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Relyon vs Emma Mattresses

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Relyon

Relyon is the other Royal Warrant holder in the British mattress market, alongside Sleepeezee, and has been making beds in Wellington, Somerset since 1858. That gives it the longest continuous trading history of any mattress brand in the UK, and the company still operates from the same Somerset site today.

Relyon specialises in traditional pocket sprung mattresses with natural fillings, and the range is built around wool, cashmere, silk and horsehair used in different combinations depending on the model. The brand is sold through bed specialists and department stores rather than online direct, which puts it in a different category to the bed in a box brands but also means the quality control is tied to a factory that has been doing this for over a century and a half.

Read our full Relyon review

Emma

Emma is an immensely popular British manufacturer who specialises in bed in a box mattresses. First clamouring to fame in 2015 but achieving real velocity from 2018 onwards, Emma is one of the last standing in the war on sleep having bested Eve, Casper and Leesa, all of whom had similar marketing objectives and business models. To date, Emma offers 2 mattresses commercially through their own website with store and retailer derived versions for the masses of retailers looking to piggyback the brand's success. The mattresses all feature foam as a staple with some featuring additional springs. Regardless of which version you choose, comfort is almost guaranteed with thousands of satisfied customers to date.

Recently Emma rebranded to become known as Emma Sleep and pivoted their focus toward other items in the bedding sector ranging from bed frames, pillows, duvets and protectors.

Read our full Emma review

Mattress Score

Overall Score:
Relyon: 4.51/5.00
Emma: 4.38/5.00

Price:
Relyon: £119.95 - £1299.00
Emma: £188.49 - £335.49


Based on aggregated reviews and performance scoring, we would recommend Relyon in this face off!


Becky
Compares

Relyon Owner Satisfaction

Relyon scores strongly in owner reviews, averaging around 4.5 to 4.7 out of 5 depending on the model, with the Heritage and Aurora ranges leading the pack. The buyers who rate Relyon highest are the ones who know what they want from a traditional mattress: firm support, natural breathable fillings and the kind of long term value that only comes from a properly built bed.

The most common positive comment is about how the mattress feels the same in year three as it did in month one, which is the best possible advertisement for a mattress brand. On the flip side, Relyon is not the brand to pick if you want that slow sinking memory foam feel, because the range is almost entirely pocket sprung.

Relyon Supportiveness

Relyon's support comes from its pocket spring units, and spring counts in the main ranges start around 1,000 and go up to 2,200 in the higher end models. Above the springs, the natural fillings are layered by hand, tufted into place and finished with a damask cover that lets air move through the mattress rather than trapping body heat.

For back and stomach sleepers, the firmer models give the solid support that helps the lower back stay in line with the shoulders. Side sleepers will want to look at the softer and medium options, which use more generous layers of wool and cashmere on top to cushion the hip and shoulder. Because the mattresses are hand finished, the support is noticeably consistent across the whole surface, with no weak edges or sagging middle.

Relyon Durability

A Relyon mattress is built to last, and the brand has the Royal Warrant and a hundred and sixty year trading history to back that claim up. Hand tufting keeps the natural fillings in place instead of letting them shift over time, which is the single biggest factor in how long a traditional mattress stays comfortable.

Owners regularly report getting a decade or more out of a Relyon before they start thinking about replacement, and the underlying spring units are built to outlast the fillings above them. If you are looking for a mattress that works out cheaper per year than a budget model that needs replacing every four or five, Relyon is one of the few brands in the market that can genuinely deliver on that promise.

Relyon Best Offers

We've managed to find the following top deals from across the web on Relyon mattresses.

Emma Owner Satisfaction

Emma Sleep’s entire business model is focussed toward consumer satisfaction. Key parts of their marketing strategy comes from word of mouth and statistics show that people buy from people. What makes Emma stand out from the crowd is an interesting shift in consumer buying behaviour. Previously, if you bought a mattress and didn’t enjoy it, you were out of luck, not so with the rise of Emma. Now, if you don’t like your mattress you can simply arrange a return and get a full refund within the first 100 days. This shift has proved extremely positive for customers and has increased satisfaction in the lineup.

To date, Emma has amassed an impressive 22,000+ reviews on Trustpilot, a fantastic display given the company's fairly new tenure in the industry.

Emma Supportiveness

Firmness is a very subjective thing which proves a particularly tough nut to crack when you are producing one mattress to suit all people. So much so that Emma has prototyped and tested numerous models previous to going to market in order to get that mix just right. The result? Right now Emma has two mattresses, a medium tension and a medium firm tension. Medium is a great supportive rating as it gives the user enough body contouring and support in the back and neck while giving enough softness and compression to accommodate those who sleep on their side or are of a lower BMI. It really is considered the one-size-fits-all approach and it’s one that suits many who purchase an Emma mattress, just take a look at the thousands of reviews to date.

Emma Durability

With the mid-range price point of Emma products, it’s important for shoppers that the bed lasts for a number of years. Generally we find companies consistently trying to cut costs at the expense of durability. Fortunately Emma already has a unique business model as the mattresses follow the rolled and bed-in-a-box model that allows savings through logistics and delivery meaning Emma can spend more on materials while still finding profit. The result of this means you get a mattress that is affordable and of higher quality than competing brands which, as a result of the quality increase, is more durable and lasts longer as a result. It’s a win for everyone.

Emma Best Offers

We've managed to find the following top deals from across the web on Emma mattresses.

Relyon Most Useful Customer Reviews

5 John Oakley

Many, many, years ago, we purchased a Slumberland mattress and divan from Dreams in Reading and it gave us faultless service throughout. We recently decided to purchase a mattress of similar design, but how things have moved on since our last purchase. We were certainly impressed with our initial purchase from Dreams and that’s why we decided to visit Dreams in Reading again and were greeted by Jenny who was friendly and professional, but not intrusive, (as can be the case in certain sales type situations, experienced in other stores over the years). Jenny understood the situation and was spot on, professionally and friendly and I knew within a few minutes that we were probably going to purchase from her. Once she understood our needs, she explained that Dreams had this in store computer operated bed, which she encouraged us to lay on (after putting a paper sheet on top of the bed, to ensure and maintain cleanliness, (which is so important with the Covid situation) which in a few minutes, gave information as to probably the type of mattress we should be considering as a couple. After further information, we narrowed our decision down to two mattresses and then eventually the one we decided to purchase. We ended up purchasing a Somerton 1200 pocket sprung mattress featuring Dunlopillo latex, which is exclusive to Dreams and which was also an easy, no turn mattress!!! Delivery was quoted as one week and within a two hour window on the said day. It did get delivered on the agreed day i and at the steed arrival time. We were also amazed how professionally the delivery people were and also how helpful they were in keeping us informed as to what time they would arrive etc. Dreams provided a first class service from the moment we walked into the store, right through to the mattress was delivered and the old one removed. Top marks to Dreams and to their staff for a truly pleasant meeting including the delivery team. And now after 3 weeks of using our new mattress, we know we made the right choice. Thank you to Dreams for a very Special and Satisfying Experience.

5 Snoozyface

A bit extreme perhaps but I've waited a full year before posting this review. When we were looking for a mattress, I read lots of reviews from people who were reviewing something they'd only slept on for a couple of days or perhaps weeks and I didn't find these especially helpful. This mattress wasn't our first choice, we'd originally bought a different one that unfortunately turned out to be faulty. As a side note, Dreams were absolutely brilliant over this - after I reported the issues, we had an engineer visit within a couple of days and it was quickly confirmed that our original purchase had been duff. After our initial bad experience, we didn't want to have a straight replacement, so we re-visited our local store (Chester) to have another look at the potential replacements they had on offer. The sales team there were fantastic, we saw the same advisor who'd helped us on our initial visit - we explained the situation so she knew she wasn't going to earn any commission from helping us but she was wonderful, she spent ages with us and really gave us fantastic service - huge thanks to her! So, at last to the point. I wouldn't have considered a soft mattress, if we hadn't been directed to it by the sleep match machine but our initial impression was excellent, the mattress felt sturdy and well made as well as being very comfortable, although not particularly 'soft'. A year on and we are so, so happy with our choice! My husband's back pain has gone, as has my neck and hip pain - I've packed away the knee pillow that I was having to use to reduce the aches I was feeling with our old mattress. After a few weeks, the pillow top did soften up - I'd been a bit nervous about this happening as I didn't really like the idea of a soft mattress but I needn't have worried, every night is like sleeping on a huge, incredibly supportive marshmallow, it's just lovely. I've never slept better and I wholeheartedly recommend the Highbridge.

5 Busy Mum of 2

My previous mattress was well well well over the recommended used by date, I have been saving to buy a new one for a while. So getting it right was so important- this mattress is perfect, I used the in store sleepmatch or “magic bed” as my daughter called it. It matched me to this mattress and it is divine. I needed a mattress on the firmer side and I don’t like a lot of memory foam on the top as it makes me too hot and I can’t sleep. This mattress has a cooling layer and it seems to working like a dream. Best of both now. I’m a single mum and with the help of the 4 handles it’s so easy to rotate all by my myself. The Sale gods were shining on me - as I did managed to get this mattress in the Sale. Pros - Best mattress I have ever slept on. Cons - My kids now want to sleep with me as it’s “soooooo comfortable”. So I best get saving again to buy them their own.

5 Verified Buyer

Used this pillow for just over a week now, previously my neck was very painful and I would wake up through the night with what felt like cramp in neck and lower head, but since I've been using this pillow it's all easing off now, I'm sleeping much better, feel a lot more comfortable and have less pain in my neck which I think will diminish over time. Highly recommend this pillow for anyone who suffers neck and head pain, I know it's expensive but it's better than constantly buying other pillows that don't help, I have quite a collection of different pillows now and this is the one I'll be sticking with for sure!

5 Nigel Shirley

From our first visit to Dreams in Aylesbury the entire process could not have been handled any better by Dreams staff, Sean was excellent, listened to our requirements and steered us in right direction and we are delighted with ourRelyon Mattress, very comfortable, we should have made the purchase earlier for did not realise how our old mattress needed replacing, will not make the same error again. Delivered exactly when promised by caring, careful delivery staff and taken direct to our bedroom and placed in position with old mattress removed, first class service throughout the process. Thank you Dreams

Emma Most Useful Customer Reviews

5 Verified Buyer

After purchase and having a nightmare with a different boxed mattress from a very well-known brand, I was really sceptical about all the positive reviews for this but really wanted to see if they were all the same.
I need not have feared. This is simply brilliant.
Excellent delivery from 2 John Lewis drivers who both wore masks and asked me to keep my lounge door closed. They called to say they were on their way so I had everything ready.
Yes the mattress needed airing for a few hours and what u found was that if you remove the top cover this helps the foam breathe. I washed the cover twice straight after each other and left the mattress overght with the window wide open in the bedroom.
The results were that within a few days the smell had completely gone and nothing was lingering. Yes put your nose to it and you could still smell bits but nothing like the other I had which smelt toxic.
The comfort is fantastic. If you sit on it you sink, especially perched on the edge but once laid flat on it your body is well supported with no bottom sag in the middle that I had from the previous one.
A few months in and I have to say this is the best mattress I have ever had. No dips, easy to change due to handles close to the 4 corners and very light.
The zipped top is great for removing and washing if needed.
John Lewis you have restored my faith in boxed mattresses after a terrible experience with another brand.
Stick with this one and you wont go wrong.
I use 2 firm down pillows with it and due to the softness of the mattress they have eased more giving a medium to firm response. With my previous mattress these pillows were far too hard so you may need to play with some pillows as they will feel different.

5 Verified Buyer

I am soooooo glad that I bought this just before the Black Friday when it came back into stock. This bed is so comfortable! I have never had a memory foam mattress, only a mattress with springs. It sound strange but I cant believe how quiet it is! When my boyfriend moves around, I cant hear or feel anything! The mattress is currently on the floor as my new bed frame has not arrived yet and its still very comfortable. Its not too firm. I would definitely say its medium. I am thinking about getting the firm topper which is free. But will decide once frame arrives. The mattress is a lot lighter than my previous mattress which makes changing the sheet easier. And the delivery service was excellent. I received a text message with my 4 hour time slot. And it arrived exactly at the beginning of the slot. I was running late and the driver called me and waited for me. He even took it up two flights of steep stairs. All the Way to my flat. There is a slight chemical smell. Its been two weeks and sometimes I do get a hint of it under the sheets. But I wouldnt say its terrible or very noticeable. And would probably disappear faster if I aired the mattress out a bit. There are only two downsides for me. Number one, the handles on the side arent very strong. Number two, I never want to get out of bed in the morning, so Im nearly late for work every day!

5 Verified Buyer

We had been waiting to get a new mattress from before lockdown, but wanted to go to the storeroom of a well known manufacturer but hadnt found the time. After some research and reading reviews decided to take a chance on this mattress rather than just keep waiting for said showroom to re-open, and are we glad we did. This mattress is wonderfully comfortable and a fraction of the price we were considering spending on the other mattress. With the price, the option to return if not happy and the 10 year guarantee you really cannot go wrong with this mattress. It is also considerably lighter than the one we were considering - a consideration as you get older, particularly in these strange times when you might only get something delivered to the door. My wife is sensitive to temperature at night and we have slept (or tried to sleep) on mattresses that seem to generate heat, and this was a concern with a mattress that included memory foam, but there has been no issue from that perspective. Others have commented on the smell of the mattress, but having left the mattress to "settle" and air for 24 hours, we didnt find this to be an issue. All in all delighted with this purchase and would recommend to others - so much so that we bought a second for the guest bedroom.

5 Verified Buyer

I was a little dubious at the beginning about this product because of reviews online and had to think before I purchased it but after a week I decided to just buy it as it comes with a sleep trial so its risk free (200 night trial)
The mattress is top quality, was surprised at how easy it is to unpack and get ready on the bed. After about 3-4 hours it was in its full size and ready to sleep. The best thing to do is leave the window opened so room is well ventilated as it has a new sort of smell at the beginning, I would say this lasts about 48 hours but can be longer.
The easiest way to allow this mattress to expand is to remove the top cover and let it breathe (tip that Emma gave me when I emailed them). The first time I used it I felt so weird sleeping on it (in a good way), it was so comfortable! It just goes to show how bad an old mattress is. I find it a little soft for me however you can receive a comfort layer (request these and Emma will send it free of charge) which can improve it and make it firmer and also add 14 days to the trial!
Has it made a difference to my sleep? Yes!
Would I recommend it? Yes!
Would I buy another? Yes!
Do I want to get out of bed in the morning? No

5 Verified Buyer

This is a fantastic mattress and extremely comfortable. Having bought a different out of the box mattress that seems to be on the TV all the time, I was really apprehensive about getting another as the first one was great for the first few months but then sagged in the middle and the springs became faulty. John Lewis were brilliant however and refunded me.
So onto this one - delivery was fantastic as always and contactless as I stayed downstairs.
The mattress is easy to turn around due to the 4 handles - 2 on each side which is a bonus. The quality is outstanding and the top cover is easy to remove and wash.
There was a slight smell for a couple of weeks but I regularly removed the cover to air the foam for a few hours and washed the cover so it smelt of my washing powder. This has now completely gone.
The firmness did take a while to get used to. I had a cheap firm mattress from a famous swedish store so this felt soft but after a few nights sleep, this wasnt an issue. I now sleep soundly.
Really pleased with this and with the 200 day trial and no quibble return - I feel very assured that this could finally be the one for me.
Highly recommended.

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