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February 2023

Vispring mattress review, comparison & alternatives

Vi-spring is one of the UK's premier mattress manufacturers. They used to disclose exactly what's in their mattresses and use the same traditional handmade craftsmanship that we at John Ryan By Design. We are often asked which in our range of mattresses compares to the Vi-spring product range of mattresses. If you want to find out what mattresses are close to Vi-springs range in terms of feel and construction but at a better value price point then read on!

Updated 2023: Vispring is one of the most esteemed mattress designers and manufacturers. Up until recently, they were UK based before being bought out by Flex Equipos De Descanso, S.A. However, they still continue to make super high-end natural fibre mattresses that most people can only dream of owning. If you’re not quite lucky enough to have a budget high enough for Vispring then this article is going to help you explore alternatives from an independent mattress maker at a fraction of the cost.

Pocket spring mattress stitching 2

Who are Vispring?

Vi-spring was the first UK mattress manufacturer to bring the, now world-famous, pocket spring into use in mattress construction.  This was known as the Marshal Patented Mattress coil and interestingly the Vi in their name stands for the Roman numeral for 6, which is also the number of turns in their springs. They make incredibly well made and designed mattresses and are a credit to the mattress industry.

However, because they use shops and retail space to sell their mattresses, their costs are significantly higher than ours for comparable products.  This article should help show you the similarities between our mattress collection with similar feeling mattresses often available at lower prices due to our smaller overheads.

If you’re looking for Vispring comparisons and alternative models, this guide will help you find competitively-priced hand made matrtesses. With a similar construction method, feel and quality level akin to Visprings luxury beds. Whilst you can never guarantee an exact feel there are always similar models to those found in major retailers.

Vispring Mattress Reviews

It must be said, if you’ve fallen in love with a Vi-spring mattress and it’s the one for you, then you should buy a Vi-spring mattress! If you’re still undecided or looking for a suitable Vispring mattress alternative, read on for more information about alternatives.

  1. Vi-Spring Regal Superb comparisons
  2. Vi-Spring Hanbury Superb comparisons
  3. Vi-Spring Bedstead Imperial
  4. Vi-Spring Heligan Superb comparison
  5. Vi-Spring Melford comparisons
  6. Vi-Spring Devonshire comparisons
  7. Vi-Spring Fursdon comparisons
  8. V-Spring Realm comparisons
  9. Vi-Spring Herald Superb comparisons
  10. Vi-Spring Tiara Superb comparisons
  11. Bedstead and base advice
  12. How much is a Vispring mattress?
  13. Summary

All of the below mattresses in our range are handmade here in the UK and are two-sided fully turnable mattresses.  Due to the fact they contain incredibly high GSM’s of fillings they are heavy mattresses.

(We also have our New Mattress Comparison Tool that allows you to easily select all of Visprings models and their John Lewis mattresses then compare them side by side. Check it out here.)

Vi-Spring Regal Superb Alternatives

The Vi-spring Regal Superb is one of Vi-spring’s most popular models.  We have a number of alternatives with subtle differences to this mattress meaning if you have tried it and liked it we can offer a comparable model with a similar feel.  We can also offer a similar mattress but with either a firmer support or top layer if you liked it but would have preferred a firmer feel for example.  This means that we can really tailor the recommendation based on the Vi-spring you may have tired or previously owned.

Vi Spring Regal Superb
1900gsm Blended real Shetland Isle Fleece Wool and Cotton
2Hairproof Cambric Cover
31200gsm long stranded Horsetail blended with British Fleece Wool
41000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
51720 Calico encased Pocket Springs [48mm ] [1.28mm ]
Total GSM3100gsm

The Vispring Regal Superb has an overall medium feel in the upholstery layers and is available in 3 spring tensions, soft, medium or firm. It retails at £6475 for a king size at Furniture Village February 2023. We also offer these spring tensions in all of our Artisan pocket sprung mattresses.

Vispring regal superb mattress review
Image from: https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/regal-superb-pocket-sprung-mattress/

Artisan 1500 comparison

The first in our range to compare to the Vi-spring Regal Superb is our Artisan 1500.  This is the first in our handmade natural mattress collection weighing in a 4300 GSM overall. It has a mix of natural and synthetic fibres, 53% natural fibre, which brings it in at a very competitive price point of £1415 for a king size, February 2023.

Due to the use of rebound polycotton and polyester in the top comfort layers, it will have a firmer feel to the standard Vi-spring Regal Superb.  Our more advanced mattresses use horsehair in this layer making it a softer feel in the comfort layer but these increase the price point considerably.  The spun bond pocket spring unit also helps keep the price competitive compared to the calico pocket springs used in the other Artisan models. It also has a broadly similar feel to the John Lewis Vi-Spring Hanbury £1600 for a kingsize February 2016, if say placed on a platform top or slatted divan.

John Ryan By Design Artisan 1500Vi-Spring Regal Superb
1500gsm Wool900gsm Blended real Shetland Isle Fleece Wool and Cotton
2600gsm Rebound Poly Cotton (50/50)Hairproof Cambric Cover
3700gsm Polyester1200gsm long stranded Horsetail blended with British Fleece Wool
4600gsm: Rebound Poly Cotton (50/50)NA
5700gsm PolyesterNA
61200 gsm Cashmere Hair Pad as Insulator1000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
71500 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Soft/Med or Firm)1720 Calico encased Pocket Springs [48mm ] [1.28mm ]
Total GSM4300gsm3100gsm
Artisan 1500 on Midnight Hopsack John Ryan Base
The Artisan 1500 has a similar feel to the Vi-Spring Regal Superb. Click here to view.

Artisan Tailored Pocket comparison

The Artisan Tailored pocket model is the first in our range to utilise two tiers of spun bond pocket springs.  This differs to the Vi-spring Regal Superb as it makes for a slightly firmer support unit.  It has a hefty 1200 GSM of blended British fleece wool and cotton in the very top layer giving it a medium feel in the upholstery. It has 2 rows of genuine hand side stitching, as you would expect! This model is priced at £1550 for a king size, February 2023.

John Ryan By Design Artisan Tailored PocketVi-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 Poly Cotton1200gsm long stranded Horsetail blended with British Fleece Wool
41500gsm Pure 100% Mohair1000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
52000 Double Tier Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Soft/Med or Firm)1720 Calico encased Pocket Springs [48mm ] [1.28mm ]
Total GSM3950gsm3100gsm
A thick mattress on a divan base
The Artisan Tailored Pocket has a comparative feel to the Vi-Spring Regal Superb. Click here to view.

Artisan Naturals comparison

The Artisan Naturals is our most popular mattress choice.  Containing a hefty 85% natural fillings and a calico pocket spring unit making it a really high-end mattress.  This closely compares to the Vi-spring Regal Superb having a similar medium feel in the upholstery layers. We match this mattress up with a sprung edge divan giving it a similar feel to the Vi-spring Regal superb if however you just buy the mattress and place it on a platform top or slatted base it will firm up the overall feel slightly. It is priced at £1760 for a king size, February 2023.

The Artisan Naturals Mattress
The Artisan Naturals has the closest feel to the Vi-Spring Regal Superb. Click to view.

If placed on a platform top divan the Artisan Naturals can feel similar to the Vi-spring Bedstead Imperial, £5085 for a kingsize from ‘And so to Bed’ February 2023, which is firmer than the Regal Superb. It also has a similar feel to the John Lewis Heligan Superb model, retailing at £2250 February 2016 which was discontinued in 2022.

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
Vispring bedstead imperial
Image from: https://www.andsotobed.co.uk/vispring-bedstead-imperial-mattress-only/

Artisan Bespoke 004 comparison

The Artisan Bespoke 004 is our first 100% natural and calico pocket spring handmade mattress. A truly top-end mattress crafted here in the UK with a medium feel in both support and upholstery.  It feels very similar to both the Artisan Naturals and Vi-spring Regal Superb mattresses but is 100% natural in its internal upholstery components.  It’s priced at £2310 for a kingsize February 2023.

In the John Lewis Vi-spring range, made exclusively for them, the Melford, £2600 for a king size John Lewis February 2016, is the closest, but not exact, comparison to the Artisan Bespoke oo4.  It is available in three spring tensions, as a split tension or zip and link model.

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 Bespoke mattress
The Artisan Bespoke 004 is 100% Natural Fibre and is similar to the Vispring Regal Superb in feel. Click to view.

Vi-spring Devonshire Alternatives

The Vi-Spring Devonshire weighs in at 2600 GSM and is one of their soft feel mattresses. By utilising really generous wool layers on top of their calico spring unit they can create a super deep soft sink with this mattress. Our nearest comparator is our Artisan Luxury in terms of a soft feel.

However, our Artisan Luxury offers 2000 GSM more in the upholstery layers as we include including horsehair which we use in our softer mattresses to help combat potential dipping and settlement that can sometimes happen if super soft fillings such as wool are used on their own. The Devonshire retails at £3310 at Furniture Village February 2023.

Vispring devonshire mattress alternatives
Image from: https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/devonshire-pocket-sprung-mattress/

Artisan Luxury comparison

Our Artisan Luxury is our softest deep sink mattress. Handmade in the UK it contains 1200 GSM British fleece wool and cotton in the top comfort layer giving that soft top layer feel.  It also uses horsehair and horsetail to give some support and stop the mattress from becoming overly soft in the support layers. It’s priced at £2390 for a king size, February 2023.

It has a very similar feel to the Devonshire but has additional horsehair and horsetail layers which are essential to prevent undue settlement when using such soft fillings as wool. Without these layers, the wool tends to compress, leaving some customers with potential settlement issues. These can be reduced by regular mattress maintenance and the inclusion of a horsetail/hair layer.

John Ryan By Design Artisan LuxuryVi-Spring Devonshire
11200 GSM British Fleece Wool and Cotton 600gsm British Fleece Wool
2Hairproof Cambric Cover1700gsm Devonshire Fleece Wool
31200gsm Pure Horsehair NA
4500gsm Pure WoolNA
51200gsm Pure HorsetailNA
6500gsm Pure Wool300gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
71476 Calico encased Pocket Springs [51mm] [1.42mm] 1326 Calico encased Pocket Springs [54mm] [1.52mm]
Total GSM4600gsm2600gsm
The Soft Artisan Luxury Mattress from John Ryan By Design
The Artisan Luxury is our softest mattress similar to the Vispring Devonshire but with a higher GSM. Click to view.

Vi-Spring Fursdon Alternatives

The Vi-spring Fursdon is one of Visprigns softest mattresses from John Lewis and you can read more of it here. It’s primarily made of New Zealand Wool, Cotton & Alpaca with Horsehair layer. Giving a very soft feel in the top layers. It too is similar in feel to our Artisan Luxury above. This retails for £2375 in a Kingsize in John Lewis 2023.

Vi-Spring Bedstead Realm Mattress

The Vi-Spring Bedstead Realm mattress is usually paired with the Vi-spring Bedstead range. However, you can also buy this mattress as a separate and it is suitable for all other divan bases.

This mattress is made up of the following upholstery from the spring unit upwards. 1350GSM bonded British fleece wool and cotton (as the spring insulator), then with 300GSM British fleece wool, 200GSM of Bamboo and the final top comfort layer is 900GSM of Blended British Fleece Wool and Cotton. The total GSM is 2750GSM. All of these Natural Fibres are considered very soft which is what gives the Realm is soft sink feeling. It retails at £2,300 for a kingsize in Dec 2019 ‘And so to Bed’.

Bedstead realm mattress review
Image from: https://www.andsotobed.co.uk/vispring-bedstead-realm-mattress-only/

Our nearest comparison is the Artisan Luxury which has the added benefit of horsehair to help reduce settlement which can often be found in very soft wool-filled mattresses.

Vi-Spring Herald Superb Alternatives

The Vi-spring Herald Superb has a much firmer feel in the top layers over other Vi-spring models.  It contains 3400 GSM, 1200 GSM of which is horsehair above the 1000 GSM of British fleece wool which acts as an insulator above the pocket spring unit.  The horsehair provides support to the upper upholstery layers. The Herald Superb retails at £3099 Furniture Village February 2023.

Herald superb mattress review
Image from: https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/herald-superb-pocket-sprung-mattress/

Artisan Bespoke comparison

Our Bespoke model offers 1700 GSM more than the Vi-spring model as we have included an additional horsehair pad and use final 500 GSM layer of wool on the very top comfort layer.  We believe this gives the mattress a tad more support and longevity overall but when you’re talking about such high GSMs we really are splitting hairs!

This mattress provides a firm feel in the upholstery layer, ideal for those sleepers who don’t want to sink too far into the mattress whilst still having some give in the top layers.  It’s priced at £2545 for a kingsize February 2023. Whilst it feels similar to the Herald Superb it’s a much heavier, deeper mattress, as there is more upholstery inside it.

John Ryan By Design Artisan BespokeVi-Spring Herald Superb
1500gsm British Wool1200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool & Cotton
21200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool and CottonNA
3Hairproof Cambric CoverHairproof Cambric Cover
41200gsm Pure Horsetail NA
51200gsm Horsehair1200gsm Horsehair
61000gsm White Cashmere Insulator1000gsm British Fleece Wool
71600 Calico encased Pocket Springs [49mm] [1.28mm] 1476 Calico encased Pocket Springs [51mm] [Gauge: 1.42mm]
Total GSM5100gsm3400gsm
Artisan Bespoke 004 luxury mattress on base
The Vispring Herald Superb has a similar feel to our Artisan Bespoke. Click to view.
Hand made mattresses offer you the very best in bespoke sleeping
Hand made mattresses offer you the very best in bespoke sleeping
A hand made mattress can be completely tailored to your needs
A hand made mattress can be completely tailored to your needs

Vi-Spring Tiara Superb Alternative

The Tiara Superb uses a two-tier spring method in its support layer.  This means that there are two layers of pocket springs resting on top of each other.  This gives two-tier mattresses a slightly bouncy feel in the support and livelier than a single row of pocket springs.

The Tiara retails at £10,795 for a king size from And so to Bed February 2023. The Tiara has a medium feel in the upholstery layers but more progressive support in the two-tier spring layer.

Tiara superb mattress review
Image from: https://www.andsotobed.co.uk/vispring-tiara-superb-mattress-only/

Artisan Bespoke 002 comparison

Our Bespoke 002 also utilises two tiers of calico pocket springs.  This construction method gives the bed a livelier feel which isn’t for everyone!  It’s a slightly more advanced support style for those that like a fast sink and a quick response from their mattress.

It’s priced at £2725 for a kingsize February 2023. It is a personal preference, and we always advise you to try a two-tier mattress first if you’re unsure. We also include 200 GSM of Bamboo on top of the cambric cover for an added level of protection between the springs, insulator and comfort layers above.

John Ryan By Design Artisan Bespoke 002Vi-Spring Tiara Superb
11200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool and Cotton1200gsm Blended real Shetland Isle Fleece Wool and Cotton
2Hairproof Cambric CoverHairproof Cambric Cover
3200gsm Soft BambooNA
41200gsm Pure Horsetail1200gsm hand-teased long-stranded horsetail blended with real Shetland Isle fleece wool
51000 gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton1000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton
62508 (2 tiers) Calico encased Pocket Springs [56mm] [1.40mm]2242 (2 tiers) Calico encased Pocket Springs [60mm] [1.42mm]
Total GSM3600gsm3400gsm
Artisan Bespoke 002 Luxury Mattress
The Artisan Bespoke 002 dual spring mattress compares to the Vispring Tiara Superb. Click to view.

Artisan Bespoke 003 Comparison to the Vispring Tiara

We’ve also recently added the Artisan Bespoke 003 to our range which also has a similar albeit slightly softer feel than the Artisan Bespoke 002 – which compares to the Vispring Tiara. It has a deeper comfort layer for that softer sink. It is priced at £3815 for a kingsize Feb 2023.

It contains significantly more upholstery than the Vispring and Bespoke 002 at 5600GSM, which is nearly twice as much.

Artisan Mattress
The Artisan Bespoke 003 is one of our finest double sprung models. For a softer sink before progressive support. Click to view.

Vi spring Bedstead advice

We are often asked by customers about matching bedsteads or divans with mattresses. Questions such as ‘Which divan do I need to buy with my new mattress?’ or ‘Why do I need to buy a matching bedstead for my new mattress’. The quick answer is you don’t.

If your existing mattress base is in sound order, there is no need to buy a new base, unless you want to.

We have been told about sales assistants mandating that customers need to replace their base if they buy a new Vi-spring mattress; we always advise that if the base is sound, there’s no need to change it. You may want to change it if you want a different colour or more drawer options.

How much is a Vispring mattress?

As you may have seen by reading about Vispring comparison models, the Vispring mattress range is certainly not cheap. Ranging from £1000 to £99,000 in some cases!

The average price of a Vispring mattress is between £3000 and £6000 for a kingsize here in the UK depending on the model you choose.

This may make you question what the differences are between them. Most of the time, it’s the quality and scarcity of the natural fibres that bump the price up. However, you can find suitable alternatives for anywhere between £1000 and £3000 elsewhere by using small independent bed retailers.

Below is a handy table to see exactly what you should be getting for your money when buying a new bed such as Vispring.

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.

How can I check if my Vispring mattress base is ok?

Sometimes customers ask how they can check if their existing mattress base is in sound condition. One quick way to check is to look out for any springs that have come through the fabric or any dips, lumps or bumps on the top of the base. If you run your hand across the top you can sometimes feel springs poking slightly through or any uneven bits that may give concern that part of the base is damaged.

We also advise that any of our mattresses can go on a bedstead as we have had reports of some sales staff advising that certain mattresses are for the matching branded divans only and the same with bedsteads. If it isn’t broken, then you don’t need to fix it.

Vi Spring ModelJohn Ryan By Design ModelJohn Ryan Difference
The Regal SuperbArtisan 1500Slightly firmer comfort layer
The Hanbury SuperbArtisan 1500Slightly softer overall
The Regal SuperbArtisan Tailored PocketFirmer support
The Regal SuperbArtisan Naturals
The Bedstead ImperialArtisan NaturalsFirmer support
The Heligan SuperbArtisan Naturals
The Regal SuperbArtisan Bespoke 004Additional 500 GSM
The MelfordArtisan Bespoke 004
The DevonshireArtisan LuxuryUses horsehair & horsetail
The Herald SuperbArtisan Bespoke
The Tiara SuperbArtisan Bespoke 002

*All prices and specifications correct at time of printing and subject to change.  Please call us for the latest up to date information.  No direct comparison is made between any of the models and is only based on ‘similar feels’ from customer and staff feedback.

Summary

There’s a lot to consider when buying a high-end handmade mattress. Firstly there is a significant cost involved and plenty of research as to what the various GSM layers will do to the feel of the mattress. We can’t stress enough how knowing the GSM layers of the mattress you are potentially going to buy is essential. Without this, you really are shopping in the dark.

We give ‘similar feel’ comparisons to Vi-Spring as they are a company who make high-quality beds to the same exacting standards that we have always used. If you need more help in summarising the information above to meet your personal requirements then, please contact us on 0161 437 4419. We have a small expert team who are happy to assist and sometimes the differences between the mattresses can be very subtle!

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