Why our sleep experts loved it
The Silentnight Comfortable Foam Mattress is one of the brand’s cheapest all-foam models and is built to a very basic and slim design. It is 14cm deep and offers minimal fuss and convenient lightweight comfort, but we don’t think it can hold a candle to the thicker foam mattresses in its portfolio in terms of long term comfort or a premium feel. However, it is a relatively sound choice for a spare bed or short term sleep surface if you like a supportive sleep and are willing to compromise on layers and depth.
Design & First Impressions
Like most foam mattresses, it is rolled and vacuum packed for shipping and setup, so it is very easy to handle, with little to assemble. Once out of the packaging, it springs back to shape within a few hours, but as is common for many foam models, it does have an initial off-putting chemical smell to deal with. This is unavoidable with the vast majority of foam mattresses on the market. The smell is strongest once you first take it out and can linger for several days of airing. The knitted cover is soft and breathable but again the mattress has a cheap feel to it rather than something super premium, which makes sense at this end of the market.
Construction & Materials
The mattress is made up of just one block of foam called Miratex®, a unique foam that Silentnight has developed to offer a contouring, pressure-relieving feel. It is all about supporting you evenly from edge to edge, which aims to reduce roll together and offers an overall stable surface. The one piece of foam will respond gently to heat and weight over time and contour to your body, but again, as a single piece of 14cm of foam, there isn’t a lot of depth for layers or a plush feeling. This will create a very clean feel in terms of the foam, with just a little contouring but nothing over the top.
Comfort & Feel
The mattress feels pretty firm for a medium feel on initial sleeping. It will also feel firm during your first night or two, but this will ease slightly as you sleep in the foam. In terms of comfort, the Miratex® foam is much more resistant to pressure than memory foam. The foam itself does an adequate job of giving back support, but the bed as a whole will feel quite firm to begin with. Lighter bodied people and back sleepers will do just fine, but we think side sleepers are more likely to experience some discomfort as the foam gives little in terms of relief. It will cushion and support an average weight sleeper well, but side sleepers will need more give and deeper cushioning in the shoulders and hips.
Performance & Support
As mentioned, the Silentnight Comfortable Foam does what you expect of a mattress of its kind. It is a foam mattress and hence movement across the surface doesn’t much. Because of its all foam make-up, there is no noise and no movement to speak of during the night, which can be good if you sleep with a light sleeper. Edge support is average as there is quite a bit of compression when you sleep near the side. This shouldn’t be an issue for a single sleeper or a couple with a lighter total weight. However, as this is a relatively flat mattress that we think will feel quite firm to most people, pressure relief is adequate but not great. This mattress lacks different foam layers or density zones so doesn’t quite have the adaptability that you will get from more expensive foam beds.
Temperature Regulation
As with most all-foam beds, temperature regulation is a slight problem with the Silentnight Comfortable Foam Mattress. It does have a knitted cover that is reasonably breathable, so this should at least help a bit with air circulation and circulation, but all-in-all, this is not a mattress for hot sleepers. The foam will retain more heat than hybrid or pocket sprung mattresses. Air does not move around a solid piece of foam as well as other types and this is one of the commonest compromises to deal with with budget foam mattresses. It is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant, which is nice.
Practical Features
There is nothing particularly outstanding or worth dwelling on in terms of the mattress features. It is one sided and so does not require flipping over but should be rotated head to toe every few months to keep it evenly worn. It is very light and so should be easy to handle, even for a single person. There are no springs and internal squeaks or movement to speak of, because of the all foam nature. It is also low maintenance. However, buyers should be warned about the initial smell which can be quite strong and take up to a week to fully disappear.
Everyday Use
In practice, the Silentnight Comfortable Foam Mattress is a bed that works best for occasional or short term use as a spare bed, for a child, or for a lighter side sleeper. It is certainly not a bed that we would like to sleep on for long periods, every night. The shallow profile and slightly firm feel that it gives, makes it an unlikely choice for longer-term or regular use, particularly for someone with joint or shoulder issues. However, for temporary use and for occasional users such as renters or the like, it is durable, stable and low maintenance. The foam is solid and so motion transfer is fairly minimal which will be great for light sleepers or couples that need this.
Who it suits
The Silentnight Comfortable Foam Mattress is a mattress that will suit those who are after a cheap, lightweight, and easy to handle foam mattress for a spare room, a student bedroom, a children’s room or light adult sleep. It is also a very good choice for anyone with allergies, with its hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant coating. It also suits back sleepers, particularly those who like firm contouring and a flat surface.
Who it doesn’t suit
Side sleepers will find it too firm, and anyone who is sensitive to chemical smells should give this mattress a wide berth. The foam does off-gas very strongly and it can take weeks for the smell to go completely. The Comfortable Foam Mattress from Silentnight is not for heavy sleepers or people who plan to use the mattress for an extended period of time, as the thin profile and firm foam is not likely to be all that comfortable. Hot sleepers should also avoid this option, as the all foam make-up does not breathe particularly well.
Verdict
The Silentnight Comfortable Foam Mattress is a very simple, no-frills budget buy. It is a mattress that will offer adequate support, hypoallergenic cover, and a clean surface and is light and easy to manage. However, we do not think it is a bed that will be very comfortable for extended nightly use. If you are after a cheap spare bed or a short term option, the Silentnight Comfortable Foam Mattress will be perfect, but if you are going to be sleeping on it most nights we think you can stretch to a slightly better, thicker mattress and not break the bank too much.
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