Hi Irina,

Many thanks for your question about mattress pocket springs and which ones are the softest or more gentlest for a comfortable nights sleep.

It may be worthwhile to quickly explain the purpose of the mattress pocket spring and how they function. All springs work by compression and extension. Meaning if you press against them they will counter that force with extension, ie you compress them and they will then put on a degree of force to extend back to their original position.

In mattress terms, this stops you from sinking all the way through a mattress as the appropriate pocket spring system provides a level of extension against your bodyweight and the force you place on the mattress.

How to choose a pocket spring?

The next part is all about spring tolerances which sadly most mattress retailers totally overlook or ignore. Springs have been oddly set to 3 main tensions. Soft, medium or firm. Which also confusingly relates to the feel of mattresses provided by upholstery and fibres. ie the mattress comfort layers.

All springs are made with a weight tolerance in mind, for that compression and extension. This is true with pocket springs for mattresses.

Therefore you should always choose the spring that matches your bodyweight requirements, not your comfort preferences. Ie you may be a 17 stone sleeper who needs a firm 1.6 gauge pocket spring but likes a soft feel mattress. The soft feel will always be provided by the mattress upholstery and not the spring.

The spring should always be chosen based on your bodyweight. See table below.

Whats the best pocket spring?

Now that we know that all springs follow the same compression and extension we can always see that there's very little in terms of 'spring innovation' that we can carry out.

Some shapes provide slightly different results. Hourglass springs give a faster initial compression before slower support. Sometimes these can feel a bit wobbly for some sleepers.

Springs within springs provide a few small tweaks with support but nothing noticeable for a regular sleeper.

7 turns, 8 turns or 11 turns can extend the height of the spring for a deeper support system, but note that all mattresses have a maximum depth so the more spring you insert the less room for upholstery fibres on top that provide the comfort layers.

Cortec springs have been discussed at depth by us here along with micro springs which we refuse to use.
You may now be seeing how much marketing spin there is to try and differential springs.

One thing that the manufacturers are not focusing in on is the steel - what the springs are made of and how it is protected or enhanced. For example, you will see with Visprings high end mattresses and Savoir use Vanadium coated springs. We too use vanadium as it helps protect the steel from rust and degrading whereas other steels can with sweat, humidity and moisture start to rust over time.

Likewise, a synthetic polyester cover is far less breathable and flexible when compared to a natural cotton calico pocket spring cover. So bear this in mind. The spring could be made from the finest Sheffield steel but if it is popped in a heat-sealed polyester cover those benefits may be greatly reduced.

So we would advise you to focus on the materials of the spring and the cover more than any brand name or shape. In our experience, a standard pocket spring shape has worked for over a hundred years and can't be beaten for mattress construction.

Firm edge mattress springs vs soft edge

Firm edge springs are used in nearly all higher end mattresses. Yet there is some confusion on what this is. A firm edge mattress simply has one row (1 inch) of firmer springs on the very perimeter of the mattress.

We do this in the mattress industry to prevent roll-off on the edges of beds. In fact, we do it on all of our models. It helps keep sleepers comfortable at night and also reduces damage to the side of the mattress where most people;e sit or put excess pressure on whilst getting in and out of bed.

Most people will never even get close to the final 1 inch of the mattress so it has little impact on sleep. Conversely, without this firmer edge, you will find that maybe 3-4 inches before the edge you start to roll off. Which you have ex[perienced with Visprings softer edge mattress model. So it really does provide a benefit for sleepers and that's why all higher-end mattress manufacturers should use this technique.

The best way to choose a pocket spring mattress is based on your bodyweight and then focus your efforts on mattress upholstery. We would advise on a firm edge construction method to ensure the mattress lasts and you're not rolling out in the night.

How to choose the best pocket sprung mattress:

Have a look below Irina at an example of the kind of detail you should be looking for in a 100% natural fibre vanadium coated pocket spring mattress.

The Artisan Bespoke 004 is a 100% natural fibre mattress in a true medium comfort tension. Ie the fibres give a slight sink before medium support.

It has a medium feel in the natural upholstery with a forgiving top layer. Great for pressure points and bad backs. The 1600 individual pocket springs allow restless sleepers to move quickly, freely and effortlessly.


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've also provided our handy beginner's mattress buying guide below for more tips.

If you have any more mattress related questions please get back in touch on info@localhost or 0161 437 4419. We’ve also added our beginner’s mattress buying bed below to help summarise everything you need to know before you buy a new bed.

Sleep well
John & Ryan