Which mattress? (merged threads)

Tim_Deegan

witney123 wrote: »

I surprised that JL are missleading, this seems part and parcel when it comes to the bed industry

I wouldn't have thought that JL were missleading people.

The mattress with 4000 springs would probably be two layers of the 2000 spring unit.

witney123

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

I wouldn't have thaought that JL were missleading people.

The mattress with 4000 springs would probably be two layers of the 2000 spring unit.

I see

I noticed that health beds got a good report in which.

I quite like the look of Health Beds 1400 Memory mattress in medium tension.

has anyone got one at all?

the only thing puts me off .....price of course and no turn, however which must have it right?

Does anyone know who they use to test the beds, it surely must be an expert.

Tim_Deegan

witney123 wrote: »

I see

I noticed that health beds got a good report in which.

I quite like the look of Health Beds 1400 Memory mattress in medium tension.

has anyone got one at all?

the only thing puts me off .....price of course and no turn, however which must have it right?

Does anyone know who they use to test the beds, it surely must be an expert.

Which Magazine use FIRA in Stevenage (Furniture Industry Research Association).

In the last Which Magazine they didn't test two sided memory foam mattresses, because they were actually wrongly told that they didn't exist. The report actually concentrated on reflex foam/memory foam mattresses, and if I remember rightly only tested two pocket sprung/memory foam ones. In the next report they will be testing two sided pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses.

markp1960

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

It's a fact that much of the bed industry don't want disclosed, because they like to tell people "the more pocket springs the better". They even convince retailers that this is true. But if you think about it, to fit twice as many springs in a mattress they have to be half the size. They also have to be half the tension (otherwise the mattress would be rock hard). So the springs are smaller and weaker.

As you know pocket springs are more fragile than open coil due to the fact that the springs work independently. Sit can take as little as someone standing on a mattress or kneeling on it to damage a pocket spring as small and weak as this...........I did spend 16 years in engineering.

Tim, was your engineering background within the bed manufacturing industry?

markp1960

witney123 wrote: »

[
In a word no, I am falling into a schoolboy error I know after spending a small fortune on bedroom furniture, I am trying to cut corners I guess and save some money, where I live in oxfordshire the lack of independant dealers selling anything decent at a reasonable cost only leaves me dreams, bensons sleep depot, furniture village with their over inflated mark ups so they can offer 50% off to a nearer true value if that, so I was going to wing it as anything would be an improvement.

it's about as unforgiving as a scorned woman.[/quote]

I can understand your dilemma and it's a pity if your choice is limited to likes you mention above. If you are going to 'wing it' just make sure of the websites term & conditions if you have to return it beacause you don't like it and what it may cost you to do so, a few don't charge but many do.

Tim_Deegan

markp1960 wrote: »

Tim, was your engineering background within the bed manufacturing industry?

No, but it doesn't need to be, it's common sense.

Bacardi_queen

I managed to read up to about page 30 of this thread and decided I don't have the time to continue reading the rest or I'll never get a mattress!!

I have just bought a faux leather sleigh bed (like this one here, but it has a wooden frame instead of metal). From what I've learnt so far I need an open coil sprung mattress as the slats are more than 1" apart and I don't want memory foam.

The only stores near me are Dreams and Bensons so took the liberty to try their mattresses and write down the names of the ones I felt were most comfortable. I thought that I would prefer a firm bed, however the beds I liked were a mixture and so now I'm worried if I buy online, I'll get the wrong level of firmness.

The mattresses I found comfortable were:

Myers
Slumberland Hazelmere
Dorlux Harlequin
Sealy Backcare Orthopaedic (actually, to be honest this was probably a teensy bit on the too firm side)

I was hoping that someone would be able give me a guide as to firmness level. I think I should go for a medium but I'm worried that once it arrives, it will be too soft. One of the things I most hated about some of the mattresses I tested is that when you sat on them, you sank into the mattress, so much so that if you sat down hard enough you could feel the base! I definitely don't want this.

With this in mind, could someone advise on the following manufacturers (ie do they come up medium or firm etc):

La Romantica (I like the look of the Sennett, Faye and Elitta ranges)
Restus
Kozeesleep

Is there much of a difference other than cosmetic between the standard mattress cover and the damask quilted type cover? Do they make much of a difference to comfort?

Is there a huge advantage to the twin sprung type mattress? I've seen a couple of these and wondered if these too were another marketing ploy.

Me and the OH are both quite light, about the same weight and have a budget of between £150-£200.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

markp1960

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

No, but it doesn't need to be, it's common sense.

Ok fair enough. I would broadly agree with you that 1800 normal pocket springs (assuming it's one layer) is sufficient in a mattress. But as you know some makers high spring counts are actually because they use double units. or a shallow unit on top of deep unit etc etc so they are not neccessarily using thinner wire.

My point is your suggestion implies that an even higher spring count is more likely to lead to problems or issues at some point in its life. Are you aware of evidence that confirms this because as for me, someone who sells them (and is involved in any after sales issues) I am not.

Most 2000 + pocket spring matts are in the higher price bracket and the springs are usually covered by copious amount of fillings and so are very well protected. Standing or kneeling on would I suppose increase the likelihood of damage but under normal general use I still think it's unlikely.

If such mattresses are a problem then why would the industry continue to make them? A higher issue rate would mean a higher returns rate and that just wouldn't make economic sense.

Spring count is important but isn't everything. Vi Spring told me that years ago and they have some very high spring counts.

markp1960

Bacardi_queen wrote: »

I managed to read up to about page 30 of this thread and decided I don't have the time to continue reading the rest or I'll never get a mattress!!

I have just bought a faux leather sleigh bed (like this one here, but it has a wooden frame instead of metal). From what I've learnt so far I need an open coil sprung mattress as the slats are more than 1" apart and I don't want memory foam.

The mattresses I found comfortable were:

Myers
Slumberland Hazelmere
Dorlux Harlequin
Sealy Backcare Orthopaedic (actually, to be honest this was probably a teensy bit on the too firm side)

I was hoping that someone would be able give me a guide as to firmness level. I think I should go for a medium but I'm worried that once it arrives, it will be too soft. One of the things I most hated about some of the mattresses I tested is that when you sat on them, you sank into the mattress, so much so that if you sat down hard enough you could feel the base! I definitely don't want this.

With this in mind, could someone advise on the following manufacturers (ie do they come up medium or firm etc):

La Romantica (I like the look of the Sennett, Faye and Elitta ranges)
Restus
Kozeesleep

Is there much of a difference other than cosmetic between the standard mattress cover and the damask quilted type cover? Do they make much of a difference to comfort?

Is there a huge advantage to the twin sprung type mattress? I've seen a couple of these and wondered if these too were another marketing ploy.

Me and the OH are both quite light, about the same weight and have a budget of between £150-£200.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

Normally if you are light in weight a soft to medium firm mattress would suit unless perhaps you sleep on your front when lighter people prefer firmer. When you tried them did you lie on them as you would at home? ie on your side etc. When people try matts in a store they often lie on their back, rigid looking as if they are waiting to be measured up for a coffin.

How far apart are the slats and are they curved of flat?

Your budget means that you will be looking at open coil spring matts but a pocket spring mattress would be your best but it's difficult to find a sub £200 one unless you know where to look, but they do exist. And if you can sretch to £250 all the better. Whereabouts in the country are you?

Double (twin sprung) coil spring mattresses are not a favourite of mine. They are usually very deep which means they can look daft if the headboard of your bed is shallow and I never lay on one yet that I thought was comfortable or offered any benefit. Plus when buying fitted sheets check they will fit properly.

Tim_Deegan

markp1960 wrote: »

Ok fair enough. I would broadly agree with you that 1800 normal pocket springs (assuming it's one layer) is sufficient in a mattress. But as you know some makers high spring counts are actually because they use double units. or a shallow unit on top of deep unit etc etc so they are not neccessarily using thinner wire.

Very true, but as you will probably know there is no benefit from this, so it is just a gimmick to get people to part with more money by saying the mattress has a higher spring count.

markp1960 wrote: »

My point is your suggestion implies that an even higher spring count is more likely to lead to problems or issues at some point in its life. Are you aware of evidence that confirms this because as for me, someone who sells them (and is involved in any after sales issues) I am not.

I actually talk to many people in a non salesman type way in order to find out exactly what would be most suitable for them. I ask them what their previous mattress was, and why they are replacing it. From this strong patterns start to appear, and they all point towards higher spring counts being less reliable.

markp1960 wrote: »

Most 2000 + pocket spring matts are in the higher price bracket and the springs are usually covered by copious amount of fillings and so are very well protected. Standing or kneeling on would I suppose increase the likelihood of damage but under normal general use I still think it's unlikely.

If the fillings protect the springs too well then they will actually stop the springs contouring to your body. The springs need to be able to work independently in order to work properly, so too much protection from the quilting will prevent them working as they are designed to.

markp1960 wrote: »

If such mattresses are a problem then why would the industry continue to make them? A higher issue rate would mean a higher returns rate and that just wouldn't make economic sense.

Now come on, I thought you could see above all the hype and gimmicks in the bed industry. It's the same as asking why Silentnight still make the miracoil system...........because due to the power of advertising they convince people that it is actually a good spring system.

You know as well as I do that both retailers and manufacturers will tell people many things to get them to part with more money. For example "the more memory foam the better", or "this mattress has been made non turn for your convenience", etc..........

markp1960 wrote: »

Spring count is important but isn't everything. Vi Spring told me that years ago and they have some very high spring counts.

Most sales reps are told what to tell people by the manufacturers, although they may tell you a little of the truth so that you don't think you are being too dishonest. It's how big industries work.