[Official Description: Dec 2011] ” This mattress contains pressure relieving HD springs and layers of natural filling for superior comfort and support. 4500 Revolution™ HD pocket springs help spread the user’s weight, minimising the pressure points that can cause sleep disturbance, while the all natural fillings add depth and comfort. The mattress is covered with soft viscose. Three rows of side stitching give a firm. supportive edge. “

[Other]
Depth: 28cm
Filling: Cotton-rich blend, wool, Egyptian cotton, mohair, cape wool and horsehair

JOHN RYAN REVIEW:

The main difference: between The Origins Comfort and Origins Reflex is the use of either foam  or Polyester as the main component layers. The origins Reflex is the firmer of the two and the origins Comfort is the softer.

The Origins Reflex: We always recommend The Reflex mattress for Guest House / BBs or those of you who prefer a more supportive, but equally comfortable mattress. With foam being the main component [although adequately sandwiched between softer polyester] this gives an extra durability aspect to this model [hence Guest House, short stay etc..] The firmness level on this is medium to firm. The image above shows the layering used to create the buffering  sandwich of foam and polyester.

The Origins  Comfort is equally supportive to a level at what we would class as a ‘true medium’ based on an average bodyweight. Not too firm and not too soft. Saying that, this is the softest mattress we do using different densities of polyester. To build softer at this price could only mean a reduction in fillings. The image above shows the use of gradually softening layers from the Reflex insulator to the very soft (and very deep) primary layer. When all this is compressed by tufting, the tension will become firmer leaving little room for any movement and therefore undue settlement.

Reinforced Side Panels: The image above shows how the padded side panels are connected directly to the spring unit to aid even further the edge support.

Which One? The fundamental build of both these mattresses are identicle – 1000 pocket Springs and one inch Reflex layer – Full two sided. It is only the comfort layers that differ. Our reccomendation would initially be based on your bodyweight -
Less than 13st Origins Comfort.
More than 14st origins Reflex
More than 16 – 17st -Consider the Origins Reflex but if your budget allows; move up to a more supportive 1500 pocket sprung unit

Edge Support: The  spring unit edge support  is also reinforced with Butterfly Clips around the perimeter of the mattress – except the head end – these are used on all models as a viable alternative where hand side stitching has not been utilised. This coupled with the reinforced and padded side panels goes a long way to keep the unit stable.

The Build. The build quality on either of these mattresses is just superb for the price. The detailing and finish is excellent. The generous layers of wadding – broken down by weight on the description -  is evident by the satisfyingly high undulations.
Take note that the depth of these mattresses are probably greater than you are used to and you may require extra deep 12 inch gussetts on your fitted sheets.

The fabric: The fabrics chosen for either of these are pretty much equal in overall quality but both chosen to suit the individual mattress – Coolmax knit for the Reflex and a Silk content knit for The Comfort.

We believe that you will not be able to find a better built and finished mattress for same or less than this.
Ryan and I pride ourselves on knowing what models  are currently available for around this price. Our reference includes all the supermarket directories, most superstores and obviously many  internet retailers. If we do find better (rarely), we upgrade our models to either match or exceed.
[If you have any further questions please either phone us direct or leave a comment below ].
John and Ryan.

As memory foam mattresses are associated with heat retention, there will be a concerted effort by many manufacturers to do all they can to make this ‘problem‘ less of an issue. One of the things they can do is to use a fabric that will assist moisture management (wicking fabric) such as Coolmax. Or, a fabric that goes towards regulating temperature such as Outlast or Climasmart amongst others.

Generally, the majority of memory foam mattresses will be covered in a standard knitted fabric, and to all extents and purposes there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with this. Knitted fabrics are not exactly cheap anyway. Knitted fabrics for mattresses are predominantly polyester based which have excellent wicking properties anyway. Polyester absorbs less than 0.5% of its own weight in water whereas in comparison cotton absorbs about 7%. When you go down the hi-tech moisture control / temperature regulating fabric route then you will be paying out a lot more than you really need to.

If you are tempted by the magical properties of specialist fabrics then know that the bulk of your money will be going towards the licence fee fabric manufacturers have to pay for the use of the name and technology. The mattress manufacturer will also be adding their cut and the retailer will be adding their cut as well.  Personally, I feel that any additional money you paying towards cool-aid fabrics would be better spent on quality bedding and a new lighter tog duvet to combat any heat retention caused by the mattress.

Incidentally, despite all the tales you may hear about heat retention, it must be understood that this will not be problematic for everyone. Women going through the menopause, people of a larger build, people who naturally suffer from night sweats etc are usually the ones most affected. But, by reducing bedding, room temperature and nightwear, it is a problem that can easily be rectified.  By contrast, there are an equal number of people who just love the toasty warm environment a memory foam mattress gives them particularly during our long winter nights.

Related Posts:
About Memory Foam
What is Tempur memory Foam?
Latex as a comfort layer

So who and what is Tempur?
Tempur-Pedic International Inc is credited to be the company who trialled and developed so called memory foam and through extensive advertising and promotion brought the worlds attention to the benefits of this ‘pressure relieving material’. Although the material was developed in the 1970s by NASA, it wasn’t until the early 90s, before Tempur launched this Space Foam Technlogy for the domestic market.

Note: I acknowledge that the original companies involved – Dan Foam  and Fagerdala World Foams contribution resulted in what is now known to be Tempur World Inc. I use Tempur as a reference to their mattress range and product.

How Much?
Tempur have several different models with the 20cm ‘Original’ retailing at over £1500 (double) or 22cm Deluxe retailing at over £1700 (Double). High end stores will have other models such as The Celebrity and The Sensation with an equally offensive retail price.

Bloomin eck!
“Perceived Quality” is a sales technique  whereby a purchasing decision is made purely based on price. You are going to assume that the higher priced item is going to be a better quality product. If a shop has two mattresses side by side – say for example a Tempur mattress and an Ergo-Flex mattress that can be compared as a like for like  option – the price asked then becomes the final decisive factor…

If a retailer or manufacturer has the balls to ask over £1500 for a product when there are equivalents available for roughly a third of the price,  you are going to assume that the quality must be two thirds better – But Is it?

Is Tempur any ‘better‘ than the other manufacturers?
Better Quality? A Tempur mattress is recognised to be the market leader, no doubt about it. but this does not mean it will suit everybody. Their ‘material’ has a general density of 85kg/m3 whereas in comparison British Vita Vasco foams have a general density of around 55-60. But .. British Vita (and other foam converting companies) do have comparable products with densities in excess of 80kg/m3

Better Value? It is understood that in (their words) a standard test (draw your own conclusions as to what this means) the thickness loss of Tempur after 80,000 compressions is less than 5 percent compared to approximately 10-15 percent for a highly elastic polyurethane foam.

Personally I would want to know if a like for like ‘foam’ was used in the test – say a close matched 80 – 85kg/m3 – but cannot find this essential piece of info.

I do draw your attention to a clause in Tempur’s guarantee that states any indentation of less than 2cm will NOT be considered a reason for claim.   Be aware that as a general rule from ALL manufacturers, visible and permanent indentations in memory foam of less than 2 – 2.5cm will not be seen as a defect in the mattress. A quick search on the internet will throw up many consumers complaints that it is this very visible indentation that causes them most concern.

During the summer / autumn 2011 Tempur plan to do a massive advertising campaign with the intention of increasing floor models in all the showrooms that stock their products. There are currently in excess of 700 outlets in the UK that do so.

Read our other related articles:

All About Memory Foam
Fabrics used on Memory Foam
Latex as a comfort layer

1. Love It or Return It
This applies for 14 days from delivery. If you are not happy with the mattress we supply – For any reason – we will arrange to collect and you will be refunded in full. There are no collection charges or any of that nonsense. Please read more details here.

2. Product Guarantee:
We have all our mattresses built to our precise specifications  and therefore we can personally guarantee each model for a period of time. Each model carries the guarantee timescale at the bottom of the individual listing.  This is described as ‘Full Repair or Replace’.

What does this mean?
If your mattress fails within the specified guarantee period then we will either repair or replace the faulty component.
We will not list all eventualities here – but we do work on common sense and fair practice. We have been in this business long enough to know what is [and what is not] acceptable and also long enough to recognise the failures of other companies who offer guarantees and warranties that are not worth the paper they are written on.

The factories that produce our mattresses do so in the knowledge that any product complaint will be  investigated thoroughly and with dilligence. It is also understood that they will bear the expense of correcting faulty workmanship or component. There should be no need to involve third parties (eg Ecomaster) to determine if something is wrong.

What if you believe something is wrong?
If we guarantee a mattress for five years for example, then that mattress should still be at the peak of its life showing normal signs of five years wear and tear. However, the springs should not be poking you in your back and there should be no complete collapse of components. If you have cause for complaint then all you have to do is to phone us.

What is not covered?
Divan Bases: We do not personally warrant any Divan Bases or Headboards. They are however covered by the manufacturers standard 12 month guarantee.
Fabric: Wear and tear of fabric is not covered. However, we will use our discretion to see if any valid complaint is justified.
Willful damage and neglect: Your mattress should be looked after and cared for. A mattress protector should be used at the very least.

The bottom line:
Ryan and I are absolutely passionate about our work. We take comment and complaint very seriously and in doing so we are able to constantly upgrade products and our service to ensure we maintain our Zero Complaint policy. Our reputation for trust and reliability has been time served, hard earned and has become one of our most valued assets.

There really is no need to go into legalese depth of when a complaint is justified [or not]. As a customer [or potential customer] of ours you  are assured that we will do all we can to retain you. The internet is slowly changing the way we shop for mattresses and in order to be the best we can, we have to be seen to be better than our competitors.

Feedback:
We actively court feedback. Particularly about how our products have fared. If you have found our site, information and service of value please take the time to leave some feedback on the feedback section [link at top of each page].

The brand is not the important part – It is whats inside!
We get numerous enquiries asking for different levels of high end mattresses and can we recommend something similar for a cheaper price. The first question I always ask is “what’s inside the branded model?” and unfortunately through no fault of their own they either haven’t a clue or even worse, have been misinformed and are basing their intended purchase entirely on name and brand.

This demonstrates to me that they are buying purely on the strength of the brand and not the physical construction, content and comfort of the mattress. This is ludicrous! I  guarantee that in this price range you will not find a mattress of this build and quality anywhere else like  The Sequence 2000 which is why we have cut the mattress open to show you exactly what is inside.

Summary:
It is interesting to note and for you to be aware that even the most reputable and highly regarded manufacturers are now producing models to be sold at the lower end of their market and banking on their reputation and branding for the sale but skimping on the actual content.
Ask yourself: How much are you actually paying for the content and how much for the label?

For more details on this model please select the size you require below. Also bear in mind that this mattress can be customised to your requirements. The core model is manufactured to be on the firmer side of medium but can easily be adapted to make it less firm. This is also the model that we have manufactured as a special size up to 7’3″ long .

WATCH VIDEO OF SEQUENCE 2000

Return to Sequence 2000 ..DOUBLE
Return to Sequence 2000 ..KINGSIZE
Return to Sequence 2000 .. SPECIAL SIZES

Over the years our site has been developed to share with you the information that we gain through our work the best we can. We dont profess to know everything, but we do know considerably more than most. A quick waltz around any bed showroom will no doubt fill you with horror when confronted by all the choice – and in reality there is only one thing that you should remember and be the main focus in your selection – and that is

A pocket sprung mattress is far superior to ANY cage sprung mattress.

ALL cage sprung mattresses are totally and utterly rubbish – END OF STORY. They are cheap to make, uncomfortable to sleep on and ultimately, they are a complete and utter waste of your money. Don’t let the marketing, fancy names, sales spin or advertising fool you – Miracoil, Posturetech, Orthopaedic, Continuous Coil, Open Coil, Backcare or whatever are all cage sprung mattresses- If the mattress does not contain pocket springs then walk away.

A Pocket sprung mattress does not need to be overly expensive. In many cases they are more cost effective than a comparable open coil unit and in real terms, they are cheaper now than than they were many years ago.

A mattress should be budgeted for. Care should be taken to find the best combination of support and comfort for your budget. If you scrimp on either of these then you will have plenty of time for regret.

Our ultimate selection: Over the years we have developed and produced a small range [less than 20 products] and put them for sale in our online shop . These have been specifically selected for price and quality of build - the two main factors  you should be using when purchasing your mattress. The descriptions are extremely detailed including the actual weights of materials used. We also give you direct price and quality comparisons to various branded models in order for you to see for yourself exactly where your money is going.

I would hope that you do take the time to read through most of this site just so that you understand exactly what you are buying but mainly to see how to sort the good from the bad .. and the bad from the rubbish.

Finally. We are John and Ryan (aka Mobilemattressman) Our business and reputation has been built around our customer service combined with our 14 day, (no small print) guarantee of Love It or Return It on all our mattresses. If what we select or recommend for you is unsuitable then it is only right and proper we collect free of any charge and all your money refunded in full.

Bed retailing is still a business that still defines itself on personal service and we want to be the best. You wont be able to try our mattresses, which is why we give you the very next thing - Our Service. If you still do not want to sift through all these then just give us a call with an indication of your budget and we will help to narrow down your options for you.

Read also How much should you be spending?

Q: What is the difference between Pure Latex and Natural Latex?
A: They are not the same as 100% Natural Latex.

How can this get any more confusing?

100% Natural Latex as a mattress component has not yet come down sufficiently in price to make it a common component of mattresses. The cost price to manufacturers of this material is still rather high and will of course be reflected in the price. As viable alternatives, 100% natural latex is blended with other components to produce products that offer a slight compromise in quality but can therefore be offered at an acceptable price.

To distinguish what term means what, this is the [apparant] breakdown:
100% Natural Latex
Premium quality and premium price tag – Has about 2% forming additives and 98% Natural latex
Natural Latex
Has to contain at least 80% Natural latex
Pure Latex
Has to contain at least 20% Natural Latex

To put this into some kind of perspective, these are the minimum quantities and in general pure latex used for mattresses will have at least 40% natural latex with the rest made up of synthetic latex and [UK required] fire retardancy components.

Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much initially about which latex is in the mattress - deciding which is better is a little detail that has to be applied only when sorting out the wheat from the chaff. There are not that many latex suppliers and the production quality is taken for granted to be of a very high standard.  But then, who is to stop a rogue salesman telling you the latex contained in their mattress is 100% natural – when in fact it isn’t.  That should be where your concern lies.

Also as a fore-warning, the ACTUAL DEPTH of latex used in your mattress should be more of a concern to you than whether it is Pure or Natural. Also, is the latex used as an entire sheet or is it placed just in the central area? If you are looking at Latex mattresses then these are the questions that just have to be asked.

There are two ways that latex can be used in the construction of a mattress:
1.As a solid slab of latex – ,
2. As a comfort layer generally on top of a pocket sprung system.

A mattress containing latex as a primary comfort layer will have to be at least 3- 5cm to be beneficial. Your bodyweight has to sink into the material sufficiently leaving the underlying layer{s) and / or pocket springs to offer up the additional support.  When used in conjunction with reflex foam and/or other premium wadding on pocket springs then emphasis will be made towards a comfort bias and the depth may well be just 2.5cm (1″).

The benefits of latex as a comfort layer.
The popularity of latex is growing year on year as people realise the benefit this material has over memory foam and hopefully in the near future the price will come down significantly. Firstly, latex has an instant rebound property and recovers as soon as you move to a different area of the mattress. Whereas, in comparison, memory foam will retain the indent your body made until it cools down and recovers. . Latex does not need to be warmed up by body heat to be effective and does not have the heat retentive properties of memory foam.

In short,  latex is the perfect sleep surface. The lifespan of a premium 100% natural latex is deemed to be well in excess of 20 years. Even pure latex can easily be guaranteed for 10 years. Dunlopillo is credited somewhat to be the market leaders in 100% natural latex mattresses. However, this recognition is reflected in the prices of their mattresses.

One side or two side?
When latex is used as a comfort layer it will more than likely be used on a non turn – one sided mattress. The durability aspect of this component means that there really is no need to have it on a double sided, turnable mattress. Also, latex will never (normally) be used on a cage sprung mattress. Pocket springs or suspension springs  will no doubt be the support system and all complimentary components will be premium. This is also true of the fabric covering. More often than not being entirely microquilted polyester or a blend of poly/cotton with Cashmere, Silk or other extremely soft component. Latex for mattresses is manufactured to be cradling as well as supportive and so the fabric will be chosen to accentuate this property.

100% natural latex in a solid slab should be encased in a wool sheath  – wool being naturally fire retardant.  The covering is usually a knitted jersey and able to be used on both sides. You will find that the depth of 100% Natural Latex will either be 6 or 8 inches in depth. Not only does this keep prices down but because of the superb support and comfort, there is absolutely no need for a traditional depth of 10 inches.

Anything else?
It must be understood that only 100% natural latex without any other component apart from processing additives is the absolute best in terms of quality, but price is usually the inhibitor. Aside from this, 100% Natural latex is not naturally fire retardant and therefore it’s use in a mattress would be illegal unless a fire retardant outer layer was applied [as a wrap - such as wool] to the mattress. Having  natural or pure latex are the next two best options.

Graphite Latex (pure latex) is a product used by the vast majority of mattress manufacturers as a viable compromise to natural latex. It has a high content of natural latex (at least 40%) and expandable graphite has to be added (hence making it a dark grey colour) to comply with fire retardancy regulations. There should be no significant difference in overall comfort. It is also an ideal component as a supportive internal layer when natural fillings are used as primarys.

Talalay is a manufacturing process deemed to be better than the Dunlop method. Which is actually better depends on who you speak to.  I dont know, and I personally wouldn’t be able to tell the difference by sleeping on them. If it helps, Talalay is the most used in mattresses.

As a starting point, Ryan and I have produced two latex mattresses The Sequence 2000 Latex and The Origins Latex 1500. The build and content quality can easily sit alongside many well known branded products and in most cases can be deemed significantly superior.

Producing a mattress suitable for your height is one thing but equal thought has to be applied with regards to your bodyweight as well. And it is with this in mind that if you are taller than average then randomly sticking a pin in  a list of beds is definitely not the way to go about it.

There is no doubt about it, you are going to be paying more for a longer than average bed so whichever one you choose the first consideration must be the longevity or lifespan of the mattress.  Although one sided memory foam can be an option of primary layer, I would suggest that you go down the traditional route of a two sided, well upholstered model that can get you at least ten years life for your money.

Pocket springs (of course) should be the support. Extra long beds should be based on a 2000 unit but the extensions will be utilising more individual units so the count will obviously be a lot higher dependent on the size ordered.

The wadding cannot be just polyester. Although the price will be initially more favourable there is just no way that this will give you an expected lifespan. The layers must be sandwiched with each individual component complementing what is above and beneath.

The choice of base should also be manufactured to take into account the additional weight of the mattress. Obviously, a divan base will be cheaper than an extended bedframe but even so, this should be manufactured with extra strengtheners and a more robust platform top that will not prematurely dip.

So what can I offer?
For a 5’0 x 7’3 Divan Set for example my minimum standard would be:  2000 plus pocket springs, multi layer wadding – including layer of reflex foam,  polyester and premium weight cotton felt  all squashed into an 11″ deep mattress. Hand Side Stitched – Soft silk content fabric – Two Sided Mattress – weighs a ton, Strengthened base.  Full 10 year repair or replace guarantee.
All for £945.00 

This will be as close as you can get to a bespoke mattress and even though it is made to order – within a week or so - my full guarantee will still apply. All orders will of course be discussed verbally to ensure you have the mattress suitable for your (and your partners) needs.

Phone me direct on 07999 007 000 or mail me  for initial no obligation enquiries

Although settlement of fillings occurs in every mattress it seems that mattresses with comfort layers of memory foam, reflex or other high density foam and latex are less susceptible  to this. Mattresses with very soft layers such as wool, wool cotton, polyester are more prone and therefore constant twisting and rotating of the mattress whilst new is extremely important to even out the wear pattern.

Even Vi-Spring -one of the premier mattress manufacturers – gives this essential information on their site advising that initial body impressions are not a fault of the mattress but an intrinsic part of the mattress bedding in period.

In my experience settlement can be a cause of unnecessary concern. It shows itself more in mattresses with a bigger span area such as Kingsize or Superking sizes. It is obvious that you are only sleeping in an area the width of your body and therefore the central and perimeter areas will be under utilised. After a few weeks it may look like the sleeping areas are wearing quicker than the rest of the mattress but constant turning and rotating will in time equal out this pattern.

Quirkly, cheaper end mattresses with minimal layers of wadding tend not to show body indents  as there is so little wadding to indent you tend not to notice it more readily. You are primarily sleeping directly on the spring unit 

So what can be done? Firstly not many people realise that the underlying layers used in the mattress will have an effect on how they settle. Foams as bridging layers are extremely resilient to this and in many of the high end mattresses I sell I always try to add an inch layer of Reflex foam above the spring unit as the resilient bridge between the springs and the primary comfort layers . If this was not there then when you are compressing the comfort layers you will be doing so directly on the springs with absolutely nothing taking the strain. 

Absolute high end mattresses with natural fibres [rather than polyester] as the primary layers utilise components such as horse hair, coir, coarse cashmere and so forth as the bridge between the spring unit and upper layers doing just the same job as as a suspension between soft [primary] and hard [springs].

A valid argument is that having a foam layer above the spring unit (pocket sprung) detracts from the individualised mechanics of the springs themselves. Possibly true – but I would argue that the foam is acting like a dampener for your bodyweight and distributing the load over a greater area rather than being directly over the springs themselves.

Final layers of wool or soft polyester are included entirely for softness and comfort but has absolutely no support or resilience. Therefore the layer directly below must be a component that offers a degree  of support to prevent you sinking right in to the spring unit. As I mention in another post, manufacturers will include Cashmere, wool, silk etc often just for marketing purposes – these luxurious layers (often minimal and at times utterly useless) offer nothing for support and everything for comfort. Unless they are backed up with some kind of resilient layer then you will find the mattress will be more prone to body indents a lot quicker than necessary.

Firmness levels are also something to consider to minimise settlement. A  mattress that has been traditionally hand tufted will compress the fillings so that there is very little room for movement and thus creating the firm mattress. Conversely, the fillings in a soft mattress will be loose and so settlement and indents will show more readily. And there you have your dilemma !!  So what can you do?

Protecting your mattress is key. So by adding an additional layer such as a soft blanket, basic topper or even a basic duvet beneath the top sheet to suit your own personal comfort level will in the long run have an enormous impact on the life of the mattress and potential settlement. Support for your own bodyweight should always take preference over the comfort level as it is easier to manipulate comfort than it is to alter the support.

Never put your bottom sheet directly on top of your mattress, there really has to be something beneath to protect your mattress from the copius amount of moisture you perspire each and every night. In time, you will be so glad you did.

So what are the benefits?
Looking at the advertising material, it tells us that it removes the need for turning.  Anything else?  No, not that I have seen or am aware of.

What are the benefits to the manufacturer?
Aaahh. Now were talking. It all started with the introduction of memory foam mattresses. People got used to not having to turn them and so manufacturers thought they could apply the same principle to all other types of mattress. Thereby, using half the normal quota of fillings and keeping their profit margins stable.  The lifespan of the mattress is obviously directly halved so you will be out looking for another mattress a lot sooner.

Turning a mattress does not feature high on everyones list of household chores, for elderly and infirm people it can be quite a challenge. This is why I say that for these type of mattresses you should be paying proportionately less than a traditional double sided mattress – Not Equal To and certainly – Not More!

There are a couple of obvious exceptions as in the case of mattresses with memory foam or latex as the comfort layer. With latex being extremely durable and expensive it will rarely be on a double sided mattress (unless it is one complete core). Having a double sided latex matt is unbelievably pointless as latex is the most durable product available and it will be better to replace (in time) rather than extend. Also, as with memory foam it is available as a two sided mattress but weigh up if you are paying proportionately twice as much as a single sided mattress.

If you really are unable to turn a mattress regularly then there are options available to you. First, you can use a double sided mattress without turning it (not ideal but a compromise) You can then turn it when the first side has become worn and you will start again sleeping on the unused side.

Quite simply it is a ‘box’ of high density foam that contains the pocket springs. The usual construction is :
One inch deep base sheet of foam
The sides are usually 75mm wide, glued to the base to form an open box
The pocket springs are inserted
A top layer of one inch sheet foam is glued on to form a sealed unit
The comfort layer is then added – Usually Memory Foam or Latex.
The mattress is then covered.

What the manufacturer chooses to put in this unit can vary considerably but the overriding differences of having this type of construction is based on the fact that unlike normal pocket spring units that have a steel perimeter banding – an encapsulated pocket sprung unit has no perimeter banding surrounding the pocket springs hence making it relatively flexible (with the right machinery able to be vac packed and so forth)

So what are the benefits of having an encapsulated pocket sprung unit?
The first thing to note is that the labour costs of producing this construction is far higher and will be reflected in the cost/retail price.
Having a high density foam perimeter inside the mattress goes a long way to aid full edge to edge support. By their very nature pocket springs are flexible and so some people may find sleeping on the edge of [a traditional PS mattress]  gives them a ‘rolling off’ sensation. This is particularly true if you use a pocket sprung mattress for the first time after being used to an open coil system. Traditional top end pocket sprung matts use hand side stitching as an edge support, many of the mid ranges don’t use anything.

People who are looking to replace the mattress on their electric adjustable beds may also find this type of construction more beneficial than the usual slab of foam that is usually offered.

What are the downsides?
There are non as such although the retail prices of some models are excessively overpriced for what you are getting. The added weight can be a factor that should be taken into account. The depth of the finished mattress is usually greater than a traditional unit – a visual sign of the supposed quality and worth. Heat retention may also be apparent but there is no hard and fast data (openly available) to support this but logically it must be somewhat heat retentive. Nine times out of ten it will be used as a non turn, one sided mattress.

There are arguments that say the foam in a FEPS unit is taking the place of actual springs (on the perimeter) and so it is a cost saving to the manufacturer – Not really, the extra labour used to produce a FEPS unit is more of a cost consideration to the manufacturer than a few extra springs.  Another argument says that because foam is used on the entire perimeter it decreases air ventilation. Probably. But as with most things, this is pure speculation without any available hard data. This is so trivial a potential concern it’s not worth worrying about as  all foam is naturally self ventilating/aerating.

In short, a foam encapsulated pocket sprung unit is an ‘alternative’ to a traditional pocket sprung unit. With a FEPS unit a manufacturer can add a variety of primary layers and indeed additional springs to suit most budgets and markets - all being based on the same internal unit. The pocket springs themselves are generally the same as traditional units, a few exceptions are mattresses made specifically to be vac packed (smaller) or for more economical models where the spring height and turn is reduced to service a potential market.

Summary
Don’t think for one moment that because the retail prices of many FEPs units are rather high you will be getting a top quality mattress. These should be seen as a mid range construction method and always do your comparisons with traditional pocket sprung mattresses with similar primary layers.

The very slight downside of possible heat retention can be combatted with lighter bedding but the bonus of added longevity and comfort may make it worthwhile.   When Memory Foam (as opposed to latex) is used as the primary layer then careful thought has to be applied to what you are paying for the mattress. Memory Foam does degrade well within five years (despite what a salesman will tell you)  causing an uncomfortable and permanent dip and therefore the spring unit will far outstrip the usable life of the MF.

Do I need to clarify or expand any points? Please leave  comments or questions  below.

What are Pillowtop Mattresses?

What use are they?..umm, ..err..

OK. What is wrong with them?
Lets start with the construction method. It is built in two parts. 1) The support section and the 2) The pillowtop section. The pillowtop is stitched directly on to the top of the support creating a two tier mattress.  Up to this point there is really nothing wrong with this – all you have now is a fancy shmancy one sided mattress.

The support part of the mattress can be any type – Pocket Springs / Foam / Suspension Springs, even cage springs.
The Pillowtop can also be comprised of anything – Polyester / Memory Foam / Latex etc

The main objection to pillowtops come into what you are expected to pay for them and the lifespan you will get out of them. Just like a one sided mattress you will be unable to turn it so when the pillowtop layer becomes indented and worn, you will eventually have to replace the entire mattress even though the spring support will be sufficiently OK.  At this point I must admit that Pillowtops with a  natural latex comfort layer do not fall into this argument although pricewise you will be expected to pay a lot more than for a non-pillowtop version. 

As a summary to this, there is a good simple solution:  Purchase a decent pocket sprung mattress and purchase a separate   2-3″ deep topper that suits your exact requirements. A decent mattress protector will keep these two parts together. You will the be able to Twist, Turn and Rotate the mattress, and Twist,  Turn and Rotate the topper. Thereby getting maximum use out of both of them. It is highly probable that the topper part will wear out quicker than the mattress but the replacement cost of the topper will be  a lot less than the replacement of an entire mattress. Also, as the mattress will not be taking the brunt of nightly activities  it should stay as  good as new for considerably longer.

Vi-Spring: Majesty – £52.000 - 7ft Complete Set – Exclusive to Harrods
Made entirely by hand and filled with more springs and sumptuous natural fillings than any other Vi-Spring. 6,240 hand-nested springs (for  217cm x 215cm) in individual sewn calico pockets and topped with layers of silk, cashmere, blended lambswool and cotton, The Majesty mattress is partnered by the President divan.

Vi-Spring Magnificance: £11.000 (average) Kingsize Mattress Only
2812 Pocket Springs – 1.32mm wire springs, 49mm in diameter, in individual sewn cotton calico pockets, hand formed into a honeycomb nest unit. Constructed with two layers of springs. Upholstered with 900 gsm blended lambswool and cotton then 1,650 gsm of hand-teased long-stranded black horsehair, lambswool, mohair and cashmere, enclosed in a hairproof cambric cover and overlaid with 1,200 gsm of lambswool and cotton. Hand tufted with hand-tied woollen tufts and twine. 5 rows hand side stitching. Border edges upholstered with coir.

Relyon Emperor: £3000 (average) Kingsize Mattress Only.
A top of range showpiece set. 3400 two tiered pocket springs. Upholstered with cashmere, silk, lambswool and mohair. 4 rows hand side stitching.
  
Hypnos Sandringham: £ Price not openly available: Kingsize Mattress Only
[Hypnos is a Royal warrant holder] 3700 pocket springs [Kingsize Mattress] Upholstered with; Hand teased white hair, Cashmere, Soft Pure Wool, Natural Cotton, Vertically lapped wool. 4 Rows hand side stitching.   

 Somnus Superior: £  Price not openly available (average) Kingsize Mattress Only
5500 Pocket Springs. Upholstered with Lambswool, Mohair, Silk, Egyptian Cotton, Horsehair, Hand Teased Horsehair. Cotton Rich. 4 rows hand side stitching.  

 Somnus Imperial: £ Price not openly available (average) Available only as a bed set.
6000 Pocket Springs in the mattress and 1800 in the sprung edge base. Unsurpassed luxury with the superior six tier spring system and the ultimate combination of filings including hand teased horsehair, double layered soft Egyptian white cotton, cashmere, mohair, lambswool and the finest silk. Four rows of hand side stitching. 

Savoir Beds: No1. No2. No3. No4. £7000 – £12.000. (average)
The most famous bespoke bed company. Originally the in-house mattress manufacturer of The Savoy Hotel. The No: 2 is around  £12.000 known as The original Savoy Bed still using the ticking  designed by Lady D’Oyly Carte back in 1905.

If any of the above are in the league of the mattress you are interested in then give me a call to discuss your requirements – Same Quality – Lower Price!
Mattresses that contain natural fillings as opposed to man made fibres are poles apart from each other in aspects of quality and more importantly – comfort. If you know exactly the mattress you want then I will be able to give you some comparable models to consider. John.

The following tries to break down exactly what lies behind the brand name;
All images are attributed to the copyright holder

Posturfil®:
From Spinks Springs (part of the Harrison Spinks / Spinks and Edgar stable) . These are sheets of mini pocket springs, designed as an enhancement to the contouring properties of the mattress and helping to reduce the settlement of the finer fillings.

Tensions: Posturefil is available in 4 tensions going from soft to firm- 1.0mm. 1.32mm. 1.42mm. 1.60mm

Specifications:
Diameter: 45mm
Height: 38mm
Turns: 3 (est)
There are no maximum widths or lengths.

Benefits:
Less use of superior fillings – Latex etc
Superior venting properties
Easy to combine with other units

High Density (HD) Pocket Springs
From Spinks Springs (part of the Harrison Spinks / Spinks and Edgar stable) . These are also mini pocket springs, smaller in height than posturfil designed to distribute your bodyweight over a greater number of springs to reduce build up of pressure points.

Specifications:
Diameter: 33mm
Height: 18mm
Gauge: 1.0mm
There are no maximum widths or lengths

Open Coil / Bonnell Springs
A well made unit will have about 300 or so interlacing springs in a Kingsize. The manufacturing process allows manufacturers to have more or less springs than this by expanding or reducing the spacing in between the springs. They are measured by gauge – the thickness of the spring – with the lower the number = the thicker the wire used.
12.5g – Orthopaedic (firm)
13g -
13.5g – (Soft)

Miracoil® [Registered Trade Mark of Silentnight Group Ltd]
This is known as a continuous spring system where the strands of wire makes up a series of continuous springs running from head to foot as opposed to Bonnell springs where the individual coils are held together by interlaced springs runnning from side to side.

As far as I know the spring construction patent does not belong to The Silentnight Group Ltd.
As far as I know, this method of spring construction system is available to  all manufacturers.

Silentnight Sales Pitch: The unique Miracoil® Spring System is manufactured from one continuous spring that runs head to toe distributing body weight up and down the bed. This ensures that the bed gives you and your partner the support you need, irrespective of differences in size and weight. The Miracoil® Spring System is combined with a number of different fillings to offer a complete range of comfort levels. Silentnight have developed two different types of Miracoil® spring system Miracoil® 3 and Miracoil® 7. [end]

Miracoil 3: 750 springs - three zoned unit
Miracoil 5: sold exclusively in Bensons for Beds stores. This has the addition of 800 mini pocket springs above the 750 (approx) Miracoil 3 springs.
Miracoil 7: The addition of 1350 (approx) mini pocket springs laid above the 750 (approx) Miracoil 3 springs.

Sealy Edge Guard®:
Sales Pitch: The Sealy Edge Guard®  a construction around that edge of the mattress that gives it more stability. This means you can sleep right up to the edge of the mattress without it buckling so your sleep won’t be disrupted. The Sealy Edge Guard extends the sleeping surface of your bed by about 6 inches compared to other mattresses and also helps retain overall mattress structure.

Sealy Postur Tech® 660:

Revolution Spring System® - [Harrison Spinks Beds Ltd]
Sales Pitch: Soft on the outside and firm on the inside responds to the variable pressure applied by different parts of the body adjusting automatically to individual support.  [end]

Also known as the Spring in Spring system with 1438 pockets in a KS.

Sensa® Pocket Springs: [Harrison Spinks Beds Ltd]
Unique to Somnus – Available in Regular Support or Firm Support.

Harrisons Beds as a company, is regarded by all mass produced mattress companies as the factory they would each aspire to own. And no small wonder. They are constant innovators in mattress / spring technology – hence the reason why ALL manufacturers  take an extra keen look at their trade shows.

Pocketzing.
Silentnight.

Despite it’s name, spring edging covers the entire top of the base. The most usual method is a two to three inch layer of  springs fixed to the top of the base construction covered with upholstery prior to the covering being attached.

A very cheap way of offering a sprung edged base is the use of snake springs. These are similar to the spring support in a cheap sofa where a series of snake shaped wires are stretched across and fixed to the edge of the base. Not an ideal method at all and even though it is the most economical form of sprung edging – you do not usually benefit from paying a lower price.  

Sprung edging on top of range bases consist of pocket springs and superior upholstery such as wool etc. This is not my market and so the details on this post refer to mass produced mattresses and bases.

The benefits of a sprung edged base is the increased comfort level from your mattress. Think of it like your mattress being on top of another mattress. It also contributes greatly to the lifespan of your mattress as the spring edging acts as suspension pistons taking any excess strain.

A sprung edged base is really only viable for pocket sprung mattresses, acting in conjunction with the pocket springs to give  more suspension . Lo cost mattresses will gain no particular long term benefit. Also, as I say in my post about Divan Bases.. consider a purpose built bedframe rather than paying more for a souped up divan base.

There are not many [if any] downsides with a sprung edged base. The main one is that any storage drawers have a reduced height due to additional springs taking up 3″ of base height. Secondly, there is no edge support, so if you are prone to sitting on the edge of the mattress (a bad habit) the concentrated weight on a small part will make you feel like you are sliding off.

To add a sprung edge to your base see the options in the ‘upgrades‘ section. I have kept the prices at just above cost price, for example to have a full Superking Zip and Link set sprung edged will be just £95.  A double base will be £65.

Pocket Sprung mattresses seem to have the raw deal on many of these comments. With the theory being that if the slats are too wide the individual pocket springs will drop down through the gaps. Now, a bit of common sense has to be applied here. If the gaps are too wide say, in excess of 4″ then there will be insufficient support for the mattress and improvements to the slat spacings should be made  - If the gaps are standard, say 2-3″ apart then any weight on the mattress will be evenly distributed with absolutely no need to worry.

Equally so, on traditionally built double sided mattresses, there will be more than sufficient fillings and waddings to prevent the entire contents of your mattress spilling on to the floor.

Sprung slats that (usually) have a central support bar tend to need some sort of ‘dampener’ on the rigid section to keep a pocket spring unit stable – remember – pocket sprung matts love a flat surface. Over time, a dip could appear in the central area of a mattress caused by the uneven surface. Vi-Spring, as one of the country’s top manufacturers give the advice that a mattress pad should be used on all slatted bases.  Quite right too, hence the reason that a sprung divan base is reccomended for pocket sprung matts. This pad acts as a buffer between the mattress and the slats preventing pressure indents in a two sided mattress and stability for a one sided [latex] mattress.

There is no real need to buy a purpose built mattress pad for your slatted base. Although more presentable than a home made version, the contents of such are usually either going to be polyester or foam (wool, cotton, horsehair etc in more salubrious versions) and therefore a basic quilt from Tesco, or a couple of blankets placed on top of the slats will offer adequate protection for your mattress.

There is too much fallacy around about mattresses that are or arn’t suitable for slatted bases, or bedsteads or divans.  So how did these stories come about?

It all seems to have started with Silentnight. Retailers were plugging the benefits of their Miracoil Spring system with an explanation that as the continuous coil springs run North to South there was no way that the springs could fall through the gaps which run East to West. Quite a logical and well thought out explanation and really no room for disagreement. Unless ..

Did we ever have a problem with springs falling through the slats prior to SN Miracoil ? I can’t ever remember it being a problem. And I cant think of one instance since where I have ever heard this to happen. ..Unless you know differently.

What you don’t know is -
If the ‘Was‘ price has any bearing on the  ’Now‘  price.

Trading Standards’ rules on ‘Sales’  are vigorously enforced. With that in mind, it can rightly be assumed that items with a ‘Was’ and ‘Now’ price can only be right – after all, these are usually big companies who do not want to fall foul of the law – so it must be true!

Note: *I make no claim that I am an expert on Consumer Law. I can only state on practices that I know to happen. If you can clarify or confirm or even disagree what follows, then please do so using the comments section below.

Half Price Sales!
You see a mattress advertised - Was £500 – Now £250. How can you tell for sure if this is correct? Firstly, it will be correct BUT – the ‘WAS’ price could have been any price you care to think of – Even, Was £1.000.000 – Now £250. The ‘Was’ price has absolutely  NO BEARING  on the supposed ‘worth’ of the mattress.

I heard a story of a manufacturer who makes beds for a retail bed chain. One  bed in question was produced specifically for an upcoming sale. While the order was being manufactured, a few of these beds were displayed in stores at a retail price of around £1000. At SALE time it was advertised at Half Price- Was £1000 – Now £500.

The bed in question, even when sold at £500, was *probably still overpriced for what it was. But the impression you would have come to in a sale, was that it looks like such a bargain. If a bed or mattress  is advertised at Half Price then logically, twice that price should be the real ‘worth‘ of the item.  If you had compared the specification of the bed above, to others with a value of £500 you would have easily found out that you could have got a much better spec bed for your £500.

The same is true with RRP [Recommended Retail Price]. or SRP [ Suggested Retail Price] These terms mean diddly squat.  Manufacturers have no *legal say on how much a retailer should sell their products for – they can of course refuse to supply retailers who don’t toe the line on the retail price of their products!

On Silentnight’s website, they advertise some models from their core range. One for example is the ‘Radiance’ [Miracoil 3 / Memory Foam] Silentnight gives this model [SINGLE] a guide price of £419. And yet, as far as I can see online, no one sells it at this price – The lowest price I have found is £279 but tagged with – RRP £419. – Save £140.  In this case SN gives a disclaimer on their site *(11/2/10) with regards to the price to say that ” *These indicative prices reflect those offered by retailers as at October 2009.  However you may pay more or less than this.”

So what does this tell you? Silentnight have placed an indicative ’Value’ of £419  for this particular single mattress. They give their selected retailers a choice of selling it for more or less than this. With the above (true) example you have found it for £279. Have you actually saved £140? or have you paid £279 – the actual  ’worth‘ of the mattress? Only by comparing it to other ‘like for like’ models will you  know the real answer and find the actual worth.

When doing price comparisons, even in store, always price up the mattress only, and the (no storage) base separately. You will then get a truer price of the supposed mattress quality. You will soon come to see that either the mattress is overpriced with an equally overpriced base or there will be no option to buy the mattress separately (see below).

Example: (Argos May /2010) Silentnight Sherwood Memory (Kingsize);

• Mattress Only: £779.99
• Base and Mattress: £1229.99
  Incidentally, another little thing to keep an eye on is the way the stuff is priced. How many of you I wonder have already worked out that the  no storage base above has a massive cost of £450.00? The nines are there not to add less than a quid on the price of a £800 mattress, but  just a guess –  to deter you making a quick mental calculation. If it was rounded up to:
• Mattress Only: £780.00
• Base and Mattress £1230.00
  It is a lot easier to calculate and to work out how much you are being asked to pay for the (overpriced) base.

Update 1: (May) This is absolutely scandalous! Have a look at the base - For starters, the castors are what you would expect to find on a basic divan set, not one that you are being asked to pay £450 quid for. My betting is on the fact that sooner, rather than later this will be on offer for Half Price. I shall keep my eye on this model and if I am right (or wrong) I will post the result here.

Update 2: (End May)What did I tell you.  The Silentnight Sherwood no storage Divan is now HALF PRICE at £614.99 (Was: £1229.99).  The mattress has also been ‘reduced’ to HALF PRICE to £389.99 (Was: £779.99).

Update 3. (End Aug) The link above does not work anymore and as far as I can see the Sherwood model has been removed from the listing.

Bensons For Beds is another prime of example of ‘ *I’m not sure what the best word is’. I want to say Collusion but I’m sure that’s wrong.
They sell the Silentnight Miracoil Zone 5 double mattress for £425.52 – but after the ‘Sale’, it will be £999.99  (price checked 11/Feb/ 2010).

Firstly, there are a few things that you should know in relation to retail pricing.
All components used in mattresses cost the manufacturer relatively the same price. Just because ‘Brand X’ uses a container full of springs on a weekly basis does not necessarily mean that they are paying substantially less for them.  It then follows that it will be the same  for fabrics,  waddings and fillings.

The raw cost price of a mattress will generally be the same, for a ‘like for like’ model, for all manufacturers. You are then quite right  to wonder why there are such huge price differences for essentially the same mattress. Well, once the mattress has been manufactured, additional costs have to be added by the manufacturer to the raw cost such as Advertising and Promotion, Transport and Logistics, and so on…

Depending on the size of the manufacturer depends on how high these additional costs can go. The bigger the manufacturer, the higher the costs. After all these have been added, and the mattress is in the shop,  there is then the retailer’s costs to consider. Shop Costs of Rent and Rates etc, Staffing costs to sell the bed, Delivery Costs to get the bed to you, and so on. After all that – the retailer adds on his mark-up, or share of the profit in order to keep his business growing or to divide between the shareholders.

When you find your “like for like” mattress, virtually tear them apart to see where all your extra money is going!  Is it in the mattresss or on the advertising?

What fillings should you have in your matttress?
Even though there are well over 2000 models of mattress out there  – you really don’t have much of a choice. . How so?
For a budget of around £500 the main upholstery will be either/or Polyester or Visco Elastic Foam nothing more. And when I say nothing more, I mean any other waddings added that can offer the slightest significant improvement to the mattress , other than having it contained in the specification.

Mattresses that contain natural fibres (lambswool, cashmere, hair, cotton, mohair etc,) in such a quantity for them to be beneficial just do not exist for budgets less than £600.

So now, for an idea on what your money can get you.
Take a quick look through the models I have on offer. Use this as a starter point as I think it would be difficult to beat. Lets say for example your budget is around £400 (Double). I say that this amount can get you  1000 pocket springs, Double Sided with a decent polyester wadding, reflex foam aiding the support and longevity and an above average fabric . Incidentally, this is our minimum standard, we do not sell a lower quality than this.

Using the main comparison  details -1000 Pocket Springs, Reflex Foam (25mm) and Polyester (1250gsm) you should then search each shop or site looking for a similar built mattress for a similar price.  When you have your list of  posible candidates for comparison you then look at all the additional details such as fabric quality, detailing, service, guarantee etc

Use the same initial principle no matter what your budget – Find out what it can get you and then try to match it – or beat it –  for comparison.

In General using Double Sizes as an example:
I say that £100 will not get you much – at best a 13.5 gauge open coil with a thin polyester layer.
£200 could get you a fairly OK orthopaedic mattress or the beginnings of a basic pocket springs with 800 – 1000 count.
The £200 – £300  mark  should get you away from most low-mid ranges and into the pocket spring models.
£300 – £400 should get you an excellent pocket sprung mattress.
£400-£500 should get you many manufacturers mid range models.

I’m adding a disclaimer here. If you are looking at high end mattresses with premium weight natural fillings as the main components then prices will indeed be in excess of the £600 plus ballpark. My comments relate to mass produced mattresses without a predominant ‘natural fillings’ content.

The rule of thumb is get the best ‘components’ your budget can buy. If £300 can get you a pocket sprung mattress – why settle for a cage sprung mattress for the same money?

Finally. Keep notes on what you see – and make sure that you are comparing like for like / component by component.  After visiting a few sites without them, you will become lost and forget the important specification details. .. However, and unfortunately, you will soon see that these basic fundamental details are missing from many descriptions.  If they are vague – then phone / mail the retailer or manufacturer and ask.

This demonstrates to me that they are buying purely on the strength of the brand and not the physical construction, content and comfort of the mattress. This is ludicrous! I  guarantee that in this price range you will not find a mattress of this build and quality anywhere else like  The Sequence 2000 which is why we have cut the mattress open to show you exactly what is inside.

Summary:
It is interesting to note and for you to be aware that even the most reputable and highly regarded manufacturers are now producing models to be sold at the lower end of their market and banking on their reputation and branding but skimping on the actual content.
Ask yourself: How much are you actually paying for the content and how much for the label?

Return to Sequence 2000  Latex..DOUBLE

Return to Sequence 2000 Latex ..KINGSIZE

Return to Sequence 2000 Latex .. SUPERKING