The one thing I've learned from renting for the past four years is that you need, and I cannot stress this enough, your own mattress. The Otty Pure Hybrid Mattress with Charcoal came into my life during a stint at my fourth rental property in as many years, and rest assured; I'll be bringing it along to my next one.
As a tenant, I've slept on some pretty appalling mattresses in my time. The one with the troubling brown stains that I tried (and failed) to ignore, the one that had rusty springs protruding into my back, and the last one before I met Otty: a lumpy old thing with a terrible odour that even permeated my dreams. For the most part, I've just got on with it. Who needs sleep anyway? Well, as it turns out, I do.
If I make a big purchase, you can bet I'll do my research to ensure it's the right product for me. I've struggled with allergies and eczema for as long as I can remember. Still, it's only recently that I've started experimenting with lifestyle changes to try and soothe my sensitive skin and nasal passages (I even gave up wearing gel nails). Naturally, I was intrigued by the Otty Pure Hybrid mattress, which is the first mattress to be infused with bamboo and charcoal for their reported antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties. Could a good mattress be the secret to better skin, as well as sleep?
I finally decided it was high time to invest in a new mattress (as well as a comfy spot to watch movies on my laptop). With that in mind, I've been testing the Otty Pure Hybrid Mattress with Charcoal for the last three months to see if I can elevate my sleep – without aggravating my allergies. I've considered how easy it was to set up, comfort, design, and price point. Here's my honest review.
Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo Mattress review: at a glance
- Tested by: Lucy Morgan, GLAMOUR's Purpose Editor and Deputy Website Editor (size tested: UK Double Size).
- Tested for: 3 months. You can find out more about how we test products here.
- Firmness: 6 out of 10.
- Pros: Attainable price point, sustainable materials used, comfort, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, 10-year guarantee, 100-night sleep trial offer (available for one person per household).
- Cons: Needs rotating once a month for the first year, so you may need to set a reminder on your phone.
- Price: £555.99 reduced from £749.99.
Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo Mattress: first impressions
The Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo Mattress arrived compressed tightly in a thick recyclable cardboard box, which two couriers helped me carry up the stairs to my first-floor flat. You pay an extra £20 for this as part of Otty's premium delivery service, including moving the mattress to your room of choice, unpacking it, and removing the box. Otty also offers an old-mattress disposal service, which is helpful if you're short on storage space.
As you can tell (see below), I treated the occasion as though Christmas had come early. The package nearly came up to my shoulders (I'm 5ft 11), but the unwrapping process was oh-so-smooth thanks to the clear graphic instructions on the side of the box. Still, if you've got a spare pair of hands, I'd recommend making use of them.
Otty recommends allowing the mattress to fully expand two or three days after unrolling it. Tempting as it was to jump straight on and have a wriggle, I managed to follow this advice, letting the mattress breathe in my living room with the heating cranked up to speed the process along.
Fair warning: like most new mattresses, the initial smell is not exactly pleasant. This is known as “off-gassing”, according to Otty, which is “due to the release of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) used in the manufacturing process.” Rest assured, the smell soon wore off, and once the mattress was settled in my bed frame, topped with a mattress topper and freshly washed cotton bed sheets, I was good to go.
GLAMOUR road test: comfort and design
Let's start with the Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo Mattress's hypoallergenic credentials. Otty describes this mattress as an “enhancement” to its multi-award-winning Original hybrid, which has a slightly higher price point at £649.99 (reduced from £799.99). Besides being more affordable, this newer offering is also infused with bamboo and charcoal, which, according to Otty, provide plenty of health benefits for a better night's sleep.
The embroidered cover of the mattress contains 2cm of bamboo and charcoal-infused memory foam. When it comes to mattresses, bamboo is often praised for its naturally hypoallergic properties, while activated charcoal helps to eliminate any aggravating odours that could set off allergies. As a longtime eczema sufferer, I can be sceptical of anything labelled as ‘hypoallergic’, but over three months, I was pleasantly surprised by this mattress. Itchiness has not kept me awake on a single night, which is pretty astonishing. Of course, the usual rules – makeup off before bed, washing sheets regularly, using products for sensitive skin, etc. – still apply. And it's always a good idea to chat with your GP and/or a reputable dermatologist if you're worried about your skin.
As the name suggests, this mattress is a hybrid, combining springs and foam for a supported yet soft night's sleep. The Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo mattress has 2000 16cm springs (higher than most mattress brand competitors), earning it a medium-firm firmness rating, which sits atop a high-density base layer of foam for a solid foundation. During my three-month test period, I appreciated how I could sink into this mattress at bedtime but still feel able to spring out in the morning.
This mattress also makes use of a unique AirFlow system consisting of small perforations throughout its layers. This allows fresh air to circulate through the mattress to help move along any odours and, crucially, remove excess heat to avoid those pesky night sweats.
An important note on maintenance: Otty recommends rotating (not flipping) this mattress every month during the first year after purchase and once every three months after that. This is very much a two-person job, and if you're anything like me, you'll need to set a reminder on your phone. If you don't, the mattress could start to sag, and you won't be eligible for a refund under the 10-year guarantee.
Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo Mattress review: the verdict
If you suffer from sensitive skin and/or allergies, you're probably used to switching up your lifestyle to see what works (and what doesn't). For me, roadtesting a new mattress had a wholly positive impact, and I was able to drift off to sleep without worrying about itchy skin, watery eyes, or a stuffy nose. I'm sadly not immune to the common cold, but when I have been struck down, I've been able to retreat into bed, knowing that the mattress won't aggravate my symptoms.
I was also impressed by the affordable pricing. I previously thought that investing in a new mattress would cost upwards of £1000, but the Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo mattress (currently £555.99) is proof that you don't need to bankrupt yourself for a good night's sleep.
And to my fellow renters? Trust me, it's worth the space in your moving van.
After more sleep content? We've got the best mattress, weighted blankets and mattress toppers, best duvets and the best pillows, plus anti-allergy pillows, cooling pillows and silk bedding.
For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.
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