Why our sleep experts loved it
Comfort, support and all things British are terms that can certainly be applied to the Rest Assured British Wool 2000 Pocket Softer Mattress. It’s double-sided, has a deep 37.5cm profile and the generous wool layers make it naturally soft and luxurious to lie on. One of the best examples of the traditionalist brand getting it right, it’s a soft mattress with a more medium spring tension inside which provides the best of both worlds for those who want plush comfort in combination with reliable spring support.
Design & First Impressions
Straight off, the British Wool 2000 Softer looks the part. The Belgian damask cover has an attractive feel, while the hand-tufted finish and three rows of side stitching add to the overall sturdy and premium appearance. At 37.5cm deep, it has a luxurious and reassuringly weighty presence — it’s substantial and solid, with a classic British look. The mattress immediately feels inviting and cloud-like on the surface but you also get a sense of substantial support underneath. The deep fillings are encapsulated in a network of pocket springs which should react quickly to your weight and movement to provide targeted support where you need it.
Construction & Materials
Inside, the 2000 pocket springs are individually wrapped in their own fabric compartments. Each spring reacts to your weight independently to give a combination of support and contouring that adapts as you move around on the bed. The spring tension is well-judged for this ‘softer’ version. In truth, it’s around medium when compared to other brands — there’s enough give for your shoulders and hips to be cushioned without it ever feeling unsupportive. The springs are laid out in a zoned pattern, with firmer reinforcement in the areas of the bed which need it, including the back and hip zones. This helps to maintain better alignment of the spine as you sleep.
The top layers above the spring unit are made of three generous thicknesses of pure British wool. This is no half-hearted wool blend, it’s proper thick fleece filling which creates a natural cushioning layer that also works wonders at regulating temperature. Wool is naturally breathable and wicks moisture away from the body, keeping you cool in the summer and cosily warm in the winter. It’s also free of chemicals, using only natural materials to keep things simple and pure. The edges are well reinforced, there’s traditional hand-tufting and, as mentioned, three rows of detailed side-stitching. It all adds up to construction that’s as sturdy and long-lasting as it is simple and elegant.
Comfort & Feel
The Rest Assured British Wool 2000 Pocket Softer Mattress lives up to its name and you immediately get that feeling of luxurious softness as soon as you lie down. In use, it provides precisely the experience it promises — it’s soft, it’s sumptuous and there’s also a grounding underlying firmness that prevents the “sinking in quicksand” experience that some cheaper foam mattresses can be prone to. The springs do their job of providing supportive resistance while the soft wool layers create a natural buoyancy and cushioning that’s gentle on the joints. If you’re a side sleeper this strikes the ideal balance, cradling your shoulders and hips but also supporting your posture and alignment. For those who sleep on their back it provides enough resistance to support good lumbar positioning but it might be considered a touch too soft for those who like their mattresses extra firm. We’d also say it’s more suited to those who prefer a more yielding and cocooning feel.
Performance & Support
The 2000 pocket spring system is a strong point and the fact that it’s double-sided means you can flip the mattress over to use the other side when needed. Flipping also prolongs the usable life of the mattress, evening out wear and tear and distribution of the fillings — something that’s unusual in an era of mostly single-sided mattresses. The edge support is equally impressive, with the hand side-stitching helping to prevent the edges from collapsing in on themselves. This makes it possible to use the whole surface of the mattress, including right up to the sides. On the whole, it also performs well for motion isolation, with the individually-encapsulated springs dampening movement and preventing disturbances from rolling around and waking you. It’s a good choice for couples.
Temperature Regulation
Temperature regulation is one of the strong points of this mattress. The breathable qualities of the natural wool construction mean it’s a great choice for those who tend to overheat when they sleep. When we tested it in warmer weather it stayed consistently cool while in cooler months it stayed pleasantly warm. Side air vents help the mattress breathe, allowing fresh air to circulate and preventing any moisture build-up within the fillings. The combination of the natural wool, double-sided design and other practical features like side stitching, flag-stitched handles and reinforced edges all add up to a mattress with excellent ventilation and temperature control.
Practical Features
The name may sound like a line of superheroes but Rest Assured have chosen their tagline for good reason. There’s a lot of practical, user-friendly and longevity-boosting features on this mattress, just as you’d hope to find on a British-made luxury product. It’s fully turnable, so as well as being able to flip to the other side to spread out the wear and even out the fillings, you can rotate the mattress around. This makes it easier to keep everything nice and even over the life of the mattress. In many ways it’s a major benefit over single-sided designs, although it does mean the mattress is on the heavy side. The flag stitched handles should make it easier to rotate or flip despite the weight, while the reinforced edges also give great stability if you find yourself sitting or sleeping near the edge of the mattress. It’s also 100% chemical-free and made using natural materials — the damask cover is naturally hypoallergenic, making it a great choice for allergy sufferers. Like all Rest Assured mattresses, it’s made in the UK by an NBF-accredited manufacturer to the same high-quality standards.
Everyday Use
The Rest Assured British Wool 2000 Softer feels very much like an investment on a day-to-day basis. The softness is consistent and doesn’t show any sign of deterioration, while even after months of use there is no sign of sagging. Rotating and flipping helps to keep the feel just as lofty as when it was first delivered. Its weight is on the high side but that can actually be a reassuring indicator that the fillings are generous and the construction robust. This is the sort of mattress that doesn’t look cheap, doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not and won’t let you down. It’s solid, traditional and dependable without the need for gimmicks or any unnecessary technology.
Who it suits
The 2000 British Wool Softer Mattress is great for side sleepers and anyone who enjoys a soft, cocooning mattress but doesn’t want to sacrifice any underlying support or spring rebound. It’s also particularly suited to those who prefer natural, traditional materials over the more synthetic mattresses on the market. If you’re a hot sleeper or tend to overheat at night the breathability of this design will make it a winner, while couples will benefit from the good motion isolation and strong edge support. Upgrading from a pocket spring or cheaper foam mattress it’s a world apart in terms of comfort and luxury.
Who it doesn’t suit
On the flip side, those who sleep on their front or prefer their mattresses extra firm might find this model too soft for their needs. It’s not the best choice if you’re after a lightweight, easy-to-handle mattress either as the generous fillings make it heavy. If you have a lower bed base the 37.5cm depth might also be a consideration as you might need deeper fitted sheets or a higher base frame. But these are relatively minor points and most find them more than made up for in comfort and overall build quality.
Verdict
The Rest Assured British Wool 2000 Pocket Softer Mattress is a great example of a traditionally-styled, natural material, thoughtfully engineered and well-made product that delivers proper value. The ‘softer’ moniker is deceptive as it also gives you good support, strong edges and a breathable, temperature-regulating surface that encourages a deep sleep. With its luxurious depth and profile, handcrafted detailing and double-sided construction it also offers excellent value, easily outperforming mattresses from other brands at a similar price point. If you’re after a soft-feel, British-made wool mattress that’s built to last then this Rest Assured product is a well-rounded, confident choice that delivers way more than its price tag might suggest.
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