Comfort layer dilemma
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I have a very old mattress (probably circa 30 years or more!) but which has served me well in all that time (it's a Staples hybrid mattress with 1024 pocket springs and I think some kind of foam top layer, I believe it is a medium-firm). It's got slight indentations but considering its age they are not very noticeable. However as I'm getting older with accompanying aches and pains (mild hip arthritis and have previously suffered with backache) I'm noticing my hips digging in a bit despite adding a lovely woolroom mattress topper. I decided the time had finally come to replace it with something a little softer, and have gone for a Hypnos Sherborne Sublime medium double which is on order. It felt quite soft and comfy in store due to its comfort layer but am now having doubts as to whether it will actually be too soft and pillow-like for my back, although it will probably help my hips (I hope). My back has not given me trouble for ages and I don't want it to start now!
Is there a sweet spot for the thickness of the comfort layer as this one looks pretty substantial, can it be too deep and therefore even if the springs are supportive, possibly create back problems if you sink into it too much? There is no information as to how thick it actually is. I'm 56kg and 5'3" so not a huge person and it will be just me in the bed. Also, it is on a sprung base divan in store and will be on a solid platform base at home, so will this likely make it feel firmer?
Hi Gill,
Thank you for your question. When you tried the mattress in the showroom, you would not have had a true representation of how the mattress would feel, as many potential customers will already have softened the upholstery layers. A new mattress will always feel firmer as the upholstery layers are compacted during manufacturing; it takes you sleeping and moving around on the mattress to soften them. As a lone sleeper, it is important to utilise the whole of the sleep surface to ensure even settlement of the upholstery layers, especially with a one-sided mattress.
At your height and body weight, we would pair you with the medium spring tension to provide you with the correct level of support. The correct support is essential for anyone with back issues, as it allows your body to find its own level and not be forced into an unnatural position. You do not weigh enough to activate a firm spring tension. The springs need to move with you to be able to provide support.
| Bodyweight | Spring tension |
|---|---|
| Upto 16 Stone / 50-101kg | Medium (1.4mm) |
| 16 Stone / 101kg Upwards | Firm (1.6mm) |
| Available in Bespoke Products (Please Call) | Soft (1.2mm) |
The advice used to be that anyone with back issues needed a firmer mattress, but these can cause more issues, especially for side sleepers who then have pressure pains in their shoulders and hips. They can also pivot on these areas, which can put pressure on the lower spine.
At your very light body weight, any mattress is going to feel firmer as you will make less impression into the upholstery layers. Having looked at the Hypnos Sherborne Sublime, it is a natural fibre traditional no-turn mattress with both soft comfort layers and supportive layers. The overall depth of the comfort layers doesn't determine how the mattress feels, but the type of fibres, the amounts of each fibre (grams per square meter) and the way that they are layered. Putting a mattress that is designed for a pocket sprung base, as indicated by being displayed on this type of base, on a platform base will feel more supportive in the springs as this is firmed up slightly on a solid base.
I hope this helps and if you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the office on 0161 437 4419.
Kind Regards
Michaela
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