Sealy Posturepedic Review: I Slept on the Plus Satisfied II Mattress for 5 Months

As a travel writer, I stay in a lot of hotels, and I can attest that no stupendous view or well-stocked minibar makes up for an uncomfortable bed. I’m also a light sleeper, with Goldilocks-level pickiness about the best mattress. But like finding the right pair of shoes, shopping for a new mattress is a highly subjective choice. We all want to get a good deal on a mattress, but the features and comfort have to be just right. And now that I’ve had a chance to test out the Sealy Posturepedic Plus, even the best hotel mattress might not measure up.

What is the Sealy Posturepedic Plus mattress?

Sealy’s Posturepedic Plus mattresses combine the support of traditional innerspring construction with comfort layers of gel foam. The Plus line of mattresses are a higher-end version of Sealy’s well-known Posturepedic line and are the most expensive of the brand’s current offerings. There are 10 innerspring mattresses in the Plus line, plus two hybrid models that incorporate spring coils and memory foam.

I was offered the opportunity to test out the Sealy Posturepedic Plus Satisfied II 13″ Ultra Firm Mattress, which is in the mid-range of the line in terms of price and features. After reviewing several options I chose the Satisfied II model because it was the firmest among those available, and supposedly a very good mattress for side sleepers and for back support. I tried a king-sized mattress, though the model is also available in twin, twin XL, full, queen and California king sizes, as well as a split California king for those with adjustable bed frames.

Courtesy Elizabeth Heath

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Sealy Posturepedic Plus mattress product features

The Posturepedic Plus Satisfied II model is an innerspring mattress. The king mattress, which measures a standard 76 x 80 inches, contains 1340 individually wrapped coils, or springs, at its lower level. The coils are topped with several proprietary gel foam layers, starting with the Sealy Support Gel Foam over the coils.

On top of that, there’s a layer of targeted support that corresponds with the sleeper’s torso. This is topped by a layer of Sealy Cool Air Gel Foam, which is a dimple-foam layer that, per the manufacturer, helps distribute air for a cooling effect.

The mattress cover is a proprietary ComfortLoft Knit Cover with Chill Cooling Technology that purports to help sleepers stay cool. It’s also stain resistant and provides an allergen barrier intended to keep out dust mites and other allergy-causing dander and bacteria.

The sides of the mattress feature a reinforced coil edge, intended to keep the mattress from sinking down when the user sits on the side of the bed, and for avoiding the feeling of “rolling off” a soft edge.

The Posturepedic Plus Satisfied II comes with a 10-year warranty against workmanship and material defects. Depending on where you purchase, the mattress seller may offer a sleep trial. For example, MattressFirm, where this model is available, offers a 120-day sleep trial, as well as 120-day post-purchase price matching.

Here’s a look at the mattress’s features, how I tested it out and what I thought of it.

First impressions

Courtesy Elizabeth Heath

I received an alert of the delivery date in advance, and the mattress arrived as scheduled. It took two delivery people to carry the mattress up the stairs to the primary bedroom. I kept my existing foundation of two twin-size box springs and moved my old mattress into the spare bedroom, where I’ll give it a good cleaning, add a mattress topper and keep it for guest use.

The king-sized Satisfied II came wrapped in clear plastic but did not omit any noticeable odor once the delivery people removed the protective covering. Once the mattress was slid into place, my first impression was that it has a nice, modern look—it’s almost a shame to cover it with bedding. The sides of the mattress are covered in charcoal gray fabric, and the tufted top is a lighter shade of gray with a matching dark gray leaf pattern on it.

Because the mattress arrives ready to go, there’s no waiting period between setting the mattress in place and you (or the dog) using it. This is in contrast to “bed-in-a-box” options which arrive compressed and need a few days to expand to usable size.

Sealy markets the Posturepedic Plus line as a top choice for those in need of back support and for people who sleep on their sides. My husband and I fit the bill—we’re both side sleepers and he, in particular, is very tall and has frequent lower back pain. He was the first to lay on the new mattress before we’d even put bedsheets on it. “Huh,” he said. “This might work.”

How we tested it

At the time of this review, we’d been sleeping on the mattress for five months. I expected a “breaking-in period,” which would be normal for most new mattresses. To our mutual surprise, we both slept well from the first night and a lot better than we had on our old mattress, which to be fair was well past its prime.

My husband and I are both solidly built people who move around a lot in our sleep, even though we’re both side sleepers. On our old mattress, the motion transfer was so extreme that I felt like I might bounce out of the bed when he shifted sleeping positions. Even our small dog jumping on the old mattress would create a bounce. In noticeable contrast, the motion transfer is minimal with the Satisfied II, even when one of us gets out of bed or gets back in.

I mentioned that I’m a light sleeper, and I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Though I’m not sure anyone expects a mattress to cure insomnia, I’m definitely sleeping better with the Satisfied II. We’re also both hot sleepers, and slept noticeably cooler on this new mattress.

Pros

• Experienced a good night’s sleep from the first night
• The firm model provides superior support for side sleeping
• The tightly woven cover is attractive and easy to vacuum. Because it’s dust-mite resistant, it doesn’t require the purchase of an additional protective allergy cover.
• Premium quality at a mid-range price point.

Cons

• The mattress is heavy. That’s a positive quality since it doesn’t slide over the bed skirt or move off the box springs, but it would be very heavy for the two of us to try to move.
• It’s a thick mattress that requires deep-pocket sheets.
• Because of the high profile of the mattress, with our existing box spring the top of the bed is 33 inches off the ground. We’re both tall, so this is not a problem, but it might be for shorter users.

FAQs

Courtesy Elizabeth Heath

What firmness is a Sealy Posturepedic Plus?

The Sealy Posturepedic Plus Satisfied II comes in five firmness levels, including extra firm, firm, cushion firm, plush and extra plush. We requested an extra firm mattress because we wanted to make sure the mattress provided sufficient back support, which it does.

Is Sealy Posturepedic good for side sleepers?

We are both side sleepers and both of medium to large build. The mattress provides excellent comfort and support while we sleep.

Is Sealy Posturepedic good for back pain?

My husband suffers from ongoing aches and pains, especially in his lower back. Even though he sleeps on his side, he says his back pain has noticeably lessened since we started sleeping on the Satisfied II.

Final verdict

It’s hard to write an impartial review of this mattress because we both love it so much. We would overwhelmingly recommend it to anyone looking for a firm mattress who has the budget for a mid-range mattress purchase.

Where to buy the Sealy Posturepedic Plus mattress

The Ultra-Firm model we tested is currently available at MattressFirm for $1259, on sale; regular price is $1499. For a limited time, they’re offering a free adjustable base with a queen or king mattress purchase. Other versions of the mattress are available at Macy’s or on Amazon.

via merchant

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