Will a Jack-in-a-Box mattress give you a blissful night’s sleep?
They’re called that because they come squeezed into a small box – and spring into shape. But how comfy are they?
PLUMPED to perfection, cloud- like and oh- socomfortable, the ultimate mattress is the stuff of dreams. Yet the process of buying one leaves something to be desired.
Awkwardly lying in the middle of a department store is hardly a recipe for a match made in mattress heaven.
Yet, thankfully, all that looks set to change. A raft of new companies are using clever technology to compress mattresses, reducing their size by up to 80 per cent, before vacuum-packing and shipping them to customers. When you open the box they spring back into shape like a jack-in-a-box and you get up to 100 nights to decide if it’s the one for you.
These firms sell online, so save on shopfloor expenses which cuts costs dramatically and allows them to sell high-tech fabrics, such as memory foam, for less than half the price of a traditional shop.
Even High Street retailer John Lewis is in on the act, announcing plans to offer customers a chance to try before they buy in fully furnished apartments at major branches across the UK.
But just how do the new vacuumpacked mattresses measure up? HELEN
CARROLL, whose ten-year-old mattress is long overdue an upgrade, put them to the test with her husband, Dillon, 50, and their children Christian, nine, Isobel, 13, and Daniel, 15.
KIDS’ FAVOURITE Casper (single, £350, double, £550, king, £600, casper.com)
THE CLAIM: The Casper mattress has a springy top layer of opencell foam — a flexible material containing small holes — with three firmer sections of memory foam beneath. Customers can try out this mattress for 100 nights, during which time it will be collected and payment refunded if they’re not satisfied. HELEN’S VERDICT: I confess I was sceptical about the very idea of a compressed mattress. How could something that has been flattened so substantially possibly be comfortable? Still, I placed my order.
When it arrived at our home in North London, it took two of us to drag the mattress upstairs and onto the bed. When we cut off the packaging, the mattress swelled to four times its size and took two days to reach full capacity.
We finally braved a night’s sleep, only to plunge deep into the top layer like lead weights. I had to heave myself out in the morning, which made me feel less than sylph-like and every one of my 49 years. But Christian found it more comfortable on his skinny frame than a firm mattress, and it was so bouncy it served as a trampoline during the day. 7/10
JUST TOO SQUISHY Sleepbear (single, £399, double, £599, king, £699, sleepbear.co.uk)
THE CLAIM: On top of a dense base is a layer of memory foam attached to 4cm of pure latex, to create ‘cloud-like comfort and bounce’. This is perforated for extra air flow to regulate body temperature. The whole thing is covered in a hypoallergenic Lycra knit.
A 100- night trial is offered, plus collection and full refund. HELEN’S VERDICT: This was too squishy for me to fully enjoy my favourite bedtime pleasure — reading propped up on pillows. However, the spongy texture meant that whenever Dillon or I turned over, we were thrown together — which could have its benefits, I suppose . . . 7/10
TRULY LUXURIOUS Simba Hybrid (single, £399, double, £599, king, £699, simbasleep.com or John Lewis)
THE CLAIM: Four layers — thick foam on top, a section of small pocket springs, memory foam and a foam support base — plus the usual 100-night trial. HELEN’S VERDICT: Because this mattress is a hybrid — a mixture of memory foam and pocket springs — it didn’t pack down quite as small as the others and was far heavier.
But it was definitely worth our exertions — comfortingly squishy and satisfyingly supportive, it lulled me into the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years. 10/10
COOLS HOT FLUSHES
Eve (single, £349, double, £599, king, £679, evemattress.co.uk) THE CLAIM: The Eve mattress has a ‘ breathable cooling strip’ to absorb moisture and dissipate heat, plus a layer of memory foam and a thick base for support. You can also try it for 100 days and return it. HELEN’S VERDICT:
The lovely sunny yellow fabric really makes this mattress stand out — and quickly elevated it in my 13-year-old daughter’s estimations.
It combines real comfort with a good amount of support, whether you’re a back-, side- or front- sleeper.
Isobel tends to overheat in bed and usually kicks off her covers, but stayed cool as a cucumber all night.
As the dreaded perimenopausal hot flushes can’t be far off for me, perhaps I should keep this one instead. 8/10
BEST BARGAIN BUY Dormeo (single, £209.99, double, £249.99, king, £309.99, dormeo.co.uk)
THE CLAIM: The 14cm base of this Memory Plus mattress is made from porous, breathable foam designed to reduce painful pressure points. The middle layer is memory foam and the cover is infused with a sanitiser, providing anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-dust mite protection.
Customers can return it within 60 nights, though delivery and collection costs are charged. HELEN’S VERDICT: At just £309.99 for a king size, this is half the price of many of its rivals yet was Dillon’s favourite by far.
The squishy surface makes you feel as if you’re floating, but it’s firm enough to spring out of bed in the morning. However, the hard base means it cannot be flipped periodically so it may wear out more quickly. 9/10 CHEAP AND SPONGY
Amazon.co.uk (single, £118.99, double, £144.99, king, £169.99)
THE CLAIM: The 3cm top layer is memory foam while the remaining 14.5cm is polyurethane foam covered in a washable polycotton case. There’s no free trial period. HELEN’S VERDICT: With only a thin memory foam layer on top of what felt like a bath sponge, I woke with an ache in my back, sciatic pain in my right buttock and a throbbing in my knee. 5/10
ONE FOR THE GUESTS Ikea pocket sprung mattress HOVAG (single, £119, double, £180, king, £230, ikea.com)
THE CLAIM: In typical no-nonsense Swedish style, there are no boasts about special foams, only individually wrapped pocket springs that work in tune with the body and a layer of ‘ soft fillings’ covered in a stretchy fabric. There is no free trial period.
HELEN’S VERDICT: Perhaps it’s the absence of memory foam, but this mattress was still uncomfortably flat at bedtime, five hours after removing it from its plastic packaging.
Having been spoilt by some of the pricier, springier versions it was something of a let- down. However, it’s small and lightweight, so easy to move around the house. 6/10
RESTLESS REMEDY Otty (single, £349.99, double, £449.99, king, £549.99, otty.com)
THE CLAIM: High- density foam creates a solid base while small holes enable air to circulate around the mattress, helping to regulate body temperature.
Rows of 2,000 pocket springs are covered by memory foam and topped off with a layer of blue gel, designed to keep you cool.
If it’s not for you, Otty offers a refund within 100 days and will collect unwanted mattresses. HELEN’S VERDICT: This mattress took two days to fully expand, but it was worth the wait.
If Dillon has had a particularly stressful day at work, he tosses and turns before falling asleep, leaving us both grumpy by the morning. But, mercifully, the foam- covered springs provide additional support, stopping me being disturbed by my restless partner. 8.5/10
SOFT AND SNUGGLY Hyde And Sleep (single, £499, double, £599, king, £699, hydeandsleep.com)
THE CLAIM: A thick polyurethane foam base with perforations ventilates and keeps you cool, while a layer of 2,000 pocket springs distributes body weight — reducing pressure points. Memory foam created with special technology to prevent dust mites and bacteria sits on top.
Customers get a 100-night trial, free collection and a full refund. HELEN’S VERDICT: The springy, supportive mattress was balm to my joints, which were achy after a challenging exercise class.
The topping was cotton-wool soft, and it was a joy snuggling into it at bedtime — though dragging ourselves out in the morning was less fun! 9.5/10