Testing mattresses isn’t just about sleeping on the job – though there is quite a lot of this involved. It’s about meticulously assessing all the features that actually matter in a mattress, in real-world conditions, over a good amount of time, to ensure that it delivers on its claims. Here, we unpack the full testing criteria that all mattresses we review must go through. Rest assured, only then can they make the cut.
There’s so much to consider when investing in a mattress, from size and breathability to temperature regulation, motion isolation and edge support. Not to mention deciphering the differences between each type, of which there are now many. Luckily, IndyBest’s team of sleep experts know their pocket springs from their memory foam. With multiple years of mattress testing experience under our belts, you can rest assured that we’ll help you find the right one for you.
So, what exactly is it that makes our mattress tests so thorough? We guarantee that any mattress featured in our guide has been sleep-tested in the real homes of our experts for a minimum of one month. However, in most cases, the testing period is far longer, extending to several months and even years. That means these mattresses have been slept on through the gamut of sleep scenarios, from heatwaves and harsh winters to co-sleeping with fidgety partners, pets and children.
We also make sure to consider additional factors that will impact your purchase, including the delivery process, setup, sleep trials, and, of course, price point, before making our recommendations.
Keen to know more? Here, we’ll take you behind the scenes of IndyBest’s in-depth mattress testing process.
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How we test mattress delivery and unboxing
Despite the fact that many ‘bed in a box’ mattresses now arrive tightly rolled up, vacuum-packed, and ready to drop off on your doorstep, deliveries aren’t always the most seamless of events, which is why our testers are careful to consider how each mattress arrives, as part of their review.
This includes how heavy the mattress is, the packaging it comes in, whether or not it has a smell (“off-gassing” is common among memory foam models) and whether removal of an existing mattress comes as part of the service. Mattresses that arrive in boxes will also be assessed on how long it takes them to expand.
Often, brands employ a third-party facilitator to handle delivery of your mattress, so we like to pay close attention to the shipping options at your disposal. A quick browse of retailer and Trustpilot reviews will scaremonger you with reports of delayed arrivals and poor manoeuvring, so we’re here to provide an unbiased evaluation from the point of purchase onwards. If a provider fails to fulfil its promise to unpack and position a mattress (which some brands, like Tempur, offer) or a delivery team decides on a ‘safe place’ at risk of water damage, we’ll be sure to let you know.
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How we test mattress comfort
You can only find out so much from sitting on a mattress in a showroom and, when it comes to assessing comfort, the only way to get a true gauge is by sleeping on it night after night, over months. That’s why our team tests all the mattresses we review in their own homes, as it helps form a better picture of what the mattress is like to sleep on long-term.
Of course, everyone’s idea of comfort is different – some people prefer their mattresses to feel soft and cloud-like, while others want something firmer. Because of this, we include a range of firmness levels in our guide and enlist testers with different heights, weights and sleep preferences. We look to see how each model feels throughout the night and beyond, taking into consideration our initial impression, whether or not we wake with aches and pains, and how supported our bodies feel.
How we test motion isolation
Motion isolation is a term that describes whether or not movement on one part of the mattress is felt elsewhere, and, for bed sharers, this can be a real sticking point. Nobody likes being woken up in the night because of a fidgety partner, which is why we make sure to thoroughly test each mattress for motion isolation.
The most common way to test this is for our reviewers to monitor how they sleep next to their partner for several weeks. Alternatively, if a tester tends to sleep alone, they may enlist the help of a friend to make exaggerated movements on one side of the bed to see if it reverberates. Another way to test (rare but not unheard of) is to set a glass of water on one side of the mattress – if it remains upright and unspilled when somebody climbs into bed, the mattress likely has good motion isolation.
How we test edge support
Edge support refers to the amount of resistance a mattress has around its edges and is actually more important than you might think, particularly if you’re the type of person who moves around a lot. Good edge support will mean there is far less sagging around the perimeter of the mattress, making you feel supported and not like you might roll off the bed. We assess how well the edges can support a sleeper by lying in the middle of the mattress and gradually moving towards the perimeter. Our testers will also sit on the edge of the bed to ensure it doesn’t collapse or dip.
How we test breathability
Breathability is essential when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, regardless of the climate you live in. Waking up feeling hot and uncomfortable during the night can have a huge effect on your sleep quality, so it’s important to find a mattress that will help regulate your body temperature and prevent overheating. To test a mattress on its cooling properties, we often enlist the help of testers who consider themselves to be hot sleepers. We also put mattresses through their paces during a range of temperatures and extreme weather conditions, such as heatwaves, to see how they perform.
Who are our expert testers?
The IndyBest team of in-house writers and editors have years of experience testing top sleep products and has extensive knowledge of the mattress industry, so you can trust that our reviewers know what they’re talking about. Honest and independent reviews are our priority, and we test all mattresses in real-life settings to give you a realistic view of how they will perform when you sleep on them yourself. Meet our amazing team and learn more about why you can trust us.
Head to our guide to the best mattresses for tried and tested expert recommendations
