8.5
DreamCloud Hybrid mattress
Like
Thick, 12-inch construction makes for a supportive bed
Firm feel keeps you from feeling “stuck”
Suitable for stomach and back sleepers
Don’t like
Too firm for strict side sleepers
Lighter individuals may find it too firm
A little expensive for those on a tight budget
Product details
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Type
Firm memory foam
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Firmness
Medium-firm to firm or 7 to 8
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Trial
365 Nights
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Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Are you looking for a new mattress made with high-quality materials that isn’t too hard on your wallet? That’s where bed-in-a-box company Nectar Sleeps hopes to grab your attention with its DreamCloud Hybrid mattress. It’s a budget-friendly option that we tested for its feel, firmness, construction, ideal sleeping positions and more. Read on to see if this could be the new mattress for you.
Disclaimer: the Federal Trade Commission recently sued DreamCloud’s parent company for falsely advertising that its mattresses are made in the US.
Watch our very own CNET video producer, Owen Poole, review the DreamCloud mattress.
First impressions of the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress
With a name as pleasant as DreamCloud, this mattress set my expectations high — and let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed. I love a good pillow-top mattress, and this one looked like a plush cloud I wanted to jump into. It’s almost too beautiful to put sheets over (although I definitely recommend you do). I mean, even the cover is nicer than most sweaters I own as it’s partly made with soft, cozy cashmere.
Even though this hybrid mattress contains memory foam, it doesn’t feel like other traditional memory foam mattresses I’ve tested. I would describe it as a firm, memory foam feel. You notice the foam in the top layers, which have the pressure-relieving characteristics of memory foam, but the coils in the bottom layer also give it a nice bounce and springiness. It’s easy to switch positions if you’re somebody who tosses and turns during the middle of the night — I don’t feel like I have to pull myself out of a memory foam cocoon to switch sides.
![dreamcloud-flagship-mattress-review main image](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/040b49fe4f69756431fdaad5e0c58de6751f2676/hub/2021/11/01/09f96d98-f8c9-4489-b7ec-392df27e15b6/dreamcloud-flagship-mattress-review-5.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
DreamCloud Hybrid mattress firmness and feel
How firm is the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress?
The updated flagship DreamCloud Hybrid mattress is around a medium-firm to firm or 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. That’s significantly firmer than past versions of the bed. This bed is probably too firm for most side sleepers and is best suited for back and stomach sleepers.
If you’re looking for something softer, the DreamCloud Premier mattress is rated around a 6 out of 10.
What does the DreamCloud Hybrid feel like?
The DreamCloud Hybrid mattress incorporates memory foam and pocketed coils. The coils help offset the syrupy feel that often corresponds with memory foam. Combined with the fluffy pillow top comfort layer, it’s springier and more responsive than a bed like the Nectar mattress.
At the same time, the foam layers and airy pillow top work together to make the bed feel plush and snuggly. I’d describe it as having a firm memory foam feel. So, if you shy away from the stereotypical memory foam feel, you might be pleasantly surprised with this one.
DreamCloud Hybrid mattress construction
The DreamCloud Hybrid mattress is in line with most bed-in-a-box mattresses at a height of 12 inches. Combined with the bed’s hybrid construction (both coils and foam), you have one supportive sleeping surface. Here’s a breakdown of the inner layers of the mattress:
1. First is a thin layer of foam, which serves as the base to support the rest of the layers, particularly the pocketed coils above.
2. Second from the bottom is a thick layer of individually wrapped pocketed coils. This is the layer that makes the bed so supportive and durable.
3. A layer of foam helps transition into the comfort foam layers.
4. A gel memory foam layer adds pressure relief and better temperature regulation than standard memory foam.
5. Then there’s a layer of supportive quilted foam for comfort.
6. Just before the cover comes a contouring quilted gel memory foam layer that adds comfort and plushness to the bed.
7. The cover is made with polyester, rayon and soft cashmere. You’ll notice you won’t be able to remove the cover from the mattress, so in the case of a spill, you’ll have to spot-clean it with hot water and a mild detergent.
![dreamcloud flagship mattress review cover close up](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/e3084a3a8fb7bd413748a1d501a7706f4f615aed/hub/2021/11/01/85792dba-4f2f-42fc-a2ee-0a69b994dc0d/dreamcloud-flagship-mattress-review-cover-1.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
The plush, textured pillow top on the DreamCloud mattress makes it look and feel extra cozy.
DreamCloud Hybrid mattress performance
Motion isolation
There’s some bounce and motion transfer if your partner gets out of bed or swiftly changes positions, but that’s hard to completely avoid with a hybrid mattress as thick as the DreamCloud. The motion isolation isn’t stellar on this mattress, but I don’t think this should deter you from getting this bed if its other qualities are worth it to you. I’d rank it about average.
The only exception would be if you’re an incredibly light sleeper whose most important feature in a mattress is 10 out of 10 motion isolation. In that case, I’d recommend a memory foam mattress entirely made from foam.
Edge support
The edge support might be a little wonky right out of the box, but give the mattress a day or so to fully inflate and the edges will feel sturdy and supportive. This is important if you sleep on the side of the bed, whether it’s because you sleep with another person or you just like living on the edge (this is the mattress equivalent of a dad joke).
The DreamCloud Hybrid mattress has pretty good edge support. It’s not the best I’ve seen, but it’s far from the worst. It’s about what I’d expect from a bed without reinforced edges.
![DreamCloud mattress review edge support testing](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/db5cbbc4a2dacf63d66a4c9b5a30477c3fd2494f/hub/2021/11/01/e4d841d2-08e2-480d-a7d8-8be3baa75b02/dreamcloud-flagship-mattress-review-edge-support-5.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
After testing the edge support on DreamCloud, we can say it passed with flying colors.
Temperature
I mentioned that the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress is the Goldilocks of mattress temperatures. It doesn’t sleep hot like a stereotypical memory foam mattress, but it doesn’t sleep cold either. It’s more temperature-neutral — I didn’t overheat sleeping on this bed, but it didn’t actively cool me down like the Purple Hybrid. Instead, outside factors like your pajamas or room temperature will probably play a bigger role in how hot or cold you sleep.
Durability
Thanks to DreamCloud’s thick pocketed coil system in the base of the mattress, it has a durable design that should last you around ten years or more. Hybrid mattresses tend to be more durable than all-foam mattresses because they contain a steel coil base, which is (as you can imagine) more durable than foam. It also helps keep the mattress from sagging prematurely.
Off-gassing
When you open your DreamCloud mattress fresh out of the box, it won’t smell so fresh (think new car smell). But don’t worry; it’s just a result of production and being compressed inside plastic wrap — the smell will dissipate after a day or so. You should also give it a day or two before you judge the firmness level because it takes a bit for the bed to fully reach its comfort potential after inflating.
Who is the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress best for?
A bed’s firmness level and construction should let you know whether or not it will accommodate your specific needs. In this case, here’s who the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress would work best for.
Sleeping position
With a firmness of medium-firm to firm or 8, not just anyone can sleep on this bed. It’s going to be too firm for most side sleepers or anyone looking for a soft bed. I wouldn’t recommend it to petite sleepers or people who want to prioritize pressure relief. While there is some pressure relief thanks to the memory foam layers and pillow top, it’s still a firm mattress that’s best suited for stomach and back sleepers.
![Diagram of back, stomach and combo sleepers, depicting the pressure points of each type.](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/0671664ad6ce5e9a6fd43b855c621a9642eafe8e/hub/2022/11/30/32f00992-6339-49ab-93c3-a7bccb2c3c6d/combo-sleeper-graphic.png?auto=webp&width=1200)
Body type
Stomach and back sleepers over 150 pounds will find the DreamCloud mattress supportive and accommodating. Hybrid mattresses are especially great for people with more weight on them because they offer longer-lasting support and durability.
Petite people under 150 pounds probably won’t like this mattress because of how firm it is. The good news is that petite body types probably don’t need the DreamCloud hybrid mattress unless you really want the extra support the coils offer. In that case, you should check out the DreamCloud Premier mattress, which is softer and more accommodating.
DreamCloud Hybrid mattress pricing
Size | Measurements | Price |
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Twin | 38×75 inches | $1,013 |
Twin XL | 38×80 inches | $1,096 |
Full | 54×74 inches | $1,338 |
Queen | 60×80 inches | $1,483 |
King | 76×80 inches | $1,785 |
Cal king | 72×84 inches | $1,785 |
Split king | 78×80 inches | $2,326 |
For a thick, luxurious mattress complete with pocketed coils and cashmere in the cover, I thought this bed would cost a lot more. It is listed at around $1,483, but DreamCloud is known to offer discounted mattresses, especially on holidays.
A grand and a half isn’t cheap by any means, but for what you’re getting out of this bed, I’d say it’s a good investment for those who can afford it.
DreamCloud Hybrid mattress shipping, warranty and trial
If you have any doubts about trying the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress, you can rest easy knowing that it has some of the most generous policies in the industry. You’ll get free shipping, free returns, an entire year (365 nights) to try out your bed and a lifetime warranty.
Final verdict on the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress
I personally know two people who sleep on the DreamCloud mattress and love it, and now I know why. It’s a supportive and comfortable memory foam mattress without an overbearing memory foam feel, and it’s reasonably priced. A lot of people are going to like the firm memory foam feel that DreamCloud offers. To wrap up our DreamCloud Hybrid mattress review, here are the main points to consider:
You might like this mattress if:
- You want a responsive, pillow-top mattress
- You want a supportive, thick mattress with coils (best for heavy individuals)
- You want a premium bed-in-a-box mattress
- You value a long trial period and strong warranty policy
- You sleep on your stomach or back
You might not like this mattress if:
- You weigh under 150 pounds and sleep on your side (you will want a softer bed)
- A $1,000 mattress is out of your budget
- You want a true, traditional memory foam bed
How we tested the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress
We test our mattresses in-house. Our certified sleep coaches have years of experience rolling around on beds and assessing them on established performance factors. The DreamCloud mattress was tested and evaluated on our numerical firmness scale to determine how supportive it is and how much pressure relief it offers. Feel, construction, edge support and motion isolation were also considered and noted in this DreamCloud mattress review.
Other mattresses from DreamCloud
DreamCloud has recently made some changes to its lineup. While still offering upper-tier models, DreamCloud Premier and Premier Rest, there are now all-foam options for all mattresses. The flagship DreamCloud hybrid is the bed’s entry-level mattress and most affordable. You’re getting luxury with any bed you choose from this brand, but the Premier and Premier Rest models take it to the next level.
DreamCloud Memory Foam
The all-foam version of the DreamCloud mattress is very similar to the hybrid model. This bed has a straightforward memory foam feel — it’s not super dense, but it’s not very responsive either.
DreamCloud Premier
This model has a memory foam layer near the top of the comfort layers, giving it more of a memory foam feel than the DreamCloud mattress. It’s also a little firmer, as it’s rated around a medium-firm rather than around a medium.
DreamCloud Premier Rest
The Rest model is DreamCloud’s most luxurious mattress option. It’s the thickest and plushest, measuring a whopping 14 inches tall. It has an extra layer of supportive soft foam and a thicker transition layer, making it feel softer without compromising support.
How does DreamCloud compare to other mattresses?
Wondering how DreamCloud Hybrid matches up against other popular online mattresses? Here’s how I see it.
DreamCloud Hybrid vs. Nectar
Both mattresses are made with memory foam, but the Nectar Original is an all-foam mattress with more of a dense memory foam feel — think Tempur-Pedic. While DreamCloud contains the material, the flagship mattress feels more like firm memory foam because of its light, airy and quick-responding foam in the top of the comfort layers. The DreamCloud Hybrid is better for heavier sleepers or people who want more support, while the Nectar is ideal for those who want an affordable foam bed.
DreamCloud Hybrid vs. Saatva
In this comparison, you’re looking at two luxury mattresses with great values. The Saatva is offered in three different firmness levels and two height options, making it a little more versatile. It also has two layers of innersprings, so it’s an extra durable and extra bouncy mattress. The DreamCloud hybrid mattress is only available in one firmness level or 8 out of 10.
DreamCloud Hybrid vs. Purple
This is like comparing apples to bananas. The Purple mattress is made without coils like the DreamCloud, and its main comfort material is Purple’s special Hyper-Elastic Polymer. The company calls it a Purple GelFlex Grid, and it’s made up of a unique, gel-like material that’s both supportive and pressure-relieving. DreamCloud is a safer pick for stomach and back sleepers who want a premium hybrid mattress. The Purple sleeps cooler and is a little bit softer than DreamCloud.
It should last around eight to ten years or more. DreamCloud mattresses are pretty durable thanks to their hybrid coil and foam construction. It’s also considerably thick which helps prevent premature sagging or indentations.
No, you will not need a box spring. It’s already plenty supportive, durable and comfortable. All you need is a bed frame. Consider a slatted frame, metal, adjustable base or flat foundation.
Because the DreamCloud is packaged inside a box, you should give it around 24 to 48 hours to fully expand once it’s taken out. You can sleep on it in the meantime but keep in mind it’ll be softer and more comfortable in a few days once it has completely decompressed.