Nectar Classic Hybrid Mattress Review 2024: Comfy Memory Foam with Gentle Bounce

Nectar has recently undergone a full redesign of its entire mattress lineup. The previous version of the Nectar Original Hybrid has been replaced by the new Nectar Classic Hybrid, and while the overall value proposition hasn’t changed, the mattress itself has in subtle ways. I think the new mattress is a serious improvement, and Nectar nailed this redesign. 

First impressions of the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress

When the team first unboxed the new Nectar Classic Hybrid and all the other new Nectars, the first thing we noticed was the design of the cover. It looked sleeker and a bit more “futuristic,” which is not normally an aesthetic I enjoy, but I think it’s an improvement on the previous lineup of Nectar beds. The cover also feels softer, more breathable and slightly cooler to the touch. 

The other big thing I noticed about the Nectar Classic Hybrid after the off-gassing process had completed is that it is noticeably softer than the foam version, and the mattress testing team noticed that with all of the hybrid versions of the new Nectars. I’ll get more into what this actually means for you later in the review, but the difference in firmness was very surprising to me because usually, beds that just substitute the support layer are roughly the same firmness. 

Overall, the rest of the team and I agreed that Nectar’s redesign made real improvements to its mattress line, making it much easier to recommend. 

Is the Nectar Classic mattress right for you?

For anyone looking for an affordable coil mattress with a responsive memory foam feel, the Nectar Classic Hybrid is a very good choice. Nectar is consistently one of the most popular online mattress brands, in large part because it is affordable across the board. The Nectar Classic Hybrid is more expensive than its foam counterpart, but it has a few extra compelling features, and it has a softer profile that may even work for some side sleepers. 

Some sleepers may prefer the less responsive feel and firmer profile provided by the foam version of the Nectar Classic Memory Foam, but I think the Hybrid is a bit more accommodating.

Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress firmness and feel

Nectar Classic Hybrid feel

The Nectar Classic Hybrid feels like responsive memory foam, a blend of sink-in, traditional memory foam and a more bouncy neutral hybrid. I think this type of feel will appeal to folks who enjoy the feel of traditional memory foam, like a Tempur-Pedic or previous versions of the Nectar and those who like a mattress that moves with them. 

One of the hallmarks of classic memory foam is that it is very slow to return to its original shape when pressure or weight is removed from it. Traditional memory foam beds will really conform to the shape of your body in whichever sleeping position you are in, and because it is so slow to respond and dense, it deters you from moving — almost providing resistance to tossing and turning. Some people report feeling “stuck” in a memory foam bed, and they don’t like the feel. However, this memory foam moves with you more and provides more of a balance. 

I don’t think sleepers will have that “stuck” sensation on the Nectar Classic Hybrid, but conversely, people who love a traditional kind of memory foam feel might not enjoy this feel as much. Personally, I am a recent convert to loving the more traditional, dense memory foam feel, and I still find the Nectar Classic Hybrid to be quite comfortable and accommodating. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid firmness and sleeper types

The Nectar Classic Hybrid is between a medium and a medium-firm on our firmness scale, which means it should work fairly well for all sleeping positions: back, stomach, side and combination. It may be a tad too firm for strict side sleepers, but this firmness profile is much more accommodating for side sleepers in comparison to the Nectar Classic Memory Foam. 

We noticed this difference in firmness during our traditional testing process, but our new Mattress Smasher 9000 testing device found this big difference too. The Nectar Classic Memory Foam came in at an 8.3 out of 10, which is solidly medium-firm, and the Nectar Classic Hybrid came in at a 6.1 out of 10. 

As a primary side sleeper, I prefer the softer profile of the Nectar Classic Hybrid, but for strict back and stomach sleepers, this might be disappointing. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress construction

The construction of the Nectar Classic is pretty straightforward and is nearly identical to the foam version — the main difference being that it substitutes the eight-inch-thick-layer of dense support foam with an eight-inch-thick-layer of pocketed coils, which is what makes it a “hybrid.”

Above the layer of pocketed coils is a three-inch-thick layer of what Nectar calls “dynamic response foam” and right above this is the primary comfort layer of the Nectar Classic Hybrid, which is a roughly one-inch-thick layer of memory foam. 

The memory foam top layer is very dense and slow to respond, but because of the bouncier foam layer directly below and the bouncier coil support layer, the mattress has that more responsive memory foam layer than I described earlier. 

I should also mention a few construction details that are exclusive to the hybrid models of Nectar. There are really robust and stretchy handles on the sides of the mattress, four in total, which makes the bed much easier to move in comparison to a bed without handles. We have tested beds with side handles where you aren’t really meant to manipulate or lift the bed with them, we’ve actually ripped handles in the past, and these are some of the best side handles I have ever seen.

Also, the coils along the outer perimeter of the bed are reinforced with a slightly thicker gauge coil for improved edge support, a feature usually reserved for more expensive mattresses.

And there’s the newly redesigned cover on the Nectar Classic Hybrid, which not only looks better but also feels softer and thicker and is equally, if not more, breathable than the previous model. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid performance

Edge support

During testing, we found the edge support on the Nectar Classic Hybrid to be excellent, thanks to the reinforced coils that I mentioned in the construction section. I didn’t feel virtually any roll-off sensation even when I put my entire body weight on the edge of the bed and that is great news for couples sharing a mattress, or a person who shares their bed with pets and happens to sleep near the edge of the bed.

Motion isolation

Motion isolation refers to how well the bed deadens the impact of movement on the mattress — if you are a light sleeper who shares a mattress with someone who tosses and turns a lot, having good motion isolation is especially important. 

Hybrid beds across the board just can’t really compete with foam beds in this category, despite how much better modern pocketed coils are at deadening cross-mattress motion. I was pleasantly surprised with the Nectar Classic Hybrid though and there wasn’t a huge performance gap between it and the Nectar Classic Memory Foam. 

If you are the lightest or light sleepers who wakes up at the slightest vibration then I would look at a foam mattress, but for everyone else I think the Nectar Classic Hybrid will be very good.

Temperature regulation

I think the Nectar Classic Hybrid is a cooler sleeping bed than the previous model — but that doesn’t mean it is in the cooling category. This bed should sleep temperature neutral which means you shouldn’t be sleeping warm at night because of the mattress. If you do sleep hot, it is likely due to other environmental factors. 

If you want enhanced cooling features from Nectar, the Nectar Luxe and Luxe Hybrid mattresses are much noticeably cooler than the Classic and Premier sets of beds.

One of the reasons Nectar has been so popular is that it is a very affordable mattress option. The pricing of the Nectar Classic Hybrid is slightly more than the Nectar Classic Memory Foam (by about $150), but when compared to other affordable hybrid beds like the Leesa Studio Chill Hybrid and the Bear Pro Hybrid, it wins on price.

Around major holidays, there will usually be some kind of sale on Nectar that includes bundles with different bases or sheets and pillows so be sure to check out our mattress deals page for the latest offers on Nectar. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress policies

Free shipping 

The Nectar Classic Hybrid will ship right to your door inside of a box at no additional cost — which is pretty standard for most online mattresses. 

Unboxing a mattress is a pretty easy process, and it should only take five to ten minutes. I always recommend unboxing it with someone else because beds get heavy and are difficult to move solo. 

There is a bit of an off-gassing process with this mattress, but because it uses coils it is much shorter than the foam Nectar models and it should be fully inflated and be at its intended firmness level after about a day. 

365-night trial 

All Nectar mattresses come with an extra-long trial period of 365 nights in comparison to the usual standard of 100 nights. So you have quite a while to really test it out and see if you like it. 

It can take a month or longer for your body to adjust to a new mattress, no matter how well-suited it is to your sleeping preferences. The trial period begins the day the mattress is delivered, not when you actually start sleeping on it.

Return policy

At any point after the first 30 nights post-delivery you decide the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress isn’t for you for any reason, you can return it and get a refund. You just contact the company, and it will coordinate with a third party to pick up the mattress for you and then the bed is usually donated. 

As of writing, Nectar does not charge any kind of return, transportation or any other type of fee to return a bed so getting a Nectar mattress is virtually risk-free.

Warranty

All Nectar mattresses are backed by a Lifetime warranty, which is above and beyond the usual online mattress standard of ten years.

Like pretty much any warranty that lasts longer than 10 years, this warranty is tiered and offers more protection in the first 10 years in comparison to the years after.

How does the Nectar Classic Hybrid compare to similar mattresses?

Nectar Classic Hybrid vs. Leesa Studio Chill Hybrid

The Leesa Studio Chill Hybrid is the most affordable hybrid mattress available from Leesa and it is one of my personal favorites. When compared to the Nectar Classic Hybrid, the Studio Chill Hybrid has a bit more of a neutral feel which means you won’t feel any memory foam sensation. It also has a slight edge on temperature regulation with a cover that is more cool to the touch. 

On the other hand the Nectar Classic Hybrid is a bit more affordable, it has a more generous set of policies and it has superior edge support. Both mattresses also have roughly the same firmness profile too. 

I think for people who enjoy the feel of memory foam the Nectar Classic Hybrid is the winner between these two, but for those who don’t like memory foam I think the Leesa Studio Chill Hybrid gets the edge. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid vs. Bear Pro Hybrid

The Bear Pro Hybrid is very similar to the Nectar Classic Hybrid. Both beds use memory foam as the main comfort layers and have similar responsive memory foam feels. 

The Nectar Classic Hybrid is going to be a little bit softer than the Bear Pro Hybrid which makes it a better option for side sleepers and while both beds perform similarly on edge support and motion isolation, I think the Nectar Classic Hybrid is better at both by a little bit. Also the Nectar Classic Hybrid currently wins on price. 

The Bear Pro Hybrid does have an optional “Celliant infused pillow-top” that is meant to provide benefits for athletes. There are studies to back up the benefits of Celliant, but it is not something we are able to objectively test for but it could move the needle for serious athletes. 

Nectar Classic Hybrid vs. Brooklyn Essential

One of the few hybrid beds that is actually more affordable than the Nectar Classic Hybrid (after a discount) is the Brooklyn Essential. The bed is pretty basic, but it is comfortable and accommodating for most sleepers and has roughly the same firmness profile as the Nectar Classic Hybrid. 

There are a few advantages for the Nectar Classic Hybrid, like the reinforced edge support, more generous set of policies and side handles, but the Brooklyn Essential is more affordable and doesn’t have a memory foam type of feel.

Final thoughts on the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress

I think Nectar has done an excellent job with this recent mattress update because not only did Nectar update its mattresses, they upgraded them. The Nectar Classic Hybrid is a significant upgrade over the previous model with a better cover, side handles, reinforced edge support and a more comfortable feel. 

I see this bed being extremely popular for anyone shopping for a hybrid mattress on a budget and because the Classic Hybrid is a degree softer than the Classic Memory Foam it should be plenty accommodating for all kinds of sleepers, including some side sleepers. For anyone looking for an affordable hybrid who also enjoys memory foam I think the Nectar Classic Hybrid should be on your short list.

You might like the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress if:

• You want a memory foam feel
• You want a long trial period
• You want a mattress with coils
• You are shopping on a tight budget

You might not like the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress if:

• You prefer a foam bed
• You want an especially firm mattress
• You dislike the feel of memory foam

Other mattresses from Nectar 

Nectar Premier Hybrid: This is the upgraded version of the Nectar Classic Hybrid and is roughly $300 more expensive. The biggest difference between the Premier and the Classic is that the Premier features a thicker layer of memory foam on top, which makes the mattress noticeably softer and is on the softer side of medium, making the Premier the most accommodating for side sleepers in comparison to the Nectar Classic Hybrid. 

Nectar Luxe Hybrid: This is the softest mattress available from Nectar and is primarily designed for side sleepers looking for maximum plushness and pressure relief. The amount of memory foam in the Nectar Luxe Hybrid compared to the Classic Hybrid is significantly more which contributes to the softer firmness profile. Nectar advertises cooling features on all of its mattresses, but we noticed the Nectar Luxe being the one that felt the most cool to the touch and should aid in temperature regulation for hot sleepers.