Most mattresses sold today are one of three types: all foam, pocket sprung, or a hybrid of the two. They feel quite different, and the right one depends more on how you sleep than on the price. Here's how they compare.
How memory foam feels
Memory foam reacts to warmth and pressure. As you lie down it softens under your shoulders and hips and moulds around you, then slowly recovers when you get up. People often describe it as sleeping in the mattress rather than on it.
On the plus side, it spreads your weight evenly, it's silent, and it passes on very little movement, so you're less likely to feel a partner getting in and out of bed. A foam mattress is also lighter than a sprung one of the same size, which helps when you're turning it or changing the sheets.
The downsides are heat and that slow feel. Denser foams can sleep warm, and some people find it hard to change position once they've sunk in. Gel foams and breathable covers help with the heat. The foam also takes a moment to reshape when you roll over, which some people love and others can't stand.
Most foam mattresses aren't memory foam all the way through. A typical 20cm mattress has 16cm of firmer support foam and a 4cm memory foam layer on top, like our medium firm memory foam mattress. The thicker that top layer, the more you'll sink in.
How pocket springs feel
In a pocket sprung mattress each spring is sewn into its own fabric pocket, so each one compresses separately. It feels bouncier and more responsive than foam. You lie on top of it, and it pushes back.
Because air moves through the spring layer, pocket sprung mattresses usually sleep cooler. They suit you well if you run hot at night or change position a lot. They are heavier, though, and a sprung mattress with only a thin layer of padding over the springs can feel firm on the surface.
Weight limits matter more here than with foam. Some softer spring mattresses are aimed at lighter sleepers. The 20cm medium soft pocket sprung mattress, for example, is listed as suiting people under 70kg, so it's a good fit for a teenager's room or a spare bed.
Hybrids: a bit of both
A hybrid puts foam, often memory foam, on top of a pocket spring core. You get the cushioning of foam at the surface with the support and airflow of springs underneath. Many of the mattresses in our pocket sprung and hybrid range are built this way.
Look out for zoned springs on the listing. A 7-zone mattress uses firmer springs in some areas, usually under the hips, and softer ones under the shoulders, so the mattress gives where your body is widest. The 7-zone memory foam hybrid is a good example: medium firm, with a memory foam top over pocket springs, in single, double and king. For a deeper option, the 30cm memory foam hybrid has reinforced edges, so you can sit on the side of the bed without it dipping.
Which one suits you
- Side sleepers usually get on well with memory foam or a hybrid with a thick foam top, as it lets the shoulder and hip sink in.
- Back sleepers tend to like medium firm, and any of the three types can work.
- Front sleepers generally need a firmer surface so the hips don't sag, which points towards pocket sprung or a firm foam.
- Hot sleepers are better off with pocket springs or a hybrid, or gel foam if you prefer foam.
- Couples can pick either. Memory foam and pocket springs both keep movement to one side.
None of this is a hard rule. Weight plays a part too. Heavier sleepers sink further into any mattress, so one that feels medium to one person can feel soft to another. Each of our memory foam mattresses lists its firmness in the specifications.
Depth, delivery and settling in
Whichever type you choose, most of ours are 20cm to 30cm deep and arrive rolled in a box, springs included. Allow 24 to 72 hours for full expansion. Any new mattress also takes a couple of weeks to feel normal, while you get used to it and the comfort layers soften slightly.
Delivery is free to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and most orders arrive in 3 to 7 days. Our 30-day returns policy applies to mattresses too.