We know that custom and manners mean we should never ask your age or your weight, but when it comes to mattresses customs and practices need to be excused to ensure you get the right mattress. We guarantee it will just be between us and by discussing the subject we can offer you a much more suitable product and allow you to understand the effect that weight has on a mattress and its comfort.
UPDATE! We need your help!: We are testing a new range of bariatric mattresses for heavier sleepers. If you are 20 stone plus or 120 – 190kg we are developing a range of turnable comfortable mattresses that have both comfort and support. If you are looking for a mattress for a heavier sleeper to support and provide comfort please get in touch. We will be offering these new models at significant discount to a limited number of customers to assist us with feedback on them. The 30 day love it or return it guarantee will apply to these models! This is a limited time offer so please email or call us on 0161 945 3757.
Many customers come to us because they are completely confused when trying to find a mattress to suit two different weights of sleeper. The majority of mattresses are manufactured to accommodate a certain weight of sleeper, usually with a maximum tolerance set of 18 stone. This is usually as far as it goes. You’re not told whether this is in total or per sleeper and does this change per bed size. There is also no information given on what the feel, longevity or response the mattress will give when pushed to its weight limit. This is a very difficult specialist area so we empathise with the retailers on their decision to avoid it. We however quite like the tricky questions it keeps us on our toes and allows us to show how we, the experts, differ to the misguided sales staff.
Two different weighted sleepers: If you and your partner are very different in terms of weight, ie 8 stone vs 18 stone, then it will be very hard to get one mattress to suit you both. Most retailers will hedge their bets and go either for a very firm mattress to suit the heavier or put you somewhere in the middle. We however don’t like this approach, as it gives you a one size fits no one response.
If you and your sleeping partner are of very different weights then it maybe more practical to get two different beds. It’s not as extreme as it sounds. In traditional pocket sprung beds, that our other division expertly provides, you can have dual tension springs, with one side softer and one firmer or zip and linked mattresses to achieve this. If you want Memory, Hybrid or Latex Foam we can still provide this through our bespoke service.
How do you do this?: By having two different mattresses both sleepers can get the right mattress for their individual needs without compromising. Due to our dual construction method we can supply you with two different mattresses, ie two 2”6 small single beds to make a kingsize when put together, combined with a matching topper. So visibly it looks like one bed but underneath you have two separate mattresses for each of your requirements.
What are the benefits: You both get a side of the bed that is suitable for your body weight, firmness preference and comfort.
What are the limitations?: It wouldn’t be very wise if we didn’t give you the full picture and there are limitations to this. The mattresses have to be the same depth or else you will end up with a ridge down the middle of the bed where they join. We can advise on which in our range go together to address this. It may also mean that you don’t have as large a choice of mattress as you can’t simply match any of our mattress range together. That said it has to be miles better than the retail equivalent of giving you both a bed that meets neither of your requirements. The other limitation is for sleepers that want to regularly change or swap sides of the bed. You would need to move and rotate the mattresses into the other side to do this.
Bigger Sleepers: Now for another subject. Mattress retailers do not accommodate bigger sleepers. This is defined by us as anyone over 20 stone. Most mattress ranges limit the weight to 18 stone or 252lbs with a combined weight of 30 stone. As you can understand the heavier the sleeper the more stress is put on the mattress which if exceeded causes the mattress to fail, dip or reduces its lifespan. The retail shops will at best simply try and sell you an expensive incredibly firm mattress if you fall into this category. We believe this is highly unfair and unsuitable. We are one of the only companies out there to specialise in bespoke beds for bigger sleepers.
Beds for people who weigh 20 stone plus follow different rules to standard mattresses, as support requires much more attention. Unfortunately the truth is that bigger sleepers will need to replace their mattress much more frequently than the lighter sleepers. This is an inevitable fact. What we want to offer is not just a bed that ‘will do’ but a bed you’re actually comfortable on. Not just a firm slab of heavy weight foam. Whilst you may need to replace a standard bed more frequently than a lighter sleeper, with our dual construction design we can limit the need to replace the entire mattress.
Where we differ is that we are foam specialists who can offer a range of high support Reflex and PU foams for the support aspect of your mattress. We can then match this with a higher density range of Memory, Hybrid or Latex Foams using our dual construction method. This means that any wear or sagging that occurs over time can be reduced by having a removable replaceable topper.
We believe we are one of the only suppliers who can offer a supportive and comfortable bed for bigger sleepers. The replacement topper service ensures that you’re reducing your future outlay where parts need replacing. Again please contact us for a friendly chat about your requirements where our bespoke team can assist you. Regardless of your size we believe everyone should be able to find a bed that provides them with a supportive and comfortable nights sleep. Don’t settle for any less.
Guarantee: Due to the bespoke nature of these services it is excluded from our love it or return it guarantee as it will be a specialist order. That said we do guarantee we will provide you with expert advice and guidance on your requirements. Taking time to listen, advise and assist.
Andy
Hi, I’ve been in touch with Gary about a mattress, but only just seen this!
I’m 20+ stone, and my wife is 13-14 stone. We were looking at a Zip and Link, possibly Origins pocket latex 1500/2000 or an Artisan 1500.
I’d willingly try one of the new ones?
Thanks for getting in touch.
The new range of John Ryan firm core mattresses have been designed for the heavier sleeper. We don’t do them in zip and links as they are solid core contemporary foam based mattresses. The difficulty, which I’m sure Gary has taken you through, is the variance between you and your partner in weight. This mattress may be suitable if your wife doesn’t mind a firmer support feel. If she’s looking for medium or soft then you may need to go down the zip and link route.
The Firm core 1 would be a medium feel for you but a firm support unit for your partner. The core mattress is double sided and comes with a thick 7.5cm lay gel topper giving a soft top layer but a substantial support unit which people at 18 stone+ require. This lay gel topper will give a softer top feel for your partner mitigating some of the firmness that the core unit provides.
If you are interested the specs are as follows:
Firm core 1 which is suitable from 18-25 stone sleepers. Its matched with a lay gel topper which is a hybrid foam, similar to synthetic latex. This lay gel layer will give both of you comfort to the top layers giving a progressive sink before the support.
The mattresses are fully turntable so you can use both sides. The tech spec is a 6″ extra firm reflex foam core layered either side with 2″ of softer support core then the topper is used on top of this. In this case the topper is lay gel 7.5cm.
If you need any more advice please get back in touch. If you are interested in one of the prototype firm cores please let me know what size. – Lee
Comment via Email
Hello, please could you recommend a suitable mattress for me and my husband. We’re different weights (17 stone and 10 stone). We currently have a Dunlopillo Firmrest (about 12 years old) which suits my husband very well but which I find too hard especially now as I am pregnant and some previous back injuries have come back. Which of your range of latex or mixed latex and other materials mattresses would you recommend to accommodate different weights comfortably?
Thanks
In short, there is no way to have one tension of mattress to meet both your needs, not without compromising both of your requirements to some degree. Based on the weights I’d recommend the 10 stone choose a medium mattress like our Fusion 3 which will allow pressure relief but enough support for this weight. The 17 stone sleeper will need a firmer rest as they would find the medium a lot softer than the 10 stone! Ideally you would need a medium and a firm in latex to suit you both. You have come to the right place because unlike many mattress manufacturers and retailers we do have a number of options for such split tension mattresses.
You have two ways of attaining a split tension mattress. Either a zip and link traditional mattress like John Ryan By Design or either split tension mattress. A split tension could be attained by either dual tension springs or using two different density latexes. In the contemporary fusion range you could have a bespoke mattress crafted from the solid core latex which would accommodate both a medium and a firm side complimented with a one piece topper. This would give the look and feel of one bed but with two very different side tensions.
The zip and link is probably the most robust method especially if you’re going to want to keep splitting and rejoining the beds for example bed and breakfasts often do this. Due to the nature of latex you can’t get a zip and link solid core latex mattress. This is because the weight and the moulding nature of the bed means it would require a far thicker tough cover to hold the two sides via a zip, this then defeats the object of the soft latex and quilted soft cover! They are also much more malleable than a traditional pocket sprung bed so the zip and link could create a firm ridge down the centre of the bed which again would be a massive draw back. Latex mattresses are heavy so they really wouldn’t need a zip and link if matched with a single topper.
My advice would be that if you really like latex and the pressure relieving the bespoke offering would be ideal. If you prefer a more traditional mattress then one of our John Ryan By Design zip and link or split tension mattresses would be a good choice. Can I please ask that you give us a call to discuss this further please Judi as I know there is a lot of information to take in!
Many thanks
Lee
Con Lambert
Hello,
Incredible site.Hopefully it will make it a bit easier for my wife and I to select a mattress that will suit both of us. In the past we have always slept well on the sprung mattress we have used for several years.The base is also sprung.The mattress is now sagging a bit and in the last 18 months I have suffered with a back problem which has persisted.I wake up in the morning aching from head to toe.A neighbour gave us a ‘memory foam’ topper which we put on our bed and it seemed to assist with my problems. This lasted a few weeks but then reverted to the way it was previously. For the last 7 weeks I have been sleeping on this topper on the bedroom floor.I have slept really well and the back pain has gradually improved.I now feel ready to cuddle up to my wife again but am concerned about my back problems getting worse.Prior to locating your very informative site we visited several bed shops to look at Tempur mattresses. We didn’t realise how expensive they were but were prepared to consider buying one if I could be conviced that they would suit both my wife and myself.Having discovered your site I have decided to get your advice with a view to buying a mattress you think would possibly fit the bill. We are both 74.My wife is about 10.5 st. and I am about 13st. She feels the heat and suffers from restless leg syndrome. I have a pacemaker but sleep quite well, mainly on my back.My wife is a bit restless but I sleep without moving throughout the night. I will be ringing you but in the meantime I would appreciate any advice.I have been looking at your Hybrid and Fusion ranges.
Regards, Con.
Hi Con, I think it maybe easier if I split the advice into sections to help with the issues you have mentioned. You’re half way there in that you’ve tried a number of things that have worked in part and a number of things that haven’t worked so I will use this to tailor our advice! Let me put my detective hat on and see.
So memory foam worked for a while for you which I think was the pressure relieving property of the foam. Then it stopped working, which maybe in part due to the compression and the fact that underneath it the support was the older pocket sprung bed. This would indicate that pressure relieving is something that helps you but you need better support. This is further supported by the firm floor helping your back. Although in the long run I would hazard a guess that this is a)unsuitable for practical reasons b)would eventually cause further back issues from being too firm. I think you would benefit from a pressure relieving memory foam or natural latex foam.
Your wife is a warm sleeper so I would avoid memory foam and hybrid foam. Even though Hybrid foam is cooler than memory foam if your wife is a warm sleeper I believe she may find this unsuitable. If someone specifically mentions heat we usually discount these two as there is no point having a really supportive comfortable bed thats just too warm for you! I would however suggest natural latex which is the coolest of the foams and most advanced in terms of pressure relief. It is the most responsive, ie returns to its original position almost immediately unlike the slow to reform memory foam materials.
As for restless legs and turning during the night I’d discount memory foam as its slow to respond and people often comment its hard to turn over quickly in it. Hybrid foam would be faster and more responsive but due to the heat issue we have discussed I’d point to natural Latex.
One thing that would help me is which tempur bed you tried, the original, cloud or sensation as it will help me establish the tension of the mattress you’re looking for. From your weights I’d actually advise a medium to give the pressure relief, comfort and support for your body weights. It will be a balancing act between your wifes light body weight and your preference, implied, for a firm support unit. Can I ask you have a look at our Fusion Natural Latex range here as a first point of contact. We do have a pocket sprung version, fusion 0 which is a blend of the pressure relieving foam and the traditional pocket sprung support unit you require. It maybe that a traditional pocket sprung support unit and a latex topper are the best fit for you and your wife. When you are ready please give us a call to assist further. Lee