Best For
- Back or stomach sleepers
- Heavier-weighted sleepers
- Extremely low motion transfer, while retaining a fast response time
- Excellent edge support
Considerations
- Less than ideal cooling performance
- Longer time to off-gas (10 days in our tests)
- Likely will be too firm for lightweight sleepers
Our Verdict
The Ashley Sleep Align Ultra Luxury Firm Tight Top is a firm mattress with a 14.5″ thick profile. It is certainly firmer than many other mattresses we’ve tested, but if you’re a back / stomach sleeper, a heavier sleeper, or just looking for a firmer feel, this mattress could be the right pick for you.
In our performance tests, this mattress had good cooling, minimal sinkage, extremely low motion transfer, fast response time, moderate bounce, excellent edge support, and good pressure relief.
Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Soft (4) or Firm (8)
In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs
In this review our tests are based on the firm version of the Ashley Sleep Align Ultra. Ashley also offers a soft version.
Performance Tests
At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.
We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.
Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:
| Factor | Ashley Ultra | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.20 | 8.63 |
| Price (Queen) | $1,000 | $1,364 (Hybrid only) |
| Cooling – Score | 8.0 | 8.7 |
| Sinkage – Depth | 1.99″ | 2.15″ |
| Sinkage – Feel | Minimal | Moderate |
| Motion Transfer – Score | 10 | 8.2 |
| Motion Transfer – Acceleration | 3.03 m/s² | 8.66 m/s² |
| Response Time – Score | 8.4 | 8.9 |
| Response Time – Mostly Recovered | 0.3 sec. | 0.4 sec. |
| Response Time – Fully Recovered | 1.6 sec. | 0.9 sec. |
| Bounce – Height | 8.17″ | 9.70″ |
| Bounce – Feel | Moderate | Moderate |
| Edge Support – Score | 9.6 | 8.6 |
| Edge Support – Sitting | 3.75″ | 4.06″ |
| Edge Support – Lying | Outstanding | Good |
| Sex – Score | 8.1 | 8.5 |
| Pressure Relief – Score | 8.0 | 8.8 |
| Comfort Layer Thickness | 6.0″ | 4.1″ |
| Mattress Thickness | 14.5″ | 12.0″ |
| Off-Gassing – Score | 7.2 | 8.4 |
| Off-Gassing – Smell | Strong | Strong |
| Off-Gassing – Days | 10 days | 6 days |
| Company – Score | 5.3 | 8.7 |
| Trial | 0 nights | 168 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | 25% have lifetime warranties, average of other 75% of mattresses is 13 years |
How is Ashley Different?
The Ashley Align Ultra Luxury mattress is different in part by the name it comes from. Ashley Sleep is not your typical bed-in-a-box company.
#1. History
Ashley, as a company, has been around since 1945 and boasts one of the longest-standing business records we’ve seen. They started producing mattresses in 2009, which is over 15 years of production.
If you’re specifically looking to buy from a company that has been in the business for many years, then Ashley definitely has you covered there.
#2. In-Store Options
There are over 1000 Ashley Furniture HomeStore retail furniture stores operating worldwide in more than 123 countries.
If you prefer to try out mattresses in-store as opposed to online, Ashley has the benefit of offering brick-and-mortar stores as well as an online presence.
Cooling Test
Cooling on the Ashley Align Ultra Luxury Firm Tight Top is good, but not great. During our cooling tests, I felt a moderate level of heat retention around my body.
Baseline Temp.
81.8° F
Max Temp.
89.9° F
Ending Temp.
84.1° F
Max Temp.
Ending Temp
- Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
- Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
- Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes
Heat retention wasn’t isolated to one particular area but spread fairly evenly across my entire body. I would not say that it rose to the level of “hot”, but it was definitely “warm”.
Looking at our objective data we saw a maximum surface level temperature of 89.9° F. This is 0.1° warmer than the average max temperature based on all of our mattress tests to date.
From 0 to 1 minute, the Tight Top mattress declined 3.1° F. On average, based on all of our mattress tests to date, we see mattresses dropped 3.9° during the first minute.
As a result, the Ashley mattress trails a good bit.
Heat Dissipation Over Time
| Time Elapsed | Temperature |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | 86.8° |
| 2 minutes | 85.9° |
| 3 minutes | 84.9° |
| 4 minutes | 84.5° |
| 5 minutes | 84.1° |
Temperature from 2 to 5 minutes continued to gradually step down, ending at 84.1°. The objective surface level temperature data and heat retention matched my subjective experience on the mattress.
Cooling is good, but leaves something to be desired. If you’re a hot sleeper, you may want to consider a different mattress without memory foam and/or with a thinner comfort layer (both of which are factors that negatively impact cooling performance through heat retention).
Sinkage Test
The Ashley Sleep Ultra Luxury Firm mattress has a minimal level of sinkage depth. In our tests, we measured 1.99” of pressure point sinkage. This is 0.23” less than the average, but nothing too dramatic.
The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.
Based on all of our mattress tests to date, on average, we see a sinkage depth of 2.22′. A sinkage level of 2.0-2.4” is enough to create plenty of pressure relief, but not so deep as to create an excessive hug or exacerbate cooling issues.
The Ultra Luxury Firm Ashley is within that range and as such, I do not foresee sinkage being an issue for sleepers.
Motion Transfer Test
There is an extremely low level of motion transfer on the Ashley Sleep Tight Top mattress. In our tests, we measured an acceleration range of 3.03 m/s².
This is considerably better (2.67 m/s² lower) than the average motion transfer, which is 5.77 m/s².
The level of motion transfer is documented in the video below.
An acceleration range at (or lower than) 5.0 m/s² would be considered low motion transfer, and the Ashley Sleep mattress is far better than that.
Max. Acceleration
1.70 m/s²
Min. Acceleration
-1.33 m/s²
Accel. Range
3.03 m/s²
The Tight Top mattress uses a thick 6.0” comfort layer. These layers of foam absorb a huge level of energy, creating very little motion on the mattress. As a result, the Ashley mattress has an exceptionally low motion transfer and would be ideal for couples.
In the chart above, which visualizes our motion transfer data, we see the highest levels of motion from 0 to 0.3 seconds. A moderate level of motion persists until 0.9 seconds, before returning to near zero levels of energy.
Response Test
Response time on the Ashley Ultra Luxury Firm was a bit of a mixed bag. We take two response time measurements, the first is how long it takes to mostly recover to its original shape and the second is how long it takes to fully recover.
Mostly Recovered
0.3 sec.
Complete Recovery
1.6 sec.
The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.
The Ashley Tight top is able to mostly recover in 0.3 seconds, which is incredibly fast (just 0.1 slower than the fastest mattress recovery we’ve tested to date).
However, the full material recovery time is 1.6 seconds. This is considerably worse than the average and would be considered a slow response. On average, based on all of our mattress tests to date, we see mattresses mostly recovered within 0.5 seconds and fully recovered by 1.0 seconds.
I’m pleased that the Tight Top mattress mostly rebounds back to shape quickly, but the 1.6 seconds to full recovery is concerning.
For the most part, I don’t think response will be an issue for most sleepers. However, it would be remiss to not consider the full recovery time. I could see many sleepers who dislike the slower responding feel of memory foam dislike the response timing we’re seeing here.
Bounce Test
There was a moderate level of bounce on the Ashley Sleep Ultra Luxury Firm mattress. In our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 8.17”.
This is 1.0” less bounce than the average bounce of 9.39” (based on all of our mattress tests to date). In my view, bounce in the 8-12” range is the sweet spot.
Max. Depth
4.91″
Max. Rebound
3.26″
Total Bounce
8.17″
Max. Sinkage Depth
Max Bounce Height
The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.
While bounce is somewhat of a preferential factor (and therefore not one that impacts the scoring performance), more bounce gives the mattress a more traditional feel, makes it easier to move, and improves sex.
At 8.17” the Ashley mattress is on the lower end of the range, but it’s still got enough bounce that I’m not overly concerned.
Edge Support Test
Edge support on the Ashley Sleep mattress was excellent. In our sitting edge support tests, we measured 3.75” of compression. This is 0.9” less sitting sinkage compared to the average compression of 4.65” (based on all of our tests to date).
Max Sinkage
3.75″
Lying Support
Outstanding
The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.
Sitting, 140 lbs.
Sitting, 200 lbs.
Even when sitting directly on edge, and even with a thick 6.0” comfort layer, the Ashley Ultra Luxury Firm creates plenty of support. Edge support while lying was equally as impressive.
The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.
Lying on Edge, 140 lbs.
Lying on Edge, 200 lbs.
When lying directly on the edge of the mattress and in every sleeping position I felt fully supported. There was no sensation of being rolled off of the mattress.
No doubt, the firmer feel of this mattress is creating much of the edge support performance. Even so, I’m pleased with what we measured and experienced.
Sex Test
To score sex performance we look at a number of different factors that all play a role in quality sex. Three of the most important factors include:
Sex Bounce
9.5
Edge Support
9.6
Noise
10
In addition to the factors above, there are a few other things to consider as well, like pressure relief and cooling.
Here’s a look at our complete sex formula:
Sex Score Formula = (Bounce * 0.6) + (Edge Support * 0.2) + (Noise * 0.1) + (Pressure Relief * 0.05) + (Cooling * 0.05)
We use the following scores, plugged into the formula, to derive a sex score for each mattress.
| Sex Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bounce | 65% | 7.6 | Moderate |
| Edge Support | 20% | 9.1 | Excellent |
| Noise | 5% | 10 | Minimal |
| Pressure Relief | 5% | 8.0 | Good |
| Cooling | 5% | 8.0 | Good |
This mattress has higher levels of bounce, which is great for high-quality sex. It also has fantastic edge support
Pressure Relief Test
Pressure relief on the Ashley Tight Top is good, but not amazing. However, that’s just sort of the nature of firm mattresses like this.
The firmer feel ensures that even heavier-weight sleepers will find plenty of support.
Comfort Layer
6.0″
Support Layer
8.5″
Throughout my tests, I felt well supported in each sleeping position.
I will note, the mattress creates more of a “floating on top of” the mattress feel as opposed to “sinking down in”.
There is still a reasonably good level of pressure relief on the heavier sections of the body. Even so, your body lies more on top of the mattress than in it.
This feel, combined with the firmer 8 out of 10 firmness, gives the mattress a highly supportive feel.
Off-Gassing Test
Right out of the box, the Ashley Ultra Luxury Firm mattress has a very strong smell.
Initial Smell Strength
Strong
Off-Gassing Period
10 days
A strong smell isn’t always that unusual for compressed mattresses, but when a strong smell out of the box is coupled with a long off-gassing period, the effects can be more annoying.
In the case of Ashley, it took a full week and a half to fully off-gas (10 days). This is quite a bit longer than the average off-gassing period of 5.86 days.
To speed up off-gassing, consider leaving the mattress in a well-ventilated room without any bedding or fitted coverings.
Company
As a company, Ashley has been around since 1945—significantly longer than most other players in the sleep industry. They have been producing mattresses since 2009.
| Company Factor | Factor Weight | Score | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial Period | 15% | 0 | 0 nights |
| Warranty | 10% | 8.0 | 10 years |
| Shipping | 5% | 10 | $0 |
| Returns | 20% | 0 | No / Very limited returns |
| Trust | 50% | 8.0 | Good |
| Country of Origin | 0% | USA |
They offer a a 10-year warranty and free shipping.
Most notably, Ashley Furniture does not offer a trial period and has a very limited return policy. Returns are only accepted on mattresses identified as defective within 72 hours of their arrival and/or mattresses in new or unused condition.
Ashley’s return and refund policy is antiquated compared to what most online mattress companies offer. Most direct-to-consumer mattress brands offer free returns with trial periods that range from 100-365 nights.
However, some physical Ashley Furniture retail stores may have different policies than the Ashley online store.
How firm is the Ashley Align mattress?
Ashley describes it as a “firm” mattress. I absolutely agree with that assessment. It’s got a standard firm feel and creates tons of support.
In this review we tested just the firm version. However, Ashley Sleep also offer a soft / plush version of the Align Ultra series mattress. You can find the soft version here.
Based on our testing experience with other Ashley Sleep mattresses we are estimating the soft version is a 4 out of 10, where 10 is the most firm.
Support & Sleeping Positions
Support on the Ashley Furniture Align Ultra Luxury Firm Tight Top mattress is exceptionally good. The mattress has a robust 14.5” profile with high-quality material layers.
The Ashley Sleep Align Ultra mattress is available in two firmnesses, firm and soft. Each firmness option will be be better suited to certain sleeping positions and body weights.
Firm Version
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleepers | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Maybe | No | Maybe |
| 150-250 lbs. | Maybe | No | Maybe |
| 250-300 lbs. | Yes | Maybe | Yes |
Soft Version
| Sleeper Weight | Stomach Sleeper | Side Sleeper | Back Sleeper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lbs. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 150-225 lbs. | Maybe | Yes | Maybe |
| 225-300 lbs. | No | Maybe | No |
Design
The Ashley Ultra Luxury mattress is a classic hybrid, using a combination of foam and pocketed coils to provide comfort and support.
Type
Hybrid
Thickness
14.5″
Firmness
4 or 8
Materials
There are five main layers on the Ashley Lux Firm Tight Top mattress.
- 2.0” quilted cover
- 2.0” gel memory foam
- 2.0” support foam
- 7.5” pocketed coils
- 1.0” support foam
The Cover
The Ashley Luxury Firm Tight Top mattress features a soft cover with 4-way knit stretch. It’s navy blue and white with simple linear graphics along the top.
The sides of the mattress are dark and have a denser feel, which reinforced the mattress and helps to keep its support.
The Comfort Layer
The comfort layer is made up of two layers of foam on top. The top layer is a 2.0″ gel-infused memory foam followed by a 2.0″ transitional support foam.
These foams are infused together and help to provide an even comfort layer with sufficient support for all sleeping positions.
The Support Layer
The support layer is a system of pocketed coils. These coils are individually pocketed, which allows them to move independently of each other for better pressure relief and limited motion transfer.
Below the coils is a 1.0″ layer of ultra-high-density support foam. This layer simply supports the foams and coils above and helps the mattress keep its shape.
Other Mattresses to Consider
Looking for a high-quality hybrid, but not sure that the Ashley Ultra Luxury hybrid hits the mark? Check out the three top-rated hybrids below for other options you may want to consider.
For Pressure Relief
Bear Elite Hybrid
5.0″ Comfort Layer
The Bear Elite Hybrid has a 14″ high profile with a 5.0″ comfort layer. This includes a 2″ quilted cover, 1″ copper-infused memory foam, and 2″ of poly foam. This mattress has excellent pressure relief and a higher overall score as well (9.24).
For Alternate Firmness
Nest Bedding Sparrow
3 Firmness Levels, Zipper Cover
The Nest Bedding Sparrow has a 4.0″ comfort layer, but has the added benefit of a zip-off cover and the ability to trade out the firmness of the top layer of foam. This is a nice option if your needs change.
For Overall Performance
Winkbed
9.82 Overall Score
The Winkbed mattress is another fantastic hybrid. This mattress is the highest-rated mattresses that we’ve tested to date—an overall score of 9.82 out of 10. All in all, just a well-rounded, high-quality hybrid mattress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Ashley Align Ultra Luxury Tight Top mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.
Here are the current prices, with any sales or promotions reflected below:
Twin: N/A
Twin XL: N/A
Full: N/A
Queen: $999
King: $1199
Cal. King: $1199
*Note: Sales prices are subject to change without notice or warning.
**Double Note: This mattress is only available in Queen King, or California King. For smaller Ashley mattresses, you may want to consider the Gruve mattress by Ashley Sleep.
Ashley Sleep owns Sierra Sleep as well as Chime. Sierra Sleep offers a wide range of mattress options, while Chime focuses efforts specifically on budget-friendly hybrids. Ashley overseeing both of these brands helps to ensure that they have a product to meet everyone’s needs.
Ashley Sleep mattresses are made by Ashley Furniture. The Ashley company name has been around since the 1940’s, but they’ve only been making mattresses since 2009.
Ashley manufactures mattresses all across the U.S with a business headquarters in Wisconsin, as well as production sites in Mississippi.
