The best mattresses for back pain

With the Sleep Number c4, you can tailor the support just the way you like it by adjusting the amount of air inside the mattress.

According to Sleep Like the Dead, people who own adjustable air mattresses report the most relief from back pain. Sleep Number mattresses contain dual air bladders, which you can easily adjust by adding or removing air to reach the perfect level of support your back needs.

The Sleep Number c4, which is one of the classic, less-expensive Sleep Number mattresses, not only lets you adjust the air fill, and thus the support level, it also has a 1-1/2-inch layer of comfort foam for even more support, and a three-zoned foam layer that is contoured to relieve pressure in your head, back, and hips. Top it all off with a breathable, knit fabric cover, and you have a mattress that treats your back right.

But what really makes Sleep Number special is that you and your sleeping partner can each tailor their side of the bed to the preferred level of firmness and support. So if you like it as firm as it gets, but your partner wants it a bit softer, no problem and no argument. Just reach for your remote controls and go to the "sleep number" you each prefer.

While there are several Sleep Number mattresses with more bells and whistles than the c4, they'll naturally cost more.

Pros: Adjustable firmness and support for both bed partners

Cons: While reasonably priced by Sleep Number standards, it's still a fairly expensive mattress

A mattress so comfortable it won the Chiropractic Seal of Approval, the Saatva Classic features two different layers of individually-wrapped coils and memory foam for great spinal support.

If you like an innerspring mattress, you like to drift off to dreamland in the highest level of comfort, and you want your back to feel its very best, it's hard to go wrong with a mattress from Saatva.

This is a mattress with every luxury. There are three firmness levels, but each mattress features individually-wrapped coils conform to your every curve while a lower layer of wrapped coils provide support and firmness. A layer of high-quality memory foam provides even more cushioning comfort, and there's a support system around the perimeter of the mattress so it won't sag when you lie or sit near the edge. Finish the whole thing off with a Euro pillow-top, and you have a mattress fit for royalty.

The Saatva mattress is so good for your back, it's been chosen as the official mattress for the Healthbridge Sleep Medicine Center, and the extra wire support for your spine contained in the mattresses' center third won it the Chiropractic Seal of Approval.

Mattress Guides reviewed the Saatva mattress extensively, giving it a 4.7-out-of-5-star rating. Buyers on Saatva's website laud the mattress for relieving back pain, providing exceptional support and comfort, and giving a great night of sleep.

Pros: Exceptional support and comfort from an innerspring mattress

Cons: Expensive

If you want to treat your back right but also want to watch your budget, you'll love Bear's reasonably priced, high-density foam mattress, which features just the right amount of bounce.

Targeted towards athletic and active people who want to keep their back and joints in tip-top shape, Bear has created a mattress that's not too firm, not too soft, but pure comfort all the way.

It has a core of high-density foam that keeps your spine aligned properly, a transition layer for just enough "bounce" to prevent pressure or pain, an upper layer of cooling graphite-gel memory foam that supports you without trapping body heat, and a woven Celliant outer cover that converts body heat into infrared light.

Sleep Advisor chose this as one of the best mattresses for back pain, saying, "The mattress does a nice job relieving pressure while also providing bounce. It has quick responsiveness with an inch of slightly slower-responding memory foam on top."

Mattress Guides also reviewed the Bear mattress, giving it high praise for comfort, reasonable price, use of mostly green materials (meaning you don't have to worry about off-gassing or toxic chemicals), and excellent support.

Pros: Reasonable price, excellent support, particularly good for active people who want to protect their back

Cons: Only comes in one level of firmness, which is medium

It was once recommended that those with back problems sleep on a very firm mattress, but that advice is long debunked. Today, back experts recommend a medium-firm mattress, which gives plenty of spine support without putting pressure on your shoulders, neck, and hips.

Three terms you'll hear bandied about quite a bit at a mattress store are firmness, supportiveness, and conformability.

• Firmness refers to how much the mattress "pushes back" against your weight. A very firm mattress pushes back a lot and keeps you above the mattress's top, while a very soft mattress pushes back a little and lets you sink down into the mattress a bit. While preference is important, for most people with bad backs, the best bet is medium-firm.
• Supportiveness refers to how well it keeps your spine in alignment while you recline. A mattress with good support helps keep your head, shoulders, hips, and back in a relaxed, neutral position with no bending, sagging, or pressure.
• Conformability is the meeting point between the mattress's firmness and supportiveness. It refers to the way the mattress conforms, or molds itself, to your body's curves. The right mattress conforms itself enough to relieve pressure on your joints without letting your back or hips sag or sink.

Whether it be memory foam, air, innerspring, or some other type, the best mattresses for back pain hit the sweet spot for all three of the above traits.

The best pillows

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Your cozy down-filled duvet needs a stylish cover to keep it clean and add some spice to your bedroom's décor. We've rounded up the best duvet covers out there, whether you're looking for a statement-making print or an easy-to-use design. See more: The best duvet covers you can buy.

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We spend nearly a third of our lifespan sleeping on our beds, so why wouldn't you want the best sheets possible? Not only do you want something soft and comfortable, but you also want something that's durable and can hold up to washes. That's why we combed through reviews, listened to opinions from bed sheet buyers, and tested sheets ourselves to compile our list. See more: The best sheets you can buy.