Innerspring mattresses have been used by most of us in our childhood or maybe currently too because of its long-time availability. No doubt a large part of our population has shifted to foam mattresses but still many of us prefer the bounce and the cooling properties offered by the innerspring mattresses.
For those of you who are new into the mattress market and searching for a good investment, we will share with you, the tits and bits of all types of mattresses and why are they beneficial for you. You can head on the main page for a detailed account on various types of mattresses. Here, in this article, we will have a detailed discussion on innerspring mattresses focussing on their advantages, reviews, a special section of buyer’s guide with some background information that you should be aware of and the top innerspring mattresses available in the market so that you have some good option to select from.
Contents
So innerspring mattresses are in the market since the 19th century and are widely used by the customers for its high levels of support, comfort and a breathable or you can say a cooling sleeping surface and responsive support. The modern-day innerspring mattresses also allow the natural body movement and limits the motion transfer which is excellent for people with a sleeping partner. Most innerspring mattresses comprise of two basic but quite important factors – the comfort layers and the support core. The comfort layers are usually made from polyfoam or some models even use thin memory foam layers or latex layers. And the support core as the name suggests contains steel coils.
The name innerspring is directly related to the support core which means comprising of metal springs or coils which are evenly spaced throughout the core to maximise support and ensure proper weight distribution. Generally, coils are moulded from tempered steel, which is regarded as more resilient than non-tempered steel or other metals. The coils at the borders of the mattress are often reinforced with foam, webbing or other sturdy materials for added longevity and performance since the edges of innerspring mattresses are more prone to sagging than the central area.
The deep layers of the innermost layers of the innerspring mattresses are particularly designed for spinal alignment, support, pressure relief and also withstands compression and also prevents the mattress from collapsing. The comfort layers or the top-most layers of the innerspring mattress are constructed from softer and more responsive materials and work in accordance with the supportive core to provide a suitable or comfortable sleeping surface.
Modern-day innerspring mattresses are the ones with independently or individually cased or pocketed coils. But coming to the difference the comfort provided even by traditional coils is no less than of the new coil system. The present-day coils are placed in individual coils and thereby the springs remain protected. With this individual encasing the coils don’t bump into each other which helps maintain the support and stability of the bed thus eliminating motion transfer and creaky noise. The pocket coil system aids in the proper distribution of weight, body-conforming resulting in great pressure point relief and much more relaxed sleep.
#1 Wide Variety
Innerspring mattresses are in use for past many decades and with day to day innovations the mattresses have undergone the changing process many times. The innovators have mastered this process and are well aware of the preferred firmness, support and feel of the mattress. The mattresses are manufactured taking all the aspects in mind and cater us with a wide variety of options.
#2 Splendid Bounce
Bounce has been a splendid feature of the innerspring mattress. If you find the in and out movements from your bed difficult, then an innerspring mattress will help you out with this problem due to its high responsive time. An excellent bounce also aids in other fun activities on your bed.
#3 Restrictive Off-Gassing
Innerspring mattresses usually contain less of foam in its construction than memory foam or latex mattresses. So, with limited foam consumption, lower VOC output is expected.
#4 Breathable With Less Heat Retention
It is the foams that are likely to retain heat and sleep hot but innerspring or pocketed coils promotes excellent airflow leading to a cooler and breathable sleeping surface.
#5 The Innerspring Pricing
Innerspring mattresses cater to all budget options but you need to be very careful of extremely inexpensive mattress options because you are generally getting for what you have paid for. So a really inexpensive coil mattress will collapse or sag in a really short time due to low-quality materials and thin-gauge coils. A higher-quality innerspring mattress will comprise of quality materials and steel, thereby assuring you of its long lifespan.
#1 Bonnell Coils
Lower Priced
They are the oldest and the cheapest coil types available compared to other innerspring coils. These coils are moulded from tempered steel in an hourglass shape, Bonnell coils are joined together with spiral-shaped wires known as helicals and are often reinforced with thick, low-gauge wire. This coil arrangement helps them withstand high levels of compression without shifting or collapsing. Mattresses with these coils are generally used in hotels, dorms and nursing homes. They provide very firm support but leads to motion transfer.
#2 Offset Coils
Mid To Higher Priced
These coils are made of tempered steel, shaped like hourglasses and are joined together with helical. The bottom of an offset coil is particularly designed to create a hinging effect when the mattress is compressed. They are more durable and tend to be priced a little higher than Bonnell coils. There are two variations in Offset coils – Double Offset Coils and Free Arm Offset Coils. The double offset coils provide more hinging and support as they are straightened at both the top and the bottom. On the other hand, free arm offset coils are not joined with the neighbouring coils. Both of these coils are considered highly durable making the mattress a long time investment with stability.
#3 Continuous Coils
Lower To Mid-Priced
Continuous coils feature rows of singular long wires that are moulded into circular shapes and joined by helicals on both sides. This arrangement creates a hinging motion that is similar to offset coils and offers stability and resilience but it doesn’t contour the body as other innerspring types. As a result, it makes a mattress that is durable, firm, supportive and has a longer lifespan but a minimal level of spinal support.
#4 Pocket/Marshal/Encased Coils
Higher Priced
These coils are wrapped in a cloth or as you say encased are connected to the neighbouring coils by strands of fabric attached with hot glue without any helicals or wires. Mattresses with pocket coils perform better than any other types of innerspring. They offer body-conforming, eliminates motion transfer, noise and hence is priced higher than the rest. Mattresses with many pocket coils are made of thin, non-tempered steel coils making them have a shorter life span.
#1 Gauges
Just as density and indentation load deflection are considered to measure the firmness of memory foam, in the same manner, gauge reflects the firmness in the innerspring mattress. It basically refers to the thickness of the innerspring coils and wire in the support core. But a general thumb rule here is that the lower the number, the thicker is the gauge and the firmer is the mattress. The number of gauges typically ranges from 8 on the thin side to 12 on the thick side. The lower-gauge coils tend to be more durable and provides great edge support.
#2 Pitch
Pitch in the innerspring mattresses refers to the angle of the coils and wires in relation to the surface of the mattress.
#3 Coil Count
Even the coil count is important aspect in determining the comfort and support of an innerspring mattress. The general rule that is adopted here is that the smaller the coil count, the fewer areas of the body will come into contact. This acts the best for people who suffer from backaches and pains. So, if you too suffer from back pain and looking for an innerspring mattress, then surely look into this aspect as well. However, mattresses with higher coil counts offer enhanced contouring, bounce and uniform firmness. The minimum coil count of different mattress sizes is 300 for Full, 400 for Queen and 480 for King, any lower than this count refers to a decline in the durability of the mattress. A coil count with 1000 correlates with a better contour ability, longer lifespan, and higher cost and also the count differs with the size of the mattress. You can also view mattresses for back pain here.
#4 The Comfort System
So an innerspring mattress like any other mattress comprises of comfort layers, placed just above the coil support core of the above mattress. The comfort layers are usually made of latex, memory foam, polyfoam, cotton, wool, fiberfill or any other fabric. The comfort layers in the innerspring mattress incorporate micro-coils to add responsiveness, support and average pressure point relief while preserving the bounce. The low-cost options available in the innerspring mattress will definitely have thin comfort layers, which will, in turn, affect the overall feel, comfort and support of the mattress.
#5 The Cover Of The Mattress
The cover of an innerspring mattress too affects the overall feel, comfort and performance of the mattress. Some innerspring mattress feature pillow-top that puffs up from the top of the mattress and adds extra softness to the feel of the mattress. The cover also includes some materials such as cotton rayon or wool that enhances the overall softness and breathability of the mattress.
#1 Less Contouring
Innerspring tends to be firmer than other mattresses as it uses less of foams in its construction. As a result, sleepers experience less contouring and pressure relief. So it is not apt if you are looking for mattresses that offer body-conforming and releases stress.
#2 Edge Support
Innersprings generally feature great edge support due to its proper coil arrangement. It makes the mattress less prone to sinkage around the edges where people usually sit.
#3 Nil Heat Retention
As the innerspring are made from steel coils and have less of foams in its construction, it makes the mattress way more breathable and also promotes air circulation and not heat traps.
#4 Responsiveness
So the basic tendency of an innerspring mattress is being bouncy and yes this adds to your bedroom fun and is preferred by many buyers. But there are some downsides like motion transfer and noise that comes with it.
#1 Product Specification Label
The first thing you should check is the product description or specification label to check the physical and product attributes in detail. After having a quick view of this information, look further for the mattress thickness and the sizes available. When you have the perfect size of the mattress, further look into some of the details like the type of coils (pocketed coils) in the mattress, cover, comfort layers, extra foam layers, etc.
#2 Comfort And Durability
The comfort and durability of the mattress can be judged with the high-quality materials and the superior workmanship incorporated in the mattress. The gauge levels and the comfort layers with their types, help in determining the comfort or feel of the mattress. You will have to select the mattress according to your preferences such as as a medium, plush, or firm feel. Even the coil count will affect the amount of pressure relief and body-conforming you will receive. In addition to this, you should also look for mattresses which have a CertiPur-US stamp to ensure there are no harmful chemicals used in the mattress.
#3 Cost
The coil type also in a way determines the cost of an innerspring mattress as we have discussed above. Regardless of this, innerspring mattresses are by and large the cheapest mattress option on the market with some premium models ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 with an average costing of about $1,000. The least an innerspring can cost is $200, but then the quality of the mattress will correspond to this price so you need to make an investment wisely.
#4 Average Lifespan
The lifespan of an innerspring mattress depends on the gauge number and composition. A low-gauge wire is more resilient than the high-gauge wire, in the same way, coils made of tempered steel will have a longer lifespan than those made of non-tempered steel. For this reason, pocketed coils are made of high-gauge, non-tempered steel which has the shortest lifespan of all innerspring types. Continuous coils are made to withstand compression although they are made of medium to the high-gauge wire. Whereas Bonnell and offset coils, both are made of tempered steel that is often low or medium-gauge and is considered the most resilient. But coming to the main point researches show, that the average lifespan of an innerspring mattress is around five to six years.
#5 Warranty
Warranties are really crucial for innerspring mattresses as they cover the issue of sagging which is an important aspect for innerspring mattresses. Manufacturers change the mattress free-of-charge if there are any sagging issues. The warranty length of the mattress is also important. It should run as high as 10-20 years for the safe usage of the mattress.
With the increasing innovations in the mattress industry, it’s really hard to decide which sleeper is best suited for the innerspring mattress. The innovations in this field now cater to almost all types of sleepers but still, the feel of the mattress preferred is a subjective choice.
But going with the very fact that innerspring mattresses are known for very less pressure point relief, they are opted by some buyers only. Innerspring mattresses do provide adequate support and spinal alignment so they are very well suited for back and stomach sleepers and people who weigh above 230 pounds.
But if you have a really good budget, then you should probably go for the new-age highly well constructed innerspring mattresses. These mattresses constructed with new-age technologies generally comprise of comfort layers that add a good amount of pressure point relief and support which also makes the mattress suitable for side sleepers too.
And coming to the last part innerspring mattresses too produce an excellent bounce, which is preferred by many couples but it has some downsides attached to it as well. But some models do come with comfort layers that reduce or at times even eliminates the motion transfer and noise while maintaining enough bounce for sex.
So briefly, you should select an innerspring mattress if you want –
This luxurious innerspring mattress is multilayered, comfortable yet supportive. It comprises of individually wrapped coils that reduce motion transfer and noise. It incorporates foams such as Responsive, egg crates and the quilted top layer cover facilitates responsive support to your body and is ideal for back, side and stomach sleepers.
The coils are padded underneath three comfort layers so that you do not feel the steel pinching your body and they also provide good pressure point relief for a comfortable night’s sleep. The firm feel of the mattress prevents its early sagging and sinking.
This basic innerspring mattress is apt for kids room, bunk beds, and dorms. The mattress is sturdy in its construction and uses Bonnel coils and heavy-duty gauge. The sturdy construction of the mattress enables the mattress to be a durable, supportive and responsive option for buyers who are seeking an affordable and a good option for an excellent sleeping experience.
The mattress also comprises of a quilted cover that enhances the durability and comfort of the mattress. The firm construction of the mattress also aids great edge support. The comfort layers create a buffer and don’t make you feel the coils underneath and also reduces noise and motion transfer.
This is another luxurious mattress which comprises of iCoil pocketed springs, foam and fibre quilted euro-top cover. iCoil technology ensures motion isolation and complete responsive support. It imparts an adequate amount of comfort, support and elimination of noise and motion. The comfort layers and the high-density foam is CertiPur-US certified and aids in pressure points relief, body-conforming and spinal alignment for a comfortable night’s sleep.
The mattress has a firm yet comfortable and a supportive feel. The foam layers prevent the coils to pinch your back. The euro-top offers a plush feel but the innerspring aids a perfect amount of support.
The mattress is specially designed to satisfy your needs of body-conforming, support and spinal alignment. All of this aid your body to have a relaxed night’s sleep. The mattress uses tempered steel coils which are individually encased. These individually encased coils work fairly well in contouring your body shape and thereby relieving pressure points. They also eliminate motion transfer and noise. In addition to these pocketed coils, the mattress also comprises of memory foam layers which add up to the comfort of the mattress and evenly distributes the body weight.
You need not worry about the heat traps, because the memory foam layers are infused with memory foam layers that create a cool sleeping surface. The pocketed coils and the spring base promotes support, motion isolation, stability and most importantly durability.
This innerspring mattress comprises of independently encased coils that provide an equal weight distribution by contouring the curves of your body thereby relieving the pressure points. It also incorporates high-density foam at the top and bottom of the mattress to protect your body from feeling any coils. The mattress has a reversible feature that allows you to flip the sides of your mattress to even out the wear and tear of your mattress. The foam is low in emitting the VOC’s and is also CertiPur-US certified.
The individually encased coils eliminate motion transfer and the noise produced by spring coils. All these features aid you with a relaxed and comfortable night’s sleep, but you’ll surely receive a good amount of support which is quite needed by your body.
This plush innerspring mattress is specially designed for people who prefer a really plush feel for their mattress. The mattress comprises of response Pro HD encased coil system. The advanced coil system helps eliminate motion transfer and noise for your undisturbed sleep. Posturepedic Technology delivers reinforced support to the heaviest part of your body and also evenly distributes the body weight by supporting it. The mattress comprises of layers of comfort ranging from ultra-firm foam, high-quality foam for a supportive feel to gel memory foam. All these layers imparted durability, flexibility and support. It also comes with a cover which is both moisture and allergen preventive.
The Dura-Flex Edge system provides a high-density, flexible coil border to support the edges for improved durability and stability. The mattress is made in the USA and the manufacturing company offers a risk-free 100-night sleep trial and backs the mattress with a 10-year warranty. The mattress also works with adjustable beds base.
No cons yet.
This is a hybrid innerspring mattress (you can also view our detailed article on hybrid mattresses) by Easeland. The mattress is covered with a pillow-top that is infused with bamboo extracts for better breathability and a skin-friendly option. So as the mattress is hybrid, it comprises of gel memory foam and innerspring mattresses. The mattress contains individually encased pocket coils with a thickness of 8.66 for each coil. The pocketed coils provides breathability, balanced support, even distribution of the body weight, motion isolation and spinal alignment.
The memory foam used in the mattress is gel-infused which disperses the body heat which gets trapped in the mattress and creates a comfortable sleeping surface. The mattress is backed with a 10-year warranty.
This mattress is a combination of natural latex and innerspring. The mattress comprises of individually encased coils that help in reducing motion transfer and noise which results in an undisturbed sleep at night. The springs are covered over with thick memory foam that adapts to your body shape and provides conforming comfort and pressure relief. The pocketed springs along with memory foam impart enhanced support to your body. The mattress has the perfect balance between firmness and softness and caters to almost all sleeping positions.
The mattress also includes a cover which absorbs moisture and helps your body breathe The mattress includes a layer of latex above the memory foam that makes you sleep cool with good body conforming abilities. All foam in the mattress is CertiPur-US certified and meets 1633 standards. The manufacturing company offers 30-nights sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
This mattress combines traditional innerspring coils that are individually encased with the new generation gel memory foam. This hybrid technology promotes better airflow, breathability, support, responsiveness, body-conforming and the traditional bounce. The independently encased coils help in better support, reduces motion transfer and noise. The gel-infused memory foam is hypoallergenic and when layered above it, results in enhanced body-conforming, pressure point relief, support and much cooler sleep.
The foam is CertiPur-Us Certified which means it is free from harmful chemicals in its built and has greater performance and durability. The company offers a 100-night sleep trial and backs the mattress with a 10-year warranty.
The Nod Mattress is a Hybrid of Memory foam and Innerspring. The mattress is perfect if you prefer slight bounce and not high response time. It uses layers of T&N Adaptive foam, slow recovery foam so that there is not an instant bounce over your movements, a layer of pocketed springs and a supportive memory foam base. The foams used by the mattress are responsive but are firm in feel so that you do not experience the lack of support.
The pocketed innerspring coils aids in better air circulation – thereby sleeps cooler, elimination of motion transfer and noise, responsive support and an enhanced pressure point relief. The mattress company offers a 100-night sleep trial, 10-year warranty and works well with almost all bed frames.
This high-performance hybrid mattress combines independently encased coils, memory foam and convoluted foam to deliver edge-to-edge support. The mattress has a really strong core that eliminates motion transfer and noise. The pocketed coils aids in an undisturbed sleep with enhanced responsive support and pressure point relief. The comfort layers include memory foam and convoluted foam that allows complete relaxation by conforming to your body, thereby relieving key pressure points and promoting airflow and breathability.
The mattress also includes a cover which is non-washable and removable and is made of 60% of polyester and 40% of rayon so that it aids you with further comfort and breathability. The mattress is also backed by a 10-year warranty.
This Hybrid mattress combines premium foam layers with individually wrapped pocket springs or individually encased coils for edge to edge support, motion isolation and noise elimination. The mattress combines the best features of both the materials thereby featuring a cool top comfort layer with a contouring recovery memory foam and active pocket coil system as the supportive base for enhanced comfort, responsive support, body-conforming to the body and air circulation.
The mattress actively responds and adapts to your body while sleeping and relieves it of any pain or pressure points and promotes breathability for a cooler sleep. It is made in the USA and is backed by a 100-night risk-free sleep trial.
The mattress combines individually encased pocket coils with comfort layers. The innerspring works fairly well in providing responsive support, comfort, and eliminates motion transfer and noise. It also bestows you with pressure point relief and relaxes your back, neck, shoulders and hips for a relaxed and undisturbed sleep. The comfort layers impart a firm to medium-firm feel but with a lot of support to your body. The foam layers provide adequate cushioning, relieve painful pressure points on the body, and serve as protective buffers.
These layers are CertiPur-US certified and low on VOC’s so you should not worry about any harmful chemicals in its constructions. The company also offers a 100-night sleep trial and backs the mattress with a 10-year warranty.
This baby innerspring mattress is specially designed for your toddlers as their crib mattress. It comprises of 162 interlocking innerspring coils which create a firm and strong foundation and imparts balanced support. The mattress has border wires for sturdy edge support. It comprises of high-density of polyester layers for firm and comfortable support. It has a two-sided design which means that one side is specially designed for infants as a newborn mattress for firm support and the other one for toddlers as a crib mattress with additional convoluted foam.
All of these foam layers are CertiPur-US certified and are free from harmful chemicals. The mattress also includes a waterproof cover to protect the mattress from accidents and spills.
This crib innerspring mattress comprises of 231 pocketed coils that deliver balanced support and the firmness level needed by infants. In addition to this, the other side of the mattress which is the toddler side has an additional layer of foam for enhanced comfort.
The mattress is also GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPur-US certified. It also includes edge support for stability and durability and also a waterproof cover.
Answer.
Innerspring mattress performs a little low on the satisfaction level due to its poor durability and stability. They tend to lose their firmness and sag over time. Innerspring also leads to motion transfer and noise. But having said that innerspring mattresses do provide you with enhanced support and the new-age ones provide you with ample comfort and longevity by incorporating good quality foams in it.
Answer.
Innerspring mattresses are made up of the coil support system made up of steel. They come in varying types which adds to the stability and durability of the mattress as we have discussed above. Lastly, the innerspring is covered by padding or upholstery materials, including various foams, fibre and even additional layers of smaller steel springs for added comfort and durability.
Answer.
Innerspring is basically a steel coil support system which aids in added support and breathability. But with due course of time, the foam over the springs or the coils itself begin to wear and cause the mattress to sag. But you can obviously prevent this problem from occurring for a longer period of time by opting for mattresses with individually encased coils.
Answer.
The coil count of an innerspring mattress denotes its durability, stability and the advantages it offers to your body. The higher the coil count the greater will it provide you with enhanced contouring, bounce and uniform firmness. But a mattress with a little low count will help you relieve from backache.
So, these were some of the best innerspring mattresses with their in-depth knowledge and a detailed buyer’s guide for your perfect mattress shopping catering to your requirements of the one with enhanced support, body-conforming, pressure point relief, motion isolation, noise elimination, comfort and of course the traditional bounce. If you found this article helpful, please like and share it and list down your suggestions in the comment section below.