Why our sleep experts loved it
I spent about 30 minutes sleeping on the Dream Team Chippenham Pocket Sprung Mattress in-store. Testing in a double size, I moved between back, side and stomach sleeping positions to try and get a realistic sense of how it would work over a full night. It is a very firm pocket sprung mattress with a 3D-style comfort layer, micro springs and cool-touch style cover on top. It is one of Dreams' more premium Dream Team offerings.
At full price a double is listed at £999, which is right at the top end of the Dream Team range and just about nudges into territory where I would expect to see either more luxurious natural fillings or a significantly higher spec spring unit. For me that pricing is simply too ambitious for what is essentially a relatively shallow, firm pocket sprung mattress with a synthetic comfort layer and some micro springs. It makes more sense when discounted in a sale, but at full RRP I do not think it represents good value.
The short version is that I like how it performs for a very specific type of sleeper, but it is a specialised, unforgiving mattress. The tension is only really suitable for people with orthopaedic-style needs who sleep on their back or stomach. If you sleep on your side, I would avoid it completely.
Construction & Materials The Chippenham is a relatively low profile mattress at around 24 cm deep in a double. That matters, because it tells you straightaway that there is not a huge amount of plush padding on top of the springs. You are getting a tight, compact specification rather than a tall, luxurious pillow top.
On the surface there is a smooth, cool-feeling cover that is designed to help regulate temperature. Under that sits the 3D comfort layer you mentioned, which I have also seen used in a few other Dreams mattresses this year. In practice it behaves like a structured, responsive foam: it is quicker to bounce back than traditional memory foam and has far less of that slow, sinking hug. In this mattress it acts more as a buffer between you and the springs than as a deep comfort layer.
Beneath that comfort layer is the main pocket sprung core, supported by a layer of micro springs. The full height pocket springs do the real work in terms of support and alignment. They move individually, which helps to keep weight distribution even across the mattress. The micro springs are technically there to offer a more refined response and to boost the overall spring count.
In reality I could not clearly feel the micro springs doing anything distinct when I laid on the mattress. They do not add an obvious extra level of comfort or softness. To me they feel more like a way of padding out the specification on paper than a game changing extra layer. Overall, this is a modern, synthetic and spring based build without natural fillings or lavish fibre layers.
Firmness & Feel The Chippenham is described as very firm, and that is exactly how it feels. The surface is flat and unyielding, with only a thin hint of cushioning from the 3D comfort layer. You do not sink in, you simply lie on top and stop. It has a classic orthopaedic feel rather than a plush hotel bed sensation.
On my back, the mattress held my hips up cleanly with no hammock effect. My lower back felt supported and the spine stayed nicely aligned. For back sleepers who actively want a firm, braced feeling under them that is a positive. On my stomach the firmness also worked well, keeping my midsection lifted instead of letting my hips drop and over-arching the lower back.
The moment I rolled onto my side the weaknesses showed. Because the comfort layer is relatively thin and the underlying springs are so firm my shoulder and hip could not sink in far enough. Within minutes I felt sharp pressure on the outside of my shoulder and hip. Over a full night I would expect this to translate into significant aches and possibly pins and needles, especially for lighter or bonier side sleepers. This is why I would strongly advise side sleepers not to buy this mattress.
In general feel the Chippenham is springy and responsive rather than dense or slow moving. The main pocket springs feel solid and recover quickly as you move around. The micro springs, at least in my testing, were not something I could distinctively pick out. The overall character is firm, taut and fairly unforgiving, with only a modest layer of cushioning on top.
Performance & Support Support is the Chippenham’s strongest area provided you sleep on your back or front. When I lay on my back my hips did not sink excessively, my shoulders were held in place and my spine felt well aligned from neck to pelvis. It is the sort of mattress that will appeal to people who have been told to seek out an “orthopaedic” feel and who prefer not to sink into their bed at all.
For stomach sleeping, that same firmness is beneficial. Softer mattresses often allow the stomach area to sink too far, tipping the pelvis forward and over-stressing the lower back. Here, my torso stayed supported on the surface which should help reduce that banana shaped curve you sometimes get on softer beds.
Motion isolation should be reasonable thanks to the individual pocket springs. They tend to absorb movement better than open coil systems so if you share a bed with a restless partner you are less likely to feel every toss and turn. Edge support felt decent for the depth. Sitting at the very edge I did notice some give but lying near the side still felt stable and consistent which is important if you share and use all the available width.
The trade off for that firm support is compromised pressure relief. There simply is not enough softness or depth in the comfort layer to properly cushion sharper joints in side sleeping. Even in back or front positions, if you are very light you may find the surface too unyielding over time.
Temperature Regulation In store, the cover and comfort layer combination did a respectable job of staying cool to the touch. The top fabric feels slightly cooler than a standard knitted cover and because you are not sinking deeply into foam there is less of that wrapped-in-heat feeling you can get from memory foam mattresses.
The pocket spring unit also helps with airflow. Air can circulate through the core of the mattress more easily than it can through a solid foam block so heat and moisture have somewhere to go. The 3D comfort layer used across a few Dreams models this year seems to perform well in this respect, behaving more like a breathable, responsive buffer than a heavy, heat trapping slab of foam.
I would expect the Chippenham to sleep neutral to slightly cool for most people. It is not a miracle cure if your bedroom is very warm but it is a sensible choice if you run hot and have struggled with deep, slow moving memory foam in the past.
Practical Features At around 24 cm deep, the Chippenham is an easy fit on most standard bed frames and divans and it works well with regular depth fitted sheets. It is not one of those huge, towering pillow top monsters that dominates the bed. That makes it practical if you prefer a lower profile look or have mobility issues and do not want to climb up onto a very tall mattress.
The mattress is not especially light but it is not outrageously heavy either. You will still want two people to rotate it, particularly if it is on a solid, heavy frame but it is manageable with a bit of care. As with most non-zipped designs the cover is not removable so a good mattress protector is essential from day one to guard against spills and sweat.
Because of the firm build and use of pocket springs rather than foam only, I would expect the Chippenham to hold its shape reasonably well over time if used on a suitable base and rotated as recommended. The construction feels tidy and purposeful rather than cheap which makes the price issue even more frustrating because the core idea is sound.
Who it suits Back sleepers wanting very firm support
Stomach sleepers who struggle on softer beds
Heavier sleepers who dislike memory foam
Who it does not suit Side sleepers, especially lighter builds
Anyone seeking a plush, cushioned feel
Shoppers on a tight budget or focused on value
People who liked the traditional Dream Team “middle ground”
Final verdict After around 30 minutes of testing in store I came away feeling that the Dream Team Chippenham Pocket Sprung Mattress is a well made but very niche proposition. It is firm, supportive and relatively cool and for the right sleeper type it could do a good job. The 3D comfort layer that Dreams has used in several models this year seems to work well to stop things feeling swampy and to keep the surface responsive.
However the combination of very firm tension, modest comfort depth and premium pricing will exclude a lot of people. Side sleepers are particularly poorly served here and anyone who enjoys a cushioned, hotel style bed is likely to be disappointed. The micro springs add little that you can really feel day to day and seem more about boosting the headline spring count than adding meaningful comfort.
My view is simple, if you are a committed back or stomach sleeper with a clear preference, or clinical need for a very firm mattress and you can pick the Chippenham up at a good sale price it is worth considering. If you sleep on your side, if you like a softer feel or if you are mainly shopping on value there are better balanced options available both within and beyond the Dream Team range.
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