Hi Jenny,

Great to hear from you with your question and the Sealy Posturepedic Premium Gel 1800 (phew what a mouthful that name is!). We really need to know the size of mattress you're looking for but will give some suggestions for what to look at.

To be able to answer your question comprehensibly we think its best to have a look at exactly what's in the Sealy model. Using the specification from the QVC website we've italicised the detail and then our response to what that actually means for you.

Responsive pocket springs - fully constructed of pocket springs, including 1000 regular pocket springs and 800 mini pocket springs, the Premium Gel 1800 mattress provides tailored support thanks to the individual encasing of each spring which allows each one to move independently as you do throughout the night, effortlessly responding to your body's shape.  Ok so we have written extensively about HD and micro springs and why you should avoid them here. Mini pocket springs only have very limited uses, such as mattress base pads of deep removable toppers. Manufacturers tend to put them in mattresses to boost up the number of springs as a sales tactic, more on sales tactics here. Ignoring the 800 micro springs which will have a very minimal support impact on the bed, as they are too small on their own to do much other than instantly compress. You're looking at a 1,000. The minimum you should expect from an entry level cheap mattress is 600 and the ideal figure is around 1200-1600 for a king size. The few the springs the larger and cruder they are. Once you get to around 2,000 springs then you're looking at either a dual layer or the inclusions of rows upon rows of micro-springs. It doesn't say if the springs are Calico encased (we doubt it at this price) so they will be synthetic and spun bond entry level springs. Spun bond are less breathable and are not as 'reactive' as a calico pocket spring but are far better than say a cage sprung mattress support unit. There's a picture of what a micro spring looks like below compared to a 'Normal' sized pocket spring.

The power of Geltex - offering three essential benefits for a refreshing sleep - pressure relief, body support and breathability - this versatile material has the ability to bounce back to its original shape, allowing for more even weight distribution. Its breathable nature also helps to regulate your temperature and prevent overheating in the night. Unfortunately, Sealy won't disclose their data sheet or density for this foam so its impossible to compare. We have a datasheet here for foams to help compare. The most important thing with foam is ensuring the foam is suitable for your bodyweight. The drawback with foam or hybrid foam mattresses is that they ultimately mean they are one sided. Meaning you can't turn and rotate the mattress, so expect a considerably shorter life span sadly.

Foam Grade	Density Min KG/M3	Density Max KG/M3	Hardness Min (n)	Hardness Max (n)
Vasco 40kg	38	42	40	60
Vasco 60kg	58	62	70	100
Laygel 60kg	57	63	100	150
Coolblue 70kg	65	70	70	100
Reflex 300	30	32	100	130
Reflex 300F	30	32	130	160

 

Sealy Smart Fibres - woven into your mattress are the Sealy Smart Fibres Purotex and Tencel that help to ensure an even more peaceful sleep. Tencel is derived from naturally and sustainably grown eucalyptus, and its fibres are extremely gentle on the skin to prevent irritation when sleeping. This natural fibre also has a cool touch to prevent your body from overheating in the night. Purotex is incorporated for the reduction of house dust mites and also features adaptive technology that helps to regulate body temperature in both hot and cold conditions. Without Know your GSM timestable or breakdown of the fabric's composition these terms are almost meaningless. Are they natural? Probably not from the description, whats the blend of Tencel? is is 10%, 5% or as low as 1% as we've seen in the past. We have a really detailed article on Plant fibres here if you want to know more. Our Artisan Sublime is a perfect example of the kind of data and detail you would need to know to assess the quality of a mattress and its components. If they can't tell you the GSM then walk away as it's the only way to can compare mattresses effectively.

A luxurious finish - the micro quilted mattress design boasts a soft knit fabric, creating a luxurious look and feel. Handcrafted to provide the ultimate comfort, this smooth and sumptuous finish makes bedtime a real treat. Again pretty generic, handcrafted I'm guessing refers to the cutting of the fabric, I very much doubt they are usually hand looms to make their cover fabrics for this price! We use our own John Ryan 100% Viscose fabrics are from Bekaert – one of the premier producers of mattress ticking in the world. Hand cut and then hand stitched to the side of the mattress in our Artisan Range.

In terms of your budget, a good rule of thumb of what to expect can be seen below.

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.

Our recommendation would be to look at our Origins 1500 which far exceeds the Sealy model given its 2 sided and contains 1550GSMs of upholstery layers. It features 1500 pocket springs. It also has a 3 year guarantee. The QVC page doesn't mention any guarantee or warranty on their model.

Please get back in touch if you need any further help on 0161 437 4419 or email info@localhost.

Good luck with your hunt for your new mattress!

All the best