Hi Mandy,

Thanks for your question about your Emma mattress causing a bad back. We get asked this a lot from sleepers who simply do not get on with Emma mattresses.

The issue with foam beds and bad backs:

The main issue we encounter with Emma beds is that their dense memory foam and other synthetic foams can be too firm for some sleepers. This is because these bed in a box bed companies like Emma all use foams which are super slow to react, Great for that slow sink feeling, but not so great when you need to turn and move in the night.

This can lead the Emma mattress to hold you in uncomfortable positions during the night, or in some cases offer too much support. Meaning your body is held in an awkward position.

Memory foams are the same density across the mattress meaning that pressure points like hips, shoulders and backs are having to force the most pressure on the bed to sink in whereas other body parts sit on the surface. This is fine for heavier sleepers but for lighter sleepers and side sleepers in particular it can lead to bad backs and sore shoulders each morning.

Heat with foam mattresses:

The other issue with these mattresses is that they often retain far more heat than their natural fibre counterparts. This is because memory foam and next-gen foams are nearly always vasco elastic meaning they need and retain heat to mould This is why they feel cold at first and then warm up during the night as you sink into them. Great for cold sleepers but they can cause issue with warmer sleepers or cause excess heat during the night.

This hot sleeping can lead people to discomfort and constant movement during the night that can also cause a bad back with all that restless wiggling!

The lifespan of an Emma mattress:

There is also debate with these one sided mattresses as to the longevity of the Emma mattress. Given that traditional mattresses are always 2-sided so you can turn and rotate. These box mattresses are 1-sided meaning you're always sleeping on the same side each night.

Meaning all the wear and tear is on one side meaning settlement will happen far sooner than a two sided mattress.

You need to take this one sided issue (which we've written about extensively here) into account when planning on how much to spend on a new mattress. Especially if the price of it is getting close to or above the price of a decent 2 sided mattress!

What mattress to replace an Emma mattress?

If you want to look at one of the coolest natural fibre mattresses then take a look at our Artisan Naturals mattress which is 85% natural and unlike all foam or memory foam boxed mattresses is 2 sided and uses calico encased pocket springs.

Artisan Naturals Mattress
1:1200GSM BLENDED BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON
2: HAIRPROOF CAMBRIC COVER
3: 1250GSM REBOUND POLY COTTON
4: 1500GSM 100% PURE MOHAIR
5: 1600 CALICO ENCASED POCKET SPRINGS [49MM ] [1.28MM ]
TOTAL: 3950GSM
DEPTH: 27-30CM
CHEMICAL FREE COVER

All of our mattresses will need turning each month to even out natural settlement.

The next alternative for your price point of sub £1000 would be our Origins Pocket 1500 mattress. Again another hand made 2 sided mattress.

Our Origins Pocket 1500 mattress is a true medium feel in the upholstery layers and is available either as a 1.4 medium 1500 pocket spring support or a 1.6 2000 firm pocket spring support.


Origins Pocket 1500 Mattress
1: 300GSM WOOL
2: 750GSM VERY SOFT POLYESTER
3: 500GSM POLYESTER PAD
4: ONE INCH FOAM INSULATOR LAYER
5: 1500 SPUN BOND POCKET SPRINGS
TOTAL: 1550GSM
DEPTH: 30-33CM

If you have any more questions Mandy please get back in touch with us on 0161 437 4419.
All the best John & Ryan