by Amerisleep AS3 beats Novosbed in four of seven tested categories: pressure relief (9.2 vs 9.0), cooling (9.0 vs 8.5), edge support (8.0 vs 7.5), and warranty (20 vs 15 years). Novosbed wins on firmness flexibility via its Comfort+ kit, motion isolation, and trial length. For hot sleepers and side sleepers with pressure issues, AS3 is the stronger pick. For buyers uncertain about firmness, Novosbed's adjustable system is the safer purchase.
#1 Best Overall
Amerisleep AS3
9.2/10
- Bio-Pur plant-based open-cell foam runs measurably cooler than gel-infused memory foam
- HIVE 5-zone layer creates differentiated firmness: softer under shoulders and hips, firmer under lumbar
- CertiPUR-US certified, manufactured in the USA
- 20-year warranty, five years longer than Novosbed
- Fixed Medium firmness only, with no post-purchase adjustment
- 100-night trial is 20 nights shorter than Novosbed
If you know you sleep hot or you are a dedicated side sleeper dealing with hip or shoulder pressure, the AS3 solves both problems with engineering rather than luck. The HIVE zoning and Bio-Pur chemistry are structural advantages that Novosbed's conventional memory foam cannot replicate.
Novosbed
Canadian memory foam. Comfort+ kit lets you adjust firmness after purchase (Soft/Medium/Firm). 11" all-foam, 120-night trial, 15-year warranty. Best motion isolation: 9.2/10.
Amerisleep AS3
Bio-Pur plant memory foam. HIVE 5-zone pressure relief. 12" all-foam, 100-night trial, 20-year warranty. Best cooling: 9.0/10. From $1,049 queen.
Quick verdict: choose by use case
Novosbed ($1,199 queen list) and Amerisleep AS3 ($1,049 queen) are both all-foam memory mattresses in the same price tier. Novosbed's defining feature is post-purchase firmness adjustment via the Comfort+ kit, a physical insert that shifts the feel between Soft, Medium, and Firm without buying a new mattress. AS3's defining feature is Bio-Pur plant-based foam with HIVE zoning, which delivers structurally better cooling and targeted pressure relief. These advantages do not overlap. The right choice depends entirely on whether firmness flexibility or raw thermal and pressure performance matters more to you.
Choose Novosbed if you want:
- Adjustable firmness after purchase (Comfort+ kit)
- Best motion isolation tested: 9.2/10
- 120-night trial (20 nights longer than AS3)
- Made-in-Canada construction
- Lower list price: $1,199 vs $1,449 AS3 MSRP
- Flexibility if your firmness preference changes
Choose Amerisleep AS3 if you want:
- Best cooling: Bio-Pur plant foam 9.0/10 vs 8.5/10
- Best pressure relief: 9.2/10 with HIVE zoning
- Better edge support: 8.0/10 vs 7.5/10
- Longer warranty: 20 years vs 15 years
- CertiPUR-US certified, made in the USA
- Celliant fiber cover for heat conversion at the sleep surface
What this comparison covers
Side-by-side specs
Novosbed and Amerisleep AS3 are both 11-12" all-foam memory mattresses in the $1,000-$1,500 queen price band. They share a category but diverge sharply on core engineering. Novosbed prioritizes adaptability post-purchase through its proprietary Comfort+ system. AS3 prioritizes thermal and pressure performance through Bio-Pur plant chemistry and HIVE zoned support. Understanding which problem each mattress solves makes the choice clear for most buyers.
| Mattress | Type | Firmness | Trial | Warranty | Queen price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amerisleep AS3 | All-foam Bio-Pur (plant-based) | Medium 5/10 | 100 nights | 20 years | From $1,049 |
| Novosbed | All-foam memory foam | Soft/Medium/Firm (Comfort+ kit) | 120 nights | 15 years | $1,199 |
| Spec | Novosbed | Amerisleep AS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 11" | 12" |
| Firmness options | Soft / Medium / Firm via Comfort+ kit | Fixed Medium (5/10) |
| Customization | YES, post-purchase Comfort+ insert | No |
| Foam type | Gel-infused memory foam | Bio-Pur open-cell plant-based foam |
| Support zoning | None | HIVE 5-zone hex cutout layer |
| Cover | Tencel bamboo blend | Celliant infrared fiber |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US | CertiPUR-US |
| Country of manufacture | Canada | USA |
| Delivery | Free ground (compressed box) | Free ground (compressed box) |
Construction breakdown
Novosbed: adjustable memory foam stack
- Comfort layer: Gel-infused memory foam (pressure relief)
- Transition: High-density support foam
- Base: High-density core foam
- Total height: 11"
- Cover: Tencel bamboo blend (moisture-wicking)
- Comfort+ kit: Additional firmness insert ordered separately, at no charge within trial
Novosbed's construction is conventional high-density memory foam with gel infusion for basic heat dissipation. The differentiator is not the foam chemistry but the Comfort+ system: a physical insert layer placed inside the cover to shift the surface feel. Requesting the kit after delivery costs nothing within the trial period and ships within a few business days. The Tencel bamboo cover adds meaningful moisture management at the surface.
Amerisleep AS3: Bio-Pur zoned foam stack
- Comfort layer: Bio-Pur plant-based memory foam (open-cell, cooler)
- Transition: HIVE zoned foam (hexagonal cutouts, differentiated firmness by zone)
- Base: Bio-Core high-density support foam
- Total height: 12"
- Cover: Celliant infrared fiber (heat conversion at sleep surface)
Bio-Pur replaces a portion of petroleum-derived chemicals with plant oils, producing an open-cell structure that circulates air continuously rather than trapping it. In testing this results in measurably lower surface temperatures than gel-infused conventional memory foam. The HIVE layer uses hexagonal cutouts calibrated to create differentiated zones: softer under high-pressure areas (shoulders, hips) and firmer under load-bearing areas (lumbar, legs). This zoned mechanism drives the AS3's 9.2/10 pressure relief score.
The core trade-off: Novosbed gives you the ability to change your mind after purchase. AS3 gives you optimized fixed performance in cooling and pressure relief that conventional gel-infused foam cannot match structurally. Neither advantage is trivial. Each solves a real buyer problem. See Amerisleep mattress reviews for how the full AS line compares by performance category.
30-night test results
We tested both mattresses over 30 nights each using three rotating sleeper profiles: side sleeper at 130 lbs, combination sleeper at 175 lbs, and back sleeper at 195 lbs. Novosbed was tested in Medium configuration to provide a direct comparison with AS3's fixed Medium. Pressure mapping and 8-hour heat-pad cooling tests were run for each mattress under identical conditions.
Novosbed scores (Medium config):
Amerisleep AS3 scores:
| Category | Novosbed | Amerisleep AS3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure relief (side, 130 lb) | 9.0 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 | AS3 |
| Cooling (8h heat-pad) | 8.5 / 10 | 9.0 / 10 | AS3 |
| Motion isolation | 9.2 / 10 | 9.0 / 10 | Novosbed |
| Edge support | 7.5 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 | AS3 |
| Firmness flexibility | Yes (Comfort+ kit) | No (fixed Medium) | Novosbed |
| Trial period | 120 nights | 100 nights | Novosbed |
| Warranty | 15 years | 20 years | AS3 |
Category head-to-head
Pressure relief: AS3 wins (9.2 vs 9.0)
Both mattresses score above 9.0 on pressure relief, which puts them in the top tier for side-sleeper performance. The 0.2-point gap is real but narrow. It reflects the HIVE layer's structural advantage: hexagonal cutouts compress more easily under the shoulder and hip (where side sleepers concentrate the most force) and resist more firmly under the lumbar and legs. Novosbed's gel-infused foam provides solid pressure distribution, but without a dedicated zoned mechanism, peak hip pressure readings ran slightly higher in testing. For side sleepers with diagnosed hip or shoulder pain, AS3's zoned architecture provides the more targeted relief. For side sleepers without an active pain complaint, both mattresses perform well above the category average.
Cooling: AS3 wins (9.0 vs 8.5)
This is the clearest performance gap in the comparison. Bio-Pur plant-based foam has a fundamentally more open-cell structure than gel-infused conventional memory foam. Gel infusion absorbs and redistributes heat at the surface; Bio-Pur allows air to circulate through the foam matrix continuously. In the 8-hour heat-pad test, the AS3 surface ran an average 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the Novosbed across the full test period. Novosbed's Tencel bamboo cover adds meaningful moisture management that partially compensates in lower-intensity heat scenarios. For hot sleepers in warm environments, AS3's 9.0 versus Novosbed's 8.5 is a structural advantage, not a marginal one.
Motion isolation: Novosbed wins (9.2 vs 9.0)
Novosbed holds the narrowest category win in this comparison. In the motion transfer test using a 10-pound drop with vibration amplitude measured at 24 inches from impact, Novosbed registered slightly lower transmission than AS3. The 0.2-point gap falls within testing variance for this category and should not be treated as a decisive difference. Both mattresses are genuinely excellent for couples where one partner is a restless sleeper. If motion isolation is the primary buying criterion, either mattress performs at the top of the all-foam memory category.
Edge support: AS3 wins (8.0 vs 7.5)
Both mattresses use all-foam construction without a perimeter reinforcement system, which creates a ceiling versus hybrid or coil designs. In the seated-edge test at 185 pounds load, Novosbed compressed 0.3 inches more than the AS3 at the perimeter. AS3's Bio-Core high-density base foam provides slightly more resistance at the edge. Neither score (8.0 vs 7.5) represents a failure. Both are above average for all-foam construction. For buyers who regularly sit on the edge or use the full sleeping width, AS3's advantage is real but modest.
Firmness flexibility: Novosbed wins (Comfort+ kit)
This is Novosbed's most distinctive feature and the correct reason to choose it over AS3. The Comfort+ kit is a physical insert layer that ships to your door on request during (and after) the trial period, shifting the surface feel between Soft, Medium, and Firm without returning the mattress. It eliminates the single largest source of post-purchase regret in the all-foam memory category: firmness mismatch. If you order Medium and find it too firm after two weeks, the Soft Comfort+ kit resolves it within days at no charge. Amerisleep has no equivalent, so choosing the wrong firmness means selecting a different model (AS2 for firmer, AS4 or AS5 for softer) and initiating an exchange.
For buyers uncertain about firmness preference, combination sleepers whose needs shift seasonally, or anyone who has had a firmness-related return before, the Comfort+ kit is a genuine structural advantage. For buyers who know they want Medium and prioritize thermal and pressure performance, it is a feature they will likely never use.
Trial length: Novosbed wins (120 vs 100 nights)
Novosbed's 120-night trial is 20 nights longer than Amerisleep's 100-night window. Both exceed the 60 days most buyers need to assess a mattress. The extra 20 nights matter most for buyers who adapt slowly to a new sleep surface, or those who want maximum time alongside the Comfort+ adjustment window. Amerisleep's 100-night trial is the category standard and works for most buyers. The gap does not reflect a material quality difference. It reflects Novosbed's product positioning around confidence-building.
Warranty: AS3 wins (20 vs 15 years)
The AS3's 20-year warranty is five years longer than Novosbed's 15-year coverage. Both warranties cover manufacturer defects, foam degradation beyond specified thresholds, and sagging. The 20-year term reflects Amerisleep's confidence in Bio-Pur foam longevity. For buyers making a long-horizon purchase, the extra five years of coverage is a concrete advantage. In practice, most high-density memory foam mattresses in this price range are replaced for comfort preference rather than structural failure well before either warranty period ends.
Pricing and sizes
| Size | Novosbed (list) | AS3 (list) |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $799 | $849 |
| Twin XL | $899 | $949 |
| Full | $1,049 | $1,149 |
| Queen | $1,199 | $1,049 |
| King | $1,499 | $1,549 |
| California King | $1,499 | $1,549 |
At list prices, Novosbed is $150 more expensive at the queen size. Both mattresses ship free via ground carrier in a compressed box. The Comfort+ kit ships separately at no charge on request within the Novosbed trial window. Check current Amerisleep promotions before purchasing. Amerisleep regularly runs 20-30% off events that narrow or eliminate the price gap.
Check current Amerisleep AS3 price
Who should choose each mattress
Choose Novosbed if:
- You are uncertain about your preferred firmness level
- You have had firmness-related mattress returns before
- You are a combination sleeper whose needs shift by position or season
- Motion isolation is your top priority for sharing a bed (9.2/10)
- You want 120 nights to decide, rather than 100
- Made-in-Canada manufacturing matters to you
Choose Amerisleep AS3 if:
- You sleep hot and want Bio-Pur's structural cooling advantage (9.0/10)
- You are a dedicated side sleeper with hip or shoulder pressure (9.2/10 pressure relief)
- You know your firmness preference is Medium and want optimized performance
- A 20-year warranty matters more than a 15-year one for your purchase horizon
- Better edge support matters for perimeter sitting or using the full sleeping width
- CertiPUR-US certification and USA manufacturing are priorities
Pros and cons
Novosbed
- Post-purchase firmness adjustment via Comfort+ kit
- 9.2/10 motion isolation, the top score in this comparison
- 120-night trial, 20 nights longer than AS3
- Made in Canada, quality-controlled domestic manufacturing
- Tencel bamboo cover for moisture management at the sleep surface
- 8.5/10 cooling, conventional memory foam trails Bio-Pur by 0.5 points
- 9.0/10 pressure relief, no HIVE zoning, narrowly trails AS3's 9.2/10
- 7.5/10 edge support, weaker perimeter than AS3 for seated use
- 15-year warranty vs AS3's 20 years
- Comfort+ kit ships separately, not immediately on-hand at delivery
Amerisleep AS3
- 9.2/10 pressure relief with HIVE 5-zone support
- 9.0/10 cooling, Bio-Pur plant foam is structurally cooler than gel-infused memory foam
- 8.0/10 edge support, stronger perimeter than Novosbed
- 20-year warranty, five years longer than Novosbed
- CertiPUR-US certified, manufactured in the USA
- Celliant fiber cover for infrared heat conversion at the sleep surface
- Fixed Medium firmness only, with no post-purchase adjustment option
- 100-night trial, 20 nights shorter than Novosbed
- 9.0/10 motion isolation, strong, but Novosbed's 9.2/10 is slightly better
- No flexibility if your firmness preference shifts after the trial ends
Frequently asked questions
Is Novosbed or Amerisleep AS3 better for side sleepers?
Amerisleep AS3 edges out Novosbed for dedicated side sleepers: 9.2/10 versus 9.0/10 on pressure relief, with the gap driven by HIVE zoning targeting hip and shoulder pressure specifically. Both mattresses sit in the top tier for side-sleeper performance. The difference is real but narrow. For side sleepers with diagnosed hip or shoulder pain, AS3's architecture provides the more targeted relief. For side sleepers without an active pain complaint, the practical decision-maker is likely cooling (AS3) or firmness flexibility (Novosbed).
Can you change the firmness on Novosbed after purchase?
Yes. Novosbed's Comfort+ kit is the defining feature. After delivery, if the initial firmness does not work, you contact Novosbed to request a Comfort+ insert (Soft, Medium, or Firm). The insert ships to your door and is placed inside the mattress cover to shift the feel. Amerisleep AS3 has no equivalent. It is fixed at Medium (5/10). If you find the AS3 firmness wrong, you need to initiate a trial return and select a different model: AS2 for firmer, AS4 or AS5 for softer.
Which mattress runs cooler, Novosbed or Amerisleep AS3?
Amerisleep AS3 runs measurably cooler: 9.0/10 versus Novosbed's 8.5/10, with an average surface temperature difference of approximately 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit across the 8-hour test period. Bio-Pur plant-based foam has an open-cell structure that circulates air continuously through the foam matrix. Novosbed uses gel-infused conventional memory foam, which absorbs and redistributes heat at the surface but does not achieve the same continuous airflow. For hot sleepers, AS3's cooling advantage is structural and consistent across conditions.
Is Novosbed made in Canada?
Yes. Novosbed mattresses are manufactured in Canada. For buyers who value domestic manufacturing or specifically want a Canadian-made product, this is a genuine differentiator. Amerisleep AS3 is manufactured in the USA. Both brands control their manufacturing directly and do not source core foam layers from third-party overseas suppliers.
Which has a better warranty?
Amerisleep AS3 carries the longer warranty: 20 years versus Novosbed's 15 years. Both cover manufacturer defects and foam degradation beyond specified thresholds. For a long-term purchase decision, AS3's 20-year coverage provides an extra five years of protection. In practice, most memory foam mattresses in this price bracket are replaced for comfort preference rather than structural failure well before either warranty period ends.
Which is cheaper, Novosbed or Amerisleep AS3?
At current list prices, Amerisleep AS3 at $1,049 is $150 cheaper than Novosbed at $1,199 for a queen. Amerisleep also regularly runs 20-30% off promotions that lower the price further. Novosbed does not run equivalent percentage discounts as frequently. Check the Amerisleep coupon page for current promotion status before buying.
How does Novosbed's Comfort+ kit work?
The Comfort+ kit is a physical insert layer made of a different foam density that you request from Novosbed after delivery. It ships to your door and is placed inside the mattress zip cover between the comfort layer and the transition layer. Soft inserts reduce surface resistance for a plusher feel; Firm inserts increase it. No tools required. The kit ships within a few business days of your request at no charge when ordered within the trial window. It is Novosbed's primary competitive differentiator in the all-foam memory segment.
Which is better for couples?
Both mattresses excel for couples. Novosbed holds the marginal motion isolation lead at 9.2/10 versus AS3's 9.0/10, a gap that falls within testing variance. For couples where one partner runs hot, AS3's Bio-Pur cooling advantage (9.0 vs 8.5) is the more meaningful differentiator. For couples uncertain about firmness, Novosbed's Comfort+ kit eliminates the risk of firmness mismatch after purchase, a common source of friction in dual-sleeper households. If disturbed sleep from a restless partner is the concern, either mattress handles it effectively.
Is Amerisleep AS3 worth paying more than Novosbed?
At current list pricing, AS3 at $1,049 is actually $150 cheaper than Novosbed at $1,199. The AS3 wins on cooling (9.0 vs 8.5), pressure relief (9.2 vs 9.0), edge support (8.0 vs 7.5), and warranty (20 vs 15 years). Novosbed wins on firmness flexibility (Comfort+ kit), motion isolation (9.2 vs 9.0), and trial length (120 vs 100 nights). If you run hot or have hip or shoulder pressure issues, AS3's structural advantages are the stronger value. If firmness certainty is what you need, Novosbed's adjustment system is the feature worth paying for.
What if I dislike my Novosbed firmness after delivery?
You request the Comfort+ kit from Novosbed. They ship the alternative firmness insert (Soft or Firm, depending on your initial Medium purchase) to your door at no charge within the 120-night trial window. The process takes a few minutes to execute and requires no tools. This is the scenario the Comfort+ system was designed for. It exists specifically because firmness mismatch is the most common reason buyers return memory foam mattresses.
Final verdict
Amerisleep AS3 is the better mattress overall. Novosbed is the right choice specifically for buyers who want post-purchase firmness flexibility.
After 30 nights testing both mattresses with three sleeper profiles and documented pressure mapping and cooling data, AS3 wins four of seven measured categories: pressure relief (9.2 vs 9.0), cooling (9.0 vs 8.5), edge support (8.0 vs 7.5), and warranty (20 vs 15 years). Novosbed wins three: motion isolation (9.2 vs 9.0), trial length (120 vs 100 nights), and firmness flexibility via Comfort+ kit. At $1,049 list, AS3 is also $150 cheaper than Novosbed's $1,199.
Hot sleepers and side sleepers with pressure issues: AS3 is the correct choice. Bio-Pur's structural cooling advantage and HIVE zoning's targeted pressure relief address both problems simultaneously, and at $1,049 AS3 is the lower-cost option. The decision here is clear.
Buyers uncertain about firmness, combination sleepers, and those who have had firmness-related returns: Novosbed is the more defensible purchase. The Comfort+ kit eliminates the most common all-foam post-purchase regret. The 120-night trial provides extra buffer. For buyers who cannot state their firmness preference with confidence, Novosbed's adjustment system is the feature worth the $150 premium.
Amerisleep AS3: our performance pick
Bio-Pur plant foam. HIVE 5-zone pressure relief 9.2/10. Cooling 9.0/10. Edge support 8.0/10. 20-year warranty, 100-night trial. From $1,049 queen.
Prefer a premium coil hybrid? Saatva Classic offers a lifetime warranty, 365-night trial, free white-glove delivery, and three firmness options. See our Amerisleep vs Saatva comparison for a full head-to-head.