Why our sleep experts loved it
Introduction
I tested the Vispring Elite Mattress in-store here in the UK, spending a good amount of time lying on it in different positions and paying close attention to how the surface and spring unit reacted to real body weight, not just a quick “sit on the edge and guess” sort of try. Vispring as a brand is almost synonymous with traditional British mattress-making done properly: natural fillings, meticulous finishing, and that unmistakable tailored feel you only really get when a mattress has been built by skilled hands rather than pushed out by the thousand. The Elite is pitched as “within reach” for Vispring, and yes, it is more accessible than their higher tiers, but I’m going to be candid: it’s still very expensive for what it is, and I think the value argument is shakier than the marketing suggests. The quality is excellent, but you can get remarkably close comfort and support for less from strong Relyon and Hypnos alternatives.
Design and features
The Elite is a pocket sprung mattress using 1254 vanadium steel, 6-turn pocket springs in king size, each housed in calico pockets. In plain terms, it’s a responsive spring system designed to move with you rather than fight you, and vanadium steel tends to hold its shape well over time. In-store, what stood out to me wasn’t just that it felt supportive, but that it felt “clean” in the way it responds: not bouncy and showy, not dead and flat either, just controlled. It’s also a traditionally finished mattress, with fine quality ticking, hand tufting, and two rows of hand side-stitching. That side-stitching matters because it helps the border hold its structure and gives a more stable sleep surface right out towards the edges, and when you’re paying Vispring money, you absolutely should expect that level of craftsmanship.
Materials-wise, you’re getting coir alongside Platinum certified British fleece wool and cotton. Coir is a firm, springy fibre (often from coconut husk) and it behaves very differently from the plush “sink” people associate with foam. It adds resilience and helps airflow, but it can also make the mattress feel more “proper” and traditional, sometimes even a touch austere depending on the comfort level you choose. The wool and cotton are there for breathability and moisture management, and Vispring are right to lean on that. In-store, the Elite gave that slightly dry, temperature-neutral feel you typically get with natural fillings; it didn’t have that clammy warmth that memory foam can create when you stay in one position for a while.
Practical details are also strong: wool-upholstered borders, air vents, and handles, plus the fact it requires turning. That last point is important. This is not a mattress you set and forget. Vispring are quite clear that you should rotate regularly and turn seasonally. I actually see that as a positive in terms of longevity, but it’s only a positive if you’ll genuinely do it. If you want minimal maintenance, the Elite isn’t the easy option, and at this price you may feel mildly annoyed that you’re committing to a turning routine. Still, in fairness, many high-end traditional mattresses do ask that of you because it’s part of how they perform at their best for years.
Mattress comfort
Comfort on the Elite depends heavily on which tension you choose, because Vispring offer Soft, Medium, Firm, and Extra Firm, and the feel shifts meaningfully between them. The overall character, though, stays consistent: it’s buoyant and supportive rather than enveloping. When I tested it, I could tell immediately that this is not a “hug” mattress; it doesn’t let you melt down into the top. Instead, it holds you up, with a gentle give that comes from the natural fibres and the pocket springs working together. The doming (listed as 21cm depth plus 6cm doming) contributes to that tailored, slightly elevated feel, and it also signals that the mattress has a traditional build designed to settle and bed in over time.
What impressed me most in-store was the balanced, responsive support. When I shifted my weight from back to side and back again, the spring unit reacted quickly without that delayed, suction-like sensation that some foams create. If you like to change positions at night, or you simply don’t want to feel “stuck,” that responsiveness is a genuine advantage. Temperature-wise, the natural wool and cotton do a good job of keeping the surface feeling fresher, and coir contributes to airflow. I would still caution hot sleepers that your duvet and bedding choices matter just as much, but as a mattress foundation, the Elite is clearly designed to avoid heat build-up rather than mask it with a “cooling” cover that only works for the first ten minutes.
Now the sceptical part: the Elite feels luxurious in finish and build, but the leap in comfort compared with some very good British competitors is not as dramatic as the price suggests. In-store, I kept coming back to the same thought: it’s excellent, but it isn’t magic. If you’re expecting an unmistakable “how have I slept on anything else” moment purely because it says Vispring on the label, you may not get it, especially if you’ve already tried premium Hypnos or Relyon models with similar natural comfort layers.
Suitability
If you’re considering the Firm tension specifically, I agree strongly with the view that it will suit back sleepers best, and some stomach sleepers too. In-store, the firmer feel creates a flatter, more supported posture through the lumbar area, which is exactly what many back sleepers need to stop the hips sinking too far and stressing the lower back. For stomach sleepers, a firmer surface can help keep the pelvis from dipping, which otherwise can cause that “banana back” position and morning stiffness.
Where I would be more cautious is side sleeping, particularly for people with pronounced curves or an hourglass figure. Side sleepers typically need a bit more contouring at the shoulder and hip to keep the spine aligned, and a firm traditional build with coir can feel unyielding in those pressure zones. That can lead to numb arms, a sore shoulder, or a restless night where you keep rolling to relieve pressure. Could a side sleeper make it work? Possibly, especially if they choose Soft or Medium, and especially if they prefer a supportive, lifted feel over plush sinkage. But if you already know you like a bit of cushioning and pressure relief, the Elite in Firm is not where I’d steer you.
I also like that split tension is available in King and Super King. For couples, that can be a marriage-saver. It’s one of those features you don’t appreciate until you’ve seen it solve the very common “one of us wants firm, the other wants softer” problem. That said, if motion isolation is your number one priority, pocket springs are generally good, but not always as isolating as dense foams. In-store, the Elite felt controlled, but I’d still describe it as a traditionally springy feel rather than a completely “dead” surface.
What customers thought
Customer feedback on this mattress is strongly positive, and it matches the brand’s reputation. Several reviewers describe immediate comfort from the first night, and that tallies with the Elite’s accessible feel in-store; it doesn’t feel like a mattress you have to “learn.” One customer mentioned buying because they were waking up aching and then sleeping better and getting up without aches after choosing the firm option. That’s exactly the scenario where a supportive, properly tensioned pocket spring mattress can shine, especially if the previous mattress had softened unevenly or lacked lumbar support.
There’s also a telling repeat-purchase comment: someone noted this was their third Vispring and that the previous one lasted over sixteen years. That kind of longevity claim is important context. Vispring owners often aren’t casual buyers; they tend to be people who keep mattresses for the long haul and value craftsmanship. When they say “quality pays you,” they’re basically arguing amortised cost over time, and I don’t disagree with the logic. I just think it only holds if you are genuinely the sort of person who will maintain the mattress properly, turn it as advised, and keep it on a supportive base. A handmade mattress can last, but it won’t perform miracles if it’s neglected or put on an unsuitable frame.
Another reviewer praised the natural materials and pocket springs specifically, which again makes sense. This mattress has a distinctly natural, breathable feel, and for sleepers who hate the sensation of synthetic foam or who run warmer at night, that can be a major quality-of-life upgrade. The repeated theme is comfort, quality materials, and a sense of investment, and in-store I can absolutely see why people respond that way. The product feels serious, like something built to do a job for years rather than impress you for five minutes in a showroom.
The verdict
The Vispring Elite is a beautifully made, traditionally handcrafted British mattress with genuinely high-end finishing, breathable natural fillings, and a spring system that delivers responsive, properly engineered support. In-store, it felt cool, stable, and expertly tailored, with none of the gimmickry you see in trend-led mattresses. If you want that classic pocket-sprung feel with natural fibres, and you value craftsmanship as much as comfort, the Elite delivers.
But I’m not going to pretend the price sits comfortably with me. Even though it’s positioned as a more “reachable” Vispring, it’s still, in my opinion, too expensive for the comfort delta you’re actually getting compared with some excellent Relyon and Hypnos options. You’re paying for the Vispring name, the hand-finishing, the materials provenance, and the long-term ownership story. If those things matter to you, you’ll likely be delighted. If you simply want the best sleep for the least money, I think you can get better value elsewhere and still end up with a mattress you love.
My bottom line based on in-store testing: the Elite is an outstanding traditional mattress, particularly in Firm for dedicated back sleepers, but it’s not a universal crowd-pleaser and it’s not the bargain its positioning implies. Buy it for the craftsmanship and the specific feel, not because you assume it will be automatically superior to every other premium British mattress on the floor.
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