Why our sleep experts loved it
In store I tested the Silentnight SleepResponse Support 1400 Pocket Sprung Mattress for about 20 minutes, flitting between my normal sleep positions and some time just lying flat to see how it felt. It is fair to say that this is very much a first impressions review rather than a proper long term home test. On the shop floor, this bed initially comes across as a fairly no nonsense firm pocket sprung mattress with a thin memory foam comfort layer and a pillow top, all encased in an aloe vera infused cover. Silentnight use a lot of branded language around Mirapocket springs and pressure relieving layers but underneath it is a very simple, proven combination that I actually rate quite highly, assuming you are paying a sensible price.
Construction & Materials Essentially, the basis of this mattress is a Mirapocket spring unit with 1400 pocket springs. To put it simply, this means a system of individual springs, each with their own fabric pocket, working independently to adjust to your weight rather than a single big connected coil. In store, it felt like it gave a stable, even feel, without too much bounce.
Above that, there is a memory foam comfort layer, which Silentnight badge as a pressure relieving layer. It is not an especially deep chunk of foam, but you can feel it activating as soon as you lie down. There is just enough give to take the edge off your initial contact with the mattress and let your shoulders and hips sink in slightly, rather than lying flat on firm springs.
On top of that, there is a stitched pillow top that is finished in a soft knit cover infused with aloe vera. The pillow top gives the surface a touch of plushness as you first get on, but in my opinion it did not feel like a very deep, luxurious topper. It adds a bit of comfort and does a good job of masking the springs, but it does not suddenly turn this into a high end, cloud like mattress. That is also part of why, at its full price of around £999 for a king, it feels a little on the expensive side for what is essentially a basic but sensible spring and foam build.
Firmness & Feel The feel of this mattress on the shop floor was firmly on the firm side of the spectrum. Lying on my back, I felt quite supported rather than sinking in. The foam and pillow top take the harshness away but the underlying character is definitely supportive and quite robust.
As a largely back sleeper, I was actually quite happy on it. My lower back felt well supported, and there was no obvious sagging around the hips, which you can sometimes see with softer or cheaper mattresses. For a firm tension, it also did not feel like lying on a board, more like a solid base with a slim comfort layer smoothing it out.
Lying on my side, I could just about get away with it. My shoulder and hip did ease into the top layers enough that I did not wince or feel immediate discomfort, but I was always aware that this is a firm mattress. In a 20 minute test I was fine, but I would expect lighter side sleepers or people who really spend the whole night on their side to find it a bit unyielding over time. If you are a mostly back sleeper who sometimes rolls onto your side, you are more likely to be OK.
On my front, the firm tension made more sense again. My midsection did not feel like it was bowing into the mattress, and the pillow top stopped it feeling too hard on my chest and knees. If you split your time between back and stomach, the feel here works quite well.
Performance & Support Support wise, in the limited context of a showroom trial, this mattress felt very decent. The Mirapocket springs give a uniform, stable platform and the mattress as a whole did a good job of keeping my spine in what I would consider a neutral position, especially on my back. You feel a clear sense of the springs pushing back against you and keeping you on top of the mattress, rather than letting you sink in deeply.
Sinkage was fine across all positions. You get a little bit of contouring from the memory foam and the pillow top, but you never feel like you disappear into it. If you like to feel well held and not swallowed by the bed, this will suit you more than someone looking for a deep, enveloping hug.
Edge support seemed respectable, given the limited amount I could actually test. Sitting on the edge to put on shoes, there was some give from the pillow top, but I did not feel like I was sliding off. Lying right up against the side, the mattress still felt stable enough to sleep close to the edge without concern.
Motion isolation is hard to judge properly without a partner there and several nights of testing, but based on the construction and some quick practical tests, I would expect this to handle movement quite well. Pocket springs and a layer of foam are usually better at keeping disturbance to a minimum than open coil designs, even if they are not as dead feeling as a full memory foam block.
Temperature Regulation Of course, with only 20 minutes in a showroom, it is impossible to give a conclusive verdict on temperature. I did not notice any immediate heat build up in that short time frame, but that is not a true test of how it will cope at 3am in July.
That said, the design does give a few clues as to how it will perform. You have a pocket sprung core, which is naturally quite airy, combined with a relatively simple memory foam layer and a quilted pillow top. My expectation is that this would feel broadly neutral for most people, perhaps a touch warmer than a mattress that only uses fibres or latex in the comfort layers but not as warm as a very deep all foam mattress. If you know you run very hot or have struggled badly with memory foam in the past, keep that in mind.
Practical Features This is a pillow top mattress, which usually means it is single sided so you rotate it, rather than flipping it over. That suits most people, as trying to flip a full size mattress completely is awkward at the best of times. I would consider it a two person job to move and rotate.
The overall specification, branding and finish sits in that mid to upper mid range bracket. Where it is let down a bit, from a practical value point of view, is not the construction itself but the full ticket price. You are essentially paying a premium for a fairly simple if sensible combination of 1400 pocket springs and a no nonsense memory foam comfort layer, finished with an aloe vera cover and pillow top.
Who it suits From my experience in store, I would say this mattress best suits:
Back sleepers who like a firm, supportive feel with just a hint of softness on the surface. The tension is well suited to keeping the spine aligned and the lower back supported.
Front or mixed back/front sleepers who want to avoid too much midsection sag. The firmer core and relatively modest cushioning up top make this a good fit if you do not like feeling swallowed by your mattress.
People who like simple spring and foam hybrids and are not fussed about lots of complicated layers or natural fillings. If you appreciate a no nonsense design that simply works, this combination has everything you need for a good nights sleep when the price is right.
Who it does not suit On the flip side, I would be cautious if you:
Are a dedicated side sleeper , especially if you are lighter in build. The firm tension may start to feel a little bit unforgiving around the shoulder and hip over a full night, even though it felt bearable during a short test.
Want a very plush, hotel bed feel . The pillow top here adds comfort, but it does not turn the mattress into a sumptuous, marshmallowy surface. It still feels like a firm mattress with a slim comfort layer on top.
Are highly price sensitive . At around £999 for a king, it feels a little on the expensive side for what is, under the marketing speak, a fairly basic Mirapocket spring unit with a simple memory foam layer and an aloe vera cover. If you are counting every pound of value, I would be more comfortable recommending it once a decent sale or promotion brings that price down.
Final verdict From a 20 minute in store test, the Silentnight SleepResponse Support 1400 Pocket Sprung Mattress seems like a solid, no nonsense firm hybrid that gets the basics right. The Mirapocket springs offer good, even support, the memory foam comfort layer and pillow top take the edge off the firmness and the aloe vera cover is a nice cosmetic touch.
Where it falls a little short is on perceived value at full retail. The specification is perfectly sound, and I actually quite like this combination of pocket springs and a simple memory foam layer, but the pillow top and branding do not quite justify a near four figure price in my opinion. If you are mainly a back sleeper, can tolerate a firmer feel, and you spot this in a decent Dreams sale or promotion, then it becomes a much easier mattress to recommend. At full price, I would be inclined to wait for the next offer before buying.
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