, as does the aerated memory foam layer just beneath the surface. You might notice some heat buildup, but probably not to the degree where it affects your sleep.” – Colin

The best cooling mattresses rarely contain thick memory foam comfort systems due to the material’s tendency to retain heat, but the Contour5 is able to buck that trend by incorporating several features designed for cooling. The polyfoam layer in the center third of the bed contains phase change material engineered to regulate temperature. Meanwhile, the top layer of memory foam incorporates ventilation channels and a gel infusion intended to dissipate heat.

Our temperature readings showed less lingering body heat than we’d expect from the average memory foam mattress. Additionally, our testers reported remaining at a comfortable temperature throughout our evaluations.

“I was really impressed with the firm Contour5’s edge support — despite the all-foam design, there’s a fair amount of pushback and I didn’t sink much. You’ll notice a little more compression with the medium firm model, though.” – Brad

While many all-foam models feel unsupportive around the perimeter, the Saatva Contour5 Mattress has decent edge support. The thick memory foam comfort system molds to the sleeper’s shape without collapsing under their weight, which can make it easier to use the full mattress surface comfortably.

In our tests, team members noted that the perimeter of the firm (8) felt significantly more secure than the medium firm (6). That said, most of our team members could sit or lie along the edge of both models without feeling like they might slip off.

“There’s a little resistance when you move on the Contour5, but the top layer is pretty responsive. You don’t get the same level of bounce as you would from a hybrid or innerspring, but this mattress is much easier to move across than the average foam model.” – Jeremy

The Saatva Contour5 Mattress is relatively easy to move on. Since memory foam molds to the body and is slow to regain its shape, many models that use the material impede movement. However, the Contour5 Mattress incorporates enough faster-responding polyfoam to counteract this effect. Its two firmness options are also toward the higher end of the average firmness range, preventing excessive sinkage that could otherwise restrict movement.

Our testers didn’t struggle to move across the surface of either mattress firmness, but those over 230 pounds noted that changing positions on the medium firm (6) version was a bit more difficult.

“Off-gassing is pretty strong for the first 48 hours. This is to be expected of a foam mattress, but once the smells clear out there shouldn’t be any long-term issues.” – Colin

The Saatva Contour5 Mattress is likely to have a mild odor when you first unpack it. This is typical with foam models since leftover volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from manufacturing may linger in the material. VOCs are thought to be harmless, but they emit a chemical odor.

The Contour5 uses CertiPUR-US certified foam, which is third-party tested to confirm it is low in VOCs. When we unpacked the mattress in our testing lab, team members noticed a mild to moderate odor. The medium firm (6) seemed to let off a slightly stronger smell than the firm (8), but both aired out nearly completely within a couple of days.