A mattress described as orthopaedic just means that the spring gauge used is 12.5g. This is the thickest and strongest spring used in a bonnell (cage) sprung mattress.
In essence, orthopaedic just means firm. There should never be any health claims offered or any possible implication that an orthopaedic mattress can cure or help relieve any back problems.
When choosing your mattress, you should be looking at making it last you for the longest possible time coupled with lasting comfort. Getting an orthopaedic mattress means that the springs, being a 12.5gauge is as strong as you can get, therefore more durable to your weight being on it night after night.
Remember though, there is nothing special about an orthopaedic mattress. Even a 12.5g spring falls into the budget ranges of nearly all manufacturers.
Soft – Medium – Firm?
This can be quite a nonsense and used by salespeople to make you think that the mattress can be tailored to your exact requirements. It isn’t – Comfort levels really depend on price paid. A firm cage sprung mattress will have a 12.5 gauge spring – this is the thickest and strongest you can get. 13.5 gauge is thinner and therefore more ‘springy’ or soft! – it is also a cheaper component to produce.
For all cage sprung mattresses It is usually best practice to choose the strongest spring you can get as this is the most important part of the mattress. Most mattresses that are described as orthopaedic means that the mattress will be on the firmer side of the scale. However, there are some that have been manufactured to provide a softer sleep surface by use of softer waddings, foams and felts for the comfort layers.
If your budget cannot stretch to a pocket sprung mattress then carefully consider what type of comfort layer you choose on your orthopaedic mattress. Remember, the springs are just the support. A lower gauge spring such as 13g or 13.5g will not offer the longevity of a 12.5g spring.
As the springs are only the support part of the mattress they will only be supporting your bodyweight, what provides the comfort is your choice of comfort layer. It may be a viable option to add a decent topper to your mattress rather than spending over the odds on a mattress that has the equivalent of a topper already built in at a much higher price
A comfort layer is the final layer of padding just underneath the fabric. This will play a major part of how comfortable and how long lasting the mattress will be.
Comfort layers can be memory foam, lambswool, cashmere, polyester wadding, High Density foam, latex etc, or indeed a combination of these.
What comfort layer/s you choose will have an impact on the price of the mattress. The better the comfort layer, such as latex, the more expensive the mattress will be.
Summary
An orthopaedic mattress is usually the best from all the bonnell spring mattresses. The few extra pounds you pay between a mattress with a 12.5g spring or a 13.5g orthopaedic spring is relatively little compared to the extra lifespan your mattress will get. Although, the spring gauge should not be taken in isolation. When doing your price comparisons, take into account the quality and quantity of the waddings used in each. If the asking price is similar, then it is better to have a well padded 13.5g then a lightly filled 12.5g.
Thank you for your reply.
No, it is a 1000 pocket sprung mattress.
I meant i’d rather lie on the floor than lie on some sagging jelly of a bed that only strains my neck and back.
I was told today by inspector that the box springs’s gone.
I like memory foam but coupled with weak springs is too soft. Memory foam with stronger springs would have been ok.
I have come to the conclusion that most mattresses are a lot of rubbish nowadays as manufacturers are maybe cutting corners making it very difficult for people to purchase a decent and affordable mattress.
I have come across a few people who all have been disappointed by their purchases.
I think these products should not even be manufactured in the first place as they are a waste of money and only distress people.
Veronique
Hi Veronique. It would be helpful if you gave a bit more detail on the mattress model you are obviously not happy with.
You are absolutely right when you say manufacturers may be cutting corners! And the reason they are able to do so is the fact that the majority of consumers through no fault of their own – but the fault of misleading and at times utterly deceptive advertising – have no idea on what constitutes a mattress that is suitable for your own individual needs. John and Ryan.
Thank you for your reply.
I have come to the conclusion that I would need a firm mattress to support my hip and spine (as I also have a couple of disc problems) + a good comfort layer such as memory foam (about 5cm thick).
I purchased a 1000 pocket sprung mattress (13.5 gauge) about a month ago; it felt fine for the first two weeks but then it started sagging, causing pain in my neck, discs and hip.
I definitely need a mattress that keeps my body in a level / straight position. By the way, yes, lying on the floor provides relief!
What I find annoying is the fact that a mattress can feel fine whilst lying on it in the store but it’s after sleeping on i realize it’s unreliable after all (sagging)!! I would say that the gauge of the springs is a better indication to assess how suitable and reliable a mattress is going to be.
I think i should go for a 12.5 gauge in the future regardless of the brand etc…
I am however still confused regarding pocket spring mattresses; what determines the firmness of a pocket spring mattress?? is it the spring count or the gauge of the springs or both?? i have read that the higher the spring count, the softer the mattress but also the higher the count the firmer!! i saw an orthopaedic pocket mattress with only 800 springs. how would it compare with a 1400 spring mattress?
Regards,
Veronique
Hi again Veronique. A bit confusing this: Are you sure it was a pocket sprung mattress you purchased? 13.5g refers to the softest of the cage sprung units. 12.5g refers to the firmest of cage sprung units. I have a gut feeling the mattress you purchased was a cage sprung unit rather than a pocket sprung unit.
You do make a very valid point about ‘trying a mattress first’, Nine times out of ten, and for the vast number of people there really is no need to do so – providing that the advice you receive about your purchase is absolutely in your interest.
As for your confusion over pocket springs, it’s understandable: The tensions of pocket springs are gauged by the thickness of wire used. As a ball park figure 1.28mm would be considered a soft spring and 1.50mm would be considered a firm spring. However, the number of pocket springs used will have an effect of the overall support level. On a 1500 count for example, the diameter of the spring will be in the region of 2″ (50mm) The more springs contained mean the diameter will be smaller and thus the tension will be affected.
As a point of note, this is way too big an area to explain in a few paragraphs. Our revised site [new year] will have an extensive overview on pocket springs . The thing to remember is that the bulk of pocket springs are mass produced, usually of a medium tension and form the basis of many mid priced mattresses. No matter what – any pocket sprung unit is infinitely better than any cage sprung unit.
800 pocket springs is deemed a low count, to refer to it as Orthopaedic means that the spring gauge itself is high AND / OR the manufacturer is using additional or extra supportive insulator directly over the spring unit – Obviously this is only speculation as you do not provide any model / manufacturer names for me to overview.
Finally Veronique, I really would advise you to give us a call. On one hand you say that lying on the floor gives relief and yet you say that you are looking at memory foam. .. confused!! John and Ryan.
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I am about to purchase a mattress for my 3 year old son going into his first single bed. The two I have looked at are a Sterling 13.5 gauge, hypoallergenic, which is 11 to 11.5 inches thick, priced at £110 and a Kozee sleep 12.5 gauge bamboo 10 to 10.5 inches thick priced at £154. The bamboo seems a bit softer than the sterling though I liked the qualities of the bamboo.
I am very worried about sleeping and mattresses as I lost my eldest son. Can you give me some advice, please.
Hi Mary. For that budget you really do not have much choice. 13.5g will be more forgiving and I think the 12.5 may be on the firm side for him. What I would do [and taking well into account your son's age] is to spend around £100 for the mattress and spend the additional £50 on a topper / comforter. There will be no doubt that there will be minimal fillings in the mattress but more than enough support for your son’s weight. The topper / comforter will provide the comfort he will need. Combine the two together with a waterproof protecter if bedwetting is / may be an issue.
If budget is an issue the use of a basic Tesco duvet laid on top of the mattress and again held together with a protector will provide adequate comfort for him and can easily be economically replaced whilst keeping the mattress in good condition.
Hope this helps Mary and so sorry to hear of your loss. John and Ryan.
I have a hip problem; would an orthopaedic mattress be too fim??
Veronique.
Hi Veronique. Please remember that the phrase ‘Orthopaedic’ just means FIRM. It is a pretty worthless phrase when applied to a mattress and should not be a method of selection for any kind of back or hip ailment. It is also associated with Bonnell or cage sprung units – the cheapest of all supports. If you are in discomfort with your hip then you really should be looking at pocket springs as the support which offers something that moves with you and not a blanket firm unit.
You would know yourself whether this level of firmness would be suitable for you – if you get pain relief by lying directly on the floor for example. Understand also that no mattress will cure any back / hip pain. What it can do / should do .. is not make it any worse. Therefore undue pressure on the affected part should be minimised as best as posible by utilising a softer primary layer but the support from the spring unit should also be adequate for your weight, sleeping position etc.
Your question is far too vague to give you a definitive answer as to what is suitable for you, give Ryan a call and he will go through all the available options for you. John
I have an orthopedic pocket sprung mattress, what bed frame should I use?
Hi Rita, There should be no reason to be concerned about your bed frame at all. Bedframes will either be sprung slats or firm solid slats. If you are looking for a firmer support then go for solid slats if you want a softer support then go for a frame with sprung slats. Have a look at the page about mattresses for slats. Hope this helps. John.