The bed-in-a-box market is becoming increasingly crowded, with various start-ups and big mattress brands keen to get in on the act. Nectar is one of the most well-loved brands, offering affordable memory foam mattresses with great pressure relief and support shipped straight to your door.
Tulo is another bed-in-a-box mattress option from the larger brand Mattress Firm. Unlike the Nectar, it comes in a range of firmness options and is a little cheaper than the market leader.
The Nectar and Tulo mattresses have a lot in common, but each have certain features which set them apart from each other. For this reason, many people are confused as to whether they should choose a Nectar or a Tulo mattress when the time comes for a new bed. In this article, we’ll help settle the Nectar vs. Tulo debate by comparing the two options against each other to help you make the right choice for you.
How are the Mattresses Constructed?
You’ll notice that there are quite a lot of similarities in the Nectar vs. Tulo construction. Both use memory foam to provide great contouring and pressure relief. However, these affordable memory foam beds also have some key differences in the ways in which they are put together. Let’s check out the specs of each product and see what this means for sleepers.
Nectar Mattress Construction
The Nectar mattress stands at 11 inches high, slightly thicker than the average 10 inches of most gel memory foam beds. One of the key differentiating factors which makes the Nectar stand out is the use of open-cell technology when manufacturing the various foams in the Nectar’s layers. Open-cell technology means that the foams have a more open structure, with tiny air holes to allow air to circulate more readily. This means that it is more breathable than traditional memory foam which tends to retain heat and sleeps hot. It also makes the foam more responsive, giving it a bouncier feel than regular gel memory foam. The Nectar mattress has a triple-layered construction as follows:
Supportive base
The base layer of the Nectar is manufactured using 7 inches of high-density memory and polyfoam, which is what helps give the mattress its firmness and high level of support. It also gives the mattress a good level of stability. This type of base is usual for memory foam and gel memory foam beds. The only issue with this type of base is that it has less edge support.
Comfort layers
The two comfort layers in the Nectar mattress have a combined thickness of 4 inches and help to provide contouring and pressure relief. The middle layer is made from memory foam, which allows the mattress to adapt reasonably closely to the shape of your body while taking pressure off your joints. The top layer is made from soft and luxurious quilted memory foam. This layer is infused with gel, which helps heat to travel away from your body during the night and is a useful feature for people who tend to sleep hot.
Tencel blend cover
The cover on the Nectar mattress is made from a blend of cotton and Tencel fibers. Cotton is a breathable material in itself and is made even more so by the inclusion of Tencel. This means that the cover feels cool to the touch, good news for those that struggle with overheating at night.
Tulo Mattress Construction
The Tulo mattress has more layers than the Nectar, totalling four altogether with a knitted cover. Like the Nectar, it also uses memory foam in the upper layers. However, these are infused with titanium to help draw heat away from the body and solve the issue of sleeping hot that often comes with a memory foam bed. The mattress is put together as follows:
Foundation layer
The bottom layer of the Tulo mattress is made with 4.5 inches of dense polyfoam. This gives the mattress its firmness. The density varies depending on which firmness option you choose and also helps to make the bed stable.
Comfort layers
The Tulo mattress has three comfort layers. The first is made from 2 inches of resilient polyfoam to add durability and reduce surface tension in order to provide additional pressure relief. The second layer is made from 1.5 inches of memory foam. This is made using open-cell technology to improve overall breathability and help you to sleep cool. The top layer is made from 2 inches of softer memory foam with added ventilation. It’s also infused with titanium particles to help transfer heat away from your body while you sleep.
Top cover
The top cover of the Tulo mattress is soft and cosy to the touch and made of a breathable knit fabric.
Which Mattress is Firmer?
Mattress firmness is important because it ultimately determines whether the bed will feel comfortable to sleep on or not. You’ll often see it described using a sliding scale from 1-10, with one being very soft and 10 being very firm. Neither extreme end of the spectrum is likely to be suitable, as a very soft mattress won’t provide enough support and a very firm bed will feel too hard to be comfortable and cosy. Most people will find a mattress that is medium or medium firm supportive while providing enough ‘give’ to be comfortable and relieve pressure.
The Nectar mattress only comes in one firmness, which is 6.5. This means it is a medium firm mattress. This is sometimes described using the term ‘universal comfort’ because it meets the needs of most people. It gives a high level of support while still allowing the mattress to conform to the body and relieve pressure. Therefore, it’s a good choice for people who share their bed with someone who sleeps differently to them.
The Tulo mattress comes in three firmness options: soft (4), medium (5.5 and firm (7). This means that it’s a clear winner if you don’t want a medium firm mattress for any reason as there are other options available to you.
Which Mattress is Best for my Sleeping Position?
Understanding how your sleeping position affects your choice of mattress is important because it directly influences which firmness feels best. This is because different positions put strain on different areas of the body.
As a rule, side sleepers (the majority of people) need a softer mattress with more ‘give’. This is because side sleeping puts pressure on the hips and shoulders, which means that you need a mattress that can conform to the side of your body and relieve pressure. Back sleeping requires medium firm to firm support, while front sleepers need a firmer mattress because this position puts more strain on the spine. Some people are combi-sleepers, which means they change between two or more positions during the night. Therefore, they need a mattress that gives the right amount of support and pressure relief in all the positions they adopt.
The Nectar mattress performs pretty well for all sleep positions because it is medium firm or ‘universal comfort’. This means it is the obvious choice for combi-sleepers as it can accommodate all sleeping positions well. Side sleepers with very light body weights (130 pounds or lower) may not find the Nectar mattress soft enough, which could cause pressure build-up around the hips and shoulders.
The firm (7) Tulo mattress is ideal for front and back sleepers because it provides the level of support they need to keep their spines well-aligned. The medium (5.5) and soft (4) options are well-suited to side sleepers, especially those with a lighter body weight. Side sleepers with high body weights may find they need more support.
Which Mattress is Better for Joint and Back Pain?
Choosing the right mattress is important if you have back or joint pain because it can help to ease discomfort and allows you to sleep better. Conversely, the incorrect mattress could make matters worse or even cause new pain to develop. In order to choose the best mattress for back and joint pain, you should look for a bed that provides both pressure relief for your joints and a high level of support for your back. It’s also vital to select the correct firmness.
Both the Nectar and the Tulo mattresses do a good job of relieving pressure and are very supportive, helping to ease pain in your back and joints. Which one is ultimately the best for back and joint pain depends on your requirements in terms of firmness. A mattress that’s too firm will put pressure on your joints, while one that’s too soft won’t give your spine the support it needs to remain pain-free. We recommend using the information in the section above to help you decide which firmness option, and therefore which mattress brand, is best for your needs.
Which Mattress Sleeps Cooler?
Coolness, or at least temperature neutrality, are important for getting a good night’s sleep. This is especially important if you have a medical condition that causes you to overheat at night. Overheating is uncomfortable and can seriously interfere with the quality of your sleep.
Memory foam traditionally sleeps hot. This is because of the close structure of memory foam, which retains heat and prevents it from escaping. Heat can also build up if your body sinks in too deeply. However, there are various modern manufacturing methods and sleep technologies that can help you get the great pressure relief and comfort of memory foam without the excess heat.
The Nectar and Tulo mattresses are both good examples of memory foam mattresses that sleep cool. Both use memory foam made with an open-cell structure. This makes the foam more breathable, allowing hot air to escape during the night.
The top layers of the Nectar and Tulo mattresses use different materials to aid in keeping you cool. The Nectar has gel-infused memory foam, which helps to wick heat away from your body while you sleep. Meanwhile, the Tulo has titanium particles within the top layer, which also helps heat to travel away from your body.
In short, there’s not much to differentiate between these mattresses when it comes to sleeping cool. However, the highly breathable Tencel cover on the Nectar mattress may just give it a slight edge.
Nectar vs. Tulo Price Comparison
Most shoppers cite price as an important deciding factor when it comes to choosing a mattress. Although the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true to some extent when it comes to mattress shopping, you don’t need to spend a small fortune to get a comfortable bed. There are plenty of affordable memory foam beds out there, and both the Nectar and Tulo mattresses are cases in point. Ideally, you want to spend as much as you can realistically afford and make sure that the mattress you choose has great features for the price you pay.
The Nectar is the most expensive of the two options at $799 for a queen size, although it is currently being offered at the time of writing for a reduced price of $699 thanks to Nectar’s January sale. This comes with a promotional offer of two free pillows worth $150 when you buy through the Nectar Sleep website.
The Tulo mattress is a little cheaper as the regular price for a queen is $699 through their website. If you’re quick, you can take advantage of the discounted price available in their January sale, which is just $499 at the time of writing.
You may find that you can get a better price by shopping around at third-party online retailers or waiting for promotional periods, although we can’t guarantee that you will find a reduction. Bear in mind that some of the key terms and conditions may vary if you buy elsewhere.
Trials and Warranties
You should always make sure that you’re happy with the trial and warranty periods before you buy a mattress. This is because a mattress is a big investment, and trials and warranties offer you protection. Sleep trials are especially important if you’re buying online without trying out a mattress in-store first as you can’t be 100% certain that you will like the mattress until it arrives.
Nectar Sleep offer their customers a fantastic 365-night sleep trial with no settling-in period, which means that you can choose to return the mattress as soon as you want. This is one of the best sleep trials we’ve seen in the industry and allows you to return the mattress for a full refund. Please note that delivery charges to the non-contiguous USA and other fees (such as for white glove delivery) can’t be refunded.
Tulo offer a shorter sleep trial at 120 nights, which is around the standard length for a mattress sleep trial. Like the Nectar, there is no settling-in period. Tulo recommend that you allow at least 30 days to adjust to your new mattress, but this isn’t obligatory. If you wish to return, Tulo will give you a full refund and cover any fees. You can also arrange to swap your mattress for a different model if you like.
Nectar also provide the more generous warranty, which is a lifetime warranty. Therefore, you are entitled to use it for as long as you choose to keep the bed. The warranty also includes any faults relating to the cover. In the initial 10-year period after you buy a mattress, Nectar will cover any return and re-delivery fees. After that, the customer is liable to pay $50 each way, although this will be refunded if Nectar find a fault in the mattress. The warranty protects you in the case of damage due to flaws during manufacturer but does not cover damage related to user error such as stains or burns. It is non-transferrable (only valid for the original buyer) and requires you to use a supportive base.
The Tulo warranty is shorter at 10 years, which is normal for mattresses. The warranty covers flaws caused during the manufacturing process, including to the cover, such as indents deeper than 0.75 inches and splits or cracks in the foam. It does not cover ordinary wear and tear, or damage caused by misuse. It’s also required that users place their mattresses on a properly supportive base and is non-transferable. It’s important to note that, unlike the Nectar, the Tulo mattress’ warranty is non-prorated. This means that customers will bear the cost of return and redelivery, although repair or replacement of the faulty mattress is free.
Nectar vs. Tulo Certification
All the foams used in the manufacture of both the Nectar and the Tulo mattresses are Certi-Pur certified. This provides customers with assurance that the mattresses are entirely non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. It also means that the mattresses don’t release chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Therefore, Certi-Pur certified sleep products like the Nectar and Tulo mattresses are more eco-friendly choices.
Shipping Information
Both the Nectar and the Tulo mattresses are sent to customers using ‘bed-in-a-box’ shipping. This means that the mattress is compressed and rolled into a surprisingly small package. This makes shipping cheaper and also allows you to move the mattress more easily. If you choose a mattress brand that uses compressed shipping, it’s important to understand that you must let it decompress before you sleep on it. This usually happens quickly but could take up to 72 hours in some cases.
Nectar don’t charge for delivery to the contiguous USA. Delivery to these areas normally takes 5-7 working days from the time of purchase. Customers living in Hawaii or Alaska are liable for a $250 delivery fee. Nectar also offer an optional white glove delivery service if you want your new mattress set up for you. This costs $149, or $299 in Hawaii and Alaska. You can choose to have your old mattress taken away for a further cost of $20.
Tulo also offer free delivery to the contiguous USA, and they also offer free setup and mattress removal, although this varies depending on where you live. Tulo do not currently offer delivery to Hawaii and Alaska.
Where Can I Buy?
Both the Nectar and the Tulo mattresses are available online through their company websites. You can also buy the Nectar on Amazon, although the Tulo mattresses are not currently sold there. You may also be able to find the Nectar mattress through other online third-party retailers, although you should always check the terms and conditions before you buy. The Tulo mattresses can also be purchased on the Mattress Firm website.
Nectar and Mattress Firm/Tulo also have bricks and mortar stores which stock their mattresses. If you have one nearby, you may prefer to try out and buy your mattress instore. Alternatively, you could try instore and then buy at a later date once you’ve had time to think it over. Local availability may vary.
Which Mattress Should I Choose?
Now that you’ve heard both sides of the Nectar vs. Tulo debate, it’s time to decide which one is best for you. The truth is that both mattresses are good value for money and provide a good level of support and pressure relief. However, it’s likely that one will suit you more than the other. Here’s our quick rundown on how to make your decision.
Buy the Nectar if:
You’re a combi-sleeper
The Nectar mattress is a great option for combi sleepers (people who change position during the night) because it is a universal comfort mattress. This means that it performs well whichever position you adopt during the night.
Your partner has different sleep needs
Trying to accommodate two people with different sleeping styles is a common problem when mattress shopping. Thanks to its universal comfort firmness, the Nectar mattress should suit couples with differing sleep styles.
You want a longer sleep trial
The Nectar mattress’ sleep trial is one of the best in the industry at 365 nights. This makes it a good choice if you want as long as possible to try out your new mattress before committing to it long term.
Buy the Tulo if:
You’re on a budget
The Tulo comes in a bit cheaper than the Nectar mattress at just $699 for a queen size outside of promotional periods. This is great value given the impressive features of the Tulo mattresses.
You’re a side sleeper with a lighter body weight
Side sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds may find the Nectar too firm. The Tulo mattress in either a soft or medium could be a better option as they have enough ‘give’ to conform to the side of your body even if you are very light, relieving pressure.
You prefer a firmer mattress
Tulo is the only one of the two brands to offer a firm mattress. This could be a deciding factor if you are someone who prefers a firmer bed, for example if you sleep on your front or have a high body weight.
The bottom line
We recommend both the Nectar and Tulo mattresses as low cost memory foam mattresses. Both do an excellent job of supporting your spine and providing pressure relief for a good price. However, as you can see, some people will suit one option more than the other.
Buying a new mattress is possibly the most important thing you can do to improve your sleep. To help choose the best product for you, you should check out expert reviews and sleep guides like the ones here at Sleep Aim.
