5 Best Mattresses For Uni Students On A Budget
1. Emma Comfort Mattress
Emma is known for manufacturing world-class mattresses, and its Comfort Mattress is no exception.
Designed keeping in mind Australian sleepers, this mattress features an innovative Airgocell layer that is point-elastic, offering personalised support and comfort. At the same time, it wicks away moisture to keep you fresh and comfortable throughout your sleep.
This ultra-comfy Airgocell layer minimises motion transfer, so you won’t be disturbed when your partner tosses and turns.
Next comes a supportive HRX foam crafted of special zoning technology that provides outstanding support to the spine, shoulder and hip by contouring to your unique body shape. Adding to that is its open pores that promote airflow, making it perfect for hot sleepers.
Besides promoting air circulation, the grey cover at the bottom features handles that make it easy to move the mattress from one place to another. Finally, the four layers are protected by an elastic Fresh Air cover that is moisture-wicking, keeping sleepers cool and dry.
One thing you need to keep in mind is that the edge support of Emma Comfort isn’t as great as you’d expect. However, it’s a perfect alternative to its expensive counterpart – the Emma Diamond Hybrid Mattress.
2. Zinus Green Tea Mattress
With a refreshing green tea-infused memory foam and a soft poly jacquard cover, the Zinus Green Tea Mattress makes for the best foam mattress for side sleepers.
Towards the bottom sits a base foam that adds to the stability and durability of the mattress. Besides, it offers excellent edge support, so you won’t have to worry about falling out of bed while sleeping.
On top of it lies a comfort foam layer that is engineered to adapt to the unique curves of sleepers to provide personalised support and soothe achy joints. What’s more, this memory foam layer is infused with ActivCharcoal to provide pressure relief in deep compression areas.
This comfort foam works in tandem with memory foam that is infused with green tea extracts to keep the mattress odour-free and fresh from day one.
The three layers of this memory foam mattress are encased by a knitted cover that is soft to the touch and super breathable. Thus, hot sleepers won’t have difficulty staying asleep throughout the night. Available in four heights, this memory foam mattress features CertiPur-US certified foams, so it will keep allergies at bay.
However, this memory foam mattress takes up to 72 hours to fully expand, so you may have to wait for a few days to sleep on it.
3. Eva Mattress
The Eva Mattress scores 7 to 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it a perfect option for various sleep positions, including stomach sleepers. Much like other hybrid mattresses, this mattress is packed with gel memory foam, premium latex foam and an innerspring system.
Unlike traditional memory foam, the gel-infused memory foam regulates the sleeper’s body temperature and keeps them cool throughout their slumber. Besides comfort, the latex foam keeps the sleep surface free from dust mites and bacteria, so you won’t suffer from allergy or asthma attacks while sleeping.
Thanks to the pocket spring layer, this hybrid mattress minimises motion transfer, so you won’t wake up when your partner changes their sleep position.
We like that this hybrid mattress features a density foam that lays atop the pocket spring layer that makes sure the springs don’t poke you. Not just that, but it also lends a degree of firmness to this hybrid mattress while providing targeted support wherever needed.
Unlike some cheaper mattresses, this hybrid mattress doesn’t fall short of offering edge support, so you can sit and sleep towards the edge without worries. For your peace of mind, it’s covered by a 365-night trial period and a ten-year warranty.
Note that this budget mattress is more responsive than all-foam mattresses, which may not be to everyone’s liking. Also, its cover isn’t machine washable, so we suggest adding a mattress topper to keep your mattress safe from spills and stains.
4. Tuft & Needle Bed
Available in six sizes, the Nod by Tuft & Needle sports GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPur-US certified foams. So, you can rest assured that it is free from fire retardants, formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals, making it safe for allergy sufferers.
When you lie on the mattress, the top layer moulds to your body shape and provides cloud-like comfort and adequate support to the hips, shoulders, and back. By contouring to your body, this mattress provides pressure relief, so you won’t wake up with sore points in the morning.
A support layer has been added to this polyurethane foam mattress to support your spine, thereby relieving aches. Though ideal for back and stomach sleepers, this medium-firm mattress may not cater to the needs of a heavyweight sleeper.
With a ten-year warranty and a 100-night in-home trial period, this Tuft & Needle mattress offers excellent value for money.
5. Onebed Original
Another inexpensive mattress you must consider is the Onebed Original, which eliminates motion transfer, regulates temperature and keeps the spine aligned by offering customised support.
Equipped with CertiPur-US and OEKO-TEX certified foams, this bed-in-a-box boasts a plush and soft cover woven from polyester, which is removable. So, if you spill iced tea or other eatables, you can unzip it and toss it in the washing machine for cleaning.
To make for a luxurious sleeping experience, this memory foam mattress features a 4 cm Dunlop latex foam that is bouncier than others. While it provides outstanding support and comfort, it doesn’t do much to minimise motion transfer.
Moving on, a high-density memory foam layer is added to the mattress to provide unrivalled pressure relief to the sleepers. Below the memory foam layer, you’ll find a high-density polyurethane foam that adds to the longevity of the mattress and can support sleepers of all sizes.
Confused if it’s right for your sleeping needs? Try it for 125 nights and decide if it’s worth keeping or not.
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Mattress For Uni Students On A Tight Budget
Still unable to decide which mattress would be the best pick for your sleeping position? Don’t worry, for we’ve put together some important factors that you need to keep in mind when shopping for an affordable mattress. Let’s check them out.
1. Room Space
Budget isn’t the only factor that you must consider when shopping for a mattress. The size of the room also plays a crucial role in determining which mattress you must invest in.
Going for a queen or king-size mattress won’t be the right choice if you share the room with other students. Likewise, a double-size mattress instead of a single size would be a perfect option for people who have their own room.
2. Firmness
Mattress firmness is subjective– it depends upon the sleeping position and the body weight of the sleeper.
So, if you’re an average-weight sleeper, a medium-firm option will be the best bet. But, if you weigh over 230 pounds, you must scour for options that fall between 7 to 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
On the other hand, lightweight sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds must look for either a soft mattress or a medium mattress.
3. Sleep Trial
When looking for the best cheap mattresses, don’t forget to check the trial period and warranty the brand offers.
You must always go for mattress brands that offer a trial period of at least 365 nights. Mattresses that come with a 101-night trial period can also be considered, but you mustn’t settle for anything less than that. This way, you get sufficient time to sleep on the mattress and decide if it caters to your sleeping needs or not.
Summing It Up
To sum it up, there is no shortage of affordable mattresses on the market; in fact, you have zillions of options at your disposal.
For uni students, we suggest investing in a mattress that is packed with CertiPur-US, GREENGUARD and OEKO-TEX certified foams because they are low-maintenance. Moreover, don’t forget to check the trial period offered by the brand alongside the warranty period, so you won’t have to worry later.
Now that you know the best budget mattress Australia offers, it's time to dispose of the old mattress and bring in a new one? If you’re still confused, let us ease your confusion by revealing our top pick.
The Emma Comfort Mattress takes the crown because it is highly breathable, super comfy and offers buoyant support while relieving pressure points. Rest assured, you’ll wake up fresh and energised and be ready to face the day.
That’s all we have for you today. Toodles!