Latest news with #testers
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Saatva Contour5 Review: Enjoy The Perks Of Supportive Memory Foam
Saatva is generally known for its top-rated innerspring mattress the Saatva Classic, but now it's introduced the Saatva Contour5 to its lineup. It's a cooling memory foam mattress layered with advanced features to make it ultra comfortable, supportive and contouring. We had a group of nine testers try the brand's newest bed, including our senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman, and observe important features like firmness, pressure relief, ease of movement, motion isolation and more. In our Saatva Contour5 Mattress review below, see our perspective from a range of different body types, sleeping positions and pain points and whether or not we think it's worth the cost. We had nine different people share their thoughts on the newest memory foam bed from Saatva for our ... More Saatva Contour5 review. Memory foam is known for its molding, morphing feel that contours to the curves of your body. Note that common downsides can include inhibited movement and heat retention. The Saatva Contour5 works to solve these issues and deliver nestling comfort that keeps you comfortable through the whole night. For more insight into the brand's other options, we also have a flagship Saatva Classic review. Saatva Type: Memory foam | Brand firmness rating: Medium (5 to 7) or firm (8) | Trial period: 365 nights | Shipping: Free whit- glove delivery | Warranty: Lifetime Best for: Skip if: Since our testers have become so familiar with the Saatva Classic, the Saatva Contour5 is a surprising 180 to the bouncy innerspring bed. Updates writer Alex Garrett says her first reaction was, 'Wow, I really sink into this,' as her knee dipped around three inches as she climbed into the bed. 'It feels dense, yet cushioned at first touch with what seems like a pretty traditional memory foam feel. It's nothing like the Saatva Classic that I tested initially.' As for Chapman's first impressions, she said it's comparable to well-known, high-end memory foam mattresses. 'It has a very classic memory foam feel where the foams slowly contour to your joints and provide nice relief. The foam is dense, pressure relieving and supportive. It feels like the foams are high-quality and similar to a Tempur-Pedic.' With multiple firmness options, a cooling cover and advanced design, our testers discovered that the bed has a lot to offer in terms of pressure relief, cooling comfort, motion isolation and more. Standing at 12.5 inches tall, the Saatva Contour5 Mattress is stacked with foam layers that each serve a different purpose. A look at the memory foam Saatva Contour5. This mattress offers two firmness levels: medium (rated a 5 to 7 by the brand) and firm (rated an 8 by the brand). Our team of nine testers tried the medium model and most agreed with its rating, but some said it leaned more toward 6 than 5. This firmness profile seems to be a sweet spot that accommodates different sleeping positions, as our team rated it an 8 for side and stomach sleepers, and an 8.5 for back sleepers. 'Side sleeping is wonderful on the Saatva Contour5, as a lightweight sleeper,' says Garrett. "The mattress hugs my hips and shoulders, providing a solid pressure-relieving sensation. My spine also feels supported and aligned.' As for back sleeping, a tester in the 250-pound weight class says, 'This mattress provides an excellent feel with the right amount of sinkage and support for my back.' However, we think the firm model is going to be better for dedicated stomach sleepers, especially those who weigh over 250 pounds. One of the brand's best stand-out features is its patented Lumbar Zone PCM Matrix layer. It's strategically placed in the center third of the mattress right under the lumbar region of your spine to provide lift and support, whereas other memory foam beds may sink under the pressure. At the same time, this layer provides a cooling feel that regulates temperature and makes the mattress noticeably cool. 'The mattress is the coolest of the ones I tested. It definitely feels like it has some sort of cooling technology within it,' says one tester who was unfamiliar with its exact construction. If you're a hot sleeper but love the feel of memory foam, the Saatva Contour5 is a good sleep solution. Memory foam is known for its pressure-relieving feel, and this mattress delivers with doughy, slow-moving foam that morphs under the weight of your body. Our testers rated the medium model's pressure relief an 8 out of 10, as the foams contour around your shoulders and hips. It provides a comfortable alignment for side and back sleepers, but for a little more support and less give, opt for the firm model. As we mentioned previously, the Saatva Contour5 Mattress contains technology that helps it sleep more comfortably than your average all-memory foam mattress. Several of our testers noted its cool-to-the-touch feel, while others mentioned that it feels more temperature neutral. Either way, we think it's a good choice for most sleepers, unless you sleep particularly hot. Then you should consider one of our best cooling mattresses that contain multiple cooling layers. Couples who are easily disturbed by each other's movements or have different sleep schedules should consider a mattress like the Saatva Contour5 that's good at stopping motion transfer. We put this memory foam bed to the test by having our testers place a glass of water at the edge of the mattress and make a combination of jerky and subtle movements to see how it reacted, and our testers gave it an 8 out of 10 score. 'The motion isolation was very good,' says one tester. 'The water showed no signs of getting close to spilling. If you need a smaller mattress and have a significant other, this is the mattress for you.' Another echoes this thought, and says, 'The Saavta Contour5 has excellent motion isolation. When I changed positions and got in and out of bed, the water in the glass barely moved.' For a mattress that's made without steel coils, our testers found the mattress to be pretty supportive while lying on their side, back and stomach. It also offers decent edge support for a foam mattress, as our team rated it an average of 7.5 out of 10. However, according to Saatva, it can only support up to 300 pounds per side. As a result, we recommend this mattress to people under 250 pounds so it stays durable, supportive and comfortable throughout its entire lifespan. People who weigh over 250 pounds should consider the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid or one of our editors' favorite mattresses for heavy people. The Saatva Contour5 has surprisingly good edge support for an all-foam mattress. Some memory foam mattresses can feel like they're pushing back against your body when you try to switch from one position to the other, or like you have to pull yourself out of a you-shaped indent. However, our testers scored ease of movement an 8 out of 10. One person says, 'It's easy to switch from one position to another. I don't feel any resistance or like I'm 'stuck'.' Another tester concurs, and says, 'I have no issues switching positions on this mattress.' Saatva is an online mattress brand that offers high-end, quality mattresses made in the USA at an affordable price. Saatva Mattresses are comparable to the likes of beds from veteran brands like Tempur-Pedic and Beautyrest. The Saatva experience is more premium and luxurious, and it shows in the products and services it provides. Saatva offers white-glove delivery on all mattresses, while most other online-exclusive brands sell mattresses from a box. That means you can schedule a time for representatives to hand-deliver your mattress and set it on your frame for you. They also remove your old mattress and responsibly dispose of it–for free. Saatva is generous when it comes to its trial policy, as you get a full year to try out your Saatva Contour5 Mattress. If you're unhappy with your purchase by the end of your trial, you can initiate a return with Saatva who walks you through the process. The only caveat is that you have to pay a $99 return and restock fee. The mattress comes with a lifetime warranty, which means the company covers any manufacturing defects for as long as you own it. For the first two years, Saatva replaces your mattress with a new one for free if there are defects. Starting in year three, the brand completely repairs and re-covers the mattress for a $149 fee. Saatva The brand's original mattress comes with two innerspring layers and enhanced lumbar support technology, which makes it one of the best mattresses for back pain. It's offered in three different firmness levels and two heights, so sleepers can customize their Saatva Classic to their liking. Saatva The Saatva Rx Mattress is specifically marketed for sleepers with chronic back and joint conditions. If we were in the market again, I'd consider this new model because the company says it's designed to eliminate pressure points. This mattress is a new competitor for other high-end memory foam beds on the market, and it appeals to a myriad of different people. Our nine different testers vary in weight, gender and sleeping position, and they all came to agree that the Saatva Contour5 is a premium memory foam mattress with comfortable features. 'The Saavta Contour5 would be a solid mattress choice for any sleeping position. It's also beneficial for people with back and joint pain concerns, as well as couples,' says Garrett. Another person adds, 'This is definitely one of the better, sturdier memory foam beds that I've tried, and it certainly feels high-quality. I would put this one in the running for my own future purchases.' With added cooling enhancements, lumbar support, pressure-relieving layers and a hugging memory foam feel that people know and love, we recommend this bed for: back, side and stomach sleepers; people under 250 pounds; cosleepers and people looking for a more responsive Tempur-Pedic dupe. Chapman, our senior mattress and sleep editor, led a team of nine people who differed in height, weight, sleeping position and gender to test the Saatva Contour5 from multiple perspectives. We paid close attention to certain features that are most important to sleepers including the following: For more insight on how we test each bed and its different features, see our guide on how we score mattresses. Is The Saatva Contour5 Any Good? We had nine different people try the Saatva Contour5, and they rated it a 9 out of 10 because of its pressure-relieving memory foam comfort, supportive feel and cooling technology. It's more responsive than your typical memory foam mattress and is made with eco-friendly touches. What's The Difference Between The Saatva Classic And Contour5? The Saatva Classic is a bouncy innerspring mattress that contains two layers of coils and a small amount of memory foam for lumbar support. The Contour5 is the brand's memory foam mattress and it offers a slow-moving, contouring feel that's opposite from the Saatva Classic. Are Saatva Mattresses Made In China? No, Saatva mattresses are made to order in the United States.
BreakingNews.ie
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
Failed driving test applicant punched and kicked the car during test
A failed driving test applicant began punching walls and kicked a door while another unleashed a volley of abuse at a tester for refusing to conduct an exam in a car that stank of cigarettes. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said since the beginning of last year they recorded 85 accidents involving driving tests, 15 near-miss events, and 38 cases involving abuse of staff. Advertisement On five separate occasions, gardaí had to be called to investigate, including one serious incident where two testers received threatening letters to their home. The RSA also said there had been multiple cases where a failed candidate had made 'accusations of racism' according to a log of incidents they provided under FOI. A report on one incident earlier this year said a test candidate had become verbally abusive after being told they had failed. An account of it said: 'Tester proceeded to write out the statement of test outcome and when it was handed it to the applicant it was scrunched it up and started shouting and using abusive language towards tester again. Advertisement 'Tester got up and walked away again, but this time [the] applicant landed punches on the walls and kicked the door.' There were other dangerous incidents out on the road including one candidate who turned the wrong direction into oncoming traffic right beside a test centre. 'Another driver had to take avoiding action to avoid a collision,' said a note of the incident. In another case, a tester had to intervene after a child was almost hit by an applicant while another staff member complained of a near catastrophic accident. Advertisement The incident database said: 'Candidate dangerously turned right in front of [an] approaching vehicle, tester had to verbally intervene, and shout stop several times to the candidate. 'Extreme near miss to crash into vehicle who had to swerve to avoid test car. Noted as an extremely dangerous situation.' Another case involved a test vehicle 'violently mounting' a footpath at speed after a test applicant turned right at a blind T junction and narrowly avoided a crash. Around 85 more minor prangs and collisions were logged during tests or where RSA staff were injured on duty. Advertisement In one case last year, a candidate was driving at around 35 kph when suddenly they put the car into first gear. RSA records said the tester's neck had 'jerked severely' causing injuries to their neck and back. Ireland Graduate planners sought to help transform towns a... Read More Other cases included a candidate who crashed into a pole, one who drove at high speed towards a crash barrier and another who hit an ESB box. Not all accidents were the fault of driving test applicants with one person rear-ended by a speeding car on the day they hoped to get their licence. An RSA spokesman said: '[Our] testers conducted more than one quarter of a million driving tests in 2024. Thankfully, the vast majority passed off without incident or threat of violence to the tester. 'The RSA has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of threatening or abusive behaviour towards our colleagues. Such incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness and managed with care, discretion, and sensitivity.'
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Irish Times
Driving test troubles: Walls punched, threatening letters, first gear at 35km/h
A failed driving test applicant began punching walls and kicked a door while another unleashed a volley of abuse at a tester for refusing to conduct an exam in a car that stank of cigarettes. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said since the start of 2024 it had recorded 85 road incidents involving driving tests, 15 near-misses and 38 cases involving abuse of staff. On five occasions, gardaí had to be called to investigate, including a serious incident where two testers received threatening letters to their home. The RSA said there had been multiple cases where a failed candidate had made 'accusations of racism', according to a log of incidents provided by the agency under the Freedom of Information Act. READ MORE A report on one incident earlier this year said a test candidate had become verbally abusive after being told they had failed. 'Tester proceeded to write out the statement of test outcome and when it was handed it to the applicant, it was scrunched it up and [the candidate] started shouting and using abusive language towards tester again,' said the report. 'Tester got up and walked away again, but this time [the] applicant landed punches on the walls and kicked the door.' There were other dangerous incidents during tests on the road including a candidate who turned the wrong direction into oncoming traffic right beside a test centre. 'Another driver had to take avoiding action to avoid a collision,' said a note of the incident. In another case, a tester had to intervene after a child was almost hit by an applicant while another staff member complained of a near-catastrophic incident. The incident database said: 'Candidate dangerously turned right in front of [an] approaching vehicle; tester had to verbally intervene, and shout stop several times to the candidate.' The report said there was an 'extreme near miss' with a vehicle which had 'to swerve to avoid test car'. It was 'noted as an extremely dangerous situation'. Another case involved a test vehicle 'violently mounting' a footpath at speed after a test applicant turned right at a blind T-junction and narrowly avoided a crash. About 85 more minor crashes and collisions were logged during tests or where RSA staff were injured on duty. In one case last year, a candidate was driving at about 35km/h when suddenly they put the car into first gear. RSA records said the tester's neck had 'jerked severely' causing injuries to their neck and back. Other cases included a candidate who crashed into a pole, another who drove at high speed towards a crash barrier and another who hit an ESB box. Not all incidents were the fault of driving test applicants with one person rear-ended by a speeding car on the day they hoped to secure their licence. An RSA spokesman said: '[Our] testers conducted more than 250,000 driving tests in 2024. Thankfully, the vast majority passed off without incident or threat of violence to the tester. 'The RSA has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of threatening or abusive behaviour towards our colleagues. Such incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness and managed with care, discretion, and sensitivity.'
