People looking for a great online mattress should consider both the Nectar and the DreamCloud mattresses. The Nectar Sleep brand was launched in 2016, and their mattress is a medium firm gel memory foam option. In 2018, Nectar Sleep started their second brand, DreamCloud. The DreamCloud mattress is a hybrid option combining an innerspring core and memory foam upper layers. Given the close relationship of these mattresses, it’s common for our readers to ask us which is best.
There are some similarities between the Nectar and the DreamCloud, but there are also some important differences which you need to be aware of including their price and construction. This will help you choose the best option for your own body and sleep style.
To help you make your decision, we’ve carefully compared all the key factors to help settle your Nectar vs. DreamCloud debate.
How are the Mattresses Constructed?
The DreamCloud mattress is a hybrid option while the Nectar mattress is all-foam, which means there are significant differences in their construction. It’s important to understand how both mattresses are made and what difference this is likely to make to your sleep experience. Let’s take a closer look at the DreamCloud vs. Nectar construction.
Nectar Mattress Construction
The Nectar mattress is made using a combination of different foams to provide support and pressure relief. The gel-infused memory foam used in the Nectar is slightly more responsive than regular memory foam, making it a good option for people who want the benefits of memory foam but don’t like the feeling of sinking in too deeply. It has a three-layered construction which works well to isolate motion from one side of the bed to the other and provides higher than average edge support, although this will gradually decrease somewhat with use. Edge support is important because it helps the mattress to retain its shape even if you lie or sit on its edges, improving its durability. The three layers are put together as follows:
Supportive base layer
The bottom layer of the Nectar mattress is 7 inches thick and made out of highly dense polyfoam. This makes the mattress very supportive and helps to encourage your spine into an optimal alignment while you sleep. Therefore, it’s a good choice for people who want a mattress to ease back pain.
Transitional layer
The transitional layer is made of three inches of gel memory foam. This helps to bridge the gap between the lower and upper layers and helps with contouring. The gel infusion in this memory foam also helps to dissipate heat away from your body while you sleep, stopping uncomfortable heat levels from building up around you during the night.
Upper layer
The Nectar’s top layer is manufactured from soft, quilted gel memory foam. This allows pinpoint pressure relief on your joints and feels cosy and comfortable to snuggle down on.
Tencel cotton cover
The three layers of foam inside the Nectar are wrapped in a soft cotton cover. The materials used are environmentally friendly to minimize impact on the planet. Nectar use cotton blended with Tencel to make their mattress covers. The advantage of this is that it increases the breathability of the cover, helping with temperature neutrality.
You May Also Read: Is Nectar Mattress Good For Heavy People?
DreamCloud Construction
The construction of the DreamCloud mattress is more complex and combines foam components with an innerspring core. In fact, there are eight separate layers as opposed to Nectar’s four. The advantage of a hybrid option like the DreamCloud is that it combines the pressure-relieving qualities of gel memory foam with the support and breathability of an innerspring mattress. The motion isolation provided by the DreamCloud is good, although the edge support isn’t as strong as many of the other hybrid brands currently available. Let’s check out how the DreamCloud mattress is put together:
Support base
Three layers go into the supportive base of the DreamCloud mattress. It has a core of individually pocketed springs which make the mattress highly supportive and gives it the familiar bounce of an innerspring mattress. The coils are surrounded by two layers of memory foam which help to make the entire base more durable and stable.
Comfort layers
The DreamCloud hybrid mattress has four comfort layers. These include layers of memory foam, gel, quilted memory foam and latex. They work together to provide excellent contouring and pressure relief, helping to ease discomfort if you have sore joints.
Tufted cashmere cover
The cashmere cover is 2 inches thick and provides a soft and cosy surface to sleep on.
DreamCloud vs. Nectar Firmness Comparison
It’s important to figure out which mattress firmness you need before you purchase. This is because the firmness of a mattress determines what type of support it gives and whether it is suitable for your sleeping position and any joint or back conditions you may have. We’ll talk more about which mattress works for your sleep position later, but first let’s compare the firmness of the DreamCloud and the Nectar.
Mattress firmness is usually described using a sliding scale from 1 to 10. A mattress scoring 1 would be extremely soft, while a 10 would be very hard. Mattresses at the very firm end of the scale are often described as orthopedic mattresses, although many people with back or joint pain will actually find them uncomfortable. Don’t fall into the trap of assuming a soft mattress will be more comfortable as it may not be supportive enough and could actually cause discomfort over time. Most people will find a mattress that is medium or medium firm comfortable.
The Nectar mattress scores 6 out of 10, making it a medium mattress. This firmness rating is suitable for most sleepers. If you’re used to the sinking in feeling of memory foam, you’ll notice that the Nectar mattress feels slightly bouncier and more responsive than some other comparable mattresses.
The DreamCloud mattress is a little firmer at 6.5 out of 10 but is still categorised as a medium mattress. There is less sinkage when you lie on the DreamCloud than you’ll experience with the Nectar because of its innerspring core. So, it’s a good halfway house for people who want the pressure relief of memory foam but ultimately prefer the feeling of sleeping on an innerspring bed.
Which Mattress is Best for my Sleeping Position?
You may be surprised to learn that your sleeping position is one of the most important things to take into consideration when selecting a mattress type and firmness. This is because the type of support you need varies depending on how you sleep at night.
The medium firmness of the Nectar mattress should suit most sleeping positions. It’s particularly suitable for side sleepers because it has enough softness to conform closely to the curve of the side of your body. People who sleep on their sides sometimes find that pressure builds up in their shoulders and hips, so conformability in a mattress is important to relieve this pressure. If you sleep on your stomach, you may find that you need a firmer mattress than the Nectar as this position is the least supportive.
The DreamCloud also performs well in terms of support and pressure relief for all sleeping positions. It’s also a good choice for people who are combi-sleepers (switch positions during the night) and couples with different sleeping styles as it should accommodate you both comfortably. People with very light bodyweights who sleep on their sides may find that the mattress doesn’t allow the side of their body to sink in deeply enough to relieve pressure on their hips and shoulders.
Which Mattress is Best for Joint and Back Pain?
Both the DreamCloud and the Nectar mattresses are generally good choices for people with back and joint complaints because they provide enough support to correctly align your spine while relieving pressure points.
Side sleepers with joint pain may find the Nectar slightly more comfortable. This is because it is ever so slightly softer than the DreamCloud and allows your body to sink in more deeply, relieving pressure in key areas like the shoulders and hips.
If you have back pain and sleep on your back or front, you may find a firmer mattress more comfortable. If this is the case for you, the DreamCloud may be the best option as it has less sinkage and is a little firmer than the Nectar.
Which Mattress Sleeps Cooler?
Choosing a temperature neutral mattress is important because overheating during the night can interrupt your sleep and cause discomfort. Memory foam mattresses traditionally sleep hotter than other options because they retain heat more easily, especially if your body sinks in deeply. However, with modern advances in sleep technology, many foam mattress manufacturers are finding innovative ways to make their mattresses more temperature neutral. The Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses are both good examples of mattresses that are engineered to sleep cool.
Despite being an all-foam mattress, the Nectar does a good job of keeping you cool at night thanks to nifty engineering. The gel used in the top layer of memory foam helps to direct heat away from your body. The foams are also manufactured using open-cell technology. This means that it contains air spaces which allow the foam to be more breathable. The Tencel cover is also highly breathable to allow heat to escape as easily as possible.
The DreamCloud mattress also sleeps cool. It uses gel and latex foams in the comfort layers which work to wick heat away from you, keeping you at a comfortable temperature. The innerspring core also increases the overall breathability of the mattress. This is because air can circulate easily in the gaps between the springs.
Therefore, either mattress is a good option for sleeping cool, especially for groups that are more likely to struggle with overheating in bed such as women during their menopause.
DreamCloud vs. Nectar Price Comparison
Price is an important consideration when choosing a new mattress, especially if you’re shopping on a tight budget. This is one area where the Nectar and the DreamCloud mattresses vary significantly.
The Nectar mattress is the cheapest option. The regular price if you buy through the company website is $799 for a queen size, although it’s currently being offered at $699 at the time of writing in their January sale. Each Nectar mattress comes with two free pillows, which usually retail at $150.
The DreamCloud is significantly more expensive, which is unsurprising given the number of components. However, it is an affordable option in relation to other comparable hybrids. It usually retails for $1,299 through the DreamCloud website, although at the time of writing it is on a special discounted offer of $1,099.
You may be able to find cheaper prices on both mattresses if you check out third party retailers such as Amazon. However, be aware that the terms and conditions may not be the same as if you bought direct.
You can purchase the Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses on a monthly finance arrangement if you meet the lender’s requirements. This is a useful option if you can afford the repayments but don’t have the available capital to buy the mattress outright.
Sleep Trials and Warranties
As Nectar Sleep is the parent company of DreamCloud, both mattresses come with the same sleep trial and warranty periods. It’s important to take sleep trials into consideration when buying a mattress online because they protect you if you’re unsatisfied with the product.
The sleep trial period for the Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses is 365 nights, so you have a whole year to decide whether you want to keep the mattress. If you don’t, you can return it at any time in that period for a full refund. This is one of the longest sleep trials currently offered in the industry.
The warranty period for the Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses is described as a ‘lifetime’ or ‘forever’ warranty, which means that it applies for as long as you choose to keep the mattress. It covers indents deeper than 1.5 inches or any manufacturing fault that means the mattress becomes damaged by normal everyday use. In this situation, the company will replace the mattress free of charge.
Certifications
Both the Nectar and the DreamCloud mattresses carry the Certi-Pur certification for all the foams used in their construction. This means that they have been tested to make sure that they don’t emit hazardous levels of any harmful chemicals including heavy metals, VOCs and harmful flame retardants. This gives shoppers reassurance that the mattress is safe and healthy to sleep on, but it also means that the manufacturing process is relatively eco-friendly.
Shipping Information
Both DreamCloud and Nectar deliver free to the contiguous USA. If you live in Hawaii or Alaska, you will need to pay an additional delivery charge. Returns are also processed free of charge.
Both companies offer an additional white glove service if you want to have your mattress set up in your home for you. This comes at an additional cost of $149. You can also pay $20 to have your existing mattress removed and disposed of if you choose.
Where Can I Purchase?
The Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses are available for sale online via the companies’ websites. Both brands also sell additional products such as bed frames, bases and various types of bedding, although you may be able to find more affordable options elsewhere. You can also purchase either mattress online through one of their third-party retailers, including Amazon. It’s worth checking out the prices on a range of online stores to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. However, you should be aware that policies and terms and conditions may vary from the ones described in this article if you don’t purchase directly from Nectar Sleep or DreamCloud. So, it’s important to check and make sure you are happy with the terms and conditions and other policies (such as returns) before you proceed.
Some bricks and mortar stores also stock Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses if you prefer to buy instore. You could also test the mattress instore and then purchase online if this works out cheaper. Local availability can vary.
Which Mattress Should I Choose?
As Nectar Sleep is the parent company of DreamCloud, most of their key policies including delivery, returns and warranties are identical. Which one you choose, therefore, will be decided by your budget and which mattress you feel will be the best fit for your individual body and sleep style. To help you weigh up the two options, we’ve created a simple explanation of which type of sleeper each bed ideally suits.
Buy the Nectar If:
You are on a tight budget
The Nectar mattress is by far the cheaper of the two mattresses coming in at just $799 for a queen if you buy directly through the Nectar Sleep website at a time where there isn’t a promotional discount running. This price is very good value given the features and sleep technologies included in the mattress design.
You have a light body weight and sleep on your side
People who are lighter than average and sleep on their sides tend to need a highly conformable mattress that can mold to the side of their body. Otherwise, uncomfortable pressure can build up. Of these two mattresses, the Nectar is slightly softer and will mold more readily.
You like the hugging feel of memory foam
The memory foam used to make the Nectar, while more responsive than your average memory foam mattress, has more conforming ability than the DreamCloud because it is all-foam. If you like the sensation of your mattress molding to your body, you’ll like the Nectar mattress.
Buy the DreamCloud if:
You have a higher budget
The DreamCloud mattress is the pricier option at $1,229 for a queen, but for that money you get a very high-quality mattress with an impressive range of features and sleep technologies.
You prefer the feel of innerspring
Many people prefer the bounce and responsiveness of an innerspring mattress, especially as they are the most common type of bed. The DreamCloud allows you to enjoy the familiar feel of a spring mattress while benefiting from the pressure relieving qualities of conforming foams without the sinking sensation.
You want a little more firmness
While there isn’t much to separate the Nectar and the DreamCloud mattresses in terms of firmness, the DreamCloud is slightly firmer and has a bouncier, more responsive feel. This could give it the edge if you prefer a mattress on the firmer side of medium.
The bottom line
Now that you understand the key features, pricing and policies of the Nectar and DreamCloud mattresses, it should be relatively easy to pick which one suits your needs and budget best. Both mattresses are high-quality and represent good value for money, so either would be a good choice as long as they have the features that meet your personal needs.
Buying a mattress is an important decision, so you should do your research carefully before making a final choice. Reading honest customer reviews and expert viewpoints such as those on Sleep Aim can help give you a balanced view of various products and make sure you are getting a mattress that will give you the best possible sleep.
