Many mattress brands belong to the same holding or investment 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]
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
Steinhoff UK Beds Limited (“Steinhoff”)
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 [Oct 2011)
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)
Slumberland – (Steinhoff) – (Since April 2013) Previously owned by Hilding Anders from 2007
Horatio Myers – (Steinhoff) — (Since April 2013) Previously owned by Hilding Anders
Staples – (Steinhoff) – — (Since April 2013) Previously owned by Hilding Anders
Dunlopillo -(Steinhoff) — (Since April 2013) Previously owned by Hilding Anders
Notes:
Steinhoff’s Managing Director: Andy Murdoch
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
Dorlux – Kozee Sleep Products was incorporated in 2004 and started to trade after the acquisition of the business and assets of Dorlux Beds UK Ltd from administrators. on 13th November 2008.
Note: August 2012: Leonard Curtis were appointed joint administrators to Kozee Sleep Products Ltd, which traded as Dorlux Beds, and decided to trade the company while looking for a buyer. An offer of £62,500 was received and subsequently accepted from Albatross Investments Ltd and Kozee Sleep (Midlands) Ltd, connected companies by virtue of common ownership.
Sleepline (Brand)
Sleepvendor (Brand)
Kaymed
Kaymed
King Koil
Odearest
Kaymed SleepSpa
Kaymed Wellbeing
Kaymed Foam
Breasley Consumer Products Ltd (UK)
[Manufactures for many own label retailers]
Breasley
Salus
Accolade (Latex)
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
GNG Group
Komfi
Implay
Dream Machine
Hi
I wondered if you could help me at all, we currently have a Kaymed Countess mattress on our double bed which we absolutely love but we want to get a larger bed and cannot find any information on this mattress and what would be a similar/equivalent mattress. We would be grateful for any advice/help you can offer us.
Thank-you
Hi Nicola. This is the contact page for kaymed. I’m sure they will be able to assist. John and Ryan.
kaymedworld.com/ie/contact-us.html
PS: To all readers: We are currently updating all the posts on this site and preparing to transfer to our new site ready to be launched in a few weeks. I’m embarrassed to say that many of the posts on here date back to 2010 and are extremely dated to say the least.
The new site will feature many new additions and really extensive postings which will answer every single possible question you may have on the mattress industry. Because of this workload, comments will no longer be able to be left on any of these pages – they will of course resume and be extremely welcome on the new site.
If you set up a ‘google alert’ for JOHN RYAN BY DESIGN you will be notified immediately when the new site is launched. John and Ryan
Hi,
I have tried to read as much as possible from your website but am still indecisive.
I am looking to spend a max of £500 on a kingsized mattress for myself ,5″6 , 11 stone, and my partner 5″10, 13 stone.
I was interested in your Origins Comfort 1000 Kingsize and the John Lewis Pocket Comfort 1 Mattress, Kingsize for £399. I have also seen quite a few sealy beds within my price range but i didn’t pay that much attention as I had not yet come across your site!
Our main sleep related issues are that I often wake up aching as I lay on my side but i assume this is due to our current mattress which is just a cheap silent night open sprung. I am also a big mover/tosser and turner and often drive my partner mad.
Is the JL mattress comparible to your origins or just a cheapo version?
Many thanks!
2013/05/11 at 23:03
Hi,
Me again! I’m hoping to buy my mattress asap after doing a bit of bed shopping this weekend. I will try and give you guys a ring again on Monday.
During my search I have also come across this bed: Millbrook Royal 1400 mattress for £432… the showroom is near me… its now a choice between this and your Origins Comfort 1000 I think so any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Kay. I can’t seem to find any relevant detail on this particular mattress to offer any kind of informed advice for comparisons. Perhaps you could ask the retailer of the component build of the Millbrook Royal 1400 we could do a comparison with our Origins Comfort. John and Ryan.
Dear John & Ryan
We are looking to replace our mattress which is giving me no end of back trouble. The current mattress is pocket sprung with a memory foam layer on top. It is this layer that is the issue as over the last four years it has sagged. I supposed its meant to conform to your body! However, I’m getting back pain as a result as I need support. We bought it from Bensons with little meaningful advice. In addition we have a 15 month old that regularly joins us in the middle of the night! Also, the memory foam makes us quite hot and sweaty at night – another unpleasant side effect we were unaware of when buying it!
We have a bed stead with a sprung slatted base which is fine. We looked at the Dreams Sleepeeze Lincoln 3500. In the showroom it was on a divan, so I presume the firmness will be different on our slats. As usual the staff don’t give much meaningful help.
We are looking for something like the sleepeeze Lincoln in firmness, but don’t have issue with brand snobbery, etc. I do find the prices in places like dreams rather excessive, as there seems no justification for the apparent ‘savings’ they advertise.
Your insights and advice would be appreciated
Hi Guys. The Sleepeezee Lincoln is currently retailing at £1429.00 [KS: March 2013] if you look at our Artisan Bespoke as a side by side PRICE comparison you will instantly see what your money should be getting you.
Rather than going round Dreams / Bensons etc try looking at the Vi Spring models at places like John Lewis or Furniture Village. This will give you some idea of what a good mattress should feel like. Of course there is no doubt that the price tags will make you shudder a little bit, but at least you will know what to look for i terms of build quality and therefore have an easy exercise to find similar.
As an exmple, the closest comparable model we have found to our Artisan Bespoke is thRegal Superb. By comparing the components side by side it becomes relatively easy to see whether any difference can be justified for the difference in price. Let me know what happens/ John and Ryan.
Hi,
I asked a question on here on 30th January about latex mattresses. I just wanted to write a follow up. After the message I phoned and talked to Julie and Marie and discussed our options further. I decided on an Artisan Naturals kingsize mattress. It was delivered two weeks later by Mike (Operations Manager) because we live locally.
The delivery was amazing. He was very helpful and cleared al the packaging away. Thanks Mike! We have now had the mattress for three weeks and I have to say that it is wonderful. We have had the best nights sleep that we have had in ages. My partner has had shoulder pain for years and that has now gone. As soon as I lie down on the mattress I am comfortable and it just makes me want to go to sleep!
Thanks for this website and all your information. I have recommended it to everyone that I know and from now on we will only be buying our mattresses from you!
Hi, great informative website. Can you recommend a superking mattress for a slatted base from your website please. I have had a nightmare with two mattresses collapsing (one only 6 weeks sleeping time). Have battled to get a refund and want to get this right. I weigh 11stone and my partner 13 stone.
We like medium support. Have seen your advice about mdf boards and a quilt/mattress topper for the base and will certainly do this. Do you now sell a mattress topper for this purpose yet? My budget for the mattress is £500 to £700. Hope you can help. Thanks
Hi Lynn. We have now commissioned the manufacture of a mini pocket sprung undermattress. This will sit on your slats and emulates the benefits of a sprung edge divan. As soon as these come off the production line (about 2-3 weeks) I will email you.
I’m actually quite intrigued by your recent purchases and would be grateful if you could supply a few more details.
As a recommendation from our site I would say The Sequence Suspension would be more than suitable for you and your budget. This is however a well stuffed mattress and obviously when all pulled together creates a firmer overall tension. This does relax over time as it is broken in and no doubt will require a topper whilst this is happening and also to give you (at 11st) a little bit more cushioning.
Please feel free to call the office and speak to Marie or Gary who will be able to advise further. John and Ryan.
Hi,
Could you please review DAPW mattress range in terms of value for money. Some of them don’t have vents (is it a big concern?)
Thank you
Hi Is. First of all we all love DAPW for the quality of their bedding and their prices. Over the years we have had toppers and bedding from M&S and a few other outlets and when we found DAPW – and everyone in the office has a topper from there – we can and do, reliably and confidently recommend this particular company.
However … (you knew this was coming didn’t you?) I don’t think their mattress range is anything particularly special. I’m not prepared to list the pros and cons of each of their product range but suffice to say their speciality is in bedding – not beds.
Finally, vents in a mattress should not be a concern whatsoever. It is unlikely that they contribute to a significant degree of ventilation. More ventilation is gained from the bellow like action through the mattress itself (as the user gets into and out of the bed) than any decorative vents. Hope this helps Is. John and Ryan
Hi,
This website is very informative. Thanks for all the information. I am trying to get the mattress that comes with the Icon 2000 Prestige Divan Bed listed on http://www.carpetright.co.uk/icon-prestige-divanbeds.html or a substitute with better specification and cheaper price. Your advice will be highly appreciated.
Des
Hi Des. the fundamental design of this mattress is 7.5cm of memory Foam on a 2000 Foam Encapsulated Pocket Spring unit (FEPS) [Read Here]. As far as I am aware, The Icon Prestige is manufactured by Breasley for Carpetright and can be deemed as a similar construction to their own Salus core model. Once you find out what the density of the memory foam actually is (I guess it is in the region of 55 – 60 kg/m3) it will be easy to find similar models.
Incidentally, we went around Carpetright last week (March 2013) doing our ‘secret shopper’ routine and were a bit taken aback at the WAS prices attached to the Icon range of beds. For example, on their Icon Superior model the 4’6 (Double) was retailing at £799 for the Divan set – but it had a ‘Our List Price’ of £1599. If this actually has a ‘worth’ of £1599. I would be so very interested to know how this can be justified. John and Ryan.
Hello….We are trying to decide between a Harrison and a Vi-Spring divan. We would like to purchase a mid to upper range bed but from our initial research it would appear that the entry level Vi-Spring bed is the same cost as a top range Harrison bed. Does that sound right?
Why such a big difference? I see vi-spring are hand made but I’m not sure about Harrison, and whether or not it really matters if it’s hand crafted or factory made. Basically, £5,000 seems a lot for a bed and unless there’s a great perceivable difference over a £3000 bed I’m not sure I could persuade my husband to spend that much! Thanks
Hi Liesl. Good questions but I do think they should be directed to Vi Spring and Harrisons respectively. Once you get their point of view and their justifications and re-post (with model names) I will be able to respond. John and Ryan.
2013/02/27 at 14:49
Hello again..l have emailed the companies to see if I can get details to compare like for like. I have this afternoon tested the John Lewis Vi Spring Chatsworth. I am wondering if you know why they would have their own John Lewis range? I.e. The Chatsworth is only available from JL. I have looked at the (few) details the JL Vispring pamphlet provides and I think The Chatsworth might be the same as the Regal Superb. Any idea if that’s the case, and why JL would have their own range?
Hi again Liesl. Once again, it would be unfair of me to comment without you giving the aforementioned retailer / manufacturer the opportunity to explain direct to you first. They know their own products better than anyone and once you have their explanations you can then seek a second opinion to question their response. I must admit you are doing the right thing by not taking everything as Carte Blanch correct, and as absurd as it may seem, if you question the fine detail you will be less likely to make a mistake in your purchase. Let me know what you find out. John and Ryan.
Hi,
We are in the market for a new mattress for our new home. I am 7.5 stone and my partner 15 stone. At the moment we are considering Hypnos mattresses as I have heard very good reviews. We are willing to invest in a good night’s sleep and believe that Baroness or Viceroy could be our selection. However, we still have to try them.
I would like to know if Hypnos is really good mattresses and would be a good investment. Should we be better looking at other brands, options or invest a little bit more to get something better? I would be most grateful for your advise. Rima
Hi Rima. Looking at the models you mention indicates your budget is in the region of £1000 – £1400 for the Kingsize mattress. Also, taking into account that your partner is twice the weight of you, it will be unlikely that you will find a mattress with one spring tension that will be equally suitable for you both.
I do think you are approaching this the wrong way. Hypnos is indeed a notable manufacturer, but so is Vi Spring and so is Harrisons. So who will be offering you the mattress that is most suitable for your needs? Even though you have in the region of £1500 to spend – not a great amount but neither is it under generous. I would use this as your starting point to see what models are out there and what they contain to make the mattress up as a whole.
As you are planning to go round the stores I would be inclined to concentrate on Furniture Village or John lewis in order for you to assess what a good well built mattress feels like and the associated price you will be expected to pay. This will put your purchase into some sort of perspective. You need to know what constitutes a ‘good’ mattress.
You will no doubt encounter (as you have probably read throughout this site) that detailed specifications are rarely given which tell you exactly how the mattress is made up. It is this information you need to know in order to come to an educated purchase decision. Be prepared to question retailers and manufacturers for this information.
Hope this helps Rima. Please let me know how you get on. John and Ryan.
2013/03/03 at 15:04
Dear John and Ryan,
Thank you for your advice. We went to a few shops yesterday and tried the mattresses they had. What a difference between Vi Spring an everything else! We fell in love with the Regal Superb and the Cliveden (one of the Vi Spring mattresses offered by John Lewis).
The next best ones were the Signatory, the Shetland Superb and the Chatsworth. To my surprise we did not like the Herald Superb and none of the John Lewis’s Vi Spring bedstead mattresses except for the Marrister mattress. I also liked Tiara Superb, but my partner found it too springy.
Looking at the mattress specifications I tried to identify what could be the reason why we like them. As far as I can see all of them either do not have a layer of horsetail or horsetail is blended with wool. Is horsetail the reason why the other mattresses felt less soft and comfortable?
Also, does the bedstead makes the mattresses feel so much firmer compared to the divan what we did not like the feel of the majority of the Vi Spring bedstead mattresses or is it more to be attributed to the specification of the mattresses? We were thinking of buying a bedstead, but if divan has such a significant influence on the level of comfort, we would be willing to reconsider.
Considering your mattresses, which one would you recommend to us? Could any of them offer similar feel and comfort to the Regal Superb or the Cliveden?
Kind regards,
Rima
Hi again Rima. What’s the point of looking at mattresses that significantly fall outside your budget? the Tiara as an example retails in the realm of £6000 or so and The Signatory is in the region of £13.000 for the set. Your budget is £1500 or so. We say our Artisan Naturals (at around £1500 for the Kingsize set) is what we say is amongst the best you can get for this amount. Use the specification of this model as your benchmark 1) To double check what we say is true and 2) To see if there are further models within this price range that would suit your requirements any better.
We do not say that our models are identical to Vi Spring models – what we do say is that these are the nearest equivalents to a particular model. Sometimes our specifications exceed comparable models, but it is up to you to make your final decision based on what you know.
The Regal Superb is indeed one comparable model to the Artisan Naturals [Read Here]. The differences can be seen as negligible but knowing what those difference are will be enough for you to come to your final purchasing decision yourself. John and Ryan.
2013/03/09 at 19:05
Dear John and Ryan,
The budget can always be increased if the investment is considered to be worthwhile. In my opinion investing in a good mattress for the next 7-10 years sure justify paying ‘a little bit extra’. I have to admit that this is our first experience buying a proper mattress and it was interesting to see what you can get out there. What more interests me is the understanding why some of the mattresses felt amazing and the other ones did not.
I do appreciate your work providing so much information in this website which definitely changed my outlook in the whole buying process. However, I still lack that particular bit information which actually would help me to take a buying decision. You always say to look at the specification and decide what is better and if there are further models that would suit our requirements any better. However, what actually the specifications tell us? It is just some numbers and names of materials. How I should be able to determine if a model with or without horsetail would be better for me? There is now information how the materials compare with each other and most important what is achieved by including them, how it would feel at the end.
As an example, the main differences between your Artisan Bespoke and Artisan Luxury is that one has 1000 gsm White Cashmere and 1600 Calico encased Pocket Springs and the another one 500 GSM Pure Wool and 1476 Calico encased Pocket Springs. So looking at this how should I determine which one would meet my requirements better? I really do not know.
Coming back to my initial question, if the budget is not an issue, which one of your mattresses could offer similar feel and comfort to the Regal Superb? How different the feel would be and why (due to which materials)? Is divan essential if we are comfort seekers, which we seem to be?
Thank you, Rima.
Hi again Rima. Specifications are important to know in order for you to see where your money is going. If a manufacturer or retailer is not telling you this how on earth are you able to compare one model against another.
The purpose of this site is to encourage readers to look into product descriptions more carefully and to come to an educated and informed decision based on what they find out. Comparisons should be done on a like for like basis in order for you to see what the shortfalls of any particular product are.
Taking your question as the benchmark you ask which of our mattresses could offer a similar feel to The Regal Superb and why? You say you like the Regal Superb and the closest equivalent available as far as I know is our Artisan Bespoke 004 will be the closest contender and worthy of consideration. There is a price difference of about £1700 between these two models and once again it is up to you to decide whether the differences between these two models justify the retail price of The RS. I personally do not think so.
I once again say that we do not offer identical models (either in overall build or feel) to any Vi Spring mattress. Doing side by side comparisons should enable you to decide which model to opt for and an informed compromise should be taken into account. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Looking for a king size divan bed. We looked at Harrison’s range, but then came across Staples, which are a bit cheaper. We both would rather a softer to medium feel mattress, with decent support as we both have iffy backs! The Staples bed we looked at was the Cleopatra medium, does this sound like a good choice or would it be better to look more closely at the Harrison? How does your Artisan Tailored Pocket compare?
Hi Ree. The crucial part of all this is your question “..How does your Artisan Tailored Pocket compare?” If Harrison’s or Staples (or indeed any manufacturer) had the balls to detail the specifics of the specification rather than give a ‘none of your business attitude’ such as the appalling lack of detail proffered for the Staples Cleopatra ..
Magnificent mattress with 1600 pocketed springs and upholstery that includes luxurious cashmere, bamboo, wool and cotton for enhanced breathability.
.. you would be in a better position to do these like for like comparisons yourself.
It is impossible to select a mattress based on a list of components without any reference whatsoever to the amount used. Unlike foodstuffs, it is not a legal requirement for manufacturers to detail the ‘ingredients’ of a mattress – but morally and ethically it is so wrong on so many levels.
Key points to note on your purchase – at the very least – you need to know the combined upholstery weight (GSM = Grams per Square Metre). Looking at the mattress you refer to above, it does sound on the face of it quite a respectable build. However, what if you were to find out that the combined upholstery weight is just a paltry and fairly useless 1000gsm? You will have no reason to complain because the manufacturer has not stated otherwise.
This brings me to looking for a mattress based on brand rather than content. In many cases, particularly on a low budget, it is a completely wrong tack. Lets say for example your budget is £1000. Your first course of action is to compile a list of similar products that fall within this price range. Secondly, you should investigate what the combined upholstery weight is for each product. This will show you instantly which product is offering you more mattress for your money.
Finally Ree, use the specification we give on our Artisan Tailored Pocket as your benchmark. Your question about the comparison between this and the other models you mention should be directed to the appropriate manufacturer (Harrisons / Staples etc). Only when you have the relevant detail will you know which mattress is worth consideration. Hope this helps and please bear in mind that this is as much frustrating for us as it is you. It really shouldn’t be necessary for consumers to have to play Sherlock Holmes digging for detail that should be there in the first place. Please let me know how you get on. John and Ryan.
I’m looking at a Crown posture bedding reflex latex king single mattress. Can you please give me your opinion of this particular brand? Thanks.
Hi Jess. Not familiar at all with this brand. A quick search directed me to sites in Australia! As a sidenote, you should not be initially looking at brands but how the mattress is constructed. Only when you have about three similar models for comparison you then drill down to see who is offering you more. John and Ryan
Hello, my wife and I recently slept on a Simmons “Delicatesse”? mattress. We were both impressed by the comfort. We have looked for the model without success. Is there a similar mattress you could recommend?
KA
Hi KA. I also did a quick search for this model and too unable to find any detail. It will be in your interest to contact Emma Thorpe at Simmons direct – no direct contact number but the email is
[e.thorpe@simmonsbeds.co.uk]. All you need to know if this model is available in this country and what the specifications are. Once we know this we will be able to see if there are any similar equivalents.
From past experience with Simmons it will undoubtedly be a foam / memory foam construction and obviously the crucial information you will need to know is the depths of each component contained. Please let us know how you get on. John and Ryan.
Hi, we are really struggling to choose a bed! We tried ones in John Lewis and liked their 1400 pocket sprung ortho, Kingsize, but found the price a bit steep. Would the Rest Assured Venice 1400 pocket ortho effectively be the same? We have tried and failed to find a shop where we can try the Rest Assured one out (actually, couldn’t find any with 1400). Will all beds with these similar specs feel the same?
Many thanks for your help!
Ann
Hi Ann. The John Lewis 1400 Ortho is manufactured for them by Hypnos. With a retail price of £650 (KS: Feb 2013). The upholstery consists of “Rebound polycotton, blended polywool, Airstream polyester”. It is also a two sided mattress.
The Rest Asssured Venice 1400 retails at <> £300 (various websites) and the most info I can find on this is the upholstery is made up of polyester fillings – also one sided. For this retail price it is as much as you can reasonably expect.
In answer to your question they are not the same – the JL 1400 Ortho being the more superior built mattress – but .., you are paying twice the price for it.
I personally would use the Venice (or similar) as the support and complement this with an amazing topper to give the comfort – and still come away with change.
Even though you consider the JL price steep at £650 – it really isn’t that much for a KS mattress. However, if you do plumb for this, your money can be better spent elsewhere, giving you more mattress for your money. Our Sequence Pocket Suspension for example is a far superior mattress for around the same price. John and Ryan.
Hi,
This website is amazing! Thank you so much.
We found 3 mattresses from Tender Sleep. One Pocket Indulgence, one Pocket Supreme and one Organic Cotton. I can’t find any details about these anywhere on the internet and they don’t go into detail on the site. My OH is on the heavier side and I am heavy but loosing weight and at least 5 and a half stone lighter than OH.
Only info I can find on Indulgence: [£549. KS. Matt: Feb 2013] ‘With 1500 individually nested springs in the standard 150cm (5’0”) mattress the Pocket Indulgence has been upholstered using some of the finest materials, incorporating layers of white cotton felt, Ultra silk and lamb’s wool.
The superior quality soft viscose chenille covering gives a luxurious and sumptuous surface to the mattress.
Additional features include three rows of side stitching, flag stitched handles for ease of turning and gold plated vents, that allow the mattress to breathe. As a final touch we hand tuft using woollen tufts.’
======================================================
Supreme: [£449. KS. Matt: Feb2013] Containing 1200 individually nested pocketed springs in the 150cm (5’0”) size, the mattress is upholstered with layers of high quality fillings and overlaid with Ultra Silk, giving a luxurious surface to the mattress.
A superior quality damask has been used to cover the mattress.
The woollen tufts and three rows of side stitching preserve the shape of the mattress and enhance its durability
====================================================
Organic Cotton: [No pricing info]
Containing upto 2000 pocketed springs.
Upholstered with layers of high quality fillings of memory foam, reflex foam and super supreme.
Then covered in superior quality eco friendly organic cotton.
==================================================
OH has bad back, I do sometimes. OH sleeps either on front of back, I am a side sleeper.
We will probably be getting a slatted base so will need to use wood and padding for the pocket springs.
Any advice on mattresses best for us would be great. I do have allergies and suffer from asthma but have been fine on normal mattresses until now!
Arggghhh! LOL!
Hi Ali. Once again the lack of any substantial information of how these products differ from each other – and of course why the price differences? leaves you no better off as to which of these will be suitable for you.
Taking into account the low retail price of these products leads me to believe that you may be better off purchasing the two main elements separately – Support + Comfort. For example, The Healthopaedic Memory Pocket Deluxe from Mattressman: [£275. KS. Matt. [Feb 2013]. This by itself is not enough to suit your requirements, but it will be an excellent basis of support. Purchase separately the comfort layers to suit you both. For example: The Duck Down Dual Chamber Topper: £67.50 KS. Duvet and Pillow Warehouse [Feb 2013].
All mattresses below £400 are pretty standard despite the huge choice, and it is rather unlikely they will be able to contain all the elements you both need for support and comfort. Nine times out of ten it is always better to composite your own mattress as we have done above to give you the mattress you require.
The savings you make by doing it this way will enable you to change the topper as and when required (the mattress part should always be like new (with care of course)) and you could also buy new bedding to keep the two parts together – and still come home with change.
Hope this helps Ali. Please let us know what you decide upon and how it works. John and Ryan.
Hi we are looking for a kingsize mattress. We have an awful Sleep to Live mattress and one side sags badly. After a lot of research we have decided upon a latex mattress. We have allergies, asthma, etc. We have found the natural vs synthetic latex ratio confusing. The mattress we are looking at is from Bensons for Beds – a Dunlopillo for £1000. We have had Dunlopillo pillows for years that we love. What would you recommend?
Hi Sally. The risk of latex (in a mattress) triggering your allergy is quite rare as found by your use of latex pillows. All latex used in a mattress will be a blend of natural latex and synthetic latex. Finding out blend ratios borders on the impossible (ours is a 60/40 blend – 60% natural latex and 40% synthetic) Read here for more details
I am assuming you are looking at The Dunlopillo Fusion from Bensons which is 5cm of latex on a foam support. i would look at other stockists of Dunlopillo (such as Furniture Village) to see if you can get better. The Dunlopillo Fusion Deep Cocoon 5 for example (has 7.5cm of latex) for around the same price.
As a secondary consideration, use complete latex cores as a comparison. Judge whether any price difference is better spent on all latex or latex on a foam support. Hope this helps Sally. Please let us know how you get on. John and Ryan.
We are looking for a new Kingsize mattress to go over an Ottoman base (which we haven’t got yet but probably slats) and we have tried out the following 3
VI-SPRING BEDSTEAD TRADITIONAL MATTRESS
VI-SPRING BEDSTEAD REALM MATTRESS
VI-SPRING BEDSTEAD SUPREME MATTRESS
Whilst the Traditional was fine, but we didn’t ‘sink in’ as much as on the Realm which felt comfy – soft but supportive, I think the next one up was the Supreme which was really comfy however as the Realm was quoted at £1,500 ish that was at the very top of our budget.
However we came across your website last night and was interested in how you’d compare.
We’d like something that supports us but is also soft and comfy (but doesn’t feel like you sink too deeply when you sit on it – so it moves around when your partner sits down!). My weight varies between 9.5 – 10.5 stone, and my partner is about 11.5 stone.
Would you recommend that we considered the Artisans Naturals? How does it compare to the supreme?
Hi Joe. Comparisons become easy when you have the necessary detail to see what the differences are – and what those differences will cost you – and are you willing to pay that difference.
The Vi Spring Traditional Bedstead is the starter model from VS – obviously a well respected manufacturer, so their starter models would be the equivalent of some manufacturers mid range.
The Traditional Bedstead [£1075. KS. ASTB: January 2013] has the following upholstery:
Upholstered with a wool spring protector pad, then 1,350gsm bonded British fleece wool and cotton, overlaid with two layers of 900gsm blended British fleece wool and cotton.
Combined upholstery weight of 3150 gsm.
The Vi Spring Bedstead Realm [£1432. KS: Furniture Village: January 2013] has the following upholstery:
Upholstered with a wool spring protector pad, then 1,350gsm bonded British fleece wool and cotton, overlaid with 300gsm British fleece wool, 200gsm bamboo and finally 900gsm of blended British fleece wool and cotton.
Combined upholstery weight of 2750 gsm
And the Vi Spring Bedstead Supreme [£2025: KS: Furniture Village: January 2013] is as follows:
Upholstered with a wool spring protector pad, then 1,000gsm bonded British fleece wool and cotton, plus 1,200gsm long-stranded horsehair, enclosed in a hair-proof cambric cover and finally overlaid with 1,200gsm blended British fleece wool and cotton.
Combined upholstery weight of 3400 gsm.
Looking at these side by side shows you that the Traditional and Realm are relatively similar (but the retail price is about £400 more. There is a slight difference in spring counts (1254 v 1326) but really this is such an insignificant difference it should not even come into the equation.
The Bedstead Supreme is obviously the better built model out of all of these, and as you pointed out comes in at around £1000 more than The Traditional. You get 250 gsm more upholstery but this again is such an insignificant amount BUT, the quality of upholstery comes into play – Horsehair and Horsetail is the finest upholstery component in a mattress (and amongst the most expensive) and it is up to you to decide whether you invest into this.
Our Artisan Naturals is described in full and intrinsic detail here and you now have all the information you need to see with whom and where you spend your money.
Hope this helps Joe. Please feel free to comment further with how you are going to come to your decision. John and Ryan.
Hi
I love the John Lewis 9000 matress. It’s £2000 and we really wanted to spend no more than £1000.
Can you suggest anything that will give us that lovely supported sinking comfort for our budget? We have looked at the savoy 2200 in benson for beds and the dreams staples Avebury.
Thank you
Hi Katy. The John Lewis 9000 (I assume it is The Angora?) is manufactured for JL by Harrison Spinks. They also manufacture for Feather and Black so I would see what they have in order to do some like for like comparisons. I would also look at Harrisons own core range to see if any models can be used as further comparison.
Looking at The Savoy after The John Lewis models tells me you are in ‘sticking pins’ mode with no real idea of what you are after. What is good, is that you have a budget to work to and you should use that as an initial starting point to see what you can reasonably expect to get.
For example, and a very good starting point (even if I do say so myself) is our Artisan Naturals [Read Here]. Use the description as the basis for your search and see if you can better for a similar retail price.
Hope this helps, and please feel free to comment further on what you find. John and Ryan.
2013/01/25 at 17:45
Thanks so much for your advice.
I will be visiting feather and black tomorrow to see what the options are there….for price I want to try the bronte which is currently just £795.
I have looked at Harrison’s but I’m unsure how I can try the beds?
Your matresses look fantastic, but even when comparing the materials etc, how can you know what it will feel like….you compare to the vi sprung regal suburb, are you saying your matress feels like this to lay on, in which case I will try this also.
Once again your help and advice is appreciated.
Katy
Hi again Katy. Feather and Black have matts manufactured under their own label by Harrisons, The Bronte is one of these. John Lewis also have matts by Harrisons under the JL label. Obviously a quick search on the net will throw up the local retailers who stock Harrisons core range.
As a sidenote, and I hope there was no confusion. We do not compare our mattresses to Vi Spring, or any other manufacturer. The theme running through this site is that you need to know what the comparable models are, and we give you a helping hand in order to show you what is available.
When you try The Bronte, you should also be in a position to know what alternative models are comparable from other retailers and manufacturers in order to satisfy yourself that your money has been spent wisely.
Please let us know how you get on. John and Ryan.
Hi,
I really hope you can help as I am not sure which mattress to get.
My landlord has purchased a solid slat bedstead 4’6 double from dreams and I need to find a suitable mattress (as the one he has chosen is too soft).
I had a bad lumber sprain/tear a few months ago which left me on the floor for 2 weeks and need a firm mattress (currently on memory foam which is awful). Dreams suggested their Orchid pocket sprung ortho grade 1 mattress, but it is out of my landlords budget.
Is a ‘sealy millionaire posturpedic ortho’, ‘rest assured venice 1400 pocket ortho’ or ‘rest assured anastasiya ortho’ similar? These ones are within my landlords bugdet.
Any advice would be much appeciated as I see you are helping a lot of customers on this site which is amazing!
Many thanks in advance,
Diana
Hi Diana. I am assuming from the above models that your (landlords) budget is in the region of £300. and all mattresses in this price range are pretty much of a muchness.
Looking at the (so called) specification on these models they tell you very little in order for you (and us) to make any sort of comparison. Sealy and Rest Assured are both part of the Silentnight stable using different methods of spring support. The quantity of upholstery used is not mentioned, which again will leave you floundering as to which one is giving you the most mattress for your money.
Personally, for this budget I would look elsewhere. read this comment [here] from someone who was in a similar position as you.
Please follow up with what you decide upon in order to help other readers in a similar position. John and Ryan.
Hi Guys
I’ve recently purchased a Millbrook Saturn 2500 4ft Small Double mattress and am worried my base might not be suitable – it’s a slatted base with 9cm gaps – the slats are quite small too at about 9cm each.
If at all possible I’d rather not buy a new base (I’m on a modest budget and overspent on the mattress) but if I’m not going to get the benefit ill find a way.
Many thanks
Dave
Hi Dave. No need to spend if you do not have to. Have a look at this similar comment which should help you [ Read Here].
Secondly, and I think more importantly. You should be doing all you can to protect the mattress from the top .. ie .., with the use of a topper or at the very least, a protector. Not only will this addition for a minimal expense give you additional comfort, but will deter the upper comfort layer on your mattress from prematurely deteriorating. Hope this helps, John and Ryan.
Many thanks for the advice Guys,
I hadn’t even considered a topper/protector ill be sure to invest in one.
I’ve read in previous comments that you aren’t a huge fan of placing a slab of Mdf over the slats for ventilation reasons – would adding some additional slats be preferable?
Thanks again
Dave
Hi again Dave. We don’t necessarily agree with entire coverage, but bridging the humps with MDF as outlined on this comment I sent you will assist in gaining a more level surface for your mattress. Remember to cushion this in order to protect the underside upholstery of your mattress. John and Ryan.
Hi John an Ryan!
I have been going out of my mind trying to find the perfect bed. I suffer from chronic pain, i have fibromyalgia which had a massive impact on my daily life. I’ve been sleeping on a firm miracoil silentnight mattress and slatted wooden base, probably the worst i could!
Through research i have discovered that i need a soft/gentle mattress with latex. I prefer soft, i weigh only 55kg and im 170cm. I’ve also been told a pocket sprung between 1000-2500 springs would be good (with the latex)
What im not sure of is whether a spring free latex/foam mattress is a better option than this? I have been looking at the Silentnight Barcelona, Sealy Alvaston, Zen rejuvinate and Dunlopillo Cocoon 5. I’ve been looking at beds up to £1500 inc divan with 4 drawers. Also, should i consider milbrook, vogue and do i need a sprung edge base? Please help, even if it could lessen my pain by 20% i would be so happy!
Hi Fiona. My make up bag weighs more than you do
and it is your weight that I would seriously bear in mind regarding your purchase. In the majority of cases support and comfort should go hand in hand. For you, support becomes secondary, and it is the comfort level (upholstery) that becomes the important factor – particularly when you take your fibromyalgia into consideration.
As a first option, I would say that our Origins Comfort (I know it’s the cheapest) would be ideal for your weight. However, with fibromyalgia I ‘think’ the deep tufting (and obvious uneven surface) on this mattress may cause you to experience some undue pressure. To combat this, and to obviously give the cloud like feel you need, I would invest the money you save on a very soft (decent) topper – Down and feather for example.
Alternatively, out of all the mattresses you mention above, the Dunlopillo Cocoon would be worthy of a second look and trial. Normally, I would say that our Origins Pocket Latex is a far better buy, but in your case you do not need the depth of latex we have in our model – a lesser built mattress (despite it costing you more) may be more suitable for your requirements.
Finally Fiona, please keep in touch and let us know what you decide upon. We get several enquiries from people with this debilitating condition and we would like to know which product turns out to be the most suitable. John and Ryan.
We are currently looking to buy a new mattress and have just been to Dreams. The mattress we liked was the Revitalise king mattress with latex top. This is a medium firm mattress graded 3. I have read so many bad things about Dreams and was wondering if there was an equivalent mattress somewhere else or if their price of £779 for a king size was any good.
Hi Jonathan. Easy .. Latex on a pocket spring support unit. Our offering is our Origins Latex 1500 at £700.00 (Kingsize: January 2013).
The extra 100 pocket springs in our model is neither here nor there, What is important though is the amount of Latex used as the comfort layer. Unfortunately Dreams do not tell you this most crucial detail so I would be inclined to phone their Customer Services dept to find out [ 0844 225 9259 (Is this a premium rate number?) or Head Office on 01628 520520].
Firmness grading of mattresses is a nonsense. As we have pointed out countless times throughout this site the firmness you feel on any mattress will depend on your bodyweight. If you are 20 stone and your missus or partner is 10st it is impossible that you will both experience a medium feel.
To find equivalents you have to know what the benchmarks are. In this case we know it’s 1400 pocket springs with a comfort layer of latex. What are the depths (quantity) of latex used? What type of latex? Graphite (grey) latex is the cheapest. Graphite is added to obtain the Fire Retardancy requirements (legal in the UK). Graphite can be up to 30% of the volume mixture. The latex we use is from Latexco where the FR requirement is gained via a (Oeko-tex certified) spray on retardant so no filler as part of the material. FYI – The other major Latex supplier is Latex International. No one should assume that all “latex” is the same. Like every other part of your mattress you should ask the what, where and the whys.
If you find out the detail from Dreams about The Zen Revitalize I will be able to assist you in doing adequate comparisons. John and Ryan.
Many thanks for your reply. As you might expect Dreams were unable to be very specific. They said that the latex was “about an inch in depth” but only from looking and not from actual measurements. Also they agreed that the latex was graphite latex but could not tell me what percentage!
I forgot to say that I weigh 13 stone and my wife weighs 10 stone. Also the bed frame has wooden slats (not sprung) that are 3 inches wide and 5 inches apart – I don’t know if this makes a difference.
Finally if we buy a latex top matress do we also need a matress topper or is a good matress protector enough?
Hi again Jonathan. Enough said. As with any mattress out there, once you know where your money is going, and on what, it is incredibly easy to see whether you are being overcharged for overpriced tat or you are getting a good product for a good price.
The Dreams Zen Revitalise [Dreams: Kingsize: January 2013] retails at £779. It also carries an utterly implausible WAS price of £2,089. Now you know roughly the make up of this particular mattress you should look at other offerings (not just our Origins Latex at £700) to see which is offering you the best for your money.
Your bedframe with fixed slats should really have a mattress pad acting as a suspension to the mattress, This can be as simple as an inch layer of foam. Adding this will assist in the suspension properties of the mattress more for your wifes 10st frame than you. As a note, the non sleep side of our latex mattress is supplemented by a foam layer but many non turn mattresses do not have this.
Protector or topper? Anything is better than nothing. Whatever mattress you decide upon try it without anything (double sheet) for a couple of weeks and see what you need to make it perfect for you both. All mattresses will break in slowly over time and like new shoes become more comfortable over time.
I’m glad that you are able to back up what we say. But again, please don’t take what we say Carte Blanch without additional research. You now know what we can give you for £700. It should now be an easy matter to search for kingsize latex matts for this budget to give you a few more models for comparison. John and Ryan.
Hi.
After trawling shops today feeling nothing but confusion I have come across your site!! There’s light at the end of the tunnel! Ha!
We are after a king size mattress pocket sprung maybe pillow topped firm(ish)
The one we found was in laura Ashley. Not sure who makes there beds?
But it was the Beaumont pillow topped. It has hand side stitch,only one row though? What does this mean?
Also saw some others in Bensons for beds.. Royal crown ortho. Not pillow topped but felt quite nice.could you tell me the differences?
Want the feel of a a bit of luxury,something that you sink in to a little that wraps around you, but with firmness and support .
My hubby is 12st 7 myself 9st.
Confused.com
Hi Kate. Lets cut to the chase. The mattresses you are looking at retail in the area of £450. This is not an extravagant amount for a KS mattress but the choice (and obvious unnecessary confusion) is vast.
It’s not possible to go through each and every model but once you get your head around the fact that there is not much you can squeeze into a mattress to retail for this amount your initial selections should be relatively easy.
First of all I am going to point you towards our Origins Pocket 1500 Read Here. Use this as your first mattress to compare others by. Initially it will be easy to jot down a selection of mattresses based on the pocket spring support and the price (£495.). Use the obvious suspects such as Dreams / Bensons etc and then google search 1500 pocket spring mattress.
finally kate, have a look at this post to explain the pros and cons with pillow top mattresses. John and Ryan.
Hi there
I am looking to buy a new mattress and hope you can help. Which brand is better quality… Harrison or Somnus? I understand both brands are part of the same parent company.
Thank you
Hi Sarah. Harrison Spinks have three main brands. Harrisons > Somnus > Spink and Edgar. As the springs used in all their models over all three brands are produced in house you can be assured that the relative support properties over the entire range can be easily discernible. What becomes questionable is the number of springs used that can be deemed adequate, exceptional or even unnecessary. The Spink and Edgar top of range Empire has a specified 21700 springs (Revolution/HD) and yet the top of range Somnus (Sensa Pocket) Ambassador has a specified 16000 springs.
Personally I think you are approaching this in the wrong way. Your initial enquiries should be focussed on what you can realistically obtain for your budget and then see which manufacturer can offer you the best for your money. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Hiya. I have been looking for a mattress to replace a much too soft Hypnos Orthos super deluxe one which we spent a fortune on a few years ago. We have an old smaller Hypnos Orthos in our spare room which is perfect (but too small). Older version but don’t know the range so don’t know how to find. Any ideas? Many thanks in advance
Hi Mette. It’s always nice when you find the perfect mattress. I would be inclined to phone Hypnos [01844 348200] to see if they can help identify your spare room mattress. John and Ryan.
Hi. Great website.
Would you expect a divan bed to come with some sort of label attached indicating the maker?
Many thanks
Hi C. Divan Bases do not usually come with a manufacturers label. John and Ryan.
Hi,
I have been looking to purchase a new King Size Divan Bed and am struggling to make a final choice. The three we seemed to have come down to are the following;
Healthopaedic Supreme Vasco 1000 – Mattress and Base around £500
Sensaform Seasons Supreme King Size – Mattress and Base around £1500
(memory foam and 3000 premium pocket springs).
Harrison Paradise 5000 – Mattress £800
We have tried all three beds and think they feel great initially. We want that soft sinking feeling but with enough support that it will last the test of time (5-8 years). If you had any pointers on these brands in terms of quality, durability and value for money it would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Martin.
Hi Martin. Out of these three I personally would opt for the Harrisons paradise 5000. Even though it is a pillowtop and obviously one sided – the Harrisons pillowtop incorporates mini springs encased by upholstery. There is another comment here about the Harrisons Paradise 5000 which is worth reading.
As a further option, have a look at our Artisan Naturals. By seeing what our precise build content is you will be in a position to do a comparison with other models – although you will have to make enquiries as to what the comparable components are. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
i work in a independant bed shop and your site and responses to cust questions are of similar to myself. what surprises me is the amount of big name shops these people visit(and are probably prepared to buy from) the prices they quote are ridiculous and looking at your comparisons are similair to our prices.i cant understand why they think because its High Street they are getting a good product at a less price .have you seen there accounts there margins are enormous
Hi Karl. Thanks for your contribution. John and Ryan.
Thankyou for such a useful website! We have a very old maple wood slatted bed and are replacing the original horsehair mattress. We liked a Sleepeeze Lincoln we tried in a Dreams store but wondered if something very slightly softer would be best with slats. We wanted pocket springs but would like to keep the price nearer £800 – 900 if possible. Would be grateful if you could make some suggestions.
Many thanks, Maggie
Hi Maggie. I agree, but bear in mind the support has to be right for your bodyweights. All mattresses that sit on a firm base (slats / platform top divan) will indeed feel firmer than those on a spring edged divan.
I would consider our Origins Latex for two reasons. 1. It falls well within your budget. 2 As it is latex (a considerable amount) on a pocket spring unit, the springs will be acting as a suspension on your base and the latex will be offering the comfort. John and Ryan.
What a fab website you have here, we have been looking at beds and are totally blown away by the choice and different specs out there. We recently visited Carpetright and tried out a bed called Icon 2000 (A 27.5cm mattress is topped with 7.5cm of classic memory foam, all supported by 2000 high-density foam-encased pocket springs.)
Now i must admit the bed was comfy but we have never heard of Icon beds and do not know if this bed is worth the asking price £999… I would like to ask you in your experience does this seem like a good buy and have you ever heard of Icon beds. Thank you in advance.
Hi Chris. Indeed it is a minefield, but not completely one that is insurmountable.
As far as I am aware, the product you mention under the branding of ‘Icon’ used by Carpetright is a product from Breasley Memory Foam. For means of comparison you would be wise to do your like for like comparisons against their own Salus range of products.
Doing comparisons against any Memory Foam products is incredibly easy. The points you need to assess are:
The general overall build. In this case it is a FEPS (Foam Encapsulated Pocket Springs) unit Read More Here.
The depth of the Memory Foam used. In this case you have correctly identified it as being 7.5cm.
There is no doubt about it you will be able to source a similar constructed Memory Foam product for considerably less. Invariably the bulk of all Memory Foam (as a component) comes from British Vita. Mass produced pocket springs in a spunbond casement can also be deemed to be generally alike. The foam that is used in all mattresses (in this case as the encapsulation unit) will again be invariably from British Vita (under the Reflex trade mark) but there are a handful of other foam converters who also supply many manufacturers – I personally would not be too concerned about any UK foam supplier.
Hope this helps Chris. As a final bit of advice I really would go to a High end store in order for you to see what a quality traditional built mattress feels like. The price tags you see may be cause for a sharp intake of breath but like the model above – there are alternatives for much less. John and Ryan.
Hi there
Looking for a new pocket sprung mattress but having some difficulties as we need a 160×200 size. Have been looking at John Lewis Natural Collection Luxury Egyptian Cotton mattress.
I weigh 75kg, my partner 55kg. Do you do any Euro size mattresses?
JB
Hi JB. All our Artisan models can be made to Euro size (add 10% ). The John Lewis Luxury Egyptian Cotton mattress is made for the JL store by Harrisons. As a means of direct comparison you should take a look at the offerings from Feather and Black to see if they have a similar specced mattress. Even though the mattresses from F&B are under their own label, the bulk of them are also manufactured for them by Harrisons. Unfortunately, you will find precious little detail on the amounts and weights of upholstery contained and so I would be inclined to question the sales assistant on this in order for you to determine where your money is going.
As for us, we base our comparable models to Vi Spring. The details on the listings are quite open and incredibly easy for you to do your own comparisons. Hope this helps. John and Ryan
What a fantastic website you have here, it’s so interesting to read!
We have been thinking about getting the Sleepeezee 3000 black cashmere after testing it out in carpet right do you have any cheaper recommendations?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Christie. In order to see if we, or indeed anyone else has a viable alternative you have to read behind the specifications and virtually dissect the mattress to see exactly what it is you are considering. In this case it is relatively easy to do and I assume you refer to the Pocket Sovereign 3000 [Black Label]
[Official Specification: KS £949.00: Sleepeezee Pocket Sovereign 3000: October 2012]
With 3000 pocketed springs giving you independent support over two layers, 47mm of Visco elastic memory foam and 30mm of iFoam memory foam, there aren’t many beds which work as hard as this to give you the perfect night’s sleep.
This mattress is one of our best yet. Sitting under the mock pillow top finish, the 47mm of Visco memory foam moulds to your body providing greater support than traditional fillings. What’s more another layer of high density iFoam, with pressure sensitivity, reacts faster to your body position giving you a consistent and luxurious level of support.
You’ll find the cashmere knitted panel is softer than wool and it also provides insulation and moisture absorbing properties. We’ve used Outlast yarn so if you’re looking for the ultimate in temperature control, you’ll find it here.
Looking at the description this is essentially a Pocket Sprung Memory Foam mattress. The numbers you need for comparison are 5cm of Memory Foam and 3cm of I-Foam (I-Foam is a relatively new foam product and I think is a good partner to memory Foam rather than having a a single 8cm layer of just Memory Foam. However, I wouldn’t pay significantly more for it though.
There is no indication as to the construction of the 3000 springs. I am assuming they are suspension pocket springs similar to our Sequence Pocket Suspension, but they could also be double tiered 1500 springs – no real need at this time to worry unduly over this.
As a quick example of comparison take a look at this model (Healthopaedic) >here . This is 5cm of Memory Foam on 5cm of Reflex Foam but also using the 3000 Suspension Springs – for £400 less than the Carpetright model.
This short example shows you that once you know the relevant specs you can easily and adequately do like for like comparisons against similarly built mattresses. Once you have your shortlist, you then have to make the decision as to whom you go with.
I must point out that none of the above are a personal recommendation of product or supply. We do not sell or endorse any kind of Memory Foam mattress. For your £950 you were willing to spend on this particular mattress we would say your money would have been better spent on our Artisan Naturals or Artisan Tailored Pocket. John and Ryan
Hello – I’m looking for an electric ‘double’ bed – kings size. What would you buy? We like a firm mattress and don’t want a headboard. Thanks for any help from your great site. Alison
Hi Alison. Usually the mattresses that accompany electric beds will either be latex or foam, or a combination of both. The reason for this is that there has to be an element of bend in the mattress to form with the movement of the electric bed.
There are pocket sprung mattresses that have had the perimeter rod edge removed in order for it to move with the mechanics of the bed but unfortunately;y these are few and far between.
Although we will be supplying a range of electric beds and a selection of mattresses to go with them, this will not be until early next year. We are currently still researching all the available options and unfortunately again, we are not in a position to make any kind of recommendations. John and Ryan.
Wow – what a helpful post.
Can you help me at all? We have just bought a new bedframe, and need to buy a new mattress, i’d LOVE a Tempur cloud, really into trying out memory foam but we may move in a couple of years and may need a king size which we don’t have room for now so at the moment we want to spend upto £500 – £600 on a similar kind of mattress. I am 5″3 and weigh between 9 to 9.5 stone and my partner is 6″1 and weighs maybe 11 stone.
I laid on an Icon Miracoil 6 superiar and liked the feel of that (but not sure on quality) and we are going to look in Dreams tonight.
Thank you
Hi Eve. Before you go down the memory foam route I really would advise you read this post and associated comments Here.
To start with, and the obvious route, is looking closely at the mattress you like – The Tempur Cloud 22 model is (paraphrasing) a basic construction of a High Density Foam Support (11cm) – topped with two layers of differing densities of pressure Relieving Foam (5cm + 6cm) and for this 22cm layers of foam you are being asked to hand over <>£1700. (KS). [Incidentally, there seems to be an anomaly on this description between Furniture Village and John Lewis. JL say that the breakdown is 11+4+6 and FV say that the breakdown is 11+5+6 (This is the correct breakdown)] More incidentally – Tempur sell this model direct through their site at £2.299. which is absolutely deplorable – meaning that their (Tempur) stockists are able to sell it cheaper than the manufacturer – Tempur will charge you <>£600 MORE for buying direct – WHY?
The Cloud 25 model [£2175. (KS) John Lewis (Sept 2012)] is slightly different with High Density Foam Support (11cm) – topped with two layers of differing densities of Pressure Relieving Material (7cm + 7cm) – So logically, the only difference between these two models is an extra 3cm of Pressure Relieving Material (for want of a better word) in The Cloud 25 and for this 3cm you will pay .. wait for it … wait for it … …. £475.00. Incidentally, Tempur sell this online for .. gulp ..splutter … £2899.00.
If I was expected to hand over nearly three grand for a mattress I would expect to be told where my money was going – and this means I would want to know actual densities at the very least. All we’re currently told is that the mattress is built with Tempur Material, topped with a secondary Tempur support layer and finally topped with a layer of Tempur ES material for a softer feel … £2899. please .. thank you very much!
Finally Eve, I would look at a company called Ergoflex and see if they can offer you more value for money than any of the bedsheds. Be aware that this is by no means a personal recommendation but a pointer to what constitutes a good starting point. To make comparisons between memory foam products is incredibly easy. Be prepared to spend at least one hour drawing up a basic comparison table of Price, Depth and densities and ASK QUESTIONS. John and Ryan.
Thank you both for your informative reply.
After looking round a few shops we have set given ourselves a decision between the Icon Miracoil 6 Superior which is sold in Carpet right and looking back on previous posts on your website made by Breasley or the Icon Prestige – can you recommend either? The Prestige is slightly firmer which we like, but we ultimately like both.
I am 5″3 and weigh 9 stone and my partner is 6″1 and weighs 12 stone
Thanks again!
Hi again Eve. I think you’ve got the names of these models mixed up a bit. The Miracoil 6 is from Silentnight and The Icon mattress is the one from (presumably) Breasley. As for a recommendation as to which is better than the other is something we cannot do. You are now armed with more information than you were when you started, and the decision as to which you choose is now down to you. John and Ryan.
Dear John and Ryan,
Just stumbled across your website and what a breath of fresh air it is!! Just a shame more companies can’t do the same! Anyway I’d like some advice on buying a mattress. At the moment I have a Kng-size Manor Ortho mattress, open coil range from Sprung Slumber which sits on a solid mahogany wood slatted base. I’m not looking to change the bed as I figure its the mattress that’s the problem not the bed frame.
I weigh about 11stone and am 5’8. I sleep on my own as I lost my husband last year and I’m quite nervous of spending a lot of money without being able to obtain some genuine advice (which you seem to offer!) but I really need a comfortable mattress as the one I have is anything but! I’m looking to spend between £500 and £800 though i would stretch a little further if you thought I would benefit more – after all we do spend a long time in bed and I’m fed up of waking with lower back ache! Looking forward to hearing from you. Regards Ann
Hi Ann. I really would consider The Artisan Naturals as your first choice – this is a phenomenal mattress and our pride and joy as there is nothing else out there that can get close to quality and price. As a secondary alternative, consider The Origins Latex. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
Hi John and Ryan,
thank you so much for your recommendation with regards to Lombok mattress. Can i pls ask you another question – i am generally after a good quality mattress that i can find in this market for about £1000 that does not have to be turned with season. I have looked at Sleepeezee Cool Comfort and then some of the Hypnos pillowtop mattrasses. how do they compare in terms of quality. and separately, would you in general recommend buying non-turn mattrasses or would i be better off getting Hypnos Baronnes or Hypnos Orthos? baronnes and orthos use different springs…do you have a view on them? thank you so much!!! you guys make life of so many people easier.
Hi again Vera. Firstly, our views on all pillowtop mattresses are laid out here. As is our views on one sided non turn mattresses Read Here.
Considering that there are literally thousands of models out there, you really do need to have some sort of game plan in order for you to be able to select the best available for your budget. The options you give above are completely different in price range and build construction. If your budget is <> £1000 you should be concentrating on what mattresses out there are available for your requirements [you do not mention your bodyweight which is absolutely crucial - eg: no point in looking at orthopaedic mattresses if your weight does not require it].
Doing a preliminary search of the obvious contenders [Dreams / Bensons etc] will basically show you what your £1000 can get you. If you look at our Artisan Naturals as an alternative example this will give you a pretty good benchmark as to what can be gained for this kind of budget.
Like we have said countless times before, the problem of manufacturers and retailers not giving you specific component details in order for you to do adequate comparisons will become quite apparent, relatively quickly in your search and no doubt be the source of your complete frustration. It is not acceptable in this day and age to expect a customer to shell out what is a significant amount of money on a list of exaggerated materials without backing this up with any weights or measures. It is up to you to dig deeper and make the relevant enquiries as to where and on what your money is going. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.
[25 August 2012]
– which mattress in the market would you compare you Artisan Naturals? I just want to try it out, to get a feel for it as the price you are indicating is inside of my budget. thank you very much in advance. Vera.
Thank you for a comprehensive response. I weight about 10.3 stones (65kg) and am 6′ tall. i don’t like sleeping on soft mattresses and thus got interested in Orthos. But agree with you they might be a bit hard. Can i pls ask you one more question? apologies for asking too many
Hi again Vera. Firstly, please do not apologise for the number of questions you have to ask. Unfortunately, one answer to a direct question opens up the door to a further ten questions. As you can see by the number of comments throughout this site there is not a straightforward answer to anything.
As a comparison model to The Artisan Naturals we always point people in the direction of Vi Spring and their Regal Superb model in particular. However, these are not like for like equivalents (although we can do this if required).
If we look at how the Vi Spring Regal Superb is constructed you will be easily able to draw comparisons to our Artisan Naturals.
[Vi Spring Regal Superb - Official Description]
1.28mm wire springs, 48mm in diameter, sewn in individual calico pockets and hand-formed into a honeycomb-nested unit. 23cm deep with three rows of genuine hand side-stitching. Eight horizontal handles on King Size and above. Air vents on all sides. Borders upholstered in protective wool, finished with piped ticking.
Upholstered with 1,000gsm bonded British fleece wool and cotton, then 1,200gsm long-stranded horsetail blended with British fleece wool and enclosed in a hair-proof cambric cover. Overlaid with a layer of 900gsm blended real Shetland Isle fleece wool and cotton.
It has to be said Vera, this is a fabulous mattress from the UK’s premier manufacturer. What I say below is not to be taken as any indication of our product is in any way better or worse. When making any kind of comparison (against any products) it is best to dissect the mattress as a whole and see if the integral components are better / equivalent / worse than the comparable model. Obviously the final price should be your means of decision.
SPRINGS: Hand Laid, Hand Nested sewn Calico springs are the ultimate in spring support and construction [for a company such as Vi Spring to use anything less would be inconceivable which puts this particular spring arrangement into perspective] – our calico springs are as close as you can get to a Vi Spring Calico Spring. On The Vi Spring Regal Superb they use 1720 springs – We use 1396 (they have 324 more). The difference is in the actual diameter of the spring – in this particular model they utilise a 4.8cm diameter spring – we use a 5.4cm diameter spring.
UPHOLSTERY: Upholstery levels can be broken down into three parts:
1. The Insulating layer: – the upholstery directly on top of the springs
2. The Core layer: – Usually the support element of upholstery
3. The Primary Layer: The comfort layer directly beneath the fabric
We can see from the official description above that Vi Spring use 1000gsm Bonded British Fleece wool and cotton. We use 1500gsm Mohair. In our minds Mohair (a course hair component) provides a more durable element to the mattress.
On top of this Vi Spring utilise 1200gsm Horsetail blended with wool. We use 1200gsm Cotton (600gsm) blended with polyester (600gsm). Obviously the Horsetail and wool component is a better overall product and it is this element alone which enables us to retail at the price we do. As this layer is the core support layer, the attributes between the two can be deemed as similar.
The primary layer on the Vi Spring RS is 900gsm Shetland Isle belended fleece wool and cotton. We use 1200 gsm blended wool and cotton. The difference between Shetland fleece wool and British fleece wool is open to argument. I personally would not be able to tell the difference side by side of the two. Our blend is a 50/50 of wool and cotton and I can only assume that Vi Springs blend would be in the same ratio.
This Vera, is all the comparison data you require. Although not identical, a similarity of overall comfort is achievable. Please let us know how you get on and please feel free to add further comment. John and Ryan.
Hi
My partner and I have been looking for a king size bed. We have agreed we like the Dreams Lincoln (3500 pocket sprung); we also like the Hypnos beds used by Premier Inn. However the beds are about £1600. Are there other makes that would feel the same but maybe not cost as much? Your advise would be appreciated.
Hi Tricia. We’re not particularly sure who makes the Dreams Lincoln model but for the price asked [£1429. KS mattress: 13/08/12] you really do have some further viable alternatives. Off the top of my head I would take a trip to Furniture Village and look at some of the models from The Handmade Bed Co (Millbrook). Their 3000 model for example is slightly more at around £1600 KS Mattress but the overall quality of the product is quite evident.
I would imagine the Hypnos Beds as used in Premier Inn are built to a specification dictated by the hotel group. Despite intensive searching we cannot find reference as to any of the composite build features so the task of offering an alternative model becomes quite impossible. It is worth noting that Hypnos uses two kinds of pocket springs (unique to them) The Reactive Pocket Spring and The Ultrasens Pocket Spring. The Ultrasens being found in the more expensive models.
It would be amiss of me not to point you also to our Artisan Naturals model. The spring unit alone used in this model makes this a worthwhile consideration and price should be used as a guide in order for you to see if you can find a better built model for an equivalent selling price. Hope this helps. John and Ryan.