This really is the million dollar question to answer and is quite subjective.
If you start with Tempur the market leader who are charging in the region of £1500 – £3000 for the mattress alone, they are using 85kg density ‘Tempur’ foam which has a firm feel. Their foam isn’t available anywhere else and is patented. They have three main models, the Tempur Original which is the firmest, the Tempur Cloud which is the softest and the Tempur Sensation which is a version in-between the two which is said to have more ‘bounce’. They have undertaken the original research and development and their prices bare this cost. Tempur also have a depth measure on their model names such as 22 which indicates a 22cm deep mattress. Dreams and other authorised retailers sometimes microbrand the Tempur mattress with other suffixes or names. This can cause some confusion amongst customers as to which model is which. For example the ‘deluxe’ tag is usually used on models over 21cm.
The cheaper end of the market, typically selling £200 mattresses, may only be using 40kg density foam, at maybe 2cm depth, with a lower hardness rating which is far softer. They can offer products at this price because they are probably offering low quality cheaper Memory Foams some of which maybe imported from outside the UK. You then have everything in between.
To make matters even harder to analyse few of the brands offer you the exact densities, qualities or depths of foams used so it really is difficult to assess and compare mattresses. Some will offer a few of the facts and the competitors some different select facts, very few give you all the information, that’s were we differ.
To be able to compare mattresses the main questions you should be asking are.
- How many layers and components does the mattress have?
- What are the depths of each of the mattress layers?
- What are the densities and associated firmness ratings for the foams?
There is also the base layer or Reflex Foam to consider which confusingly will have a different density rating typically 30-33kg density. This conversely is firmer than Memory Foam because it has a different chemical composition! Confused? Bare with us!
Memory Foam typically has a density from 40kg (soft) to 85kg (firm) and there is a tolerance in the manufacturing techniques, so an 85kg foam could be any where between say 80kg and 90kg in reality. Reflex Foam is a much denser foam so its firmness is usually measured between 30-33kg, as an 85kg piece of relfex would feel like a slab of marble!
Each brand tries to have its own unique selling point using a barrage of luxury, sumptuous and qualitative descriptions, but bear in mind what you want to know are the hard cold facts which you can then compare them by.
The only sensible way to compare Memory Foams is via data sheets for each of the foams you want to compare. The difficulty is manufacturers wont usually release them. Read our data sheet for all our foams here.
Graham
Hello,
Which of your range would you say was closest to the Tempur Original Deluxe 22? Have tried this out and like the feel of it.
Am looking for a relatively firm mattress for 15 stone weight for back support. Also, a mattress that stays cool would be welcome.
Thanks
Hi Graham,
We don’t offer a comparator to the tempur original. This is because we find it a really firm and slow to recover mattress which we don’t find that suitable for our customers. What we do have is a firm latex mattress the fusion 2 or 4 which gives a firm feel but a far faster response rate, less heat and a far higher life span given its solid core latex. This latex is 80kg compared to rompers 85kg memory foam.
If we can help further please let us know.
Magdalena
Hello,
I’m looking to buy a new single mattress and came across your website, which seems to be really brilliant – explaining everything about mattresses that is usually very difficult to find. I used to have a pocket spring mattress with memory foam layer but it felt too hard, the hardness was rated as a no. 4, which I guess doesn’t mean anything. I’m quite slim, my weight is 8st 8, height 5’57” and I suffer with a bit of a chronic back pain. I’d like a soft mattress as I really used to ache on the one I had and would very much appreciate your advice on which one from your collection you recommend. I went to John Lewis and tried Tempur Sensation Deluxe 22, which felt very nice and soft but their prices are way over my budget. Thank you very much for your help.
Hi Magdalena, The 4 rating is usually a firm feel mattress in the main retailers such as dreams and bensons with 5 being orthopaedic or incredibly firm! No wonder you’re not getting on with it at 8 stone it must be incredibly firm for you, but don’t worry I have some ideal recommendations to cater for your requirements!
If you like the feel of the Tempur sensation we have a comparative model in our Hybrid 5 which is a very deep mattress with a medium support layer. The top layers give a soft feel whilst the lay gel centre core gives the mattress a fast response rate. Using hybrid foam, it does’t require or retain as much heat as say tempur or the memory foam equivalent. If you wanted an even softer mattress the hybrid 4 is our comparator to the tempur cloud giving a softer top layer compared to the hybrid 5.
Hope that helps Magdalena any problems please call us.
Anna
We are desperately searching for a king sized mattress that will suit both my husband and I. He has sciatica and I suffer from neck pain from old whiplash injuries so it is quite difficult to find a mattress that suits us both. I like the Tempur mattresses for comfort but have found them too hot. I am also a light sleeper so a soft bed where we roll into each other is not ideal. We are both slim/normal weight, but prefer harder mattresses. We currently have an orthopedic mattress that is too hard for us and we wake up in pain every morning.
We desperately need a new mattress – any advice you could provide us with on a suitable new one would be fantastic.
Hi Anna, Thanks for getting in touch and hopefully we can help you. Ideally we need to know your actual weight and heights to fully advise.
If you find tempur too hot I would advise you look at a latex mattress. Dependant on your weight we have either medium or firm. These will be less warm than a memory foam mattress for you and have almost zero transference, i.e. movement when one person moves. The fact we use matching removable toppers with our range gives you a really deep comfort layer whilst still having support.
Please look at our fusion range of latex mattresses here. Any questions please give us a call.
Shay
Hi there,
We have been looking around at different bed/mattress options and have come across your website and are interested due to the great reviews and affordable pricing.
We have been around to many shops trying different mattresses and one that really stood out for us in terms of comfort was the Tempur Original 25 Sublime which has a firmness rating of 4/5 (5 being firmest). However looking at the negative reviews of heat and mold issues and also the ridiculous prices we have been a bit put off.
Would you be able to recommend something similar in your range?
One that has piqued our interest is the Fusion 4 Latex.
Thank you in advance for your time
Hi Shay, The Tempur original sublime 25 is their firmest mattress in terms of feel and support. Tempur and memory foam has been criticised however for being too heat retentive, i.e. warm. Also due to the fact they are all one sided mattresses means they can be prone to mould and mildew is not rotated and checked regularly.
Our Fusion 4 solid core latex mattress is a completely different beast to any memory foam. Latex is incredibly breathable, responsive and our range are all two sided so you can use both. Its a 80kg natural latex giving it a firm support feel. It’s matched with a 70kg medium topper so you still get a softer top comfort layer. It moulds and responds very quickly compared to other memory foams and has a very long life span. We have comparators on the page to the dunlopillo range which you could go try out if you want to try one in a store. – Lee
Gina
I purchased a tempur original mattress about 7-8 years ago and put it on my slatted bed. I changed my bed base about 10 months ago to a cheap divan base with drawers. Now i find our backs are really aching every morning.Do you think it could be this cheap base and what bed base would you advise for this mattress. I noticed you have several bed bases for sale, thanks Gina
Hi Gina,
I don’t think a cheap divan would make a huge difference between that and solid slats, unless they were sprung slats? It’s really hard to attribute medical problems aches and pains solely to the mattress or a bed. It could be for example a chair you’ve started using, injury or what not. A decent suitable mattress can help a bad back but no manufacturer should ever claim to cure or relieve a bad back as there are too many variables.
We don’t recommend using slatted mattresses with any foam mattress because the foam conforms over time to the gaps between the slats. We usually recommend a divan base for foam mattresses as you get the most consistent feel. – Lee
Chelsee Hobbins
Hi
We are both side sleepers and currently have a medium/firm pocked spring bed with a layer of latex and are both waking up in agony with shoulder pain.
We’ve been trying several Tempur Mattresses & have favoured the Cloud Deluxe 22; the Cloud Sublime (sold only by Bensons for Beds and softer than the Cloud Deluxe 22).
Could you recommend a mattress from your range which is comparable comfort wise?
Thanks in advance
Hi Chelsee, please have a look at our Hybrid 4 which is our comparator to the Tempur cloud, it has a soft top layer before supportive layers. It also contains laygel which is a hybrid foam and is far cooler than traditional memory foam. Any further questions please give us a call on 0161 945 3757 – Lee
Jonathan Day
Lee – an open question if I may that I would welcome your opinion on
We purchased a tempur mattress and slatted base (that lifts open) in July 2011.
The bed is super-king sized, we have roated the mattress once and I (like a previous poster) am between 17 and 20 stone.
The mattress has softened to the extent I can no longer sleep on it without hip and back pain – it can be depressed by hand to the base in places. Is this a normal amount of ‘settlement’ for Tempur? As £3,500 for a bed to last 30 months feels un-economical.
The real question, what sort of replacement bed would you advise. My wife likes Relyon pocket sprung. Would this be a better choice for someone of my weight? I am not wedded to the idea of memory foam if there is a more suitable product, the Tempur bed was bought with the expectation it would last 10 years and offer a good level of support and comfort.
Hoping you can help – Jonathan
Hi Jonathan, Sorry to hear you’re experiencing pain upon waking. I know from experience how frustrating it is to wake up with aches, from really firm holiday mattresses in my case.
Just to address the negative first, you should be rotating your mattress monthly to even out the wear, you mention you’ve done this twice which would mean that all the settlement will be in the same places on the mattress, whilst rotating isn’t as beneficial as turning, you can’t do this with a memory or Tempur foam mattress so rotating is advised to minimise the settlement in any one place. That said I wouldn’t expect it to be so severe as you’ve described.
Ok so theres clearly an issue with settlement if you’re sinking through to the base. It would be really helpful to know which Tempur mattress you bought, tempur original, tempur cloud or tempur sensation. Let’s say based on your weight you went for the tempur original, this is an 85kg density foam, so firm foam with a slow sink. It will of course soften over time, just like springs soften slightly. This is usually most noticeable within the first 6 months and then it stays pretty consistent once it has bedded in. I don’t believe you should be sinking all the way through though Jonathan.
Based on your weight range you are at the middle of the standard mattress guidance, which is 18 stone before many retailers either wont guarantee the mattresses stability or tension. Mattress materials, especially foam have a tolerance for weight and when this is exceeded the life span or tension is compromised. I know this all sounds very doom and gloom but I’m laying out all the usual excuses you may encounter first before I recommend your best next step.
Naturally the heavier a person is the more frequently they may need to change their mattress. Which is why sometimes adding a quality topper can help as this will take the brunt of the compression and if need be this can be replaced at a lower cost than the entire mattress. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t expect decent life expectancy out of your mattress!!
I couldn’t say without physical inspection whether your tempur mattress has failed, also their lawyers would be on my case if I did! What I can say is that it sounds as if the mattress you have isn’t supportive enough for your weight. I would be recommending a mix of pocket springs and maybe a latex or foam topper. This would give you the support you need from a fully turnable mattress but with the sinking feeling of a thick foam topper. The benefit is if the foam needs replacing in a few years, its a far cheaper experience than £3500! It also means you get 4 sides of the bed to play with rather than the one side of a tempur mattress. I’d be happy to chat to you over the phone, but as a starter for ten I’d be looking at one of our John Ryan By Design models, start with the Origins Reflex and then the Artisan Range which can all be ordered with a firm tension spring to suit your body weight. I would combine this with either a hybrid foam or Latex topper to get that sink you probably liked at first with your tempur, but without sinking all the way through!
I certainly would get in touch with tempur and raise the concern about potential settlement and dips in the mattress. I hope that helps Jonathan. If you can provide some more information on the model or pictures I can further tailor my guidance for you. Lee
Comment Submitted Via Email
My wife and I currently have one of the original Tempur 20cm King-size mattresses and we love it.
It now needs replacing after 9/10 years use, mainly due to my weight (we never expected it to last the full 15 years of the warranty), so we are looking for the closest non-Tempur match at a more reasonable price.
I like the honesty and detail of your website and am torn between your Genesis 2 and the Ergo flex you compare it with as these seem the most likely to be a match for our old Tempur.
The Ergoflex uses the same 85kg density foam as the Tempur so initially that sounds a better match.
I am overweight (varies between 16st and 24st unfortunately) and acknowledge that I will have to replace a mattress more often than most.
I am always sceptical of mattress warranties – too many exclusions to be of any use. Having said that, they do give some guidance as to the expected longevity and your three year warranty vs ten for the Ergoflex and fiften for the Tempur doesn’t compare well.
I don’t expect it last the full quoted amount but maybe 50-65% of the expected ‘normal’ weight period. So with an overweight sleeper such as myself, would you expect the whole mattress to need replacing or just the topper?
You’ve uncovered some wider questions about memory foam and guarantees. There is a significant difference between a guarantee and a warranty Simon. We only offer a old fashioned no fuss guarantee rather than a American style warranty which sets out limitations and a service should you need to repair or return the bed. Tempur and other sellers use a proportional warranty, so every year you’ve had the bed depreciates the compensation or fix you may be offered if the bed fails, sags or dips. We are more transparent and offer a full repair or replace guarantee rather than a percentage basis. If the bed is going to fail we know this is generally within the first year or two as well the higher the quality/composition of the bed the higher our guarantee. There are significant costs with returning mattresses, which some companies don’t show on their warranty. Take the example of £500 mattress you’ve had for 3 years and it fails on a 5 year guarantee, so you’re offered maybe a 20-30% return for your failed mattress say £100-£150, but there was a £75 inspection charge and £75 delivery charge, you end up better off buying a new bed as the return you get is zero. I know thats a extreme example but I’m using it to highlight the issue with proportional warranties.
Back to the suitability of the Genesis 2 memory foam mattress. I wouldn’t recommend this mattress for your size and requirements. You will find it far too soft for your bodyweight. Ergoflex and Tempur use a higher density which is firmer for your bodyweight. The reason we don’t offer it is that theres not a huge market in the UK for these firm density foams. The UK manufacturers don’t offer them as a rule. Our experience is they are simply too firm for most and therefore we don’t use them in our designs. Memory foam by nature should have some soft progressive comfort to it and the higher density foams for your average 12 stone sleeper are simply too firm. This is why Tempur have released the Cloud and Sensation, as the feedback on the web was that the original was a really firm mattress. Other manufacturers import 85kg density foam from China which brings in other concerns re the fire retardant safety and quality levels as they have different legislations on foam safety. I don’t know of any UK based foam manufacturer that offers this density so bare that in mind when scrutinising other suppliers.
With your weight fluctuating you will need something that can accommodate you at your highest weight without punishing you at the lower weight. This is a tricky problem. I would only recommend a high density foam, if you’re adverse to springs, maybe with a softer topper to take the edges off.
When crafting mattresses for the weight range you’ve specified we always use high tensile firm tension springs because these are usually more robust than foam over time. We are at the moment working on options for a comfy but supportive mattress for the higher weight range but its very difficult. All foam will compress and as you’ve mentioned, the heavier the weight the quicker the compression is.
My honest advice is to spend less, comparative to Tempurs prices, and replace frequently with a high density foam mattress and a topper. I wouldn’t recommend any of my range in pure foam that would accommodate your weight given the fluctuation I’m afraid.
I do hope that helps you on your journey for your new mattress – Lee
Comment Submitted Via Email
I recently bought a Harrison pocket sprung mattress and matching base but unfortunately whilst I cannot say it is uncomfortable I wake up with aches and pains I never had before and have now returned to the Tempur mattress which the Harrison replaced. The reason for the change to the Harrison was that I felt the Tempur needed replacing and after our house was flooded in 2012 we spent nearly 18 months sleeping on various beds in various locations but all pocket sprung but as I say the Harrison has not done the job for me. I am now faced with the dilemma of buying yet another mattress but a new Tempur direct from them with the option of retuning it is financially restricted. My question after a rather long winded introduction is would one of the 100 per cent latex toppers be compatible with the Tempur mattress and also should I decide to go for a new mattress would the Fusion mattress (Medium) be a suitable alternative to the Tempur and would a base with drawers be suitable for this
mattress. I note that the Fusion mattresses can be turned and rotated but there are no handles on the sides to help with this. The Tempur is the same and it is quite difficult to manoeuvre it if we have to. What would be your advice for moving the Fusion? Finally how does the weight of the Fusion compare to say the Harrison pocket sprung mattress? I find it very heavy and difficult to make the bed and I am of average strength.
I think that is it for the time being.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply.
Kind regards
Thanks for getting in touch and sorry to hear you’re having problems with your mattress.
Without knowing the exact Harrison model and your weight its hard to fully advise but I will try to give you some advice to assist. You can then always give us a call direct to discuss further if you need to.
In terms of Latex Mattress Vs Tempur Mattresses composite materials there really is no comparison in terms of the material, Latex wins outright. Latex is the premium mattress foam based from the natural milk of rubber trees that is then carefully converted into latex foam. It is breathable, resilient and returns to its original shape far faster than say Tempur or memory foam which are synthetic man made foams. It doesn’t rely on heat like tempur or memory foam so doesn’t get as hot, its also naturally breathable. You don’t need various differing layers with a latex mattress because latex by its very nature is soft at first before becoming progressively supportive the further you sink. You therefore only ever have one consistent component in a latex mattress, rather than layers of different foams. As always though some people swear by Tempur and the feel and material. We always class natural materials above synthetic which is why we make this statement based on our individual opinion. We would say that a latex bed is by its nature a better bed than say its equivalent memory foam alternative.
Your idea to trial a latex topper is a good move as it would let you get to grips with the sensation of latex. Since you have had a Tempur bed I would say you are already pretty aware of the difference between a pocket sprung and a foam style bed. It won’t however make a bad bed good or change a bed completely, it will allow a softer more progressive comfort layer to a bed.
If you get along with the topper you could then purchase the reduced height fusion mattress to match your topper making it a Fusion 3 so you can take some of the risk out of purchasing another mattress.
As for the weight of these style of beds, you are correct they are heavy and a bit awkward to move The reason you don’t see handles on them is because of their mouldable nature you use a much lighter softer cover to wrap them in. You couldn’t put a strong enough handle on this type of cover to lift the mattress, to make a cover strong enough would mean a thick damask or other materials which would then change the comfort and properties of the bed. Its a trade off when having a pressure relieving bed and I can understand your frustration with it. With our range you have both a core and a topper you can turn so you could alternate between the two components every month to lessen the lifting and moving. A latex bed will be in most cases heavier than a pocket sprung bed as its a much denser bed, this however is a generalisation and without having an actual mattress to compare to I can’t say for sure! – Lee
Comment Submitted Via Email
A couple of years ago, I owned a Dunlopillo Latex Mattress on a basic Dunloppillo slatted base. I’d had it for over 10 years I believe and I remained happy with it. So why did I change?
I decided I wanted an adjustable bed and fell for the hype about memory foam, so I bought a Temour adjustable bed (slatted) and a Tempur original (I think) mattress.
To cut a long story short, (okay not very short) I’m finding that my shoulders and lower ribs ache in the morning. I sleep on my side which is not helping.
So I need a new mattress which will work well with my existing adjustable base
Questions:
I think I need a 6’6 mattress not a 6’3. I’ll check this before buying but can you supply this and for how much? 3ft
I’m interested in both fusion 3 and 5. Will 5 be too thick for my base? How secure is the toppeer?
I’m assuming that 3 and 5 are identical if you remove the topper from 5?
I weigh about 12 stone and sleep on my side. Are these two mattress the right firmness (softness?) for me?
I’m not totally sure I want Latex. I’ll consider pocket sprung from your other site also. I’m leaning toward Latex based on previous experience with Dunlopillo and the fact that my previous latex wore very well. I suspect that latex is better suited to my base also? I’m unlikely to buy another memory foam mattress
Can you advise?
I’m sorry to hear your Tempur mattress is causing you issue. The issue some people find is that the tempur original is a firm bed which some people think is better for back and hip issues, some people however find a firmer bed aggravates the issue.
As you have probably realised Latex is the premium material that memory foam simply can’t compete with. I think you’re right given your current sleep issues to return to a quality latex mattress.
To answer your questions:
We can supply 6″6 mattresses but would need to know what size mattress you are after.
For an adjustable bed the fusion 5 would be the recommended model due to the thickness, weight and moving aspect of the base.
Latex is the most suitable mattress for adjustable bases due to the fact its incredibly flexible and malleable compared to a more stiffer sprung mattress.
The topper is held in place by weight usually, we also recommend fitted sheets. In terms of the adjustable bed it should be fine if fitted with a fitted sheet. That said the reduced height mattress is usually the most practical for an adjustable bed. The choice is really with you, given that adjustable beds are sometimes higher than standard divans.
We recommend that slatted bases are no further than an inch apart as latex and foams will mould to the surface they are put on. The fact you have an adjustable bed indicates this shouldn’t be a problem as they are designed
for foam beds. I always ask to make sure though!
I think a medium tension based on your weight would be suitable to provide a medium feel mattress.
I hope that helps – Lee