The Thuma Hybrid offers three firmness options: Plush, Medium, and Firm. I chose Medium because my partner and I (mainly me) fluctuate between different sleeping positions. We both are side sleepers for the most part, but often, I revert to being a stomach sleeper sometime in the night. Both of these sleeping positions require more lumbar support to prevent back pain. But from the first night of testing, it was undeniable that this mattress had a firmer feel. In my experience, beds with medium firmness typically range between a 5 and 6.5 on a scale of 10, with 10 being the firmest setting available on a bed. With Thuma Hybrid’s innerspring pocketed coils and firmer Dunlop latex, I would rank it as a 7 out of 10. In fact, I would guess that the “Firm” Thuma Hybrid may be comparable to the Plank Firm, one of the firmest mattresses our team has ever tested.
As time went on and my body adjusted to the mattress’s feel, I could sense a slight increase in softness and sink around my body. But in terms of pressure relief, I did notice slight tension around my hips and shoulders. It was nothing that disrupted my sleep, but I could easily see it doing so for those with joint pain in these areas.
But that doesn’t take away who I really think this bed is a star for: couples, stomach sleepers, and heavy-bodied sleepers. Couples, especially ones who are interested in the best mattress for sex, may find a firm mattress to help not only with differing sleep positions, but also support for other positions. Stomach sleepers (and back sleepers who prefer a firmer bed) require a bed that provides adequate lumbar support. Lastly, heavy-bodied sleepers, or those with larger frames who weigh over 250 pounds, may be happy with this mattress’s level of firmness. This is because with more body mass, the bed has more give. A too-soft bed can also contribute to the development of back pain over time, as the spine sinks out of alignment. The high-end materials that compose the Thuma Hybrid should enhance overall support and durability and help prevent back pain.
Touchdown, Thuma
Photograph: Julia Forbes
In the end, the Thuma Hybrid will likely be a classic case of “give your body time to get used to it”—particularly if you’re someone with a smaller- to average-weight frame. Heavier-bodied sleepers may be good to go from the jump. Would I personally classify the Thuma Hybrid as more of a medium-firm, rather than a medium? No, especially since mattresses typically soften up over time. However, the reality is that people generally aren’t in the mood to wait that long—there’s a reason most brands, Thuma included, require all 30 nights in the sleep trial to elapse before a return is allowed.
However, for stomach sleeping, couples, and sex, this mattress is a star—especially when paired with a Thuma bed frame. My next project will be getting my dogs on board with their own Thuma setup, as the brand has recently launched its own dog bed. But it’s safe to say that I’ve joined my teammates as the new member of the (unofficial, but we can make T-shirts) Thuma fan club.