Which mattress? (merged threads)

Tim_Deegan

Wistful wrote: »

Cathodetube, thank you. Had a look at the Dreams website. They have a few Millbrooks, though not one called Horizon. In King size the Cranborne has 1400 pocket springs topped with polyester, cotton and soft lambswool for £729, the Woburn 2000 "topped with luxurious layers of silk and wool for ultimate comfort" for £829.

Both pretty expensive: is that what you pay for a good mattress or can something just as good be had elsewhere for a lot less?

If Dreams are selling mattresses that appear to have a similar spec, but they have a different name, then despite what they may tell you in Dreams, the spec probably isn't half as good athe the mattress they compare it to.

This is a common ploy by many of the large chain stores. They also have their own names put on mattresses so that they can charge what they want, but still give a price promise.

Tim_Deegan

Wistful wrote: »

Well, am I glad I found this site!

Just been to Dreams and nearly bought a non-turn pocket spring with foam on top mattress for £630. Would that have been a mistake? Their divan base was only an extra £70 which looked like a good deal.

Harveys had something similar which we nearly went for too.

Tim, I think we would like to hear your opinions! Yes we know you sell beds but my guess is you are an independent and can give a relatively unbiased view of what's best.

We're now thinking we should go for a pocket spring turnable with no foam.

We want a new mattress and a divan base. How much should we pay to get a good one without overpaying? Where to buy and which makes to consider and particularly which makes to avoid?

Unfortunately I can't recommend any on here because if I happened to mention any models that I actually sell, then it could be viewed as advertising.

cathodetube

Wistful, what are the bases of the Millbrooks like? Sprung bases are better, in my opinion, and they cost more than a firm base. Also bases with storage drawers cost more. Also, how thick ie deep are the mattresses?

I don't think that the prices you quoted sound expensive. Are they on sale? Vi-Spring beds are exceedingly more expensive. If you think how long you should have a bed for, 10 years plus, and work it out per night, and think that you need to feel rested in the morning otherwise your work and health suffer.....the English just don't seem to want to spend much on a bed. It also depends on your weight and your partner's weight.

A few years ago when I was searching for beds a friend asked me to find one for her as she travelled a lot and didn't have time to look around. I suggested she buy the Dunlopillo Millenium bed (made year 2000). I would have bought one myself if I could have afforded it. It cost her £1500 from a place in Bristol (where she lives) which was the cheapest one we could find! We tried places like John Lewis and DH Evans and they were more expensive. The Millenium is latex with a very deep mattress and sprung base with drawers. The top is very nicely padded. She is very pleased with it I don't know if they make it any more. The point I am trying to make is that £800 odd pounds is not expensive IMHO. Most bed salesmen I have spoken to in the past have said to me that as people get older they want to replace their bed with a more comfortable one. That is what happened to me as I had a firm rest Dunlopillo one with a hard base and eventually I started tossing and turning on it and couldn't get comfortable. However this was after I had had it about 13 years! Hard beds do not help you sleep well. Your back should be cradled by the mattress and there should be hardly any space for you to slide your hand under the small of your back. You should not be lying rigidly on top.

I think the best thing is to go to bed stores and try out the beds for at least 10-15 minutes if possible and take your partner if applicable.

Tim_Deegan

cathodetube wrote: »

Most bed salesmen I have spoken to in the past.

That was your biggest mistake.:eek:

Please tell me you didn't believe most of what they told you?

cathodetube wrote: »

I think the best thing is to go to bed stores and try out the beds for at least 10-15 minutes if possible and take your partner if applicable.

Unfortunately this only gives you a rough idea, you really need to sleep on it for a few nights. So try and find a seller who will let you return it if you aren't satisfied.

cathodetube

I didn't need to believe the bed salesmen, as I had had conversation with friends about how we didn't like firm beds anymore, the ubiquitous orthopaedic mattresses that many people used to think were good for their back, a bit like sleeping on the floor! It is a conclusion I came to on my own. As you get older you get more aches and pains blah blah, etc. etc. How old are you Tim?

Tim_Deegan

cathodetube wrote: »

I didn't need to believe the bed salesmen, as I had had conversation with friends about how we didn't like firm beds anymore, the ubiquitous orthopaedic mattresses that many people used to think were good for their back, a bit like sleeping on the floor! It is a conclusion I came to on my own. As you get older you get more aches and pains blah blah, etc. etc. How old are you Tim?

I'm not saying that you aren't right, and that you have obviously done your homework.

There is a common belief that for back support you should go for a firm mattress. The fact is that this only applies to open coil sprung mattresses, and the reason for this is because soft open coil springs will bow down in the middle, and will curve your spine. So with firm springs they will keep your spine straighter.

With pocket sprung mattresses this isn't the case because each spring works independently, so they will contour to the curves of your body.

With memory foam mattresses it depends on what is under the memory foam. If it has pocket springs then it will give the best possible support. However if it has reflex foam the it would depend on the density, as a soft reflex foam layer can still bow down in the middle.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to answer, I'm 38.

cathodetube

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

I'm not saying that you aren't right, and that you have obviously done your homework.

There is a common belief that for back support you should go for a firm mattress. The fact is that this only applies to open coil sprung mattresses, and the reason for this is because soft open coil springs will bow down in the middle, and will curve your spine. So with firm springs they will keep your spine straighter.

With pocket sprung mattresses this isn't the case because each spring works independently, so they will contour to the curves of your body.

With memory foam mattresses it depends on what is under the memory foam. If it has pocket springs then it will give the best possible support. However if it has reflex foam the it would depend on the density, as a soft reflex foam layer can still bow down in the middle.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to answer, I'm 38.

Tim, I don't understand your reply. Are you saying that for back support (ie problematic sore, painful back) you should go for firm mattresses? Because if you are then I don't agree with you. Most people probably start out with an open coil mattress , or even a futon! because they are cheaper and then when they can afford it or realise that an open coil isn't doing their back any good or they keep rolling into the middle of the bed, move on to a pocket sprung one or memory foam.

You haven't offered your opinion of Dunlopillo mattresses or Tempur ones. I have slept on my friend's Millenium bed and found it to be extremely comfortable. My brother has a Tempur one and he loves it. but I have heard that they can become very warm.

I also don't understand why you can't recommend beds on this site, unless you only work for one manufacturer. If you work for a shop selling different brands then surely it would be similar to the advice you would give in the shop. Or maybe you could say what bed you spent your money on.

Wistful_2

cathodetube wrote: »

I don't think that the prices you quoted sound expensive. Are they on sale? Vi-Spring beds are exceedingly more expensive. If you think how long you should have a bed for, 10 years plus, and work it out per night, and think that you need to feel rested in the morning otherwise your work and health suffer.....the English just don't seem to want to spend much on a bed. It also depends on your weight and your partner's weight.

The one I'm zeroing in on is made by Millbrook - Tim, do Millbrook make good mattresses? - it is king-size 1400 pocket spring, not foam. With a 2 draw sprung divan base (which we need) it's £888, incluing old-mattress-takeaway.
http://www.dreams.co.uk/en-gb/ProductDetails/?cid=POCKETSPRING-DIVAN&pid=321-00880&language=en-GB

We need to go and try it, but if that works out OK - and Dreams offer a 40 day return if not happy - I am beginning to conclude that £888 is a reasonable price. Or is it?

And is it likely to be worth an extra £100 to go for the 2000 pocket spring with silk stuffing:

http://www.dreams.co.uk/en-gb/ProductDetails/?cid=POCKETSPRING-DIVAN&pid=311-00547&language=en-GB

Or is it worth spending even more?

This one looks nice at around £700 but we are wary of buying a bed online as we want to try it out first:

http://www.bedlum-beds.co.uk/product/KOZEESLEEP-Duchess-Pocket-Sprung-King-Size-Beds.-From-625.00/

Tim_Deegan

cathodetube wrote: »

Tim, I don't understand your reply. Are you saying that for back support (ie problematic sore, painful back) you should go for firm mattresses? Because if you are then I don't agree with you. Most people probably start out with an open coil mattress , or even a futon! because they are cheaper and then when they can afford it or realise that an open coil isn't doing their back any good or they keep rolling into the middle of the bed, move on to a pocket sprung one or memory foam.

No. What I said is that if you can only afford an open coil sprung mattress, and you have back problems, then you should go for firm. But if you go for pocket sprung then you can go for whatever firmness you prefer.

As for memory foam, it is only there to contour to your body and to spread your weight out preventing pressure points. Memory foam however does need a good base.

cathodetube wrote: »

You haven't offered your opinion of Dunlopillo mattresses or Tempur ones. I have slept on my friend's Millenium bed and found it to be extremely comfortable. My brother has a Tempur one and he loves it. but I have heard that they can become very warm.

I have given my opinion on Dunlopillo and especially Tempur in many other forums. I do think they are both over priced and over rated. Dunlopillo have apparently gone down in quality since they were taken over. As for Tempur, there are a few things wrong with the way they are constructed, but the fact that they came bottom in the Which Magazine report should tell you something.

As I have said previously, stay away from big brand names and big chain stores if you want a good mattress at a good price.

cathodetube wrote: »

I also don't understand why you can't recommend beds on this site, unless you only work for one manufacturer. If you work for a shop selling different brands then surely it would be similar to the advice you would give in the shop. Or maybe you could say what bed you spent your money on.

I own a company that sells a range of beds, but I don't make the rules, MSE do.

Tim_Deegan

Wistful wrote: »

The one I'm zeroing in on is made by Millbrook - Tim, do Millbrook make good mattresses? - it is king-size 1400 pocket spring, not foam. With a 2 draw sprung divan base (which we need) it's £888, incluing old-mattress-takeaway.
http://www.dreams.co.uk/en-gb/ProductDetails/?cid=POCKETSPRING-DIVAN&pid=321-00880&language=en-GB

Yes Millbrook do make good mattresses at the top of their ranges, but they will also make not so good mattresses lower down in their range. It appears that this model is made especially for Dreams to their spec, so I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

I keep saying that you should stay away from big brands and big chain stores.

Wistful wrote: »

And is it likely to be worth an extra £100 to go for the 2000 pocket spring with silk stuffing:

http://www.dreams.co.uk/en-gb/ProductDetails/?cid=POCKETSPRING-DIVAN&pid=311-00547&language=en-GB

No, not at all. More than 800 pocket springs in a king size mattress is enough to do what pocket springs are designed to do. If a mattress has too many springs then each spring will be so small and weak that they get damaged easily. I usually recommend between 800 and 1800.

Wistful wrote: »

Or is it worth spending even more?

No, you can spend far less and get far better for your money.

Wistful wrote: »

This one looks nice at around £700 but we are wary of buying a bed online as we want to try it out first:

http://www.bedlum-beds.co.uk/product/KOZEESLEEP-Duchess-Pocket-Sprung-King-Size-Beds.-From-625.00/

I'm not allowed to comment on that one I'm afraid (some people on here will know why). But there is nothing to worry about when buying from reputable on line companies.