What are Pillowtop Mattresses?
It is a construction method whereby a layer (pillow) of sumptuous upholstery is permanently stitched upon the mattress. It is invariably always going to be one sided. It will invariably be high-loft (28-35cm) They invariably tend to look absolutely glorious.
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.
Hi, was just about to buy this John Lewis mattress, researching who actually makes them and then came across this article. Happy and gutted at the same time as this is the first mattress we have liked and tried soooo many !
I’m 6ft 2″, 18 st, my wife 5ft 6 10st. Previously had a Millbrook 1200 pocket sprung which is on its last legs.
This mattress felt ideal, medium supportive, can you suggest any alternatives. Thanks
Hi Mike. I’m going to break down this mattress just to show you why it would have been a wrong choice for you.
The official desription: John Lewis Classic Pillowtop 2 Mattress, Kingsize £950
A sumptuous, yet supportive luxury handmade mattress which has “Silver Plus” technology in the upholstery – a hygienic textile finish that will ensure the mattress maintains a fresh and clean sleeping environment.
As you lie on the mattress you’ll experience the soft cocooning of the pillowtop layer, while 1800 supportive ReActive pocket springs will ensure enhanced support and comfort.
Classic Pillowtop 2 contains multiple layers of soft, responsive polyester fibre including Airsteam – a revolutionary breathable fibre – and is topped with blended wool and silk. It’s finished with 2 rows of deep hand side stitching to strengthen the border and prolong the life of the mattress
For the £950 price tag I would instantly do comparisons against our Artisan Naturals mattress at £895.
The difference in your bodyweights should be paramount in your choice. Even as you say you have tried so many, it is unlikely you knew what aspects to look for in order for the mattress to be comfortable as well as as supportive for you both.
The John Lewis mattress is manufactured by Hypnos. The ReActive springs are fairly standard throughout the range defining themselves on the number of turns either six, eight, ten (Ultrasens) etc. As a means of comparison Vi-Spring uses six turns on their pockets (calico encased)
The fixed pillowtop method of construction is the aspect that should be of concern. This method of construction means that you can only ise one side of the mattress obviously making it non turn.
Comparing this to the other models in The Hypnos Pillowtop range leads me to believe the filling in the pillowtop is blended wool and silk – their Hypnos Elite uses a similar mix of fillings but also with “White Fibre” [Polyester] which I wouldn’t really expect to see in a mattress of this ilk.
Because of your weight differences you really will hasve to consider the longevity of your purchase. Rather than having a pillowtop providing the comfort layer on the mattress , it is bettter to have a seperate topper /comforter that can be removed / exchanged / turned / rotated etc.
Sorry for the brief reply Mike. I would encourage you to give us a call to discuss further. John and Ryan.
Hi John,
Good to speak to you today.
For ease of installation, its highly likely we will end up going for a zip-link system and noticed that zip-linked mattress with a built-in pillow top’s have the disadvantage of the gap between the pillow tops’s on the linked mattresses. So in retrospect, if we do decide we still want a pillow top, getting a separate (full size) pillow top on a zip-link solution will be a far better solution!
Having given you the details of the mattress in question, my wife and I look forward to hearing Ryan’s recommendation’s.
Kind Regards
Dave.
Hi Dave. Good choice. The money you have saved will be able to get you a super dooper all natural comforter. Look forward to seeing you next week. John and Ryan.
I think you make some valid points, although I’m not sure about how significant the wear ‘n’ tear would be on a pillow top to prematurely fail before the life of the mattress.
Having tried out all the various mattress types in the stores recently, my wife and I both found the pocket sprung mattresses with pillow top significantly more comfortable and to our liking so based on your recommendations, maybe we should look at the natural latex comfort layers or a separate pillow top?
Hi Dave. Many thanks for adding your views. The ‘premature’ wear and tear refers mainly to a pillow top that is made up of a polyester layer. A pillow top with a latex layer would indeed be far durable and of course would not make any difference whether this was contained in a pillow top or enclosed directly in the mattress. However, the price you will be expected to pay will indeed be far higher than a mattress with the layer directly enclosed.
The point I was making was if the ‘pillow’ was polyester, this WILL fail prematurely, and so it would be more beneficial to purchase a [ double sided ] mattress that offers you the support you require and add your own comfort layer [topper] to give you the comfort you require. A fixed pillowtop can only be rotated whereas a removable pillow [topper] can be rotated AND reversed.
Prior to purchase I would ask the salesperson what exactly is contained directly beneath the pillow top? Is it just the spring unit or is there an additional layer of upholstery to support and cushion the pillow? Hastens Beds as an example, provide a removable and reversable topper [pillowtop] on their mattresses. However, the mattress itself is also well upholstered so when the pillowtop eventually becpmes worn out it can be easily replaced as the mattress [support] should still be relatively as new.
I must add that I do advocate some sort of topper / comforter on all new mattresses. The use of these in addition to a mattress protector will give you years more life from your mattress. Your bodyweights and comfort preferences will no doubt change over the years and replacing toppers now and again is a lot more economical than changing a complete mattress. The important part is getting the right support from the mattress and using a topper to give you the comfort. John and Ryan.