Design and features
Most memory foam mattresses have three layers of foam – and this one is no different, but it is also topped and tailed with two additional layers of different materials.
At the bottom is a positioning base material – that’s the bit that ensures your mattress stays put on your bed frame. Then comes the foundation layer of foam, 16cm thick, which provides comfort combined with firmer support in the seven problem zones of the hips and under the shoulders. In the middle is a 5cm layer of soft visco memory foam that’s aimed at tackling pressure relief, and on top of that is a 4cm breathable visco layer aimed at regulating temperature. The soft quilted adaptive cooling cover helps to prevent you from getting hot while you sleep.
The mattress, which is designed and manufactured in the UK, has no harmful chemicals and is certified by CertiPUR, a body that rates polyurethane foam used in furniture. This is important because it means it doesn’t contain any ozone depleters, TDCPP (an organophosphate), mercury or lead.
Some mattresses suit some bed types more than others, but this one is versatile and works just as well on a divan as a slatted base.
Comfort and performance
We gave this mattress bonus points before we’d even tried it out, simply because there’s no off-gassing. Unlike many foam mattresses, which have a chemical whiff, often for several days, the Nectar just doesn’t, meaning we were more than happy to sleep on it as soon as we’d removed it from the box and let it expand.
Comfort and support are what matter most with any mattress, and the good news is that this delivers on both fronts. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised to find that when we lay down, it actually felt more like a hybrid (a foam mattress that also has pocket springs) than a pure foam mattress. That’s high praise, given that hybrids are generally more comfortable and supportive, as well as being more expensive than pure foam mattresses.
With the Nectar, there’s impressive bounce, stability, and that instant feeling of relaxation while also being supported right across the body, especially if you are average weight or less, and that goes for any type of sleeper. Not too soft, not too firm, it sits nicely in the middle, pushing ever so slightly towards the softer end of the scale. With excellent longevity, that’s likely to be the case for years to come – you’ll get no sagging or softening over time (and there’s always that lifetime warranty if you find you’re the exception to the rule).
Read more: How to choose the best mattress for you
As with many foam mattresses, you do sink in a bit, meaning that moving around in the night takes a little bit more effort. That said, by night three, we were completely used to it and hardly noticed. On the plus side, your partner won’t be disturbed when you move around. Rarely have we slept on a mattress that is as good at this.
Also, like many foam mattresses, we found that when we woke up, it didn’t feel it was quite the same mattress we had gone to bed on. That’s because the top layers become softer as they react to your body, slowly warming up through the night. However, it didn’t compromise the feeling of support.
On top of this, it did not make us feel clammy, probably thanks to the breathable top layer. And it was actually rather nice on colder nights. But if you’re on the heavy side or you are prone to feeling hot in the night, it is something to consider.
Our number-one issue is that there is no washable top cover. It’s removable via a zip, but whereas you can put the top cover of many mattresses in the washing machine, you’ll need to wash this one by hand.
Also, why are there no handles? Thankfully, the Nectar mattress is not designed to be flipped or even rotated, making it very low maintenance.
