Why our sleep experts loved it
I tested the Sleepeezee SmartTemp Pillow Top Mattress in store for about an hour, long enough to get a feel for the general sensation and build quality but not long enough to give a verdict on longer term resilience. The medium firmness and that plush pillow top both felt kind to shoulders when I was on my side, and on paper it is an attractive option, a supposedly exclusive model with cooling technology, 2,500 pocket springs in king size and a Staycool gel pillow top. The caveat is I’m not normally the biggest Sleepeezee fan, in terms of refinement of finish and comfort layers longevity, compared with Hypnos and Relyon at this kind of price point. Nor do I always love pillow tops because they are single sided and the layer above the springs has no counterbalance, so it takes the full brunt of body impressions over time, and unlike a two sided mattress you can’t flip it over to even out the wear. Because of that, this is much more of a considered first impression piece than a longer term durability review.
Construction & materials The Sleepeezee SmartTemp Pillow Top is a 27 cm deep, single sided pocket sprung mattress with a permanently attached pillow top. Inside the core you have a pocket spring unit with 2,500 springs in the king size mattress. This will be a combination of full size pocket springs and smaller mini comfort springs, which theoretically means the deeper springs provide support while the mini ones in the upper layers add extra contouring and take the edge off pressure on shoulders and hips. Then on top of this sits the pillow top itself. This has polyester comfort fibre, a high density support layer and Sleepeezee’s Staycool gel. The gel is intended to provide a slightly cooler feel than conventional visco elastic foams, and to spread pressure more evenly across the surface so you do not feel as if you are sinking heavily into a single spot. Then below everything else is the support base structure, so you still get that spring upward push and bounce rather than a completely all foam, compress into a hole sensation. The cover is a major selling point. Sleepeezee has what Furniture Village call a graphite or graphene infused cool cover which is supposed to move heat away from the body more efficiently than you would get from a standard polyester ticking. The mattress itself is also advertised as hypoallergenic, which usually means the fillings are synthetic and the cover is woven closely enough to resist dust mite build up. It is handmade in the UK and Sleepeezee (via Furniture Village) back it with a Royal Warrant of Appointment, and the retailer adds its own long structural guarantee on top.
Firmness & feel Marketed as a medium comfort level, and in store this description felt about right. I often see mattresses labelled as medium and they feel distinctly firm to me, especially from some of the high street lines, but the SmartTemp Pillow Top was not one of those. Testing on my side, the initial impression was of the pillow top gently cushioning my shoulder and hip without that stabby rebound you get from a more assertive tufted top. There is some give in the top couple of inches so you feel cushioned, then the spring unit below catches and stops you sinking too deeply into the mattress. That combination is what many people are chasing when they say they want medium, and here it is decently executed. Flat on my back, the mattress felt supportive through the lumbar area and the pillow top filled the small of the back rather than leaving a gap. Front sleeping felt okay for a while but if you are a dedicated front sleeper and of a heavier build, you might find the medium tension too soft and suffer some hip dip over the course of the night. Do remember any new mattress will feel a touch firmer in a showroom than it will after a few weeks of use in your home. Based on the in store impression, I would expect this to settle slightly softer, medium for lighter and average weight sleepers, and edging towards medium soft at the surface after a while because of that generous pillow top.
Performance & support Support wise, the 2,500 pocket springs in king size are a good baseline. That many springs is normally a sign of decent responsive zoning and ability to adapt to different body shapes, which is more so when combined with mini comfort springs in the upper layers. During my store test there was a clear difference between the middle and right on the edge of the mattress, which suggests each area is reacting individually rather than the whole surface moving as a single block. For couples, pocket springs are almost always a safer choice than open coil, and the SmartTemp Pillow Top should offer reasonable motion isolation. The pillow top itself acts as a bit of a shock absorber, so you are not going to feel every twist and turn your partner makes. I could still feel some movement when I shifted from side to side in the store, but nothing too disruptive. Edge support is often the weak point when you add a pillow top and this is no exception. Sitting on the extreme edge in the store, the pillow top was compressing quite quickly and there was a suggestion of roll off if I deliberately lay as near to the side as possible. It is not disastrous but if you are regularly sitting on the side of the bed to get dressed, or you sleep right to the side of the bed, it is worth noting. In terms of durability, that is where my reservations about pillow tops generally come in. Over time the thick cushioned top will compress under the areas you sleep on most often. The literature talks about settlement of fillings and body impressions being normal, and that is especially so for single sided pillow tops because you cannot flip it to spread the wear. Rotation and a good mattress protector will help, but if you want a razor sharp surface loft for many years then you might be better with a two sided non pillow top model from a brand like Hypnos or Relyon.
Temperature regulation On paper, the SmartTemp Pillow Top is very much aimed at hotter sleepers. It combines several cooling elements, the Staycool gel within the pillow top, the graphene infused cover which is intended to conduct heat away from the body more efficiently, and a pocket sprung core which allows good airflow through the mattress. In a warm showroom, the surface felt pleasantly neutral rather than stuffy, with no obvious build up of heat during the time I was lying on it. Gel layers do not make a mattress feel actively cold but they can slow the rate at which the surface warms up and help to spread out hot spots under shoulders and hips. The absence of a deep slow response memory foam layer also helps; there is not that hugged and held sensation that can trap heat. Realistically if you are an extremely hot sleeper, this mattress will not replace a cooling mattress topper or a lighter duvet, but it should be cooler than a comparable pocket sprung pillow top with a thick memory foam comfort layer. Paired with a breathable, non rubber backed protector and cotton bedding, most people who run warm at night should find it comfortably temperature neutral.
Practical features It is a no turn mattress so you never have to flip it. Instead you should be rotating it head to foot regularly, especially in the first few months, to allow the fillings to settle more evenly. Far simpler than flipping a deep heavy mattress but it does mean you are always sleeping on the same pillow top, which is precisely why impressions will form over time. At 27 cm deep, it is not as tall as some of the really high profile luxury models, but still has plenty of depth to look substantial on most bed frames. Standard deep fitted sheets should fit without drama. If you are using it on a slatted bed base the guidance is gaps between slats should be no wider than 7.5 cm, otherwise you risk unnecessary dipping and potentially voiding the guarantee. It is available in single, double, king and super king sizes, so has most UK households covered. Delivery is quoted on a longer lead time than some, which is a bit of a pain if you are after a fast replacement but typical for made to order mattresses from larger retailers. On the warranty side, you benefit from Sleepeezee’s heritage and Royal Warrant, as well as the long structural guarantee from the retailer which covers manufacturing faults rather than wear and tear. You are also explicitly advised to use a mattress protector and to air the mattress for several hours on arrival to allow any residual odour to dissipate and the springs to settle.
Who it suits If you are a side sleeper, or a combination sleeper who spends a fair amount of time on your side, then this mattress is a decent fit. The medium feel and generously cushioned pillow top do a nice job of softening the pressure through shoulders and hips while still allowing the spring core to support your spine in broadly neutral line. It will also work for people who tend to sleep warm but do not love the feel of solid memory foam. The mix of pocket springs, breathable synthetic fillings, cooling gel and a graphene infused cover tips this in a fresher, slightly airier direction than all foam designs at similar price points. Couples with differing body shapes and sleep positions should be ok here. The independent pocket springs mean the mattress can adapt to two very different sleepers without one person dominating the feel right across the surface, and medium tension occupies the middle ground which many pairs can compromise on. Finally it is worth a look if you like the idea of a hotel style cloud like comfort layer and do not want the faff of turning a two sided mattress. The SmartTemp Pillow Top gives you that immediate plushness without having to add extra toppers.
Who it does not suit If you are fundamentally not a fan of pillow tops, this mattress is unlikely to change your mind. It does not matter how good the specification is, a thick, non removable top layer will always be more prone to visible body impressions than a double sided mattress which can be flipped and rotated. Back and especially stomach sleepers who want a firmer more disciplined feel may find the SmartTemp Pillow Top a touch too forgiving over time. If you are over average weight and mostly sleep on your front, I would typically steer you towards firmer tension with a shallower comfort layer. Value wise, when you set it in the context of similar sale prices, it sits in the same area as some very solid options from Hypnos, Relyon and other heritage brands which often use more natural fillings and traditional two sided construction. If longer term value and the ability to refresh the sleep surface are more important to you than built in cooling gel, then those alternatives may represent a better investment buy. It is also not ideal if you need a mattress in a hurry. The lead time is relatively long, and there can be extra time added for certain postcodes, so it is not your emergency replacement purchase.
Final verdict The Sleepeezee SmartTemp Pillow Top Mattress is a well specified, comfortable medium feel mattress with a genuinely cushioned surface and a sensible pocket sprung core. The cooling claims feel more than just hype thanks to the Staycool gel and graphene cover, and my in store test suggested it would suit side sleepers and those who run slightly warm at night. Where I hesitate is the combination of fairly premium price point and the inherent compromises of a single sided pillow top design. I am not convinced it offers the same value over the long term as some similarly priced two sided mattresses from brands like Hypnos and Relyon, especially if you are sensitive to body impressions and want a mattress that looks and feels pristine for years to come. If you love the feel of a plush hotel style pillow top, are happy to rotate regularly and accept some settling of the surface as part of the package then the Sleepeezee SmartTemp Pillow Top could be a comfortable, relatively coolish choice that ticks most boxes. If, on the other hand, you prioritise longevity and like to be able to flip your mattress to refresh the surface, I would treat this as one option among many, rather than an automatic frontrunner.
Why you can trust WantMattress
We spend hours testing (and/or researching) every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about
how we test .
