After some discussion with other sub member's, I decided to try and leave a more thorough and detailed review of the mattress I wound up buying after a many week-long search. I scoured this sub, read countless reviews from sleepopolis/CNET/Forbes/NYTIMES/Toms whatever, learned all about the differences in materials and construction, what my sleeping styles should prefer, and then went to 3 stores to lay on every mattress they had to compare their material makeup and the actual feeling.

To give you context, I am a man, 5'10", 150lbs, and a combo sleeper (~70% side sleeper, 20% stomach sleeper, 10% back sleeper). My previous mattress was an all-foam serta with an extra firm 3" topper. I decided I wanted a hybrid. I like a slightly stiffer mattress with good support and being a combo sleeper, I move around a lot. So springs are supposed to help with movement, but I do like the top to be comfortable (foam/latex comfort layer).

In the stores, my favorite mattresses were the Denver Mattress Co Telluride Medium, the Purple Restore Soft, and the Helix Midnight Luxe Medium-firm. I wound up buying a Saatva Classic 11.5" luxury firm -- and against better judgment, I bought it sight-unseen. It had the same construction as the DMCo. Telluride, and in a head-to-head comparison with the Helix (sleepopolis), the saatva came out on top. I was offered an absurd clearance price on it, so I thought I couldn't lose!

First impressions: First time laying on it, immediately not as nice or high-quality feeling as the other three. It was surprisingly springy, like a surface-wide springboard, which felt very cheap to me. The closest I can compare that feeling to was when laying on the avacado eco and green (latex top hybrids). The lumbar support was very nice, though. It did not feel very well padded on top, fairly close to the springs, and fairly stiff feeling but not particularly uncomfortable.

First night: Great when falling asleep on my back. By 12am, I was awake and uncomfortable. Immediately realizing this is a bad mattress for side sleeping, my shoulders were already starting to ache. There is almost no give for someone at my weight and the mattress was proving to be much firmer than originally assumed. By 3am... I am googling mattress pads. I am in quite a bit of pain all across my back and shoulders -- I cant get comfortable on my stomach as it seems my head and neck will not line up with the added support around my shoulders. Im realizing I've made a terrible mistake. This mattress was somehow compared to the helix by sleepopolis as the same firmness. I spent 3 nights on the helix, the saatva is in no way the same firmness. It is easily two points stiffer.

Second night: Somehow, not nearly as bad. I am actually feeling relatively comfortable on my stomach, having gotten the pillow positioning figured out. But I didnt even attempt to sleep on my side! Sticking to just my stomach and back, I actually had a decent night's sleep. Still much, much too stiff for side sleeping. I think avoiding this prevented the aches from starting, allowing me to stay comfortable on my stomach.

Third night: The tempur-pedic 3" foam topper arrives! This is thicker and softer than anything I would have previously considered (remember, my last topper was an extra firm 3" topper). But on this firm of a mattress, I thought it might be necessary. And overall, it does feel really nice. Its the right amount of give for me to sleep on my side, still very comfortable on my back, and even my stomach is reasonably comfortable due to that little added lumbar support in the mattress. Im not sure this is the perfect setup, I would have preferred the DMCo. Telluride, but for the price I am satisfied and sleeping comfortably.

All said and done, I'm ~$750 into this, so I cant complain too much (considering this mattress + topper when not on sale/clearance is ~$2500). Would I have bought this in hindsight? No. But I'm happy with where I wound up for the price. The moral of this story is NOT to believe reviews at face value (come on sleepopplis!), not to buy something you have not tried at least once, and to make sure you understand what firmness you truly need for your sleeping style (and more importantly that the mattress actually is that firmness!). Lastly, make sure whatever you buy has a full return policy, because no matter how much you try and prepare yourself, the experience is entirely unique and subjective to you.

Edit: after a few more nights on this, I have to say, it is actually quite comfortable. I’m sleeping really well and changing positions less far than often. This topper is pretty sweet.