Do you need to try the mattress?
No! 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. This is also why I will collect and refund (in full) within two weeks if any of my matts I have selected are unsuitable for you. Two weeks is more than enough time to decide whether it is suitable.
This guarantee is perfect - and it is there for your complete peace of mind . The reason for this guarantee is that I know it is unlikely you will be able to find a better mattress for the money you paid. I know the build quality of well known brands and I also know that more often than not there are manufacturers who can build a better quality mattress for the same cost price.
Also, a lot of nonsense is made about trying out mattresses. As is with which level of comfort do you like – Soft, medium or firm? True, some people really do prefer sleeping on a brick but if you tell me that, I can select the best firmest mattress for you because I know how all the other ‘firm’ mattresses compare.
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 I select mattresses for this site I select them from a huge range of similar spec mattresses from different manufacturers. I then select the top two or three that I think outranks the rest based on price, quality and comfort. 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 website. 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.
As you will by now have found out, mattress buying is confusing and complicated. Finding someone you can trust is like finding a garage mechanic you can trust – never forget who it is. This trade does have its share of rogue dealers and the reason for this site is that I do not want to be tarred with the same brush.
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.
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 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
note : orig post 1 jan 2012
Hi Ann. If we disect this model we can see how to compare thetwo side by side:
[Official description] HARRISON EXPLORER True Edge Divan
The superb EXPLORER rm 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.
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 are incorporated?
Is this a full two sided mattress?
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, 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.
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 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 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,
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 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 and what grade 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. The 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. Rather than having lots of low grade natural waddings in your matttress, it is better to have a higher grade of alternative wadding in a quantity that improves the lifespan and comfort of the mattress.
Hope this helps and feel free to call Ryan or myself to discuss 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 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. As its an ‘own label’, and given the contents described, tells me that it has been manufacturered by one of the top five premium manufacturers. If not, then certainly by an unknown manufacturer who knows what they are doing.
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,
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 a 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 my Origins Pocket Latex 1500 as an alternative. John.
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 reqiurements i sleep on my side! i get bad problems in my shoulders to compinsate i use pillows sometimes it works sometimes it dont 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 compinsate my upper body weight, im 15 stone 5,7 high stockey up top lighter below, lol sounds like im on a dateing 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 to much movement in the springs once my body has settled and above that top layer laytex to give depth for my upper body weight to alighn 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. 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 – not as firm as a 1000 unit but the support will be more forgving. As for the comfort layers – We don’t sell memory foam, unless its used as an underlying layer rather than the primary layer. Like you suggest, a foam under layer with latex as the primary layer would be an ideal combination for you (see the Origins 1500 Latex spec). Or, The Origins 1500 would be my suggestions for you. Either of these will give you the comfort and support you need. Hope this helps, John.