Hi Brenda,

Thanks for getting in touch enquiring about mattress types. You've certainly come to the right place. We have spent the past 15 years exposing all the mattress tricks of the trade to help buyers save themselves money and choose better quality mattresses.

Your caravan/trailer mattress is certainly at the very low end of mattress manufacturer standards. The polyester material you talk about is more likely to be recycled white fibre. Ie recycled, shredded clothing, T-shirts, old cushion fillings etc. This is then washed and sometimes even bleached to create this white web-like fibre that's used in the very cheapest of all mattresses.

Most mattresses that ae sub £300 come in the form of recycled fibre, cheap foam or seating foam style fibres that comprise of both the support and comfort layers in a mattress.

What's the problem with really cheap mattresses?

We appreciate that everyone is on a budget of some form when buying a new mattress. However, the very cheapest mattresses are often not worth the money you pay for then. You would be better waiting and saving up an extra £100-£200 to choose a truly suitable mattress.

It's only when you get to the £500 mark and above that you start to see quality components in a mattress.

The problems with cheap mattresses under £300:

• Usually next to no mattress upholstery of comfort layers
• Foam/recycled fibre is used predominantly as the support unit (no pocket springs at this price point)
• 100% Synthetic
• Non-breathable
• Covers are often rubberised or made from very cheap quilted (heat sealed) polyester making the mattresses hot and sweaty
• No tailored support
• Bouncy with a transference between sleepers
• May contain the awful open coil/cage sprung system

 

What to expect for your mattress budget:

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.

The following are the 5 main mattress types with more detail in the links about what to expect for your money.

1. Open Coil / Traditional Bonnell Spring Mattress
2. Memory Foam / Mattress in a box Mattress
3. Hybrid Foam Mattresses
4. Latex Foam Mattresses
5. Pocket Spring Mattresses

 

How to choose the perfect mattress:
Once you've identified your mattress budget then you need to follow the following steps to find the very best mattress for your sleeping needs.

 

1. Chose the correct spring tension for your bodyweight
2. Pick comfort layers that suit your sleeping position and comfort preferences
3. Find out exactly what's inside the mattresses you're looking at, such as the GSM of fibres and spring tension
4. Check the guarantee of the models you're looking at for gotchas
5. Shop independently to get more mattress for your money

 

Best Value Mattresses

Have a look before at two of our best selling mattresses to give you an idea of what to expect from both the price point and also detailed mattress components they contain. If a retailer won't tell you what is inside the mattress then shop elsewhere!

Origins Pocket 1500:

If you’re wanting something that is forgiving whilst offering a medium feel then have a look at our Origins Pocket 1500 mattress first.

It’s progressive enough to accommodate a front or side sleeper. It will allow more of a soft sink in the very top layer than the Sealy mattress before medium support lower down the upholstery layers. It’s also two-sided so can be turned and rotated each month to extend the lifespan compared to one sided models.


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

As this is a 2 sided mattress we recommend you turn it each month to help even out natural settlement and get the very longest lifespan out of this hand made mattress. You can read our mattress care guide here to help.

Artisan Bespoke 004

If you’re wanting a 100% natural fibre calico encased vanadium coated pocket spring mattress then have a look at our Artisan Bespoke 004 mattress.

It has a medium feel in the natural upholstery with a forgiving top layer. Great for pressure points. The 1600 individual pocket springs allow restless sleepers to move quickly, easily and effortlessly. Often this helps reduce the amount of fidgeting when coupled with the progressive comfort layers of this mattress.

Artisan Bespoke 004 Mattress
1: 1200GSM BLENDED BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON
2: HAIRPROOF CAMBRIC COVER
3: 200GSM SOFT BAMBOO
4: 1200GSM PURE HORSETAIL
5: 1000GSM BONDED BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON
6: 1600 CALICO ENCASED POCKET SPRINGS [ 49MM ] [1.28MM]
TOTAL: 3600GSM
DEPTH: 27-30CM
CHEMICAL FREE COVER

We hope that helps and gives you further mattress buying guidance. If you have any more mattress related questions please get back in touch on info@localhost or 0161 437 4419.

Sleep well
John & Ryan