Not all spring mattresses are the same. You can find out which types are available & which is suitable for you in this guide & comparison.
In this guide you can find out which spring core mattress is right for you and when. I will also present my insider tips and test winners.
You may know spring mattresses from hotels. The breathable, slightly resilient and stable mattresses are particularly popular there.
In this article you will learn:
- What to look for when choosing your spring mattress.
- What types of innerspring mattresses are there.
- Whether a spring mattress is the right choice for you.
I will also give you my personal recommendations, combined with tips on how you can personally find your perfect mattress.
By the way, my favorite is the 7-zone spring mattress from Vesgantti. It has a medium hardness and cushions movements well.
Index
What are innerspring mattresses?
When I think about the fact that the core of such a mattress consists of up to 1000 coil springs made of steel, it admittedly doesn’t appeal to me at first. Steel and sleep ?! – nothing seems to be further apart.
I asked myself whether that could be cozy – can the springs be felt, can they pierce through the upholstery, can a defective spiral collapse and thus make the whole mattress uncomfortable? Are the springs squeaking?
The coil springs should of course give evenly when you lie on it and return to their original shape as soon as you get up.
- Each spring is surrounded by felt or wadding , depending on the type of mattress .
- The spiral springs are connected to one another in different ways.
The springs in the fabric ensure good ventilation of the mattress.
Depending on the quality of the mattress, the springs will last more or less long. It is more likely that one or the other spring will lose its elasticity and collapse instead of pricking one in the back.
It can also happen that the springs squeak and spring too much when moving. Above all, I find the customer ratings for the individual products very helpful in making a good decision.
What are the variants?
There are bonell, pocket and barrel pocket spring mattresses. Here I explain clearly what is behind the individual terms and where the differences lie.
Bonell spring core mattresses
With Bonell spring mattresses , numerous springs are hidden under the foam layer.
When pressure is applied to the mattress surface, it yields evenly. Overall, Bonell innerspring mattresses have fewer springs and are therefore softer in comparison.
Tip: You can find more information about this type of mattress in the guide to Bonell innerspring mattresses .
Pocket spring mattresses
As the name suggests, individual pockets close the springs in pocket spring mattresses.
These fabric pockets are not connected to each other and can therefore react point-elastic. This means that the mattress only yields where pressure is exerted.
Barrel pocket spring mattresses
These mattresses are a modification of the pocket spring mattresses. The bags here have the shape of a barrel, which can give way more easily. That makes this mattress very adaptable.
For whom this type of mattresses are particularly suitable, you can read in the guide on pocket spring core mattresses .
Advantages & disadvantages of spring mattresses
Spring mattresses have their advantages and disadvantages. As always with mattresses, a lot depends on how you sleep.
The advantages:
- Breathable: Thanks to the good ventilation, they are ideal for night owls and prevent mold growth.
- Stable: innerspring mattresses tend to be hard, durable mattresses. They optimally support people with a higher body weight who sleep on their stomach and back.
- Inexpensive: The price range of innerspring mattresses is wide, but above all they are cheap. There are even mattresses from around € 30.
The disadvantages:
- Cool: The high air permeability is uncomfortable for night frostbite as you could freeze.
- Side sleepers: Side sleepers often find innerspring mattresses unsuitable, as many mattresses do not yield well enough in this sleeping position. Only the somewhat softer Bonell innerspring mattress would come into question.
- Mattress hardness: They could be too hard for children , seniors and lightweights. That doesn’t lead to a good night’s sleep.
You can already guess from the advantages and disadvantages whether a spring mattress is right for you.
In the following I explain who the mattresses are particularly suitable for.
Who are spring mattresses suitable for?
To what extent a spring mattress suits you depends above all on you:
If you are often too warm at night, you tend to be heavier and don’t sleep much on your side, the spring mattress is a good choice.
If you sleep on your side or if you are of normal weight, it is best to reach for the softer Bonell spring mattress, all others could be too hard for you.
Insider tips & test winner
Here I would like to introduce you to the mattresses that convinced me in my research. Including the winner of Stiftung Warentest.
Price-performance winner
The Inofia 7-zone pocket spring mattress is ideal if you are looking for a cheap and high quality spring mattress.
I like that the pocket spring mattress is thick 27 cm – that sounds cozy. The 7-zone division ensures that the mattress gives way in the right parts of the body and provides more support on others.
The memory foam does the rest for a healthy sleep: The mattress adapts to the sleeping person and can therefore provide optimal support.
Of course, this innerspring mattress is also breathable and moisture-transporting.
I am also impressed by the service that I can convince myself of the mattress with 100 nights of trial sleep – or give it back. There is also a 10 year guarantee on the mattress core.
All in all, you get a great mattress here for a low price!
For couples
The 7-zone Vesgantti barrel pocket spring mattress is available in many different sizes and is ideal for couples as well as singles.
The first thing I noticed positively about this pocket spring mattress from Vesgantti is the division into 7 zones. Feet, legs, hips, waist, shoulders, neck and head are optimally supported.
I find it particularly important for couples that you are not woken up at night by throwing and turning your partner. Especially with a mattress with springs, I imagine strong rebound.
But this is exactly what should be particularly slow here, so that you can fall asleep together with peace of mind.
In addition, it has the usual pleasant properties of a spring mattress: according to customer reviews, it is stable, pleasantly hard and breathable. On top of that, it has a comfortable height of 24 cm!
When a mattress is recognized by Stiftung Warentest, the product is usually trusted more. So here too.
The 5 zones of the barrel pocket spring mattress indicate that the body is well supported in suitable places.
The mattress is even available in 16 sizes and made in Germany.
What I noticed positively is that the cover is removable and washable. A fine affair, especially when it comes to mites. The cover should smell of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus – nice smells of sleep.
The mattress is only 19 cm high, which doesn’t sound very comfortable.
- For me, the customer ratings are particularly heavy, as they are very different for this product.
- From enthusiasm and quality to complaints about uncomfortable lying down and creaking springs, everything is included.
My impression is that you could get more for the same money. But it is important to me to include this mattress in this test.
Proper care & handling
Spring mattresses are easy to maintain. Just keep in mind that the mattress cannot be rotated. Due to the alignment of the springs, there is only one correct sleeping side.
To protect the surface, a removable and washable cover makes sense.
Also mattress toppers protect the mattress and can increase your sleeping comfort at the same time.
Tips for the slatted frame
Pay attention to your slatted frame: a flexible slatted frame only makes sense with the somewhat softer Bonell spring core mattress.
The harder variants cannot adapt and require a solid base.
Alternatives
As mentioned above, spring mattresses are not suitable for all people. If you are one of them, the following alternatives are for you.
Cold foam mattresses
If you are freezing rather than sweating at night, you should try a cold foam mattress as an alternative. This would also be an option for side sleepers. Also latex – and visco mattresses recommended.
Spring mattresses for allergy sufferers?
Spring mattresses are not suitable for allergy sufferers, as mites could collect in the fine pores of the mattress.
Should you still like to buy a spring mattress, make sure that the mattress is explicitly suitable for allergy sufferers.
Conclusion & useful tips
Spring mattresses are cheap, stable and durable. They are not suitable for lightweights, chilblains and side sleepers. But they are very much ideal for people up to 200 kg, back and stomach sleepers, as well as night owls.
In summary, you can see all the recommendations here again at a glance.
Helpful reading tips
In my opinion, the right mattress is only half the battle for a healthy sleep.
Mattress pads, pillows and blankets also play an important role and can help you with a wide variety of sleeping problems.
- Memory foam pillows: the insider tip for better sleep
- Gel topper for mattresses – test & comparison
- 4 seasons duvet – buying guide
- The best mattress toppers in the test
I hope the information will help you optimize your sleep in the future.
I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.