What you need to know about pocket spring mattresses for box spring beds
Box spring beds have been growing in popularity for years and are increasingly displacing conventional sleeping systems with slatted frames from the market. They impress with a structure consisting of three different components: The base mattress, the top mattress and the topper. We will introduce you to the structure and these components of the box spring bed and answer the question of whether pocket spring mattresses are suitable for box spring beds.
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| 🛒 Product recommendation:
Our 7-zone pocket spring core mattress is perfect as a top mattress for your box spring bed. Thanks to its pronounced point elasticity, it is particularly adaptable and therefore ensures a healthy posture. It impresses with its breathability and air permeability, which prevents the formation of mold and thus creates a hygienic sleeping environment. It can also be perfectly combined with a box spring made of Bonell or pocket springs as well as with various toppers, so that the entire sleep system harmonizes with each other and you can enjoy a restful night's sleep. Thanks to its premium height of 25 cm, the lying comfort is enhanced even further and guarantees that getting out of bed is a pleasure. With our bestseller, you can also choose from models with different firmness levels and therefore find exactly the model that allows you to sink in perfectly and also provides optimum support. See our pocket spring mattress for yourself and test the mattress for 100 nights in your own home. If, contrary to expectations, you are not satisfied, you can of course return it to us free of charge. |
Structure of a box spring bed
Instead of a bed frame with slatted frame, box spring beds have a spring box - the so-called box spring, also known as the base mattress. Above this is the actual mattress, i.e. the top mattress. A topper is usually placed on top of this to protect the mattress and avoid the annoying visitor crack between two individual mattresses that are placed together in the bed. Consequently, a box spring bed is constructed in a similar way to a normal bed, the only difference being the box spring box, which replaces the bed frame and slatted frame.
Box spring beds are usually around 60 cm high, which makes getting out of bed much more comfortable. With a high top mattress and a thick topper, a box spring bed can be even higher, further increasing comfort. However, box spring beds are not only particularly comfortable, but also impress with their appearance: thanks to their opulent size and the - usually already integrated - headboard, a box spring bed looks very elegant. This is further enhanced by the fact that the base and top mattress often have a cover with a fabric pattern sewn into it that matches the rest of the bed. For this reason, only the topper is usually covered with a fitted sheet and not the top mattress, as otherwise the pattern would be covered.
To ensure that you get the rest you need during the night, it is important that the three components - the base mattress, top mattress and topper - are coordinated, as only the entire sleep system can ensure the appropriate sleeping comfort and an ergonomically correct posture. Therefore, make sure that the desired top mattress matches the base mattress and that the topper also harmonizes with the top mattress. When you buy a new box spring bed, all the components are usually already coordinated.
The base mattress
Boxspring is made up of the two terms "box" and "spring" and therefore means spring box or spring in the box. As the name suggests, the box spring consists of a spring core as the spring base. This is enclosed by a wooden frame. The spring core is either a Bonell or a pocket spring core, whereby the individual springs of the two mattress models are the counterpart to the slats of a slatted frame.
The difference between Bonell and pocket spring cores is that Bonell springs are connected to each other by wires, while pocket springs are individually packed in fabric bags and are thus separated from each other. This means that in a box spring made from pocket springs, only the springs that are actually under pressure give way. With a Bonell spring core, on the other hand, the surrounding steel springs also give way when pressure is exerted on one area. As a result, spring boxes made of pocket springs are significantly more point-elastic than a box spring with a Bonell spring core, which yields elastically over its entire surface and thus creates a soft and swinging lying comfort. In addition, a base mattress with a pocket spring core is firmer than a box spring made of Bonell springs, so you should make the decision between a Bonell and a pocket spring core depending on whether you prefer a firmer or softer sleep. Your weight also plays an important role, as a rule of thumb is that you should choose a mattress with pocket springs if you weigh 100 kg or more in order to be adequately supported.
The top mattress
You should definitely choose a pocket spring mattress as your top mattress, as it responds perfectly to pressure thanks to its pronounced point elasticity and is therefore extremely adaptable. This is made possible by the fact that the springs in the mattress core of pocket spring mattresses are individually packed in fabric bags and are completely enclosed by them, so that the springs cannot touch each other and are thus separated from each other. When pressure is applied, only the springs that are actually stressed give way, while the surrounding area does not give way. In addition, pocket spring mattresses are particularly breathable, as heat and moisture that accumulates in the mattress is immediately transported to the outside.
Pocket spring core mattresses are suitable for both a base made of Bonell springs and a box spring with a pocket spring core, so that the typical, floating sleeping comfort that you are used to from box spring beds can be perfectly created with a pocket spring core mattress as the top mattress. Cold foam mattresses, on the other hand, are unsuitable as a top mattress as they are not breathable enough for box spring beds to provide a comfortable sleeping environment. In addition, they have too little springiness, so that the light lying sensation typical of box spring beds cannot be created with cold foam mattresses.
| 👍 Tip:
You should always make sure that the top mattress you want matches the base mattress. When you buy a new box spring bed, it usually comes with a top mattress that matches the base mattress. However, if you want to change the mattress, we recommend that you choose a pocket spring mattress, as this harmonizes with both box spring variants. The most common is the combination of a Bonell spring core as the base mattress and a pocket spring core mattress as the top mattress. |
Bonell spring core mattresses are also not suitable as a top mattress for box spring beds, as they yield elastically over their entire surface and are therefore not as adaptable as pocket spring core mattresses, which only yield selectively at the points on which a real pressure load is exerted. This is because the springs in Bonell spring core mattresses are connected to each other by wires and so the springs that are not directly stressed also give way. Furthermore, they do not harmonize with a bonell spring core as a base mattress, as the slightly springy lying sensation is lost. In addition, a combination of a Bonell spring core slat base and a Bonell spring mattress is often perceived as too soft.
| ℹ️ Info:
You should always make sure that the top mattress you want matches the base mattress. When you buy a new box spring bed, it usually comes with a top mattress that matches the base mattress. However, if you want to change the mattress, we recommend that you choose a pocket spring mattress, as this harmonizes with both box spring variants. The most common is the combination of a Bonell spring core as the base mattress and a pocket spring core mattress as the top mattress. |
The topper
The topper lies on the top mattress and rounds off the box spring bed. As this is also your sleeping surface, it protects the actual mattress, as you are not lying directly on the mattress itself. A topper also enhances the cozy, comfortable sleeping experience and can help to avoid the annoying visitor's crack that occurs when two individual mattresses are put together. Although there are also box spring beds without toppers - so-called American box spring beds - it is primarily box spring beds with toppers that have been able to establish themselves on the market for the reasons mentioned above.
| 👍 Tip:
To ensure adequate hygiene, you should make sure that the cover of the topper is washable. |
In addition to the corresponding slat base and top mattress, the topper should also adapt ideally to your preferred sleeping experience and provide you with sufficient relief. Therefore, pay attention to what material the topper is made of and how high it is in order to ensure optimum lying comfort and to adapt the entire bed system to your personal needs. It is particularly important that the topper matches the top mattress, which in turn should harmonize with the base mattress: So make sure that the entire sleep system is coordinated to ensure correct posture during sleep and to create a cozy lying comfort.
| ℹ️ Info:
Basically, the higher a topper is, the more comfortable it is. Most toppers are 5-10 cm high, although 8 cm is already considered a premium height. |
Most toppers are usually made of cold or visco foam. However, toppers made of other foamed materials or latex are also available. Which material you should choose depends on your sleeping habits: Visco toppers tend to be unsuitable for those who move around a lot in their sleep, because the memory function of visco foam means that it only returns slowly once the pressure has been removed from the respective area and therefore does not adapt directly to the following sleeping position. If you often toss and turn in your sleep, you should therefore choose a topper made of cold or comfort foam, for example. Generally speaking, toppers made from a foamed material impress with their breathability and adaptability, making them suitable for every type of sleeper.
How to recognize good pocket spring mattresses for box spring beds
If you want to buy a new mattress for your box spring bed, you should definitely make sure that it matches the entire sleeping system: Only if the base mattress, the top mattress and the topper harmonize with each other can a comfortable sleeping experience and ergonomically correct lying be ensured. In this respect, both a pocket spring core mattress as the top mattress and a pocket spring core as the base mattress are a good choice.
Pocket spring mattress as top mattress
Pocket spring mattresses are ideal as top mattresses for box spring beds and are suitable for both a box spring made of Bonell springs and a base with pocket springs. There are also various toppers available for a pocket spring mattress, so you can choose from different foamed materials or latex, for example.
Pocket spring mattresses are characterized in particular by their adaptability, which goes hand in hand with their optimum point elasticity: as each individual steel spring is sewn into a fabric bag and completely encased by it, the springs do not touch each other and are thus separated from each other. For this reason, when pressure is applied, only the springs that are actually under load give way at certain points, while the surrounding steel springs retain their shape. In addition, the air can circulate well between the individual springs and adjacent layers, so that heat and moisture are immediately transported to the outside. Pocket spring mattresses are therefore particularly hygienic.
The ergonomically correct lying position of pocket spring mattresses is achieved not only by their pronounced point elasticity, but also by their lying zones: in order to provide optimum relief for all areas of the body, a good mattress should have at least 5 zones. These result from the fact that the shoulders and hips should always sink in deeper than the surrounding areas - i.e. the head, loins and legs. So that a mattress can also be turned, the leg zone is often subdivided into further zones, so that most mattresses are equipped with 7 different zones. The mattress is mirrored in the hip area so that there is a corresponding counterpart for each part of the body: The head zone can be equated with the foot zone, the shoulder zone is the counterpart to the calf zone and the lumbar zone is identical to the leg zone.
| 👍 Tip:
The higher a pocket spring mattress is, the more comfortably you will sleep on it. A mattress with a premium height of 25 cm (the standard height is 16-20 cm) can further enhance the pleasant feeling of sleep that is already created by the height of the box spring bed itself. |
You can also recognize a pocket spring mattress that is right for you by its firmness level, as a mattress should never be too hard or too soft. The choice of firmness level depends primarily on your weight and personal preferences. At the same time, your body should be able to sink in far enough in areas such as the shoulders and hips and be sufficiently supported in the surrounding areas of the body. If the mattress is too soft, areas of your body will "sag" and damage your posture, but a mattress that is too hard can also cause your spine to curl.
Pocket spring core as base mattress
The steel springs, which are individually packaged in fabric bags, are not only popular with the pocket spring core mattress as a top mattress, but also with the pocket spring core as a base mattress: a base mattress made of pocket spring cores is also particularly point-elastic and thus ensures an ergonomically correct posture. Basically, pocket spring base mattresses are rather hard and therefore usually suitable for a weight of 100 kg or more. Bonell spring cores, on the other hand, are softer and are perfect for a weight of up to 100 kg.
As the entire sleep system is always relevant for ergonomically correct sleep, you should make sure that the base mattress harmonizes with the top mattress when choosing the right one: A combination of Bonell springs as the base mattress and a Bonell spring mattress as the top mattress is often perceived as too soft, while a base with Bonell springs together with a pocket spring mattress as the top mattress is the most common variant and therefore also the most popular. If you are buying a new box spring bed, the base and top mattress are usually already matched to each other, so you don't need to worry about this.
| 💬 Note:
Strictly speaking, pocket spring mattresses are merely a subgroup of spring mattresses. However, as the terms are often used interchangeably, this article also provides information about spring mattresses for box spring beds. In addition, pocket spring mattresses are often also barrel pocket spring mattresses, so the question of what you need to consider with barrel pocket spring mattresses for box spring beds is also answered here. |
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