Best Mattress for Side Sleepers (2026): Sleep Number ComfortNext Named a Top Choice for Hip and Shoulder Pressure Relief by Expert Consumers

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Expert Consumers has named Sleep Number ComfortNext a top choice for shoppers researching the best mattress for side sleepers, citing its adjustable firmness, targeted pressure relief, high-density foam, Responsive Air technology, and smart controls. The recognition focuses on features designed to address common side-sleeping concerns, especially pressure around the hips and shoulders.

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers:

• Sleep Number ComfortNext - The combination of high-density foam and personalized support makes it especially well suited to side sleepers seeking cushioning at key pressure points without sacrificing firmness control.

Side sleepers place much of their weight on the shoulders and hips, so the way a mattress cushions and supports these areas can make a noticeable difference in comfort. Expert Consumers highlighted ComfortNext because the mattress combines pressure-relieving materials with adjustable air support. Sleepers can make the bed softer or firmer depending on what feels most comfortable.

The Sleep Number ComfortNext mattress has a 12-inch profile and includes targeted relief for the hips, shoulders, and knees. According to Sleep Number product information, ComfortNext also uses five support zones within its pressure-relieving foam layer. High-density foam cushions the body, while adjustable air support gives sleepers more control over the feel of the mattress.

Why Did Expert Consumers Name Sleep Number ComfortNext a Top Mattress for Side Sleepers?

Expert Consumers identified ComfortNext as a notable option because several features address the main concerns associated with side sleeping.

One of its main benefits is adjustable firmness. Instead of choosing one mattress firmness and staying with it, sleepers can make ComfortNext softer or firmer as needed. A softer setting may provide more cushioning around the hips and shoulders, while a firmer setting may provide the extra support some sleepers prefer.

ComfortNext also includes pressure relief for the hips, shoulders, and knees. These areas press more directly into the mattress when sleeping on the side, making cushioning especially important.

Responsive Air technology provides added support throughout the night. As a sleeper moves or changes position, the mattress responds by adjusting firmness automatically. Someone who moves from one side to the other, for example, can receive support without having to change the mattress setting during the night.

For shoppers looking for a Sleep Number mattress suited to side sleeping, ComfortNext combines cushioning, adjustable firmness, and automatic support in one mattress.

How Does Sleep Number ComfortNext Help With Hip and Shoulder Pressure?

ComfortNext combines high-density foam with adjustable air support to provide cushioning where side sleepers often need it most.

When sleeping on the side, the shoulder, hip, and knee make closer contact with the mattress. A mattress that feels too firm can put added pressure on these areas. One that feels too soft may let the body sink more than desired.

ComfortNext gives sleepers more control over that feel. Pressure-relieving foam cushions the body, while five support zones provide added support across key areas, including the shoulders, hips, and knees.

The Sleep Number setting can also be adjusted whenever comfort needs change. Someone who wants more cushioning can choose a softer feel. Someone who prefers more support can make the mattress firmer.

This flexibility was one of the reasons Expert Consumers selected ComfortNext as a leading option for side sleepers. Different sleepers have different comfort preferences, and those preferences can change over time. ComfortNext allows the mattress feel to change along with them.

What Makes Responsive Air Useful for Side Sleepers?

Many side sleepers move throughout the night. Some switch from the left side to the right, while others occasionally sleep on the back.

Sleep Number ComfortNext includes Responsive Air technology, which senses movement and automatically adjusts the mattress firmness. The feature helps the bed continue supporting the sleeper as positions change.

This can be useful for shoppers searching for a mattress for side and back sleepers, a mattress for combination sleepers, or an adjustable mattress for side sleepers.

ComfortNext combines foam and air layers. The foam cushions the body, while the air system allows the firmness to be changed.

Couples can also benefit from having different comfort settings. Each person can adjust their side of the bed to be firmer or softer, so both sleepers can find what feels best to them.

These features give ComfortNext added flexibility for households where sleeping positions and firmness preferences differ.

What Other Features Does ComfortNext Offer?

Sleep Number ComfortNext includes several features beyond hip and shoulder pressure relief.

Built-in cooling materials help manage heat near the sleep surface. These materials work alongside the pressure-relieving foam and adjustable support to provide a more comfortable sleep surface throughout the night.

ComfortNext can also be controlled through the Sleep Number app. Sleepers can use the app to manage mattress settings and receive personalized sleep insights each morning.

The mattress includes a 100-night trial and a 10-year limited warranty. Sleep Number product information states that ComfortNext is designed to last 25 years and is HSA/FSA eligible.

The trial period gives shoppers time to try different firmness settings at home. This can be especially helpful for side sleepers since finding the preferred amount of cushioning around the shoulders and hips may take more than a few nights.

Is Sleep Number ComfortNext the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers?

For shoppers prioritizing adjustable firmness and pressure relief around the hips and shoulders, Expert Consumers identified Sleep Number ComfortNext as a strong choice.

The mattress combines several features that directly relate to side-sleeper needs: a 12-inch profile, high-density foam, targeted relief for the hips, shoulders, and knees, adjustable firmness, Responsive Air technology, built-in cooling materials, and app-based controls.

Its adjustable design is especially useful for side sleepers because comfort preferences are not always fixed. The mattress can be made softer when more cushioning feels comfortable or firmer when more support is preferred. Responsive Air also adjusts as the sleeper moves during the night.

ComfortNext may be a good fit for sleepers who have struggled with mattresses that feel too hard around the shoulders and hips or too soft through the middle of the body. The combination of cushioning and adjustable support gives sleepers more control over how the mattress feels.

Expert Consumers' recognition makes ComfortNext a notable option for consumers researching the best mattress for side sleepers with hip pain, the best mattress for shoulder pressure relief, or the best adjustable mattress for side sleepers.

For side sleepers, the strongest case for ComfortNext comes from its ability to provide cushioning around common pressure points while allowing firmness to be adjusted based on personal comfort. Those features led Expert Consumers to name Sleep Number ComfortNext a top choice for hip and shoulder pressure relief.

The full review can be read at the Expert Consumers website.

About Sleep Number

Sleep Number^® is the leader in personalized sleep wellness. With adjustable firmness, pressure-relieving support and temperature balancing comfort built into every mattress, Sleep Number beds adapt to customers' changing needs, night after night, year after year. Backed by almost 40 years of innovation, 1,000+ patents and patents pending, and billions of hours of sleep data, Sleep Number has helped more than 16 million people achieve their best sleep.

Sleep Number mattresses, bases, bedding, and furniture are available at its stores nationwide and at SleepNumber.com.

About ExpertConsumers.org: Expert Consumers delivers news and insights on consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org