Why our sleep experts loved it
The Sleepeezee Memory Sense Ortho Mattress is a firm, pocket sprung and memory foam hybrid bed aimed squarely at people who want a very supportive feel but are nervous about the overheating issues that traditional memory foam can present.
Sold exclusively by Furniture Village, it occupies that mid to upper mid price bracket and the double is currently priced around the £800–£1,000 mark in their current promotions.
I had a chance to try it in store for a short time and my overall reaction was of a well made, fairly robust orthopaedic style mattress with very good support, but a feel that will not be for everyone, particularly if you are a side sleeper or if you like a plush, pillow top style mattress. There are plenty of alternative options for the money, so this is not a no brainer recommendation and more a case of one to consider if the mattress style and specs appeal to you.
Construction and materials This is a 28 cm deep pocket sprung mattress with a graphite infused memory foam comfort layer and an Oxysense fabric cover. Internally there are 800 individually pocketed springs in the king size, which is fairly typical for a firm orthopaedic mattress at this price point. Round the border and under the spring unit is a polyester encapsulated support to help with edge support and stability right out to the sides.
The comfort layer on top is Sleepeezee’s attempt to combat the classic warmth problem of memory foam. Rather than using standard visco foam, they are using a graphite infused memory foam that is designed to draw the heat away from the body. In reality it still does feel like memory foam, with that slow response and contouring, but the idea is that the graphite particles embedded in the foam help conduct heat away from you more efficiently.
Sleepeezee also lean into the Oxysense cover. This is a soft knit fabric that they claim can increase the body’s oxygen levels, reduce muscle fatigue, even help reduce the risk of sleep apnoea. I cannot speak to those more medical claims based on a short trial, but it does feel like a smooth, breathable and well finished cover, which is really the main point day to day.
There is no pillow top and the fillings are relatively lean, so overall the profile is a firmer, more traditional hybrid design rather than a thick cloud of cushions. It is hand made in the UK, hypoallergenic and does not require turning, just rotating. You also get a 20 year structural guarantee, which is a real plus if you like the idea of a long term warranty.
Firmness and feel This is officially a firm mattress and in my opinion that is an accurate description. On my back it felt supportive, my hips stayed up and my spine remained in a good neutral position. The same was true for my front as well, with my midsection well supported and not sinking down.
There is a little contouring from the memory foam layer on top, but you are not really sinking into it, more perched on the surface with a fairly immediate sense of the springs beneath you.
Where it really fell down for me though was side sleeping. As a side sleeper, particularly if you are lighter framed or have sensitive shoulders, firm mattresses like this can feel quite punishing. Lying on my side I felt that sinking, pressing sensation on my shoulder and hip, the foam did soften a little as I stayed in that position, but did not really fully relieve that pressure in the time I had on it. Put simply, firm is firm here, this is not medium in disguise.
If you really like a noticeably firm mattress and you enjoy that sense of support and being well lifted up as opposed to hugged and cradled, then it will likely suit you fine. If you are looking for this memory foam to turn this into some kind of cushioned, fluffy hotel style mattress, it will not. The memory foam layer is fairly modest here, more of a pressure relieving comfort pad on top of an orthopaedic spring unit than a thick, marshmallowy topper.
Performance and support The 800 pocket springs in the king size unit provide a stable, consistent feel with that classic pocket sprung bounce and responsiveness. There is a little bounce if you move, but as the springs are individually housed that is more contained than an open coil unit. If you share a bed you will still sense your partner moving, but it is more a nudge than a big rippling sensation.
In support terms, the Memory Sense Ortho is a classic mattress that you immediately know is beneath you. It lifts you up, particularly around your lumbar region, and you do not get that hammock or sagging feeling at all. This can be a good thing if you tend to get lower back ache on softer mattresses or if you are on the heavier side and need something that will not compress too much under you.
The encapsulated edge to edge support is also decent. Sitting on the side of the bed felt quite secure, with very little collapse right at the border. That is helpful if you like to use the full width of the mattress, or if you tend to sit on the edge to get dressed for example. Compared to cheaper pocket sprung mattresses that lack that encapsulated support, it does feel much more robust around the sides.
From a durability perspective, a firmer spring unit, no pillow top and a relatively lean comfort stack that is designed to go the distance if properly cared for suggest it should. You are advised to regularly rotate the mattress and, if used on a slatted base, to check the slat gaps are not more than 7.5 cm, otherwise you risk dipping and potentially voiding the guarantee.
Temperature regulation Temperature is often the hurdle for memory foam so I paid close attention to it. Personally I tend to prefer gel foam for a cooler feel, but the graphite infused memory foam here did a reasonable job of taking the edge off standard memory foam heat retention. I did not get that immediate, stuffy feeling that some cheaper foam mattresses will give you, although you can still detect you are on a foam topped mattress rather than something ultra cool like latex or a very airy hybrid.
The graphite is there to draw heat away from your body and, when paired with a pocket sprung core that allows air to flow through the mattress, it should sleep cooler than a solid block of standard memory foam. For most people who just run a little warm, I think it will be fine. If you are a very hot sleeper or you have struggled badly with memory foam in the past, you might still find it a touch warm in the height of summer, but it is a step up from basic foam in this regard.
The Oxysense cover is designed to boost oxygen levels and reduce fatigue, but for temperature purposes it feels smooth, breathable and not plasticky or sweaty, which is what matters day to day. I did not detect any clamminess or obvious heat build up in the short time I spent on it in store.
Practical features This is a no turn mattress, so you only need to rotate it head to toe rather than flip it. Given the weight, that is a real practical plus. A double will be around 33 kg, king 36 kg and super king 43 kg, so you will almost certainly need two people to help with rotation, but you are not wrestling with full flips every few weeks. The side handles do make that rotation more manageable.
At 28 cm deep, it will fit under most standard deep fitted sheets, though if you currently have bedding for very shallow mattresses you may need to invest in a deeper sheet. It is suitable for both divan bases and slatted frames, so long as those slat gaps are not wider than 7.5 cm.
The mattress is classed as hypoallergenic and you get the usual advice to air it for a few hours before use to dissipate any manufacturing odour. Delivery times and charges will depend on stock and your area, but as a mattress only item it usually falls into a lower delivery charge band than large furniture.
For me though, the big practical selling point is that 20 year structural guarantee. Many mattresses in this price bracket offer 5 to 10 years, so 20 years is a bold statement. As I always say, that covers structural faults not normal softening and you must follow care instructions, but as an investment it is still reassuring.
Who it suits I would recommend the Sleepeezee Memory Sense Ortho Mattress to:
Back and front sleepers who like it firm. If you actively seek out firm or orthopaedic mattresses and you want your hips and lower back well supported, this ticks the boxes. It feels properly firm rather than on the border of medium firm.
Heavier sleepers who compress softer mattresses. The robust spring unit and firmer tension should also stand up better over time for people who find medium mattresses sag quickly or feel unsupportive.
People who want a firmer mattress with a hint of foam comfort. The graphite memory foam layer adds some contouring and pressure relief without turning the whole mattress into a soft, sink in experience, so you get some cushioning without losing that lifted feel.
Shoppers who value a long guarantee and a known retailer. Hand made in the UK, exclusive to a major retailer and backed by a 20 year structural guarantee, it has a strong story if you want the confidence of a high street retailer plus in store advice and aftercare.
Anyone who tends to get a bit warm on foam, but not excessively so. If you like the feel of memory foam but have found cheaper versions too hot, the graphite infusion and pocket sprung core offer a more temperature conscious alternative without completely abandoning foam.
Who it does not suit On the other hand, I would be cautious about this mattress if:
You are primarily a side sleeper. As a side sleeper, particularly around the shoulder, the firmness quickly became a pressure issue for me. If you are a dedicated side sleeper or you have joint sensitivity, this is likely to be too hard unless you are quite heavy or you add a topper, which rather defeats the point at this price.
You want a plush, hotel style feel. There is no pillow top and the comfort layers are relatively lean. If you are looking for that cushioned, sink in luxury, this will be a bit unforgiving.
You run very hot at night. The graphite memory foam and breathable construction help, but this is still a foam topped mattress. If you are already worried about foam because of overheating, you may be better with a more ventilated hybrid or even a non foam mattress.
Your budget is tight or you want maximum spec for the money. It is at a price point where there are some very competitive mattresses offering higher spring counts or more generous comfort stacks. The guarantee and brand help justify the price, but if you are more spec focused there are plenty of alternatives to look at at a similar budget.
You prefer gel or latex over memory foam. For me, personally, I tend to like the slightly cooler, quicker response of gel foam to graphite infused memory foam. If you already know you are not a fan of that classic memory foam experience, this will not change your mind.
Final verdict The Sleepeezee Memory Sense Ortho Mattress is a solid, support focused mattress for people who know they like a firm, orthopaedic feel and want a little pressure relief without sacrificing that lifted support. The construction is honest and relatively unfussy, the edge support is good, the brand is reputable and the 20 year structural guarantee is a real plus if you are investing in a long term mattress.
For me, after my brief chance to try it in store, it felt like it was perfectly adequate but not especially exciting, mainly because I am more a side sleeper and I prefer a slightly softer, more forgiving surface and a cooler feeling foam. For the money, there are lots of mattresses competing for your attention, some with more lavish comfort layers, or a broader appeal to different sleep positions.
If you are a back or stomach sleeper, or a fan of firmer mattresses who wants a straightforward, dependable, British made hybrid from a big name retailer, the Memory Sense Ortho is well worth a look and a proper in store lie down. If you are lighter, a primarily side sleeper or already question whether firm is really right for you, I would see this as one option among many rather than an obvious choice and I would strongly urge you to try some softer or more balanced hybrids alongside it before making a decision.
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