Hi John,

Many thanks for your question about comparison models to the Relyon Indulgence mattress. It certainly can be a rabbit warren when looking at comparison models and easy to get drawn off in all sorts of directions. It sounds like you've already done enough research to know that the devil is in the detail. At 10 years old your mattress has done well and you're above the 7 year average change time for a retail mattress. It shows you've looked after it!

We would love WHICH? to put out mattress to the test. We have noted that only certain brands seem to get featured or placed with them though? We're not versed in how they select each year their mattresses to be tested other than already being featured by them? We will leave our customer reviews as a testament to our products in the meantime and our extensive exposes on the mattress industry via this site and why they refuse to provide all the details you need! However, we are open to WHICH? testing any of our mattresses if they wish.

Anyway, we digress...The best way to find alternatives is to list all the components and then look at them side by side. So let's start off by looking at the details that Relyon gives before looking at alternatives or comparison models. Let's take a look at the Relyon models.

Relyon Indulgence Mattress Specifications:

• 2200 Double layer Pocket Springs - The pocket spring system is the best at providing individual support to the sleeper. The upper part of the spring shapes to the body contours while the lower part absorbs changes in weight distribution for the ultimate in comfort and support. As a rule of thumb the higher the number of individual springs, the more support will be provided to the sleeper. The springs work independently to avoid roll together.
• Pillowtop - A pillowtop refers to a type of mattress that is made with extra layers and cushioning to increase softness and comfort, as if the mattress were topped with a pillow.
• Firm Perimeter Support - Adds strength to the edge of the mattress to allow you to use the whole surface of the mattress as a sleeping area.
• Hand Teased Fillings - The traditional craft of gently separating fibres by hand enhances the inherent attributes of natural fillings. This meticulous process ensures an even distribution of fillings, giving an opulent feel.
• Lamb’s Wool Layer - Lamb’s wool is used in this mattress as a soft and insulating upholstery layer for added comfort. Lamb’s wool is a natural insulator providing coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter. Offering superb comfort, it also has hydroscopic properties encouraging the evaporation of body moisture.

What we would say is that there's very little detail in terms of the spring gauge outside the fact this mattress contains over 2000 pocket springs meaning it must be a double layer of springs. We would make a guess that these are both 1.4 medium gauge and synthetic spun-bond springs. We make this guess as this means the majority of sleepers are between 9-16 stone in bodyweight.

Relyon tend not to offer custom spring tensions in their entry-level models like the ones we are discussing. You tend to find that mainly in £1000 mid-range mattresses plus as these bespoke spring tensions are usually found in more expensive calico encased pocket spring mattresses.

It's hard to say what else is in this Relyon mattress as there's no detail. However, for the price point, it is going to have a large proportion of synthetic fibres given the raw cost of anything natural will be completely out of any mattress that is below £1500 for a king-size we are afraid.

It may sound scandalous but a mattress can add 1-3% natural fibres into a blended pad and then use the term 'contains natural fibres'. Which can be really confusing to the consumer. You can read more on upholstery here which should help explain this in more detail.

The biggest issue with this mattress is the pillowtop which is usually the single point of failure of any mattress. It sounds as if yours has weathered the storm maybe because its one of the first generations of pillowtops where they were fully quilted with polyester to give them some resilience. These days pillowtops have become these very temperamental poorly upholstered monsters that settle and dip usually within a couple of years with no way to fix them, you can read more on pillowtops here.

Let's have a look at the Eaton Deluxe mattress from Relyon to see if the detail fares any better.

Relyon Eaton Delux Mattress Specifications:

• 3002 Double Layer Pocket Springs - The pocket spring system is the best at providing individual support to the sleeper. The upper part of the spring shapes to the body contours while the lower part absorbs changes in weight distribution for the ultimate in comfort and support. As a rule of thumb the higher the number of individual springs, the more support will be provided to the sleeper. The springs work independently to avoid roll together.
• Pillowtop - A pillowtop refers to a type of mattress that is made with extra layers of mini pocket springs and cushioning to increase softness and comfort, as if the mattress were topped with a pillow.
• Firm Perimeter Support - Adds strength to the edge of the mattress to allow you to use the whole surface of the mattress as a sleeping area.
• Cashmere and Silk Layer - A blend of cashmere and silk are added to the mattress to provide levels of exquisite comfort. Cashmere is historically regarded as the softest natural hair. Silk is luxuriously soft yet very strong and absorbent, making silk excellent for temperature regulation. Finest silk fibres are blended into a durable insulation layer inside the mattress, providing a sumptuous and supportive feel.
• Cotton Blend Layer - In this mattress cotton is combined with soft white fibre into a deep layer. Cotton is breathable, highly absorbent and is excellent at controlling body temperature through its moisture wicking properties.
• Deep Soft White Fibre Layer - A generous layer of dust free white fibre filling is added to the mattress to provide softness and resilience. White fibre is formed into a deep layer for guaranteed quality and softness.
• 3 Rows of Side Stitching - Extends the sleeping area to the mattress edge by supporting the mattress walls.
• Hand-Tufted - The traditional method of mattress upholstery where the fillings are secured by hand with tufts from the top of the mattress to the bottom to ensure all loose fillings are secured to provide the perfect finish.
• Belgian Damask Cover - With a soft to the touch damask cover which provides a soft, fresh and hygienic sleeping surface.
• Flag-stitched Handles - Handles on both sides for ease of positioning.
• No Turn Mattress - This mattress does not need to be turned, but it should be rotated once a month for the first 3 months and then every 3 months thereafter to prolong the life and comfort of the mattress.

Image from: https://www.landofbeds.co.uk/relyon/mattresses/eaton-deluxe

Again sadly there's no discernable detail. Given the 3000+ spring count it must contain the dreaded micro springs too which we refuse to use. They are often used in lieu of better-placed upholstery. They are only used to hyper inflate spring counts as a marketing trick.

As for the fibres we have already discussed how at this mattresses price point (heavily discounted to £650 from RRP £999) means it can't contain any sizable portion of those natural fillings as the raw cost would far outstrip the cost of the mattress just in upholstery alone. This leads to the conclusion that they must be blended with cheaper polyester fibres.

How much to spend on a double mattress?	What can I expect for my money?
Under £500	Will not get you much at best a 13.5 gauge open coil/cage sprung with a thin polyester layer or a solid foam mattress.
£500	Entry level spunbond springs with some form of synthetic upholstery. Usually one sided mattresses.
£750	The beginnings of a basic pocket springs unit with 800 – 1000 count. No substantial amount of filling other than foams and synthetic materials. Two sided models.
£1000	Should get you away from most low ranges and into the mid-range pocket spring models.
£1250	Should get you a decent pocket sprung mattress with some Natural Fibre content.
£1500	Should get you many manufacturers mid-range models with Natural Fibres
£1500-£2000	Should get you a Hand Made primarily Natural Fibre Quality Mattress
£2000+	You should expect 100% Natural Fibres and Traditional Hand Made Construction Method.
£5000+	A Bespoke Hand Made Sleep System, High-end Spring Units & Featuring the Worlds Most Luxurious Natural Fibres.

Alternatives to the Relyon Mattress in a Medium Feel:

If you want to look at one of the coolest natural fibre mattresses then take a look at our Artisan Naturals mattress which is 85% natural and unlike all foam or memory foam boxed mattresses is 2 sided and uses calico encased pocket springs.


Artisan Naturals Mattress
1:1200GSM BLENDED BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON
2: HAIRPROOF CAMBRIC COVER
3: 1250GSM REBOUND POLY COTTON
4: 1500GSM 100% PURE MOHAIR
5: 1600 CALICO ENCASED POCKET SPRINGS [49MM ] [1.28MM ]
TOTAL: 3950GSM
DEPTH: 27-30CM
CHEMICAL FREE COVER

Please note this is a two-sided mattress and not a pillowtop. We don't create any pillowtop mattresses. All of our mattresses will need turning each month to even out natural settlement.

The next alternative for your price point of sub £1000 would be our Origins Pocket 1500 mattress. Again another hand made 2 sided mattress.

Our Origins Pocket 1500 mattress is a true medium feel in the upholstery layers and is available either as a 1.4 medium 1500 pocket spring support or a 1.6 2000 firm pocket spring support.


Origins Pocket 1500 Mattress
1: 300GSM WOOL
2: 750GSM VERY SOFT POLYESTER
3: 500GSM POLYESTER PAD
4: ONE INCH FOAM INSULATOR LAYER
5: 1500 SPUN BOND POCKET SPRINGS
TOTAL: 1550GSM
DEPTH: 30-33CM

Do John Ryan have Black Friday Sales?

I'm afraid we never participate in any sales or black Friday tactics. Why? Well we've written extensively about fake sales and why buying in a sale usualy features some form of hyperinflation first. We don't believe in any of that. We have our main price that stays fixed and then we use our Clearance section for returned mattresses at a discount so everyone gets the same deal. No gimmicks or rushes to buy end of line substandard products!

If you have any more questions please get back in touch with us on 0161 437 4419.

All the best John & Ryan