Cover
Covering the Saatva Solaire mattress is a quilted pillowtop made partly of organic cotton. We tugged and crunched the pillowtop and found it to be well constructed and sturdy during our testing period.
Comfort & Feel
There are three aspects that make up our assessment of comfort and feel. We call these "preference-based characteristics" because no rating here is better or worse – rather, the attributes that are most desirable to you will be determined solely by your personal preferences. We apply the same classification standards to each mattress so you can more easily compare apples to apples.
Softness ( what’s this )
Keep in mind that what mattress companies call “firm” or “soft” is a purely a preference. All mattresses should be supportive and promote healthy spinal alignment. Whether a mattress is fluffy and squishy (what mattress companies call soft or plush), or less so (what companies call firm), is purely down to your personal needs and preferences.
The Saatva Solaire, of course, is adjustable, and its softness depends on the setting you choose. At the lowest inflation, we found the mattress to be very soft. At the highest setting, we still found it to be a soft mattress, but firmer than on the lowest setting. None of the settings achieved what on our scale would be a medium or a firm feel.
Not sure what softness is best for you? Take our Mattress Match Quiz and find out.
| Softness Level - Inflated to 10 (1=Least Soft, 9=Most Soft) |
7 | Soft |
| Softness Level - Inflated to 30 (1=Least Soft, 9=Most Soft) |
7 | Soft |
| Softness Level - Inflated to 50 (1=Least Soft, 9=Most Soft) |
6 | Medium Soft |
Dual Comfort
On queen size and larger Solaire mattresses, the air chambers are independent of each other on either side of the bed. Each has its own wired remote control, so each side of the bed can be adjusted individually.
We always wonder if a person will be able to feel a seam or joint where the two air chambers meet in the middle of the bed, and in the case of the Solaire, we did not. Rather, it felt very seamless, with no perceptible joint between the two sides.
Each remove can be set to an inflation setting between 10 and 50. A lower setting corresponds to a softer feel, with the higher setting a firmer feel. changed and adjusted the settings, and though we did notice a bit of noise from the bed's air pump, we did not find it bothersome or disturbing.
Cushioning Depth ( what’s this )
Much of the ‘sinking in’ feeling of the Saatva Solaire mattress comes from the pillow-top cover, which has deep contours and quilting, as well as from the top comfort layers of latex and memory foam. When we placed our 16-pound bowling ball atop the mattress, it sunk down quite deeply, more deeply than an average innerspring mattress. Even on the firmest setting of 50, we found cushioning depth to be deeper than average.
All of that means that no matter the setting, you'll still get more of a 'hugged or cradled' feeling from the Solaire as opposed to floating on top.
| Cushioning Depth - Inflated to 10 (1=Shallowest, 9=Deepest) |
7 | Deeper Cushioning |
| Cushioning Depth - Inflated to 30 (1=Shallowest, 9=Deepest) |
7 | Deeper Cushioning |
| Cushioning Depth - Inflated to 50 (1=Shallowest, 9=Deepest) |
6 | Slightly Deeper than Average |
Memory Feel and Bounce
The Solaire mattress has a couple of inches of very soft, slow responding memory foam. However, it's under a layer of firmer latex as well as the quilted cover, so you don't notice much of that slow melting sensation normally associated with memory foam We also tested the Solaire for bounce, both with our 16-lb bowling ball as well as with the weight of our 200-lb tester. In both tests, we didn't notice much bounce at all, though there is a tiny bit more when it's inflated to its highest setting of 50.
| Memory Feel (1=Least, 9=Most) |
5 | Some memory feel |
| Bounce (1=Least, 9=Most) |
3 | Very little bounce |
Back Support & Pressure Relief
The two things that you should always be sure to get from your mattress are spinal alignment (commonly thought of as "back support") and pressure relief. Unfortunately, no mattress will deliver these two things equally well for all sleepers. In particular, spinal alignment and pressure relief capabilities will vary across sleepers with different weights, body shapes, and sleep positions. To help you determine how this mattress will perform for you, we break down our spinal alignment and pressure relief assessments by sleeper type.
Overall, we thought the Saatva Solaire mattress would be a better choice for side sleepers than for other positions. Those who sleep occasionally on their backs, particularly those on the lighter, may be just fine on the Solaire.
We would not recommend the mattress for stomach sleepers, however.
Spinal Alignment
The key to good back support is maintaining proper spinal alignment while you sleep. This means that the mattress should hold your spine in roughly the same position it's in when you're standing. The ability of a given mattress to do this will generally depend on your weight, sleep position, and body shape.
Here is how we break down the spinal alignment of the Saatva Solaire mattress:
Inflated to Level 10
| Weight | Range | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 4 | 7 | 2 |
Inflated to Level 30
| Weight | Range | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 5 | 7 | 3 |
Inflated to Level 50
| Weight | Range | Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 7 | 9 | 5 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 6 | 8 | 4 |
Back Sleepers:
For those who sleep mainly in this position, we had some concerns that hips might sink too deeply, creating over-arching in the back. We thought that the highest setting of 50 would be pretty good for most back sleepers, especially those on the lighter side, but lower settings would not work as well from a spinal alignment perspective.
Side Sleepers:
We thought the Solaire would work well for most side sleepers, regardless of inflation setting, though we did think a higher setting would be better for most in terms of creating a neutral spinal position. For side sleeping, you want your hips and shoulders to sink in while the bed reaches up to support the curve of your waist.Stomach Sleepers:
Achieving good spinal alignment for stomach sleepers can often be trickier as the hips can tend to sink down too far with some mattresses, and that was the case in our testing regardless of the support setting. We would not recommend the Solaire mattress for those who mainly sleep on their stomachs.
Pressure Relief
When a mattress pushes back against your body with too much force in a concentrated area, the result can be pain, soreness, loss of circulation, excessive tossing, and other problems. In general, such "pressure points" are of greatest concern for side sleepers, since that's the position in which your body's weight is distributed over the smallest surface area. To find the right mattress for your needs, keep in mind that the pressure-relieving capabilities of any given mattress will vary depending on the sleeper. Factors like your weight and body shape (e.g., broader shoulders and/or hips) will determine how far you sink into the mattress, and the pressure relief offered by that mattress will vary widely at different depths.
Here's how we sized up the pressure relief of the Saatva Solaire mattress:
Inflated to 10:
| Weight | Range | Typical Curves | Extra Curvy |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 8 | 7 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 7 | 7 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 6 | 6 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 6 | 5 |
Inflated to 30:
| Weight | Range | Typical Curves | Extra Curvy |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 8 | 8 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 8 | 7 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 7 | 7 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 7 |
6 |
Inflated to 50:
| Weight | Range | Typical Curves | Extra Curvy |
| Lighter | <150 lb | 8 | 8 |
| Average | 150 to 200 lb | 8 | 8 |
| Above Average | 200 to 250 lb | 8 | 8 |
| Heavier | >250 lb | 8 | 7 |
Overall, we found the pressure relief offered by the Saatva Solaire bed to be mainly good, but best on the higher support settings. Pressure relief is one area where the variable inflation adjustments are a benefit, allowing different shapes of people to find a setting that works to relieve joint pressure. But overall, pressure relief was okay to excellent in our testing.
Other Features
Beyond the preference-based characteristics of comfort and feel, and the body matching for spinal alignment and pressure relief, a mattress will have a number of other attributes that can make it a better or worse choice for you. We call these "priority-based characteristics" because they are areas in which a mattress can be better or worse, but that will have differing amounts of importance to each sleeper. So, determining how much importance to give to these features will be entirely a matter of your own personal priorities. As always, we apply the same ratings standards to each mattress so you can more easily compare apples to apples.
Motion Isolation ( what’s this )
With a bowling pin standing upright on the Saatva Solaire bed, we tested motion isolation by dropping a 16-lb. bowling ball on it, as well as plopping the full weight of our 200-lb tester on the bed.
In both tests, the bowling pin barely moved. We think the Solaire mattress would be a very good choice for those concerned with feeling another's movements on the mattress.
| Motion Isolation Rating |
9 /10 | Excellent |
Temperature ( what’s this )
If you are a “hot” sleeper, or perhaps a woman who experiences hot flashes, how a mattress affects your body temperature may be a concern. We first look for air flow as the best way to help warm air dissipate and cooler air to enter the mattress. The top layers of the Solaire are comprised of layers of foam plus an impermeable vinyl layer meant to protect the air chambers against moisture. Simply put, that means there's not a lot of air moving through the bed.
You also sink deeply into the bed, regardless of setting, meaning that less of your body is exposed to the air, which can also contribute to feeling hot. Overall, if sleeping hot is a major concern, we feel there are better types of mattresses, such as an innerspring bed that will allow for more air flow.
| Stays "Cool" Rating |
4 /10 | Fair |
Edge Support ( what’s this )
If you like to sit on the edge of your mattress, or if you tend to sleep right on the edge of your mattress, you want a model that has good integrity and stability around the edges. To that end, the Saatva Solaire mattress is encased in foam all along the edges.
In our tests, which you can see in our video review above, our tester was able to sit very comfortably on the side of the mattress even though it did compress quite a bit. Laying right along the side of the mattress also felt very stable, though he did feel a bit of a leaning sensation mainly because the middle area of the bed is so heavily domed with quilting. But overall, we felt edge support was very good.
| Edge Support Rating |
8 /10 | Very good |
Ease of Repositioning ( what’s this )
For those with mobility issues, ease of movement is an important concern. For the Saatva Solaire, our tester found it much easier to change positions and move about with the mattress at the higher setting than the lower. At the lowest setting the bed was very 'squishy' and made movement more difficult.
| Ease of Repositioning | 5 - 8 | Okay to very good, depending on inflation level |
Green Features ( what’s this )
For mattress shoppers concerned with the use of natural materials, sustainable manufacturing practices or the like, we offer our subjective evaluation of any efforts taken by the company to make the mattress more green, healthy, or safe.
In the case of the Saatva Solaire mattress, we noted some confusion among Goodbed users. While the pillow-top cover does contain some organic cotton, the word “organic” printed on the fabric has led some consumers to believe that the entire mattress is made of organic materials; it is not, nor does the company make any claims that it is.
Other than some organic cotton in the cover, and a percentage of natural latex in the latex layer, the remainder of the materials are synthetic. The foam is, however, certified to the Certi-PUR-US standard, which verifies that a material has low VOC off-gassing as well as a lack of chemicals and other substances regulated by the CPSC.
| Green Rating |
6/10 | Pretty good |
Adjustable Base Compatibility ( what’s this )
If you plan to use your mattress atop an adjustable base, the Saatva Solaire is compatible. In fact, the company even sells its own adjustable base (optional), the Lineal.
| Adjustable Base Compatibility | 2 - 5 | Poor to okay, depending on inflation level |
Price, Value, Durability
What It Costs
Prices shown are list prices. Remember that GoodBed keeps our site current with the best available discounts on online mattresses, many of which are exclusive discounts for our readers.
What Are You Getting?
The Saatva Solaire is an mattress that offers adjustable dual comfort, allowing partners to adjust the softness level on their own side of the bed. The inflation of the bed's air bladders is controlled by a wired remote, with settings between 10 (softer) and 50 (less soft). The 13" mattress includes two inches of gel memory foam along with a small layer of latex. The latex is primarily synthetic, with a section of natural latex from rubber trees in the middle. A heavily padded/quilted cover completes the package with a traditional luxury look.
How Long Will the Saatva Solaire Last?
We typically use foam densities as an indicator of the comfort materials of a mattress. But in the case of Solaire, those densities are not disclosed. The air chambers have sealed vulcanized seams to prevent air leaks (which would be covered under the warranty if they fail), but there electronic parts controlling inflation -- and durability for those parts are a bit of an unknown. But the entire mattress -- including the electronics -- is covered by a full replacement warranty for the first five years.
Overall Value
The Saatva Solaire is a fairly unique product on the market. A couple of other brands do offer a bed with adjustable air bladders, but they typically cost much more than the Solaire. So if adjustment of the softness of your mattress on the fly is an important priority for you, we do think the Solaire is a good value.
| Value Rating |
7 /10 | Good |
Other Factors to Consider
Delivery
- Free delivery with in-home setup and removal of old bedding
Saatva include free shipping, free in-home setup, and free removal of your old bedding with the purchase of the Solaire mattress. This is a policy that now matches or exceeds that of the majority of Saatva’s online competitors.
Returns
- 180-day trial period
- Full refund, minus $99 fee for pickup
Saatva offers buyers a 180-day trial period. Should you decide to return the mattress during that period, there is a $99 fee for pickup. Here are the full details of Saatva's trial period and return policy.
Warranty
- Warranty Length: 25 year pro-rated warranty
- Indentation Coverage: 1” and above
One of the biggest, if not THE biggest complaints about any mattress from consumers regards body impressions — the inability of a mattress to spring back, eventually creating a low spot/sinkhole in the mattress. As such, mattress warranties all contain a term defining how big a sag or ‘body impression’ (measured when no one is on the mattress) is considered a defect, and thus covered under the warranty. The industry standard for mattresses is generally between ¾” and 1.5”. Saatva has chosen to cover indentations that meet or exceed 1” for the Solaire. Practically speaking, that means any softening or sagging would need to be at least that deep before the warranty would offer you protection.
For the first five years of ownership, Saatva will repair or replace your mattress (including shipping) if it falls under warranty coverage. For years six through 10 of the warranty, the customer will be required to pay 50% of the cost of needed parts, but labor is included. For years 11 - 15, the customer pays 75% of all costs associated with warranty repair. Beyond that, owners are required to pay 85% to 90% of the cost.
Compared to other mattress warranties, the Solaire policy is more complex than most. Read full details on the Solaire warranty here.
