Hi Chris.

You cannot compare the Artisan Naturals with the Origins Latex - your comparisons have to be on a like for like basis i.e compare The Artisan Naturals with Vi Spring Regal Superb or The Origins Latex with a similar offering from Dunlopillo and so on.

Your precise means of comparison are given on each of our listings - the combined upholstery weights, the weights by GSM (Grams per Square Metre) , the actual components and how they work together.

Your dilemma will lie in the fact that these critical measures of comparison are not usually given by other manufacturers and it is up to you to do your Sherlock Holmes' bit and try by whatever means to unearth them.

6cm of Latex for example is not the same as 'contains' a generous layer of Latex.

Your question of how they rate in terms of comfort per £ is interesting.

Without a shadow of a doubt the Artisan Naturals is a much better long term investment.

And how do I come to this equation?

Firstly each component used in any mattress follows a strict line of quality per £ spent.

The bottom of the scale is of course Polyester in all its guises - White Fibre, Premium White Fibre, Hypo Allergenic White Fibre etc - Then comes the foams - Reflex Foam > memory foam > Latex.

Then comes the Wools and Cottons.

Then comes the hairs Cashmere > Mohair etc.

And top of the quality component pyramid is the horsehair > Horsetail.

Simplified example but concise.

However, to put the above in perspective you need to the weights in order for you to come to an educated decision as to which component or indeed combination of components makes for a better built mattress.

There are only so many combinations and if you know or knew what weight was attributed to any particular mattress you would be in a far better position to do your comparisons with ease.

Your comment re toppers for your mattress has been answered many times before.

There is an obvious sense of bemusement as to why should you add a topper on top of mattress when the mattress in question 'Should' be just right without any addition.

A valid assumption but completely wrong!

My favourite analogy of a mattress with just the bottom sheet applied is similar to wearing trainers without socks - it makes no difference as to how much you paid for the said trainers, in a very short while they are going to stink like ..

billy-oh.

The same is true for the mattress, you have to add as much as you can to stop your body sweat permeating through the bottom sheet and into the mattress upholstery.

Three quarters of a point per night is a typical reference point and even if that were half true, it still measures up to a lot of perspiration.

The salts in your sweat degrades the fabric relatively quickly and if the underlying upholstery is polyester you will soon be sleeping on a mattress with the comfort properties of a beer mat.

As testament to this philosophy, all you need to do is to take a look at the most prestigious brands who offer a separate topper as part of the overall build of their mattress: Savoir Beds / Hastens Beds / Marshall and Stewart and so on.

It stands to reason that the primary layers of any mattress will be the first to go - using a topper as the element that takes the brunt of all nightly activity - sweat / pressure etc will enable the underlying mattress to keep like new for considerably years longer.

The expense of changing your topper is fractional compared to exchanging your entire mattress.

the theory with toppers is that they should replicate the underlying upholstery.

And so, if it is a latex mattress then a latex topper could be used.

A Wool and Cotton primary layer will have a wool and cotton topper.

However, it should all come down to personal preference.

Even though my mattress has a wool and cotton primary layer, I still favour the feather and down topper.

This should be budgeted for and from our experience quality should come before price.

the cheap topper I bought a while ago is now acting as an additional mattress pad - I had more feathers on the floor and sticking in my Jacksie than what was left in the topper.

Ryan has recently purchased an absolute humdinger of a topper from Duvet and Pillow Warehouse (Double Fill Hungarian Goose feather and Down) similar to the one offered by The White Company but for considerably less.

Finally Chris.

A good exercise is to go to a good retailer that stocks the premium mattresses (Vi Spring etc) and see what levels of comfort they offer you.

Once you know how a good mattress should feel, you will be in a better position to make the necessary compromises to get the best mattress you can afford.

Hope this helps.

John and Ryan.