Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
May 12, 2010 9:25 AM
Joined: Mar 8, 2010
Points: 65
Hi Folks,

 

 

I'm choosing a mattress at Gardner Mattress in Salem, MA...Just can't decide if I should go with an Inner Spring or a Pocket Coil.  Both have 2" of latex on top, 3" felt too soft for me.

The Inner Spring is a very low coil count at 260 with very thick gauge.  Will that lump up?  Other problems?

I worry the pocket coil won't last as long, but at 125 lbs and only me in the bed, maybe I', wrong...maybe it's what's ON TOP that matters (latex).

Both have either no PU or very little PU, and they have a no-charge refund policy (30 day trial if I want to switch out).

I can't afford an all-latex, so I have to choose between these two.  HELP!  Thanks

This message was modified May 19, 2010 by a moderator
Re: Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
Reply #11 May 19, 2010 5:13 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
I really don't think that was ever a common problem with Simmons....but they have actually gone down hill now that they are using polyester fabric shells just like everyone else.  The old Simmons coils used to actually move independently....very few pocketcoils really seem to do this as advertised with the really tight polyester pockets.  Even though out of the major brands I am a bit of a Simmons fan (or used to be) I would think pretty much everything these days is on an even playing field....just don't buy anything foam encased for a DIY build.  And stay away from most overseas coils like Serta's pocket springs are unbelievably light and cheap. 
Re: Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
Reply #12 May 19, 2010 5:13 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
I really don't think that was ever a common problem with Simmons....but they have actually gone down hill now that they are using polyester fabric shells just like everyone else.  The old Simmons coils used to actually move independently....very few pocketcoils really seem to do this as advertised with the really tight polyester pockets.  Even though out of the major brands I am a bit of a Simmons fan (or used to be) I would think pretty much everything these days is on an even playing field....just don't buy anything foam encased for a DIY build.  And stay away from most overseas coils like Serta's pocket springs are unbelievably light and cheap. 
Re: Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
Reply #13 May 20, 2010 4:57 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
budgy wrote:

I really don't think that was ever a common problem with Simmons....but they have actually gone down hill now that they are using polyester fabric shells just like everyone else.  The old Simmons coils used to actually move independently....very few pocketcoils really seem to do this as advertised with the really tight polyester pockets.  Even though out of the major brands I am a bit of a Simmons fan (or used to be) I would think pretty much everything these days is on an even playing field....just don't buy anything foam encased for a DIY build.  And stay away from most overseas coils like Serta's pocket springs are unbelievably light and cheap. 


Thanks Budgy, that's a good point to remember about not using anything foam encased. I assume you mean foam around the edges of the bed?

I read MANY posts on the net about people who hated their Simmons pocket coils starting about 10years ago when I was getting rid of mine. A lot of people were saying that the springs had migrated and someone at a store told me that the individual coils were not very stable and drifted a lot causing discomfort. You are surely more trustworthy a source but I did read a LOT of negative posts re Simmons pocket coils!

May I ask who you know that makes pocket coils now that are good, besides Simmons? Or when you say "even playing field" do you mean they ALL suck?

Re: Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
Reply #14 May 20, 2010 6:29 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
LOL well I guess we could sort of say that.  I really think this idea that the coils migrate is more a myth. Pocket coils flex more than most standard springs as they are not reinforced by helical wires, so the foam itself flexes more than it does on a normal spring....this might somewhat contribute to more severe body indentations which does seem to happen.  I guess my skepticism is just that none of these people probably ever looked on the inside of the mattress after it 'failed'.  I have cut open a few warrantied Simmons mattresses.  I would even cut the springs out of the pockets where the major indentations in the mattress were located, I would measure the height of the coil inside and outside of the pocket (they were precompressed before being placed in the pockets) so it was a pretty good way to measure empirically if the springs had in any way started to deform.  I've never seen migration of coils or a reduction in spring height even in pretty old mattresses.....atlhough if you were to lay on them...they felt horrible, big peaks and valleys, very lumpy upholstery.  That kind of idea.

I personally think that Simmons coils from 10 or 15 years ago were probably the best they ever made, but they also started to use a lot more and cheaper foams during that same time, and that trend has continued. 

In todays pocket coil arena 90% of what you find will be made by Leggett or in China. Truth be told most of them are pretty comparable....I would prefer the Leggett Spring just because I like the idea of supporting American business more than something so far away from home.  Simmons still makes their own, but they have over the last couple years moved closer and closer to the way Leggett and other spring makers have done their pocket coils and the differences now are basically negligible.  As always comparing spring counts and gauge of wire is still the best medium of comparison since at this point the design is not dramatically different. 

I had a chance to look at the guts of a Vi- Spring mattress recently....I was honestly blown away by how it is made and how it feels even to the hand, although at certain point to get that kind of quality spring you don't just buy that mattress for a DIY build because they did everything else right anyway.  I also carry a brand called GreenSleep and they make their own hand made pocket coil system....I wouldn't put it quite onto Vi-Springs level but you can tell that it is not your normal mass produced spring system.  Again though any of these mattresses are already finished with materials you wouldn't want to remove.

Re: Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
Reply #15 May 27, 2010 11:29 AM
Joined: Mar 8, 2010
Points: 65
jimsocal wrote:

 


What size mattress are you getting? For a twin 206 coils might be okay but it does seem too few for a Full...

I really like their approach - it looks like they do things by hand, and I like the cotton and latex... I just wonder why they put a layer of polyester and a layer of PU foam in there? Without those it might be really great. I wonder if you could get them to make it with latex for that layer instead of pu foam, and leave off the polyester or replace it with ??

Budgy, why would they put those layers in there? What could they be replaced with? And where can I buy cotton to try a layer of cotton like that?



Hi Jim,

The 206 count was either for the Full or the Queen - I forget which.  I am concerned about it and still wondering if the pocket coil is a better bet, esp after reading what Budgy said in this thread.  You can see the coil "outdents" on the sides of the mattresses and there seems to be an awflu lotta space between each one

The full-size cost me $1418 after a 10% discount that they give to basically everyone.  I went down a size because of the cost.  I've slept on it for 2 nights and it's hard but perfect for my stomach and side sleeping for NOW anyway. 

I get a 30-day trial and am still deciding if I should switch it for the pocket coils.  I am mostly worried about my elbows digging in for that hour of reading every night.  I think pocket coils wouldn't lump up and am worried springs will, but also can't deal with any sinking while sleeping on my back. 

Budgy?  Any last thoughts?  And thanks for your hlep, guys.

Oh, and damn.  I meant to cut open my old King Koil and take photos for y'all.  :)

Re: Inner Spring vs Pocket Coil
Reply #16 May 27, 2010 9:23 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
budgy wrote:

LOL well I guess we could sort of say that.  I really think this idea that the coils migrate is more a myth. Pocket coils flex more than most standard springs as they are not reinforced by helical wires, so the foam itself flexes more than it does on a normal spring....this might somewhat contribute to more severe body indentations which does seem to happen.  I guess my skepticism is just that none of these people probably ever looked on the inside of the mattress after it 'failed'.  I have cut open a few warrantied Simmons mattresses.  I would even cut the springs out of the pockets where the major indentations in the mattress were located, I would measure the height of the coil inside and outside of the pocket (they were precompressed before being placed in the pockets) so it was a pretty good way to measure empirically if the springs had in any way started to deform.  I've never seen migration of coils or a reduction in spring height even in pretty old mattresses.....atlhough if you were to lay on them...they felt horrible, big peaks and valleys, very lumpy upholstery.  That kind of idea.

I personally think that Simmons coils from 10 or 15 years ago were probably the best they ever made, but they also started to use a lot more and cheaper foams during that same time, and that trend has continued. 

In todays pocket coil arena 90% of what you find will be made by Leggett or in China. Truth be told most of them are pretty comparable....I would prefer the Leggett Spring just because I like the idea of supporting American business more than something so far away from home.  Simmons still makes their own, but they have over the last couple years moved closer and closer to the way Leggett and other spring makers have done their pocket coils and the differences now are basically negligible.  As always comparing spring counts and gauge of wire is still the best medium of comparison since at this point the design is not dramatically different. 

I had a chance to look at the guts of a Vi- Spring mattress recently....I was honestly blown away by how it is made and how it feels even to the hand, although at certain point to get that kind of quality spring you don't just buy that mattress for a DIY build because they did everything else right anyway.  I also carry a brand called GreenSleep and they make their own hand made pocket coil system....I wouldn't put it quite onto Vi-Springs level but you can tell that it is not your normal mass produced spring system.  Again though any of these mattresses are already finished with materials you wouldn't want to remove.


Thanks budgy, that's very helpful. I am thinking my next mattress might be a pocket coil. If you hear of one that you can recommend that isn't too expensive, let me know. My idea would be to buy one that I HOPEFULLY would not have to do surgery on, but if I did end up hating it, I could do surgery on it. ;-D

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