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February 2022

How to Choose the Best Pocket Sprung Mattress – Ultimate Bed Buying Guide

Buying a pocket sprung mattress can be a tricky and murky experience. How do you know if the retailers are telling you the truth? Why can't you find out exactly what's inside their pocket sprung mattresses? The thought of wading through all of this bed information can be daunting. We'll help explain exactly what you need to know when choosing the best pocket sprung mattress.

Updated 2022: We know how confusing buying a new pocket sprung mattress can be. In fact, the bed industry has made it intentionally secretive and confusing. When it comes to buying a new pocket sprung mattress, you’re faced with thousands of models, material names, upholstery, spring types and other jargon.

Artisan Bespoke 002 pocket sprung mattress
View our range of handmade mattresses. We list absolutely every component so you can compare.

We’re going to give you the ultimate insider secrets to choosing the best pocket sprung mattress.

This mattress guide will help you when buying a sprung mattress online, guiding you to avoid scams and tricks that retailers use to get you to part with your hard-earned cash. We explain what you really need to know.

Buying a pocket sprung mattress online Guide:

  1. What’s the best pocket sprung mattress?
  2. Set your bed buying budget
  3. Knowing the 3 types of mattresses to choose from
  4. Choose the best Pocket Sprung mattress
  5. Find out exactly what is inside the mattress
  6. Check out the mattresses brand reputation online
  7. Research the guarantees on offer
  8. Ask each company for tailored advice on pocket sprung mattress suitability

The Best Pocket Sprung Mattress Specifications

If you’re looking to buy a new pocket sprung mattress in a hurry, then the specifications below will help you avoid choosing the wrong mattress. If you follow no other advice, then make a list of the below bed specifications to ensure you choose the right mattress model.

The best pocket spring mattress should contain:

  1. At least 1000 calico encased pocket springs (rather than synthetic entry-level springs) that are tailored to your body weight.
  2. The mattress should also have at least 3000GSM (grams per square meter) of predominantly natural upholstery (75%+) layers such as Wool, Cotton and Horsehair.
  3. Lastly, it should be a 2 sided mattress that you can turn and rotate each month to avoid sagging.

Calico pocket springs in a soft spring tension

If a mattress retailer or online seller can’t provide you with the 3 key details above, then walk away. Have a look at our Artisan Naturals for an unbeatable pocket spring mattress to help start your search to the kind of detail and specifications that a quality pocket sprung mattress should contain.

We guarantee you’ll be hard pushed to find another handmade retail mattress at this quality level and price point.

Artisan Naturals pocket sprung mattress in a bright room
Our Artisan Naturals is the classic example of the best pocket sprung mattress for price & quality

But don’t just take our word for it. Let’s look a bit closer at what you really need to understand before buying any pocket sprung mattress.

1. Set your bed buying budget when mattress shopping

Before you set off looking for a new mattress it’s really important to set your budget first. This will help save you from falling for bargains that simply can’t exist and will stop your budget creeping out of control.

By knowing what bed buying budget you have to spend, you can first establish what you can expect for your money. Have a look below to know what your bed finances will allow.

How much to spend on a double mattress?What can I expect for my money?
Under £500Will not get you much at best a 13.5 gauge open coil/cage sprung with a thin polyester layer or a solid foam mattress.
£500Entry level spunbond springs with some form of synthetic upholstery. Usually one sided mattresses.
£750The 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.
£1000Should get you away from most low ranges and into the mid-range pocket spring models.
£1250Should get you a decent pocket sprung mattress with some Natural Fibre content.
£1500Should get you many manufacturers mid-range models with Natural Fibres
£1500-£2000Should 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.

Once you know the amount you have to spend on a new bed, you can then start looking at how much mattress you can get for that price point!

2. Mattress Types explained

When looking for a new mattress online there are only three kinds of mattress to choose from:

Artisan Bespoke 003 pocket sprung mattress handle

Mattresses can be categorised based on their quality in the following order. Ascending from the cheapest to the most expensive/highly well-made types.

  1. Open Coil / Traditional Bonnell Spring Mattress
  2. Memory Foam / Mattress in a box Mattress
  3. Hybrid Foam Mattresses
  4. Latex Foam Mattresses
  5. Pocket Spring Mattresses

Again, your choices become easier once you know what components could feasibly be used within these ranges. For example, there is no way that polyester would be the main component in an expensive, high-end pocket sprung mattress.

Equally, there is no way that Horsehair, Cotton or Wool would be the main component in a cheap ‘open coil’ or memory foam mattress.

3. Choosing the best pocket spring mattress

A quick waltz around any bed showroom will no doubt fill you with horror when confronted with all the choice. In reality, there is only one thing that you should remember and make the main focus in your selection and that is a Pocket Sprung mattress is far superior to any cage sprung or open coil offering.

With an array of different spring names and trademarks, it can be easy to be duped into buying an inferior spring type. This is why when looking for a new pocket sprung mattress online you should always be ‘is this a pocket sprung mattress?‘.

The best mattress buying tip is this: A pocket sprung mattress is far superior to any cage sprung mattress.
The best mattress buying tip is this: A pocket sprung mattress is far superior to any cage sprung mattress.
You should always opt for the best spring your budget can afford
You should always opt for the best spring your budget can afford

All cage sprung mattresses are far substandard compared to pocket sprung mattresses. They are cheap to make, uncomfortable to sleep on and, ultimately, they are a complete and utter waste of your money.

Don’t let the marketing, fancy names, sales spin or advertising fool you: Miracoil, Posturetech, Orthopaedic, Continuous Coil, Open Coil, or whatever other name you find are all cage sprung mattresses.

If the mattress does not contain pocket springs then walk away.

Cage sprung open coil mattresses being stored in a warehouse
Rows of mass-produced uncomfortable open coil cage sprung mattresses. Click to view Pocket Spring Mattresses here.

Are pocket sprung mattresses expensive?

A pocket sprung mattress does not need to be overly expensive, especially if you have set your budget. In many cases, they are more cost-effective than a comparable open coil unit, and in real terms they are cheaper now than they were many years ago. However, bear in mind that the bulk of pocket sprung mattresses are now mass-produced.

The ultimate pocket spring is calico encased.

Used by the likes of Vi-Spring and Savoir beds (our Artisan Range is an ideal Vi-Spring alternative). We can’t think of any other manufacturer who uses calico encased pocket springs, but there will be less than five manufacturers in this country who do so.

The best pocket spring mattress uncovered

The best pocket spring mattress will contain calico pocket springs. These are encased in a breathable natural cotton cover and are the finest method of mattress manufacture in the UK.

We have seen examples of descriptions where the mattress is described as containing calico springs when in fact they’re synthetic polyester-covered cheap springs. Complete and utter deceit! This is akin to describing a sofa as being leather when in fact it is PVC.

The bulk of all retail pocket springs are polypropylene encased mass-produced units where the individual units are glued together to make a complete spring unit.

Calico units are sewn together and are not attached to adjacent springs except by lengths of twine stringing them together. We use them in our high-end Artisan range. They are far more breathable and responsive than spunbond or other synthetic springs which is why they only ever feature in the top end of mattresses.

The best pocket spring mattress will contain:

  • Calico encased vanadium coated pocket springs (in a variety of tensions to match your bodyweight).
  • A thick spring insulator layer of natural fibre.
  • At least 2000GSM of Natural Fibre upholstery.
  • A damask chemical-free cover.
  • Hand-tufted.
  • Hand Side Stiched.
  • Always  2-sided mattress.
Applying the insulator layer of a natural fibre mattress
Calico pocket springs are more responsive and breathable compared to other springs. They work independently and are hand-tied and sewn together. Click to view calico pocket spring mattresses.

4. Choosing the best mattress fibres & fillings

The next step after choosing the correct pocket spring unit is the mattress upholstery layers that then are used on top of this.

Mattress upholstery (i.e. Wool, Horsehair or Bamboo) will provide the ultimate ‘feel’ of your mattress and this is where the majority of your budget will be spent.

This part of your mattress is often referred to by independent mattress makers as the ‘comfort layer’ of your mattress, which usually consists of a number of individual fillings.

Care should be taken to find the best combination of support and comfort for your budget. If you scrimp on either of these then you may have plenty of time to regret, given the average life span of a new mattress is 7 years. The overriding factor in your choice will be your budget, which is why it’s important to know exactly what you should get for a certain price point.

There are over 5000 mattress models out there. It would be nearly impossible to go through each and everyone to see which is the most suitable for you, which is where our friendly team can help cut down this number based on your requirements.

1200 gsm blended wool and cotton cross section
Always ask exactly what’s inside the mattress you are looking at. If the retailer can’t tell you then maybe be suspicious.

Knowing how much to spend on a mattress will drastically cut down on the options you’re faced with. Secondly, it will enable you to avoid ‘too good to be true’ offers if you know that, for your budget, the components listed are not available (i.e. Cashmere in a £500 mattress).

How much to spend on a double mattress?What can I expect for my money?
Under £500Will not get you much at best a 13.5 gauge open coil/cage sprung with a thin polyester layer or a solid foam mattress.
£500Entry level spunbond springs with some form of synthetic upholstery. Usually one sided mattresses.
£750The 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.
£1000Should get you away from most low ranges and into the mid-range pocket spring models.
£1250Should get you a decent pocket sprung mattress with some Natural Fibre content.
£1500Should get you many manufacturers mid-range models with Natural Fibres
£1500-£2000Should 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.
Knowing what you should expect for your budget is key
Knowing what you should expect for your budget is key
You need to carefully assess what exactly is in that retail mattress and they wont make it easy!
You need to carefully assess what exactly is in that retail mattress and they wont make it easy!

Why do mattress companies hide what’s inside their beds?

There is no legal requirement to tell you any quantity of upholstery by weight in a mattress.

A description telling you that a particular mattress “contains” Wool, for example, could mean this could be as little as 5 strands mixed in with the polyester. Utterly contemptible, but quite legal. Why do they do this?

Retailers make it increasingly difficult for you to compare mattresses and know exactly what you’re buying by hiding the details.

If you knew exactly what was inside you could easily see which model was better value. You might be thinking that this is far-fetched, but it is common in nearly all mattress retailers.

These are certain keywords used by bed retailers that should be taken as an initial warning:

  • contains
  • includes
  • blended with
  • a blend of
  • crafted from
  • infused with
  • luxurious layers of etc.

Vi-Spring, one of the top five UK mattress manufacturers, tell you exactly what the makeup of their mattresses is. They do so because they are proud to do so, and they only use the very best of mattress upholstery so they have absolutely nothing to hide.

We believe that all mattress manufacturers should tell you exactly what’s in their mattresses. When they refuse to it makes us question what they are hiding?

Mattress upholstery layers, wool , cotton and horse tail
All reputable mattress retailers should be able to tell you exactly what’s in your mattress including the GSM value. Click to view hand made models.
Most mattress brands wont tell you what's in their mattress
This means they can prevent you from comparing

 

If this is the start of your mattress research you will soon come to realise that nearly all manufacturers will not be as open as Vi-Spring in detailing the components used in the mattress. Why Not? You really will have to ask for the precise breakdown of fillings used in any particular mattress.

If you don’t, then, unfortunately, you will only have yourself to blame if weeks down the line you are then left lying on a completely indented bag of springs. This can be completely avoided with some advanced knowledge and planning.

You really need to be able to assess each layer in the mattress and work out what the GSM count is of each of the fillings contained. An example to the right shows what you need to know before you can accurately pick a suitable mattress and the breakdown below so you can compare mattresses.

The Artisan Bespoke 004 has generous upholstery layers of Blended British Fleece Wool & Cotton followed by Bamboo, 1400GSM total, gives a breathable and flexible Comfort Layer to this mattress. Allowing you to stay warmer during the colder months and cooler during the summer due to the high wicking properties of this mattress.

The 1200GSM of Pure Horsetail acts as a secondary spring support layer giving the medium feel to the mattress.

1600 Calico Encased Vanadium Coated Pocket Springs – in 3 tension choices – provide support for endless nights of perfect sleep.

Two rows genuine Hand Side Stitching & Hand Tufted.

The Woven mattress cover is completely Chemical-Free using a Natural plant-based fire retardancy protection.

Artisan Bespoke 004
Artisan Bespoke 004
Layers Fibres with GSM
1 1200GSM BLENDED BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON
2 HAIRPROOF CAMBRIC COVER
3 200GSM SOFT BAMBOO
4 1200GSM PURE HORSETAIL
5 1000GSM BONDED BRITISH FLEECE WOOL AND COTTON
6 1600 CALICO ENCASED POCKET SPRINGS [ 49MM ] [1.28MM]
Total GSM: 3600
Rated Excellent Trustpilot

5. Do your mattress online research

So you’ve found a few options for your next new mattress. Before you buy your new bed online, you now need to do some digging around the company’s reputation. After all, there’s going to be a number of potential scam companies out there to take your money and deliver a pretty rubbish mattress to you in return.

When looking for a new mattress online it’s important that you check as much as possible about the retailer you’re looking at.

The very minimum checks should be:

  • How long has the brand/retailer been trading?
  • What is their Trustpilot review score?
  • What is their Google review score?
John Ryan By Designs Trust Pilot rating 5 star
Always check the background of the mattress retailer and customer reviews.

6. Compare Mattress Guarantees

Once you’ve found a reputable mattress company and mattress model it’s time to look at the guarantee they offer.

This is where you can separate the true leaders of the mattress world from the masses.

You’re looking for a guarantee that, if the mattress is not suitable for a good night’s sleep, then you can either return it for a refund or exchange it for a more suitable model.

Given that you’ve done so much research, you need to make sure that it’s actually a bed worth sleeping on.

Most retailers will only offer you a ‘comfort guarantee’, meaning you can swap the model for another in their range. However, if their range comprises of poorly made models then this guarantee only secures you yet another poor mattress!

Other things to watch out with mattress guarantees are:

Mattress guarantees being written by hand
A full refund or exchange without fees is what you should be looking for when buying a new mattress

We offer a 60 Day Love it or Return it Guarantee where we collect without charge. No small print. No arguing. If we provide advice and it’s not quite right we aim to help you correct that.

7. Ask the retailer for tailored mattress advice

The last step is really important as it helps you qualify whether or not the mattress choices are suitable for you.

You’ve undertaken a lot of research and know roughly which models you think will be suitable.

The last step is to ask the retailer for tailored advice based on your requirements. This will help confirm your selection.

Furthermore, it will also help you avoid retailers that just want to sell you the most expensive mattress, irrespective of suitability!

Mattress retailers and shops should always ask you the following:

  • Bodyweight and heights of sleepers.
  • Sleeping position.
  • What mattress you’re currently on.
  • What your budget is.
  • What issues do you have with sleeping or sleep problems.

A woman mattress shopping in White top

If they don’t ask these key questions then there is no way they can accurately recommend any mattress other than a price point. This means you’re left guessing as to which mattress is suitable or not. The same goes for any of the details we’ve talked about above.

If a retailer or salesperson can’t tell you exactly what spring unit, tension, upholstery amount or mattress detailing is in the model you’re looking at, then walk away.

Our ultimate mattress selection

Over the years, we have developed and produced a small range of fewer than 20 products and put them for sale in our online mattress shop. These have been specifically selected for:

These are the factors you should be assessing when purchasing your new mattress. Our bed descriptions are extremely detailed, including the actual weights of materials used, so you can compare. Nothing to hide: just all the detail so you can compare.

Without this detailed information, you actually have no idea what you’re purchasing.

A pocket sprung mattress on a neutral grey bed base
All of our mattresses are hand made here in the UK why not view our range here?

Our handmade in the UK mattress models are split into the following ranges:

  • Artisan – Natural Fibre & Calico encased vanadium pocket springs.
  • Origins – Entry level pocket sprung mattress unbeatable on price and components.
  • Fusion – 100% Natural Latex solid core models.
  • Resilience – Heavyweight mattresses for larger sleepers, fully turnable.

We are John and Ryan; read exactly who we are and what we do. Our business and reputation have been built around our customer service, combined with our 60-day guarantee of “love it or return it” on all of our mattresses. If what we select or recommend for you is unsuitable, then it is only right and proper that we collect free of any charge and see that all your money is refunded in full.

Bed retailing is a business that still defines itself on personal service, and we want to be the best. You won’t be able to try our mattresses, which is why we give you the very next thing: our service. If you still do not want to sift through all these posts, then just give us a call with an indication of your budget and we will try and help to narrow down your options for you.

John Ryan By Design's very own Sue, cutting material
We make everything by hand; no exceptions. Click to view made in the UK mattresses.

If you’re wondering what the best mattresses are for your price range then we go into even more detail below. We’ll show you which mattresses are worth your consideration and help you to avoid overpriced mattresses.

  1. What is the best £500 Mattress
  2. What to expect from a £750 Mattress
  3. What is the best value £1000 Mattress
  4. What you can find in a £1250 Mattress
  5. What should look for in a £1500 Mattress
  6. What you can envisage for a £2000+ Mattress
Summary

We hope that you do take the time to read through most of this site just so that you understand exactly what you are buying, but mainly to see how to sort the good from the bad and the bad from the rubbish. If you want to find out more, the next must read article will help explain just how much should you be spending on a mattress.

Are you still struggling to choose the right mattress? Then why not call our small expert team based here in Manchester on 0161 437 4419 to see if we can help.

Alternatively, you can drop us a message below to receive our tailored recommendations just for you!

Don't you deserve a mattress tailored just for you?
Our small friendly team can help you choose a mattress specifically tailored to your needs. With our 60 Day Love it or Return it Guarantee its completely risk-free.
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