A good night’s sleep is one of those things we take for granted, until suddenly — for whatever reason — it becomes a struggle.
Whether it’s the addition of children, older age or back pain, when you’re not sleeping you’ll do anything to get some decent shut-eye.
One of the biggest things to consider when looking for a good night’s sleep is your mattress.
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And if you struggle with back pain, it’s one of the first things you need to look at.
From firm, medium and soft options, to leading brands including Emma Sleep, Sealy and Koala, Best Picks has rounded up seven of the best mattresses for back pain.
1. Sealy Exquisite Rochelle Medium Mattress, from $1884.50, Myer
Top of the list is this Sealy Posturepedic offering, which starts from $1884.50 for a single from Myer.
The Sealy Posturepedic Exquisite mattresses offer a unique support system, and a network of coils that sense and respond, working to align your body in its natural posture.
All Sealy mattresses are expertly crafted in Australia, using state-of-the-art manufacturing, which means the mattress is built to stand the test of time.
You can also use Sealy’s expert “mattress selector tool” to find out what style of Sealy mattress is right for you.
Sealy recently conducted a Global Sleep Census ahead of World Sleep Day on March 15 to uncover Aussies’ poor sleeping patterns.
They found only six per cent of Aussies wake feeling well rested, while 60 per cent of the population wakes once during the night.
Further to this, more than 95 per cent of those sleeping on a box mattress means they feel unproductive at work.
The Sealy Posturepedic Exquisite Mattress promises to assist with all of this.
2. Emma Sleep Comfort II Mattress, from $576, Emma Sleep
Next comes this Emma Sleep Comfort II Mattress, which starts from $576 for a single.
The best-selling buy, currently discounted on the Emma Sleep website for Afterpay Day, has been “designed with you and our climate in mind”.
According to Emma Sleep, the mattress has infinity pocket springs which have been designed for maximum airflow to help your body reach its ideal sleep temperature.
This is then paired with “highly breathable foam”.
So you can enjoy humid-free sleep from summer to winter, as well as top-level Halo Memory Foam that immediately adapts to your body’s shape, offering firm support to your back, while cradling your shoulders and hips with a softer feel.
The mattress has won more than 15 awards in Australia, including Product of the Year in 2024, Best Retail Product Innovation at the Finder Awards and Best Mattress Overall at the Best Mattress AU awards.
3. Koala Plus Mattress, from $742.50, Koala
Koala is known for comfortable mattresses.
And this Plus Mattress, which starts from $742.50, is no exception.
According to Koala, with the brand’s clever sleep technology, you’ll sleep “13 per cent cooler than leading online mattress brands”.
The mattress also features 33 per cent more Kloudcell, which promises to give you superior support, cooling, responsiveness and durability.
Those who have bought the mattress have raved about it.
“Had a terribly sore back since having a baby and was recommended trying a firmer mattress,” one shopper wrote.
“After some research, I decided on Koala and so glad I did. Made a massive difference to my back and overall quality of life.”
Another said: “Fantastic mattress. The firmness is perfect. Easy to unpack and install. We love it so much — it makes us sleep too much!”
4. Ecosa Align Firm Mattress, from $542.50, Ecosa
This extra-firm offering from Ecosa gives comfort with high-density foam and pocket springs in order to deliver superior ergonomic support.
Breathable materials and a moisture-wicking cover mean you can be cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
And the high-gauge pockets springs and high-density latex foam mean it’s comfortable, whether you have back pain or not.
From 60 reviews, there is an average of a 4.8 star rating on the Ecosa website.
“I wanted a very firm mattress and the Align Firm Mattress is definitely that,” one shopper wrote.
“I am particularly hard on mattresses because of constant turning during the night and I find the springs/support on most so called firm mattresses tend to collapse and sag over time.
“So far the Align mattress has performed well and I am very pleased with it. If you enjoy a firm mattress, then I would recommend this one.”
5. Origin LumbarCloud Mattress, currently $1999, Origin
Dubbed the “first luxury mattress specially designed for sleepers with chronic back and joint conditions”, this Origin mattress is a mattress like no other.
Equipped with comfy, super-plush LumbarCloud Pillowtop, it aims to provide support and pressure relief, if you’re struggling with pain.
The mattress is fitted with up to 2400 springs for spinal alignment, as well as titanium springs for extra back support.
The mattress was recently named Luxury Mattress of the Year 2023 in the UK and Australia.
Those who have tried it say it’s like “sleeping on a cloud”.
6. Emma Sleep Diamond II Deluxe Mattress, from $787.50, Emma Sleep
The second Emma Sleep offering in this list comes in the form of the Emma Sleep Diamond II Deluxe Mattress, which starts from $787.50.
Offering a medium-firm feel for supportive comfort, the mattress has seven zones which adjust to your unique body shape for personalised support.
Emma Sleep is famous for having a 100-night trial so, if the mattress isn’t for you, Emma Sleep will give you a full refund and handle the returns at no cost to you.
7. Forty Winks King Koil Malibu Mattress, from $1699, Forty Winks
Last but not least is this Forty Winks mattress, which starts from $1699.
The King Koil Malibu Mattress promises to “conform to your body shape, providing enhanced support, pressure relief and minimal partner disturbance”.
This is helped out by the brand’s AeroQuilt technology, which provides breathable, pressure-relieving comfort, along with memory foam — which conforms to your body helping to relieve any pressure that causes tossing and turning.
