Collections & Our Stores Sign up for our emailsThe mundane things in life are top of my agenda today. We’re looking for a new mattress and considering how much time is spent asleep in bed it’s criminal not to buy the best you can afford. From research it appears that memory foam mattresses are the best to go for. I would certainly hope a new mattress would help my sore back! Tempura mattresses have been recommended to us but they’re hard to buy in Cork. Casey’s Furniture have them but they’ve always been over priced in their city center location. Another brand I have come across is Visco and it appears to do the same job. According to one salesperson they’re firmer than Tempura mattresses but I need to ring around a few more places before we make up our minds. If you have one of these mattresses I’d love to hear about how comfortable they are. Try searching for any information on either brand and you’ll only find are online-stores trying to flog you one!
This page is better than most however. Here’s what they say about Visco-elastic mattress, which I presume applies to Tempura too. Off to town shortly and out with the credit card.. January 3rd 2007 – we went into town this afternoon and tried a few places before buying a bed in Swan Beds. It’s a memory foam mattress. A bit pricey but less than Casey’s were looking for. Hopefully it’ll be delivered next Wednesday! Sort By: Name – Sort by: Name – Descending Sort By: Price – Sort by: Price – Descending Sort By: New – Sort by: New – Descending Sort By: Order per View – Sort by: Order per View – DescendingNever mind expensive duvets, now manufacturers claim that padded mattress toppers are the key to a good night’s sleep. Once just for children, to guard against those little accidents, now they’re for adults — with a bewildering breadth of choice. Mandy Francis puts eight to the test...Breasley Flexcell Mattress Topper (double), £179, time4sleep.co.ukThe claims: Made from 100 per cent memory foam, which moulds to your body contours and evenly distributes body weight for a more comfortable sleep.
This 6cm thick topper has a smooth ‘winter side’, which retains body heat near the surface, and a moulded, bumpy ‘summer side’ that allows additional air circulation to help keep the body cool in warm weather.The removable, washable Coolmax cover is designed to draw away sweat and help keep your body temperature stable while you sleep.The reality: This thick topper provided a firm surface to sleep on and really did make my lumpy old mattress feel like new. Both sides — bumpy and smooth — were comfortable, although I preferred the firmer feel of the smooth side.The only drawback for me was how warm it was. If you like to be toasty in bed, this is ideal — but if you prefer a cooler snooze, you could find this a bit hot and claustrophobic, especially in the warmer months. A quality product — best for those who feel the cold. House of Bath 5 Star Hotel Quality Enhancer (double), £79.95, houseofbath.co.ukThe claims: Enjoy a five-star experience every night, thanks to this topper’s miraculous ability to retain its sumptuous 10cm-deep height.
A 100 per cent cotton cover with a synthetic filling that has been cleverly stitched for even distribution. Comes with free pillows.The reality: Soft, downy, exceptionally deep and fluffy, this topper envelops you when you lie on it. For the price it’s good quality, with a nice, soft-cotton covering, and thick elasticated straps to keep it in position on the bed. The only downside is that the filling moves around, leaving it a little bumpy after a few days. A good shake when you change the bed linen restores it.Like sleeping on a cloud — but only if you give it a regular shake. The claims: Made by luxury Swedish bed retailer Hastens, which also manufacturers the £67,000 Vividus — ‘the most expensive bed in the world’. Rather cheaper is this whopping 7cm-thick topper handmade in Sweden using only natural materials including cotton, wool and flexible horsetail hair (which gives the mattress good ventilation and a springy feel).These should keep your body at the perfect temperature all night.
The reality: It took two burly men to carry this hefty topper into my house. Covered in an attractive, thick, navy-blue checked cotton, it looked and felt substantial and was immaculately put together and finished. There are no straps to attach it to your bed — just place it on your mattress and the weight ensures it stays put.Firm, but springy and flexible at the same time, I felt as if I was lying on a new mattress, not my saggy old one with a topper.It was incredibly comfortable all night — perhaps because horsehair doesn’t flatten like other materials — and is so well made you can tell it will last for years.The only drawback (aside from the price) is you can’t put it in the washing machine. Any spillages or stains have to be sponged off.Slumberdown Bouncy Mattress Topper (double), £12, MatalanThe claims: Filled with Slumberdown’s unique Rebound filling, which is made from millions of tiny spirals, this topper is designed to give a soft, comfortable night’s sleep and bounce back into shape.
It’s machine-washable and non-allergenic.The reality: I imagined this topper would be, as the name suggests, thick and bouncy — but at 1cm thick it’s actually pretty thin compared to many others.The ‘bouncy’ description seems to refer to the fact that it holds its shape night after night without going lumpy or mis-shapen, rather than the feeling you get when you lie on it.With a quilted polyester and cotton covering and synthetic filling, it provided a smooth surface to sleep on, although I was still aware of my tired old mattress underneath. I also felt very warm so it’s good if you have a cold bedroom — but not if you suffer from night sweats.Cheap and cheerful, but more of a mattress protector than a topper. The claims: Filled with 100 per cent platinum-certified (i.e. top-notch) British wool, this 3cm-deep, cotton-covered topper is washable. It also carries the British Allergy Foundation’s Seal Of Approval for its natural resistance to house dust mites and fungus, so it’s ideal for anyone who suffers from allergies, asthma or eczema.
It helps regulate your temperature which, the manufacturers say, could mean you get up to 25 per cent more deep, regenerative sleep a night.The reality: The topper arrived neatly packaged in a smart calico bag. It’s a lovely, high-quality product, beautifully finished with smart rounded corners.It fitted generously over the bed, and you can pop it in a washing machine. Unfortunately, the elastic loops to fasten it to the mattress were a bit tight. Though dense, it managed to feel cool and cosy at the same time. It was very comfy to sleep on. Fantastic — especially for allergy sufferers. The claims: A high-quality 300 thread-count cotton cover filled with grade-A, long-fibre silk that helps to keep body temperature comfortable throughout the night. This topper has elasticated corners — like a fitted sheet — for a snug fit on your mattress.Naturally hypoallergenic — dust mites, which can exacerbate asthma, hate silk so tend to stay away. You can’t machine wash it though; its makers recommend airing outside twice a year.
The reality: A slim topper —around 1cm thick — so it’s best for improving the superficial feel of your mattress rather than offering any extra support.It has a luxurious feel and stays in place thanks to its fitted-sheet style. As promised, it is cool and comfortable all night.Feels lovely, but it’s neither thick nor supportive — and it’s annoying that you can’t wash it. The claims: This reversible topper — which secures itself to your mattress like a fitted sheet — features snuggly, wool fleece on one side to keep you cosy in winter and smooth cotton on the other to keep you cool in summer. It’s approximately 4cm deep and dense enough to cover lumps and bumps in a tired mattress. Naturally anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic (dust mites hate wool, too), it’s dry-clean only.The reality: Perfect for cold winter nights. Lying on the fleecy side of this thick, luxurious topper was incredibly cosy, without being sweaty.The other side was comfortable, too, although I was aware of the thick wool fleece underneath — so I’m not sure how cool it could ever be on a balmy summer evening.