I have tried a wide selection of Vispring mattresses over the years, from the more accessible Original range through to flagship models layered with Shetland wool and hand teased horsetail. Here is my round up take on the brand for UK buyers considering a Vispring bed, based on hands-on experience as well as the hard facts about how these mattresses are built, how they perform and who they really suit. Vispring is a British manufacturer with a heritage in early pocket spring innovation and a Plymouth based workshop, and in my opinion remains one of the few brands where the base and mattress are designed as a paired system.
Brand Heritage and What That Means for Buyers
Vispring’s history starts with the pocket spring itself. James Marshall devised the first pocket sprung mattress in 1899, the technology was imported to the UK in 1901 and the Vi Spring name registered in 1911, the “VI” a nod to six coils sewn into each pocket. That heritage matters because the brand still builds around individually nested, calico encased springs rather than foam blocks or glued units.
Range Overview: How the Collections Stack Up
Vispring’s line up is easiest to understand in three tiers. The Original collection is your entry to the brand, with British fleece wool, cotton and vanadium steel pocket springs. The Classic and Luxe models increase the spring counts, add dual spring layers, and move into more exotic natural fibres such as horsetail, mohair, silk, cashmere and Shetland wool. Expect noticeably more loft, depth and a plusher, more buoyant surface feel as you move up.
Construction and Materials
Every Vispring mattress I have taken apart or had delivered to my door for inspection has followed a clear recipe: hand nested vanadium steel pocket springs in cotton calico casings, substantial layers of natural fibres that are hand teased and hand tufted, and borders finished with multiple rows of genuine hand side stitching. On the Signatory, for example, you get 2,664 vanadium steel springs in two layers in a king, which gives the mattress its deep, floating support without roll together. On higher models like Magnificence and Sublime Superb you see horsetail for springy resilience, Shetland wool and cashmere for softness, plus mohair and silk for a drier, temperature balanced feel.
Importantly, Vispring treats the mattress ticking with M Pure, a bio based, chemical free fire retardant, and avoids solvent based adhesives in manufacture. That is useful if you are trying to steer clear of added FR chemicals while meeting UK safety regs.
Divan Bases: A Big Part of the Feel
I strongly recommend buying the matched sprung divan where budget allows. Vispring’s bases use solid timber from FSC certified sources and incorporate their own pocket springs, coir and generous British fleece wool, which softens initial impact and helps the whole bed breathe. A standard king base typically contains around 950 hand nested springs. The net effect under the same mattress is a little more give at the shoulder and a touch more pushback at the hips compared with a platform top base.
Firmness and Feel
Vispring offers soft, medium, firm and extra firm tensions across most models, and you can split tensions in larger sizes. On bed, the feel is classic pocket sprung rather than memory foam. There is a buoyant, slightly elevated sensation from the vanadium coils and a dry, breathable top surface from the wool rich comfort layers. The Herald Superb in a medium tension, for instance, reads as medium firm to me in the first week, then relaxes slightly as the natural fibres settle. If you are sensitive at the shoulders, pair your chosen tension with the sprung base to avoid a too firm first impression.
Pressure Relief and Support
Across the range I find contouring is progressive rather than sink in. The calico pockets flex independently, so you get accurate lumbar support without the hammock effect, and the hand side stitching keeps edge stability consistent when you sit or sleep near the border. On dual layer spring builds the second tier noticeably improves mid section support for back and side sleepers over 80 kg.
Temperature Regulation
This is a strong suit. With no foam in the comfort stack and generous use of wool, horsehair and open weave cotton ticking, Vispring beds sleep cooler than most hybrids and noticeably drier overnight. Air vents in the borders and the breathable divan construction help moisture move out rather than being trapped. If you tend to overheat, shortlist models that include horsetail and Shetland wool as they feel the driest in use.
Practical Features and Care
These are traditional, turnable mattresses. You should rotate and flip with the seasons, particularly in the first few months, to even out settlement of the natural fibres. Expect a new mattress to look slightly shy of the base on delivery and then expand with use, which is normal for pocket sprung builds. Handles are robust and properly positioned for turning.
Sustainability Credentials
Vispring’s emphasis on natural fibres and repairable, glue free construction is meaningful from a longevity and end of life perspective. The divans use FSC certified timber and Platinum Certified British fleece wool appears throughout the base specifications from reputable retailers, which aligns with lower impact sourcing and traceability.
Guarantee, Lifespan and Value
Vispring mattresses and divans carry a 30 year guarantee against structural failure and faulty workmanship. That is far longer than the UK norm and reflects the brand’s confidence in its hand built approach. Do register your product within 14 days to activate cover. In my experience, comfort preference, hygiene and body changes will prompt replacement well before 30 years, but it is reassuring insurance for such a considered purchase.
Pricing: What to Budget
Prices vary by size, tension and fabric, and retailers frequently run promotions. As a guide, popular mid range models like the Herald Superb often sit in the low to mid two thousands for a king mattress on offer, while mattresses such as Dartington can be closer to the mid three thousands. Luxe tier pieces like Sublime Superb regularly reach the high four figures and beyond. Always evaluate the set price including the sprung divan if you want the signature Vispring feel.
