There are many similarities between the Nectar and the Lull mattresses. Both are gel memory foam options with great motion isolation and pressure relieving abilities. For this reason, we are often asked the question by our readers: should I buy the Nectar or the Lull mattress? The answer to this important question depends on your own personal taste.
While the mattresses are similar in many ways, there are also plenty of differences which could prove to be the key deciding factors for people looking for the best gel mattress in 2020. In this article, we’ll discuss how the Nectar and Lull mattresses compare to each other to help you decide which one to buy.
How are the Mattresses Constructed?
Understanding how a mattress is constructed is important when it comes to figuring out whether it will suit your needs. There are a lot of similarities between how the Nectar and Lull mattresses are put together. However, there are a few key differences too. Let’s take a look at the structure of the Nectar and Lull mattresses.
Nectar Construction
The Nectar mattress has a triple-layered all foam construction surrounded by a soft and breathable cover. The layers work well together to provide support and pressure relief for your back and joints while you sleep, creating a mattress of 11 inches in height. The foams used in the Nectar mattress are a little different to many of their competitors because they are manufactured using open cell technology. This means that small air spaces are included in the structure of the foams, making them more breathable. This has the added effect of making the foam a little more responsive, which means that the Nectar has a little more bounce than most memory foam beds and the sinkage isn’t as deep. Let’s look at the Nectar’s layers in more detail:
Supportive base
Like most memory foam beds, the bottom layer of the Nectar is made from very dense memory and polyfoam. This layer on the Nectar is 7 inches thick. It helps to make the mattress as supportive as possible while also helping to improve stability.
Comfort layers
The Nectar mattress has two comfort layers, measuring 4 inches thick when put together. The lower layer is made from firmer memory foam which helps provide pressure relief and contouring while maintaining good support. The top layer is made from soft, quilted gel memory foam. This provides a soft and cosy sleep surface and gives excellent pinpoint pressure relief to sore joints.
Breathable cover
The Nectar’s foam layers are held together with a cotton cover blended with Tencel. Tencel helps to make the cotton more breathable. This means that heat can easily escape during the night, greatly aiding with temperature neutrality.
Lull Construction
The Lull mattress is 10 inches high and has a triple-layered construction that is very similar to the Nectar mattress. Like the Nectar, it is an all-foam mattress. Let’s take a closer look at the layers of the Lull mattress:
Supportive base
Just like the Nectar, the Lull mattress has a 7-inch thick base layer made from polyurethane foam. This is very dense to help make it more supportive. This also helps to stop your body from sinking in too deeply and gives the mattress its firmness and stability.
Comfort layers
The Lull mattress has two comfort layers. The lower one is 1.5 inches thick and made from polyfoam and latex. This helps to prevent motion transfer from one side of the bed to the other. The top layer, also 1.5 inches thick, is made from gel memory foam. This material is great for providing pressure relief and also sleeps cooler than standard memory foam.
Breathable cover
The cover of the Lull mattress feels soft to sleep on and is thin, making it reasonably breathable. This allows heat to escape from the mattress while you sleep.
Nectar vs. Lull Firmness Comparison
Choosing the right firmness is a vital part of mattress shopping because it determines how much support and pressure relief the mattress gives. Mattress firmness is often described using a firmness scale of 1-10. A mattress measuring 1 would be very soft, which many people mistakenly believe would be more comfortable. However, a mattress this soft will not provide enough support for the vast majority of sleepers. A mattress measuring 10 would be a very hard mattress, often called an ‘orthopedic’ mattress. Most people will find this too firm, although some people may find them the best option, often on the advice of their healthcare provider. Generally, most people find a medium or medium firm mattress the most comfortable.
Both the Nectar and the Lull mattresses have a firmness of 6.5. This qualifies them as medium firm mattresses. You may hear this firmness referred to as ‘universal comfort’. This is because a medium firm mattress is suitable for the vast majority of sleepers. Therefore, either the Nectar or the Lull is likely to feel comfortable for you to sleep on and is a good option for couples with differing sleep needs.
However, bear in mind that the feeling of the Nectar and the Lull is a little different even though they share a firmness rating. The Nectar is a little more responsive than the Lull mattress thanks to the open cell technology used in the foam. This means it feels a little bouncier, although it can still conform to the shape of your body. The Lull mattress gives more of a hugging sensation like traditional memory foam. Which feel is best for you depends partly on personal taste and partly on your sleeping position. We’ll explain more about how sleeping position affects your mattress choice in the next section.
Which Mattress is Best for my Sleeping Position?
As we explained above, the Nectar and Lull mattresses have different feels when you sleep on them, with the Nectar feeling more responsive and the Lull giving deeper contouring. Which one you prefer comes partly down to your sleeping position.
Many people don’t realise how important sleeping position is when it comes to choosing the right mattress. This is because different sleeping positions put pressure and strain on the body in different ways. More people sleep on their sides than any other position, which puts pressure on the shoulders and hips. These people need a mattress that can adapt to the side of their body reasonably closely to help relieve pressure. Back and front sleepers need firmer support. Many people switch between two or more positions in the night. This is referred to as combi-sleeping, and people with this sleep style need a mattress that can accommodate all sleeping positions reasonably well.
As the Nectar and Lull mattresses are medium firm (universal comfort) mattresses, they perform pretty well for all sleeping positions. They are also a good choice for combi sleepers because they can support your body well if you switch position in the night.
The Nectar mattress is a good choice for people of an average or heavier body weight in any position. It accommodates side sleepers very well because the foams used are very adaptable. However, if you have a light body weight (less than 130 pounds), you may find pressure building up in your hips and shoulders when sleeping on the Nectar. This is because the foam is more responsive, so it doesn’t allow your body to sink in as deeply. If you are very light, the foam may not allow the side of your body to sink in deeply enough to relieve pressure.
The Lull mattress is also a good choice for people of all body weights in all positions. It allows deeper sinkage than the Nectar, so may be a better choice for people with light body weights who sleep on their sides as it relieves pressure at the hips and shoulders. However, some stomach sleepers may not find the Lull mattress firm enough as this position is quite unsupportive.
Which Mattress is Better for Back and Joint Pain?
If you’re looking for the best mattress for back pain or looking for a mattress to help with joint pain, you should look for a bed that gives good support and can relieve pressure. Both the Nectar and the Lull mattress do this pretty well. The good news is that the correct mattress can help reduce the amount of pain you feel during the night and give you a better night’s sleep.
Both mattresses have a dense, supportive base layer which gives your spine the support it needs to achieve a healthy alignment. This can help lessen back pain during the night. Even stomach sleepers should find the level of support adequate, although some may need a firmer mattress to get relief from back pain.
When it comes to pressure relief for joint pain, both mattresses are highly adaptable which can help to reduce pressure and ease aches and pains. That being said, side sleepers with pain in their hips or shoulders may find the Lull mattress more suitable, especially if they have a body weight under 130 pounds. This is because the Lull mattress allows your body to sink in more deeply, which may offer better pressure relief to very light people in this position.
Which Mattress Sleeps Cooler?
Sleeping cool may or may not be of particular concern to you. Many people are happy with a mattress that stays temperature neutral. However, some people struggle more with sleeping hot, especially if they live in a warm climate or have a medical diagnosis that causes overheating at night. For example, many women going through the menopause find that they experience uncomfortable hot flashes at night that cause disruption to their sleep.
The Lull mattress has a top layer infused with gel, which sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam as it helps to pull heat away from your body during the night. However, it also allows your body to sink in reasonably deeply. This can cause heat to build up in the area of the mattress surrounding your body during the night. Therefore, although it is cooler than standard memory foam mattresses, it may not sleep cool enough for some people, depending on their individual needs.
The Nectar mattress is a great option if sleeping cool is an important factor for you. The gel infusion in the top layer works in a similar way to the Lull to wick heat away during the night. However, it’s the open cell technology used in the Nectar that really makes the difference. The air spaces in the foam’s construction makes it extremely breathable and allows excess heat to escape while you sleep. This combines with the Tencel cover to make a mattress that actively sleeps cool. It also doesn’t allow your body to sink in as deeply because the foam is more responsive, which helps to prevent heat from building up excessively.
Nectar vs. Lull Price Comparison
Price is an important factor for the vast majority of mattress shoppers. If you’re on a budget, you want to purchase a mattress that provides good support and comfort at an affordable price. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable gel memory foam mattress options.
When it comes to price, there is hardly anything to separate the Nectar and Lull mattresses. The Nectar usually retails at $799 for a queen size, while the Lull costs just a dollar more at $800. However, at the time of writing, Nectar are offering a queen size mattress at a discounted price of $699 in their January sale. This promotional price includes two free pillows which would normally cost an extra $150.
You may be able to find either mattress cheaper through another retailer such as Amazon. However, you should always check that you’re happy with the delivery, returns and other terms and conditions as these may vary from those published in this article.
You can often get great discounts on mattresses if you’re prepared to wait for sales periods such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday. It’s reasonably likely that manufacturers will offer discounts on their websites, and you might find discounted rates via third party retailers as well. However, there are no guarantees that Nectar or Lull will provide promotional discounts.
Both Lull and Nectar offer monthly financing options if you can’t afford to pay for your mattress in one lump sum through third party financing companies. You’ll have to meet the eligibility criteria for these arrangements, which is likely to include a credit check. Always check the affordability of the monthly payments before you sign up.
Trials and Warranties
It’s important to understand warranties and sleep trials before you buy a mattress because they protect you if you discover a manufacturing fault or are unhappy with your purchase for any reason. Sleep trials are especially important if you buy a mattress online without trying it out instore first. They allow you to obtain a refund if you find the mattress isn’t suitable for you. Some come with an obligatory settling-in period, which means that you have to keep the mattress for that amount of time at least before returning it. This is often 30 days, which is around the amount of time it takes to get used to the feel of a new mattress.
The Nectar sleep trial is longer than Lull’s at an impressive 365 nights, one of the longest currently available. There is no settling-in period, so you can return the mattress as soon as you wish during this time. Nectar issue a full refund if you decide to return your mattress. The only exception is if you paid extra charges, for example for their white glove service or for delivery outside the contiguous USA, which are non-refundable.
The Lull sleep trial is shorter at 100 days, which is around the standard in the mattress industry. There is also no settling-in period, although Lull will encourage you to allow at least a period of 30 days to get used to the mattress. Amazon customers are entitled to the same sleep trial. If you decide to return the mattress, Lull will arrange for it to be collected by a free courier along with the packaging.
The Nectar warranty is also longer. It is a lifetime warranty, which means you’ll be covered for as long as you decide to use the mattress, and it includes the mattress cover. This is far more generous than your average foam mattress warranty. For the first 10 years after you buy your mattress, you can return the mattress free of charge for repair or replacement. Once this 10-year period is up, customers are obliged to pay a $50 shipping fee each way ($100 in total), although Nectar will refund this if the mattress is indeed found to have a manufacturing flaw. The warranty covers errors or flaws resulting from a manufacturing issue but does not cover you against accidental damage caused by misuse such as spills or stains. In order for the warranty to be valid, you will need to place the mattress on a suitably supportive base as stipulated in Nectar’s warranty terms and conditions. It can’t be transferred if ownership of the mattress changes.
Lull offer a 10-year limited warranty, which is the usual warranty period in the mattress industry. You won’t have to pay any delivery fees if your mattress needs to be replaced. The warranty covers any indents deeper than an inch and includes the cover. It does not cover accidental damage caused by misuse, normal wear and tear to the mattress or small faults that don’t affect the function of the mattress. Like the Nectar warranty, this is non-transferrable, and you will have to ensure that the mattress is supported by a proper base, frame or foundation.
Certifications
Both the Nectar and the Lull mattresses have been given the Certi-Pur certification. This means that all the foams used in both mattresses have been checked thoroughly to make sure that they don’t emit any harmful or carcinogenic chemicals or other substances such as heavy metals. This means that you can be sure that your bed is safe and healthy to sleep on. It also verifies that the mattress has a minimal negative impact on the environment.
Shipping Information
Nectar use bed-in-a-box packaging, which means that it is tightly packed in rolled-up packaging. This makes it very compact and means it is easier to move around your home. The only downside of this type of shipping is that the mattress must be allowed to fully decompress before you sleep on it. This could take anywhere up to 72 hours depending on various factors. You can expect to receive your new mattress within 5-7 working days. Nectar do not charge for delivery to the contiguous USA. If you want delivery to Hawaii or Alaska, they charge a $250 fee. Some customers prefer to have white glove delivery, where your mattress is set up for you. This costs $149 to the contiguous USA ($299 to Hawaii or Alaska). Optional removal of your existing mattress costs an additional $20.
Lull also use bed-in-a-box shipping for their mattresses. Delivery is free to the contiguous USA, and customers in Hawaii and Alaska need to pay an additional fee. Mattresses are usually delivered within 1-4 working days via FedEx, although this may take longer to the non-contiguous USA. You can’t currently order a mattress from Lull internationally. Lull do not offer a white glove delivery service or mattress removal.
Which Mattress Should I Buy?
Now that you know how the Nectar and Lull mattresses compare, it’s decision time! Both mattresses offer great value to money for their customers and give a good level of support and pressure relief, making them a good choice for most sleepers. However, some people may find one mattress preferable over the other. To make this decision easier, we’ve explained below how to choose between the Nectar and Lull mattresses.
Choose the Nectar If:
- You want a mattress that sleeps cool
The Nectar mattress sleeps very cool thanks to its open-cell technology, gel memory foam and Tencel blend cover. This makes it the obvious choice if you struggle with sleeping hot and find it difficult to stay cool at night.
- You want a longer sleep trial
The Nectar mattress comes with an incredible 365-night sleep trial, which is significantly longer than the 100 nights offered by Lull. This means that you have a lot longer to decide whether you want to keep the mattress long-term.
- You prefer a more responsive mattress
Some people like the adaptability of memory foam but don’t enjoy the deep sinking feeling. If this applies to you, the Nectar mattress could solve this issue. It’s made with open-cell technology, making the mattress material a little bouncier and more responsive than most memory foam beds.
Choose the Lull if:
- You are a side sleeper with a light bodyweight
The Lull mattress accommodates most sleeping styles well. However, it is probably more suitable than the Nectar if you sleep on your side and weigh less than 130 pounds because it has the ability to conform well to the side of your body even if you don’t weigh that much.
- You prefer a deep hugging sensation
Some people love the sinking sensation of memory foam while others don’t. If you do, the Lull could be the best choice for you. It provides a deep hugging sensation that’s typical of memory foam mattresses.
- You want good contouring
The Lull mattress is particularly good at molding closely to the shape of your sleeping body. Some people find this especially helpful for easing pressure, particularly if they have back or joint complaints that require additional pressure relief.
The bottom line
Hopefully, you now understand whether the Nectar or the Lull mattress will be more suitable for your needs. While these mattresses have a lot in common, it’s the key differences that will be the deciding factor for most people. Always conduct thorough research before committing to a big investment like buying a mattress by checking out expert reviews and user guides like the ones here at Sleep Aim.
