Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
As the famous John Wildsmith saying goes, “You are either in your bed or your shoes, so it pays to invest in both.” While Wildsmith, a 19th Century English shoemaker, was focused on the latter, the former—i.e., your mattress—is equally important.
If you’re in the market for a new mattress, the options are overwhelming, especially in the era of e-commerce and rolled foam mattresses that ship in compact boxes. For years I was on the hunt for a good mattress, but I narrowed my options based mostly on price and convenience, leading me to buy and discard three different memory foam mattresses in four years, each one more disappointing than the last.
My main issues across all the memory foam mattresses were back and neck pain, and heat. Full disclosure, I don’t have any diagnosed neck or back issues—the discomfort I was feeling was almost solely because of the mattresses and pillows I was using. And especially through Texas summers, the dense foam seemed to hold heat, despite an array of cooling sheets, ceiling fans, and cranked-up AC.
Feeling a bit like Goldilocks, I tried the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Mattress, and everything changed. I had previously ruled out brands like Tempur-Pedic due to the higher price tag, but considering I had spent over $3,000 on numerous mattresses that were supposed to be saving me money, I decided to take a different approach, and I’m glad I did.
Before I dive into the review, there are a few things you should know about the Adapt mattress line.
The price range of this particular mattress starts at $2,899 for a twin, and goes up to $5,798 for a king or split king. This is the middle price range for the different Adapt mattress line options, which can get as expensive as $7,598 for a king.
Keep in mind this reflects the price of the mattress—you’ll need a compatible base, which could be an additional cost.
If you’re dragging your feet about the price, Tempur-Pedic offers 0% APR financing for 36 months if you qualify for their credit card. There may also be additional financing options if you purchase the mattress through other retailers. You also may consider downgrading from a king mattress, or even a queen mattress, to save without sacrificing the quality.
The Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt is made with Tempur-Pedic’s proprietary memory foam, originally created by NASA to cushion pilots during test flights. It’s designed to be better than other memory foam at absorbing motion, relieving pressure, especially around the body’s pressure points and adapting to your body’s movements and temperature all night long.
The medium-hybrid option has several layers of foam atop premium-wrapped coils for added support. The whole thing is wrapped in a cooling, removable cover that’s white and light blue on the top and dark at the base—the typical Tempur-Pedic design.
The Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt comes in four firmness levels—soft, medium, medium-hybrid, and firm. These four are only available with the ProAdapt model.
Mine is a medium-hybrid, a combination of the proprietary memory foam with more traditional coils, and what Tempur-Pedic describes as their “meet in the middle” option. It is, as described, a great hybrid of the Tempur Memory Foam supported by over 1,000 premium-wrapped coils.
Compared to the softer firmness levels, I feel incredibly supported all night, particularly my neck and shoulders which were problem areas. The mattress is comfortable and soft, but doesn’t have the give common to all foam mattresses that ends up putting strain on my shoulders and lower back as I sleep.
Contrary to the firmest level though, the layers of foam still provide that “sinking in” feeling. The cradling foam combined with the firm support makes for an optimal comfort level that’s also just cozy.
I have been nothing but pleased by the way the mattress performs, and it’s kept all the promises made in the product description. This mattress is cooler than any I’ve had, despite the dense and supporting feeling of the foam. It limits motion transfer, which is key when sleeping with a partner. It also cured my back and neck pain, virtually overnight. Overall, my quality of sleep is way up.
The Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Mattress comes with free white-glove delivery, which essentially means the delivery service sets everything up for you. When my mattress was delivered, the company was communicative, found my apartment easily, and brought up and unboxed the mattress and foundation within minutes. Afterwards, they removed the large boxes and wrappings—it was like no delivery had even taken place.
Due to the price and quality, the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Mattress is best for someone who is looking to invest in a mattress long term, particularly someone who has struggled with sleep and back pain.
Tempur-Pedic’s proprietary memory foam material—developed by NASA and adapted by Tempur-Pedic for sleep—is a major standout for the ProAdapt mattress, and all mattresses that use the memory foam. I would say that the quality, durability, and adaptability of this mattress at its price point is also something that stands out.
Tempur-Pedic as a company focuses on educating customers and potential customers about all aspects of sleep. Despite my receiving a mattress to test for review from the brand, I spent several hours in my local Tempur-Pedic store. Over the course of several visits, I tested several mattresses and pillows in a comfortable and sanitary way. The rep I worked with was focused on making sure I understood what each firmness level should feel like, and how it fits with my sleeping style. As a result, I was confident with the mattress I chose, and satisfied once I received the mattress.
The TempurAdapt mattress line comes in three models—the Adapt, ProAdapt, and LuxeAdapt. Each one is available in different firmness levels. The Adapt is the most basic and most affordable of the three, and comes in medium and medium-hybrid firmness levels with a cooling cover that’s not removable.
The LuxeAdapt is the most expensive of the three options and sports the most features. Compared with the ProAdapt, it has an additional supportive layer of memory foam and a higher profile, but it’s only available in three firmness levels—soft, medium-hybrid, and firm. Compare the price ranges for each below:
No. The ProAdapt features Tempur-Pedic’s SmartClimate dual cover system, with two removable and washable covers that are cool to the touch and promote temperature regulation. The layer of ventilated Tempur material in the mattress also promotes airflow, and is made to adapt to your temperature all night.
Yes. The Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt in medium-hybrid or firm is a good mattress for back pain, particularly lower back pain.
In my opinion, yes. If the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Mattress is within your budget, the quality, comfort and longevity is well worth the price.
While Tempur Memory Foam doesn’t necessarily get softer over time, it does break in with use, similar to the way a pair of shoes adapts to the shape of your foot. Tempur Memory Foam is also temperature-sensitive, meaning it can feel softer in temperatures over 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Overall, the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt has delivered on its promises, and it’s certainly made a difference in my comfort and quality of sleep. I think you’ll have a similar experience as long as you take the time to research the best fit for your sleeping style. If you’re able, I’d recommend combining preliminary research with at least one visit to your nearest Tempur-Pedic store to test the firmness levels in real life.
The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.