Composite bed

A composite bed or combination bed is one of the new range of bed constructions that, as its name suggests, combines two or more different mattress making technologies together.

The composite bed came about as a result of the arrival of the new foam materials like visco elastic memory foam and latex foam. Both of these foams offer very different sleeping properties to springs and therefore the idea was to combine the best of each alternative into a single composite bed. The result is a bed that has a spring base with a softer moulding top layer of latex or memory foam. In theory this should produce the perfect orthopedic bed and one that is comfortable for both those who like springs and those who like foam.

How the combination bed works

The reliability, sturdiness and longevity of high quality spring beds like those composed of pocket springs is well proven. These beds have been around for many decades and they have a reliable track record. However, even the best pocket spring bed, with the highest spring count, cannot replicate the way in which a material like memory foam shapes and moulds around the person laying on it.

The solution to this dilemma was to mix and match the best of the tried and tested with the best of the latest technology. The result is a number of beds that are manufactured in two parts.

The first (lower) part is very much like a high quality pocket spring bed, but where the tufting and ticking would be on the top surface there is an extra layer of memory foam, latex foam or even a non viscous gel. This layer is thick enough for the memory foam or latex foam to able to do its body contouring moulding, but thin enough for the sensation and feel of the underlying spring base to be appreciated. The result is the kind of high quality orthopedic bed that will satisfy both a spring bed fan and a foam bed fan, and a level of comfort and support that should be unsurpassable.

Not surprisingly, these spring and foam composite beds are expensive. The good ones combine a high spring count mattress with a 3 inch (75mm) or more layer of high density foam or latex and the end product is a deep and heavy mattress that cannot be flipped over. (i.e. it is a one side up no-turn mattress.)

How good are these spring and foam mattresses?

As with all beds and mattresses, views and opinions are personal and subjective. For my part I have one of these beds and it was certainly very expensive and the materials and technology within it are impressive. To follow an example through, my bed has an 1800 pocket spring count and two top layers, one composed of memory foam and the other of a non viscous gel. The total depth of the mattress is 12 inches with the spring section taking up approximately 8 inches of that depth.

The obvious question is, can I recognise the different materials from which the mattress is made up of simply by lying on it and the answer is no. However, this is not really important. What is important is the way in which the mattress feels and responds and I would certainly say the following.

• Firstly, the mattress does have a certain springiness if you sit on it, however it also has that slow compressing shaping feel of memory foam.


• Secondly, and very typical of memory foam, you are unaware of the movements of your partner when two people are in the bed.
  
• Thirdly, and this is the nature of gel, the mattress sleeps slightly cool which is actually the way that I like it.

Whether or not these multi material mattresses are good value for money is another question, however high spring count beds and multi layer memory foam beds are equally expensive, particularly if they are from a particular brand name or manufacturer.