Why our sleep experts loved it
I've tested the Sealy Edendale Backcare Extra Firm, and at a glance it is precisely what it sounds like. A no frills, very firm orthopaedic style bed that is almost laughably targeted at back and stomach sleepers. It ticks the right boxes on spec (Sealy’s PostureTech spring unit, recycled eco fibres and a Belgian damask cover with an anti allergy treatment), and the edge support is better than I expected at the price. It’s the value side where I pause: this is very much an open coil mattress from a brand that has until recently been solidly mid range, now with inflated prices to move further up the chain, and that won’t be for everyone.
Construction & materials Beneath the surface, the Edendale Backcare Extra Firm is built around Sealy’s PostureTech Core Support spring system. It is a fairly traditional open coil unit, but with the coils arranged to offer a progressively firmer response: soft at first contact but offering more pushback as more weight is applied. The aim is to push back more through heavier areas, such as hips and lower back, to keep your spine in a neutral position. It is a simpler and less finely tuned construction than a pocket sprung mattress, but the point is to give deep down support rather than a plush surface.
Sitting on top of the springs is a layer of Sealy’s ReNew fibres, a synthetic filling that is not only more durable but more breathable than solid foam, and is itself made from around three quarters recycled PET plastic. In practice it gives the surface a slightly cushioned hand feel without adding much sink, and it also checks the eco box if you are trying to wean your home interior off virgin plastic as much as possible.
The cover is a Belgian damask, which is a lovely way of saying that it has that woven, slightly textured feel you might get from a more classic mattress. It is treated with ProShield, a skin safe anti allergy treatment that is endorsed by Allergy UK and aims to keep allergens such as dust mites at bay. It is hand tufted, so you can see and feel the tufts across the surface, and that tufting helps to keep the fillings in place while also contributing to the overall firmer feel.
Round the perimeter, Sealy has added its EdgeGuard system. This is essentially a reinforced edge that stiffens up the sides of the mattress. It means the border feels noticeably more solid under your weight when you sit or lie near the edge and helps you use more of the surface area without getting that sliding off sensation. It is one of the nicer touches on this model and definitely a step up from lower end open coil mattresses where the sides collapse after a year or two.
The mattress is 27 cm deep, which is a comfortable fairly standard depth that works with most fitted sheets and bed frames. It is a non turn mattress, so you only need to rotate rather than fully flip it over regularly, and it comes with a 5 year guarantee and is UK made exclusively for Bensons.
Firmness & feel Look, there is no getting away from it: the Edendale Backcare is literally extra firm. Lie down on it and you definitely feel very much on top of the mattress rather than sinking in, and the first impression is of a flat unyielding surface with only a thin layer of cushioning from the fibres under the damask cover.
On my back, I have to say that firmness works quite well for me. My hips do not slump into the mattress and my lower back feels well supported. If you are the sort of person who likes a mattress that feels like a solid platform under you, this will make sense. On my front, the same applies: the extra firm tension stops the midsection dipping, which is exactly what most stomach sleepers need to avoid that waking up with an arched lower back.
On my side, however, it is an entirely different story. There is not a lot of give in the upper layers, and because of that there is obvious pressure through the shoulder and hip. If you are a dedicated side sleeper, and especially if you are on the lighter side, I would expect you to find this uncomfortable after a while. You do not get the level of cushioning depth that most side sleepers now take for granted from modern mattresses.
The feel does soften by a fraction after a bit of use, as the fibres settle and the springs bed in, but because there is no thick foam comfort layer, it does not soften radically with time. If you do not like the extra firm feel in the first few weeks, it is not going to suddenly transform into something plusher with extended use. In that sense, it is important to be honest about your firmness preferences before you sign up.
Performance & support In terms of support, the Edendale Backcare Extra Firm does its job. The PostureTech springs offer more resistance as the pressure increases, so the heavier zones get a bit more pushback and the hand tufting keeps everything feeling tight and under control. On my back, my spine felt well aligned and there was no sense of the hips sagging or the lower back being unsupported.
For stomach sleepers, the same level, firm surface is again positive. A lot of softer mattresses or very deep pillow tops let the pelvis sink in too far, which can be an issue over time. Here the Edendale remains reassuringly flat under the torso, and that will appeal to anyone who has been told to look for an orthopaedic or extra firm mattress to help posture.
Where the construction starts to show its limits is in refinement. An open coil unit like this simply cannot contour to the body in the same precise way that an individually pocketed spring system can. You get a broadly supportive feel across the surface but not that tailored, cradling sensation around the shoulders and hips that a good pocket sprung mattress offers. For some people, especially those who like a no frills feel, that is absolutely fine; for others, and at this price, it might start to feel a bit basic.
Motion transfer is moderate. There is a degree of bounce and movement when your partner shifts position, more than you would get with a good pocket sprung or hybrid mattress, but not the trampoline effect that some very cheap open coil models have. The mattress feels stable, helped by the tufting and the edge reinforcement, but if you are a very light sleeper sharing with a restless partner, that is worth bearing in mind.
The edge support is one of the highlights for me. I could sit on the side of the bed without sliding off and lying all the way up to the edge felt secure. That effectively increases the usable sleeping area, and for couples on a double, that matters more than you might think. It does a good job here.
Temperature regulation With no memory foam and a relatively open construction, the Edendale Backcare Extra Firm runs on the cooler side. The open coil spring unit allows a lot of air to move through the middle of the mattress, and the ReNew fibre layer has a more open, airy structure than solid foam.
The damask cover also helps. Woven damask tends to feel cooler and less clingy than tightly knit, stretchy fabric laid over thick foam layers. Combined with the lack of heat trapping memory foam, that means the Edendale is a sensible pick if you tend to sleep hot or dislike that slightly enveloped cocooning feel that some modern hybrids create.
If you are an especially hot sleeper, you will still need to be selective about your bedding, but in day to day use this mattress is unlikely to be the source of overheating problems. It has the straightforward, breathable feel of a traditional sprung mattress, and that will be reassuring if you are moving away from a hot, foam heavy bed.
Practical features The Edendale Backcare Extra Firm is a non turn mattress, which will be a relief if you have ever tried to flip a super king mattress on your own. You do need to rotate it head to toe every few months to keep wear even, but not having to fully turn it does make life easier, especially in smaller rooms.
At 27 cm deep it is substantial without being tower block tall, so most standard fitted sheets will fit without a fight, and it will not tower over a more modest bed frame. Open coil mattresses tend to be a little lighter than denser pocket sprung or foam models, so manoeuvring it into place is manageable for two people, even in the larger sizes.
From a care perspective, there is no removable, washable cover on this mattress. You will want to invest in a good mattress protector from day one, especially as Bensons ties its comfort guarantee to the use of a protector. The 40 night comfort guarantee means you can exchange the mattress if, after a few nights, the extra firm just does not suit you, although charges do apply. The standard 5 year guarantee gives some longer term peace of mind in case of manufacturing defects.
There is also an eco story. The use of ReNew fibres made from around 76 percent recycled PET plastic does not turn this into a fully sustainable product, but it is a step in the right direction compared to entirely virgin synthetics.
Who it suits Back sleepers who like a very firm bed
Stomach sleepers needing a flat, supportive surface
Heavier sleepers who compress softer mattresses
Hot sleepers and anyone who dislikes memory foam
Allergy conscious shoppers
Who it does not suit Side sleepers and those who want cushioning
Lighter bodies in general
Couples who are extremely motion sensitive
Shoppers expecting pocket spring or hybrid specification at this price
Final verdict The Sealy Edendale Backcare Extra Firm is a no nonsense, traditional feeling orthopaedic that is all about firm support rather than plush comfort. The spec is honest: robust open coil spring unit, recycled fibre fillings, breathable damask cover with an anti allergy treatment, and a well executed edge reinforcement that genuinely improves the usable sleeping area. It stays cool, feels reassuringly solid under back and stomach sleepers, and the 5 year guarantee and 40 night comfort promise add some peace of mind.
What’s harder to get excited about is value. For a brand that has until recently been solidly mid range, the RRP is a reach, and even at the usual promotional prices you are paying a fair amount of money for a mattress that is still based on an open coil core rather than pocket springs. If you are specifically hunting for a very firm, foam free, breathable mattress and you mainly sleep on your back or front, the Edendale Backcare Extra Firm will do that job well, and the edge support is a genuine plus. If, however, you are a side sleeper, lighter in build, or simply expecting something more luxurious for this kind of budget, I would either look at the Firm version of the same line, or at pocket sprung alternatives before committing.
In short, this is a solid extra firm mattress with some thoughtful touches and decent edgeguard, but I am not entirely convinced by Sealy’s new, higher price point here. If you can get it with a strong discount and it matches your sleep style, it is worth considering; at full price, it faces very stiff competition.
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