What price would you put on good sleep?
Contrary to some opinions, getting a decent amount of shuteye isn’t time wasted. Quite the opposite in fact; it’s when the body and mind can fully concentrate on renewal and memory-making.
There have been countless studies that prove sleep supports growth and development and let’s face it, without the right level of shuteye, most of us would adopt the sort of mood that would send a grizzly bear running for cover.
So, why are we often guilty of skimping on something so vital to our health and happiness? While there may be several external factors that keep you tossing and turning at night, your mattress should never be one of them.
Why is a mattress such an important purchase?
When it comes to furniture, a decent mattress is up there with one of the most important things you’ll ever buy. We spend a third of our lives asleep, so it pays to do your homework and find the one that’ll support you properly for the years to come.
Aside from the aforementioned benefits, good sleep leaves you less likely to be overweight, safeguards your mental health and improves your focus and concentration levels. A good night’s rest leaves you feeling like a new person come morning, all the more reason to invest in the mattress of your dreams.
Which type of mattress is best?
Choosing the best mattress is all about finding the one that’s best suited for your body, your personal preferences and your budget. Which is to say, there’s no one, perfect, golden mattress. It will vary depending on the individual.
Mattress tension is one of the biggest deciding factors: some people like a firm surface to rest on which pocket spring mattresses are famous for providing, while others enjoy the sinking-in feeling offered by memory foam mattresses. These days you don’t have to choose between the two - you can have both in hybrid mattress models.
Consider materials too, when picking a mattress. Memory foam is hugely popular now but it does tend to soak up and retain body heat. Great news if you’re a cold sleeper, but if you’re always waking up hot and sweaty - well, not so much.
Then there’s fillings and cover materials, which could have an effect if you’re an allergy sufferer. Some mattresses are packed with wool, cashmere and silk while others contain recycled fibres, offering an environmental edge. All key points in considering the mattress for you.
What type of mattress is best for couples?
If you happen to share a bed, it poses an extra layer of thought when buying a mattress because there’s another person to consider. There are some mattresses that offer split tension, so if you prefer medium-firmness but your partner likes to drift off on something much harder, there’s no need to compromise. You can both have your cake and eat it.
Split tension mattresses do tend to cost a little more though, so if you can settle on a happy middle ground, all the better for your finances.
One essential feature to look out for? Descriptions of anti-motion transfer. Mattresses that isolate movement on one side of the mattress to the other are key for bed-sharing couples, as it means you won’t disturb the other person if you’re late to bed or early to rise. Perfect for shift workers or anyone with separate schedules, ensuring your new mattress has this element will keep pillow talk as sweet as it should be.
What to consider when buying a mattress online
In terms of budget, quality mattresses can vary massively. The mattresses featured in our reviews range from about £400 to over £2,500 for a UK double, and we believe that every one of them merits your consideration.
That said, you can usually spot money off a coveted mattress, especially when there’s a big sale like Black Friday, Boxing Day, the January Sales and the summer sales, taking the edge off what will be a typically pricey purchase.
Current mattress sales and offers
Here are some of the best mattress deals and promotions currently available:
- Dormeo: up to 50 per cent off
- Ergoflex: up to half off new beds
- Simba: up to 55 per cent off
- Emma: up to 55 per cent off
- Eve Sleep: down by up to 50 per cent
- OTTY: up to half off
We’ve got tons more to say on mattresses, but understand you’re probably keen to get shopping. You’ll find info on disposing of an old mattress the right way, handy care tips and more at the end of this article.
In the meantime, prepare to dive into the UK’s best mattresses. All prices shown are for double sizes, unless otherwise stated.
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Best foam mattresses
HiGRID Ortho Luxe
- Foam type: Five-layer support including two layers of high resilience foam, Japanese Patented SmartGRID Layer, LuxioTec Layer, and an anti-skid base
- Best for which type of sleeper? Front, side and back
- Depth: 20cm
- Trial period: 200 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Firm
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: Amazon, HiGRID
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Using patented SmartGRID technology hailing from Japan, HiGRID promises to deliver a soft yet firm mattress that is able to intelligently adapt to any body type.
Adhering to the curvature of your body without sinking into the depths of your bedframe, these innovative mattresses are said to provide more back support than ever while reducing pressure on the body.
The brand offers three types of mattresses: the Luxe Original which provides easy movement, the Premium Hybrid which offers unbeatable pressure reduction, and the option that we wrote an in-depth review about, the Ortho Essential.
The HiGRID Ortho Essential certainly delivers on its promise of a soft touch and incredibly firm mattress. Unlike traditional foam mattresses, you won’t sink into the HiGRID over the course of your night’s sleep. Rather, the mattress moves with you throughout the night without ever losing shape or relinquishing support.
The addition of a partner or sleepover pal won’t stop the HiGRID from working overtime to deliver quality support without skimping on plush comfort. The pressure control is immaculate, preventing disruption from a partner who tosses and turns throughout the night.
Price shown is for a UK double.
Buy now £383.62, Amazon
Emma Original Mattress
- Foam type: breathable ‘Airgocell’ foam; memory foam; HRX support foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Front, side
- Depth: 25cm
- Trial period: 200 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Medium
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: Emma, John Lewis, Amazon
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Pros: Soft yet supportive feel, low motion transfer, sleeps relatively cool for a foam mattress
Cons: Synthetic materials may be unsuitable for some customers
Our best buy for foam mattresses, the Emma mattress is firm, comfortable, and feels far more sturdily built than many other mattresses towards the softer end of the spectrum. It’s made up of several foam layers including a visco-elastic memory foam layer and a supporting layer of cooler foam.
The “climate fiber” top cover is pleasingly cool on the skin. The top layer is made of innovative, “point-elastic” Airgocell foam – which isolates movement to one part of the mattress - great news for anyone with a restless bedfellow. It provides blissful, supportive comfort on you’re a side or front sleeper.
Price shown is for a UK double.
Buy now £499.00, Emma
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Foam type: 3-Layer foam construction; 2 layers of Certipur certified viscoelastic foam and base layer of support foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Front, side and back
- Depth: 25cm
- Trial period: 365 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Medium-firm
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: Nectar, Argos, Amazon, Mattress Next Day
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Pros: Breathable base layer, cooling cover, smart memory foam interior, suits any bed frame
Cons: May feel too firm for those who prefer to sink into mattress
The mattress is built with four layer, two of which are memory foam. The first designed to relieve pressure and the second to regulate temperature. This is then topped with an innovative seven zone design where different areas of the mattress offer different levels of support depending on the area of the body – with more support under the hips and less at the shoulders. The mattress is then topped with a trademarked cooling cover.
At a medium firmness, the Nectar mattress is not as hard as some of the other memory foams on the market. It sculpts around your body without feeling like you are sinking into the bed frame. The bouncy foam actually feels like it is supporting your body - ideal after sitting at your desk all day or a heavy gym workout which can put a lot of pressure on your back. It is a godsend to come home and lie on the mattress that feels like it is realigning your spine while you sleep.
Ideal for duvet days, the mattress stays firm without dipping into the most frequented spots and you don’t feel like you are overheating even in the height of summer.
It arrives in a convenient box and when unpacked, inflates in minutes. There is even 365 day trial, two free foam pillows included, free returns and a forever warranty that is a testament to the durability of the mattress.
Price shown is for a UK double.
Buy now £520.00, Nectar
eve Sleep Original Mattress
- Foam type: Memory foam, cooling foam, support foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Any
- Depth: 24cm
- Trial period: 100 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Medium
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: Amazon, Very
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Pros: good level of support, excellent detailing, suits all sleep postures
Cons: relatively thin memory foam layer
If you’re a back or front sleeper, you’ll do well with eve’s mattress which offers superb level of support and firmness. The top is made of a slim 3cm thick layer of memory foam, which distributes weight responsively as you shift throughout the night. Under that is another 3cm cooling layer to stop overheating, followed by a thick 18cm supportive base layer that creates an opulent sense of depth – think a 21st Century Princess and the Pea - minus any veggies.
But what we appreciated most was eve’s subtler detail: the moisture-wicking top cover, the hand stitched sides, and the whimsical Ursula le Guin and Salvador Dali quotes printed inside the box. eve is a mattress with artistry in its very fibres. Of course, what matters in the long-term is comfort, and the eve mattress caters for that extremely well.
If you’re unsure about whether the eve Sleep Original Mattress is the one for you, check out two similar mattresses from the range: the Premium and the Lighter.
The Premium adds lavish touches to the mattress, including a weave of silver in the mattress topper. The precious fibre is included ostensibly for its antimicrobial properties, but we reckon a subtle element of showing off might be at play, too.
Meanwhile, the Lighter is a simplified version of the Original that comes with a pleasingly featherweight price tag to match.
Price is for a super king.
Buy now £616.55, Amazon
Best pocket sprung mattresses
What is a pocket spring?
Traditional mattresses support the body using large numbers of springs – the familiar metal coils that store mechanical energy and exert what’s known as a restoring force when compressed. Springs used in mattresses are often wrapped individually in fabric pockets, hence ‘pocket spring’.
Herdy Sleep Pocket springs
- Best for which type of sleeper? Front, back or side (any)
- Depth: 26cm
- Trial period: 100 days
- Organic materials? Yes
- Soft/firm? Medium-to-firm
- Adjustable? Yes
- Stockists: Herdy Sleep
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Pros: Beautiful organic materials, crowd-pleasing, moderate feel, free two-person delivery
Cons: Some users may prefer a mattress they can sink into more
Now this is an incredibly comfortable mattress. It’s handmade using traditional techniques, so it’s not one of the new bed-in-a-box variety. Instead, the Herdy Sleep mattress uses a fully sustainable and 100 per cent recyclable spring system offering no less than 7,000 pocket springs, an impressive thousand more than the previous version.
Providing excellent support for back, side and front sleepers, this sumptuous mattress is made from a winning blend of cashmere, cotton, wool and fleece — the latter sourced from Herdwick sheep farmers in the Lake District. Wool is naturally antibacterial, temperature-regulating and hypoallergenic — unlike all-foam mattresses which are notorious for trapping heat. The Herdy Sleep mattress proved to be just as cool and comfortable in July as it was warm and welcoming in January.
Another big plus is the Cortec spring system, which has been installed entirely without glue. The fabric cover has been woven in-house by Herdy Sleep and is also chemical free. Chemical sensitivities can occur from low-level chemical exposure (think fragrance triggering a headache) and when you consider how close your face is to a mattresses, and for how many hours every night, it’s worth factoring this into your mattress considerations.
In terms of softness and squish, this mattress doesn’t have a sink-in feeling mattress like its foam competitors, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Tested on three different sleepers, we each found it to be the perfect Goldie Locks combination of not too soft, and not too hard. After almost a year of use it still feels just as plump and comfy as the day it arrived - exactly what you want from such a high-ticket item.
To sum up; this is an artisan mattress that blends natural materials with modern technology, resulting in the most blissful sleep we have had in years.
Prices for a double £999.
Buy now, Herdy Sleep
Signature 2000 Pocket Sprung Pillow Top Natural Fillings Mattress
- Best for which type of sleeper? Back or side
- Depth: 33cm
- Trial period: No
- Organic materials? Yes
- Soft/firm? Medium/firm
- Rotatable? Yes
- Stockists: Happy Beds, Dreams
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Pros: excellent craftspersonship, natural materials, 100 per cent recyclable
Cons: it’s a bit pricey
This outrageously indulgent mattress from Signature feels every inch as good as it looks. Offering medium to firm tension, the dreamy mattress has a plush padded pillow top for that cloud-like feel and is filled with natural fibres - wool, silk, cotton and cashmere - to help with temperature control and comfort night after night.
Thanks to the rows of pocket springs, weight is evenly distributed - even if you’re sharing with a partner. Movement is also isolated, so you’re not getting up when they do or being disturbed if you’re going to sleep at different hours.
Standing 33cm high, keep it in peak performance by rotating every six weeks. So delightful you’ll have real trouble getting out of bed in the mornings.
Buy now £379.99, Happy Beds
Harrison Spinks Clifton Cashmere Mattress
- Best for which type of sleeper? Varies
- Trial period: No
- Organic materials? Yes
- Soft/firm? Available in Gentle, Medium, Firm, Extra Firm
- Adjustable? Yes
- Stockist: Feather & Black
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Pros: superior materials, bespoke springs, option to choose your preferred tension
Cons: Very expensive
For a superior mattress handmade by one of the finest companies in Britain, Harrison Spinks is a very confident buy. Made on a 300-acre farm in Yorkshire with natural fillings such as wool and cotton, each bed is made with springs specially developed by the brand’s engineers.
You mattress can be made to your specifications in terms of size and tension - with even split tension possible if you like - but if you want one that’s ready to go, opt for a luxury Harrison Spinks bed from online retailer Feather & Black.
The Clifton Cashmere Mattress offers a superb night’s rest thanks to 15,000 springs and seven types of natural filling. If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect night’s sleep, stop the search - lying on this mattress will make it feel as though you’re floating on cloud nine.
Buy now £1679.00, Feather & Black
Hypnos Luxury Wool Pocket Spring Mattress
- Best for which type of sleeper? Back
- Depth: 29cm
- Trial period: No
- Organic materials? Yes
- Soft/firm? Medium to firm
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: John Lewis, Mattress Man, Furniture Village
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Pros: great lumbar support, artisanal construction, responsibly sourced natural materials
Cons: very heavy
This stylish deep pocket sprung mattress performs beautifully, lavished with layers of British wool and a recycled fibre comfort pad artfully worked into the upholstery. This offers a breathability and air flow that is great for hot sleepers.
Like the Herdy Sleep mattress in our list, it is also hand-tufted. This is a laborious, tough process, achieved by a highly-skilled tradesperson wherein the internal fillings are secured from the top of the mattress to the bottom. Three rows of hand side-stitching help prevent sagging at the edge, and the outer springs are secured at the border at the top and bottom.
Compared to all the other mattresses we’ve tested, this model offers a sensation that’s almost like being held aloft. The ReActive pocket spring technology gives a sweet spot that adapts to the contours of the body and provides extra support for the spine.
However, a word to the wise: while this mattress is fully turnable to keep it even, it’s a two-person job as it’s also really heavy. Prepare to flex those muscles.
This bed is offered in a range of sizes and has a medium to firm tension. Comes complete with an unbleached sumptuously soft silk kapok cover.
Price is for a UK double.
Buy now £999.20, John Lewis
Best hybrid mattresses
What is a hybrid mattress?
A hybrid mattress is a mattress that provides support and comfort using a combination of foams and springs. These mattresses are often touted as a “best-of-both-worlds” option, providing both the uplifting effect of springs and the gentle comfort of foam.
Are hybrid mattresses any good?
Some of the best-rated mattresses on the market are hybrids, so by that measure: yep, hybrid mattresses are great.
That said, the assessment of any mattress is at least partly subjective. If you’re a memory foam or pocket sprung purist, you might not rate a hybrid mattress especially highly.
Brook + Wilde Elite Mattress
Foam type: open cell foam, ‘wave technology’
Best for which type of sleeper? All
Depth: 28cm
Trial period: 100 nights
Organic materials? No
Soft/firm? Soft, medium or firm
Adjustable? Yes
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Pros: eight layers, themo-regulating, luxury feel
Cons: fairly heavy to manoeuvre
If you thought that a hybrid mattress was a chunky, Princess & The Pea-style contraption, you have not met The Elite from Brook + Wilde. What struck us first and foremost was how thin the mattress appeared, and yet, it packs eight layers within the compact construction. With both pocket springs and foam (it’s a hybrid after all), it can be adjusted to feel soft, medium or firm depending on your preferences. No matter the tension, it gives ample support and comfort without the need for an additional mattress topper.
The top layer is the removable, machine-washable cover that aids in air circulation and has a soft on the skin feel. This is followed by the first of the memory foam layers, the one that responds oh so subtly to the contours of your body and sets the pace for the support beneath. It then sandwiches a thermo-regulating top layer with 2,500 mini pocket springs, the foam wave technology layer and then a thousand more pocket springs measuring at 135mm.
Thermo-regulation is achieved through the brand’s signature open cell structure that encourages breathability successfully, in our opinion, compared to other memory foam mattresses trialled. The use of mini springs act as the “push back and bounce” and these are welcomed when transitioning from a purely foam construction. They are strategically placed - at the pressure points of your body - in order to reduce and prevent pain and encourage a sound, deep sleep. The specialist wave foam furthers this, promoting a spinal alignment with its unique design that gives more cushion around the shoulders than the hips. The last two layers set the foundations and provide a non-slip base so that no matter how much you toss and turn, it will stay firmly in place.
All in all, this is a hugely comfortable mattress. The top is super soft and yet this doesn’t sacrifice the support of the layers to follow. The bed-in-a-box vacuum packed format makes delivery simple and easy and it didn’t take long at all to expand back to its desired size - only a couple of minutes in fact. There was no unpleasant aroma when unfurling and it was ready to sleep on that very night. If there was a negative, the exterior fabric is not the most durable and slightly tore when adjusting. For the lazy among us, the fact that it doesn’t need to be regularly rotated comes in handy.
Buy now £900.00, Brook + Wilde
Simba Hybrid Luxe mattress
- Foam type: open-cell Simba-pure foam
- Best for which type of sleeper?: back and side
- Depth: 31cm
- Trial period: 200 days
- Organic materials?: some, but everything is 100 per cent recyclable
- Softness/firm?: medium-to-firm
- Adjustable: no
- Stockists: Amazon
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Pros: Moisture-wicking upper layer, spring support and easy delivery
Cons: deeper mattress will need deeper sheets, it is on the expensive side
Simba Hybrid Luxe has joined the brand’s sleep soiree, and as the name suggests, it’s the most luxurious yet.
This design is made up of ten layers - that’s three more than the Hybrid Pro and double that of the original Hybrid mattress, which has just five.
Driven by data and bringing together the latest in sleep tech. Simba has included a bamboo wool layer between a new skin-facing surface and an open-cell foam layer beneath, improving airflow, temperature regulation and moisture-wicking capabilities.
There’s also an additional layer of 40mm high carbon springs, which together with a double whammy of 25mm aerocoil layer two ‘floors’ up, means the Hybrid Luxe offers a hugely upgraded level of firmness. After years of WFH, my spine can do with all the extra support it can get.
Like its predecessors, it isolates movement so you won’t wake if your bedfellow does, and there’s no hint of that ‘sinking’ feeling that you normally resign yourself to with an all-foam mattress.
Bottom line? This is Simba’s best, most indulgent mattress yet, and we’ve had nothing but sound sleep since it was delivered, waking up feeling refreshed and ready to pounce on the world. Despite being more than 30cm deep, our regular sheets fit fine, so there’s no need to buy new linen unless you want to.
A word of warning here though: the mattress is much larger even when packed down than the older models, so make sure there are two of you to get it into situ on the bed frame after delivery.
Buy now £1724.25, Simba
Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress
- Foam type: Open-cell foam; high definition foam with edge support; zoned support base
- Best for which type of sleeper? Back and side
- Depth: 28cm
- Trial period: 200 days
- Organic materials? No, but 100 per cent recyclable
- Soft/firm? Medium
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: Mattress Online, Very, Amazon
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Pros: breathable top layer for enhanced temperature regulation, 5,000 Aerocoil spring support
Cons: non-removable cover, so a mattress protector is advised
Simba’s Hybrid Pro offers a greater level of support, welcome news for anyone with back pain issues.
There are seven layers, all engineered to keep you comfortable. The top layers are made with temperature regulating, moisture-wicking wool which keeps you toasty in the winter and cool in the warmer months. Between the Simbatex open-cell foam layer, again designed to maximise airflow, and a high definition foam with edge support is not one, but two layers of unique patented Aerocoil spring foams made from strong titanium. There are 5,000 springs in total.
So while you get the cloud-like sensation on first contact, you’re not sinking into the bed or trapped in a body groove in the middle of the night. This is a pro or con, depending on your preferences; some enjoy feeling ‘held’ but as a sleeper who moves around a lot at bedtime, we liked the supportive freedom offered by the Hybrid Pro.
Getting it set up couldn’t be easier, although we advise roping in a bedfellow or housemate to help get anything bigger than a double out of the box. Carefully cut through the plastic wrap and unfold over your bed frame, allowing a few hours for it to inflate fully before dressing it with your bed linen.
Buy now £1349.25, Simba
Simba Hybrid Mattress
- Foam type: Open-cell foam; high-definition foam; support foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Front
- Depth: 25cm
- Trial period: 200 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Soft
- Adjustable? No
- Stockists: Argos, John Lewis, Mattress Online
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Pros: soft feel with excellent airflow and temperature regulation
Cons: may not be supportive enough for those who weigh 13 stone or more
We’ve no doubt that you’ve heard of a Simba mattress before and you’ve probably spotted its adverts when you’re out and about. If you prefer a bed on the softer end of the spectrum, this is one comfortable hybrid and combines the comfort of memory foam with the support of springs.
Made with 2,500 super-light mIQro conical pocket springs and five layers of memory foam with a built-in air-flow system to keep you cool and to regulate temperatures, the Simba is less firm compared to other hybrid mattresses but this all comes down to personal preference. It would best suit sleepers who are roughly 13 stone or less.
Another bed-in-a-box, simply open it out on your bed frame and give it some time to plump up - an effortless way to install your new bed.
There are three depths to choose from: 20cm, 25cm and 28cm. EU and UK sizes available.
Buy now £651.75, Simba
The OTTY Hybrid Mattress
- Foam type: Temperature-regulating memory foam; HD support foam; HD base foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Any
- Trial period: 100 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Medium-to-firm
- Adjustable? No
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Pros: very supportive, reasonably priced, removable, machine-washable cover
Cons: the feel of this mattress’s memory foam can split opinion
Whether you snooze on your front, back or side, the Otty hybrid is a design of medium firmness with optimum support so your shoulders, back and spine so that they feel like they are always cared for.
The top layer is made from a Cool Blue Gel memory foam, which is further supported by 2000 pocket springs. If you frequently wake up with aches and pains, this is a winning option and feels more firm when compared to other hybrid mattresses.
It takes a couple of seconds to get used to the unique sensation that comes from laying on this OTTY mattress. The top layer feels squishy but once you adjust to it, we found it to be also noticeably supportive. The unusual feeling is all down to the top layer, made from a gel-infused memory foam that is reinforced by support layer of reflex foam and yet another supportive base of 2000 pocket springs. The cover is removable too, so you can pop it in the washing machine and keep your mattress looking, feeling and smelling as delightful as the day it was delivered.
For those who like the sound of the OTTY Hybrid, but would prefer something with more natural materials, check out the OTTY PURE Hybrid Bamboo and Charcoal mattress, which features bamboo memory foam with charcoal-infused layers. The two materials help with odour reduction and temperature regulation.
Meanwhile, the OTTY Essential Hybrid mattress offers all the same materials as the regular Hybrid, only in a more streamlined design that costs a fair bit less.
Buy now £599.99, OTTY
REM-Fit 500 Hybrid Ortho Mattress
- Foam type: Open-cell memory foam; HD support foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Back and side
- Depth: 25cm
- Trial period: 100 nights
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Moderate-to-firm
- Adjustable? No
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Pros: great combination of firm support and soft feel, edge-to-edge support, good temperature regulation
Cons: strong off-gassing in the first 24 hours
You might not know about REM-fit but this is a strong hybrid option to consider. Helpfully arriving packed in a box - which makes carrying it up a set of stairs a breeze - the 500 Ortho hybrid mattress by REM-Fit is firm and springy while still retaining that comforting ‘sinking in’ feeling beloved by foam mattress advocates.
The top layer is made with cool gel-infused memory foam which keeps you sweat-free by wicking moisture away from the body so you sleep at a comfortable temperature until it’s time to get up. Meanwhile, 2000 tall pocket springs and a high density foam base all help to keep you supported, from edge to edge.
Like many mattresses that incorporate foam, we noticed a prominent scent during the initial unboxing, but it only lasts for around 24 hours, so no cause for alarm. To help speed it along, turn the mattress on its side and lean the top part against a wall in order to expose as much of the top and bottom surface as possible.
The REM-Fit 500 is the brand’s mid-range option. If you’re looking for something a little better priced, we recommend the REM-Fit 400, which still offers key benefits such as a temperature-regulating, open-cell foam top layer. Meanwhile, the more expensive REM-Fit 600 Lux Hybrid mattress offers a softer feel and premium components.
Buy now £1089.00, REM-fit
eve Sleep The Hybrid Mattress
- Foam type: ‘evecomfort’ breathable foam; memory foam; support foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Any
- Depth: 25cm
- Trial period: 100 nights
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Moderate
- Adjustable? No
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Pros: excellent temperature regulation, zoned springs for pressure relief, moderate feel will suit a wide range of people
Cons: expensive relative to some of its close competitors
Enjoy comfort and support from head to toe with eve’s hybrid mattress model, which is made from a indulgent combination of 650 full sized pocket springs and specially crafted foam.
The foam is 30x more breathable than the normal stuff, so you’ll sleep at a pleasant temperature until your morning alarm wakes you.
In addition to the Hybrid Original, eve Sleep offers Premium and Lighter versions of its Hybrid mattress. The Hybrid Premium is a real class act, featuring an antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial cover, plus 1500 high quality springs. Meanwhile, the Hybrid Lighter offers many of the same benefits as the Original, but with a more moderate depth of 20cm, and at a more modest price.
The company has such confidence in its product that it offers customers a 100 night return policy - if you don’t like, it they’ll come and collect it and give your money back, no quibbles. This is one of the best-value hybrid mattresses you can buy right now.
Buy now £799.00, eve Sleep
eve Sleep The Wunderflip Premium Hybrid Sleep Mattress
Foam type: Memory foam, firm foam, soft foam
- Best for which type of sleeper? Any
- Depth: 28cm
- Trial period: 200 days
- Organic materials? No
- Soft/firm? Medium-Soft
- Adjustable? Yes
- Stockists: Eve Sleep
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Pros: suits all sleep postures, adaptable layer to change from firm to soft
Cons: feels a little soft if you prefer a firm feel
Eve Sleep’s latest release is a new take on their premium hybrid mattress. This time, it boasts changeable firmness. Simply zip off the top comfort layer, flip the base, reattach the top, and you’ll go from firm to soft in no time – or vice versa.
It’s still a hybrid - with two layers of springs and two layers of memory foam, meaning it delivers both support and comfort. The 28cm depth speaks for itself. Better yet, the brand’s trademark memory foam is five times more breathable than standard so you don’t overheat and the springs are surrounded by fabric pockets so there’s effective movement isolation too.
Thanks to the adaptable layer, it’s one of the most versatile options on the market. The soft side is aimed at side sleepers while the firmer is designed for back or front sleepers. If you’re not someone who needs as much support, perhaps the lighter hybrid mattress would be more your speed – and it comes in at a much cheaper RRP.
Buy now £449.00, Eve Sleep
Foam mattresses FAQ
What is a foam mattress?
A foam mattress is a mattress that provides comfort and support mainly by means of foam inserts.These include memory foams which mould to the body, and support foams, which provide extra cushioning.
How long do foam mattresses last?
Foam mattresses can last anywhere from eight to 20 years. The lifespan of the mattress will depend on factors such as the quality of its construction, the specific types of foam used, and the level of wear-and-tear the mattress goes through over the years. Since foam mattresses differ from each other in all these ways and more, we recommend checking the product listing of your chosen mattress for accurate guidance on its longevity.
Are foam mattresses hot?
The foams used in foam mattresses are often dense, and liable to trap heat. This can mean foam mattresses sleep warmer than pocket sprung mattresses do. However, some foam mattresses have cooling features, such as gel-infused foams.
Can you flip a foam mattress?
Foam mattresses are usually made up of several layers of foam that have been placed in a specific order, designed to enable the best performance. As such, it’s generally best not to flip a foam mattress upside-down. It’s usually fine to turn a foam mattress 180 degrees laterally, if the inclination ever seizes you.
Are foam mattresses good for children?
Most foam mattresses are safe, and supportive enough for little ones to sleep on. If you’re in any doubt, contact the manufacturer before you buy.
How to clean your mattress
Mattresses generally need cleaning only very rarely – especially if you fit yours with a decent mattress protector.
Most mattresses can be deep-cleaned through a process of vacuum-cleaning and spot-cleaning, after which you may choose to sprinkle baking soda onto the mattress in order to absorb any lingering dirt and odours. Once you’re done, vac the mattress again and re-cover.
Please carefully check your mattress’s care instructions before you attempt to clean it.
How often does a mattress need to be replaced?
It’s a myth that your mattress should only be replaced every 6 - 8 years. If you’re waking with aches and pains after a full eight hours under the covers, a bad bed could be at fault and you should look at replacing it as soon as you can, no matter how long ago you bought it.
Ask yourself: is it sagging in places; are you rolling into a central dip? Are nights of wear and tear beginning to take an obvious toll? Time for a replacement.
That said, a high-quality mattress may serve you well for 10 years or longer, so shouldn’t be thrown on the scrapheap if it’s continuing to perform well.
Put it this way: as soon as your quality of sleep slips because of your mattress, it’s time to give it the heave-ho and shop for another.
How to responsibly dispose of an old mattress
Various companies and councils will collect and dispose of your mattress - usually for an extra fee - but there’s no guarantee they won’t wind up in landfill, which is already at a critical level.
Recycle: For Londoners, the best option is to find a recycling centre that accepts old mattresses which are no longer fit to resell.
Resell: If it’s in good nick (clean and in good quality with - and this is very important - the fire label left attached. Without one, they can’t legally be sold on), charities like the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, Shelter and Furniture Donation Network may be willing to take it off your hands, collecting the item from your address.
And these days, many bed brands offer to remove your old model when delivering your new one so you’re not left with them hogging precious space in the home. Most will state on their website how they dispose of old beds, which you can factor into your mattress decision making.
Mattress rotation and care
One of the ways to prolong the lifespan of your mattress is by rotating and/or flipping it periodically. This can iron out any lumps or body grooves, helpful whether you’re sleeping solo with a partner. However, some mattresses have cooling layers towards the top, which means they can’t be flipped at all. Another thing to keep an eye out for in your search for the perfect mattress.
Mattress delivery
If you live in a flat, delivery might be a concern - especially if you don’t live on the ground floor. There are plenty of bed-in-a-box brands who will bring your new mattress up to your desired room, but they specialise in hybrid and all-foam models only. If you’re going for pure pocket springs, the mattress will be delivered as is - so clear the path from the door to your bedroom to clear the way for the delivery people.
