It feels soft when you press on it but when you lay on it, it feels more firm. It took a little over a day to inflate fully but it was usable after about 10 hours on night 1.
I was sleeping on a very old mattress and waking up in terrible pain. After the first night of sleeping on a Nectar I woke up in significantly less pain in my back and hips. Even my feet feel better. I got one for my son as well and he is sleeping so much better also. We are a week into it and we both feel so much better. If you have been on the fence about buying one of these mattresses, stop hesitating and just buy it!