Otty leads Guardian mattress review, with Ikea named budget pick

The Guardian named the Otty Original Hybrid its leading mattress in a UK buying guide covering 18 tested models. The double was listed at £599.99, with testers praising its support, cushioning and breathability. Simba’s £1,299 Hybrid Pro took the couples category for its ability to absorb movement, although the reviewer reported softening in the middle after several weeks.

Ikea’s £229 Valevåg was the budget selection, cooling fastest in the reviewer’s temperature tests but offering poor movement isolation. The reviewer and a family panel slept on allocated mattresses for at least a fortnight, sometimes months, combining comfort assessments with sleep questionnaires and tests of sinking, cooling and movement absorption.

The review addresses a difficulty for online mattress shoppers: many of the featured brands lack showrooms, leaving buyers reliant on trial periods rather than testing before purchase. Its findings reflect one reviewer and a family panel, whose differing firmness preferences illustrate why an overall recommendation does not establish suitability for every sleeper.