What Is A Tight Top Mattress? Best Overall Guide

The answer to the question of what is a tight top mattress is that it’s a mattress without padding on top. The name itself means that the mattress will look tight and feel firmer compared to your traditional mattress. One can even consider it the opposite of a pillow-top mattress.

This article will discuss this bed in more detail to help you learn more if it’s right for you. Much like with firm pillows, some users will benefit more from sleeping on a firm mattress. So without further ado, here is everything you need to know about tight-top mattresses.

What Is A Tight Top Mattress

 

What Is A Tight Top Mattress: Everything You Need To Know

The quick definition of a tight-top mattress comes from the name itself, tight-top. The mattress looks noticeably tighter and feels firmer than your other beds because it doesn’t have a padding layer on top. Some manufacturers also refer to the tight-top mattress as a “firm mattress.”

To clarify, tight-top mattresses also come in different feels. While they are firmer than other beds, you will still find some plusher products. Therefore, those who want to take advantage of the support tight-top mattresses offer can always feel comfortable. 

You can expect soft and firm mattress varieties that come in different thicknesses. But what about the so-called plush tight top? This mattress is thicker and has a softer layer, but unlike a pillow-top, its cushion is just above the coils.  

 

Tight top vs pillow top vs Euro top

Shopping for a tight-top mattress will also lead you to see other kinds such as pillow-top and Euro-top. How do they differ from a tight-top bed? As mentioned earlier, tight-top mattresses feel firmer. For example, pillow-top mattresses use a pillow-like layer on top, making them perhaps the plushiest bed in the market. 

A Euro-top mattress will also probably feel as cushioned because of its top layer. The only difference is that unlike the pillow-top with the cushion top separated, this layer is part of the Euro-top mattress’s overall structure, and you can’t remove it. And with tight-top beds, the top cushioned layer is gone and replaced by a fabric stretched throughout. 

 

Are Tight Top Mattresses Good?

Do not be deterred by the firmer feel and look of tight-top mattresses. If you’re a back sleeper, you will benefit best with this type of bed. When you lie on your back, you won’t risk having any misalignments throughout the spine. Even the body’s heavy regions like the hips won’t sink too deeply that can cause body pain upon waking up. 

A tight-top mattress is right for you because your muscles will be relaxed compared to using a softer one that adds tension. But back sleepers are not the only ones that’ll benefit nicely from a tight-top bed. If you are a heavier individual, a tight-top mattress will be firm enough to push back the pressure. 

 

Can You Flip A Tight Top Mattress? 

Mattress flipping is a common practice for extending the lifespan and structure of your bed. By using the other side now and then, you’ll distribute the wear and tear throughout the mattress to prevent dents and sagging. However, you can’t flip your mattress if it is a tight-top type because it is one-sided. 

This means that your mattress has a designated face for sleeping and another as the base. By flipping it, you’ll be using the side that won’t be comfortable and the other side can get deformed because it becomes the bottom part. What you can do is rotate your tight-top mattress instead so the pressure distributes evenly. 

 

Is A Pillow Top Mattress Better?

The best mattress for every individual is subjective; one might find a pillow-top better, but another prefers a tight-top bed. If you sleep on your side, you’ll benefit more from a pillow-top than a tight-top mattress. This way, you’ll provide pressure relief on the hips and shoulders that need cushioning in this position. 

If you’re sharing a bed with your spouse, you also want to skip the tight-top mattress because it has more motion transfer. The base using a coil system is quite bouncy, so you might feel it noticeably if your partner gets in and out of bed. Overall, the right one-sided mattress varies per individual, so consider your habits and sleeping position when buying one. 

 

What’s The Best Firmness For A Mattress?

Now that you know how some mattresses differ in feel, the question that might come to mind is the ideal firmness for you. Unfortunately, there is not a single answer because comfort also varies for every person. Instead, get the mattress firmness that suits your habits, sleeping position, and body type. 

A quick review of the discussion so far is that a firm mattress is best for heavy individuals or those who sleep on their backs to prevent sinking and maintain a neutral spine. On the contrary, get something soft if you sleep on your side and if you’re quite petite because the softness offers pressure relief on the joints. 

 

Conclusion

Besides the pillow-top mattress, you might also stumble upon its counterpart, the tight-top mattress. What is a tight top mattress? This is a tighter-looking and firmer-feeling bed from the name itself because it has no cushioned layer on top.