Wool Origins 6 Hypnos Mattress dipping in less than 6 months of use - back pain advice
Hi, I've been struggling with back pain mostly from mattresses, I thought by going to a high quality manufacturer the issue would be resolved with a high quality mattress. I am 55kg, 5'3 and otherwise fit and healthy. I bought the medium tension wool origins 6 mattress from Hypnos which arrived in March 2021, its dipped a lot where my hips and lower back are. It now feels too soft and unsupportive, I feel my spine is curved all night. We have been turning and flipping it regularly every week.
I'm so disappointed this has happened, I previously had an M&S 1250 medium pocket sprung mattress where the same thing had happened. The mattress sits on top of a firm edge sprung divan. I can't think of where I am going wrong and why the mattresses always collapse after short term use causing major back pain / issues. I'm losing confidence that I'll ever find a mattress where I won't have back pain due to sagging and lose £800 every 6 months.
Do you have any suggestions? I have already contacted the retailer to get it reviewed - however looking at the trust pilot ratings which I wish I had looked at before, it looks as though they may just fob me off.
Thanks
Hi Lee,
Many thanks for your question about your faulty Hypnos mattress. We're sorry to hear you're struggling with back pain which is a nightmare when trying to sleep.
In terms of the Hypnos Origins 6 sagging so quickly. Well, the quick answer is no they shouldn't be so uneven and saggy so quickly.
What may be the main culprit is that the wool and other softer fibers are simply too soft for the support and comfort you need. This may be the reason the Marks & Spencer mattress also sagged so quickly for you. You may be choosing the wrong upholstery for the feel and support that you need.
Have a look below to see how each fibre reacts and what support they offer.
| Upholstery Layer | Fibre Type | How it will feel? | Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Synthetic | Soft | Cheap |
| White Fibre | Synthetic | Soft/Medium | Cheap |
| Recycled Fibre / Eco Fibre | Synthetic | Medium | Cheap |
| Memory Foam | Synthetic | Medium/Firm | Mid Price |
| Igel / Hybrid Foam | Synthetic | Medium/Firm | Mid Price |
| Polycotton | Synthetic/Natural Blend | Soft/Medium | Mid Price |
| Linen | Synthetic/Natural Blend | Medium | Mid Price |
| Wool (Pure) | Natural | Soft/Medium | High-End |
| Cotton (Pure) | Natural | Soft | High-End |
| Silk | Natural | Soft | Expensive |
| Horsehair | Natural | Medium | High-End |
| Mohair | Natural | Medium/Firm | High-End |
| Hemp | Natural | Medium | High-End |
| Latex (100% Natural) | Natural | Medium/Firm | High-End |
| Coir | Natural | Firm | High-End |
| Flax | Natural | Firm | High-End |
| Coarse Cashmere | Natural | Firm | High-End |
| Bamboo | Natural | Super Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Horsetail | Natural | Firm | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Alpaca | Natural | Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Cashmere (Pure) | Natural | Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Vicuna | Natural | Super Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
Given the issues you're having with your Hypnos mattress it may be that either the spring tension is incorrect for your body weight. It's important when buying a quality mattress that you choose the spring tension based on the weight tolerances of the spring gauges. However, looking at your bodyweight and the medium (hopefully 1.4 gauge spring they have given you) then that should be fine.
Spring tensions don't relate to the feel of the mattress but the support they provide. So a medium gauge pocket spring doesn't actually mean a medium feel mattress. A lot of people get confused by this. We would ask you to check with Hypnos that their medium spring tension is a 1.4 gauge and not say a 1.2 gauge which would be soft. Without knowing this the 'medium' tag is a bit useless, unfortunately.
| Spring Tension | Wire diameter (Gauge) | Weight Range |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 1.2mm | Bespoke Tension (Please Call) |
| Medium | 1.4mm | Upto 16 stone |
| Firm | 1.6mm | 16 stone plus |
| Extra Firm / Orthopaedic | 1.9mm | 20 stone plus |
The feel of any mattress in particular a Hypnos one is always provided by the upholstery layers and not spring tension. Have a look below at the different fibres and how each feels. The way they are layered results in the feel. 
How to avoid mattress settlement.
It sounds like you're already practicing mattress care by turning and rotating each month. Let's discuss a bit further why this is important for other readers.
Let's delve a bit deeper into mattress settlement and how to fix or prevent an even mattress.
Mattress Sagging Explained:
All mattresses will settle over the first 3- 6 months of use. This is because the fibres compress and will reach their final resting point. This is natural will all upholstery whether a mattress, bed base, sofa or recliner. The way to prevent this becoming an issue, as it may have for you, is by following two top tips with a new mattress.
It really is important when choosing a new mattress that you pick a two-sided model. This then means you have two sides of the mattress that you can use. Meaning twice the sleeping surface to play with to even out mattress settlement. This also means that you can turn and flip the mattress.
This helps even out the settlement and prevent you from sleeping in the same position each night which over time leads to settlement/dips on those very spots where you frequently sleep.
It's particularly important during the first year of mattress ownership. After this, all settlements should have occurred. By turning the two sided mattress you help spread this out over the whole mattress surface and not just one part. 
What to expect based on your mattress budget:
We can appreciate Lee that you may have spent £800 on your Hypnos mattress. If it has sagged its worthwhile getting in touch with them directly to discuss how to remedy the solution. We have also provided below a solid idea of what to expect for your budget and how what may feel like an expensive mattress may actually still only be entry-level once all the marketing and advertising costs have been taken off them.
| 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. |
Our advice would be to get in touch directly with Hypnos and ask for an inspection of the mattress as it shouldn't be sagging so quickly. Also, check that the spring tension is suitable for your body weight.
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
Newsletter
Enter your email to join our newsletter. We’ll send you occasional news and mattress expertise.