Sleep problems from expensive pocket sprung mattress
We have a Vi-Sprung Herald Super-King mattress on a slatted base which is medium on my side and soft on my wife’s. It was fine for about five years but over the past year I have been having difficulty breathing when asleep – which I initially thought was apnoea. However, I realised it didn’t happen in hotels on holiday and must be due to our bed (having also tried many different pillows).
I’m a side sleeper just under 13st and I think I am sinking too far into the mattress at the chest/midriff, leaving my neck bent and my knees too high. It seems the springs have become too soft after just a few years, yet the upholstery is firm and unforgiving. I would like to achieve the opposite effect – very firm support but a soft (but shallow-ish) comfort layer to ease hip pain.
Firming up the bed base (switching from sprung slats to solid, and then topping with MDF boards) gave some improvement as did sleeping with a folded blanket under my chest. Finally I set up in the spare room on a boarded base with a £40 4 inch-deep dense foam block on top – and actually had the best few night’s sleep at home in ages. I can breathe freely- although it’s hard on the hips! I also really like the smoothness of the foam mattress compared with the heavily indented style of the Vi-Sprung.
Clearly we need a new mattress, but I am extremely wary since this one cost a great deal and comes from a top manufacturer but has proved a poor choice.
I am increasingly thinking latex might be the answer, but would appreciate your advice.
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your questions.
I’m sorry to hear of the issues that you’re having with your current mattress.
At 13 stone we would match you to a Medium spring; The spring is what gives the support inside the mattress itself. We would need to know your wife’s body weight in order to determine the spring that she is matched with.
| Bodyweight | Spring tension |
|---|---|
| Upto 16 Stone / 50-101kg | Medium (1.4mm) |
| 16 Stone / 101kg Upwards | Firm (1.6mm) |
| Available in Bespoke Products (Please Call) | Soft (1.2mm) |
We compare the Vi-Spring Herald Superb with our own Artisan Bespoke; This is the firmest mattress that we have in terms of the upholstery layers on top of the springs. These are also known as the comfort layers.
Anyone who is a side sleeper or has existing pains should avoid any mattress that is too firm in it’s comfort layers as this will only serve to exacerbate those pains.
As such, with a pocket sprung mattress I would advise you to look at our Artisan Naturals mattress; This is the true medium model in it’s comfort layers so you won’t sink in to it too much and will get a good level of support from the spring.
We wouldn’t look to put anyone on to a Firm spring until they hit 17 stone; You don’t want to go the other way and choose a spring that is too firm as at your body weight you won’t compress those springs at all and it won’t provide the correct support for you.
In regards to Latex, this is a very different sensation to a pocket sprung mattress. I would always recommend testing latex before purchasing as it provides a similar sink in sensation to memory foam but is firmer overall in the feel.
As such, I would recommend trying the Dunlopillo range that can be found in any Furniture Village, Harrods, House of Fraser or And So To Bed Store. The Dunlopillo range compares with our own Fusion range. Latex moulds to your body shape and movements and will alleviate any issues with pressure point pains.
I hope this has answered your questions fully but if you do have any further queries then please don’t hesitate to contact me on 0161 437 4419.
Kind Regards, Lee.
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