In this Bensons for Beds Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress review, I put the brand's most affordable mattress through its paces to see how it performs compared to the best mattresses on the market.
In a nutshell
At just £189.99 for a single and £219.99 for a double, the Bensons for Beds Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress is a *very* affordable mattress, and having tested it out for a month, I also think it's a great value buy.
In fact, I think it's one of the best budget mattresses on the market if you're looking to spend around £250 on a double.
That's because it's one of the most supportive budget mattresses I've tested. Most mattresses in this price bracket I've found overly soft, but the Simply Support comes in two tension options – medium and firm – and the firm version I tested proved the most supportive of the ten or so 'cheap' mattresses I've put through their paces.
It also didn't make me overheat, offers good edge support which means you can lie on the whole surface without fear of rolling out, and, although its motion isolation could have been better – I could feel my husband toss and turn next to me – I've tested plenty of mattresses that are far worse in this regard.
I also loved the Bensons for Beds delivery process, which offered great communication from start to finish, delivery to my room of choice as standard, and the option to choose to have my old mattress (and even old bedroom furniture) taken away and recycled for me.
And speaking of recycling, this is one of the few budget mattresses I've tested that really seems to be trying to reduce its environmental impact. The polyester Bensons for Beds uses is recycled, and the brand has other great initiatives in place to make its enivronmental footprint lighter.
Overall, if you're looking for a double mattress for under £250, this is the best option I've found so far.
Bensons for Beds Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress review
Specifications
- Type: pocket spring
- Construction materials: pocket springs, 75% recycled PET polyester
- Sizes: small single, single, small double, double, king, super king
- Tensions available: medium / firm
- Height: 22cm
- Side handles: yes
- Flip or rotate: rotate
- Manufacturer sleep trial: 40-night exchange for another Bensons for Beds mattress
1. Comfort
The Bensons for Beds Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress is a pocket sprung mattress that's made with 400 individually responsive pocket springs and comes in two tensions – medium and firm.
I've found that most mattresses in the under £500 price bracket – and particularly the under £250 price bracket, which this mattress falls into – don’t provide my spine with the support that I like. However, I tested the firm version of the Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress, and I was impressed by it.
It didn't feel as robust as the £529 DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress, which we rate the best budget mattress on the market, but, unlike a lot of the other mattresses that I’ve tested in this price bracket, I found it provided a decent level of support.
As someone who sleeps predominantly on their side, I usually prefer a medium-firm mattress which offers cushioning for my hip and shoulder, but also support enough to keep my spine in alignment.
Although this mattress didn’t offer as much cushioning as the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress, which has a cushioning memory foam top layer, the top layer of polyester padding still made my joints comfortable when I lay on my side. I found it similar in feel to the £219 IKEA VALEVAG Pocket Sprung mattress I recently tested.
Sleeping on it for a month didn’t exacerbate any shoulder, neck, or hip pains, but I did notice I rolled over from side sleeping and onto my back more frequently when I slept on this mattress. That suggests that it wasn’t quite as comfortable as some mattresses for side sleeping, and I probably would have added a mattress topper for side sleeping had I been keeping this mattress.
Occasionally, I sleep on my back, and as someone who suffers from back pain at times, a mattress must be firm enough to stop my hips and lower back from dipping too low.
Overall, I found this mattress offered a good level of support so that my spine stayed in alignment and didn’t dip out of alignment. I found its support significantly better than that offered by other mattresses of this price point and lower, such as the £150 Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress I tried out a few months back.
Of course, it's worth noting that your bed base will affect the comfort of your mattress. I tested this mattress on a slatted bed frame, but different types of beds will alter how the mattress performs. Luckily, Bensons for Beds has plenty of bed bases you can test out in store, including the Ideal Home x Bensons for Beds bed range!
2. Motion isolation
Whilst the manufacturer doesn’t make any specific claims about motion isolation, they do say that it is made with 400 individually responsive pocket springs that ‘adapt to your movements, providing tailored support for a restful and undisturbed night’s sleep.’
Sleeping on this mattress with my husband, I found I could feel when he rolled over next to me. More so than I could when lying on the budget-friendly Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress, for example.
Presumably, that's because the Zinus has an all-foam construction, whilst the Benson’s mattress has a pocket-spring construction. That means you do feel the movement traveling through the spring system more.
Still, the motion isolation was better than other pocket-spring mattresses I've tested at this price point, so when my husband came to bed later than me, the movement didn’t actually wake me up. But when we were both trying to get to sleep, and I was awake, I was certainly disturbed by him rolling over.
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3. Responsiveness
I found it really easy to change my sleeping position on this Benson’s mattress. Instead of a memory foam top layer like some of the mattresses I’ve tested recently, it has what the manufacturer call ‘The Truecomfort layer', which is made from 75% recycled PET plastic (that's the equivalent of over 100 plastic bottles in a double mattress).
Unlike memory foam, I found the top padding didn’t mould around my body and so it didn’t hinder my changing sleeping positions or getting out of bed. As you can see in the video below, the surface of the mattress bounces back quickly.
4. Temperature regulation
Whilst Bensons for Beds doesn't make any particular mention of the Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress having been designed to address the issue of overnight temperature regulation, the manufacturer does point out that the use of pocket springs in its construction allows air to flow between the coils, which improves ventilation.
The brand also notes that its use of recycled polyester is a more breathable option than dense foams, allowing moisture and heat to move more freely than in some other mattresses.
During testing, I found this to ring true. Whilst it's not the most breathable mattress I've tested – a mattress filled with natural materials, such as the Hypnos Pillow Top Select Mattress, is your best bet if you're a hot sleeper – this mattress didn't make me as hot as some of the memory-foam mattresses I’ve recently tested.
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5. Edge support
According to Bensons for Beds, the Simply Support Pocket Sprung mattress includes edge support in the form of 'edge wire', which is made of a round steel frame. This is designed to reduce roll-off and provide stability across the entire sleep surface.
When I sat on the edge of the mattress, I found it did dip a bit like most mattresses do; however, it didn’t collapse all the way down, so that I could feel the bed frame with my bottom like I could with the Zinus mattress I recently tested.
I also found it had a good spring back so that it was easy to stand up from the seating position, something that would be useful for people with mobility issues.
When lying on the mattress, I found the edge support felt supportive and didn’t sink away at the sides. This created a sense of having a bigger sleeping area, and it was strong enough that neither my husband nor I felt like we were going to roll out of bed.
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6. Sleep trial
Bensons for Beds doesn't offer a mattress sleep trial in the same way that a lot of online retailers; that is, you can't buy this mattress, sleep on it for a set number of nights, and then return it for a refund as you can if you shop with Simba, for example.
However, the retailer does offers a 40 night guarantee which allows you to exchange this mattress for another Bensons for Beds model if you don’t find it comfortable. You just need to have tried the mattress for at least five nights (up to 40 nights) and use a mattress protector to qualify.
A month is usually enough time to test out if a mattress is for you, and, although you can't get a full refund, Bensons for Beds offers a wide selection of mattresses, so the chances of finding a better fit for your sleep needs in store is high.
7. Ease of care
Bensons for Beds describes this mattress as ‘easy care’ because you don’t need to turn it, you just ‘rotate regularly’.
When I gave this a go, I found the four thick, easy-to-hold side handles felt really robust and made it easy to rotate. The mattress also didn’t feel as heavy as some I’ve tested, so it would be a good option for anyone seeking easy movement.
The cover of the mattress can’t be removed, so the manufacturer advises routine mattress maintenance of brushing it weekly to remove dust and debris, and to give it a thorough deep clean every six months.
To eliminate odours, they suggest cleaning the mattress with baking soda, by sprinkling on the bicarb and then letting it sit for a few hours before brushing it off. For stains, you're advised to blot spills immediately and use a vinegar and soap solution with a microfiber cloth or toothbrush to scrub them gently.
The brand also recommends using a good mattress protector to extend the mattress’s lifespan.
8. Delivery
I found the Bensons for Beds delivery process really good, and communication was clear and effective from the initial order to delivery.
After the order was placed, I received a text message informing me of the delivery date and telling me that they would be in touch three days before delivery to confirm a timeslot. There was also a link provided to view the order details and track it, as well as to make any changes, such as amending the delivery date up to five days before.
As promised, three days before, I received a message with my two-hour timeslot. This was great as it meant that I could schedule my day around it. And then on the day itself, I got a message to remind me of the timeslot and with a link to track the order, and I received a phone call from the driver thirty minutes before.
Unlike many mattress-in-a-box mattresses I've tested recently, the Simply Support is delivered flat rather than rolled and boxed. That means it's a little more awkward to handle, but thankfully, Bensons for Beds offers delivery to your room of choice as standard, and the delivery drivers didn’t baulk at carrying the mattress up our narrow and twisting staircase for me.
The delivery team also wears overshoes in customers’ homes and gloves for delivery, will walk the route beforehand so they can consider any items of furniture they might need to move, and will take away and recycle any packaging if the customer wishes. All in all, I think that's a great service.
9. Third-party reviews
The Bensons for Beds Simply Support Pocket Sprung mattress has only recently been launched, so, so far, there aren't that many third-party reviews online.
However, of the reviews currently available on the Bensons for Beds website, this mattress has scored 4.7 out of 5 stars on average, with 81% of reviews being 5 stars. All of the reviews I read were positive, with reviewers referring to it being ‘good value for money’ and ‘comfortable’. Another echoed my experience of the entire order and delivery process, saying they enjoyed ‘quality and service from start to delivery absolutely brilliant.’
Another reviewer states: ’First time buying a mattress and was simple, quick and efficient. All product information is clearly shown and delivery was fast. Was able to track the delivery and was kept in contact with the helpful delivery team. No issues and mattress is exactly what I ordered, for my new flat and made settling into my own place for the first time a smooth transition.’
On Trustpilot, Bensons for Beds has an average 4.6 out of 5 score from over 300,000 reviews and an ‘Excellent’ rating, with the huge majority of the brand's reviews being very positive.
10. Environmental impact
The environmental impact of a product can be difficult to measure, but it feels like Bensons for Beds is taking really positive steps in order to reduce its environmental impact.
This Bensons mattress is made in the UK in a factory accredited with the Furniture Makers Manufacturing Guild Mark and the British Kitemark™ (a symbol of quality, safety and trust for more than 100 years) – providing confidence that it’s made to very high quality standards. The manufacturer also boasts of the fact that the mattress comes in ‘I’m Green™ packaging’, which is ‘made from a minimum of 50% sugar cane and 30% recycled plastics’.
Also, the ‘Truecomfort layer’ is made from 75% recycled PET plastic – the equivalent of over 100 plastic bottles in a double mattress.
You can also opt to have your old mattress taken away for recycling for an additional cost of £25, which is a very reasonable price when it comes to how to recycle a mattress, and I love the fact that Bensons for Beds partners with the British Heart Foundation to offer a free furniture pickup service for customers who have bought a new bed or mattress.
This means that the British Heart Foundation will come and collect your unwanted bed frame, mattress, or bedroom furniture and then re-sell these in their network of shops across the UK to raise money for the BHF charity.
11. Value for money
With a double of the Bensons for Beds Simply Support mattress currently costing £219.99, I think this mattress is *very* good value for money.
It's comparable in price and performance to the IKEA VALEVAG I recently tested, and like the VALEVAG comes in two tension options. However, I found the Bensons for Beds firm version of the Simply Support mattress was definitely the firmer of the two, which I love for keeping my spine in alignment.
This mattress is slightly more expensive than the budget-friendly Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress and the Dreams Workshop Traditional Spring Mattress I've tested, but I think that it’s well worth the additional money. I found both the Dreams and the Zinus mattresses overly soft, and this Bensons for Beds option offers significantly better edge support. Plus, it has side handles, which neither of the cheaper options do, making them much harder to rotate regularly.
If your budget can stretch to around the £500 mark, then, for me, the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress pips the Bensons for Beds Simply Support to the post because of its added memory foam cushioning. Because of this, I found DreamCloud's option more comfortable for side sleeping, and all in all, it feels the more premium product, but then, it's over twice the price.
If budget is paramount, then, overall, I think this is one of the best under £250 mattresses on the market.
How I tested
My sleep stats:
Sleep position: back or side
Tension preference: firm
Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones
In putting the Bensons for Beds Simply Support Pocket Sprung Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, I assessed eleven factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.
I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that myself (and my husband) slept on the mattress for a month before I wrote my review.
I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – plus, environmental impact, before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.
