Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt: Which memory foam mattress is better for back pain?

In this Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur Adapt mattress comparison, we’re comparing these luxury memory foam beds from two of the biggest mattress brands in the US. You can be sure of the quality of these mattresses, but will either of them offer the right support for those with back pain?

Saatva and Tempur-Pedic make some of the best mattresses of the year for all sleep styles, with both using high-quality proprietary materials to ensure sleepers get a supportive and comfortable night’s sleep. Both beds rank highly in our best memory foam mattress guide, offering exceptional support and comfort.

This comparison article should help you to decide between the two mattresses, helping you to find the best choice for your sleeping style and body weight. Ready to find out more? Let’s get started…

Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress: Price & Trial

• Saatva sales usually range between 12-15% off MSRP, or sometimes a tiered money-off system
• Tempur-Pedic discounts on the Tempur Adapt aren’t as common, with the largest discounts reserved for major sales events
• Saatva offer a 365-night trial, while Tempur-Pedic only offer 90 nights

Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress: Materials & Design

• Both mattresses are made with an all-foam construction
• The Saatva Contour5 is 12.5” high and has seven layers
• The Tempur Adapt is 11” high and has four layers

The Saatva Contour5 starts with a naturally breathable organic cotton cover, treated with the brand’s exclusive Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment that’s designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. Underneath this is a flame barrier made with nontoxic cellulose fibers, followed by Saatva’s patented CoolVent System with Lumbar Zone and Phase Change Material (PCM).

The PCM helps to absorb and dissipate body heat, while the lumbar zone provides enhanced support, which is particularly helpful for those experiencing back pain. Underneath this is a layer of gel-infused memory foam with airflow channels to prevent heat becoming trapped. The core of the mattress is a layer of dense ultra-premium 5lb memory foam for pressure relief, followed by a transition layer available in either a medium or firm firmness. The mattress is finished off with a high-density foam base.

The Tempur Adapt is a much simpler design than the Saatva, consisting of four layers. The cover is made with cooling yarn woven into it and underneath is a 1.5” layer of soft TEMPUR-ES material, designed to contour to the body and ease away aches and pains. Next up, you’ll find another 1.5” layer of Tempur foam – this one is denser for more support and the mattress’s main support comes from an 8” polyfoam core for stability.

Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress: Comfort & Support

• The Saatva Contour5 is available in medium (5-7/10) and firm (8/10) firmness options
• The Tempur Adapt is rated as a medium mattress by the brand, but we rated it as a medium firm (7.5/10)
• Both mattresses offer excellent support, but the Saatva has enhanced lumbar support

Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress: Temperature Regulation

• The Saatva Contour5 contains PCM, which absorbs and dissipates heat
• The Tempur Adapt has a cooling cover
• Our testers found that the Tempur Adapt was prone to trapping heat

If you experience back pain, overheating at night can really exacerbate aches as you toss and turn at night. So having a mattress that can keep you cool, particularly if you’re a hot sleeper, is crucial.

In this respect, the Saatva Contour5 does an excellent job. It contains PCM, often found in the best cooling mattresses. It’s specifically designed to absorb and dissipate heat to keep sleepers cool throughout the night. The Saatva also has a breathable cotton cover, gel-infused memory foam and ventilated memory foam – all of which combine to make for a very comfortable sleeping temperature.

Tempur foam is meant to adapt to your body temperature, giving it its ability to mold to your body. And the Tempur Adapt has been designed with a cover containing cooling fibers. So, in theory, it should do a good job of keeping sleepers cool at night. Unfortunately though this wasn’t the case for our testers, who found that the mattress trapped heat and made them uncomfortably warm overnight. If you are a hot sleeper, the Saatva is the best choice of the two.

Saatva Contour5 vs Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the Saatva Contour5 if…

✅ You’re a hot sleeper: Despite being an all-foam mattress the Contour5 does a great job of keeping sleepers cool with ventilated and gel-infused foams, a cotton cover and PCM to help dissipate heat away from the body.

✅ You have aches and pains: Saatva’s patented lumbar zone support does a fantastic job of keeping the spine aligned, helping to prevent any buildup of aches and pains and, in particular, lower back pain.

✅ You want to pick your firmness: The Saatva Contour5 comes in two firmness options, which means you can pick the one that best suits your sleeping style and body weight.

Buy the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Adapt if…

✅ You're on a slightly tighter budget: Both the Saatva and the Tempur are big investments but the Tempur Adapt is cheaper at full MSRP. And, even with the largest Saatva discounts, you’ll still pay more for the Contour5.

✅ You share your bed with a restless partner: Tempur foam does an excellent job of absorbing motion, meaning you shouldn’t be disturbed by a partner moving about during the night.

✅ You want the distinctive Tempur foam feel: Although the Tempur Adapt is firmer than some Tempur-Pedic mattresses, it still offers the distinctive feel and sinkage of this proprietary foam. Many sleepers love the weightless feel it offers.