New mattress....

[NikNak]

Hi guys...

So its new mattress time... any thoughts/recommendations etc.?
i.e. what would you buy v what wouldn't you buy etc

Got to admit i'm steering away from the normal big stores (Benson for Beds etc etc) and am favouring an independent manufacturer.

However, just done a google search for 'mattress reviews' and up popped a lot of these 'bed in a box' type mattresses (most of which offer a 100 day return/refund), again... anyone tried one of these.?

Cheers in advance....


Nick

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I don't overstate this because I used to get chronic backache for years until I splashed out on a Vi Spring mattress. Literally the best decision I ever made from a feeling better every day point of view. That was about 25 years ago and I've since bought another when we got a queen sized bed. They're not cheap but they sure are worth every penny

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Sealey Contract range. Don't even think of a memory foam one until you've tried one - swmbo paid a small fortune for ours and it's the uncomfortable thing I've ever slept on.

 

[Keithie]

I have a number of vexing bone related issues and so I see a good bed/mattress as pretty important. I used to use Sealey posturpedic for a long time until I found VI spring (as Bob said). They are ridiculously expensive ...but its difficult to describe how good they are ... I certainly wouldnt have anything else now.

 

[AndyT]

Go to a proper shop with a wide range on display and staff who understand what they are selling.
John Lewis have a huge choice. Looking at standard doubles, they go from £79 up to £8,600. They sell Vi-spring, Sealey, Tempur and their own ranges too - made in the UK from proper materials. I'm sure you will find something between those extremes which will suit you. There would be no need for so much choice if we all liked the same thing!

 

[nev]

If you go for a silentnight mattress we found there was a saving of over 100 quid (on a 600 quid buy) by going direct via their own web site.

 

[RobinBHM]

I bought a matress from John Lewis.
I cant remember the brand -one of their own I think. Pocket sprung and very comfortable.
Make sure you go and try it out, wear slip on shoes so you easily lie down properly. You may feel a plonker, but its the only way to know.

We were going to buy a dearer mattress in the range, but after trying them, discovered the next model down far more comfortable. At the time they also had an £11k bed in the showroom -it was horrible and sqidgy. From memory the one we settled on was about £800

 

[MrDavidRoberts]

My current mattress was also about £750 new...



Got it for £8 from the popular auction site, it was rather mint, maybe someone had died on it, who knows- but It's the best mattress I have ever had
I know buying used mattresses is frowned upon, but I just don't get the point if it looks mint..
Surerly when you go to a hotel the mattress there will be used by at least 500 different people...

 

[deema]

It's the critters that may hatch once it's in your home that would put me off getting secondhand. Getting rid of bed bugs I understand is a nightmare.

My luggage never goes anywhere near a bedroom after being on holls.

 

[Lons]

I hate mattress shopping as imo trying out for a few minutes in a shop is a complete waste of time unless you're buying the base as well because it will be different on your own base. That plus you need to sleep overnight and it takes a week or two to get used to a new mattress. It's an important purchase as you're likely to spend 5 years or more of your life lying on it so just a lottery. Even more annoying is the suppliers attempts to confuse by labeling identical mattresses with different names!

So... just over a year ago when the time came I did a lot of research and found a company called "Sleeping Duck" on line with superb reviews and 100 day cast iron guarantee and bought a kingsize mattress. Best decision I ever made and since then my daughter and inlaws have both bought.

A few weeks after delivery I received a courtesy call from them and I said I wondered if I maybe should have ordered the firmer version and was immediately told they would send out the relevant zip on layer and I could choose to keep or dispose of that or the original as I liked, it arrived the following day.

That company was the only one offering 100 days at that time as far as I could see and the fact there are now several others says quite a lot. My KS mattress cost £595 at that time which certainly was no more than others and less than many. https://www.sleepingduck.com/uk/mattres ... GwodR0YGsQ

I have back issues and my wife has hips and back problems and of course everyone has different needs and preferences which is why a long no risk trial is a no brainer as I see it.

Bob

 

[Terry - Somerset]

Wholly agree with above posters - go to John Lewis where they have staff who know what they are talking about, wide range of prices/quality, and a perception they are honest - unlike the 50% of brigade if you buy by saturday!

Alternatively look on the Premier Inn website where they used to provide a link to the manufacturers website - I have always had a decent nights sleep there.

 

[Racers]

A mate was recommended not to buy a memory foam mattress by John Lewis he now regrets it, I have one and have the best nights sleep I have ever had, no nights where you can't get comfortable since we got it.

Pete

 

[Duncan A]

As stated above several times. Find out what you want - some need or like firm; some need or prefer soft. Regardless, they should be supportive and mould to your shape. Pocket springs do this well, but only if there are lots of them made out of springs that conform. The cheap pocket spring mattresses are useless - floppy springs or lorry grade springs!
Vi Spring are excellent; ignore all the stuff about wool/horsehair/cotton/hand ticking etc and just try them out. If they suit you, you won't care how they're made, just that they work.
Tempur and other quality memory foam mattresses are liked by many people, but some find them uncomfortably hot, or too firm.
There used to be a hotel near Marble Arch that used one of the quality makes and would supply one if you liked it. Can't remember the name unfortunately.
The bottom line is, you get what you pay for, and a quick test of a half price mattress may impress in the shop but is less likely to impress over time.
Duncan

 

[Lons]

What Duncan said but I repeat that a try out in a shop doesn't help a lot in making that choice IMHO.
Our last mattress was a thick memory foam layer over pocket springs and very good but things have moved on. Our current one is quality pocket spring base with a layer of cool foam which can be specified for firmness and a layer of memory foam then a bamboo fibre top. Cooler than our last mattress.
Not all memory foam is equal either these days, major long term purchase needs thorough research and I fail to see how a shop assistant however experienced could tell me what my back conditions need which is why 100 day trial is a no brainier as far as I'm concerned. They do get some returns as I asked them and was told they ( Sleeping Duck ) give those to charities.

Additionally many of the main high street manufacturers supply stores like John Lewis with own brand products and make it difficult to compare like with like

 

[RogerP]

Coincidentally this appeared in my inbox this morning.
https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/amb...ador-natural-filled-3000-orthopaedic-mattress

 

[matt]

Vi Spring or JL own brand. We have both. The Vi Spring is superior but then it should be. The John Lewis one is perfectly good - just not quite as comfortable as the Vi Spring.
Wait until John Lewis Clearance in July and look out for a Vi Spring Special Purchase deal - usually incredibly good value.