If you find the thought of wading through all this information daunting, which it is, then bear in mind that these are just the basics of what we think you will need to know to prevent you from being potentially ripped off .
Over the years our site has grown and 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, 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. Bear in mind though that the bulk of pocket sprung mattress are now mass produced. The ultimate pocket spring is Calico encased, used by the likes of Vi Spring and Savoir Beds (and us in our Artisan Range). I cant think of any other manufacturer who use calico encased pocket springs, but there will be less than five manufacturers in this country who do so.
I have seen examples of descriptions where the mattress is described as containing calico springs – Complete and utter deceipt. This is akin to describing a sofa as being leather, when in fact it is PVC. The bulk of all pocket springs are polypropylene encased (mass produced units where the individual units are glued together to make a complete spring unit. Calico units are sewn together and are not attached to adjacent springs except by lengths of twine stringing them together.
A good 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. The overriding factor in your choice will of course be your budget and what you can reasonably expect to receive for such. There are over 4000 mattress models out there – it would be a fools errand to go through each and every one to see which is the most suitable for you – in fact it will be impossible for you to do so.
Once you grasp the fact that the majority are constructed around the same principle – Pocket Sprung unit and topped off with polyester wadding (making up the bulk of all lower priced mattresses), your choices become easier. You also have to understand that there are only three kinds of mattress to choose from – Cheap | Mid Range | Expensive. Again, your choices become easier once you know what components could feasibly be used within these ranges. For example, there is no way that polyester or foam would be used in a well made mattress. Equally so, there is no way that horsehair, cotton or wool would be used in a Cheap mattress.
However, as there is no legal requirement to tell you any quantity of upholstery by weight – A description telling you that a particular mattress ”contains” wool for example - could mean this could be as little a 5 strands mixed in with the polyester – utterly contemptable – but quite legal!
You might be thinking that this is a far fetched rationale? Absolutely Not!
There are certain keywords used that should be taken as an initial warning – “Contains” – “Includes” – Blended with” – “Blend of” “Luxurious layers of ..” You get the picture. Vi Spring, one of the top five UK mattress manufacturers tell you exactly what the make up of their mattresses are. They do so because they are proud to do so, and they only use the very best of mattress upholstery so they have absolutely nothing to hide.
If this is the start of your mattress research you will soon come to realise that nearly all manufacturers will not be as open as Vi Spring in detailing the components used in the mattress. Why Not? You really will have to ask for the precise breakdown of fillings used in any particular mattress. If you don’t, then you will only have yourself to blame when weeks down the line you are lying on a completely indented bag of springs.
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.
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, Read exactly who we are and what we do. Our business and reputation has been built around our customer service combined with our 30 day, (no small print) guarantee of Love It or Return It on ALL of 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 won’t 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 try and help to narrow down your options for you.
My wife has struggled to find a mattress that she finds comfy, especially fro her hips and lower back. We invested in a Harrison Ruby(??) a while ago, but she finds even the softest tension too ‘dense’. and has never liked the pockets/dips on any mattress surface. We’re ideally looking for a mattress with a flat covering, that will be supportive without being ‘dense’. Any thoughts?
Hi Chris. You throw up quite an anomoly. What is considered a well made mattress will be tufted – what is considered a ‘not so well made’ mattress will be quilted. However, there is more to it than that. Your wifes dislike for the undulations caused by tufting means that either the spring support is too firm to prevent the top layers from adequately ‘giving’ or the top layers are too dense to prevent the spring support from taking the strain.
I would like your wife to try a Vi-Spring mattress (soft/med tension) such as the Bedstead Supreme or Bedstead Elegance, just to confirm whether it is the undulations that your wife is finding uncomfortable or the initial wrong choice of mattress build. These two Vi-Spring mattresses are very forgiving using calico encased pocket springs and utilising majority wool as the comfort layers. The undulations on these mattresses should not remain taut.
As a further piece of guidance and in particular if your Ruby mattress is still in good condition, I would consider the use of a good quality soft topper such as feather and down just to take the edge off the firmness level whilst it breaks in slowly and naturally. This will also level out the sleep area for your wife. Please let us know how you get on. Furthermore, it would help if you let us know your bodyweights as this will have an impact on how the comfort layers will work for you. John and Ryan.
Thanks for this.
We have a zip link super king size: one is soft (my wife’s bit, as she is only 5’2″ and weighs around 8 stone) and mine is medium (I am bigger and heavier!!), but neither is comfortable for her. We’ve tried a memory foam topper too but that didn’t seem to do any good, and putting duvets on top to smooth is out. She has found quilted tops less dense when we’ve slept on other beds on holiday. Any help?
Hi again Chris. I’m afraid I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to suggest further. Have a look at feather and down mattress enhancers at 3 inches in depth to completely flatten out the surface and to provide an extremely soft cushion to lie on. John and Ryan.