Many mattress brands belong to the same holding company and trying to figure out who owns what has become a labour of love for us. But why is this important to know?
Firstly, as mattress construction techniques develop, it becomes apparent that the internal components of many mattresses are identical – but sold under differing brand names and of course prices. Knowing this gives you the opportunity to be able to identify similar specifications and selecting the brand that offers the best value for money mattress.
We are all familiar with the scenario of trainers where the “pester power” of children sees us paying more than four or five times the real worth just for a brand name.
Buying a mattress purely based on a brand name is just as ludicrous. The components used in ALL mattresses only come from a handful of specialist suppliers - ALL manufacturers use these self same suppliers - whether you have heard of them or not.
The list below is not yet fully authoritative and I would be grateful for any additional information that you may be able to supply particularly in the region of own label brands.
Hilding Anders Group (Sweden)
[Backed by British private equity group Candover]
Dunlopillo – Hilding Anders
Slumberland – Hilding Anders
Horatio Myers – Hilding Anders
Staples – Hilding Anders
Jensens Beds – Hilding Anders
Sleepwell – Hilding Anders
Ikea (Own Label – Tbc)
Silentnight Group
[Now in the hands of new US owner, private equity firm HIG]
Silentnight – Silentnight Group
Layezee – Silentnight Group
Sealy UK – Silentnight Group
Pocket Spring Bed Company – Silentnight Group
Rest Assured – Silentnight Group
Stearns and Foster – Silentnight Group
Harrison Spinks (UK)
Somnus – Harrison Spinks Beds
Nu-Bed – Harrison Spinks Beds
Harrison – Harrison Spinks Beds
Spink and Edgar – Harrison Spinks Beds
John Lewis (Own label) - Harrison Spinks Beds -[ Plus others ]
Highgate Beds Ltd (UK)
Highgate
Healthopaedic – Highgate Beds
Sleepwise – Highgate Beds
Sleeping Comfort – Highgate Beds
Sleepmode – Highgate Beds
Simmons Group- (Parent Company – Cauval Industries [fr] )
Simmons – Simmons Group
Sleepeezee – Simmons Group
Cumfilux – Simmons Group
Nestledown – Simmons Group
Steinhoff (UK) International Holdings Ltd
Homestyle Operations Ltd
JW Carpenter Ltd
[tbc - In one way or another the following brands / stores are intrinsically linked through the above companies]
Relyon [Brand] (Steinhoff)
Sprung Slumber [Brand] (tbc- Steinhoff)
Bensons for Beds (Homestyle Operations)
Sleepmasters (Steinhoff – Rebranded as Bensons For Beds [Jan 2012)
The Bed Shed (Steinhoff - Rebranded as Bensons For Beds - Jan 2012)
Harveys (Homestyle Operations / Steinhoff International [tbc] )
Cargo (Homestyle Operations / JW Carpenter)
Homestyle (Homestyle Operations / JW Carpenter)
Reid Furniture (Steinhoff)
Notes:
In the year to 28 June 2008 Homestyle Operations reported a turnover of £387,447,000 and a pre-tax profit of £23,299,000.
Keen and Toms Holdings Ltd
Hypnos (Royal warrant holder)
Millbrook Beds Ltd
Millbrook
The Handmade Bed Company (For Furniture Village / Selfridges etc)
Flex Equipos De Descanso, S.A.
Vi-Spring Ltd (Subsidiary)
Icon Designs Ltd (UK)
Concept – Icon Designs
Airsprung Furniture Group Plc
Airsprung
Gainsborough Beds
Hush Sleep Collection
Hush-a-Bye
Gainsborough Sofa Beds
Cavendish Upholstery
Airofreem (Foam Supplier)
AJ Foam Ltd. (UK)
Postureflex – AJ Foam
Dorlux Beds Ltd
Dorlux – Bought out of administration in 2007
Sleepline
Sleepvendor
Kaymed
Kaymed
King Koil
Odearest
Kaymed SleepSpa
Kaymed Wellbeing
Kaymed Foam
Breasley Consumer Products Ltd (UK)
[Manufactures for many own label retailers]
Breasley
Salus
Flexcell
Amor
Postureform
KozeeSleep Beds Ltd (Dewsbury)
(Not to be confused with Kozeesleep Beds – West Midlands)
KozeeSleep
Restus
Healthbeds -[Family owned (Smeaton family)]
Burgess Beds – Bespoke manufacturer
Savoir Beds – Exclusive bespoke manufacturer
Pinnacle [Contract range]
GNG Group
Komfi
Implay
Dream Machine
Thanks for the response. The Enchantment is indeed latex, the specs are exactly the same between the two models. And they are pocket springs as I’ve seen in my description and it’s part of the ‘Platinum Pocket Collection’.
As I can get this for £665 online I just wondered how it compared with your offering and generally what you know of Sealy as a company and their quality.
Thanks.
Hi again Jon. As you have probably read throughout this site, unless you are looking at premium manufacturers such as Savoir Beds, Marshall and Stewart, Hastens, Vi-Spring etc, it is practically pointless even to consider buying a mattress based on brand alone. You should be comparing like for like on component quantity, quality, build and detailing. The industry has radically changed beyond recognition over the past ten years or so. Many manufacturers that were deemed ‘premium’ back then have now been sold on, and on again and the majority are under the ownership of investment companies who only look at the bottom line and (I believe) the passion that the original owners had has all but gone.
Sealy is an American company, their products are manufactured under licence in this country by The Silentnight Group (also taken over by an investment company earlier in 2011) whether the products sold in this country are the same as American models is unlikely.
Our offering is openly detailed in order that you use this to compare to similar models. Until mattress ‘ingredients’ are listed openly and honestly by all manufacturers [and this will have to be done through legislation] you and countless others will be navigating this mattress minefield at the mercy of some rather unscrupulous manufacturers and retailers.
Dont be embaressed about asking pertinent questions. Ask what type of latex it is they are using. how much natural latex is used (the expensive bit) and how much synthetic. How deep is it, Is it better (for your needs) than natural Fibres? and so on and on.
Please keep asking your questions. Even though my responses are simplistic, they do form the basis of how you should be shopping for your product. I do not want any of our readers to just take our word for anything at face value, you and others should be using what we say to question other retailers and manufacturers about ‘their’ products. We believe the products we have on our site are well built and well priced – use these as starter indications and see if you can find better. If not, then come back to us. John and Ryan.
Hi guys,
Interesting site. I’m looking at a Sealy Katerina 2200 mattress online, assuming it’s the same as the ‘Enchantment 2200′ seen in Paul Simon stores. How do you guys rate this mattress? It’s 2200 pocket springs with a thick layer of latex on top, apparently very well spec’d.
I’ve seen some fairly negative reviews on Sealy mattresses but all from American customers, and none on this particular mattress. The marketing I see and hear on Sealy though is fantastic! I’ve tried it out in store several times and it feels lovely to lay on. Apparently a £2000 RRP, down to £800 instore and about £665 cheapest online.
How does it compare with your pocket sprung/latex combo mattresses?
Thanks.
Hi Jon. The Enchantment [I believe] is memory Foam and The Katerina is latex. So in answer to your question they are certainly not the same. Assuming you are looking at The Katerina, I would question how ‘thick’ the thick layer of Innergetic latex foam actually is.
As for the springs? The detail states ‘It has a standard layer of 1200 weight responsive zoned springs, along with a mini layer of 1000 pocketed springs on the top‘ Are the 1200 weight responsive springs Pocket Springs or another name for continuous coil springs? From what I see, a one sided mattress with a depth of 36cm consisting of springs and latex of dubious quantity would promt me to ask a few more pertinent questions. Finally, the question just begging to be asked is where on earth a RRP of £2000 comes from?
Our Origins Latex models are fully detailed. If manufacturers are not telling you what’s inside their products then all you have to do is ask them. How you can consider making a substantial purchase based on ‘fantastic marketing’ without questioning the retailers to within an inch of their life really is beyond me. You are not expected to know what ‘weight Responsive Zoned Springs’ are. I dont know what they are. I would ask them for a full detailed description of the pros and cons in order to make an informed comparison to see whether they are substantially better than any other form of spring support. But because of the lack of adequate explanation, you are in a very poor bargaining position. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Many thanks for that. Sadly , despite the quality of your matresses, I’m so stocked up with rather costly bed linen that is designed for 10″ thick matresses that I’ve got to stick to that thickness. However, you and your site have been very helpful and I’ll definitely be going for decent pocket springing etc etc. (not the cheapies I was looking at incidentally).
Hi again Keith. Glad to be of help. As a further little sidenote, bear in mind that pocket springs have a general height of 6″. In order to get a 10″ mattress means that there will only be 2″ of upholstery either side. If you are looking at a one sided mattress then don’t assume that there will be four inches of upholstery on the sleeping side …. !
The two important questions you should know at the very least is the height of the springs (they could be bigger than 6″) and the depth of the upholstery assuming that this will not be on any specification. Let me know what yougo for and feel free to post any further questions. John and Ryan.
I ‘ve found I need a new mattress and have looked around locally. Two that have been suggested, and that seem ok are (I believe) from a company called “Shakespeare”, on being called Leonado and the other Picasso. I have never heard of either of them but have found a number of outlets selling these on line. They are pocket spring, non turn-over and seem to be padded with either wool or polyester. Do you know anything about these? They do seem a bit cheap costwise.
Hi Keith. Why would you want to know about the manufacturer? There are more than over a hundred or so different manufacturers out there – some good, some not so good. I don’t think you have the time to investigate every single one in order to find out who is good at what they do. What you should be doing is seeing what mattress has the best fillings and components for the money you are willing to pay. It’s as easy as that.
The Leonardo for example is similar to our Origiins Reflex 1000. There are differences, insomuch as ours is a full double sided mattress, and as we detail all our fillings it is up to you to decide who is offering more mattress for your money. Hope this helps and feel free to call if you require any further info. John and Ryan.
Hi
I have just purchased the mattress detailed below for £720 from Homebase but i’m not sure if it is of any good quality. I can still cancel my order and i’m quite tempted to do so as i have seen contradicting reviews about memory foams. I have never used one so i’m unsure. I weight about 54kg and my husband about 85kg.
I’m mainly worried about sinking in the mattress and rolling onto each other after some time.
Any thoughts? Or alternatives? And who are Posturewise? i cant find any details about them!
Thanks
Posturewise Memory Impression 180 King Size Mattress
The Posturewise King Size Mattress contours to your body to reduce pressure points for a restful nights sleep.
Dimensions of mattress in cm: (H)150, (W)20, (L)18.
Features: Anti-allergy.
Material: High density visco elastic memory foam with a mircorquilted cover.
Effects and finish: Ivory.
Additional information: Turn mattress regularly.
Hi Tan. Posturewise is a brand used by Argos and Homebase (sister companies). We are not aware who actually produces these. Flaws in the description begs the questions as to the actual quantity of memory foam used – could be one inch – could be three inches – Who Knows? The additional information of “turn mattress regularly” is a nonsense as memory foam mattresses are not usually turnable. perhaps this model is two sided! Doubtful though. Neither does it give any indication of the number of pocket springs used (if any) the description is so vague we wonder how you actually come to the decision to purchase.
I want to draw your attention to the Posturezone Pocket Impression 1200 (Argos). On the 13th / 18th December it was retailing at £999 for the kingsize. On the 31st December (till now) it is £329.99 with a WAS price of £999.
The price you have paid (I see it as £799,99 – 28th Jan 2012) seems very overpriced and I would hazzard a gues that shortly this may be reduced in order to show a WAS price of £799.99. We do not keep tabs on Homebase products so unfortunately cannot say for certain the pricing history on this particular model.
For this budget I would say that our Origins Pocket latex at £660. is a far better mattress for the money than this particular model. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
We’re looking to buy a new king size divan bed with 4 standard size drawers. I’ve come across the Sleepeezee Touch Latex & Cool Comfort and also the Hypnos Melody. I like the fact that they offer 5 and 10 year guarantee’s. Any thoughts on these beds?
Hi Martin. It would help if you provided the specifications you have on each of these models. In order to draw adequate comparisons you really do need to know what you are spending your money on. If you provide the details we will be happy to go through each of them one by one. John and Ryan.
Hi
I’m trying to find a replacement double mattress for my 25 yr old pine bed (which has slats and spaces around 4″ wide). The Laura Ashley sale is now on and I am considering their Quennsbury or Eversham mattresses as they are within my price range. However, I am unable to find out who manufactures their mattresses and don’t know they are any good. Can you advise please – are they a good buy for £300 – 350 and if so, which one? Do I need to save for a new bed base too given that your site recommends that slats of 4″ are too wide.
I would appreciate any advice.
Many thanks. Wan.
Hi Wan. When your budget is in this region you do not have much of a choice. The closest we have as a direct comparison is our Origins Pocket Reflex. This is a full two sided mattress and with an educated guess contains far more filling than the Laura Ashley Queensbury. To be certain all you need to do is phone them direct on 0871 983 5999 and ask them what exactly is in their mattress.
Your bed slats at 4″ are a bit too wide but as your mattress budget is on the low side I would spend the base budget on your mattress and replace your base at a later date when funds are a bit more available. You can unscrew your current slats and move them closer together – replace the missing ones with timber from your DIY store. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
I’ve recently bought a John Lewis Refresh 2 mattress. It was missing a felt washer from one of the tufts, so JL had the manufacturer send out a couple of spares; the sender was Horatio Myer & Co Ltd/Staples. The Refresh 2 seems to have elements of Staples’ Eleanor and Cordelia models, but is no-turn, like some of their higher-end models.
Hi Alex. Thanks for this. Another major difference is that the two Staples models you mention above has 2 rows of HSS rather than machine stitched as on the JL Refresh. And, as you pointed out – full two sided for less! The one thing which we are unsure about are the weights of fillings used in any of them. John and Ryan.
Hi,
We are strongly considering buying an Icon 1200 pocket sprung memory foam mattress from Sleepright for £599.
I have investigated the ‘Icon’ brand a bit and it seems to be a Sleepright own brand but is made by Breasley. The bed was very comfy and we were initialy happy to buy but couldn’t see this mattress anywhere online to compare and the apparent equivalents such as flexcell 1200 from Breasley are around £200 cheaper. Do you know if there is a difference between the icon and the flexcell?
Or perhaps a Salus mattress which is also made by Breasly (I believe).
Thanks for your help. James
Hi James. Good question. The Sleepright Icon range is indeed by Breasley – The reason you cannot find it online is that it is a version of Breasley’s Salus range which is not on the internet, The Salus range is for shop floor only. The differences between the Salus / Icon and Flexcell 1200 is that The Flexcell 1200 is foam based i.e 12cm of Reflex Foam and 8cm of Memory Foam. The Icon will be foam encapsulated pocket springs with a layer of memory foam on top [can't remember the actual depth off the top of my head - but the retrailer should have this info to hand] The closest Flexcell model to The icon will be the Flexcell Pocket 1600 – intrinsically the same build except for the fabric being a lot less ‘plush’. The Icon 1200 leads me to believe the spring count in that particular model is 1200 so in comparison to the equivalent Salus is short of 3-400 pocket springs. i would actually compare the Icon to a Salus branded model if you can find a local retailer that is.
Finally, as a shameless plug, we do a foam encapsulated 1500 mattress but using 6cm latex as the comfort layer [we do not do memory foam] this is topped with a 5oogsm wool/silk blend pad as the primary layer. [£595 Double] On site by mid Jan with full details and images. keep in touch. John and Ryan.
Hi John,
Do you know if the Vi Spring beds made for John Lewis are of any lower quality than those sold through other distributors? The John Lewis versions have different names but all the specifications appear to be the same and the John Lewis prices are substantially less.
We would like to purchase a Super King Exeter Divan set but am concerned that the quality is not the same as the models which Vi Spring sells through all other distributors. I am in the USA and would like to purchase this bed for export as the Vi Spring prices in the UK are substantially less than here.
Many thanks and great website!
Chris
Hi Chris. I’m sorry but I cannot answer this with any degree of certainty. Aside, it also begs the question as to what you mean by lower quality. If the specifications are the same then it stands to reason that the end product will be the same. However, .. and this applies to more companies than Vi-Spring, if a component is described as wool and Silk for example, then you as a customer should know exactly what that means.
What kind of wool? , How much wool? , Is it blended with the silk? and so on. Wool as a staple component is graded by quality of fibre and also breed of sheep. Vi-Spring as a manufacturer has recently chosen to use Shetland Wool as a component in many of their mattresses. This is one of the most expensive wool fleece available and so by knowing the quality of this one component alone – and of course how much of it is actuallly used – enables you to make an informed choice whether you want this level of quality or would British fleece Wool, equally luxurious but at a lower price be just as good?
The crux of your question is one that we keep banging on about. The components of a mattress should be listed the same as ingredients on food products are. And as obviously ‘better’ that would be to the consumer, it is very unlikely for it to happen. Why? Because you will soon see that out of the 4000 or so mattresses out there, they are predomiinantly all the same by type, and that’s less than 25.
Why is it that John Lewis sell similar/same Vi-Spring products under The JL label anyway? Vi-Spring have a more than adequate product offering. Is it because JL can retail a premium product cheaper than the manufacturer can? Are Vi-Spring products overpriced in ithe distributors? And, as the very nature of your question prompts .. Are Vi Spring beds made for John Lewis of any lower quality than those sold through other distributors? Who knows?
Excellent question Chris. Sorry there is no definitive answer. John and Ryan.
I am looking to purchase a new Divan Kingsize bed and have looked at a number of brands and types. There is one that we like at Dreams that is marketed as “Kennsington (Specifications: 4000 pocket spring mattress, Key fillings: cashmere, wool, cotton and bamboo fibre, Traditional wool tufting with soft touch Belgian damask cover, Comfort grades 3 – Medium Firm). From what I can see this is the same as the mattress marketed under Staples as the Britannia (http://www.staplesbeds.co.uk/beds-traditional-collection-britannia). Is that right. At just under £2000 for the Divan is not cheap. Is there an equivalent mattress I should be considering?
Hi Jit. The Kensington was added to the Dreams range st the end of December. At £1899 for the kingsize mattress it does seem to be overpriced as the [posibly] equivalent Staples mattress can be found online for about £500 less.
However, that does not mean that the lower priced model is ‘worth it’. Dreams do have a tendency to overprice models in order that a ‘Was’ price can be added after a short period of inflated price. For example, The Penzance Kingsize mattress was offered for sale [week including 11th Dec 11] for £1234. A week later – including 17th December it was offered for sale at £779 using a Double Saving advert as Was: £1669.00 !! Hard to fathom where this price come from as the previous weeks price ‘Was’ £1234. ?
If you are serious about this model I would personally wait a couple of weeks to see if the price will be reduced [which we would bet our bottom dollar on this being so]
As a take on what the mattress contains, on the face of it it looks like a well filled mattress. Although 4 rows of hand side stitching seems a little extravagant. However, our gripe is that manufacturers and retailers are not telling you the exact breakdown so you [and I] are unable to ensure whether the Staples mattress you mention is in any way similar to this Dreams mattress. .. and because of this you are unable to do any kind of price / quality comparisons .. and they expect you to hand over nearly £2000 quid for the privelage. Scandalous!
For this price range we would certainly put our Artisan Bespoke up for comparison – please feel free to print off our specification and ask Dreams or whoever, what mattress they have that can be classed as similar using the component weights as the measure. Alternatively, look at other retailers who have a genuine commitment to product knowledge and customer service such as John Lewis / Feather and Black etc. A budget of £2000 is considered quite high end and so once you start comparing natural fibres against each other your choice dramatically decreases making it easir for you to see where your money is going. keep in touch and let us know what you decide upon. John and Ryan.
Hi John and Ryan
I am 8 stone, and I have been looking at the somnus kingsize countess, mattress springs 6000 and base springs 550 (http://www.somnus.co.uk/bed-collection/specifications.html). I would be interested to know if this is fairly priced (roughly £2000 including headboard and sprung base divan) or if there are better value alternatives.
In particular, I was interested in what you’ve previously said about Harrison perimiter support, because I noticed that the mattress in shop sloped at the sides. I also wondered whether this had anything to do with the fact that their bases are split lengthways rather than across the width. The salesman told me this was actually better for minimising movement, but I thought it was odd that no other mattress-makers seem to do it for a kingsize.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Hi Debbie. Firstly, the base. It really is better to have the base split top to toe rather than side to side and each user has their own individual base (if that makes sense). This is usually done on top end sets and indeed even our Artisan Bespoke uses this method unless access is a problem. The theory being that when a base is split side to side the cross member of the base joint running throught the central parts of each half may have no suspension properties.
As for the mattress, pricewise it is within the boundaries of acceptability. I would also ask you to look at our Artisan Bespoke as a comparison. To make your own judgement as to which one is better you will need to know how much GSM [grams per square meter] is used as filling. We tell you how much is in ours – but we can’t find out what is in the Countess.
Finally, your bodyweight at 8st is really on the light side. Your priorities should be with comfort layers rather than spring support. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Hi, can you advise me if any of your models would be similar to a Milbrook bed; my partner has one and it is heavenly, though I’m not sure of its spec. I had been very tempted by memory foam beds, but may have been put off now!
Thank you.
Hi Nicky. To do an adequate comparison we really do need the model name at the very least. Millbrook, like all other manufacturers will have a bottom of range as well as a mid and top of range. John and Ryan.
Hi
I just purchased a super king form brand name is times beds
Have u heard it before ?
Model is Buckingham 2000
2000 count nested pocket sprung unit. Soft stretch knit ticking multiquilted surface. Non turn with memory foam layer filling. Hand stitched hopsack bordeer, handles and vents.
If u know the company is it a good quality mattress .?
My husband choose it for me but I still worry the quality (brand never seen before)
Thanks.
Hi Yvonne. The purpose of this site is to instil in everyone that you do not need to shop by brand but to shop by what your money is getting. If your budget cannot stretch to the premium brands such as Savoir Beds, Vi-Spring or Hastens etc then all you are doing is falling for marketing claptrap. Just because you have heard of Silentnight, Rest Assured, Sealy and so on, does not follow that they will be providing you with a mattress that is any better than the manufacturers you have NOT heard of.
The mattress you mention above is a 2000 pocket sprung memory foam mattress – The key point which is so obviously missing is the depth of memory foam used. Once you find this out you will then be in a position to do adequate comparisons by content and not by manufacturer. Hope this helps and please feel free to add your viewpoint. John and Ryan.
hi guys i”m about to purchase a vi-spring regal superb bed in a super king size zip/link the price is around 6k inc headboard..i know these beds are well made and come with a very good guarantee but they are very expensive..have you any suggestions on a make of bed with similar specs for a better price…cheers nik
Hi Nik. The Regal Superb is the re-incarnation of The Regal Supreme. There are still some outlets that are clearing this particular model (Barker and Stonehouse / Cousins etc) I would also have a look at John Lewis equivalents such as The Edgebourne:
[Official description] Upholstered with 900gsm blended lambswool and cotton then 1200 gsm hand-teasedloose long-stranded black horsehair, lambswool and bamboo enclosed in a hairproof cover, and overlaid with 1200 gsm blended lambswool and cotton.
Although John Lewis do not have SKS Z/L on the web, they will price them up in store.
As a final note I think your best choice will be our Artisan Bespoke very similar to The Vi Spring Lynmouth or Chatsworth at John Lewis but we think better and considerably more value for money. let us know what you end up with. John and Ryan.
This looks like a useful Q&A!
I’ve just been looking at beds, and the most comfortable ones in our local shops appear to be memory foam: Salus in one shop, Tempur in the other. Lying on them leaves me pretty confident they won’t cause back or neck pain! Then I read a little online, including Gill Williams on this page, telling us how hot they are, and I can see myself sharing Gill’s fate as I thrive in conditions much colder than most people! On the other hand, I generally sleep very well!
Can you recommend what I can look for to get the comfort of these mattresses without overheating?
Hi Nick. It really is an anomoly isn’t it. A comfortable mattress for you – but you know you are going to be hot and sweaty! And you are looking for a way to allieve the inherrant problem.
Memory Foam IS heat retentive, current means of attemting to combat this problem is to utilise Hi-Tech fabric coverings such as Coolmax / Climasmart / Outlast etc. This very fact that manufacturers have to use these type of coverings to reduce the heat retentiveness goes a long way to show you that the problem is very, very real.
As a Devils Advocate towards Memory Foam, I would pose the same question to the manufacturers you mention above and see what their take is. John and Ryan.
Dear John,
I’m wondering if you could please help me.
For quite a good few years I’ve suffered mild back pain at night, however it was never overly uncomfortable and for a long time it was manageable. Previously I had a mild pain from time to time, however it wasn’t every night, it was only now and then. Two years ago we purchased a good quality kingsize memory foam mattress – since purchasing it my back pain has become chronic. I’m in absolute agony from around 3am onwards (after going to bed at around 11pm) and on many occasions I need to simply get out of bed at around 6/7am because the pain is too intense to lie in bed any longer.
I’ve now made the decision to get rid of the memory foam mattress (a little sickening considering how expensive it was!).
I have read the other questions & comments, and I am going to try flipping the mattress over tonight and sleep on the ‘unusable’ side.
Further to above, a little info on us; I am around 10½ stone in weight (and 27 years old), and my partner is approx 12½ stone (and 30 years old). We are both active, healthy people, who exercise regularly and generally eat very healthy. I have consulted with my GP who has found no reason for my back-pain, and therefore it can only be a symptom of the memory foam mattress.
The pain is most intense in my lower back and around the hips. I also sometimes get pain around my sides too (the sides of my waist area) – however the pain in my sides my just be related to the position I’m lying in(?). The lower back is the most severe area for pain though, and is unbearable.
I’m wondering if you could please advise me of what you feel would be the best suited mattress to myself?
I have spent hours and hours online reading reviews, reading advice on what’s best etc etc….and there is so much conflicting advice that it’s difficult to draw a conclusion. Even the feel of mattresses in shops doesn’t give me a very good overview because most mattresses feel ‘comfortable’ – however, my memory foam mattress feels comfortable for the first few hours too – so I don’t want to decide on a mattress based on initial comforts (I hope this makes sense!).
Please could you give me some advice regarding what you feel would be the best solution for me, and additionally which mattress/es you would recommend (or type/brand). I’d really appreciate some help.
Kindest Regards,
Jillian
Hi Jillian. You pose quite a conundrum for which there is no definitive answer..
My first observation is that your partner seems to sleep well. It would be interesting to see if he/she has experienced a similar lack of sleep quality since purchasing your new mattress.
Secondly, as a long term back pain sufferer myself, the symptoms you describe are similar to my own. However, flare ups – although expected – are quite irregular, and even though my mattress is suitable for me and my weight, it does not mean that it will be suitable for you.
Flipping your mattress and using your duvet as the comfort layer under your bottom sheet will of course conclude somewhat whether it is indeed your mattress that is causing the aggravation. If your mattress is memory foam on pocket springs [as opposed to memory foam on foam] I would also check the underside for signs of wear or signs that the pocket spring unit has been breached.
Finally, as for suggesting what mattress would be suitable for you, it wil be best to leave it for a week or so to see how your sleep improves on the mattress reverse. If you do get some modicum of improvement I will know which way to go and in that case give me a call and we will take it from there. John and Ryan.
Hello
Your site provides excellent advice – thank you.
I am looking for a firm ortho kingsize mattress which will lie on an unsprung divan base – budget is around £500. I have narrowed down my search to the following:
Gainsborough Backcare Supreme 1250 pocket sprung
Millbrook Ortho Spectrum 2000 pocket sprung
Sleepeezee Platinum Ortho 1400 Firm
Sleepeezee Backcare Ultimate 2000 pocket sprung
What are your thoughts on the above and which is perceived as the best quality? I would also like the option of turning too. I currently have a John Lewis Ortho 2 but as a double, it is unfortunately proving to be too small – great quality, fairly firm mattress but wrong size.
With thanks and regards
Ferdinand Edwards
Hi Ferdinand. I’m afraid I will have to ask you to reduce your enquiry to just two models. Ryan and I answer all the comments on this site in our spare time which nowadays is getting less and less.
If you have found the John Lewis Ortho 2 satisfactory in the past, I wonder why you are not considering replacing with the same model but in a bigger size. John and Ryan.
Hi,
Could really do with some advice please.
I have a memory foam mattress it’s around 8 years old and now I am at the age where I am getting hot all the time ,added to the fact I suffer from a lot of severe lower back pain and occasional neck pain I think it may be time for a new mattress.
I am so hot in bed ( with only a 4.5 tog quilt ) I am only sleeping for 2 hours before waking up and having to get out of bed to cool off.
I was thinking of pocket sprung , any advice welcome please.
Thank you.
Hi Gill. As you know Memory Foam is really heat retentive, it is your body heat that softens the foam to make it adjust to your contours. No mattress will be able to relieve your symtoms totally, although steps can be taken to minimise them such as using cotton sheets and probably a cotton blanket rather than duvet (which tends to trap air rather than circulate).
In the meantime whilst you are looking for a new mattress I would flip the mattress over and use the non sleep side with a duvet under your bottom sheet for the comfort layer. This will remove the memory foam foam discomfort and hopefully give you the assurance that it is the memory foam giving you the sleepless nights. John and Ryan.
Hi, I’ve been down at the local shop looking at the Salus 1500 and 1200 at 649 and 549 respectively to go on top of my old divan.
Now I know I need to know more…probably need a new bed and a new mattress!
Anyway – some details – I am 17st and lie on my side and have started to notice that my hips ache in the morning from pressure. My other half is probably 13st…she’d say a bit less I expect!
We want a king size bed – do you have an equivilent of the Salus 1500? Do you have any other suggestions? Access isn’t an issue so no need for a zip together.
And I guess I need to get rid of the divan now too…if so, my budget needs to cover a base as well…
Cheers
Adrian
Hi Adrian, We do not sell The Salus range nor indeed any memory foam mattress. We find that the latex models we sell are far superior for an equvalent or even lesser price.
Finding the correct mattress for you and your other half of equal comfort levels and support is quite tricky. However, as a starting point I would steer you towards The Origins Latex. Secondly, if your budget can stretch to The Artisan Naturals then that particular model can be made with a firmer spring tension for you and a medium spring tension on your partners side.
As always, please feel free to give us a call if you want to discuss this further. John and Ryan.
i am looking for a good king size mattress that gives good support at the hips but lets the shoulder sink in any ideas would be greatful
Hi Roger. Hip support should be in relation to your shoulders. say for example you weigh 16st, no great overall weight but when you lie down your hip area will be sinking in a lot deeper than your shoulders. If the mattress is too soft your spine will be thrown out of allignment – too firm and your hips will be balancing on top causing shoulder pressure.
Without knowing weights it is imposible to steer you towards any particular mattress. Obviously, a pocket spring system should form the foundation of the mattress. Even without any kind of wadding whatsoever they will independantly adjust to your weight so your entire body will be using the tensions it needs. Firmer springs to accommodate a heavier bodyweight and softer springs to accommodate a lighter bodyweight. It has to be noted that [lower priced] mass produced pocket spring units do not usually have choice of tensions but generally suit the majority of people with the primary layers adjusting the tension . On the other hand, calico encased sewn units are built using three spring tensions soft / med / firm, or a combination of two tensions to suit the sleeper.
The waddings will give the comfort, and once again the choice of upholstery will be dependant on the user and of course budget. the main upholstery in all lower priced models will be polyester [ aka, premium white fibre / hypoallergenic fibre and so on ] Natural fibres such as horsehair / cotton / wool etc come in at a price and so a judgement based on need and budget will have to be accounted for and probably some sort of compromise will have to be made.
Give us a call and we can go through the options once we know your bodyweights and your budget. John and Ryan.
Hi,
I am looking for a mattress with a smallish budget. I was told that pocket sprung will last long and comfortable and no roll together, so I was searching. I have found something in argos on sale but it is Airsprung. What is the difference between pocket sprung and airsprung?
Would you say the one below is a good value for money? it’s on sale from £539 down to £569.
Airsprung Oban Memory Foam Kingsize Mattress.
Tall 12.5 gauge framed spring unit with layers of white polyester & foam fillings.
•Medium firm feel.
•12.5 gauge mattress with 350 springs.
•Memory foam layer with knit cover.
•Edge to edge support.
•Fire retardant.
•Mattress size W150, L200, D24.1cm.
•Easy care no turn mattress.
•Everyday use.
Thank you
Hi Eniko, I will answer your two questions in order:
What is the difference between pocket sprung and airsprung?
Airsprung is a brand name from Airsprung Beds. Targetted towards the low end. As you have already mentioned it is a 12.5 gauge spring unit which is of course just a cage sprung mattress. Pocket Springs is a type of spring system.
Would you say the one below is a good value for money?
No. I most certainly would not say it is good value for money.
Eniko. Look at it this way. The most expensive mattress (double) currently for sale at Argos (Aug-11) is the Posturewise Memory Impression 200 Double Mattress for sale for £1099.99. Well overpriced and no doubt this will be shortly be reduced after the statutory open sale period has elapsed and offered at HALF PRICE or thereabouts – WOW! (Sarcastic)
We offer a far superior in many ways 1500 Latex Double Mattress for £645.00 . [ Origins 1500 Latex ] Perhaps this one small example alone will indicate that you can get a lot more mattress for your money if you know what to look for.
Give us a call and we will help you get the best mattress for your money. If you’ve got money to waste … Shop at Argos. John and Ryan.
My wife and myself have recently been searching for a new mattress and have stumbled upon a minefield regarding the various different prices and selection there is available. After a great deal of research, we decided Pocket Sprung 2000 was our preference with a medium tension. Yesterday, we tried a *** mattress and found it to be very comfortable. It does boast Lambs Wool, Silk fillings but I cannot find out quantities. Do you have any experience in dealing with this mattress to make a judgement as to whether it’s worth the price tag It will be going on a wooden bedstead. Also, what of your range could you recommend us to? I’m around the 11 stone mark and a medium tension is a bit of a must for me. Many thanks.
Hi Anthony. Not too sure about this. I’m going to do some investigating about quantities to see if all as it seems. Will mail you by the end of the week. Thanks John.
Update: I have tried three times to email you on the email address supplied with our findings but this keeps getting returned to me. If this is a genuine enquiry please contact Ryan to take this enquiry further. John.
We have seen a Spink & Edgar Elite cashmere 6ft x 6ft 6ins bed with zipped and electrically lifting head ends. It seemed VERY comfortable, but Very expensive. Can you sell us the same specifications much cheaper. We would be very interested if you could.
(150 cm bed has 13,000 spring count, 4 side stiching rows, tencil fabric, cotton, Egyptian cotton, British wool, Mohair, Superior handteased blend of Hempure, Horse Hair, Silk and Cashmere, 16 air vents). All sounds very impressive from John Lewis
Hi David. Sorry, but short answer is No.
A point to note is that only Harrisons use Hemp[ure] in their blends as well as an actual component part. Something else to consider and not usually at the forefront of your mind when trying electric adjustable mattresses is that there is no perimeter support other than HSS (Hand Side Stitching). Therefore if you sit on the edge of the mattress [socks on syndrome] you will find the mattress depression is probasbly more than you will be used to. This applies to all matttresses utilising calico encased pocket springs (such as Vi-Spring etc) where the perimter banding has been removed, and although not a fault as such, it can be frustrating if through limited mobility sitting on the edge of the mattress becomes a balancing act, even more so when combined with a sprung edge base.
As a point of note, for use with electric adjustable beds there is no way that perimeter banding can be used – otherwise there would be no flexibility when head or foot sections are raised so bear this in mind prior to purchase as we have seen normal pocket sprung matts sold with adjustable beds and they do have a tendency to slide and of course buckle when raised.
We have our calico encased pocket spring mattresses manufactured with perimeter banding one spring row in. Ryan and I cannot understand why manufacturers like Vi-Spring et al remove this banding once the pocket springs are formed. the benefits of additional edge support far outweighs any reason to remove – except for the case of adjustables as outlined above.
I am familiar with the model you mention and would recommend that you also look at other models in a similar price range that would be suitable for electric adjustables. This way you will have alternative options to consider. Rather than looking at spring counts – take note of the weight of the fillings and how they have been used.
I’m afraid this is too vast a subject to sum up in a couple of paragraphs and we are working on posts (when time allows) to draw attention to the myriad of ‘ifs and buts’ of natural fibre mattresses, just as we have done with mass produced matts.
I hope this helps, but as always please feel free to contact us again if you need clarification on any particular issue. John.
In response to your feedback I managed to get this from Millbrook about the two beds that interested me:
Saturn:
Hypo-allergenic interliner
Layer of resilient polyester 235gsm
30mm latex (on each side) 2x15mm
Topped with layer of soft lambswool 300gsm
Pom Pom tufts
Twofold high quality jacquard woven damask
Jupiter:
Hypo allergenic interliner
Luxurious layer of resilient cotton and polyester 1000gsm
Resilient layer of polyester 235gsm
Luxurious pashmina topper pad 500gsm
Pom Pom tufts
Twofold high quality jacquard woven damask
I like the Millbrook Bed and through **** through a cashback site I can get 20% off. Which puts the Saturn into our price bracket quite nicely. However I’d be interesed to know of your beds which comes closest.
I do admit after spending days/weeks reviewing these beds most manufacturers detail on their beds is very poor.
Hi Damian, as you can see, once you know the breakdown of any mattress, comparisons become easier and far less frustrating. You now have the opportunity not only to compare like for like on price but also have the essential knowledge to see if you can find mattresses with even more fillings for an equivalent price.
As for The Saturn, I would still be asking for complete clarity as to the latex layers. Is it actually two layers totalling 30mm EACH SIDE or two layers totalling 30mm on the complete mattress – 15mm each side?
As a point of note and again because you now have what I call essential information you are also in a position to gauge how much of a mattress is wadding and how much is air. Take the Jupiter for example. consists of three wadding components;
1000gsm Cotton/Poly
235gsm Polyester
500gsm Pashmina pad
So the total weight of combined upholstery per square meter equals 1735gsm.
Armed with this information you can now see whether you can get even more for your money. The Jupiter has 3 rows hand side stitching, an expensive detail. By narrowing your search to a mattress that has two rows of hand side stitching, will you be able to get more ‘insides’ for a similar price, such as double the amount of cotton or an extra layer of wool?
And finally, the most important thing to bear in mind is whether this or indeed ANY mattress is going to be suitable for you and your partners bodyweight / sleeping habits as well as your wallet?
As for what I would offer, I would pitch my Sequence 2000 latex against The Saturn or my Hybrid 2000 against The Jupiter.
Thanks for your comment Damian, in time I hope that all manufacturers will be detailing specs to a greater degree. Please let me know what you decide upon. John
I have been looking at your site with great interest. I have been looking at Millbrook beds and the various comibinations of upholstery and fillings has mnade my job very hard.
My wife and I like Firm mattresses and have a budget of up to £700 ish.
Can you advise of your mattresses which ones compare to the Millbrook Neptune and Saturn. I was all set to buy their Saturn mattress until I found the latex layer is just 15mm on each side!!
Thanks for your help.
Hi Damian, I have just spent more time than I have to spare trying to find the most basic details of the two mattresses you mention above. How bloody more frustrating can it get when even the manufacturer can’t be bothered or even care enough to at least offer some level of basic detail. They describe The Saturn for example as: Luxurious natural layers of soft lambswool and luxurious pure latex provide a sleeping surface like no other for the perfect nights sleep. The mattress is finished with 3 rows of traditional hand side stitching to the mattress borders.
Are they treating their potential customers like idiots? Are they so embarrassed by the lack of / low level of / substandard grade of / minimal amount of / fillings that they have to resort to this underhanded and quite frankly utterly deceptive way of advertising their products.
In my opinion Millbrook as an established company and manufacturer of esteem does not have to stoop to this level. I expect it from Silentnight, Sealy and other so called ‘brands’ that have to make pigs ears sound like silk purses but Millbrook [and Harrisons etc] don’t. Millbrook introduced their Planets range to showcase the craftsmanship of their company by making this range available to Internet retailers – many of their other models are only available through specialist mattress showrooms. They [and other manufacturers] have realised that internet sales have now become a major outlet and because of trading conditions have to at least dip their toe in the e-commerce water. Also, as a manufacturer with such a reputation that has been built through word of mouth rather than concocted through advertising agencies, they should also be a little bit more vigilant on how their products are being sold online. From the handful of sites I visited in order to answer your question as best I can, I found that some sites are advertising The Saturn as having 30mm Latex each side, Layers of resilient polyester, 3 rows Hand side stitching, 4 rows hand side stitching, Wool and Silk and other discrepancies that just does not seem to be totally accurate.
The sad thing is, is the fact that on the face of it The Saturn seems to be a well crafted mattress for the average asking price of around £700 (Double) particularly IF the latex layers were indeed 30mm each side and the wool WAS indeed luxurious natural LAYERS. But … , without a fair, concise and accurate breakdown of the actual specification how on earth can I, or indeed anyone else know for sure what I am spending my money on, or have they got something to hide?
It must be said that Millbrook are not the only manufacturer to succumb to these practices. It is the scourge of the industry and until people like yourself start questioning retailers and manufacturers exactly what these fundamental specification details are then unfortunately it will carry on. John.
Hi there! Just come across your very informative web site and hoping you can give me some advice regarding mattresses. Have started looking for a king size to be used on a sprung wooden slatted base. Our budget is £500 and even though both my husband and I are small, we still like a fairly firm mattress. Three that we have tried out in a local indep store in South Wales were Salus Memory Pocket 1200 Cool Touch £485, Slumberland Support Memory 1200 £459 and Gainsborough Adele £379. Open to other suggestions by yourselves. Thanks a lot.
Hi Maggie. the three matts you are looking at are all pretty similar memory foam matts (except the Adele being Reflex or other supportive foam rather than memory foam) and so the way to choose which is best is to break down the internal parts to see who is offering you more for your money rather than choosing between brand names. Personally I would say have a look at The Origins 1500 Pocket Latex which is latex rather than memory foam as it is in a similar price range. John
Hi
I have been searching on the web for some time now looking for a good well made mattress with luxury fabric for around £800 (Divan or bedstead included). I have found a mattress that I like that is double sided with good hand side stitching, pocket springs and Medium tension, these specs are important to me. I am also looking to buy a divan base with a sprung edge for extra comfort. Do you think that the sprung edge really makes a difference to the feel and comfort, or am I better off with a bedstead. Also the mattress that I am looking to buy is the hypnos baronet or princess mattress, but they are very expensive, is there anything similar with the same specs for a cheaper price? I am based in the south.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Sue.
Hi Sue, I can’t find precise details of the actual natural fibre content of the mattresses you mention from Hypnos. I have a model that I have recently developed and added to the site – The Sequence 2000 – 11″ deep / soft silk content knit fabric / two sided / comprises of 2000 Pocket Springs Hand side stitched / Reflex layer above spring unit (as bridging for longevity) / a premium weight cotton blend pad as the primary layer (1200gsm) final thin layer of polyester as a measure to prevent any posible migration of fibres through the fabric See video here http://www.factory-beds-direct.co.uk/sequence-2000-details. Take it from me this cotton weight is absolutely premium and I would be surprised if the fillings content in the Hynos models you mention would be anywhere near this specification.
As a guide I will be retailing the double mattress in the region of £540.
With regard to the sprung edge base, read the post on spring edging -
You didn’t mention the size you require, if you give me a call or drop me a mail I can help further. John.
can you advise —divan or bedstead,( not self assembly )
Hi Gerry. I’m afraid I’ll need a little more than this – No such thing as a non assembly bedstead. Hope this helps. John
i have just purchased from display
autograph mattress m500 med from m&s reduced to £200 from £749 I I now need a base can you advise? divan or bed stead.
Hi Gerry, A nice bargain. Bedstead of course. Most divan bases are rubbish. John.
Hi
After reading a couple of your q&a above. What is the difference between the Salus 1500 pocket sprung memory and the Flexcell pocket 1600? I am aware they are both made by the same firm but are you saying the only difference is the cover and finishing, which is superficial and you don’t see this anyhow when the bed is made up? Are they as comfortable as each other.
Thanks. Martin.
Hi Martin. Easy question – difficult answer. If the innards are exactly the same (and I cant understand why the count is different 1500 and 1600 when the FEPS are the same) then it stands to reason that the comfort level should be the same. However, the ticking as used on The Salus model is absolutely premium – well padded and well quilted, often the initial draw to this particular range. And it is because of this one particular element that a slight difference in comfort is/could be perceived. I have not personally tried them both side by side at the same time, so cannot answer your question with any degree of certainty. But, the logical side of me tells me that there should be no ‘major‘ perceivable difference – how can there be? It would be [so very] interesting to see what the salesman who have both models in the shop says in response! Let me know what you conclude. John.
Hi John
My husband and I are looking to purchase from [***] a Salus 1500 Pocket sprung memory foam mattress. They are offering it for £629 but we are not sure if this is a good price or not, as we can’t seem to find it anywhere else? We also would like to buy a solid oak bed frame that is from [***] at £389 called [***], not sure if you can offer me anything identical. Both are Kingsize. Thank you for your help. Angie.
Hi Angie, Salus are only available in stores so you wont find them anywhere else, particularly not the internet. You are asking if a 1500 (encapsulated) pocket sprung mattress – with 75mm memory foam comfort layer is worth £629?. The thing to remember with the Salus brand is that they are not a cheap product and I assume targetted to the higher end market. You can certainly buy a 1500 pocket sprung 75mm memory foam mattress for half that price .. But, the quality of finish and detailing will not even come close. Is this important to you? As a further note, I have to say that the quality of the divan bases from Salus are amongst the best I have seen in a mass production factory.
This is in no way an endorsement for the ‘worth‘ of the mattress / bed. I just recognise that the quality of fabric and finish of these products deserve recognition. But is it worth £629? Take a look at the Breasley Flexcell Pocket 1600 and the only percievable difference will be the fabric covering and detailing – which is probably what is enticing you to The Salus 1600 in the first place. After all Breasley is the parent company of Salus.
As for the bedframe, I don’t know this model in particular but for a solid oak kingsize frame (if that is what it is!) it’s not excessively overpriced although I have seen similar models elsewhere for the £330 mark. A quick search for Kingsize oak bedframes will throw up some viable alternatives. John.
have looked at a salus 1500 in superking can you recommend something similar??
Hi Andrew, Can you supply the exact specification of this model. As you know, this is not openly available on the internet but i am assuming you have visited a shop to find this model. A similar spec model is The Breasley flexcell pocket 1600 – I am led to believe that the same internal components are used (cannot understand why the spring count is different though) and only the ticking is different. Let me know what you find out. John.