Leesa Original vs Hybrid (2022): What’s the Difference?

A great bedroom requires a great mattress. You’ll most likely end up spending most of your time on your bed, so you’d want to be sure that you’re getting nothing but the best for your budget. For longer use and a better bedroom, you should treat mattresses as an investment that requires some thought before purchase.

In this comparison, we’ll take a look at two of mattress manufacturer Leesa’s most popular options, the Leesa Original and the Leesa Hybrid, and how they stack up against each other in layers, comfort, and value. Keep reading to find out just how exactly these two Leesa mattresses differ, and which one is a better choice for you.

Leesa Original vs Hybrid Comparison Chart

Original Construction

The Original is straightforward and approachable.

Leesa has one more mattress option (the Leesa Legend) available, but for this comparison, we’ll focus on the Original and the Hybrid. Both products come in all conventional bed sizes, from Twin all the way up to California King. The first difference shows up in the mattress cover: the Original cover is made of twill fabric designed with Leesa’s iconic four stripes. The company claims that its seamless fabric is soft enough that you “won’t want to put sheets on your bed” (though you definitely still should), and it also protects the foam layers from liquids and bedbugs.

The Original’s top layer is a Leesa-exclusive breathable foam focused on providing optimal cooling. It has an indentation force deflection (IFD) of 13, categorizing it as medium-firm. This is supported by a 9 IFD memory foam, contouring the mattress to your body shape. It hugs your body figure and helps reduce pressure on more sensitive areas like your back, hips, and shoulder. The final layer, the base, is a 32 IFD ultra-firm support foam. It’s 6 inches thick, making the overall thickness of the mattress around 10 inches. The foam used is CertiPUR-US certified, so it’s guaranteed safe for indoor use.

Hybrid Construction

The Hybrid is a bit more premium than its Original counterpart.

At first glance, it might seem that there’s not much difference between the Original and the Hybrid. Both are made by Leesa, and both are composed of four layers. However, at a closer look, you’ll see exactly why Leesa charges higher for these. The Hybrid mattress cover is a seamless, white and gray Leesa quilted fabric, providing a softer feel and texture than the original’s smooth twill.

The topmost foam layer differentiates itself through its holes. The Leesa-exclusive premium 13 IFD foam is punched with holes, helping provide better breathability without sacrificing any of the support that the Original can offer. Right below it is a firmer performance memory foam that comes in at 12 IFD, followed by a 6 inch thick quick responsive layer made of more than a thousand 14.5 gauge pocket springs. These springs ensure that the Hybrid can provide edge-to-edge support, and that there’s almost no motion transfer. As with the Original, it’s also certified safe for indoors use, since it has no ozone depleters, formaldehyde, PBDE flame retardants, or any other harmful chemicals prohibited by law.

Comfort and Support

Both mattresses offer great body support and are generally comfortable.

Leesa products come at only one firmness, unlike other mattress options. That could be a pro or a con: on one hand, they know exactly how comfortable their mattresses are, while on the other hand, you won’t have a choice if you prefer harder or softer beds. The Original is pretty comfortable when considered by itself. The memory foam layer perfectly hugs your body shape, making it a great choice for those who experience back pain with their current rigid mattress. However, once you compare it to the Hybrid, it’s pretty obvious that the latter comes out on top when it comes to comfort.

For one, the Hybrid has reinforced edges. Non-reinforced edges on the Original means that you can’t sit on the edges of your bed, and getting out of bed might also be harder for you (though that might be a positive, depending on your preferences). The edge-to-edge support that the Hybrid has eliminates these drawbacks. The Hybrid’s top foam layer is also more breathable, which could be a deal breaker for hot sleepers. Its memory foam layer is also firmer than the Original’s 9 IFD foam, meaning that it provides better support and body contouring without sacrificing the advantages of a memory foam layer. One good thing about both mattresses, though, is that they’re both CertiPUR-US certified. As mentioned above, this means that they’re both made of good enough material that it won’t emit unhealthy levels of volatile organic compounds into your bedroom’s atmosphere.

Warranty and Value

Both mattresses are protected by Leesa’s 10 year long limited warranty.

Leesa ships the bed-in-a-box package for free. For an additional 50 dollars, they can also help you dispose of your old mattress. Regardless of which option you choose, Leesa offers a one hundred night long sleep trial. Your mattress is also protected by a ten year long limited warranty. Purchasing from Leesa also brings a little bit of good into the world: for every ten mattresses sold, Leesa donates one mattress to those in need.

Given its more premium branding, it’s understandable that the Hybrid is a bit more expensive than the Original. The Hybrid’s starting price is around 250 bucks higher than the Original’s. It’s up to you to decide whether the Hybrid’s additional features are worth it (at the size you choose, too), but what does Compare Before Buying think about it?

Verdict

Leesa Original is a great choice, but go for the Hybrid if you’ve got the budget anyway.

For those on a slightly tighter budget, the Leesa Original is a great choice. It comes with a 10 year warranty that guarantees you support for the entire lifespan of your mattress, and is made with materials that won’t harm your health. Its medium-firm foam can help relieve back and hip pain without being as hard as diamond. However, it does have a few drawbacks: for one, the edges aren’t reinforced, making it almost impossible to sit on your bed’s edges and more difficult to stand up and get out of bed. By itself, though, it’s a great choice for those who are just starting out.

The Leesa Hybrid addresses those disadvantages and more. The quick-response pocket springs isolate movement, so it’s a great choice for rough sleepers (or for those who sleep in the same bed as them). The springs also help reinforce the edges, making standing up way easier. Leesa emphasizes the fact that this option is best for more than one sleeper, and it shows in the features that it’s added to the Original’s already comfortable design.

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