Yet More Mattress Confusion

His_Missus_2

Hi All!

We are in desperate need of a new mattress and I need some help and advice!

I know what I want out of a mattress but I have no idea what type to go for.

I'm looking for a firm, supportive mattress that won't bounce me out of bed every time my partner turns over (He's quite a big man and when he turns he has a habit of throwing himself onto his other side creating a trampoline effect on me!)

When I bought our last mattress I was advised to get a pocket sprung one as this would resolve the bounce issue from my partner turning over. So I went online and ended up with a Rest Assured "Lara" 1200 pocket sprung. It's great from the bounce point of view but it's a little too soft and, as the years have gone by - 4 years - it has become more uncomfortable and we are now both getting a poor nights sleep and waking with many aches and pains.

I have a max of £400 to spend on a new one. We have a pine bed with a slatted base. I don't mind having to turn mattresses if needed and I don't mind if it's heavy. We're both side sleepers (if that makes a difference.) Apart from the occasional back/neck ache, neither of us really suffer from any severe skeletal problems. We seem to sleep better on firmer mattresses when we're away.

I want to avoid mattresses made with wool and silk as my partner is vegan and won't buy anything made from animal products - PLEASE........ No comments on our dietary preferences - I'm just looking for a mattress, not to start an argument!

There's a lot of advice on here to avoid big brands and superstores etc but, without knowing what all these are and who to avoid, it's a little difficult. Although I would ask why I should avoid them?

I've tried going to stores and testing various beds out and writing down the names of the ones I like but when I look for them online I can't find them unless I'm directed to the big stores which charge silly money! I've heard that you can buy the same mattress online for half the price but it's usually under a different name. Is that the case?

Searching for the right mattress online is proving very frustrating:

Pocket springs from 800 - 3000 - how many is best?
Orthopaedic or Posturepaedic?
How do I know if the firmness rating is right?
What's too firm?
Memory foam or not?
Does it need to be pocket sprung for our needs or will other types suffice?
Not to mention the so called "huge discounts" that I question.

I've seen so many that I think I would like and now I haven't a clue what to go for. Bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights now!

I'm also a little worried that when it arrives it will be too soft like the last one and it's a lot of money to throw away on something that isn't any good.

So, any ideas what type to go for?

I'm really hoping someone out there with a bit of knowledge can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance!

Pinkypants

Pocket springs from 800 - 3000 - how many is best?

Anything over a 1000 springs, remember the spring count is always done on a 5ft (king size) regardless of bed size that your looking at. Try and get as many spring on 1 layer as possible, some companies double decker them to get more in. 1000 on top of a 1000 to say that it has 2000 springs etc... The more springs per square inch as such the more supportive the mattress will be. Avoid 600 and 800 springs counts.




Orthopaedic or Posturepaedic?

Neither they are just words that sound good, they sound like you need them. Orthopaedic just means firm and I have no idea what Posturepaedic means.


How do I know if the firmness rating is right?

The only real suggestion is to lie on your back on the mattress, the experts say that you should try and slide you hands into your lower back. If they is a big hole there and hands slide in very easy then it's too hard. Likewise if it's an effort to slide your hands in then it's too soft.

Remember support and firmness are 2 different things, the floor is very very firm but doesn't support your back. If you lie on you back on the floor, your bum and shoulders take ALL the body on 2 pressure points, your lower back gets no support.

So you need a mattress that you sink into so that it DOES support your body weight. That will all depend on what weight and body shape you are. This is why it's very important to get into the shops and try try try before you buy. Remember a bed is a base AND a mattress working together. You can get different types of bases, which will make a huge difference to how the same mattress may feel.


What's too firm?

See above, the floor?


Memory foam or not?

Depends, memory is very hard wearing. It's comfortable, it makes a mattress 1 sided.

It can be warm, it's a mine field buying one as they are so many. It makes a mattress 1 sided!.

How about latex instead?


Does it need to be pocket sprung for our needs or will other types suffice?

Pocket spring mattresses are by far the better quality products, continuous springs and open coil mattress generally use the fillings to do any of the moulding/supporting. Pocket matts will serve you better in the long run.


Not to mention the so called "huge discounts" that I question.

Was £1,999 now just £599 type of thing, just apply some common sense what company can really offer that type of money off and not go bust. It's like you heading for work for the next year on 25% of your salary!

Sorry that I've not been able to answer all the questions fully, but mattress and comfort are such a personal thing. Plus there are over 100 manufactures of mattresses and god knows how many shops.

Get into the smaller independent shops, take you time and speak to the staff in there.

Failing that, buy the most comfortable bed in the world. A Water Bed.





A double sided mattress turned regularly ie once a month will out live a single sided mattress. But that's ONLY if turned regularly.

A £400 budget is a nice size budget for a mattress.

Restus, Deep Sleep and Healthbeds make some nice pocket matts.

pedrothefish

go to john lewis they have a lot of beds to try out and the staff are very knowledgeable.
We had similar problems and went there last,take a tip try there first!
And no I dont work for them

Haffiana

You shouldn't put a pocket sprung mattress on a slatted base unless the slats really are very close together - that is probably the cause of the early demise of your current mattress. If you want a pocket sprung mattress (and I think they are best) then get a sheet of pegboard/slotted hardboard from your local timber merchants for less than a tenner, and put that on the slats under the mattress.

Chickabiddybex

What size mattress are you looking for?

You say you've had a pocket sprung matt in the past and in my experience if you get pocket sprung you should either go for something a bit firmer than usual or get a memory foam layer on top.
As for the bounce issue I think the memory foam can only help the situation.

From what you've said I would recommend getting something a little firmer and with memory foam on top.
I'd say something like the Silentnight Pocket Essentials 1000 Memory Double Mattress which is pocket sprung, has a layer of memory foam, is considered medium-firm and you can get it for about £250 for a double.