I’ve Tested Tons of Mattresses — This Customizable (and Adjustable) Pick Is the Most Comfortable One I’ve Ever Slept On

With close to a decade of experience as a shopping editor under my belt, I’ve tested a lot of products over the years, mattresses being one of the ones I’ve tested the most. As someone who has struggled with their sleep since childhood, it has become something of a career mission to find the “perfect” mattress. Now, I’ve tested them all, from plush and firm picks to cooling mattresses, affordable finds, and even those splurgy mattresses you’d see in the movies. Along the way, I’ve definitely found some standouts, but I’ve yet to find one that I can say ticks all the boxes. 

Now, I know that this is a big ask of one mattress — after all, everyone has different sleep preferences so if a perfect mattress does exist, it would have to be a bit of a shape-shifter to fit everyone’s needs, right? Enter the Bedgear M3 Performance Mattress, a customizable cooling mattress that I’m confidently calling one of the best (and most ingenious) mattresses on the market today. 

The first thing that stood out to me about this mattress was its customizable design. Unlike other mattresses, with the M3, you get an interchangeable, modular design that lets you choose the firmness of each side of the mattress. How does it work? When you receive your mattress, you’ll receive two sets of Independent Suspension units in your choice of one of four firmness levels. As you put the bed together, you can decide which side of the bed each firmness level will live, perfect for couples with a preference for which side of the bed they sleep on. Oh, and I should also mention that these units also make motion transfer a thing of the past.  

Aside from this, the M3 is made with a cozy blend of cooling materials. Housed in a base wrapped in Breathable Air-X ventilated fabric, this mattress features three layers of ventilated foam, topped with a cover made of the brand’s silky-smooth cooling Ver-Tex fabric that’s designed to reduce overheating while you sleep and feels instantly cool against your skin. And as if this wasn’t enough, this mattress comes apart for easy cleaning with the top layers being machine washable and the base a quick vacuum away from dust-free.   

I couldn’t have been more excited to test this mattress. It’s important to note that this mattress comes in a couple of boxes as each element is put together separately. After setting up the base (I opted for a split-head design), simply lay the base — otherwise known as the chassis — on the frame, place the coils on the preferred sides, zip the top layer (and cover) on, and you’re good to go! 

When it comes to firmness levels, I opted for medium-firm on one side and medium-soft on the other. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. The medium-firm? That side offers the perfect amount of support without feeling like a rock. The medium-soft? That side offers the sink-in comfort that I love in a plush mattress with enough support that doesn’t make it feel like I’ve been swallowed up by it, either. Having my choice of either side depending on my mood? Priceless.  

Now for me, one of the most important tests when it comes to a mattress, especially a cooling one, is how soundly and, well, cool, I sleep. To put this to the test, I slept with a light blanket and freshly straightened hair (#IYKYK). Much to my surprise, I woke up comfortably chill and not a hair out of place, even at the nape of the neck. As I awoke (on the medium-soft side of the bed), I gave a big stretch and felt a big grin creep across my face. I had found it  — the perfect mattress.  

• The customizable design: For me, the best part about this mattress is the customizable design. By being able to pick the firmness level of each side of the mattress, I’m able to make sure each sleeper has the perfect mattresses. Once more, if down the line I find my mattress starting to lose support, I can simply buy another set of mattress coils and swap the old one, effectively ending the need to replace my entire mattress — the ultimate headache solver! 
• The cooling power: I’m a hot sleeper, so I’ll always opt for a cooling mattress. That being said, I found the blend of the brand’s Air-X fabric and breathable, ventilated cushioning to be one of the best cooling options I’ve tested. I’d even go so far as to say this is the best cooling mattress I’ve tested (so far!)
• The dedicated lumbar support: Now this next part only comes when you opt for the adjustable base, but trust me, it’s worth it. While most adjustable bases only offer head and feet support, Bedgear’s adjustable base offers lumbar support. With the click of a button, I’m able to properly adjust the center of the mattress to perfectly align with my back, something I never knew I needed but now don’t know how I’ll ever live without. 

If you do opt for the adjustable base as I did, it’s important to note that if you go for the split-head design you will need to get specialized split-head sheets (I recommend the Dri-Tec sheets; they’re some of the softest I’ve ever tested). Also, while the heads move independently with a split-head mattress, the feet still move uniformly. 

All in all, the Bedgear M3 Performance Mattress is an outstanding find, but I would specifically recommend it if you’re looking for something that:

• Is customizable (and can continue to be so down the line)
• Is expert at cooling
• Is great for couples

• Bedgear, Starting at $2099

HOW WE SHOP FOR YOU

Our writers and editors put hundreds of products to the test every year to determine which ones get our stamp of approval and are really worth your time and money. If we love it, you’ll hear about it. 

WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US

Our team is made up of writers and editors with years of experience in the home, kitchen, and parenting consumer product space, and who are always testing for new tried-and-true staples.

HOW WE TEST PRODUCTS

We put products to the test right where they matter: at home. We bring these products into our personal spaces and test them for weeks and even months to see if they live up to their claims. At the end of the day, we’re consumers, too, so we’ll provide you with all the information we’d want — and then some.

Read more about our team and how we choose products.