At Winstons Beds, we’re not just enthusiasts of pillowtop mattresses; we offer the world’s most luxurious and sophisticated options. However, it’s important to understand the distinction between one-sided and two-sided pillowtop mattresses. The one-sided version has sparked debate, with numerous online complaints highlighting its limitations. Why, then, has Vispring chosen to release a one-sided pillowtop mattress collection. Continue reading to discover the intricacies of their design.
Some retailers who have no pillowtop mattresses in their inventory may advise against them, comparing them unfavourably to traditional non-pillowtop options. This comparison is misguided. A mattress without a pillowtop can never replicate the plush feel of one that includes it.
This is because a pillowtop mattress features an additional layer of padding that provides extra cushioning and comfort that standard mattresses lack. It conforms more closely to the body, offering enhanced pressure relief and a feeling of luxurious softness unique to pillowtop designs.
We strongly advise against choosing a one-sided pillowtop mattress. The reason for this is their limited durability and support. One-sided mattresses can’t be flipped, leading to quicker wear and potential unevenness over time. Instead, we recommend selecting a pillowtop mattress with a detachable topper. This design offers the flexibility of a two-sided topper and mattress, extending the life of your mattress and ensuring even wear. You’ll find such innovative designs in our luxury pillowtop range, delivering the unparalleled plush comfort unique to pillowtop mattresses. Remember, the luxurious softness and superior comfort of a pillowtop mattress are unmatched by non-pillowtop alternatives.
You might wonder why you should trust our advice. For your peace of mind, know that our insights on sleep and mattresses have gained recognition from leading publications like the Daily Mirror, New York Post, Daily Express, Ideal Home, Metro and dozens of other esteemed outlets. Their endorsement, coupled with the trust of their millions of readers, underlines the reliability of our guidance. Hence, we encourage you to value our recommendations and dismiss claims that non-pillowtop mattresses can offer the same level of plushness as their pillowtop counterparts.
What is the Vispring Baroness Pillowtop Mattress?
The Vispring Baroness pillow top mattress combines a 15cm pocket-sprung core with a plush pillow top, featuring two additional zones of 2cm micro-pocket springs. Crafted with natural wool and cotton fillings, it promises comfort and quality. Initially marketed as a firm mattress, our testing suggests it offers a medium feel instead. Exclusive to Furniture Village, this mattress includes a 20-year structural guarantee. Before use, airing it for four hours is recommended to eliminate any odour and allow the springs to settle.
How Does it Feel to Lie on?
Our tests show that the mattress provides adequate spinal support, especially for side and front sleepers. Back sleepers may find it acceptable, though not exceptional. Over time, the natural fillings tend to compress, reducing the mattress height and potentially affecting support for back sleepers. The mattress is easy to move on, a plus for restless sleepers, but its stability is limited, possibly disturbing your partner during movement. It’s categorised as a cooler mattress, ideal for those who tend to overheat at night, thanks to its breathable fabric.
Comfort Level
Out of our eight testers who prefer medium-feel mattresses, five found it very comfortable. However, those who favour a plush feel might not find it as agreeable.
Should You Consider Buying it?
While initial support is commendable, be aware that the mattress may lose height over time, impacting its supportiveness. It’s a one-sided pillowtop mattress, a design we generally advise against due to durability concerns. Ultimately, the choice depends on your preferences and requirements.
| Winstons Highland | Visrping Baroness | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2799.99 (Non Sale Price King Size) | £2915 (Non Sale Price King Size) |
| Filling Composition | English Lambswool, Pure Wool & Cotton, British Fleece Wool & Cotton, Hand Teased Shropshire Wool, Hand Teased Loose Long Curled Horsetail, British Highland Wool, Natural Hessian, English Lambswool, Hand Teased Shropshire Wool, Hand Teased Cotton & British Highland Wool | Shetland Wool, Airstream Memory Wool, Cocolok, British Wool & British Cotton |
| Filling Total GSM | 9500 | Not Disclosed (Approx 2800 - 4000) |
| Hand Side Stitching Rows | 3 | 2 |
| Spring Count | 1600 Calico Pocket Springs | 1326 Calico Pocket Springs & 2 Micro Spring Layers |
| Layers | 21 | 9 Approx |
| Thickness | 44cm | 31cm |
| Natural Fibre | 100% Natural | Not 100% Natural as Airstream Memory Wool is Used |
| Handcrafting Heritage | 95 Years+ | 100 Years+ |
| Trial | 100 Nights | Ask Retailer |
| Guarantee | 30 Years | 20 Years |
If you’re searching for an option beyond the Vispring Baroness pillow top, the Winstons Highland mattress deserves your attention. It’s designed with a unique blend of comfort and support, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of sleep preferences.
Composition and Comfort
The Winstons Highland stands out with its medium-soft feel, achieved through a carefully crafted combination of upholstery layers. It boasts an impressive 58kg of fibres, distributed as 34kg in the core mattress and 24kg in the plush topper. This design ensures a balance of firm support from the core and a luxurious, soft surface from the topper, catering to those who prefer medium firmness and those who lean towards a plush feel.
Weight and Build Quality
The total weight of the Highland mattress is 86kg, indicating robust construction and quality materials. The topper alone weighs 24kg, signifying its substantial contribution to the mattress’s overall comfort and feel. The remaining 62kg is attributed to the mattress itself, reflecting the density and quality of the materials used.
Luxury and Affordability
The Winstons Highland is not just about comfort; it’s a higher-spec, more luxurious mattress compared to many market alternatives. Despite its premium build, it is priced more competitively. This cost efficiency is achieved by minimising the excessive mark-ups often seen in retail stores, offering you a luxury product at a more accessible price point.
Why Choose the Winstons Highland?
This mattress is an ideal pick for those who value a blend of supportive firmness and luxurious softness. Its superior build quality, coupled with an attractive price, makes it a compelling alternative to the Vispring Baroness pillow top.
What is the Vispring Countess pillowtop mattress?
Discover the Vispring Countess pillow top mattress, a unique blend of comfort and technology. It features a two-layer design with a 2244 calico pocket-sprung core and an additional two zones of 2cm micro-pocket springs in the pillow top. Notably, it incorporates Shetland wool, Cocolok and Airstream Memory Wool. The Memory Wool is a mix of wool and recycled PET plastics, making the mattress about 90% natural and 10% synthetic. This exclusive product at Furniture Village comes with a 20-year structural guarantee. Remember to air it out for four hours before use to eliminate any odours and allow the springs to settle. For optimal performance on slatted bed frames, ensure the slats are no more than 7cm apart.
How Does it Feel to Lie on?
Our testing indicates that the Vispring Countess provides excellent spinal support for side, front and back sleepers. However, the natural fillings may compress over time, potentially affecting the height and support for back sleepers. The mattress facilitates easy movement, ideal for those who change positions frequently during the night. But be aware, its stability might cause disturbance to your partner. This could be attributed to the micro-springs in the upper layers.
Comfort Level
Classified as a medium-soft feel mattress, all ten of our testers who prefer this level of softness found the Vispring Countess exceptionally comfortable.
Additional Information
No need to flip the mattress, but regular rotation from head to foot is recommended. It comes equipped with four side handles for easier handling.
Should You Consider Purchasing?
The Vispring Countess offers good initial support, but be mindful that it may lose height over time, impacting its support quality. It’s a one-sided pillowtop mattress, a type we typically advise caution with due to potential long-term durability issues. Ultimately, the decision is up to the consumer.
| Winstons Duke | Vispring Countess | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5499.99 (Non Sale Price King Size) | £5170 (Non Sale Price King Size) |
| Filling Composition | English Lambswool, Soft Bamboo, Hand Teased Shropshire Wool, Hand Teased Alpaca Wool, British Highland Wool, English Lambswool, British Fleece Wool & Cotton, Hand Teased Silk, Hand Teased Alpaca Wool, Hand Teased Shropshire Wool, Hand Teased Loose Long Curled Horsetail, British Highland Wool & Organic Flax | Shetland wool, Airstream Memory Wool, Cocolok, British Wool & British Cotton |
| Filling Total GSM | 11750 | Not Disclosed (Approx 2800 - 4000) |
| Hand Side Stitching Rows | 5 | 3 |
| Spring Count | 3000 Calico Pocket Springs | 2233 Calico Pocket Springs + 2 Micro Spring Layers |
| Layers | 25 | 9 Approx |
| Thickness | 47cm | 33cm |
| Natural Fibre | 100% Natural | Not 100% Natural as Airstream Memory Wool is Used |
| Handcrafting Heritage | 95 Years+ | 100 Years+ |
| Trial | 100 Nights | Ask Retailer |
| Guarantee | 30 Years | 20 Years |
If you’re considering options beyond the Vispring Countess Pillowtop, the Winstons Duke mattress emerges as a standout choice. This mattress offers a remarkable blend of comfort and support, tailored to meet a wide range of sleep preferences.
Composition and Comfort
The Winstons Duke mattress is a masterclass in luxury bedding, boasting a medium-soft feel in its upholstery layers. It is packed with an impressive 73kg of fibres, split into 42kg in the core mattress and 31kg in the plush topper. This design ensures a perfect balance of firm support from the core and a luxurious, soft surface from the topper, catering to those who desire a medium firmness and those who prefer a more plush feel.
Weight and Build Quality
The total weight of the Duke mattress is a substantial 127kg, with the topper and mattress weighing 31kg and 96kg respectively. This weight indicates a robust construction and high-quality materials, promising durability and comfort.
Luxury and Positioning
The Winstons Duke is not just about comfort; it’s a higher-spec, more luxurious mattress compared to many market alternatives. It is the second highest spec mattress globally, surpassed only by the Winstons No2. This level of luxury, combined with its unique construction, makes the Duke a compelling alternative to the Vispring Countess Pillowtop.
Why Consider the Winstons Duke?
This mattress is an ideal choice for those who value a blend of supportive firmness and luxurious softness. Its superior build quality, coupled with an exceptional level of luxury, makes it a compelling alternative to the Vispring Countess Pillowtop.
What is the Vispring Duchess Pillowtop Mattress?
The Vispring Duchess Pillowtop mattress is an exclusive offering from Furniture Village, notable for its dual-layer, calico pocket-sprung core featuring 2812 springs. It includes a pillow top with additional micro-pocket springs and is crafted using Shetland wool, Airstream Memory Wool, Cocolok, British wool and British cotton. This mattress comes with a 20-year structural guarantee. Before using, airing it for four hours is recommended to eliminate any odours and allow the springs to adjust to their full size. If placed on a slatted bed frame, ensure the slats are no wider than 7cm apart.
How Does it Feel to Lie on?
The Vispring Duchess offers a unique feel, ranging from medium soft to medium, likely due to the inclusion of Cocolok – a coir and latex bonded material known for its firmer feel. It provides reasonable spinal support, especially for front and back sleepers, but might not be as comfortable for side sleepers. Over time, the natural fillings tend to compress, leading to a loss in height and potentially affecting support for front sleepers. The mattress facilitates easy movement, suitable for those who often change positions during sleep. However, its stability might be limited, possibly causing disturbance to a sleeping partner.
Comfort Level
Of our five testers who prefer a medium soft to medium feel, two found the Vispring Duchess very comfortable, while those looking for a plusher feel found it less satisfactory.
Key Maintenance Tips
There’s no need to flip this mattress, but regular rotation from head to foot is advised. Four side handles assist in this process.
Should You Consider Buying?
The Vispring Duchess provides good initial support, but be aware that it may lose height over time, which could impact its overall support. It’s a one-sided pillowtop mattress and we generally advise understanding the long-term implications of this design before making a decision. Ultimately, the choice rests with the consumer.
| Winstons No2 | Vispring Duchess | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £7999.99 (Non Sale Price King Size) | £9235 (Non Sale Price King Size) |
| Filling Composition | English Lambswool, Cashmere, British Fleece Wool & Cotton, Hand Teased Silk, Hand Teased Alpaca Wool, Hand Teased Shropshire Wool, Hand Teased Long Loose Curled Horsetail, British Highland Wool & Organic Flax, English Lambswool, Hand Teased Silk, Hand Teased Shropshire Wool, Hand Teased Alpaca Wool, Hand Teased Long Loose Curled Horsetail & British Highland Wool | Shetland Wool, Airstream Memory Wool, Cocolok, British Wool & British Cotton |
| Filling Total GSM | 14350 | Not Disclosed (Approx 2800 - 4000) |
| Hand Side Stitching Rows | 7 | 4 |
| Spring Count | 3000 Calico Pocket Springs | 2812 Calico Pocket Springs & 2 Micro Spring Layers |
| Layers | 29 | 9 Approx |
| Thickness | 51cm | 38cm |
| Natural Fibre | 100% Natural | Not 100% Natural as Airstream Memory Wool is Used |
| Handcrafting Heritage | 95 Years+ | 100 Yers+ |
| Trial | 100 Nights | Ask Retailer |
| Guarantee | 30 Years | 20 Years |
The Winstons No2 mattress emerges as the premier choice for those seeking an alternative to the Vispring Duchess. It’s not just an alternative; it’s the world’s most high-spec and luxurious mattress, offering unparalleled comfort and support.
Composition and Comfort
The Winstons No2 mattress boasts a medium-soft feel in its upholstery layers, featuring a substantial 113kg of fibres. This is divided into 71kg in the core mattress and 42kg in the plush topper. The total weight of the No2 mattress is an impressive 141kg, with the topper and mattress weighing 42kg and 99kg, respectively. This design ensures a perfect balance of firm support from the core and a luxurious, soft surface from the topper, catering to those who prefer a medium or plush feel.
The Ideal Feel for Every Sleeper
What sets the Winstons No2 apart is its progressive feel, making it suitable for all types of sleepers, whether you sleep on your side, front, back, or have specific needs like back or joint pain. This mattress is designed to provide the utmost comfort and support, adjusting to your body’s unique requirements.
Why Choose the Winstons No2?
The Winstons No2 is in a league of its own, outclassing alternatives like the Vispring Duchess with its superior specifications and luxurious comfort. It’s an excellent choice for anyone seeking the best in both medium and plush feel mattresses.
Have you wondered why Winstons mattresses are more affordable, yet offer superior quality compared to other brands like Vispring? The secret lies in our pricing strategy. We avoid the substantial mark-ups that are common with brands like Vispring. Our focus is on delivering exceptional quality without inflated prices.
At Winstons, we confidently assure our customers that our mattresses are not just better but are crafted to a significantly higher specification. We use top-tier springs, the finest fibres and high-quality fabric ticking, all contributing to a luxurious sleeping experience. Our mattresses have a higher GSM (grams per square meter) of fibres, a key indicator of quality and comfort, yet are priced more competitively.
We encourage you to compare widely. You’ll find that, despite our lower prices, Winstons beds offer unmatched luxury. Remember, a higher price doesn’t always equate to better quality – it often just means a higher profit margin for the seller.
Airflow Memory Wool is actually a blend of wool and recycled PET plastics. PET plastics, commonly used in bottles and packaging, add a unique ‘memory rebound’ quality to the wool. PET, or Polyethylene Terephthalate, is a type of plastic widely recognised for its role in the packaging industry, especially in making plastic bottles and containers for food and beverages. It’s a member of the polyester family, derived primarily from oil and natural gas.
PET plastics are formed through a chemical reaction known as polymerisation, which occurs between ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. This process creates a long-chain polymer, a large molecule comprising repeating units of PET. The resulting material is lightweight, strong and transparent, making it an excellent choice for packaging due to its ability to preserve the freshness and flavour of foods and beverages.
One of PET’s significant advantages is its recyclability. It can be broken down and reformed into various products, including fibres for clothing, new food containers and even materials used in the bedding industry, such as in Vispring’s Airflow Memory Wool. This combination creates a high loft and reduces sagging, a common issue with pillowtop mattresses that can’t be flipped over.
Vispring pillowtop mattresses undoubtedly offer quality and comfort, but they come with significant caveats. Firstly, their pricing is a major consideration – they are notably expensive. This high cost, for many, may not equate to proportional value, especially when there are comparable or superior alternatives available at more reasonable prices.
A critical aspect to consider is their one-sided construction. This design choice is fundamentally flawed for a product intended for long-term use. With a one-sided mattress, you lose the ability to flip and evenly distribute wear, which is crucial for prolonging mattress life and maintaining consistent support and comfort. Over time, this limitation can lead to quicker degradation and sagging, particularly in pillowtop mattresses known for their soft upper layers.
Thus, while Vispring pillowtop mattresses are commendable for their immediate comfort and material quality, the steep price and the one-sided construction significantly impact their overall value and longevity. For consumers seeking long-lasting luxury and value for money, exploring alternatives might prove more beneficial.
For those seeking a more durable, luxurious and cost-effective alternative to Vispring’s pillowtop mattresses, Winstons two-sided pillowtop options present an excellent choice. Winstons mattresses not only surpass in terms of durability due to their two-sided design, allowing for regular flipping and even wear, but they also excel in luxury and overall specification.
The two-sided construction of Winstons mattresses means they maintain their shape and support for a much longer period, offering you enduring comfort and value for money. Coupled with their higher specifications and more attractive pricing, Winstons mattresses stand out as a superior choice for anyone seeking a blend of luxury, durability and affordability.
For those interested in further exploring Vispring’s offerings and comparing them, we have a range of comprehensive guides available. These include our Vispring Mattress Reviews Guide, Vispring Bedstead Mattress Guide, Vispring Devonshire Guide, Vispring Herald Superb Guide and Vispring Elite Guide. Each guide provides detailed insights, allowing you to make an informed decision tailored to your comfort and budget needs.
Published: 3rd December 2023 (Updated: 3rd December 2023) |
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