Why our sleep experts loved it
The Ortho Dream Star Mattress has proven to be one of the more popular mattresses that we have had users look for in recent months, so much so that as of this moment, it's the most popular mattress searched for within this site.
I've been looking forward to getting my hands on this one because it crops up so often in searches, and I finally had a proper look and feel of it in person. First impressions? It’s very much an “ortho” style mattress in the way it presents itself - flat, firm, and no messing about.
To start, the price point, with an incredibly low price for what you get it is clear to be a defining point of why people are purchasing this in demand. Then there's the brand, Silentnight, who are probably the most well known mattress manufacturer in the UK. Combine with that a series of great specifications we are about to cover and it is easy to see why people love it.
That said, the price does show in a couple of places. You’re not getting that plush, hotel-style “sink in” comfort, and if you’re expecting loads of fancy layers for the money, this isn’t that kind of mattress.
Starting with the support layer, that's the layer that typically contains the springs and is found at the base of the mattress. This layer features Miracoil springs in an extra firm support. Miracoil springs have picked up some favourable reviews recently, they are a cheap and effective spring that conforms to your body, helping to relieve pressure on key areas of the body.
When I pressed down across the surface with my hands, you can feel that Miracoil unit pushing back in a very uniform way - it’s supportive, but it doesn’t have that “individual spring response” you get from pocket springs. Sitting right on the edge, it held me up better than some budget open-coil style mattresses, but you do still get a bit of roll-off feeling if you perch right on the side for too long.
If you’re a light side sleeper (say under about 70kg), that extra firm tension can feel a bit unforgiving around the shoulder and hip. It’s the sort of mattress that can be brilliant for back sleepers who want a flatter, firmer feel, but it won’t suit everyone.
Onto the comfort layer and you get a covering of thick and soft supportive fillings that help give additional comfort and separate your body from the support layer and it's springs.
Lying on it on my back, I felt nicely “on top” of the mattress rather than in it, and my hips stayed level which is what you want from something this firm. On my side though, I personally wanted a touch more give - it’s not painful, it’s just not that cosy, pressure-relieving hug some people are after.
The fillings in this product are known as Eco Comfort Fibres, and are not only sustainably sourced from plastic bottles, they are also 100% recyclable meaning you are able to enjoy eco-friendly comfort that will protect the planet too.
I like the idea behind the Eco Comfort Fibres, but don’t buy it thinking it’ll feel like memory foam - it’s more of a traditional fibre feel. Also, if you sleep hot, fibres like this can be fine, but the overall “firm and flat” build doesn’t have loads of airflow tricks going on, so it’s not automatically a cool-sleeper either.
This mattress has been named the Ortho Dream Star due to its firm nature and it going to be suitable for those that are looking for a firm and supportive product.
For me personally, it sits in the good bracket if you want proper firmness on a budget and you’re mainly a back sleeper (or you just like that old-school ortho feel). If you’re after softer pressure relief, or you share a bed with someone who tosses and turns a lot, I’d be looking at a pocket sprung alternative because Miracoil won’t isolate movement in the same way.
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References (2)
Silentnight — “Mattress Support Systems Guide: Open Coil, Miracoil, Mirapocket” — describes that Miracoil is a continuous spring system knitted into interwoven springs (head-to-toe) to reduce “roll together”.
https://www.silentnight.co.uk/guides/mattress-support-systems-guide Silentnight. “Open Coil vs Pocket Spring - Mattress Support Systems Guide.” Silentnight, 2024.
https://www.silentnight.co.uk/guides/mattress-support-systems-guide