Harrison Spinks Velocity 8750 mattress review: A sumptuous bed-in-a-box with green credentials

The Harrison Spinks Velocity 8750 is one the firm’s new range of pocket-sprung mattresses that arrive vacuum packed and rolled up on your door within 24 hours of ordering. It differs from the more affordable Velocity 4250 that I’ve already tested in that it’s a dual-sided mattress, meaning you can sleep on both sides of it. The advantage? It should have a longer lifespan.

Harrison Spinks Velocity 8750 mattress review: What you need to know

Unsurprisingly, the construction of this model is rather different to its cheaper stablemate. Although they share the same full-size “Advanced Cortec Quad Core pocket springs”, in this model the springs are sandwiched between two layers of 4000 HD pocket springs.

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As the mattress’ name indicates, you’re getting more springs and that’s partly because there are 4000 microsprings in each layer (where the Velocity 4250 has 2500 HD microsprings). The other reason is of course that this model has two layers of HD springs, where the Velocity 4250 combines HD micro springs with a layer of “Posturfil” micro springs in its foundation.

Still with me? Good. The rest of the 8750’s construction is similar to the 4250: its “comfort” layers are made from blended wool, viscose, blended flax, hemp and cotton. It’s rated with the same medium-tension rating. Last but not least, they have the same eco credentials, with Harrison Spinks promising no materials used in its manufacture will end up in landfill.

The main practical difference is that you can rotate and flip this model to reduce body impressions, where the Velocity 4250 can only be rotated. Harrison Spinks recommends you rotate, flip and then rotate again at one-month intervals, after which you can repeat the process when the seasons change.

There are handles on the sides to help you do this, but it’s very heavy at 41kg (in king size) so you’ll need someone to give you a helping hand. It’s also worth bearing in mind that, because they arrived rolled, Velocity mattresses are more flexible than typical spring mattresses and this can make moving them even tougher.

Harrison Spinks Velocity 8750 mattress review: Price and Competition

As I’ve already mentioned, the 8750 is one of the most expensive models in the Velocity range. Starting at £850 for a single and rising to £1,200 and £1,300 for double and king sizes, it’s much more expensive than the Velocity 4250.

In terms of new-age, bed-in-a-box rivals, only the high-end Simba Hybrid Pro and Brook and Wilde Elite have comparable pricing structures. The Simba will set you back £1,074 and £1,229 in double and king sizes respectively, should you buy it when it’s not discounted. The Brook and Wilde Elite, on the other hand, will cost you £1,100 or £1,200.

Crucially, although neither of these rival mattresses is dual-sided, both come with lengthy money-back guarantees (200-days for Simba and 100-days for Brook and Wilde), meaning you can return them for a full refund if you’re not happy with them. Harrison Spinks, on the other hand, offers only a 60-night “comfort guarantee”, where you can swap it for another mattress in the range inside that period if you’re happy to pay the difference.

The best alternatives and where to buy them:

• Harrison Spinks Velocity 4250 | Buy now from Barker and Stonehouse
• Simba Hybrid Pro | Buy now from Simba
• Brook and Wilde Elite | Buy now from Brook and Wilde

Harrison Spinks Velocity 8750 mattress review: Comfort and performance

Despite the fact that its comfort layers are made from the same materials as the cheaper Velocity 4250, it’s immediately apparent that the Velocity 8750 is a different mattress when you first sit or lie down on it. Whether that’s down to the depth of those layers (I’ve asked Harrison Spinks for more details in this respect), its different micro spring layer or its dual-sided design, I’m not sure, but the 8750 overall has a more substantial, sumptuous feel to it.

At the same time, these more robust-feeling upper layers make for a bed that’s firmer than the Velocity 4250. Indeed, despite being rated as having a medium tension, I’d argue that medium-firm is a more accurate description. That’s not a bad thing, though, and for many the combination of superb support its ample upholstery will be exactly what they’re looking for.

I was very happy sleeping on my back, side and front on the Velocity 8750 and, for reference, I weigh a little over 70kg. If you’re much lighter, you’ll likely find it firmer and better suited to sleeping on your back; if you’re heavier, it may lend itself better to side sleeping. As you’d expect from a mattress with natural fillings, the Velocity 8750 will give a little in time, although I didn’t notice any drastic body impressions after the first weeks of testing it.

When it comes to mattresses with natural fillings, in particular, I’d recommend following the manufacturer’s guidelines to the letter when it comes to rotating and turning if you want to minimise this effect and improve the mattress’ longevity. That might sound like a chore, but the plus side to having natural fillings is that they’re better temperature regulators than foam.

This was certainly the case with the 8750 and it never had that slightly suffocating feeling that sometimes comes with foam and other synthetic upper layers. That’s not a guarantee you won’t ever get too warm, but it’s something that can be easily managed by choosing the right bedding.

The flipside is that I did find the upholstery in the 8750 somewhat less effective than foam at absorbing the movements of the person you share a bed with. That’s not atypical of a naturally filled mattress but it’s worth bearing in mind nonetheless.

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Harrison Spinks Velocity 8750 mattress review: Verdict

Whether the Velocity 8750 is the mattress for you, then, largely depends on what you’re looking for. If you’ve struggled to find a mattress that’s supportive enough without feeling rock hard, the Velocity 8750 fits the bill perfectly. It’s both sumptuous and supportive, and suits a range of sleeping positions.

Alternatively, if you’ve been put off bed-in-a-box mattresses by their environmental impact or stuffy synthetic comfort layers, this range delivers nearly all the same conveniences while being made entirely from natural materials.

And while the 8750 is more expensive than the excellent 4250, I think that’s a reasonable premium to pay for the benefit of a double-sided design and more generous, robust-feeling comfort layers. Given you’re likely to spend some 20,000 hours lying on it throughout its life, it’s well worth the extra.