Hi Steve,

Many thanks for your question about mattresses for side sleepers with lower back pain. It's no fun trying to sleep with a bad back when your mattress has seen better days!

Ideally, it would be helpful to know which mattress you have had to help find out exactly what the comfort feel was like. However, we can still provide lots of advice to steer you towards a more suitable mattress in the meantime.

At your bodyweight we would recommend a medium 1.4 gauge spring tension. Given your height, a firmer spring would be over kill for you and punishing for your wife given her bodyweight.

Spring tensions are always based on bodyweight. They should never be confused with the 'feel' of the mattress which is provided by the upholstery comfort layers. We explain more about this below to help.

Best Mattress Type for Side Sleepers:

Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position in the UK. However, many side sleepers are unaware that they actually need softer comfort and upholstery layers in their mattress. This is to allow for the excess pressure that's displayed on hips, shoulders and knees during the night when sleeping on your side.

For that reason, we never recommend firmer feel upholstery for a side sleeper. Unless they have already been sleeping on a very firm mattress. For most side sleepers a forgiving medium feel mattress is far more suitable.

Mattress Recommendations:

Given your sleeping position and lower back pain we wouldn't recommend the Artisan Bespoke. This is because its the firmest of our Artisan range in terms of the comfort layer. We wouldn't advise this unless your existing mattress was a very firm feel model.

The Vispring Devonshire and Artisan Luxury are very similar in terms of feel and the upholstery layers. You can read a more detailed breakdown of how they compare here. They are both a very soft feel mattress, which maybe too forgiving. So we would advise a bit of caution unless you've had a soft deep sink mattress before. Ideally knowing which model you're replacing would be really helpful for us to confirm this.

Artisan Luxury Mattress

1: 1200 GSM BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON

2: HAIRPROOF CAMBRIC COVER

3: 1200GSM PURE HORSEHAIR

4: 500GSM PURE WOOL

5: 1200GSM PURE HORSETAIL

6: 500GSM PURE WOOL

7: 1476 CALICO ENCASED POCKET SPRINGS [51MM] [1.42MM]

TOTAL: 4600GSM

DEPTH: 27-30CM

CHEMICAL FREE COVER

The Artisan Bespoke 004 is a 100% Natural fibre true medium feel mattress. This model may be the best all-rounder for your lower back pain and side sleeping. It compares to the Vispring Regal Superb. Again you can read more here. It features a vanadium coated calico encased pocket spring and 3600gsm of natural fibres.

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

As you say, if you're sprung edge divan is in good working order then there's no need to replace it.
Have a look at the models above Steve and if you need more guidance please give us a call on 0161 437 4419 or info@localhost.

Sleep well
John & Ryan