Elite is not a word I would have used to describe a mattress; largely because, until this year, I never really thought about mattresses at all. Come January, however, I was thinking about them all the time. Having just moved into a new property, I found myself the new owner (well, renter) of a "brand new" mattress that wreaked havoc on my back.
We're talking you-can-feel-the-bed-frame-through-the-mattress levels of havoc. Of course, as someone who had never experienced back problems before, the fact that my mattress was to blame hadn't crossed my mind until my faithful colleague and mattress expert, Daphne Bugler, suggested it might be the case. And it was time to do something about it.
That something turned out to be the Emma Elite Mattress – apparently, the mattress megabrand’s “most advanced” release to date, chock full of innovative sleep tech. The TL;DR review? To my most sceptical surprise, I’m now having the most blissful sleep of my life. Moving in The mattress came with a slightly rocky start.
Despite arriving in a conveniently vacuum-packed box, I found it extremely heavy and difficult to manoeuvre into my bedroom. At 5ft 1, I was basically the same size and weight as the box. Still, compact packaging makes it a great option for smaller spaces, no matter how narrow the hallways or door frames might be, and it’s incredibly satisfying to watching it unfurl into its full glory, like a little bed soufflé rising to your service.
But what makes it so special? In this unbearable heatwave, one of the first things you’ll notice about the Emma Elite is its remarkable cooling ability. We've all experienced those stifling summer nights where even the most super-powered fan doesn’t cut it, and yet, one essential new tweak in Emma’s mattress composition seems to strong-arm the most sweltering temps into submission. That tweak is ‘AirGrid’ technology, which acts almost like an air-circulating cloud underneath the mattress’ top layer (a moisture-wicking and washable cover).
With a soft bounce, you simply never feel heavy or like you’re sinking into the mattress. Naturally, AirGrid’s cushioning comes with benefits for havoc-wreaked backs everywhere (see: above), but it doesn’t stop there. The Emma Elite also excels in pressure relief, thanks to its MemoryAdapt foam.
It’s a blessing for anyone who struggles with aches and pains, as this layer (number three of seven) adapts to your body's unique shape and distributes weight evenly across multiple zones. I’m a face-down sleeper who has always felt a little imbalanced in bed, but the Elite provides consistent support that feels personalized and promises to do so whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, too. Easy on your back Of course, memory foam isn’t everyone’s favourite choice.
And it certainly wasn’t mine. Many memory foam mattresses suffer on either side of a broad sleep spectrum; either they’re too firm, leaving you feeling like you’re sleeping on a board, or too soft (see: my previous mattress), making you feel like you’re stuck in bedframe quicksand. The Emma Elite strikes the perfect balance with its SupportBase foam and Infinity springs.
This combination ensures that you feel cradled without excessive sinking, maintaining the correct alignment of your spine (and boy, does my newly non-problematic back appreciate it). The catch? The catch, though it feels slightly dramatic to call it a catch , is its £999 price tag. There is very little in this world that I feel justifies a four-figure price tag, and the investment will certainly count a number of customers out.
If that’s you, I’d keep an eye out on Emma’s sale (for example, it’s now currently 40% off at £599.40) and rest assured that while, yes, great sleep still won't be coming cheap, the Elite does come with an impressive 200-night trial (giving you ample time to decide if it’s the right fit for you) as well as a 10-year warranty. As far as I’m concerned, a mattress is not something you replace often, so this assurance speaks volumes about its durability and quality.
And when you break it down, investing less than £100 a year in an elite sleep experience hardly seems like a bad investment. All things considered, this is the kind of mattress that makes you want to buy a better bed frame. And sheets.
And maybe a few cute throw pillows. Because, whether you like it or not, you’re going to be obsessed with Elite sleep. NOW READ Best Mattress 2024: 21 Best Tried & Tested Memory Foam, Pocket Sprung and Hybrid Mattresses Best pillows, tried and tested for cloud-like comfort The best duvets tried and tested for luxury hotel-grade shuteye.
