Best alternative to a memory foam mattress causing back ache?

Hi Annette,

Many thanks for your question about memory foam mattresses and sorry to hear you're both waking up aching after sleeping on your mattress. This is a common complaint with these types of memory or next gen foam beds and increasingly with the bed in a box phenomenon.

Most complaints about memory foam mattresses such as Tempur, Eve, Emma, Leesa and Nectar are that they make sleepers incredibly hot and can sag quickly causing both body indentations and back pain for some sleepers.
Let's take a closer look at some of the issues with memory foam and why it causes issues for some side sleepers like yourself.

Why does memory foam hurt my back?

Memory foam is a vasco elastic synthetic man made material. It requires and retains heat to work. This heat comes from your body when it's in contact with such memory foam. That's why it takes such a long time to slowly sink and conversely a long time to return to its original position when you try and move.

For sleepers that stay put during the night this is fine until they wake up. For sleepers who need to move or adjust during the night memory foam and boxed foam mattresses can be punishingly uncomfortable. That's because when you try and move there is no real responsivity (the speed at which the mattress can rebound). So you have to force yourself out of the shape which you've moulded into.

If you find yourself moving a lot in the night this can then make your sore back or shoulders even worse, so each night it becomes more and more uncomfortable.

Why memory foam isn't suitable for side sleepers:

Memory foam isn't really suitable for side sleepers because a side sleeper needs a softer upholstery/comfort layer in a mattress compared to a back or front sleeper. Even the softest 60kg memory foam can be too dense and slow to react for a side sleeper. As memory foam has to mostly act as a comfort layer and a support layer it struggles to do both well.

Also, most memory foams are standardised 70kg medium-firm feel foams. This is because they have to appeal to the mass market of sleepers weighing anywhere between 9 and 18 stone. So they hedge their bets and go for a firmer foam.

What a side sleeper needs is a more forgiving top layer of a mattress that allows a slight sink before some support.

What mattress to choose for a side sleeper:

If you're looking for a mattress that will allow a soft sink and also be responsive for turning in the night have a look at our Artisan Naturals mattress.

It’s a great model for people with backache as it allows a soft sink before medium support. Not too soft, not too firm.
It’s also 85% Natural fibre making it really breathable. Have a look at the spring tension guide below which is chosen based on your bodyweight.

There’s a video below to explain spring tensions as some people often pick the wrong tension in the mistaken belief that it will create the overall feel of the mattress. If you and your husband are in different weight brackets consider a dual tension or zip and link mattress so you can both have the perfect spring tension.

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

The Artisan Naturals mattress is also 2 sided meaning you can and should turn it each month, unlike a memory foam bed. This means it has a far longer life span than one-sided models that can sag and dip at an alarming rate. The reason they dip is that you're sleeping in the same position each night without being able to turn the bed to even out this settlement.

This is why there are so many complaints online about boxed mattresses and memory foam mattresses dipping and becoming lumpy. The materials and memory foams they are made of simply can't take this constant pounding without compressing quickly to the point of no return.

Finally, we would need to check your bodyweights and heights to confirm this but have a look at the model above as a good starter for ten Annette.

It may be worthwhile for you to give us a call on 0161 437 4419 just to ensure we have all the details to help you.
We look forward to hearing back from you.

John & Ryan