Why Hybrid Mattresses are all the Rage Right Now

Take a quick peek at any ‘best mattress’ guide and you’ll see that the vast majority of mattresses included in these lists are hybrids. Shoppers are gravitating towards hybrids because of the fantastic combination of support and comfort they offer, alongside a decent lifespan. But is a hybrid the right choice for you? In this guide, we’ll look at what makes up a hybrid, the benefits and drawbacks associated with them, as well as comparing them with other types of mattresses and more to help you make an informed decision.

What is a hybrid mattress?

A hybrid mattress combines foam with springs to give a balanced feel of both comfort and support. Think of a hybrid as an innerspring mattress’ older sibling, taking the basic concepts of coils and padding to upgrade them for the modern sleeper. Hybrid mattresses use pocket springs (and the best will have individually wrapped springs) combined with layers of foam – most commonly memory foam, but you will find some hybrids utilising latex, while cheaper models may only use polyfoam. You’ll also find speciality hybrids as well, with zoned coils to provide differing levels of support where needed and advanced cooling foams to keep sleepers comfortable at night.

Hybrid mattresses come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and foam and coil combinations, but all are developed to offer that perfect blend of comfort and support. This makes them hugely popular with UK shoppers, with hybrid mattresses able to appeal to a wide range of body types and sleeping styles.

Benefits of hybrid mattresses

As you might expect, there are a number of hybrid mattress benefits that make them such an attractive proposition to sleepers.

Balanced comfort and support

The biggest selling point of a hybrid mattress is undoubtedly its ability to offer a perfectly balanced blend of comfort and support. The use of foams such as memory foam and latex allows a hybrid mattress to cushion a sleeper’s pressure points around the shoulders, back, hips and knees. The level of ‘sink-in’ softness will vary here, but even firmer hybrids should offer some contouring. This is combined with the use of pocket springs, which offer support and help to keep the spine aligned in different sleeping positions. This means that hybrids can support a variety of sleeping positions.

Responsive feel and ease of movement

The coil layer in hybrid mattresses is not only designed to provide support. It will also provide a little bounce to a mattress, which makes hybrids a fantastic choice for combination sleepers who want to easily be able to change position through the night.

Strong edge support

Many mattresses with coils are reinforced at the edges for extra support but, even without this, a hybrid mattress will be able to offer firmer edge support thanks to the coil layer. Decent edge support allows sleepers to spread out and use the full width of the bed, which can be particularly important for couples. It also makes it easier to sit on the edge of the bed.

Motion isolation for couples

Although it’s fair to say that most hybrids won’t have as good motion isolation as an all-foam mattress, the use of contouring foams will help to dampen down motion transfer. A little responsiveness is also generally more appealing to couples, making hybrid mattresses a better choice for sex.

Durability and longevity

Hybrid mattresses have longer lifespans than all-foam and innerspring mattresses, provided you’ve chosen a mattress with good-quality foams. The coil layer helps to stop the foam layers from breaking down so quickly and strong, supportive springs will elongate lifespan even further. Expect a hybrid mattress to last 10 years and maybe more if the coils have been combined with long-lasting latex foam.

Temperature regulation

Hybrid mattresses are far cooler than their all-foam counterparts. Memory foam, in particular, is notorious for trapping heat, and the higher contouring effect of an all-foam mattress will also restrict airflow. By adding in a coil layer, you’ll be creating open space in the mattress for air to flow freely and heat to be dissipated away from the body. The addition of specialist foams designed to aid with cooling will also help.

Back pain

Sleepers with back pain benefit from the inclusion of coils in a mattress, providing a surface that keeps the spine aligned, however you’re sleeping. Decent lumbar support is particularly critical for those with back pain, so we’d recommend investing in a hybrid mattress with zoned support to make sure this area is properly supported.

Potential drawbacks of hybrid mattresses

No one is perfect, not even a hybrid mattress! There are a few factors that might make you decide that another kind of mattress might be a better fit for you.

Higher price point

Hybrid mattresses tend to be more expensive than their all-foam counterparts. They will often contain more layers and with the addition of coils helping to give a hybrid a longer lifespan, you should usually expect to pay a little extra for one.

Heavier and harder to move

Hybrid mattresses are going to be heavier, due to the addition of steel coils. Some hybrid mattresses can weigh twice as much as an all-foam version, which means they will be harder to move around. Look for models with handles to help make things easier.

More motion transfer than memory foam

Although the best hybrids won’t suffer with a lot of motion transfer, a memory foam mattress will always have slightly better motion isolation as there’s no bounce from a coil layer to contend with.

Not as deeply contouring as memory foam

Mattress firmness is a very subjective thing – different people will experience the same mattress in different ways. Weight and sleeping position also affect this. But if you’re a fan of the deep ‘hug’ of memory foam, you’ll probably prefer an all-foam mattress.

Should I buy a hybrid mattress?

Hybrid mattresses are a fantastic choice for nearly all types of sleepers, but there are things you should consider before investing in one.

Buy a hybrid mattress if…

• You’re a back or stomach sleeper
• You’re a combination sleeper who wants a responsive surface
• You’re a side sleeper who wants more support
• You’re a heavier sleeper and need a mattress to adequately support your weight
• You want decent edge support so you can use the whole width of the mattress
• You sleep hot, as hybrids have better airflow and temperature regulation
• You suffer from back pain
• You want a great all-rounder

Don’t buy a hybrid mattress if…

• You’re a very lightweight sleeper who needs a softer bed
• You want the ‘hug’ of memory foam
• You share your bed with a very restless sleeper and need the very best motion
  isolation
• You’re a side sleeper who wants a lot of contouring
  

How to choose the best hybrid mattress in the UK

Looking for the best hybrid mattress in the UK? These are the things to consider and look
for.

Consider sleep position

Hybrid mattresses are a particularly good fit for back and stomach sleepers, both of whom need slightly firmer support to ensure that their lumbar region is supported and that spines are kept aligned. Combination sleepers will also thrive on hybrid mattresses, with the coil layer providing enough responsiveness to make it easy to change position. Some side sleepers may find that hybrid mattresses don’t offer quite enough contouring around their pressure points, and this could be particularly true with lighter weight side sleepers. But those of an average or heavier weight who sleep on their sides should find the combination of comfort and support ideal.

Consider firmness

As mentioned above, mattress firmness is subjective and heavily influenced by both a sleeper’s weight and sleeping style. However, it is worth nothing that many hybrid mattresses tend to cover the medium, medium firm and firm spectrum of the firmness range. You will get a few medium soft hybrids but if you’re looking for a very soft mattress, an all-foam mattress may be a better option. As a general rule of thumb, side sleepers get on best with a soft to medium mattress, back sleepers should choose medium firm and stomach sleepers should look for a firm mattress to keep the hips elevated.

Materials and quality

Although hybrid mattresses tend to have a longer lifespan, you do still need to take care to look for one that uses good-quality materials. Steel coils are incredibly durable, but you will want to accompany this with dense memory foam or natural latex. Alternatively, many brands have developed proprietary foams to offer higher quality and better long-lasting support. Cheaper hybrids that only use polyfoam alongside coils are unlikely to offer the same durability.

Cooling features

If you’re a hot sleeper you will immediately feel more comfortable on a hybrid mattress as the coil layer will help to promote airflow and prevent heat from becoming trapped. In addition, look for mattresses such as the Panda range, which uses the naturally cooling qualities of bamboo to help regulate temperature. Natural latex is another good choice thanks to its breathability.

Edge support and construction

Sturdy steel coils do wonders for edge support on a mattress, as well as making the entire construction more durable. As mentioned above, decent edge support allows sleepers to spread out and use the full width of the mattress. 

Delivery, size and trial periods

The best hybrid mattresses will come with a trial period of at least 100 nights, which gives you the chance to trial the mattress and see if it’s the right fit. Also look for a mattress with free delivery to a room of your choosing, as you won’t want to be lugging a heavy hybrid mattress up the stairs on your own. Finally, make sure you can get the size you want – the standard UK sizes are Single, Small Double, Double, King and Super King but you’ll also find some brands offering EU sizes for greater choice and flexibility.

With their fantastic blend of support and comfort, it’s understandable why hybrid mattresses are so popular in the UK. They’re suitable for so many different sleeping styles, as well as offering fantastic temperature regulation, relief from back pain and a responsive surface, amongst many other things. If you’re ready to upgrade your sleep, a hybrid mattress might be your perfect match.