Memory foam mattresses can be a good solution to a plethora of problems, including aching lower back and overall reduced sleep quality. But how do you choose a quality product that fits the bill and checks all the boxes? There are so many models on the market – from good quality products from reputable companies to cheap Chinese knock-offs that we wouldn’t recommend to our worst enemy.
It is a tough choice to make!
That is the sole reason we created LightSleeper – to help you choose the mattress that is right for you and you alone, and to help you make that choice along the way. Companies can never pay to feature their products on LightSleeper, nor we are getting paid to recommend one product over the other – we are an independent resource and we only recommend products that have passed our tests and we feel that they are the best in their category.
So without further ado, let’s see what we think are the best memory foam mattresses in the UK today and why.
1. Emma Original – Editor’s Pick
The Emma Original is a carefully crafted product, that provides you with the most restful and refreshing sleep possible with its 25 cm in depth. It’s designed to suit everyone’s needs with its three layers of pressure-relieving foam and magnificent moisture-wicking cover.
First, you will see Emma’s UltraDry cover that is excellent at temperature regulation can be easily removed and washed. Next, we have the Halo™ memory foam layer that adapts to your body shape for targeted spinal alignment, enhanced pressure relief and body-hugging comfort.
It’s followed by the Emma’s Point Elastic Airgocell® technology, enhancing breathability and regulating temperature by absorbing and then evaporating sweat. Lastly, you’ll find the HRX (High Resiliency Extra) Supreme ™ foam that is engineered to last for years without losing its durability due to the adaptive cut-outs zone, distributing your body weight evenly to reduce pressure.
Thanks to the advanced zoning and adaptable foams, this affordable Emma option will gently cradle your body and give you the feeling of sleeping in the clouds. With its outstanding motion isolating properties, the Emma Original ensures two people won’t be bothered by the other in one bed.
Emma Sleep has great excellent customer service. The brand offers you a 200-day risk-free trial period, so you have time to adjust to your new mattress. They also provide you with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty and free delivery. What more can you ask for?
Key Features:
- 3 layers of construction
- Airgocell® regulates temperature
- Seven zone back structure
- Trial Period for Returns: 200 days
- Warranty: 10 years
2. Ergoflex 5G – The Premium Choice
Ergoflex is a company that works hard towards achieving a comfortable, cool and supportive night’s sleep every night. As the name implies, the 5G has a 5-layer sleep system, made out of premium materials that work in complete harmony to create and integrate arguably the most supportive, comfortable and pressure-relieving mattress we can find on the market in 2021.
This item’s top layer was designed from proper high-density visco-elastic memory foam, which contours all your body’s curves while ensuring that your partner won’t be disturbed during their sleep. After that, Ergoflex has its Cool-Sleep airflow layer.
Set layer works towards maintaining a comfortable and cool sleeping temperature all around. Ergoflex’s 5G version comes with a TENCEL® outer cover with a natural, breathable feel, and a micro-fine inner cover that protects and encases the mattress core.
Ergoflex has crafted a 9cm high resilience impact-resistant foundation layer, that ensures outstanding support for its upper layers. The brand gives you a 10-year guarantee and 30 days trial period to see if this is the right choice.
Key Features:
- 5 layers of construction
- Naturally Anti-Allergenic
- Cool-Sleep™ Airflow System
- Trial Period for Returns: 30 days
- Warranty: 10 years
3. Eve Original – Worth Considering
Do you toss and turn all night in bed? Are you wondering if memory foam causes night sweats? Are you a hot sleeper? If you are the Eve Original mattress is here to help you improve your sleep. Eve comes with three layers of breathable next-generation memory foam that will keep the pressure off while offering you gentle cushioning for a beautifully restful sleep.
Eve’s new generation item comes with foam, which will keep you cool and have impeccable motion isolation so that your partner will be able to sleep through the night even if you’re tossing and turning. The secret behind it is the unique contour zones that keep you comfortable no matter the position you sleep in. This way, you get a restful night’s sleep with Eve’s affordable product.
And if that’s not enough, you receive a 100-days sleep trial with a 10-year warranty for this fantastic item that can relieve pressure from various parts of your body. Don’t hesitate to check it out and give it a “test drive”!
Key Features:
- 3 layers of construction
- Unique contour zones
- Anti-slip Base
- Trial Period for Returns: 100 days
- Warranty: 10 years
4. Nectar
Are you someone that is continually struggling with pains and aches while sleeping? If the answer is yes, this medium-firm Nectar mattress might be the best option for you. With five unique foam layers of construction that will help keep your spine properly aligned through the night.
Nectar’s amazing product has a breathable cooling top layer, that is neither too firm nor too soft, which is where you want to be. You can see the perfection packed in this product, where the contouring gel memory foam will meet your body’s natural curves throughout the whole surface.
It’s time you forget about discomfort with this Nectar option because of its adaptive memory foam layer, which will relieve common pressure points beneath your shoulders, legs, hips and back for better spinal alignment. The Nectar memory foam mattress comes at an affordable price and has a lifetime warranty.
And if you want to, Nectar provides their fantastic offer with two cooling pillows, a sheet set and a mattress protector. How can you be unhappy with 400 pounds worth of bedding free of charge?
Key Features:
- 5 layers of construction
- Breathable Cooling Action
- Gel-infused foam
- Trial Period for Returns: 365 days
- Warranty: Lifetime
5. Dormeo Octasmart Deluxe
Dormeo has used the latest innovation in sleep technologies, to create a multi-award winning Octaspring® aerospace technology, which will transform your bed into one of your dreams.
Octasmart Deluxe Memory Foam mattress is the smartest one Dormeo has created. The combination of technologies and innovative materials create outstanding performance and comfort in three layers of smart technology.
On top, we have a luxurious memory foam top layer that will give you the most comfortable and supportive night’s sleep imaginable. Next is the supportive Ecocell base layer with a 3-dimensional permanent cell structure, and smart Octaspring® layer at the heart, where every single Octaspring® comfort point adapts to your body weight and releases pressure.
The Octasmart Deluxe is arranged in three body zones to provide customised support and keep your spine in its natural shape. Dormeo also has unique ventilation that is eight times more breathable than a traditional mattress with constant airflow, which will keep you cool.
For extra freshness Dormeo has designed the smart performance anti-allergenic cover with hundreds of comfort pockets are built into it. This option will protect you from dust mites, mould and bacteria while keeping your bed fresh and clean.
Finally, the Dormeo Octasmart Deluxe mattress includes free delivery, a 60-day trial period and an 18-year warranty.
Key Features:
- 3 layers of construction
- Octaspring® Aerospace technology
- Smart performance cover
- Trial Period for Returns: 60 days
- Warranty: 18 years
How to Choose a Memory Foam Mattress?
Nowadays, we are bombarded with new brands and products every day, but not all offer quality products. For you to be able to pick the right one, there are a few features you will need to factor in before making your decision. They are the following:
Sleeping Position
An essential factor to consider when choosing a mattress is the position you sleep in and your sleeping patterns in general. You need to understand that the way you sleep can determine the areas you put the most pressure on. That will help you narrow down the options which will accommodate your needs.
Side sleepers
We want to start with a side sleeper and the fact that they often put pressure on their shoulders and lumbar area. If you’re one of those people, we highly recommend selecting a medium-firm option with pressure points, in the lower back area. Our reason behind it is that you will most likely find it suitable for this position since it’s still flexible to your body’s curvatures.
Back Sleepers
Next, we have people that sleep on their backs. If you are one of them, you’ll probably want a product, that will alleviate pressure points just like a side sleeper. Therefore you should take into consideration a medium-firm product that will provide fantastic spine support. Understand that a back sleeper has to avoid the extra-firm items because they might fail to adjust to the lumbar curve.
Stomach sleepers
In third, we have the side sleepers. Usually, this type puts pressure on their neck and back. That’s why, in this situation, your best option will be a firmer product because it’s excellent for spine support. Also, it will help alleviate neck tension and prevent your lower body from sinking into the mattress. With that, you avoid putting your neck at an inappropriate angle that may bring you discomfort.
Various Sleeping Positions
Lastly, we have the combination of all the types above. People with various sleeping patterns would often prefer a medium mattress with a thick top layer of memory foam. Thus, you should look for high-density products which can help you sleep on all sides comfortably without putting too much pressure on your body.
Density & Firmness
Two of the essential features of a mattress are its firmness and density. Typically they determine the longevity, price, and overall feel of the bed you will be sleeping on. We measure density with mass per unit volume at a given area.
In general high-density foams have extended longevity, compared to low-density ones. However, there is a common misconception that the higher the density, the firmer the bed.
You want to aim for a memory foam product with a high-density and Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) rating. The higher the IFD rating, the better. That indicates the brand used an optimal amount of material in the bedding. People favour high-density options if they suffer from chronic body aches and pain.
Finally, you shouldn’t forget about the different types of memory foam, as they come with different properties and heat activation levels.
Body Type & Weight
Matching your body type to a mattress can confusing because it won’t matter how comfortable it is if you cannot fit on top of it.
That’s why you should think about the dimensions that accommodate your body size and your partner’s if you are sharing the bed. For example, a couple will fit in a queen-sized bed, but they will most likely be more comfortable in a king option. Whereas, a solo sleeper will generally find a full-size as a good enough choice.
The item you select has to be able to accommodate your body weight. If you’re on the heavier side, we recommend looking at our article about Best Mattresses for Heavy People. On average, a person who weighs 60kg will be ell-supported by a medium-density memory foam mattress.
Price
When the memory mattress was first introduced, it was quite a pricey option, but today some brands offer quality products with competitive pricing. Of course, the overall price of a mattress depends on its quality and the manufacturer.
However, most models stay in the diapason between £800 – £1,300. With this price tag, you can receive all the features and benefits you need for a well supported and comfortable night’s sleep.
Trial Period
People can go to a store and lay on a bed for a few minutes, but that doesn’t tell you if the product will be comfortable in the long run and if this memory foam mattress is good for your specific needs and preferences. That’s where the trial period comes in handy. Well-respected brands offer a trial period that can vary between 30-365 days.
Ultimately, this is the best way for you to determine if a mattress is suitable for your personal preferences. Trial periods give you the opportunity to “test drive” an item in order to see if this is the best option for you. That’s why you should always select options that offer it.
Warranty
Every brand that wants to have a reputable one has to offer a warranty for the products they put out. Most guarantees will range between 5 to 10 years, but some will offer 20, 30 or even a lifetime option. We recommend that you try to aim for the best length possible. If a manufacturer offers a whole decade, this speaks volumes to the mattresses they put on the market.
However, if the warranty is short, this might indicate potential harmful chemicals or low-quality products. If you are worried if a memory foam mattress is good for your health, make sure to check our guide on it.
Final Words
We hope you were able to find what you were looking for in our guide when it comes to the best memory foam mattresses the market has to offer. To simplify your shopping experience, we’ve selected the top 5 options for 2021, that come with numerous memory foam benefits.
Mattress brands frequently change, and so do the products they offer, which is why we will continue to provide you with the most up to par information, so you will have an investment that’s worth it. If you want to learn more about the life expectancy of your bed, check our guide on ‘How long do memory foam mattresses last?’
We hope that this article was helpful, and you could find what you are looking for. Now it’s our turn to hear from you if there are any questions, regarding the subject that were left unanswered. If you want to share some information, we would gladly hear about it in the comments below.