Comments on: About Memory Foam

By: Lise

Lise — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:37:21 +0000

What a lot of information and now I think I am more confused ! I need to purchase 2 double and 4 single beds and mattresses for my new holiday cottage business. I need good value but really want the guests commenting on how well they slept and comfortable beds are key to thier stay. Your knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Hi Lise. The scandalous thing is, is that it really does not need to be confusing at all. With more than 4000 or so different mattress models out there, coupled with precious little information on the differences between them, along with pseudo and nonsensical terms for simple components it is no small wonder that you and everyone else just ends up sticking a pin in a list and hope upon hope for the best. There are only two basics that you need to know: The Spring Support: The Fillings: There are only 2 basic spring supports – Open Coil / Pocket Springs There are about 10 basic fillings used in a mattress – Polyester / Wool / Cotton / Foams inc Latex / hairs and natural fibres. So what can be causing the confusion? Considering there are well over 100 manufacturers, each vying for a piece of the hugely profitable mattress pie they will be introducing trademarked names for the components they [and only they] will be using. Harrisons use their Revolution Spring System, Sealy use their Posturetech spring system, Silentnight use their Miracoil Spring System, Somnus use their Sensa Pocket Spring System, and so on and on .. and on! Not content with this, you are also being confused as to what fillings are the best. Is wool from The Shetland Isles viably better than plain old British Fleece Wool? Is polyester better than foam? Is memory foam better than synthetic latex etc One hundred or so manufacturers will be telling you that their products are the best. Unless you know a few of the basics you will have no idea on which course of questioning to pursue. I hope that you have found what we say on this site gives you the confidence to question what it is you are being asked to hand over your money for. Our new site [launching very shortly] contains twice as much info as this one does and hopefully it will make your choices so much easier. As for your requirements for guest house operations. I would say that The Origins Pocket Reflex will be your best choice. Use that particular model as a starting point and as a means of comparison to all others in that particular price range. John and Ryan.

By: John HAY

John HAY — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:53:43 +0000

Hi, Re your comments about foam mattresses. My daughter and her partner have a foam mattress (bought in Germany}. It is 10 years old now and is as good as new. When my wife and I visit, they give up their bed for us. This is because I have arthritic problems. When I wake up during the night to pay a visit, I feel truly, truly weightless lying there, no other mattress has had this effect upon me. For me, foam mattresses are unbeatable. Thanks for the chance to comment.

By: Jashpal Mann

Jashpal Mann — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:18:57 +0000

John / Ryan… wonderful advice. I’m not going to buy a memory foam matress and will be looking into latex matresses to help with sore joints (shoulders and a very sore back.. although it’s a mine field !)… products include latext with memory foam, latext with memory foam and springs, latex with memeory foam, foam adn springs the list is endless ! My budget is about £350-400 and I’ve also been suggested a breathable visco from visco-pro.com (deluxe model).

although your recommendations would be appreciated
Thanks
J Mann

Hi Jashpal. I’m afraid your budget is not that great for a latex matt and the best we can offer is the Origins Pocket 1500. Obviously dependent on your bodyweights, this will be supportive and also offers significant comfort layers for your bad back etc, Please feel free to give us a call to discuss further. John and Ryan.

By: J Mann

J Mann — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:32:45 +0000

Hello

can you please advise on Kaymed…. Are they superior to Tempur… especially their memort foam range which goes up to a product called Kaymed 7000 roll up mattress … is it genuine and any good ?
Thanks in advance.

Hi J. I think you know our views on all Memory Foam mattresses. It would be like comparing baked beans – fundamentally they are all the same but the marketing and advertising spin used gives you the impression that they are different and somehow one is better than the other.
Tempur is considered to be the market leader, and Kaymed can also be ranked within the top five of Memory Foam manufacturers. Tempur would not produce roll up mattresses as this would devalue their brand. Kaymed 7000 is not [their] premium mattress – the 7000 refers to the depth of memory foam used in the roll up models (70mm of memory foam). I must say that for less than £300 it is a better buy (pound for pound) than many other memory foam mattresses on offer (check out Breasley’s Flexcell 700) and do your comparisons that way.

Hope this helps but please do not consider it an endorsement. Ryan and I would wholeheartedly advise against any Memory Foam mattress. John and Ryan.

By: rachel

rachel — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:25:42 +0000

the single beds we have in a holiday cottage need replacing. The beds get used infrequently but mainly adults and need to remain single beds. we don’t want to spend an enormous amount and was thinking memory foam may be the answer but reading your comments about memory foam are now having second thoughts. if we buy a pocketsprung with topper is there a minimum number of springs there should be?

Hi Rachel, The minimum pocket springs available are 800 in a king size and the general minimum will be 1000 again in a kingsize. ANY pocket sprung mattress will be far superior than a cage sprung / Bonnell system. The price difference for a manufacturer between 800 and 1000 is so minimal I do not inderstand why they use an 800 unit at all.
However, as you are looking for holiday lets I am all too familiar with what can happen to mattresses in this situation. Using a topper would be absolutely paramount on top of any mattress. Replacing this will be a lot more economical should the worst happen. In your situation I would invest in a good supportive 1000 pocket sprung mattress without paying over the odds for it -1000 -1250gsm polyester should be a minimum standard – Bear in mind that a wadding layer, or indeed wadding layers of around 2500 – 3500gsm is considered high end but these weights can only be achieved with equally high end natural upholstery such as wools and cottons etc. Weigh up if the quality has to be compromised to fit your budget.

Ryan and I bang on endlessly about the virtues of the topper / protector. This should be seen as the mattress’ ‘virtual’ primary layer. Doing this will increase the lifespan of the mattress and provide an increased comfort level. When you see that the topper is due for renewal because of settlement, indents or any other reason, the mattress beneath should still be in a relatively ‘as new’ condition.

Of course, the more luxurious topper content [feather/ down / latex etc] the better [for your guests but unfortunately not for your budget] You will only using the mattress beneath as the support element and the topper / protector as the comfort. It is good practice to use this method when doing any mattress comparisons.

So sorry Rachel for the delay in replying to this, a bit busy at the moment – out all day and in late at night syndrome. Please give either of us a call if we can help you further (it’s a lot quicker that way) . Many thanks. John.