Coil mattresses are perhaps the most misunderstood kind of mattress in the world. They are commonly associated with the older (and more uncomfortable) technology of innersprings. As such, they have a little bit of a tarnished reputation and are seen as a “worse alternative” to foam-based products.
However, this is simply not the case. Coiled mattresses are entirely different beasts compared to their old school innerspring cousins. Modern coil technology has progressed massively over the past decade or so, and these days they can provide comparable comfort to pure foam-based products.
Today we are going to take an in-depth look into the world of coiled mattresses, explain what they are, how they are different from innersprings, and provide you with 7 products we highly recommend you consider.
Let’s get started.
What Makes Up A Coil Mattress?
The first thing we need to clear up here is the difference between an innerspring mattress and a coiled mattress. They both use metal springs/coils, but the way they use them is totally different.
Innerspring mattresses have multiple coils that are all joined together in one way or another. They are connected by a series of wires to their neighboring coils. The outermost coils are connected to a thick metal frame, essentially creating one big connected piece. This means that pressure is spread out over the mattress and coils can be compressed even if there is no weight being directly applied to them.
You’ll get no prizes for knowing that coiled mattresses also use coils in their design. The main difference is that they are not interconnected with one another. This allows each coil to individually compress directly proportional to weight that is being applied to it. What this means is that coils that have no pressure applied to them (but are adjacent to coils that are compressed) will remain completely uncompressed. This creates a reasonably similar contouring effect as memory foam, it’s just less direct and precise.
On top of the coiled section, you’ll usually find a thick layer of felt or a similar material. This is used to insulate the sleeper from the feeling of the coils themselves.
The vast majority of coiled mattresses (but not all) will have a section on top of the coiled part for additional comfort. This section can be made from everything and anything the mattress world has to offer including memory foam, comfort foam, wool, polyester, latex etc.
The whole mattress is then wrapped in a containing layer of fabric to protect the materials and sometimes add a little extra softness with a pillow top style topping.
Pros And Cons To Picking A Coiled Mattress
Pros:
They’re Affordable – Coiled mattresses are one of the most affordable kinds of mattress on the market. Coil technology is reasonably advanced and mass production is easy which keeps costs low. Material costs (usually steel) are also lower compared to products like memory foam and latex.
They’re Supportive – As we just explained the individual coils in a coil mattress contour to your body in a similar (but different) fashion to memory foam. This is incredibly supportive which is essential for good spinal health, regardless of your sleeping position.
They’re Cool – Coil mattresses are exceptionally good at dissipating heat as there is usually quite a lot of air in the coiled section. This means that they can provide excellent ventilation throughout the night ensuring a cool night’s sleep.
They’re Durable – Coiled mattresses are super durable compared to their foam counterparts. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that tempered steel is stronger than memory foam or latex. However, this is not always as big of a benefit as it may seem, because any comfort layers on top of the coils will usually degrade and require replacement before the coils give up.
They’re Great For Two People – Because the individual coils inside the mattress will only compress if they have direct pressure applied to them they are great for sleeping partners who are different weights. Traditionally an innerspring mattress will compress more on one side under the weight of a heavier person (which results in the sleepers rolling into the middle during the night). Coiled mattresses do not have this problem.
Cons:
They’re Not The Best – The only real issue with coil mattresses is that they are not the most comfortable kind of mattress on the market. Don’t get us wrong, coiled mattresses can (and do) provide you with an excellent night’s sleep. They are the most commonly sold kind of mattress in the world for a very good reason. But if you’re looking for the most comfort money can buy, then an advanced foam hybrid product (without coils) will be better.
What To Look For In A Good Coil Mattress
According to the manufacturers, coiled mattresses have a wide range of different features that you should be looking out for. Each brand will tell you that their product is revolutionary and everything else their competitors say is nonsense. In reality, there’s not much to coil mattresses, the technology is pretty basic. This is what you should be paying attention to:
Coil Thickness
The gauge of the coil will determine how soft or firm your mattress is. Thicker coils require more pressure to compress and as such, they will produce a firmer sleeping surface (and visa versa). Aim to get a product that has coils between 12 and 16 gauge, anything outside of this range is usually a little too soft (or too hard).
Individually Wrapped
All coil mattresses should be individually wrapped if they are not – then they are almost certainly an innerspring mattress in disguise. Check any product you are considering mentions that its coils are individually wrapped before purchasing.
Coil Count
Like innerspring mattresses the coil count in a coiled mattress makes quite a bit of difference. The more coils it has, the more it will be able to contour to your body (which makes it more supportive). There’s no rule of thumb here, just remember that the more coils a product has, the better it is.
Hybrid Top Sections
One of the things that have revived the reputation of the coiled mattress slightly is the inclusion of hybrid top sections that add comfort. You can get the feeling of latex or memory foam from a thin layer of material (without the huge cost of buying an entire mattress made from the stuff). A good rule of thumb here is the thicker the top section, the better the mattress is.
Overall Best Coil Mattress – Perfect Cloud Perfect Cloud Hybrid 11-Inch Mattress
Without a doubt, this product from the widely respected brand Perfect Cloud is one of the best-coiled mattresses on the market right now.
The 390 individually wrapped 16 gauge tempered steel coils are encased in a 1-inch thick layer of high-density poly support foam to totally insulate them from the sleeper.
On top of the coiled section you’ll find a generous 2.5 inch thick layer of open cell ventilated memory foam. This advanced memory foam represents the cutting edge of technology and helps combat the overheating issues that are traditionally associated with the material.
Most mattresses would stop at that (and it would still be considered a luxury product), but this mattress goes one layer further…
The uppermost layer is a section of 1.5-inch thick cooling gel infused memory foam. This works hand in hand with the open cell memory foam layer beneath to create one of the coolest nights sleep possible on a memory foam product.
To top it all off (literally) the entire mattress is surrounded by a removable close-knit textile stretch cover to provide a little bit of softness (with machine washable convenience).
Combine all this with the fact that it’s made in the USA and it has a 20-year warranty, and it’s easy to see why it’s our overall top pick.
The only downside to this product is that it’s one of the most expensive on this list. However, you’re going to be using this product for 8 hours a day (every day) for the next 10 years or more.
Sometimes it makes sense to pay a little bit more for something you’re going to get so much use out of.
Pros and Cons
- Pro – 390 Individually wrapped coils
- Pro – Cooling gel memory foam
- Pro – Open cell memory foam
- Pro – 20 Year warranty
- Pro – Made in the USA
- Pro – Excellent brand
- Con – Could be a little cheaper
6 Other Coil Mattresses We Recommend
Olee Sleep 10 in Milk way Tight Top Spring Mattress
This is a great product from a great brand that hits the mid-range sweet spot perfectly. It’s got a 7.5-inch layer of individually wrapped coils that are of exceptional quality. The top section contains several thin layers of memory foam that combined are 2.5 inches thick. It’s a reasonably firm mattress (but not too firm) and comes with a long warranty and many positive anecdotal reviews.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – 10 Inches thick
- Pro – Individually wrapped coils
- Pro – 2.5 inches of memory foam
- Pro – Long warranty
- Con – Memory foam isn’t cooling gel or open cell
Best Price Mattress 10″ Independent Operating Coil Euro Top Spring Mattress
This 10-inch thick mattress from Best Price is one of the best value for money products on the market right now. It has numerous 7 inch, 12 gauge tempered steel individually wrapped coils that are of exceptional quality.
There’s no memory foam in this mattress (which is great news for hot sleepers). Instead, you’ll find a top section that contains 1 inch of comfort foam, 1 inch of premium comfort foam, and a bottom layer of 0.5 inches of high-density foam for impressive support and unbeatable comfort.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – Well priced
- Pro – Stays cool throughout the night
- Pro – Individually wrapped coils
- Pro – Great brand
- Pro – 2.5 Inches of foam
- Con – No memory foam
Signature Sleep Contour 8 Inch Independently Encased Coil Mattress
This product is on the cheaper side of the spectrum yet manages to retain several qualities that make it a product that can compete with the mid-range mattresses on the market. The coiled section is made up from reasonably standard (but still quality) 7 inch 15 gauge coils.
On each side of the coiled section is a 1.6-inch layer of high-density foam for comfort. This makes the sleeping surface reasonably firm, but if you like that kind of thing, it’s a great product.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – Reasonably priced
- Pro – Individually wrapped coils
- Pro – Big brand
- Pro – Good warranty
- Con – Quite firm
Zinus Sleep Master Ultima Comfort 12 Inch Euro Box Top Spring Mattress
Zinus is a brand we recommend quite often in our mattress reviews. They are known for providing excellent quality and performance at a very reasonable price. This mattress is no exception and will provide ample support with its multiple “iCoil” individually wrapped pocketed coils. The top section contains an ample 1.5-inch layer of comfort foam which rests on a 0.75-inch thick layer of high-density foam to isolate the sleeper from feeling the coiled section and provide impeccable comfort.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – 12 Inches thick
- Pro – 2.25 inches of foam
- Pro – Brilliant Brand
- Con – No memory foam
Swiss Ortho Sleep, 12″ Inch
This is the only product on this list that doesn’t contain a top section of foam for comfort. Instead, it relies upon the impeccable quality of its many springs to provide all the support required for a great night’s sleep. This isn’t a product that’s personally to our taste (its very firm), but it’s one of the best thermal regulator mattresses in the world. If you live in a hot area (or get very hot throughout the night), then this is a product you should seriously consider, despite the lack of foam.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – Orthopaedic mattress
- Pro – Stays very cool
- Pro – Swiss made
- Con – Extremely firm
Home Life Euro Top Harmony Sleep 8-Inch Pocket Spring Luxury Mattress
The final product on our list is also the cheapest product. However, despite this, it’s still an exceptional mattress that provides astounding value for money. It contains many individually wrapped 15 gauge pocket coils that provide a medium firm feel overall. The coils are sandwiched on both sides by a 0.5-inch layer of high-density foam and an uppermost layer of 1.5-inch thick comfort foam. It’s a great product, at a great price.
Pros And Cons
- Pro – Exceptional value for money
- Pro – Green foam certified foam
- Pro – 20 Year warranty
- Con – It’s not the most luxurious product in the world
Conclusion
So there you have it, everything you wanted to know about coil mattresses. Any of the products we have mentioned above will do you proud, and they are all more than worthy of your consideration.
However, we do highly recommend you consider our overall best pick, it’s by far the best product on the market right now. It may be the most expensive, but it really is worth every cent. There is a 0% chance you’ll regret deciding to purchase it.
Sweet dreams!
