Alexander Signature Select vs. Love Bed (Archived 2015 Comparison)

2026 legacy comparison: This is an original hands-on comparison of the Alexander Signature Select and Love Bed as sold in 2015. Those model names, components and purchase terms should not be assumed equivalent to today’s Nest lineup. For a newer comparison, see our Nest Sparrow review; the original testing below remains intact.

I was given both the Alexander Signature Select mattress and the Love bed to review. I have an affiliate relationship with Nest Bedding which makes both of these mattresses.

This is an archived comparison of two Nest Bedding models reviewed in 2015. Nest’s official model history records the Alexander lineup as discontinued in 2021 and the Love Bed as later becoming Love & Sleep; neither should be treated as a current model. Current specifications and purchase terms are different and should be checked on Nest’s site. Because of this, many people want to know the difference between the two in order to have peace of mind that they made the right decision. The trial and purchase terms described at the time of testing are historical and may no longer apply.

The Love Bed

The Love Bed was the first of the Nest Bedding mattresses that I tested and I was absolutely blown away with the quality and feel. I didn’t have high expectations for this bed because Nest Bedding is not a well known name. But name recognition and quality are two different things.

The Alexander Signature Select

After having slept on the Love Bed, the bar was already set high. Although I slept great on the Love Bed, my wife found the medium firmness to be a bit too firm for her taste. So, my hope was that the medium firm Alexander mattress would remedy that. And sure enough, it did. Because of that and the fact that I liked the Alexander just a bit more myself made it my top pick.

Here’s a breakdown comparison of the mattresses

Construction

The Love Bed is listed as being 9 inches thick but it actually is a bit thicker if you include the pillow top. With other mattress companies you wonder where they hid the inches they claim to have.

The Alexander is listed at 13 inches but again that’s a modest number.

Both the Alexander and Love Bed use 2 lb. convoluted base foam in the mattress. This was the construction described in the 2015 review; this comparison did not test long-term durability. Some companies use a flat foam as opposed to a convoluted foam, what does this mean and why does it matter? Below is a great explanation from Brooklyn Bedding

Motion Transfer

In the 2015 hands-on comparison, Ben perceived less motion disturbance on the Alexander. No standardized motion-transfer measurement was recorded. The Love Bed was designed to have some bounce to it so there’s going to be a little motion transfer there.

Ben’s 2015 impressions of temperature were subjective and were not measured in a controlled test. The Love Bed has a slight edge here with the bamboo cover that helps to wick away moisture and breathes very well. Since the Alexander cradles your body a bit more, there’s naturally less breath ability.

So which do you choose? Below are a few bullet points that call out the distinct advantages of each.

Love Bed

• Has good bounce with minimal motion transfer
• Ben reported that the Love Bed felt cooler during his 2015 use; this was not a controlled cooling test.
• Less Expensive
• Ben preferred the Love Bed’s more buoyant feel for his stomach sleeping; individual fit varies.

Alexander Signature Select

• Cradles your body more than the Love Bed
• A more substantial mattress that is better at motion isolation
• Ben personally preferred the Alexander, but the comparison did not test a broad range of sleepers.

I can’t say enough good things about Nest Bedding. They are a mattress company that is growing fast but at the right pace. You can tell they put a lot of time and care into developing these mattresses and have really raised the bar for quality and service without raising the price.

Disclosure: We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue. I have an affiliate relationship with Nest Bedding which makes both of these mattresses.