Mattress advice before buying

SkyandSun

hi there,

I need a new mattress. I have started to get back pain and I think my 10+ year old IKEA mattress is largely, if not solely, responsible.

I have settled on going for a pocket sprung + memory foam mattress - so the 'base' has pocket springs but there is a layer of memory foam on top. I have been to a few stores and the best deal I can get is a clearance mattress from Dreams for £270 (the double I'm after would normally would be £900!) after a lengthy discussion with the sales assistant. The mattress looks pretty much as-new - it has not been slept on.

http://www.dreams.co.uk/charisma-mattress

I have said I will decide tonight.

This is a little more than my initial budget, which was around £200.

I have looked online and found other pocket-sprung + memory foam mattresses for cheaper, from low-price firms such as Happy Beds and Snuggle Beds:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0077CCYC6/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=kitchen

www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Beds-Memory-Stress-Mattress/dp/B0077CCYKI/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1405358080&sr=1-2&keywords=memory+foam+and+pocket+sprung+mattress

http://www.mattressman.co.uk/mattresses/snuggle-beds/pocket-memory-ortho-1000-double-mattress.aspx

They have more springs in than the Dreams one (a standard double size, with 800 springs, vs the 1000 in the online brands), but I'm guessing more doesn't necessarily = quality. Is 800 springs OK?

There is also a well-reviewed budget memory-foam mattress on amazon, without springs:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EICIL5W/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=kitchen

... but with the springs I believe I get the best of both worlds without the downsides of foam (getting too hot, for instance).

Can anyone give me advice here as to what I should go for? The Dreams mattress felt comfortable and good, and out of all the mattresses above is the only one I have actually been able to lie on - the others would be online buys so there is the risk they won't feel right. Also, although I am on a budget, I do want it to be of a sufficient quality to help with my back, so I want to get it right. I am not sure if Dreams are just selling at much higher prices for equivalent quality, or whether I am getting a good deal with the Charisma mattress. The discount is substantial from the original price...

Thanks!

Pinkypants

I wouldn't touch the Dreams one at all 800 springs nowadays is out, you should be looking at 1000 plus. More springs equal more support as there will be more springs supporting and holding your body. Plus the Was prices from Dreams are complete and utter rubbish. Just look around for what you would get for £900, 1000's of springs loads of memory foam and hand side stitched. Dreams prices are all about making you think that your getting a bargain, you're not.

This is a cracking mattress for the money .....http://www.dfsbeds.co.uk/cart.php?target=product&product_id=6139

Also benefits from having a non memory foam but sleepable side underneath, therefore you could turn it over if you got too hot.

SkyandSun

Pinkypants wrote: »

I wouldn't touch the Dreams one at all 800 springs nowadays is out, you should be looking at 1000 plus. More springs equal more support as there will be more springs supporting and holding your body. Plus the Was prices from Dreams are complete and utter rubbish. Just look around for what you would get for £900, 1000's of springs loads of memory foam and hand side stitched. Dreams prices are all about making you think that your getting a bargain, you're not.

This is a cracking mattress for the money .....http://www.dfsbeds.co.uk/cart.php?target=product&product_id=6139

Also benefits from having a non memory foam but sleepable side underneath, therefore you could turn it over if you got too hot.

Thanks, I was a bit suspicious about Dreams but it's really hard to know what will be good. Your recommendation is appreciated as it sticks to my budget.
How are you basing your recommendation, though - is it one you have used?
Medium-firm is about right for me I think but the one you have linked is close enough I guess to that - I really want good quality for my money, to help my back.
Other thing is my bed is an IKEA bed, and my mattress is their slightly enlarged sized - but going down to a standard UK double I think should be OK.
Thanks again...

Pinkypants

You're welcome for the feedback.

I basing my recommendation on 15 years in the trade and been selling that model for over a year now. We had no complaints on it what so ever.
As for size it's 4ft6 (135cm) by 6ft3 (190cm).

Ikea bed is 140cm by 200cm I believe.

I would say it's more medium then medium firm, I'm around 9 stone.

But firmness is very subjective.

But the Silk 1000 really is very good value for money.

DPJames

Stay clear of memory foam. You'll wake up drenched in pool,of your own sweat. Not nice.

FUNKYDADDIO

Hi Pinky, am buying a mattress this week, have you any advice ref latex vs memory foam? Sales guy yesterday told us Latex is cooler and a similar price, looking a king size meidum to soft,any help appreciated Thanks..

Pinkypants

Latex is cooler, as for similar price I feel he may have been mislead. Latex is one of the dearest fillings on the market.

Ask how much latex is in it, if he can't answer then don't but it. I recently ripped apart an old mattress that said it had latex. It had 10mm! of the stuff, 10mm, whats that going to do?

Again, Deep Sleeps Silk 1000 is cracking value for money. There are better mattress on the market but they will cost more.

Kaymed, King Koil, Healthbeds all make very nice mattresses.

SkyandSun

Hi there,

I went for the Silk 1000 and so far am very pleased! so thanks for the advice.
However I cannot work out which side has the memory foam and which side hasn't! They are not marked. The difference in 'feel' is that one side feels as if it has a layer of surface cloth over some other material, so you can shift the surface cloth back and forth over the material inside. The other side of the mattress is all solid, if that makes sense. The brief instruction card, which said to turn the mattress regularly etc, was stitched on to this latter, solid, side, if that helps.

Any ideas? This may be a stupid question but as I am new to memory foam I am not sure how to tell which side has it on, as both sides have some material before you get to the springs! .

Pinkypants

Label side up has the memory foam.

Glad you like it, please post how you're getting on in 6 months time once the novelty factor has worn off a bit.

Just rotate it round head to toe once a week for around 12 weeks, then once a month after that. Turn it over to summer side if you are getting a little warm.

SkyandSun

Hi all,

Just to let you know about a month on now from buying the mattress, it is definitely comfortable and the right firmness for me. However, the middle of the mattress has begun to dip when compared to the outside - this is presumably where I most commonly sleep, towards the centre of the bed, however should be be sagging one month after buying?
I have been rotating once a week as advised.

It is not a huge sag but you can see it if you look - kneeling down to the level of the mattress and looking 'along' it horizontally, if that makes sense, confirms the dip. I am going to call the place that I bought it from to check if this is normal or whether I need a replacement. I was hoping the mattress would last me for another ten years and this is not the best start to that.

Is this supposed to happen?

Here is a picture, (taken 2 hours after getting up in the morning):

http://imgur.com/eQFxEMQ

Thanks...

Pleut

I have no advice for you but I just have to say that that bed look lovely and comfortable!
My SO just ordered a new mattress for us and I cannot wait until it gets here!