Why our sleep experts loved it
I tested the Daphne Ortho Traditionally Sprung Mattress for a few weeks, and although it does a few practical things well on paper, it is a mattress that I would not choose for myself. It is a firm, orthopaedic, open coil mattress with a deep 30 cm thickness and a reasonable price, so I can understand the logic behind it if you have a very limited budget and you need something that is as supportive as it is deep.
However, I am not a fan of open coil support units, and I am also not especially taken by simple fibre filled comfort layers either. In this case both those components feel rather dated when you compare them to modern pocket sprung and hybrid alternatives, and that held it back for me during testing.
Construction & Materials The Daphne Ortho mattress is centred around a traditional open coil spring unit made of high tensile steel arranged in a single lattice pattern so that the whole spring pack moves in unison. That sits below a fairly deep layer of soft white polyester fibres, all finished with a soft knitted cover and hand tufting to keep the various fillings in place. The mattress is approximately 30 cm deep, which is a nice substantial depth at this price point, and it is double sided with fibres on both faces, so you can turn it.
There are also reinforced edges for a little extra stability when you sit or lie near the side, plus flag stitched handles to help with turning. It is hypoallergenic, vegan friendly and UK made, which are nice practical touches, but the overall specification is still very much that of a basic, entry level orthopaedic mattress designed to a price.
Firmness & Feel At the outset this is plainly a firm mattress. MattressNextDay themselves list it as a firm mattress, and it feels that way from the very start. There is a little surface softness from the fibre layer, but underneath that you reach the open coil unit fairly quickly. Front and back sleepers who like a very flat, supported feel may actually like that, especially if they are on the heavier side, but I found it a little unyielding around the shoulders and hips.
Because the spring unit is a single connected cage, you also get that classic old fashioned bounce. It is not unpleasant as such, but it does not feel refined, and you are always aware that you are lying on a single sprung sheet rather than thousands of individual pocket springs responding to you.
Performance & Support In terms of raw support, the Daphne Ortho is true to its word. The open coil unit supports the spine in a fairly straight line for back sleepers and gives a reassuring level of firmness for those who are really not keen on any sense of sink. For heavier users it should also feel robust enough and the reinforced edges stop you feeling like you are going to slip off when you get close to the sides.
Where it falls down for me is in the finer details. Precision and comfort. A pocket sprung alternative in a similar firmness would do a better job of contouring to the curves of your body while still keeping everything lined up. In comparison, the support here felt a bit more all or nothing to me and if you are sharing the bed you are also going to feel each other's movement more because the whole spring cage moves together.
Temperature Regulation On the plus side the build is naturally breathable. Open coil units allow air to flow freely through the mattress, and the soft white fibres are intended to promote airflow rather than trap heat. The knitted cover also feels light and breathable. If you run hot at night you are unlikely to overheat on this, but at the same time there is nothing especially advanced or premium in the mix, just straightforward synthetic fibres and a traditional sprung core.
Practical Features The Daphne Ortho is more practical than many of the mattresses I test, which is one of its better points. The 30 cm depth looks and feels substantial on a bed frame, the double sided design means you can flip it to even out wear, and the turning handles make that process more manageable. It is hypoallergenic, vegan friendly, compliant with UK fire regulations, and available from MattressNextDay with a 100 night sleep trial and free next day delivery, plus optional old mattress removal, so it is easy to try with relatively low risk.
However, the underlying spec is still relatively basic: open coil springs plus polyester fibre. It feels workmanlike and honest rather than indulgent or up to date.
Who It Suits In my opinion, the Daphne Ortho Traditionally Sprung Mattress will suit back or front sleepers who actively want a very firm, traditional feel and who are working to a strict budget. If you are used to older style orthopaedic mattresses and you simply want something deep, robust and cool enough, then this offers that with decent edge support and simple maintenance requirements.
It might also work in a guest room or rental where price, firmness and durability are more important than luxurious comfort or motion isolation.
Who It Does not Suit If, like me, you are not keen on open coil systems and prefer the feel of pocket springs or hybrids, then this is not the mattress for you. The fibre filled comfort layer is fairly basic and does not deliver the kind of pressure relief or body hugging comfort that side sleepers, lighter individuals or anyone with sore joints is usually looking for.
I would also generally steer people towards a pocket sprung orthopaedic mattress instead if possible, ideally with more sophisticated comfort layers on top, whether that is higher density foam, latex or better quality fibres. You will pay a little more but the improvement in comfort and motion control is noticeable.
Final Verdict All in all, I would describe the Daphne Ortho Traditionally Sprung Mattress as a fair value, firmly supportive, but ultimately old fashioned option. The depth and price are both reasonable and it will do a job if you simply want something that is as firm as possible and breathable without spending much.
Personally, I do not like open coil support units and I find the fibre comfort layer too simple and dated, so this is not a mattress I would choose for myself or recommend ahead of the many pocket sprung alternatives that are now on the market. There are better balanced, more comfortable mattresses out there for not a huge amount more money and I would put my budget towards one of those instead.
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