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Choice of mattress compared with other types?

Anne Jones asked
29th January 2019

I came across your website whilst trawling through many other mattress websites trying to do all my homework before trying yet again to select to choose a mattress as the memory foam one is about to be returned after a couple of months trial. Suffice to say it is too firm for my liking and does not mould itself to support my side sleeping. I plan to return to pocket Springs.

However, I do not want a mattress that bulges when you sit on the edge. Our last mattress was from John Lewis and we became aware that it was getting old when someone else slept on it & said it was quite soft. It wasn’t soft when we bought it so we looked it up and realised it was now 12 years old! At that time it had cost £1200 in the sale so of its time had been quite a good mattress. It had always been very comfortable until the support had started to go recently.

Something must be done so initially we thought we would try to memory foam mattress – well at least I now I know that it’s not ideal for me on a regular basis

We live close to a John Lewis store and the Hypnos factory showroom so these were my next points of call.
At Hypnos we whittled our choice down to a “Luxury No Turn Superb” or a “Pillow Top Aurora” but I have since read and totally agree with your comments on “No turn” and “Pillowtop” mattresses and have probably ruled them out.

So next stop was John Lewis again – with your comparisons from the website jotted down in my notes (obviously JL have their own “specials” on sale at present just to confuse me further but this was my analysis):

Of the Vispring Superb range (all Medium) the Exeter Superb was quite good ( if anything a fraction on the firm side), Melford was good, and so was the Wembury but the latter seemed to bow slightly on sides when sat on. The Vispring Modbury, Vispring Honiton Woolacombe were all too soft for me.

Of the John Lewis “own range” currently their “Special Buys” – again all Medium – I found the Swaledale marginally better than the Herdwick. The Herdwick was Ok but just seemed to lack a little bit of extra “cushioning”. The pricier Angora seemed to be a bit bouncy for my liking.

So I have looked at your comparisons but have been struggling to find similar names. Perhaps some of this makes sense to you as you are more familiar with the styles and compositions. Can you offer me any guidance when looking for suitable parallels from your range?

My husband and I are as follows:
Me – 5ft 4inches, a curvy 67kg who usually sleeps on side and back who would usually opt for Medium-firm but wants good surface upholstery. I am a light sleeper & do not always sleep well.
Husband – about 5ft 10inches, 85kg, who often sleeps on his front but moves around quite a lot in his sleep. He could sleep on a “washing line” and will “be happy with anything that works for me.”

Oh yes, its to go on a good slatted base.

Thanks for any help on what mattress type we need.

1 Answer
Amy Woolley
answered 5 years ago

Hi Anne,
 
Thank you for your question.
 
Your body weights dictate that you will both require a medium spring tension for support.
 

BodyweightSpring tension
Upto 16 Stone / 50-101kgMedium (1.4mm)
16 Stone / 101kg UpwardsFirm (1.6mm)
Available in Bespoke Products (Please Call)Soft (1.2mm)

 
The Vi Spring models that we compare our Artisan range to can be found at the Furniture Village. 
 
If you like something with a medium comfort (upholstery layers) we would recommend looking at our Artisan Bespoke 004 or our Artisan Naturals, both of which are compared to the Vi Spring Regal Superb.
 
The Artisan Bespoke 004 is a 100% Natural Fibre Medium feel mattress. Hand Crafted containing layer upon layer of natural fibres including Bamboo, Wool, Horsetail and British Fleece Wool. Costing £1580.00 for a King Size mattress. 
The combined upholstery weight by GSM [Grams per Square Metre] in a mattress is a good indicator of how well upholstered your mattress is. Of course the upholstery has to be similar by nature and quality so once you know the overall weight you then have to break that down further by component.
23cm deep with two rows of genuine hand side stitching.  This mattress is covered in a white woven 100%Viscose with subtle John Ryan design.
John Ryan Artisan Bespoke 004: Combined Upholstery Weight: 3600 gsm
Vi-Spring Regal Superb: Combined Upholstery Weight: 3100 gsm
 
 
John Ryan By Design Artisan Bespoke 004Vi Spring Regal Superb
11200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool and Cotton900gsm Blended real Shetland Isle Fleece Wool and Cotton
2Hairproof Cambric CoverHairproof Cambric Cover
3200gsm Soft BambooNA
41200gsm Pure Horsetail1200gsm long stranded Horsetail blended with British Fleece Wool
51000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton1000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
61600 Calico encased Pocket Springs [ 49mm ] [1.28mm]1720 Calico encased Pocket Springs [48mm ] [1.28mm]
Total GSM3600 gsm3100 gsm

 
The Artisan Naturals is Our most popular, unbeatable model with 85% natural fibres. Containing a huge GSM of fillings, including wool and mohair, on a Calico Pocket spring unit. This medium feel hand crafted mattress is where we stake our reputation as ‘The Mattress Specialists’. Costing £1235.00 for a King Size mattress.
This is priced particularly low in comparison to more established brands in order for us to set the bar in comparing branded mattresses with similar components. If this is in the region of your maximum budget then you will be getting the best mattress you can buy.
 
 
John Ryan By Design Artisan NaturalsVi Spring Regal Superb
11200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool and Cotton.900gsm Blended real Shetland Isle Fleece Wool and Cotton
2Hairproof Cambric CoverHairproof Cambric Cover
31250gsm Rebound Poly Cotton1200gsm long stranded Horsetail blended with British Fleece Wool
41500gsm 100% Pure Mohair1000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
51600 Calico encased Pocket Springs [ 49mm ] [1.28mm ]1720 Calico encased Pocket Springs [48mm ] [1.28mm ]
Total GSM3950gsm3100gsm

 
I hope this helps, if you would like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact the office on 0161 437 4419.
 
Kind regards,
Amy
 
 

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