How to Spot a Quality Mattress

Looking for a new mattress can be an exciting prospect, but it can also be a daunting one too. You may be left wondering where exactly you start when it comes to finding a quality mattress. Usually, one of the biggest indicators of quality is the price, generally speaking, the more expensive a mattress is, the better it is in terms of its construction, fillings, and feel. However, there’s plenty of retailers out there selling low-end mattresses in the higher end price bracket. Which is why you will need your wits about you!

Purchasing a new mattress is a deeply personal experience, and determining the quality of a product doesn’t just come down to the price tag it comes down to what’s really inside the mattress.

So what exactly determines a mattress’s quality? We want to help you spot the difference between a premium and a cheaply made mattress masquerading as a quality mattress, so that you won’t regret your purchase.

Spotting the pocket springs

When deciding on the quality of a mattress, the first thing you need to know about is the difference between Coil Springs and Pocket Springs. The more common, mass-produced and low production value mattresses are made out of open coil springs. Essentially they consist of an inter-connected spring system, which uses huge lengths of connected wire. These cheaply made mattresses can be found in many high-end mattress brands, and the useless support unit will provide little in the way of actual comfort and support.

A Pocket Sprung mattress, on the other hand, is superior in almost every way. Each pocket spring is able to work independently to offer more advanced support. This is because they are each individually wrapped and separated by a breathable pocket of material. They can absorb any movement you make while reacting and adjusting themselves accordingly. If you sleep with a partner, they can prevent you from disturbing each other with your movements, offering a more isolated tailored feeling of support. As a general rule of thumb, the more pocket springs a mattress has, the more comforting and supportive it can be.

Don’t forget about the fillings

The next thing to look out for when spotting quality is the different materials used in the making of the mattresses. The fillings of the mattress will greatly affect not only how comfortable your mattress will feel, but also how long it will last. You’ll find that a premium mattress will be heavier thanks to the higher quality and volume of fillings within it, as well as its construction. You can see an example of the kind of weights to expect in a premium mattress here.

A quality mattress will be filled with the best, all natural materials; such as Wool, Coir, Organic Flax, Bamboo, Alpaca, and Horsetail. These natural fibres will help to provide a more breathable sleep surface, making them ideal for hot sleepers. They will allow you to better regulate your body temperature overnight. When compared to cheaper synthetic materials, these natural fibres are also far more resilient, meaning they can maintain their shape and comfort for much longer.

Take a look at the ticking

The ticking is essentially the fabric that holds the mattress together but also has a few important functions. As well as added to the overall look of the mattress, the ticking needs to be expertly woven in order to stop any fibres getting through, as well as being flame-retardant.

Generally, cheaply made, mass-produced mattresses will use synthetic materials such as polyester or polypropylene for their ticking, which can interfere with your body temperature, stopping you from staying cool. This can make your nights pretty uncomfortable, especially if you’re a hot sleeper. Cheaper covers will be a stretch knit fabric and are usually shiny in appearance and highly heat retentive, meaning potential hot sleepless nights in warmer months.

Check the stitching and tufting

Make sure you check the sides of a mattress, as sometimes you’ll be able to see rows of stitching. On high-end mattresses, this is done by hand and is used to join the perimeter of the springs together with the fillings and the fabric border. It’s known as ‘Hand Side Stitching’ not to be confused with machines stitching which simulates the process but doesn’t actually join the mattress side to the spring unit. It helps to extend the entire sleep surface, providing a firmer edge that won’t end up sagging. Better quality mattresses will have more rows of stitching to help them maintain their shape for years.

Tufting also ensures that the numerous layers of the mattress are held together securely, preventing them from shifting as your body moves about during the night. Of course when it comes to the best mattresses, tufting is extremely important, as they are packed full of high quality materials. You shouldn’t be able to feel any tufting in a quality mattress, as they are recessed into the mattress.

Understanding a little about what makes a quality mattress stand out, will help you to spot the right one for you. It helps to ask as many questions as you need to, and remember it’s not always about choosing the most expensive product out there. For example, our hugely popular Artisan 1500 provides exceptional comfort and support for its price.

Make sure you spend as much as you can comfortably afford, and keep in mind that your mattress is an investment in your health and wellbeing too, as you’ll be using it pretty much every single day. If you have any questions or you just need some more information, then please get in touch with us on 0161 437 4419.