- Buy now from Dusk (from £399)
How we tested the mattresses
We put over 15 mattresses to the test, judging them on everything from customer service and packaging through to sustainability and value for money. Each mattress could achieve up to 20 points for the following criteria:
- Information and customer service: How clear and helpful are mattress descriptions? (2 points) | What’s customer service like? (1 point) | Free delivery? (1 point) | How long is the trial period? (2 point) | Do they pick up your old mattress? (1 point)
- Features: (0.5 points each) Manoeuvrability: how does it arrive? Will delivery men take it upstairs? Handles? | If memory foam – how long to inflate? | Sustainable packaging? | Materials – memory foam, springs, hypoallergenic, etc? | Temperature regulation materials? | Care instructions – do you need to turn it? | Caters for different sleep needs? | Removable cover for washing? | Comes in all sizes? | Specifications – depth?
- Results: Does it live up to the description – firm/supportive etc? (2 points) | An odour when out of packaging? (1 point) | Durability? (2 points) | Sustainable material? (1 point)
- Value for money: (2 points) Is it good quality? | What is the warranty? | Is it worth the money?
Information and customer service
The mattress description on the Dusk website is very brief and to the point, offering practical information about its fill, size, firmness, packaging and care requirements. So if you know what type of mattress you need, choosing a mattress will be a breeze.
Dusk do offer a mattress recycling service which is charged at an additional £30, which could be a great solution if tackling this job yourself mighty prove a bit tricky.
A 100 night sleep trial is also offered with all of Dusk’s mattresses, so if you decide the mattress isn’t quite right for you, it can be collected and returned for a fee of £39.99. (4 out of 6)
Features
Dusk charge £12.99 for a 2-man delivery to a room of your choice, between the ground floor and third floor.
For delivery, the mattress is air sealed, rolled and boxed, which makes it more convenient to manoeuvre. The delivery men left our mattress on the landing, as requested, so we could remove the old mattress before bringing in the new one.
Unpacking the mattress and getting it into position was easy enough for two people. Our mattress expanded quickly and looked stylish and comfortable within minutes. Dusk advise you leave it for 4-6 hours before sleeping on it.
Packaging is minimal for the mattress, with just a cardboard box, which easily went in our recycling. The plastic air sealed bag, unfortunately, has to go in your general household waste.
The mattress is made up of a number of layers: a breathable fabric base, 2,000 support springs, a layer of foam, cool gel foam and a breathable, soft touch top cover. The active cooling layer is perfect for regulating your body temperature.
Dusk has branded the mattress as medium/firm, which makes it popular for side, back and stomach sleepers in all weight ranges and it is available in single, double, king and super king sizes, catering for all of your family’s needs.
The washable cover is a great touch, allowing you to keep on top of hygiene regularly and easily. (5 out of 6)
The Results
I found the mattress to be very firm - a little firmer than I expected bearing in mind its medium/firm rating. As a side sleeper, it offered plenty of support for my back, however, I would have preferred to be able to sink into it more to relieve pressure on my shoulder and neck.
After chatting with Dusk we added their Feels Like Down Topper to the mattress, which instantly added an extra layer of comfort to mould around my neck and shoulder, providing that extra bit of support I needed.
I was particularly impressed with how I never woke from my husband’s movements, he often gets up early for work and, in the past, I would wake due to him getting out of bed. However, this mattress is firm enough to keep me supported and not be affected by other movements in the bed, meaning I slept for longer, with unbroken sleep – a definite plus in my books!
The mattress passed the sniff test too - I expected there to be a slight odour after being sealed in the plastic packaging, but was relieved to find that there was no smell at all.
The mattress feels well made and durable, but only time will tell how well it holds up to 4 kids bounding around on it. (5 out of 6)
Value for money
The mattress is currently on offer and priced at £399 for a king size, putting it at the more affordable end of the market. The 100 night sleep trial is a great plus point, giving you that extra confidence when it comes to buying online.
Plus the look and feel of the mattress is very impressive - the neat, fuss free design gives it a durable, quality finish. I think it’s a great option for the price point and if you like firm mattresses, this is the perfect choice. (1.5 out of 2)
- Buy now from Dusk (from £399)
Not the right mattress for you? Check out the Simba Essential Foam mattress, which we also tested as part of our search to find the best budget mattress. We've also tested Emma's Original mattress, which is recommended for back pain, as well as the Eve Hybrid Duo Plus mattress.
Keep your new mattress in tip-top condition with our guide: how to clean a mattress. And if you’re looking to update your bedding too, we’ve found the best autumn and winter bedding, the best sustainable bedding to buy, as well as the best way to clean and store winter bedding.