EMMA ORIGINAL MATTRESS REVIEW

The Emma Original is a high-quality foam mattress with a height of 25 cm.

It is comprised of three different foam layers that work together to offer optimal comfort, stability, spinal support, and temperature regulation.

The three different foam layers are:

• Airgocell foam
• Viscoelastic memory foam
• HRX polyfoam

A top layer of Airgocell foam

The patented pressure-relieving Airgocell technology promises a high level of comfort.

The foam consists of approximately 50% air, which helps heat escape and regulates temperature within the mattress.

A core of viscoelastic memory foam

Memory foam offers excellent pressure relief.

It adapts optimally to your body shape, giving you that soft and enveloping body-hugging feeling.

The layer of memory foam in the Emma Original is relatively thin, though, so you'll feel the benefits of memory foam without any of the drawbacks such as excessive heat retention or difficulty moving.

A base layer of cold foam

The HRX polyfoam is a firmer cold foam base layer that offers support and stability to an otherwise quite soft mattress.

It also limits long-term sagging of the mattress, ensuring that it will last for a long time.

High density ensures a long lifespan

All of the foams used in the Emma Original are high-density foams, with an average density of 57 kg/m³.

A high density is a good indicator of quality, durability, and lifespan.

The high-density foams ensure that you can enjoy your mattress for many years to come.

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The Emma Original features a simple yet elegantly-designed cover.

• A white, fine-meshed top cover with polyester fibres to regulate humidity.
• A robust grey side cover that supports air circulation.
• Non-slip elements at the base of the cover.
• Carrying handles for easy transportation.

The Emma mattress cover is predominantly made of polyester.

We liked the top cover of the mattresses - it's thick and luxurious, incredibly soft, and pleasant to lie on.

The cover can also be easily removed and machine-washed at 60 degrees, which is fantastic if you have any hygiene concerns.

It also makes the Emma Original a hypoallergenic choice that's great for people prone to allergies.

Side carrying handles

The Emma mattress has four side carrying handles, which makes moving the mattress or turning it around much more manageable.

Turning your mattress once every three months can increase its lifespan.

However, the handles are relatively weak and tear quite quickly, especially if you're handling the mattress more roughly or dealing with one of the larger mattress sizes.

The Emma Original is a soft mattress, but we found it surprisingly comfortable.

It offers that sleeping-on-a-cloud feeling but still provides sufficient support and stability, allowing you to enjoy your best night's sleep.

We'd rate it at 4 out of 10 on the Sleep Hero firmness scale.

What it feels like to sleep on the Emma Original

Our team describes the feeling of lying on the Emma mattress as 'pleasantly soft'. This can largely be explained by the combination of the two upper comfort layers.

Both Airgocell and memory foam are highly adaptable and conform to the shape of your body. They are also very point-elastic, meaning that they can relieve pressure well and help your muscles relax.

Since the Emma Original is a softer mattress, it is exceptionally comfortable when sleeping on your side.

This is because your shoulders and pelvis - the heavier parts of your body - can sink into the mattress more deeply.

Yet, it still offers enough support for the lighter parts of your body, like your feet and arms.

This combination allows your spine to remain in an optimal alignment.

This makes the Emma Original a great choice if you're looking for an orthopaedic mattress to help reduce back pain.

Not suitable for heavier builds

That said, the Emma Original may be too soft for heavier-weight sleepers (averaging 90kg or more) or for people who sleep purely on their back or stomach.

These sleeping positions require more hip support, which the Emma Original may not give.

If your hips aren't adequately supported, you're likely to experience some lower back pain when sleeping on the Emma.

If this is a concern or you fall into this latter category, then we'd highly recommend you make use of the risk-free trial period to see if the mattress works for you.

You might also find the Simba Hybrid or the Nectar mattress quite comfortable.

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Edge support is lacking

The Emma Original also doesn't offer excellent edge support.

This means that you'll feel as if you're sliding off the mattress when sitting on the edge.

While this is to be expected with softer mattresses, it is worth keeping in mind if you like to use the entire width of your mattress - or if you're sharing your bed with a partner.

We measured how deep we sank into the foams

Of course, we don't want you to merely rely on our personal opinion, which is why we measured how deep we sank into the mattress.

By measuring how far someone sinks into a mattress, you can estimate how supportive it will be for different types of sleepers.

Our experiment gave the following results:

The values are typical of softer mattresses.

Our lightest and medium-weight test sleepers didn't sink in too deeply - or too little.

This means that the Emma Original gives just the right amount of support to lighter-weight people or those of smaller builds.

But, you'll notice that our heavier test sleeper sank into the mattress quite a bit.

Even though the body's heavier parts remained well supported, promoting healthy spinal alignment, heavier-weight sleepers, or those of larger builds, may interpret the Emma Original as too soft.

It's best to make use of the risk-free trial period to see if the mattress is right for you.

The Emma Original regulates body temperature effectively.

Even though memory foam mattresses are generally warmer and retain more heat than other mattress materials, the Emma mattress regulates temperature surprisingly well.

This is primarily because the Airgocell layer and the fine-meshed top cover noticeably increase breathability and airflow and reduce heat storage.

We did not sweat during our test sleep, despite some of our team members testing in 25-degree summer weather and others sharing their bed with a partner.

Our temperature tests

The Emma Original has exceptionally low motion transfer and high point elasticty.

This makes it a great mattress for couples.

The foam layers effectively absorb and dampen movements, ensuring that motion is not carried across the mattress.

We shared the mattress with a partner and did not feel any movements. We also didn't feel our partner getting in and out of bed.

This all means that you can enjoy a restful sleep and won't be disturbed by your partner tossing and turning.

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We measured our movements

To really test the motion transfer abilities of the Emma mattress, we decided to rely on science.

We used a measuring device to record:

• Figure 1: Movement of a lighter-weight person
• Figure 2: Movement of a heavier-weight person
• Figure 3: Movement when getting in and out of bed

As you can see, the device hardly recorded any movement, which is testament to the low motion transfer of the Emma Original mattress.

Are you sharing your bed with a partner?

We suggest that couples sharing a bed choose a larger mattress size for a more comfortable sleep.

While the standard double-size is sufficient, we'd recommend choosing a king-size mattress.

A king-size mattress will ensure that both you and your partner have ample space to toss and turn, especially considering the lack of edge support with the Emma Original.

We tested the Emma king-size mattress with a partner and slept very comfortably.

All Emma Original mattresses have a height of 25 cm.

They are available in the standard UK sizes.

These include:

Even though the Emma Original is a great value-for-money mattress, you'll be pleased to hear that Emma UK regularly offers discount vouchers, promotions, and sales.

These promotions happen throughout the year, but particularly exciting sales happen yearly for Emma's birthday celebrations, peak holidays, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Black Friday, and Boxing Day.

Discount codes can offer you anything from 10% to 50% off!

If you plan your purchases right, you can save tons.

Don't worry; you don't have to browse the internet to find discount codes. We collect all of the best discounts for you on our discounts page.

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Emma mattress key worker discount

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Emma UK has also begun offering an essential worker's discount for the following industries:

• Health service discounts for those working for the NHS
• Education discounts for all teachers
• Carer discounts for anyone working in this field
• Emergency service discounts for all emergency service workers

The key worker discount gives you 40% off any purchase from the Emma UK website, but it cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, sales, or promotions.

The Emma Original is an award-winning and bestselling mattress that's been ranked as one of the best mattresses in the UK for numerous years in a row.

It has been voted as the UK’s number 1 mattress by the Which? Consumers’ Association, and has received accolades from a dozen other UK establishments, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, T3, The Independent, Good Housekeeping, The Mattress Guide, and Best Mattress UK.

The Emma Original mattress has also received several awards and recognitions in other European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany.

Also, the Emma Original has a 4.6 rating and over 18 000 customer reviews on Trustpilot.

All foams used in the Emma Original - and other Emma products - are OEKO-TEX-STANDARD-100-certified.

This is one of the world's best-known product-safety labels.

If a product is certified, you can rest assured that it contains no harmful toxins or chemical substances.

Emma UK also complies with strict testing and safety requirements during the manufacturing process and ensures that all Emma mattresses comply with the BS 7177 regulation.

This means that the mattress is fire-retardant.

Even though the Emma Original is not an organic mattress, it contains no animal-based components and is 100% vegan.

In addition to the mattresses, Emma UK also offers other sleeping accessories.

These include:

• The high-quality Emma pillow, made up of three interchangeable foam layers and uniquely designed to fit all sleeping profiles.
• The waterproof, breathable, and antibacterial Emma mattress protector.
• The brand new Emma Bed, available in a platform design.

You'll find a snapshot of all the accessories and links to more information below.

The first step to receiving a new mattress is to place your order via the Emma UK website. You'll be able to confirm delivery details and delivery times upon checkout.

You'll receive tracking information via text message or e-mail as soon as the mattress has been dispatched.

Your new Emma mattress will be delivered free of charge and straight to your doorstep, generally within 5-7 business days anywhere in mainland UK.

Emma UK ships with UPS, DPD, and Rhenus.

Currently, Emma UK does not ship to the Channel Islands.

You'll also need to order from the Irish website if you need an Emma Original to be delivered anywhere in Ireland.

Emma UK also offers an old mattress removal service at an additional cost of £39.

You will need to select this option upon checkout, and the company will remove your old mattress when they deliver the new one.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, you will need to bring the mattress to your building's front door as the couriers will not be allowed to enter your home.

Your new mattress is delivered rolled up, vacuum-sealed, and protected in a compact box specifically designed to fit through narrow passageways.

One person can easily carry the box.

What happens when you first unpack the mattress?

We recommend that you place your rolled-up and vacuum-sealed Emma mattress straight on to your bed frame after taking it out of the box.

This makes it easier to unfold and ensures that you won't have to carry it around once expanded.

How does the mattress expand?

This happens all on its own.

The Emma Original expands almost instantly as soon as you begin to unfold it and reach its full size once the plastic wrap has been removed.

Conveniently, Emma includes a handy cutter with your delivery that allows you to snip off the seal and plastic wrapping easily.

Note that full expansion can take up to 6 hours.

Off-gassing is completely normal

You may notice a slight odour, referred to as off-gassing, when you first unpack the mattress. This is usual for new beds.

Off-gassing is neither toxic nor harmful.

But it can be a little uncomfortable. We recommend that you unpack your new mattress in a well-ventilated room and let it air out.

The smell should dissipate quite quickly - within a matter of hours or a few days at most.

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The 200-night trial period

The Emma mattress comes standard with a 200-day risk-free trial period, which commences with delivery.

Emma used to offer a 100-night trial, but the UK's trial period has been extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

You then have 200 days to try the mattress in the comfort of your own home, giving you the chance to determine if the bed really is perfect for you.

Don't forget that it can take the body a few weeks to get used to a new mattress.

If at any point during the trial period you decide that the mattress isn't right for you, you can simply return it.

Returns are free of charge and organised and paid for by Emma UK. All you need to do is contact Emma's customer service.

You'll receive a full refund within 14 days.

10-year guarantee

The Emma Original mattress comes with a 10-year guarantee on manufacturing defects.

This warranty covers:

• Any dips or sags greater than 2.5 cm despite correct use.
• Cracks or hollows in the foam of the mattress within the first 6 months of use.
• Mattress not inflating to the correct size despite a 2 cm leeway across all dimensions.
• Damaged zippers or faulty stitching.

In the event of any of these, Emma will exchange your mattress.

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As our mattress review has hopefully shown, we liked the Emma Original.

It is a very high-quality foam mattress that offers support and stability while also providing that body-hugging comfort.

We particularly liked the combination of foams, the excellent motion transfer capabilities, and the cover's soft feel.

But the mattress is quite soft and will not be suitable for everyone.

We can recommend the mattress as a best-buy option for:

• Light- and medium-weight people or those of more petite build
• Side sleepers
• Couples
• Children above the age of 6
• Seniors, who will often find softer mattresses more comfortable

We would not recommend the Emma mattress for the following:

• Heavier-weight people or those of larger build
• Pure back sleepers or stomach sleepers
• People who prefer a firmer sleeping surface

Despite the above notes, we would highly recommend that you make use of the risk-free trial to see if the mattress is right for you.

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