Marshal versus Offset Coil

Wendysd · September 1, 2018, 1:15am

We are looking to replace our mattress very soon and are seriously considering a Parklane. Given the cost and inconvenience to do an exchange if we select incorrectly I am wondering if you could explain the difference between your Marshal and offset coil lines. Our current bed is only 2 1/2 years old and became soft and unsupportive rather quickly (it is not a Parklane). We are both back and side sleepers (predominately side) and would like something with some plushness on top but strong support underneath.

Thanks!

Parklane · September 1, 2018, 3:52pm

Hi Wendysd,

Thank you for writing on The Mattress Underground forum; this is a great place to get information. Based on you saying:

I would look at our Offset line-up and our Latex products.
This would have the “Predictable” support for the core of the mattress, and then it’s just finding the right combination of comfort layers on top.
We are the only local store that sells 3" soft and firm Latex Toppers
and 1 1/2" and 3" Wool Toppers.
One of the great things about you being local is you can visit one of our 10 Showrooms for a personal fitting by one of our trained Sales Associates. Our team is not paid on commission, so their entire focus is getting you the right Parklane mattress for your sleep style. Be sure to ask for your Mattress Underground Discountwhen you are ready to buy.
If you want to write to me directly at [email protected], I can find out what area you are in and make specific recommendations for a Showroom and Sales Associate that I think would work best with you.

Debbie Lewis

Wendysd · September 2, 2018, 2:51am

Thank you for the information and recommendation Debbie. Could you please explain the difference in the feel and performance between the two coil types so I understand why you recommend the offset in our case?

Thanks

Parklane · September 2, 2018, 5:37am

Hi Wendysd,
I am sorry I did not do a good job explaining the coils and their differences in the first response.
Marshall Coils are the “generic” term for Pocket Coils. These were made famous by Simmons in their Beauty Rest line. They are individual coils that are encased in a non-woven fabric. The spring is loose in the encasement, and the rows are glued together. This type of coils has the ability to take on the shape of a body profile and assist with pressure points better than any other support system. Our Marshall Coil Line-Up has 8 choices in a variety of price points. The differences are in the comfort layers. Beds like The Huntington uses coil on coil technology, and has been extremely popular in our line. If you have an Apple product (I Phone or I Pad) you can download our free APP, and see the individual builds for every bed in our line-up. We also have I Pads in every store for your shopping convenience.

Good quality Pocket coils in general have the greatest “response range” which means that they can be softer on initial compression and then firmer on deeper compression. They also have the advantage of providing greater “point elasticity” which is the ability to form itself around your body profile. This means that they are particularly suitable for use in “progressive” mattress designs or with comfort layers like natural fibers which have less elasticity and ability to form a pressure relieving cradle as they can “borrow” this ability to some degree from the innerspring beneath it. In their best quality they are the most expensive innerspring to manufacture however there are many cheaper versions that are being imported. How they are joined together, the nesting pattern, and what surrounds them is important to quality as the biggest disadvantage of a lower quality pocket coil is that they can migrate with use through lower quality pockets, fabrics, or methods of connecting them together. North American made pocket coils are usually (although certainly not always) higher in quality than Asian imports. In the case of pocket coils … more is generally better as more coils allows the use of softer higher gauge wire and gives the innerspring a greater ability to help the comfort layer in forming a cradle. If you are comparing here though (for those of you who just can’t resist the temptation to count coils), only compare pocket coils to pocket coils since even rough comparisons between categories can be very misleading and in many cases meaningless.

The other type of spring we offer is the The Offset Coil. This is a spring that Sealy made famous with their posturepedic line, and uses what I call “predictable support” The coils are hinged and connected, so it supports your trunk area better than the Marshall Coil.

Good quality Offset coils share some of the same qualities of Pocket coils and are often used in higher quality mattresses. They are an offshoot of Bonnell coils with a “hinged and shaped (squared) wire” on top which when joined with the coil next to it (with a helical wire) creates a hinging effect which flexes under softer pressure while the main body of the coil “kicks in” with deeper compression. There are several versions including free arm offset and double offset (has a squared off section on each side of the coil). Some of these hinges extend to one side only while others extend to both sides. Some are also hinged on the top and bottom. They have the ability to be both soft on top and firmer with deeper pressure and can be made firmer than Pocket coils because the individual coils are joined together with a “helical wire” and can “share the load” more than a pocket coil. For those who need some softness in an innerspring support layer and then firm support underneath this, an offset coil is a very good choice. They are generally the second most expensive form of innerspring although in their more complex designs they can approach the manufacturing expense of some pocket coils. These too would be very suitable for either a progressive or a differential mattress design.

Please refer to this Post which gives more detail about the springs. We use two excellent Offset coils in our retail line-up, and then we use a less expensive Offset in the lower priced mattresses like the Fernwood and the Mason.

Based on what you said in your initial post

I would recommend starting on the Offset Line-Up and the Latex beds. Then I would try a Marshall Coil mattress so you can feel the difference. I have cut-a-ways of each spring unit at every Showroom so you can see and feel the difference. This is much easier to understand one you see it in person. Again i want to encourage you to visit a store and have a free, no obligation fitting to the best mattress for your particular body and sleep style. I would be happy to send you to a specific showroom and specific RSA to help you start your mattress journey. Please write to me off this site at debbie @parklanemattresses.com for additional information.
I hope this has given you additional information about the springs, and that you have decided to visit one of our 10 Showroomsto work with our non-commissioned sales people to find the best Parklane bed for your sleeping style.

Please contact me at [email protected] for additional recommendations.
Sincerely,

Debbie Lewis