An Icon Mattress from Carpetright?

Hi Chris,

Indeed, it is a bit of a minefield. I didn't realise how much went into mattress construction and how to find the right mattress until I started working at John Ryan By Design and became a mattress geek.

As far as I am aware, the 'Icon' product sold by Carpetright is manufactured by Breasley Memory Foam. For a like-for-like comparison, you would be wise to look at their Salus range.

Comparing memory foam products is relatively straightforward. The main points to assess are:

- Overall Build: In this case, it is a Foam Encapsulated Pocket Spring (FEPS) unit. Our in-depth article here explains about the different springs.
- Depth of Memory Foam: You have correctly identified this as 7.5cm.

You will undoubtedly be able to find a similarly constructed memory foam product for considerably less. Most memory foam components in the UK come from British Vita, and mass-produced pocket springs in spunbond casings are generally very similar across brands. The encapsulation foam is also typically supplied by British Vita (under the Reflex trademark) or another reputable UK foam converter, so quality is generally consistent. You can read more about memory foam here. One thing to consider regarding memory foam is the heat retention. It requires heat to be able to mould to you, which can make many customers overheat. It also gets softer the warmer it gets, which can make turning over in the night feel like you're in a swamp, especially if you are already a hot sleeper.

We do not sell or recommend memory foam, but from our range, you might want to look at the Origins Pocket Latex 1500 mattress. It features 1500 individual pocket springs and two 3cm layers of Talalay Latex, which provides a similar moulding sensation to memory foam without retaining as much heat. Our Latex article here explains the different types of Latex. Our Latex range now offers three different levels of comfort, depending on our sleep positions and comfort preferences.

As a final piece of advice, I recommend visiting a high-end store to test a traditionally built quality mattress. While the price tags can be surprising, there are much more affordable alternatives available, as with the model above.

I hope this helps and if you require any further assistance, please call our office on 0161 437 4419.