Is a medium-firm mattress the best option for most people?

A 2003 randomised trial in The Lancet found that medium-firm mattresses reduced back pain and disability compared to firm ones. But "medium firm" on its own is meaningless. A medium firm feel for a 60kg person requires completely different spring tension than for a 100kg person. That's why we match firmness to body weight, not to a vague label.

Are memory foam mattresses good?

Memory foam gives you pressure relief, but it traps heat, and you can't adjust it after purchase. Memory foam stores roughly 70 times more heat than air by volume. That's why hot sleepers struggle on all foam mattresses. Gel-infused memory foam helps a bit, but it doesn't fix the physics. We use natural latex instead. It's responsive, breathable, and lasts 3-4 times longer. Even the best memory foam mattress can't match a properly weight-matched spring system for support.

How do hybrid mattresses compare?

Most hybrid mattresses use pocket springs with foam layers, so they're heading in the right direction. The difference: most use fixed-tension springs you can't swap. We select springs for your body weight and arrange them in a honeycomb pattern (986 pocketed coils on a queen vs the typical 768 in a row layout). When comparing the best hybrid mattress options, ask whether the spring tension can be matched to your weight and changed later. Rearrangeable foam layers aren't the same thing.

What about innerspring mattresses?

Traditional innerspring mattresses use connected coils. When one spring compresses, the surrounding springs move too, which transfers motion and limits contouring. Pocket springs work independently, so they respond to each part of your body separately. Innerspring mattresses tend to feel flatter. Pocket springs contour.

What about latex mattresses?

We use 5cm of GOLS-certified natural latex in both the Aurora and Cloud. Latex foam is responsive, dust-mite resistant, and very durable. A full latex mattress (all latex, no springs) exists but tends to be heavy and expensive. We pair a natural latex layer with pocket springs. The latex handles comfort, the springs handle support. A latex hybrid gives you the best of both.

Why does edge support matter?

Edge support comes from the border wire around the spring unit. It's a thick steel wire that frames the entire perimeter, so you get solid edge support right to the boundary. You can sit on the edge, sleep at the edge, or get in and out without it collapsing. Most online mattresses use hard foam perimeters instead of a border wire. While foam borders can mean firmer edge support, it also stops airflow. Less airflow can mean mould. Here's how I like to look at it: Mattresses are for sleeping. The 30 seconds it takes you to put your shoes on while sitting on the edge of your bed shouldn't be the deciding factor when buying a mattress.

What's the best mattress for back pain?

Most mattress-related back pain comes from springs that are too soft for your weight. Your hips sink, your spine curves, you wake up sore. Getting spring tension right for your body weight fixes this for most people. Important to note! Before blaming the mattress, check your base. About 80% of the time, when someone thinks their mattress has a problem, it's actually flexible slats sagging underneath. Fix that first, and you'll improve spinal alignment without spending a cent.

Do your mattresses sleep cooler than all-foam mattressses?

Yes, significantly. More foam = more heat. We use 5cm of natural latex on top with springs providing airflow underneath. Most online mattresses stack 25-30cm layers of foam with no springs. That's a massive difference in heat storage. Less foam is the only real solution. For hot sleepers who want active cooling, I have used a BedJet for five years. It circulates air and actually removes heat, so you get a genuinely cool sleep.

Do I need to buy a mattress ever few years?

Not with ours. Springs, latex, and micro springs can all be swapped individually. No component costs more than 25% of the mattress price. Over 10-15 years, that's a big saving compared to replacing other mattresses every 7-8 years. We offer a 10-year warranty and a 7-month free trial period, significantly longer than the 120 nights most online brands give you.

What mattress types do you make

Two current models: Aurora and Cloud. Both are built on honeycomb pocket springs with natural latex comfort layers. They're a latex hybrid: pocketed coils for support, natural latex for comfort, micro springs for cushioning. The focus is on adjustability and body-weight matching, which is what makes the best mattress. Cloud: 2 layers of micro springs. Perfect for side sleepers, or for people wanting to sink into the comfort layers. Aurora: 1 layer of micro springs. A balanced option for people who prefer less sink in the mattress, or who sleep on their back and sides.

Do I need a mattress protector?

Worth having. We stock the Protect-A-Bed synthetic stretch protector for $30-$35 (call us if you need it added to your quote). It's elastic, thin and fully waterproof. The problem with natural fibre protectors is that they don't stretch, which stops your shoulders and hips from sinking in properly. I stock synthetic because it works without affecting the feel.

Do your mattresses use zoned pocketed coils?

No. Zoned pocketed coils assume that bodies have the same proportions. But women typically have wider hips and narrower shoulders than men. They'd need opposite zoning. When we used zones, our swap rates went up. When we stopped, they came down. Single-zone springs matched to latex choice and body weight outperform generic zoned support layers. That's not to say zones can't work; it just means that the error rate on them is high.

How are your mattresses delivered?

Our mattresses are delivered full-size to your room. We set everything up and remove the packaging. Most online mattresses arrive compressed in a box. Ours are delivered full-size. While some bed-in-a-box brands can do next-day delivery, the trade-off is lower-quality springs.

How do you compare to other mattresses in this price range?

Most mattresses between $1,000 and $3,000 are either all-foam mattresses (like Koala) or fixed-spring hybrids (like Sleeping Duck). What separates ours is modularity. Every component can be swapped. You're not buying a mattress you'll throw away in 6 years. You're buying high-quality materials and something you can adjust for as long as you own it. The current Aurora starts from $1,550 for a Single, while the Cloud starts from $2,050.

Is the Eva mattress good?

Eva is an online mattress brand with foam hybrid and pocket spring options. Like most mattress brands selling online, the spring tension is fixed. The question I'd ask about any mattress is the same: can the springs be matched to your surface feel and body weight, then swapped if your needs change?

Is Sleeping Duck a good alternative?

Sleeping Duck is a foam hybrid with pocket springs and rearrangeable foam layers. The spring tension is fixed and quite firm, so lighter sleepers might find it too rigid. You can move the foam layers around, but you can't change the springs. A Sleeping Duck mattress works for heavier sleepers who want firm support with bed-in-a-box convenience.

What about koala mattress?

Koala is an all-foam mattress. No springs. Firmness can't be changed after purchase. If you're lighter and like a foam mattress feel, a Koala mattress could work. If you want adjustability and spring support matched to your surface feel and body weight, it's a fundamentally different product.

May 22, 2026

Mattress Recommendations – How we match you to the right mattress

Choose the latex surface feel first. We then match medium or firm springs to your latex choice and body weight, and use sleep position to recommend the micro spring cushioning.

Mattress Recommendation - how we match you to the right mattress

How accurate is our mattress recommendation?

A swap is the most honest signal we get about whether we recommended the right mattress. It is a customer telling us, "This firmness isn't quite right; I need to go firmer or softer." So when the swap rate drops, it means we're getting people closer to the right mattress the first time.

Since we launched the recommendation system in early 2026, swap rates have dropped from about 7% to under 2%. That means we have reduced incorrect firmness choices by over 70 per cent compared to our old process.

Need a recommendation?

Choose the surface feel and cushioning you enjoy, and we'll match the support underneath.

How it works

When you buy a mattress through our recommender, we securely log your initial recommendation alongside the final mattress you chose. If you swap during your trial, we can see if you need to go firmer or softer. All data is anonymised. We watch the trends and adjust our recommendations. It's a system that's given us proven, measurable results.

Swaps, feedback and returns – we use these analytics to constantly refine our recommendations.

The recommendation process

Surface feel: soft latex is plush; medium latex is balanced and responsive.
Spring support: body weight and latex choice determine medium or firm springs.
Cushioning: sleep position helps choose 1 or 2 micro spring layers.
Couples: use the heavier person’s weight for the spring recommendation.

Firm latex is available by request, but it is far too firm for most applications and can cause pressure pain. Soft springs are request-only for children and people under 50kg.

Surface feel	Medium springs	Firm springs
Soft latex	Under 80kg	80kg and over
Medium latex	Under 100kg	100kg and over

Soft springs are available by request for children and people under 50kg, but they are too soft for most adults. Contact us for a quote. If you weigh more than 130kg, contact us so we can check the complete setup.

How sleep position changes the cushioning

The main springs come from body weight and latex choice. Sleep position helps us choose how much cushioning sits above them.

Side sleepers need enough cushioning for the shoulder and hip to settle. Most prefer the Cloud with 2 micro spring layers because the extra cushioning reduces pressure without weakening the main support underneath.

Back sleepers can choose the Cloud for more cushioning or the Aurora with 1 micro spring layer for a firmer, more direct surface. The right choice depends on their preferred surface feel and body shape.

Stomach sleepers usually prefer the Aurora. Its single micro spring layer creates a flatter surface and helps prevent the pelvis from sinking too deeply.

This is why “side sleeper = soft” and “stomach sleeper = firm” are incomplete recommendations. A 55kg side sleeper and a 110kg side sleeper load the mattress differently, so the spring support still needs to come from latex choice and body weight.

How sleep position maps to model choice

Cloud: 2 micro spring layers for more cushioning, usually preferred by side sleepers
Aurora: 1 micro spring layer for a firmer, more direct surface, usually preferred by stomach sleepers
Back sleepers: can choose either model according to how much cushioning they prefer

Soft latex is only available with the Cloud’s 2 micro spring layers. With one layer, the cushioning becomes too soft and you may feel the main springs underneath.

How we recommend to couples

For couples, the heavier partner’s weight determines the standard spring recommendation. Firm springs with soft latex are often a useful shared starting point when weights or surface preferences differ because the springs support the heavier person while the latex cushions the lighter person.

We use one full-width spring unit and latex layer in a standard mattress. If one side needs a modest increase in firmness, half-width felt can be added on that side. For substantially different needs, two King Singles may be the better option.

Where you might want personalised advice

It is better to call us in these situations:

Anyone over 130kg: we need to check the complete setup rather than rely only on the online guide
Couples with very different needs: the heavier person’s weight is the starting point, but the shared surface feel still needs discussion
Injuries or health conditions: pain, arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions can change the amount of cushioning that feels comfortable
Request-only components: soft springs and firm latex require a conversation before ordering

At-home adjustments

Every mattress has 3 built-in firmness settings. Start with the standard spring orientation and felt below for the softest setting. Move the felt above the springs for the middle setting. Flip the spring unit to the white-mesh side with felt above for the firmest setting.

Why we offer 7 months and 2 free firmness swaps

Comfort is personal, so the initial recommendation is a starting point rather than a guarantee. If the at-home settings are not enough, contact us. The 7-month trial includes 2 free firmness swaps, with one component changed per swap.

About the author

Karl is the owner of Ausbeds. He started the company after realising how many people were frustrated by mattresses that failed too soon and too often. So he built a workshop in Sydney and began making mattresses the way they should be made - with transparent materials, adjustable designs, and customer-first thinking. When he's not in the showroom/workshop, he's on Reddit, Whirlpool, and OzBargain, cutting through industry fluff with honest mattress advice.

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