Founded in 1870, the Simmons Company is among the most prominent and influential bedding companies in American history. In the early 1900’s, the company gained notoriety for making an innerspring mattress that middle class Americans could afford. Prior to this time, such a bed was considered a luxury item. Through decades of research and design innovations, Simmons continued to grow and expand their product line. From value priced, entry level beds to premium luxury mattresses, there is something for everyone.
Simmons recently provided BestSlumber with their Beautyrest Black Calista Extra Firm mattress to evaluate. Although we were already quite familiar with the BRB lineup, it was a great opportunity to focus on every aspect of this quality mattress and bring you our findings.
Where is the Calista Mattress made?
Simmons mattresses are proudly designed and produced here in the USA. 16 strategically built factories keep costs down and shipping costs low.
What type of mattress is the Calista?
The Beautyrest Calista is an individually pocketed coil spring and memory foam mattress.
Beautyrest Black Calista Highlights
- Superior support and body alignment
- Sleeps cool - advanced design dissipates heat
- Excellent edge support
- Low motion transfer
- Solid company reputation
Construction
Simmons Beautyrest Black utilizes a triple wrapped braided coil structure. This unique designs sets an industry standard for support and responsiveness. Varying densities and thicknesses of cool sleeping memory foam are used to create distinctively different comfort feels.
Surfacecool Plush Fiber
This layer of vertically oriented fibers is designed to dissipate body heat away from the sleeping surface.
Geltouch Foam
A soft gel foam that helps provide comfort, support, airflow and breathability.
Comfort Foams
High quality comfort foams in different levels of plushness used in various constructions to create comfort preferences. Available in firm, luxury firm and plush comfort levels.
Micro Diamond Memory Foam
This foam utilizes the conductive properties of diamond particles
which are designed to move heat away from the body.
Advanced Pocketed Coil Technology
A triple wrapped braided coil design offers added structural integrity to this mattress. This feature is unique to the Beautyrest Black lineup. It works to provide individualized back support, ease of movement, and pressure point relief throughout the night.
Energy Foams
This durable foam utilized below the coil unit helps create a supportive,
durable foundation for the no-flip mattress design.
Beautyrest Black Calista Rating
Beautyrest Black Calista Comfort / Firmness Options
- Softest
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Plush
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8Extra Firm
- 9
- 10
- Firmest
The Calista is available in an extra firm and a plush. These two comfort options are distinctively different. For those seeking a middle ground between these options, we recommend the Beautyrest Black Desiree luxury firm. It has the same supportive coil system with a firmness level that splits the difference.
Extra Firm
First things first… This mattress will not be for everyone. Those seeking deep body-hugging conformity should move on to the plush version of this bed. But, for those seeking a more robust feel, you’ve found your mattress. The Calista extra firm is a true firm lover’s mattress. This 12.5” profile bed has a very substantial feel and offers significant support and alignment. While quite firm, there are other even firmer mattresses on the market. Stearns & Foster’s Ultra firm models immediately come to mind. Quite frankly, those beds are often too hard for even the most avid firm mattress fans. The Calista extra firm strikes a really nice blend of structure and pressure relief that makes this mattress quite special
The Plush
The Push adds 1.5” of additional comfort foams and is considerably softer than the extra firm. It has the same solid support system but is more appropriate for those seeking additional body hug and contouring. The difference is comfort preference; not support.
On your back…
Larger body types who sleep on their backs will appreciate the great support and alignment the Calista extra firm provides. Those with less body mass may not be absorbed into the bed enough to sleep comfortably. This may cause pressure on the shoulders hips and elbows. Smaller, more petite sleepers may fare better on Beautyrest Black’s Desiree luxury firm. (link to Desiree) Both are equally supportive but the Desiree offers a bit more body contouring.
On your side…
On your side, all your weight shits to your shoulders and hips. For most side sleepers, the extra firm will be too hard. For the majority of side sleepers, we recommend the Calista plush. Of course, no two people interpret firmness the same. Age, physical condition or weight play a factor. A larger person may prefer the Desiree luxury plush.
On stomach…
Stomach sleepers require a mattress that is firm enough to not allow your lower back to dip. This can cause lumbar pain. Of course, sleeping on your stomach in and of itself can cause comfort issues. Your neck is always put in an awkward, unnatural position. This can cause you to wake with pain not necessarily associated with your mattress choice. Ultimately, most are better off finding an alternative way to sleep. However, we do understand old sleep habits die hard. If you must sleep on your stomach, the Calista Extra firm or Desiree luxury firm are the way to go.
Beautyrest Black Calista Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent support - Premium coil system and dense foams create great body aligning support.
- Individually pocketed coils reduce motion transfer. Couples feel their partner's movements less which promotes more restful nights.
- High density memory foam reduces pressure points and limits motion detection.
- Sleeps cool: Breathable Gel Touch and Micro Diamond memory foam make for cooler sleep environment.
- Superior edge support: Great edge support creates a consistent comfort feel across the entire mattress. It also eliminates feeling as though you are rolling off the bed.
- Consumer confidence: Simmons is one of the most respected names in the bedding industry.
Cons:
- Limited firmness range: With only two firmness options, the Calista will not satisfy everyone's comfort need. Fortunately, The Beautyrest Black lineup offers great diversity. From very firm to super soft options.
- Price: Dollar for dollar, the Calista is an exceptional value. Yet, at a starting price of $1,799 for a queen, this mattress may be too expensive for some shoppers.
Who Will Like This Mattress
You’ll like this bed if you are looking for superior support and alignment. The braided, triple wrapped coil system is among the best in the industry.
Couples in search of less motion disturbance will benefit from the its individually pocketed coils. Combined with dense quality memory foam, motion transfer is kept to a minimum.
Larger individuals will like the solid support and durability of the Calista. The structural integrity of this mattress is far superior to most beds on the market today.
If you want to sleep cool, The cooling foams and breathable coils system will keep you comfortable.
Those looking for a trusted company will feel comfortable purchasing from Simmons.
Who Will Not Like This Mattress
If your budget is limited, the Calista may not be for you. Although we can make an argument for the dollar value of this mattress, it may still be out of reach for some consumers.
Beautyrest Black Calista Unboxing and Setup
The Calista is a traditional individually pocketed coil mattress; not a bed in the box offering. It’s far to substantial to be compacted and rolled into a box. The Calista requires a standard delivery.
Note: As with any quality mattress, Its essential a Queen or King have a frame with a sturdy center support and additional legs on the ground. Over time, inferior frames can affect the support and longevity of your mattress.
Comparison
| Name | Type | Price | Delivery | Trial | Warranty | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beautyrest Black Calista | Innerspring Mattress | $1,799 | Free white glove delivery | 120 days | 10 years | 93 |
| Happsy Mattress | Hybrid Mattress | $1,399 | Free | 120 days | 10 years | 95 |
| IDLE Sleep 14” Hybrid | Hybrid Mattress | 994 | Free | 120 days | LIfetime | 95 |
| KAYA Sleep | Hybrid Mattress | $1,195 | Free | 120 day | 20 years | 92 |
| Tomorrow Sleep Hybrid Mattress | Hybrid Mattress | $890 | Free | 365 days | 10 years | 90 |
Pricing
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38" x 75" | N/A |
| Twin XL | 38" x 80" | Firm or Plush $1,299 |
| Full | 54" x 75" | Firm or Plush $1,669 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | Firm or Plush $1,799 |
| King | 76" x 80" | Firm or Plush $2,299 |
| Cal King | 72" x 84" | Firm or Plush $2,299 |
Conclusion
Beautyrest Black Calista is Simmon’s top of the line product. Although the Calista is the “entry level” bed in this series, its an exceptional mattress. It has the same great support system as the rest of the collection. The Calista is only limited by having just two firmness levels. For those who truly enjoy the feel of a firm mattress, the extra firm is on of the best we’ve evaluated. The plush version of this mattress offers a high quality option for side sleepers seeking more body hug and conformity. If your comfort needs demand additional options, the Beautyrest Black collection offers a variety of firmness options. Check out the entire line at Simmons.com