Do you need to try the mattress?
Absolutely Not! But I would say that wouldn’t I?
It is a well known and accepted statistic that most people (80%) try out a mattress in a shop for less than two minutes.. This is not long enough at all. There is no better way of finding out if a mattress is suitable for you than to try it over at least two weeks in your home environment. Obviously, you do require the correct guidance and information (without bias!) before being presented with a list of ‘SUITABLE’ options, but getting this is so unlikely.
The numerous complaints online show you that no matter how much time you spend trolling round the shops trying all sorts of mattresses is no guarantee that it will be the right one for you. It would be so completely different if the store gave you the opportunity to return the mattress after a sensible period of trial, and you found it to be unsuitable being able to return it, but they don’t. Once it’s out of the packaging and on your bed – it’s yours!
Your bodyweight should dictate what mattress is right for you. An 18stone man needs support, an 8 stone woman doesn’t. So how on earth a mattress that is described as “medium” for example, be suitable for the individual requirements of these two people? It then falls on to your available budget to get you the best for your requirements.
And what are you trying these mattresses against? Usually it is the mattress you already have at home – one that you are looking to replace because it is worn out. Sales staff know this and they also know that anything they show you will infinitely be better than the one you are looking to replace.
When we build mattresses for this site we base them from a huge range of similar spec mattresses from different manufacturers. We then start from scratch putting as much as we possibly can inside the mattress to come to a well made mattress for the price asked. My experience of ‘trying out’ mattresses is obviously far greater than yours. This is what I do for a living and it is the basis of my business. I have selected, chosen and tried out the mattresses so you do not have to – all with the knowledge of the actual build quality – not some spin that a salesman tells me.
Let me put this scenario to you. You have seen a mattress in a department store for £3200. You have tried it and liked it (obviously). I (or indeed anyone else) come(s) along and say to to you, I can build you a better mattress than this and I will sell it you for £1600 [Half the price]. If – assuming everything I say is correct and truthful – Do you really need to try it?
There is a world of difference between the VALUE of a mattress and the WORTH of a mattress. The £3200 mattress you saw in the department store has a VALUE of £3200 but possibly not WORTH that amount. If the mattress I offer you is of an equal or better build – like for like – then you will certainly be getting WORTH and VALUE. [See Artisan Bespoke]
Hi we have an old Sleepeezee Senator pocket sprung (says over 1000) king size.
Stayed at a friends recently for 2 nights with a Gainsborough Kensington (might be called Knightsbridge now?) 1350 pocket sprung, marked firmer springing, super king on solid base. We slept very well and are thinking of getting a new mattress/base.
The model we slept on seems to only be available from 2 outlets and although is can be ordered, is not listed as a current model on Gainsbourgh website, not sure why.
I am not sure where the Gainsborough sits in the specification of mattresses?
What do you have that is similar spec to the Gainsborough model please?
(We are 15st 3 and 11st11).
Thanks, James.
Hi James. Unfortunately like you, we cannot find any specification about the gainsborough Kensington or indeed Knightsbridge, and so are unable to do any like for like comparisons. I do think you should contact Gainsborough direct to see what they say is the most equivalent model – try to get as much specification detail as you can.
Incidentally, Gainsborough are part of the Airsprung Group of companies. Their website only provides a contact form for you to address all enquiries and no direct telephone number (bit naughty) but here is a direct line – not too sure where it takes you though [01225 754411].
If you can actually find out the specification of this particular mattress (I’m not going to hold my breath) I will be able to direct you towards alternative models. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Hi,
I am looking to buy a mattress and have up to €1000 to spend for a king size bed. Was looking at the ‘Jolene’ Slientnight at argos for €579 from €1679!!What are your thoughts on these beds as it seems like a good deal.
I was also looking at ‘The natural sleep company’ as they are a local product (dublin) but really unsure which mattress to buy. We like a med-firm mattress and other than that i am not sure as to the comfort difference between foam/spring? I sleep on my stomach and my wife on her back, at present i wake with pins and neddles and more often than not also with dead arms. If you could PLEASE give me advice that would be great as my back is in bits due to our old sagging mattress and my job as a firefighter. Thanks a mill.
Also deal at argos finishes soon and i dont want to miss out if you could get back to me asap that would be great.
Thanks again
Tired and sore
Hi Damian. This deceptive practice should be made illegal and it absolutely frustrates the hell out of us. If anyone can ever justify how the Jolene from Argos could ever have an original worth of £1679. then I would eat Ryans pants! Just by offering for sale a mattress with an over inflated price to then reduce it by almost two thirds is nothing short of scandalous.
£1600 or thereabouts can get you a decent Vi Spring or Relyon mattress – and at the risk of being accused of showing off our Artisan Naturals with a worth of just over £1000 puts this particular model into perspective.
However, will it be worth the £579 you have found it for? Note: I have tried to look for this product on the Argos website but I think the model has been removed so I am unable to do a virtual dissection for you.
As a point of note Damian. It’s not possible to pick one mattress and decide whether it is worth the money – you have to have a selection of about three based on a similar price. For example, if £600 is your budget then see what that £600 can get you. Use the three starting points for your comparisons – Support (Springs) – Upholstery (Comfort) – Price. Only when you are using these benchmarks will you ever be able to decide which one is giving you the most mattress for your money.
Finally, I’m sorry for the delay in my reply – severe backlog of comments waiting to be replied to. I can promise you you haven’t missed out on a ‘deal’. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Hi,
I am moving from rented accommodation to a new house and am bed hunting. I am 8 stone and my husband is 17 stone and 6ft 6. I have found latex beds more comfortable as I have curvature of the spine, would these be suitable for my husband?
Thanks
Hi Eve. As curvature of the spine affects people in varying degrees it will be best to speak with us direct in order for us to find out what exactly your own personal requirements are. I am assuming you are looking for a product that has a high degree of soft upholstery that is also supportive and with that in mind my initial inkling would indeed be latex.
Your husband also comes with a special set of requirements. The weight difference between the two of you indicates quite strongly that you will need a ziplink set with a firmer support for him and a lesser support for you. We can do this to some extent on the Origins Latex 1500 (we can have your husbands side made with a 2000 spring count).
One thing to point out, and we will discuss this further when we speak, is that the level of upholstery in The Origins latex is quite high at 8cm deep (6cm Latex and 2cm Reflex) sitting directly above the spring unit. You at 8st will barely be compressing these layers enough to utilise the spring unit which means you will be getting comfort and support from just the primary layers – and you may find this mattress to be on the firm side. Your husband will find this build just right. John and Ryan.
Hi, I contacted you before regarding our nightmare with a mattress from FV which sagged after a few months… well that’s all over, they would not budge and the mattress was taken to tip! We’re now on our 4th mattress in 3 years and are losing the will to live!
We’ve been to F&B today to look at a new mattress for our SKS bed frame which is from Sofa.com
We liked:
1. Owen Luxury Pocket Sprung with 4000 pocket springs (tension 8 – firmest) £1,721
2. Tennyson Luxury Pocket Sprung with 3000 pocket springs (tension 8-firm) £1,355
Both in the zip & link options.
As you can imagine we are extremely apprehensive at buying a new mattress as we’ve just wasted a fortune and also had shocking service from FV!
Do you know of these mattresses? We’ve looked through your website to check which these may correlate to in your stock and think it may be the Artisan Natural? Is this right? Could you advise any further?
I am 5ft 7″ and 12.8st, my husband is 6ft 3″ and 15st. I like a firmer mattress and he likes medium to firm.
We would both love to get out of bed in the morning (the same bed hopefully!) and not ache! Surely this is possible? We’re looking to spend £1,500 or thereabouts.
Many thanks
Claire
Hi Clare. So sorry for the delay in replying – this response did require extensive research.
It’s worth knowing that Feather and Black’s mattresses, even though they carry the Feather and Black name are in most cases manufactured by Harrisons Beds. The giveaway is when the spring system is identified by “Revolution pocket Springs” within the description.
As you have earmarked two mattresses for consideration, it becomes a good exercise to now see if there are any similar models available for a similar or better price. Perhaps there are models made for another retailer (such as John Lewis) or indeed under the Harrisons own label which could offer additional considerations.
The two models you mention above have a £400 variance and so the first questionable step should be why?
In order to find this out, you could ask the retailer direct .. or, instigate as best you can your own comparison data.
The Owen [Official Description]
Luxury begins here with responsive high density springs and thick natural fillings. An exceptionally comfortable and durable mattress. Available in tensions 4-8. 2 rows of side stitching for edge-to-edge support.
FILLINGS:
Revolution pocket springs. HD pocket springs. Hempure fibres. Horsehair. Wool blend. Mohair, wool and Egyptian cotton surface fillings. Spring Count: 4000
The Tennyson [Official Description]
Posturfil technology equalises the weight of the user, reducing pressure points and eliminating frequent turning of the mattress. Available in tensions 4-9. 2 rows of side stitching for edge-to-edge support.
FILLINGS
Revolution pocket springs. Posturful springs. Hempure fibres. Wool and cotton blend surface fillings. Spring Count: 3000.
Putting these two side by side instantly shows the variance. The Owen seems to have additional upholstery in the form of Horsehair and the Wool Blend (blended with what? you may ask) and it is clear that the surface fillings have Mohair as a component.
To gain any more than this from the comparison is not possible as the information you actually require is not here. The Owen for example seems to have an abundance of upholstery but without any actual weight assigned to this, you have no idea whether it is 6 grams, 600 grams or 6000 grams. It’s as ludicrous as that!
As a comparably priced model (and only used as an example) the Vi Spring Traditional Bedstead Zip and Link mattress (<> £1469) has a combined upholstery weight of 3150 GSM. You are completely unaware of the combined upholstery weight of The F & B Owen or indeed The Tennyson to draw any kind of comparable data.
To put weights (GSM) into some sort of perspective our Artisan Bespoke model has a combined upholstery weight of 5100 GSM – quite a considerable amount, and our retail price of £2125 (SKS Zip and Link) reflects this. If you knew what the upholstery weight of The Owen was for £400 less (the difference between the Owen and the Tennyson) you would be in a better position to see which mattress offered the most value for money.
To offer you a couple more Harrison models that fall into your price range for you to do some more comparisons, it may be worth your while looking at The Fuschia Collection (<>1350 SKS mattress) The Begonia (<> £930 SKS Mattress) or the much lower priced President at <> £969 (SKS Ziplink mattress).
Finally Claire, we are shortly adding a couple of new models to our site (week 3 September) that will be equivalent to The Vi Spring Regal Superb and The Vi Spring Tiara Superb. Our equivalent to The Regal Superb will fall slightly outside your budget but perhaps may be of interest to you. Keep in touch. John and Ryan.
Hi John and Ryan,
Thank you for your website. I have found it to be by far the most informative on the subject of mattresses.
I am looking for a good quality mattress for my 9-year old son (soon to be 10) who weighs 32 kg. He has been complaining that his open-spring mattress (which I purchased seven years ago from Marks&Spencer) was too hard and uncomfortable. Some companies, such as Next, sell “kids’ mattresses”. These are quite cheap (£250 for the luxury version, which is described as a medim, 480 pocket-spring mattress with 4 layers). Would this type of mattress be supportive enough in a few years’ time or should I better invest in a more substantial mattress? I am also concerned that this mattress might be too firm again, despite being described as medium.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Nathalie
Hi Nathalie. Out of all the hundreds of mattresses we have access to we would not sell any with a lower specification than our Origins Comfort or Origins Reflex. I think The Comfort will be the one to opt for for your son. However, be warned that the height of this particular mattress is between 11 and 12 inches so may be too high for your son and current bed base. John and Ryan.
I have been looking for a mattress for the past 12 months my older bed is 15 years old. I am 13 stones with a bad back and i have tried and tried all sort of bed from £200 to £1200 and i am total confused with the choice i have. My problem is all the beds i tried all seem wonderful but it is not until you get it home and sleep on it that you then decide if it suits. this is the problem i have. Any sugestion would be helpful.. I found the pocket spring ones seem to suit the best for me. Help Jan Mahoney
Hi Jan. Pocket Spring mattresses are indeed the best. I think you are casting your net a little too wide. Your budget or what you are prepared to pay is obviously the main starting point. Lets say you would be happy spending £500 on a mattress: This is not considered expensive and all you can realistically expect is a mattress with a predominantly polyester upholstery. If this does not meet your expectations, increase your budget to say £600 and see what that can get you. And so on ..,
As a good starting point have a look at our range of mattresses and see what we can offer you for your budget. It then becomes an easy task to see if there is anyone else there who can give you more mattress for the same money. We have added over the top details to all of our products to enable you make an informed and educated choice – unfortunately, not many manufacturers are as open as this but do not be embarrassed to phone them direct and ask them outright about the detailed specification by weight. John and Ryan.
Hi There;
I am looking to purchase a double mattress to go onto a slatted wood frame, for my 17yr old daughter. She has been sleeping on a John Lewis single for 13yrs, which is firm. She is 5’11 and weighs 9.stone= very long and boney! She tried a few mattresses in JL and found the Classic ortho 2 double the best for comfort in two seconds as she was embarrassed! What do you recommend from your selection for her needs, she also suffers from allergies and asthma. Although I have purchased an anti allergic cover as I was going to just order a mattress from JL until I discovered your site.
Kind regards
Fiona, for Olivia.
Hi Fiona. I am well familiar with the John Lewis Ortho’s. I think you will be better off opting for The Origins Comfort for your 13 year old and The Origins Reflex for the 17 yr old. John and Ryan.
Hi
Very informative website, so glad I found it before committing to a bed purchase.
We currently have a 14 yr old super king pocket sprung, sprung edged divan. The lable says it is “The Pocket Collection. Brittania 1000″. Which we currenlty use with a feather and down topper, because the matress is old and to help me stay cooler in bed! We have been very happy with this bed, other than now it is well past its use by date.
For a replacement bed we wanted to move away from a divan and buy a sliegh type bedframe and matress. Your section on which matress for slats has given me some great advice on what to look for here. We are not commited to this and would go back to a divan if as a combination with a particular matress it would be better for us.
Yesterday we visited the local bed retailers and identified the following as being comfortable for us both and within our budget:
Staples Venus Elegance Pocket 1400 £899,(regular tension) which we tried on both a hard edged sprung divan base and slatted base.
Harrison Haven £799 regular or firm tension (king size price as on sale)on a slatted base
Hypnos Pillow comfort 1600 £999 regular tension on a hard edge divan base- although having read your common sense about intergral pillow toppers, whilst we like the Hypnos range we have discounted this particular one, the others locally were out of our price range!
My husband is 6″ and 13st, I am 5″7′ and 15st I sleep predominatly on my side, my husband sleeps on both his back and side. Niether of us like too soft a matress.The matress budget is about £1000. We like the pocket sprung matress and like the idea of natural fibres, and definitly don’t like the idea of memory foam or latex etc.
We would be grateful for any advice or comments you have on our choices so far or alternatives you could offer.
Thank you for such a comprehensive website, and thank you in advance for any additional advice you are able to offer.
regards
Lisa & Andrew.
Hi Lisa and Andrew. Firstly regards your choice of base: I am of the mind that design and look of your bedroom should not be completely influenced by what is deemed ‘right’ for your mattress. I also have a sleigh bedframe used with a pocket sprung mattress. The slats are sprung slats but they are cushioned with an old duvet to prevent them digging into the underside of the mattress upholstery. Ideally, I would have liked the slats to be rigid to give the mattress the even support I know would not be too detrimental to the mattress springs – But, the bedframe I liked only came with sprung slats. Knowing that the sprung slats MAY have a tendency to create the hump back bridge effect to the mattress was a risk I was prepared to take (there is only anecdotal evidence that this may happen and usually on cheaper one sided mattresses). I know the weight of my mattress fully compresses the slats so the likelihood of this happening is at best minimal.
As for your choice of mattress I’m glad you concur about pillow tops, and for your budget you really do have a considerable amount of choice of well upholstered two sided traditional built models.
Taking into account the models you mention, it seems that you have been looking at mattresses that fit your budget and accepting that this is all you can expect to get. Not necessarily so. Try the other way around – Look for the mattress that you both fall in love with but falls WAY out of your budget. The Vi Spring Herald Superb for example is a model I think would be ideal for your bodyweights and requirements, has an RRP of £2520 (you can find this for considerably less) but compare that to our Artisan Naturals (£895) and you will see that the differences between these two models are arguably nominal. There are only four main constituent components:
1. The Spring unit: Both Calico encased – Undeniably similar.
2. Insulating Layer: Herald Superb use 1000 GSM Bonded Wool and Cotton – We use 1500 GSM Mohair – We think our Mohair is a better insulating layer in quality of product and weight.
3. The core layer of the Herald Superb is 1200 GSM Horsehair – our core layer is 1200 GSM Poly cotton (50% Polyester and 50% Cotton). Undeniably horsehair is a premium component.
4. Primary layer on Herald Superb is 1200 GSM Blended Wool and Cotton – We use 1200 GSM Blended Wool and Cotton.
Using this one example you are able to determine where to make your compromises. It would be an interesting argument for someone to come forward and say that the Herald Superb represents a better purchase pound for pound when compared to our Artisan Naturals when the only major difference is the 1200 GSM core layer.
You have £1000 to spend on a mattress! Make absolutely sure you know where your money is going. Although it is a considerable sum, it will not get you most manufacturer’s mid to high ends using natural fibres as the main components. Incidentally, your mention of the Harrisons Haven (various models) was quite amusing as a key component in these particular models is “Contura” a mix of memory foam, high density foam and Latex.
Finally, a good tip is not to completely disregard high end stores as a source for your mattress research. John lewis, Feather and Black, Barker and Stonehouse, Furniture Village etc, will put into perspective what your £1000 can realistically get you. Once you know what is available from high end manufacturers will give you a better view of what your dream mattress will consist of and then all you have to do is to find the equivalent. John and Ryan.
Hi, i have spent days & night reading all your very informative literature. I am now stuck between the origins 1500/2000 pocket unit or origins 1500/2000 latex spec. Or indeed going the whole hog and buying the Artisan Naturals.
I am after a superking. By all accounts it sounds like you would prefer not to sell the latex spec but due to popular demand you have too. It sounds like you don’t particularly approve of 1 sided/no turn mattresses. If im right in thinking (which i may not be because all this searching is sooo tiring – I even looked up what your talalay latex is!!) I should go for the Origins 1500/2000 pocket unit and add my own topper, this way it would last a lot longer and possibly be cheaper and i can just change toppers rather than whole mattress.
Would you say your Artisan Naturals are on par with the Harrison bed of 4000 pocket springs, I ask because i have been offered one of those at similar price to yours. I would appreciate any help you could give me.
Hi Julie. The one thing missing from your question is your bodyweight(s). Please do not ever underestimate how important this is to your choice of mattress.
Going the whole hog to The Artisan Naturals is not the way to look at it. The Artisan Naturals is the best built mattress currently out there and you just cannot get a better mattress for this particularly low retail price! Don’t believe me?
Consider first of all that the spring unit used (Calico encased etc) is only used by less than five [of the best] manufacturers in this country – Vi Spring / Savoir Beds / Us / Relyon? (top of range maybe) and I can’t say with absolute authority who the other is, perhaps Burgess in their top of range? the usage really is that rare, and for good reason – they are horrendously expensive to produce. I see mattress descriptions that say ” ..encased in a calico pocket” and nothing could be further from the truth – If it mentions calico, then it has to be on a par with the aforementioned manufacturers – otherwise they are just run of the mill polyprop pocket springs.
Then you need to consider the upholstery used on top of these absolute premium springs – a whopping 3950gsm [Grams per Square Meter] is an amazing amount. What gives this additional credence is the fact that only 625grams of this is polyester and this is blended with cotton NOT used as a separate layer.
We list our components in such extreme detail because we are proud to do so, and we do so with such intent and vigour, full in the knowledge because we know other manufacturers including Harrisons, will be hesitant to do likewise.
Phone Harrisons product info line direct on 0113 205 5200 and ask them to tell you exactly what it is in the 4000 mattress you are considering. Without me even knowing the model name I can hazzard a well educated guess that it will most certainly not be on a par!
Finally, we believe our Artisan Luxury is the best mattress you can possibly buy for the price asked. The nearest equivalents are more than double this particular price. The price may be above many peoples budget which is why we have the secondary choice of The Artisan Naturals. All the models you refer to BELOW the Artisan Naturals are nothing special, it would be wrong of me to suggest otherwise. They are of course very good value products for the money and you really would be hard pressed to find better (from anyone) but nevertheless, real quality comes at a price and unless you are prepared to pay for it, all you will be getting is something that will do – not something that will do you good. John and Ryan.
Hi John and Ryan,
Many thanks for your quick response as i am desparate to get the stress out of the way by the weekend of a new bed. I am roughly 11stone and Alan is 12/13stone, he is 6ft 4 and i am 5, 4. I did have a Harrison bed at a sale cost of £1000 for a few weeks but found we both had aching backs, so my daughter now has the bed. I think my feelings were that it was ever so slightly soft for us although in the showroom it felt perfect!!
Be grateful for your recommendation on the bed you would choose for me. (I apologise for unintentional insult over your bed being on par with Harrison or not, at least i have a straight answer!) Many thanks
Hi again Julie. Apologies to you as well. I re read my comment and it reads worse than how it sounded in my head..! Good to speak with you today and I’m sure between us we will find the right mattress for you. John.
Hi John or Ryan
I have just renovated my beach house in Cornwall and am going to holiday let it, all I need to buy now are the beds. I need one king size, one double, 4 single (all divan beds).
I want guests to have a really good holiday and hopefully return, so I want to buy beds that will be memorable for their comfort. I suppose the weights of individuals will vary.
I’ve been reading that pocket sprung plus memory foam is good and have been told that the more pocket springs the better the comfort, i.e. 2000 better than 1000 etc, but I have no practical knowledge of memory foam and if this is a good idea to have on top of the pocket springs or just have a pillow top on top of the springs.
Basically it’s the comfort factor I’m looking for and good well made storage drawers for clothing or extra bedding/pillows etc at a reasonable price
Can you recommend a bed product that will satisfy this criteria please. Jamie.
Hi Jamie. First of all do not confuse support with comfort! Springs offer support – upholstery (what’s on top of the springs) offers comfort. Obviously, what you can reasonably expect to offer will depend on how much you are prepared to spend. In my mind, I think our Origins Reflex will be more than adequate. As with all lettable rooms I would expect you to add additional comfort / protection by means of mattress enhancer / topper. See The White Company Replacing toppers are far more economical than replacing mattresses. Proper care should leave the mattress looking and feeling like new for a lot longer.
As these will be used for holiday lets, your choice should be based on the following criteria:
1. How often do you plan to replace?
2. What would be the potential usage?
3. Your rates should reflect the quality of mattress.
I would also reconsider storage. Divan construction from all manufacturers is rather basic on a guideline price of less than £1000. As an example our construction methods start to increase from our Artisan Naturals model upwards. I would personally consider a bedding box as part of the furniture / or Ottoman bedframe.
Jamie, I would give Ryan a ring (he deals with all contract enquiries) Once you know what the compromises are, or what the alternatives are you will be in a better position to make the right choice based on sound judgement. John and Ryan.
Do you have anything similar to Harrison paradise
Hi Martyn. Sorry But No.
Hi John,
. Was wondering how the memory pocket deal would compare with your origins reflex.
I am on a tight budget and not sure what to buy, I have tried our daughter’s cheapish foam mattress and quite like it but my other half isn’t keen on the heat it holds. I was looking into kozeesleep and the kaymed 7000 foam mattress in a standard double. We both weigh in at the 10 stone mark. I have stumbled across the company named beautysleep and like the look of the memory pocket model with foam and 1000 pocket springs, reason for this choice would be due to price as I can’t and afford a pocket/foam at £450+ mark. On ebay item *** someone is selling the above mattress and base for £309 which appears to be a steal if it is decent quality, I just can’t find any feedback or info on the company who produce these. Other companies have the mattress alone for £300+. PS I had a rest assured ortho 1000 pocket but found it too firm and couldn’t sleep well on it. I prefer to sleep on my tummy
Thanks in advance. Kevin.
Hi Kevin. A mattress and base for £309 is cheap. There is no point whatsoever in deducing whether it will be good quality or not because all you have to compare it with are similar models for the same price. However, if you have found a second hand Vi-Spring, Harrisons etc for the same selling price then you will be getting a lot more mattress for your money.
Your bodyweights are quite light and this is in your favour. Spring support composition becomes secondary to comfort. i.e. your weight will be utilising the primary layers before you even reach the springs. As budget is key, I would try to find a pocket sprung mattress (800 – 1000) as the support – no need to go to any great expense, and provide your own separate comfort layers to suit your own preferences by means of toppers / comforters. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Hi, it’s been lovely reading your helpful advice to people. We are looking for a replacement for our 10 year old Sealy posturepedic Ultra- Tiffany .We hadn’t even realised back then that we would feel each other getting in /out of bed turning over etc.That, and my lower back pain (experienced after being in bed for hours , but better during day ) have led us to look for a better quality mattress .
We have a king size bedstead with flexible beech slats .My husband is 15 stone and sleeps on side (plus back and front ). I am 10 stone and favour my front but am trying to reform to a side sleeping position to help my back.We are looking for a pocket sprung mattress, do not like the idea of too hot memory foam and have a budget of £500-£1000.
On visiting a good quality local store the sort of mattress we found most comfortable was a Harrisons pocket sprung .I think he said it had cashmere/ wool cotton etc in it and it was £1000 in an offer. This seemed a lot of money to spend without knowing how it compared with others available and your website struck a chord with me.
Can you advise us as to what may be most suitable for us .(My husband tends to like a firmer feel than me , and I am concerned that as I switch to side sleeping I need more softness not less) best regards Ann
Hi Ann. If you can find out the model name of the Harrisons mattress you like We will be able to break it down to its core components. If this is falling within your budget I would reccomend you have a look at The Artisan Naturals. Because of your weight differences I would have one half made with soft springs and your hubbys side with firm. Please feel free to give us a call and we can go through the options in a bit more detail. John and Ryan.
Hi John , Thank you for your reply. Difficult for me to phone with work (unless u are there Sundays ?) I went back to try again the Harrison Explorer and lay there for a while and still found it pretty comfortable. Its £999 there but £800 on line. Can you advise how this mattress compares to the Artisan mattress you suggested and probably also the one below that in price too.
Much obliged, Ann
Hi Ann. If we disect this model we can see how to compare the two side by side:
[Official Description]
HARRISON EXPLORER True Edge Divan
[START] The superb EXPLORER contains 3998 Revolution and Posturfil pocket springs topped with our unique Contura system – small particles of HR foam and natural latex that form a fluid cushion. A Mohair, Silk and Wool blend, sumptuous wool and a natural cotton blend sit on top of this to provide a soft, supportive sleeping surface.
Three rows of side stitching ensures full use of the sleeping surface and 16 vents aid breathability of the mattress. The mattress sits on our 1000 spring count True Edge base which provides a firm edge to your bed so you can make full use of the mattress and aids your transition on and off of the bed. This turn free mattress is also suitable for bed frames. [END]
Firstly, to do any kind of comparison you will need to phone Harrisons Customer Service dept on 0113 205 5214 and ask them what the precise specification is:
What weight [GSM] Mohair, Silk and Wool blend?
What weight [GSM] Wool and natural Cotton Blend?
They say that the mattress contains 3998 Revolution and Posturfil pocket springs
How many ‘revolution’ springs are in the mattress? Are they counting a single revolution spring as 1 [spring in spring] or are they counting the main pocket spring and joey (spring in spring) as 2 springs ?
Is the posturfil [mini pocket springs] on top of the main spring unit AND below the main spring unit?
If so how many posturfil springs are incorporated?
Is this a full two sided mattress?
Side Stitched or Hand Side Stitched?
If Hand side stitched – are they ALL ‘genuinely’ HSS?
If you [and anyone else] is handing over short of a grand for a mattress then you really need to know exactly where your money is going. When you are armed with this information you will be better placed to make informed comparisons. John and Ryan.
Hi John
persistence paid off and I was able to find out the below info .
The spring count is 3998, this is broken down as two layers of Posturfill (1000 springs in each) and the basic unit of revolution spring at 998 springs (this is a mixture of the outer spring and outer spring with a Joey spring) the base also has 1000 springs.
Springs are counted as one for the outer and one for the Joey.
The revolution spring unit is always in the centre the fillings are built up around this unit, however as this model is one-sided the basic revolution spring unit is at the bottom, followed by two layers of Posturfill, then the fillings on top.
The manufacturers were not prepared to divulge about the fillings weight though.
Are you able to say any more about how does this Explorer mattress compare to your Artisan mattress ?.Also as we liked the spring system on the Explorer, is this more similar to your other mattress options?
Regards Ann.
Hi Ann. Sorry for delay in replying. You’ve done well in gettting this far. However, without knowing what the fillings are there is no way that we, or you, or anyone else can say what you are spending your money on., There is no legal requirement for manufacturers to tell you what is inside. Includes Horsehair can legally mean one gram. Ethically and morally wrong – but legally right. We tell you the details because we think it is the right thing to do.
Unless we have something substantial to work with it is impossible to even guess at a comparison. I think we’ve come to a standstill and wonder what you as a consumer thinks?. John and Ryan.
Hello,
We currently have a Silentnight Miracoil 3 Diamond double mattress (which I have discovered is made exclusively for Paul Simon), and we really like it. Our bed is too small though and due to a medical condition (where I kick my partner in the night!) we need to upgrade to a Super King Size bed – with zip and link mattresses. Silentnight don’t do zip and link mattresses.
Can you recommend zip and link mattresses that would be similar to the Silentnight miracoil 3 diamond? Silentnight say their Micracoil 3 Indulge is the closest to the Paul Simon diamond…but as I have already said they don’t make zip and link mattresses anyway…
Your advice would be much appreciated!
Thank you, Vicky
Hi Vicky. Firstly and foremost, I would not recommend anything similar to or comparable to ANY Silentnight mattress. And with respect, it is beyond me that you actually want to replicate your current M3 model.
For the benefit of other readers the Silentnight Indulge is a Miracoil 3 continuous coil spring unit with just 3cm of memory foam. This sells for an approx price of £340 for a double.
This very basic specification is easy to find in a ziplink combination but I would urge you to at least try some of the better bult mattresses utilising pocket sprung systems at retailers such as John Lewis etc. If you let me know your budget and bodyweights I will be able to give you some viable alternatives. John and Ryan.
Hi John,
I recently bought a matress from Dreams:
The Minstrel Posturepedic mattress made by Sealy for Dreams: ‘The Minstrel is a micro quilted mattress with a pressure relief inlay that offers five zones of support. Combined with Posturetech springs to provide support where you need it most this mattress helps eliminate the need to toss and turn at night’.
The firmness grade is 2 = firm (1 is orthopaedic, 5 is soft). I weigh between 7 and 8 stone. I went back and tried the mattress several times and felt it would give me good support. The sales assistant said this bed would give most people good support.
The mattress was delivered a few days ago and now I’m wondering if it’s too hard for me. The surface feels quite soft but sleeping on it is rather hard (I didn’t sleep that well). I was expecting more support, but perhaps I need to give it more time and get used to it?
I detest memory foam and don’t like soft beds, hence I went for comfor grade 2 (grade 1=orthopaedic is too hard for me).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
A.
Hi A.
Unfortunately, but not that unexpected, apart from telling you that the comfort layer is a five zone supersoft foam, there is absolutely no indication on the build of this particular mattress. The spring system is posturetech (I am assuming 620) which for all intents and purpose is a glorified cage sprung unit – apologies for my scant disregard for Sealy.
With your bodyweight at 7-8st, you will be unlikely to be utilising the spring unit at all, and because Sealy does not give any indication whatsoever on the steel gauge of spring used it is imposible to tell whether it is a firm or soft gauge. If firm, [which I suspect it is] then there will be no movement when you are lying on it and therefore a block of wood would have sufficed. All you are utilising from this mattress is the comfort layer – which based on the information so forthcoming and generously given by Dreams – is just foam.
I thought Dreams had a Comfort Guarantee whereby you can exchange if not suitable. have you tried this?
Keep in touch and let us know how things progress. John and Ryan.
Hi John and Ryan,
Thanks for the email regarding the Sealy Minstrel mattress from Dreams. Yes, I can exchange the mattress within 30 days (I am getting used to it though!). If I exchange it, which Dreams open spring or pocket spring mattress would you recommend? I sit up and read in bed a lot so don’t want anything that sags. I never liked memory foam. My budget is £550-£600 and my exact weight is 7.5 stone.
Thank so much you for your help so far! I should have come to you in the first place!
Best wishes, A.
Hi A. First of all as a sidenote, for people who read in bed a topper/comforter should be an important consideration. The constant pressure on one particular part of the mattress (where your bottom is placed) really will take the toll out of the mattress in one area. I admit this is generalised and positions may of course vary but it is something to be aware of and measures taken to reduce.
I personally think a Sealy Posturetech was a wrong choice for your bodyweight. you are a slip of a thing and will be utilising the comfort layers more than the spring unit. A pocket sprung unit which gives more flexibility and individualised support with adequate comfort layers should have been the recomendation for you.
From our range we would have recomended the Origins Reflex which at less than £400 would have seen you with the perfect mattress for you and your budget.
From Dreams [if we must] – The Attlee looks like a good mattress which fits into your budget (£549 – Double) and worthy of a look. Of course this is absolutely NOT a recomendation but posibly far better than the Sealy posturetech you currently have. Let us know how you get on. John and Ryan.
Hi John and Ryan,
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m going to try to sell the mattress, so that I can buy your Origins Reflex instead. I don’t want to make any more wrong choices. I might not succeed, but watch this space!
All best, A.
Hi John I’m hoping you can help, I’ve been to sleepmasters today and found the perfect mattress. I think it is their own make and is called the Highgrove, the following is some of the description.
To make this mattress as refined, luxurious and comfortable as it possibly could be, we turned to nature. Sumptuous layers of the finest natural materials, including cotton, lambs wool, hand teased horsehair and mohair, cashmere and silk give this bed an amazing feel. With 2400 springs.
The mattress was amazing but we could only try the medium firmness we felt we would maybe need the soft one. The main propblem is their price was £1899.99 and the sales guy said he could do a deal when we came back!!
Can you give us any ideas or do you have anything matching this description as we’ve trawled the internet with no joy.
We also feel the price is well over the top. My husband suffers with numbness in his arms as he lays on his side mainly any ideas to help with this too.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Wishes
Karen & Andy
Hi Guys, On the face of it you have the ingredients to what would constitute an excellent well made mattress. The price? Nearly £2000 for a mattress is a lot of money unless you can get the same from the likes of Savoir or any other respected bespoke tailor made bed manufacturer. But to do this you will have to know EXACTLY how much of these ‘sumptious layers’ are inside a £2000 mattress – layer by layer – and most importantly weight by weight. Therefore getting a truer idea of the actual build quality.
In this case, total disregard of the manufacturer has to be made (it dosn’t matter) and your comparisons can only be made by content [which you have] – and to find an even better mattress out there for the same price – [which there is] then you will also need to know the weights.
You say that this mattress is amazing, and even without trying it I’m sure I would certainly agree – The contents specification even though they are generalised indicate a high level of composition. But is it worth the £2000?
To find that out, all you need to do is bring your ‘shopping list’ to other retailers and ask them to match it – or better still – BEAT IT – by quality and not price. Never forget for this kind of money the guarantee (expect min 10 years) and service should be without question or compromise – Don’t expect it or pay for it – Demand it.
With regards to numbness – there is no simple authoritive answer but logic dictates that if the numbness is because of a trapped nerve triggered by his sleeping position it cant be the mattress causing it. Excepting this, the firmness level could be too high and therefore a softer layer could be applied to cushion his arm.
This is a very interesting comment. Your budget range [est £1500 based on the model you are considering] is well above the average and therefore you will find it relatively easy to find comparable and alternative models for less. Please let me know how you get on. Also, please feel free to comment further. John.
Hi John thanks for the indepth reply, we’ve been looking around for a mattress of similar quality and have found the
Millbrook Siesta 3000 Mattress approx £750 if you shop around however we have been unable to find it in any stores to try it, do you have any of these or can you get any and could you comment on the comfort levels.
Thanks Again
Regards. Karen & Andy
Hi Karen, cannot comment on this model, not familiar with it at all. I cant seem to find out exactly how it’s made and therefore unable to offer any kind of comparison. If you know what the contents are please forward these on. John.
Hi John these are the details for the Millbrook Siesta.
Experience the utmost luxury and support with the Millbrook Siesta 3000 Mattress, a top of the range pocket sprung mattress featuring 3034 individually nested pocket springs in the Kingsize and 2590 pocket springs in the Double. It also has a unique zonal edge spring system for extra stability.
The Millbrook Siesta 3000 Mattress also has luxurious layers of silk, wool and cashmere to give you even more comfort and higher levels of relaxation when you sleep. Plus the mattress has 4 rows of hand stitching to the borders and 16 brassed ventilators to extend the durability and breathability of the mattress.
Looking forward to your reply.
Karen & Andy
Hi Guys, Remember the price being asked for this mattress is nearly £800 for a kingsize. So what are you getting for your money and more importantly is it worth it?
The waddings of Silk, wool and Cashmere sounds glorious – I wonder how much of these fine natural fillings are actually in the mattress. .. and this is where my sceptism comes in. The waddings you list are all soft – so what is in there that is aiding the support?
Lets take a similar model also by Millbrook – The Neptune 3000 (Nearly £1000 King). Same spring system and count but the waddings are described as; Layers of resilient polyester give this mattress extra durability, while sumptuous silk, wool, and pashmina padding and a layer of lambswool provide added softness and comfort [end].
The resilient polyester is a component I would not expect to find in a mattress within this price range. And, if this is being used as the foundation (supportive) layer then it stands to reason there will be little room left for the natural fillings to be included in any great quantity to justify this selling price.
The four rows of HSS is premium detailing – but two rows would have been just as good if it meant that because of this compromise you could have got more fillings.
I keep reiterating that because you are not being told what is inside the mattress – in some basic level of detail – then there is no way on earth you can posibly make an informed decision as to whether it is a good buy or not. I have no gripe against Millbrook as a manufacturer – I use them as an example because you made reference to The Siesta. Most manufacturers are equally guilty of not telling you what you want / need to know.
Finally, I want to give you something to think about. All natural fibres are graded and obviously the best grades will be the most expensive. Best grades are not used in mattress construction – no need to be – they are reserved for clothing. The absolute finest Cashmere for example has a wholesale price of £8000 per kilo and if you think this will be in a mattress that retails at less than five grand then you will be sorely mistaken. This is the same for Hair, cotton, silk, wool and most other natural fibre waddings. Hope this helps and feel free to call Ryan or myself to discuss further. John.
Hi John,
We are searching for a double sided mattress, king sized with 2000 pocket springs and 7.5cm memory foam on top. We’ve seen an ICON 2000 in a carpet place – sleeprightuk.co.uk for about £700, which we like but has gone from being double sided to only one sided no turn before we actually got around to buy it.
Can you suggest something similar? Its the double sided bit that is most important as our current SilentNight Miracoil is a joke after 4 years of use….
Thanks for your help and for the great website!
Hi Laura, I would hazzard an educated guess that this model is made by Breasley from their Salus factory for Sleepright – so I would also investigate the Salus 2000 Memory range for comparisons.
The RRP at Sleepright (stated at well over £1500) is an absolute joke so dont be fooled! As for being double sided I dont think this model ever was. Can you enlighten me?
I would suggest you also consider our Origins Pocket Latex 1500 as an alternative. John and Ryan.
Hi there
A seriously interesting site, and alot of knowledge. a lifes work i would say!!!!!!!!!!!
anyways im looking for a mattress to replace my worn out crap, its never been right for me but i got the bed cheap thinking i would replace the matress after a couple of years, and tourchered myself for 5 lol, So basicaly my requirements I sleep on my side! I get bad problems in my shoulders to compensate, I use pillows sometimes it works sometimes it don’t good sleep bad if you know what i mean, I cannot sleep on my back so its important for me to find a matress that will compensate my upper body weight, im 15 stone 5,7 high stocky up top lighter below.
lol sounds like im on a dating site lol. Please could you help me!! Maybe even just point me in the right direction, my idea is this and based on what I have worked out for myself, a pocket sprung matress around maybe 1000 springs. above that memory foam to stop too much movement in the springs once my body has settled and above that top layer latex to give depth for my upper body weight to align to lower body, thus allowing my shoulder to sink into bed properly while drop off to sleep, so im sinking in sleep weight, then when im of to sleep the memory foam will give me support and stop the sinking feeling then springs will give the comfort and support. am i on track and if not please could you help me!! thanks Kurt
Hi Kurt, Thanks for your comment.
Firstly I would say look at more than 1000 springs considering you sleep mainly on your side – more springs offer more individualised support. In your case you are looking for a combination of support and comfort in equal measures – to take the extra pressure from your hips and shoulders. So a 1500 to 2000 pocket unit would be more beneficial. As for the comfort layers – We don’t sell memory foam.
Of course it depends on your budget and how much you are willing to spend. A good mid range model that will help your sleep pattern will be The Origins Latex 1500 as a starter point. Hope this helps, John and Ryan.