Origin Hybrid Mattress
The Origin Hybrid is our top choice for stomach sleepers who need firmer support.
The Origin Hybrid mattress combines six unique layers for firmer-feeling support.
These layers include:
- HexaGrid layer
- Graphite-infused (cooling) foam
- Low-density foam
- Antigravity pocket springs
- Polyurethane
- 100% quilted bamboo Tencel fabric top cover
The Origin mattress stands out from other hybrid mattresses with its HexaGrid orthopaedic layer.
The HexaGrid layer has hexagon-shaped grooves that cradle your pressure points and offer relief to your joints.
The mattress also has a graphite-infused cooling foam layer that regulates body temperature and antigravity pocket springs that give individual support to each area of the body.
The bamboo Tencel cover is high quality and feels soft and gentle on sensitive skin.
Although the mattress is rated as having "soft and firm support," it is on the firmer end of the scale.
This firm feel makes it ideal for stomach sleepers who require a firm mattress that promotes a straight spine.
It also offers excellent edge support for those that like to sit on the edge of the mattress.
The Origin Hybrid mattress also includes a generous 15-year guarantee and a 200-night sleep trial.
| Origin Hybrid | |
| Composition: | Hexagrid foam, graphite-infused foam, pocket springs, polyurethane |
| Firmness level: | Very firm |
| Height: | 25 cm (10 inches) |
| Trial period: | 200 nights |
| Guarantee: | 15 years |
| What makes this mattress special? | The Origin Hybrid mattress is one of the firmest mattresses we've ever tested. |
Happy Beds Majestic 1000 Pocket Sprung Orthopaedic Mattress
This 25 cm pocket spring mattress provides orthopaedic support.
The Happy Beds Majestic 1000 Pocket Sprung Orthopaedic Mattress is one of the most budget-friendly adult pocket sprung mattresses on the market. 🇬🇧
It features an average of 1000 individually-wrapped pocket coils for superior orthopaedic support and comfort.
Overall, the mattress provides a medium-firm feel. 😴
It also features air vents that improve breathability, allowing you to enjoy a cooler and more comfortable sleep.
The mattress is hand-tufted with elegant damask fabric. 🧶
It should be flipped and rotated every six weeks.
| Happy Beds Majestic 1000 Pocket Sprung Orthopaedic Mattress | |
| Composition: | Pocket springs |
| Firmness level: | Medium-firm |
| Height: | 25 cm (9.8 inches) |
| Trial period: | / |
| Guarantee: | 5 years |
| What makes this mattress special: | A quality budget pocket spring mattress. |
DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid
This is a high-quality mattress designed for enhanced breathability, comfort, and support.
The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is a premium mattress from the same company that's brought you the Nectar memory foam mattress.
It combines high-quality memory foam with full-size pocket springs (called ActiveEdge coils), each measuring 15 cm (5.9 inches).
This is an orthopaedically designed mattress with medium-firm support to help eliminate back, neck, and shoulder pains.
The mattress offers enhanced breathability to help keep you cool and refreshed all night long. ❄️
It also has low motion transfer and great edge support, making it a great choice for couples.
The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is 28 cm (11 inches) thick and stands out as a key feature in any bedroom. 🏆
The mattress comes with free delivery & returns, a remarkable 365-night risk-free trial period, and a lifetime guarantee.
£540 OFF DREAMCLOUD + FREE BEDDING SET£ 408.07
| DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid | |
| Composition: | Memory foam, pocket springs |
| Firmness level: | Medium-firm |
| Height: | 28 cm (11 inches) |
| Trial period: | 365 days |
| Guarantee: | Lifetime warranty |
| What makes this mattress special? | Fantastic premium-choice option suitable for most; revolutionary trial period and a lifetime guarantee. |
Bensons for Beds iGel Advance 3000i Plush Top Mattress
This cool gel mattress is available in soft, medium, or firm.
The iGel mattress is one of our favourite cool options.
The mattress combines 5 cm (1.9 inches) of iGel™ Advance Graphene and 3000 premium pocket springs.
The Graphene technology absorbs excess body heat when you get too hot and releases the heat when you're too cold.
This means the mattress should keep you at the perfect temperature (35° to 37° Celsius) throughout the night.
The pocket springs support the body, minimise motion transfer and encourage optimal airflow.
The iGel Advance 3000i Plush Top mattress has a FreshNow™ advanced moisture-wicking cover to keep the mattress clean and you feeling fresh all night.
You'll feel optimal comfort as the gel crystals mould around pressure points and provide targeted support.
The AdvantEdge ensures you'll feel supported right up to the edge of the mattress.
UP TO £300 OFF IGEL ADVANCE MATTRESS£ 1,424.99
| iGel Advance 3000i Plush Top Mattress | |
| Composition: | iGel Advance Graphene, pocket springs |
| Firmness level: | Soft, medium, or firm |
| Height: | 32 cm (12.6 inches) |
| Trial period: | 40 nights |
| Guarantee: | 10-year guarantee |
| What makes this mattress special? | The graphene technology transfers heat 7 times faster than standard foam. |
How we test products
Our mission is to take the guesswork out of finding the perfect sleep products.
We've dedicated hundreds of hours to testing mattresses and sleep accessories, and rely on a team of testers of differing weights, temperature preferences, and sleeping positions to evaluate each product.
Tested products are granted the Sleep Hero tested stamp of approval, a mark of our review's reliability.
If we haven't personally tested a product, please be assured that we invest significant time and energy into scouring the UK market and researching the best recommendations, and we work with a team of sleep experts who review our articles, ensuring that the insights we provide are not only relatable but also reliable.
What type of sleeper is a firm mattress suitable for?
If you sleep on your back or your stomach or have a larger build, then we would strongly recommend considering a firm mattress.
In all of these cases, a firm mattress will offer the best night’s sleep. This is because it will keep the spine aligned, prevent your shoulder and pelvic areas from sinking in too deeply, and support the lighter parts of your body. All of this enables the spine to remain in its optimal position and prevents the body from sagging.
Sagging into a mattress can quickly lead to back or neck pains.
Choosing the desired firmness of a mattress depends largely on the individual person and body type. Weight, height, preferred sleeping position, and individual needs and preferences are all factors that determine the level of firmness you need. For example, a person sleeping on their stomach and weighing 60 kg will not need the same type of firmness as someone who weighs 90 kg.
You can also revert back to our guide on choosing the right degree of firmness to help you choose.
Advantages of a firm mattress
Firm mattresses are mostly composed of latex or spring. These materials allow for good breathability and protect your mattress against humidity and the build-up of dust mites.
Firm mattresses also provide for better blood circulation and superior relief of pressure points. This enables them to relieve associated pains, such as those experienced when suffering from a herniated disc.
Firm mattresses are also more durable and have a longer lifespan.
Level of support on a firm mattress
Sleepers that suffer from back, neck, or hip problems would generally benefit from a firmer mattress. This is because, over time, inadequate support in these areas can result in discomfort, pain, or even more serious long-term issues.
Receiving an adequate amount of support in these areas, then, is essential to prevent any problems.
Choose a firm foam, latex, or spring mattress
Air circulation or breathability is particularly important in firm mattresses as they are generally much denser than soft or medium-firm mattress. This density is great in providing necessary support but it’s not great in terms of temperature regulation.
Generally, cheap foam mattresses will not have the necessary breathability to keep you cool at night. We, therefore, recommend that you choose more high-end mattresses that offer better value for money.
Spring mattresses and hybrid mattresses naturally have better air circulation and retain less heat. Latex mattresses are also cooler and they’re naturally firm, due to the high density of latex.
The problem with sagging mattresses
A sagging firm mattress can be a big problem. A sagging mattress generally refers to a mattress with dents or sunk-in areas, which is a result of wear and prolonged overload. Sagging can occur with any mattress but is most common with poor quality mattresses. Sometimes, however, sagging may result simply because of the passing of time.
Mattresses that are very old no longer have the structure or materials necessary to provide sufficient support. An average lifespan of a good mattress is 8-10 years. However, your body weight and use of a mattress can increase or decrease the total lifespan of your mattress.
Conclusion
Our recommended mattresses may all have different actual levels of firmness but they do have a number of key factors in common. For one, quality firm mattresses have minimal foam degradation over time. Then, all of our recommended mattresses are also very comfortable despite their high degree of firmness.
It is important to find a mattress of adequate firmness, especially if you’re suffering from back pain. Soft mattresses often don’t provide the necessary support and may result in the so-called hammock effect, where your spine is bent. Firm mattresses can definitely be recommended, especially to people of a larger build, as they help to keep the spine in a healthy alignment and allow the body to relax.
That said, firm mattresses are generally not recommended for side sleepers. They need a little more softness to allow their body to sink in sufficiently, and we’d recommend they choose a soft or medium-firm mattress.
Why trust us?
We understand the importance of trust and reliability when it comes to product reviews - but why trust us?
- Dedicated testing facility: We've tested over 180 products globally and now operate our own testing facility equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to analyse product performance.
- Approved by sleep experts: We collaborate with international sleep experts who train our team, review our articles, and provide invaluable insights on sleep health.
- Industry connections: We maintain close relationships with manufacturers and brands, giving us a head start in the latest trends, upcoming products, and the technology that drives them.
- European market leader: We are proud to be the #1 review site in Europe, part of an expansive network that continues to grow across the globe.
With millions of visitors each year, our global reach isn't just about numbers - it's about making better choices more accessible to everyone.
>180 products tested
>19,836 hours of research
>6 million people trust us
7 experts
#1 on the European market
