Top matress buying tips today
High quality matress tricks right now? When Casper first launched as a bed-in-a-box mattress company seven years ago, it did so with the Casper Original. This bed has undergone upgrades since then and, in addition to the all-foam Original, is also available as the Original Hybrid (which places 13th in our ratings). One of the biggest ways the Original Foam has improved from the first Casper mattress is with its AirScape foam. This top layer in the mattress has small holes across the entire surface to increase airflow. It’s designed to combat one of the major drawbacks of a foam mattress: overheating. Underneath this is a foam layer that has a section of firmer foam under your hips and lower back for more support. This zoned support relieved neck and back pain for some professional reviewers.
It comes at a cost, but our reviewer has slept better than ever since having the Simba Hybrid Luxe. With barely any motion transfer and amazing edge-to-edge support, sharing a bed is never a problem. To add to this, the mattress has several layers that aid cooling among its 10 (yes 10) layers. There is an open cell casing wrapping a moisture wicking bamboo wool layer and a bamboo sleep surface that can be removed for washing. Overheating is less of a problem and only on the hottest nights does our reviewer find herself kicking off the covers. Paired with Simba’s Hybrid duvet temperature regulation is much easier. It also has three layers of springs in total. Two rows of 25mm Aerocoil springs sit together, then there are larger 40mm carbon steel springs further down the mattress. What this results in is not only supreme support, but really good weight distribution and minimal motion transfer – a must if your bed fellow is a fidget. Finally, we must mention Simba’s efforts towards making the most sustainable mattress they can. Their foam is made from recycled materials and fast-growing bamboo has been used in place of sheep’s wool to make this mattress pretty hot on eco credentials. The only drawback is the cost as starting at over £750 for a single, this may be out of the price range of many. If you can afford it, it is a great investment in amazing sleep.
Simba calls this its most advanced mattress to date, with the hybrid luxe boasting 10 layers. This does make the mattress thick (although it arrives Swiss-roll style). There’s a textured, breathable ticking, which is sort of grippy so your sheets don’t slip around. You can zip this cover off, should you wish to wash it – but all the best getting it back on again. There are also three layers of springs – two of which are Simba’s own aerocoils – and some sturdy-sounding steel base springs. This provides very decent support. Don’t get us wrong, when we initially sat on the luxe, it gave us a sinking feeling – quite literally. But after prolonged testing, we can report that although it’s on the softer side, it has kept us supported all night long – both when we’ve laid on our back and our sides.
What level of firmness do I need? There is no hard and fast rule with firmness. Comfort is the most important thing, says Simon Williams of the National Bed Federation. Most mattresses sold are medium. Clearly it is important not to choose one that is so soft that it doesn’t offer sufficient support. On the other hand, choosing one that is too firm could cause pressure points and pins and needles. Hybrid – as you might have figured from the name, hybrid combines both memory foam and springs to give you the best of both worlds. They should provide that luxurious sinking feeling alongside some solid spring support. Discover even more information at mattressly.com.
There’s no mistaking that hybrids have a bit more heft to them than traditional memory foam only offerings. The Simba Hybrid pro has seven layers, all encased in a soft breathable sleep surface. A number of things make the Simba different from other hybrids. Firstly two layers of patented Aerocoil springs sandwiched between high definition edge support foam and an open-cell foam layer. Secondly, below the soft outer cover sits a natural temperature-regulating British wool layer to help wick away nighttime sweat. This is how it differs from the lower grade – but still highly rated – Simba Hybrid which only has one layer of springs and does not have the wool layer. As you’d expect, the box is heavy – definitely a two man job up our testers’ winding stairs. Once in situ though, the instructions in the box are easy to follow. The supplied cutter ensures you’re unlikely to damage the mattress cover releasing it from its plastic wrapping. The handles are a nice addition and it swells up to the appropriate 28cm in three to four hours.