Nectar Sleep launched stateside in 2017, and has since grown into one of the most well-known mattress brands in the game. Given its success in the United States, it was only a matter of time before it branched out into other markets, which it did in September 2018 by unveiling its very first bed specifically designed for sleepers in the UK.
While the UK version of the Nectar mattress is certainly similar to the original U.S. one, it also features some unique characteristics that make it a wholly different bed. Curious to know what these changes are? Well then you better continue reading below for my full Nectar UK bed review.
Don’t have time to read it all? Click here to skip to the bottom and check out my review summary.
BRAND SNAPSHOT
Since it burst onto the scene, Nectar Sleep has utilized a strategy of clever advertisements and focused product development to secure its spot as one of the most popular brands in the online bed-in-a-box market.
Considering its name recognition, the brand is often compared to two other well-known entities in the sphere: Casper and Leesa. Though these models have totally distinct vibes (which we’ll dig into later on in this review), they all share a similar level of clout in the industry as well as constructions built entirely of foam.
CONSTRUCTION
But let’s get back to this Nectar UK bed review. As I mentioned above, the Nectar is an all-foam bed featuring two thick layers of memory foam overlaying a base of poly foam. This produces a medium firm feel with a ton of body contouring and sinkage, which is a similar vibe to that of the U.S. model. However, the UK version also implements some zoned support in the base, included to bring targeted relief to the shoulders and hips.
But enough chat! Let’s dive into the bed.
Cover – The cover is made with a special “Adaptive Cooling” knit fabric, which cools the sleeper down throughout the night. It’s got a thick, cozy feel to it, so should provide some immediate comfort as you lie on the bed.
Comfort Layer – Directly below the cover, you’ll encounter a section of memory foam. This material has a slow response to pressure, allowing the sleeper to really sink in for some satisfying pressure relief. As the foam contours to the curves of your body, you’re likely to feel as though you’re sleeping more “in” the bed than “on top” of it, which could really work for side sleepers in need of some cushiony support at the shoulders and hips.
Contour Layer – Next up, you’ll find another layer of memory foam, which helps to draw the contouring of the top layer even further into the mattress. And while such a thick top section of memory foam would normally result in overheating, Nectar has mitigated that with some special cooling properties.
Foundation Layer – Rounding out the construction we’ve got a layer of high-density poly foam. This section gives the bed its stability and shape, providing a firm foundation upon which the softer foams can react. It’s also outfitted with some zoned support channels at the shoulders and hips, which helps to bolster these sensitive spots with targeted sinkage. The channels also encourage airflow throughout the structure, resulting in some nice breathability.
FIRMNESS
After taking a look at the construction of the Nectar UK, let’s chat about the firmness and feel. When I hopped on the mattress, the first thing I noticed was the top layers of memory foam contouring to my shoulders and hips. As I pressed in further, I could really feel my body sinking into these layers for some fantastic pressure relief.
Since folks of different body types and sizes are going to feel firmness differently, I decided to bring in three other testers to check out the Nectar Sleep mattress. We all took a turn lying on the mattress, gave it a personal rating, and then compiled them on the graph below.
While feel is always going to be a personal thing, our responses should provide you with a good idea of the firmness range you can expect from the bed.
Though there was a bit of variance with our responses, we did land on an average firmness rating of 6.9. When compared to the industry standard of 6.5 for medium firmness, it seems this bed is a touch on the firmer side.
I personally gave the Nectar a 6 as I found its memory foam layers produced a gentle vibe. No matter the position I stretched out in, the material contoured to the curves of my body for some intense sinkage and pressure relief. While this made for a softer feel for me, some sleepers may find memory foam to produce a firmer feel as their bodies gradually acclimate to its morphing shape.
For comparison’s sake, the U.S. version of the Nectar got an average rating of 6.5 from my testers, so has about the same firmness as the UK model.
PRESSURE MAP
Another important component of a new bed’s feel is pressure, or more specifically where pressure points are likely to form while lying on top of it.
To help you visualize where these tension spots might crop up, I placed a pressure map on top of the mattress and lied on my back, side, and stomach. You can see the results on the image below where pressure is represented from blue (low pressure) to red (high pressure).
Back – Starting off on my back, I felt some really nice pressure relief as the memory foam filled in the space at my lumbar region. Though many folks may find memory foam to have an initially firm feel, once you give your body a few minutes to sink through it, you’ll likely experience its pressure-relieving give. Unfortunately, this deep body contouring does mean that it’s difficult to move around and change positions on the Nectar UK.
Edge Support – Testing out the edge support on this bed, I did detect some compression through the memory foam layers. However, the high-density poly foam base did a good job of supporting my weight, which made me feel secure in this position.
Side – On my side, I continued to feel wonderful pressure relief from the Nectar. Strict side sleepers usually go for softer mattresses that contour to their shoulders and hips, so if you fall into that category, I think you’d find a lot to love in this bed, especially considering its extra zoned support.
Stomach – That being said, stomach sleepers are pretty much the opposite of side sleepers in that they need firm structures that keep their shoulders and hips in an even alignment. As I sank through the memory foam, I could feel it distorting my spine into a slightly uncomfortable position.
NECTAR VS.
Nitty-gritty details of the Nectar UK aside, let’s open up the conversation a bit to include some of its biggest competition on the scene. While every mattress is going to feature unique characteristics that make it a distinct product in the space, I think it can be useful to size up these differences against other models. Plus, who wants to buy an expensive bed without doing a little cross-referencing beforehand?
As I mentioned up top, the two brands we’ll be focusing on here are Casper and Leesa, giants in the online mattress sphere who have also expanded from the United States into the United Kingdom.
Casper
Though both the Casper and Nectar feature all-foam constructions with zoned support in their foundational layers, they actually have surprisingly different feels.
- For starters, the Casper has a more “balanced” feel than the Nectar, meaning the sinkage you experience in the former is likely to feel less intense than that in the latter, endearing it to a wider range of sleepers.
- It’s also a bit more expensive, with a King sized Casper running for £650 vs. £600 from Nectar.
Leesa
Again, while the Leesa and Nectar are both entirely built of foam, they have distinct vibes that make them great for different types of sleepers.
- The biggest difference is found in the Leesa’s top layer of Avena foam, a bouncy material that positions the sleeper more “on top” of the structure than in it, which could be a great fit for combo sleepers.
- Unlike with the Casper or Nectar, the Leesa doesn’t feature any zoned support, so will likely feel a tad firmer than the other models.
- Price-wise, it’s also the most expensive of the bunch, coming in at £699 for a King.
MOTION TRANSFER
Up next, let’s take a look at motion transfer. This test will demonstrate the amount of disturbance detectable from one side of the bed to the other, which could be especially important for those of you who sleep with a bed mate.
To illustrate this motion transfer, I dropped a 10 lb. steel ball from heights of 4 inches, 8 inches and 12 inches and measured the disturbance it caused: the bigger the lines, the bigger the disturbance.
FYI: Each drop is meant to symbolize a different movement you’re likely to experience in bed, from tossing and turning (4”) to getting out of bed (8”) all the way to full on jumping (12”).
I think these are pretty impressive motion transfer results! The thick layers of memory foam do a fantastic job of absorbing and dampening movement across the structure, so you’re not likely to be too disturbed by your partner’s tossing and turning in the night.
SINKAGE TEST
When buying a new bed, most people want to know whether they’ll feel like they’re sinking “into” the mattress or lying “on top” of it. To visualize this sinkage, I placed four balls of varying sizes and densities (a 6 lb medicine ball, a 10 lb steel ball, a 50 lb medicine ball, and a 100 lb medicine ball) on the mattress and measured how much they compressed the surface.
The variations in size, weight and density are meant to simulate different body parts and different sized sleepers.
- 6 lb medicine ball: 2.5 cm of sinkage.
- 10 lb steel ball: 5 cm of sinkage.
- 50 lb medicine ball: 10 cm of sinkage.
- 100 lb medicine ball: 14 cm inches of sinkage.
If you’ve been paying attention, these results shouldn’t surprise you too much, as they sync up nicely with how I experienced the bed, which is to say they demonstrate some pretty intense sinkage thanks to the thick layers of memory foam up top. That being said, these measurements confirm that you’re most likely to feel more “in” the Nectar UK than “on top” of it.
BASIC INFORMATION
- Sleep Trial: 365 nights.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
- Shipping: Free, arrives compressed in a box.
Just getting started? Begin your mattress search with my mattress reviews breakdown.
NECTAR REVIEWS: SIZE AND PRICING INFORMATION
If you’re convinced the Nectar is the right mattress for you, the size and pricing information for the mattress are below. Please note that these prices reflect standard pricing, but coupons are often available.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 190cm x 90cm x 25cm | £469 |
| Small Double | 190cm x 120cm x 25cm | £569 |
| Double | 190cm x 135cm x 25cm | £569 |
| King | 200cm x 150cm x 25cm | £699 |
| Super King | 200cm x 180cm x 25cm | £769 |
IS THE NECTAR UK MATTRESS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at the mattress, I want to provide you with a few recommendations and some of the most common Nectar complaints:
Recommendations
- First and foremost, the Nectar UK could make a great bed for anyone who wants that classic memory foam feel with its deep body contouring and sinkage.
- This group will likely include side sleepers, who could benefit from the bed’s cushiony pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
- And lastly, with its excellent motion transfer, I’d also say the Nectar UK could be a solid pick for couples.
Nectar Complaints
- With virtually no bounce, this mattress may not be a great pick for those in search of some buoyant support.
- I’d also say that the memory foam top layers make it difficult to change positions, so this may not be a winner for combo sleepers.
For more information on the Nectar UK, visit its website here!
