My Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress review puts the much-loved sleep brand's new Amazon-exclusive mattress to the test to see how it performs compared to the best mattresses on the market.

In a nutshell

First things first, this is a very affordable mattress. It's sold exclusively on Amazon, rather than on Simba's own website, which, to my mind, suggests the brand is aiming to deliver a budget-friendly option that suits shoppers with an under-£500 budget.

A double of the Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress costs £399 and a king-size £429 as of writing, which is about as affordable as you can go and still get a decent mattress.

And all in all, I do think this new launch is one of the best budget mattresses out there, other than a few niggles. Especially because, even though this mattress is sold through Amazon, Simba is still honouring its usual 200-night sleep trial, which means you can test this mattress out at home to see if it suits your sleeping style before you have to commit to keeping it.

As a back and side sleeper, I found its medium-firm foam sleep surface very comfortable, and enjoyed its light cushioning around my shoulder and hip. My husband and I share a bed with our toddler most nights, and we also really appreciated its motion isolation, which meant we didn't notice when one of us in the bed tossed or turned. And, it has a nice amount of bounce to say it lacks springs.

On the downside, I didn't feel it really lived up to its name in the cool stakes. It didn't cause us to overheat, but it definitely wasn't as cooling and breathable as I would have liked either. And its edge support was lacking, which meant my leg could slip out of bed when I was pushed to the edge by our star-fishing toddler!

However, if you're not a hot sleeper and there aren't three of you crammed into one bed, I'd definitely recommend this mattress for most sleepers. If you're on a budget and are searching for a king-size mattress for less than £500, I think this is a great choice that you won't be left unimpressed with.

Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress Review

Specifications

• Type: Foam
• Construction materials: Breathable cover, graphite-infused Simbatex cooling foam, foam support layer, zoned CertiPUR foam base
• Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
• Tensions available: Medium-firm
• Height: 23cm
• Side handles: Yes
• Flip or rotate: Rotate
• Manufacturers sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

Having finally managed to nail my sleep setup – the perfect combination of a medium-firm mattress, a thick mattress topper, and some sumptuous pillows – I've been snoozing well for a few years. Despite my toddler getting in with us every night and my husband turning into a breathing radiator past the hour of 10 o'clock!

As such, I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive about changing my sleep setup to test the Simbatex Cool mattress. However, I worried for no reason – luckily, I instantly clicked with this mattress from the first night I slept on it.

It's crafted from three main layers in total. There's a Simbatex foam layer, and below this, you'll find a wedge of foam support, above the final layer, which is zoned CentiPUR foam.

I'm mostly a back and side sleeper, and I found this mattress to be instantly comfortable. It's a true medium-firm feel, and I found it lightly cushioned me at the pressure points of my shoulders and hip, where I need it most. It also kept my spine well-aligned in both positions.

I never suffered from any aches while sleeping on this mattress, not even once. The same goes for my husband, who was initially annoyed that I was changing our much-loved mattress, but now knows he overreacted a little and had nothing to worry about.

As this mattress is foam only, that means there are no springs inside, and we were initially concerned that might mean a lack of support, especially for my husband, who is heavier than I am. However, he sleeps on his back and side, but mostly his side, and he also found this mattress ultra-comfortable from day dot.

2. Motion isolation

As an all-foam mattress with no springs in sight, the motion isolation of this mattress is impressive.

I share a bed with my husband, and very often our toddler, and when my husband moved off the bed, I barely felt it. And the same goes for him, as he rarely felt me tossing and turning at night.

Even with our toddler in tow, the motion isolation proved to be very impressive, especially for the affordable price tag.

3. Responsiveness

I was also super impressed by the responsiveness of this mattress. I found its cushioning cradled my pressure points perfectly, but unlike some memory foam mattresses I've tested, it doesn't feel so foamy that you can't roll around or get out of bed with ease.

It was easy to move around on, and even more fun for my toddler to bounce on top of! I never struggled to switch positions on this mattress, although when I pressed my hand on it, it did leave a visible print for a few minutes.

4. Temperature regulation

Since this mattress is specifically called 'cool', I had high hopes that it would give us some sort of relief in the heatwave we were baking in during testing. I put it to the test during one of the hottest Mays on record, with the temperatures where I live reaching 32C.

Our bedroom is very warm, so most nights from around April, we need to sleep with a fan on, regardless of whether it's 15C or 30C outside. And perhaps we were expecting too much, but on nights when we didn't sleep with a fan on, we were both still very warm and sweaty.

That said, it didn't actively cause me to overheat like some budget memory foam mattresses I've tested. It just didn't keep us that cool either.

Simba uses its trademark graphite-infused foam in the top layer, and according to the brand, that Simbatex foam also offers five times more airflow than standard memory foam, so I don't doubt this mattress is more breathable than many cheap foam options.

From its name, I guess I just expected it to be a little cooler to the touch. My husband, as a hot sleeper, has a cooling pillow which is impressively cold when you lay your head on it.

Overall, if you're a hot sleeper, this mattress may not be as cooling as you'd hope. A natural fill mattress such as the Hypnos Pillow Top Select is definitely your best bet there, but if you're looking for an under £500 mattress that won't actively overheat you, the Simbatex Cool did 'okay' for temperature regulation. Not brilliant, but definitely not awful either.

5. Edge support

When I unboxed this mattress, I didn't have high hopes for its edge support, mostly because the mattress is slightly rounded at the edges and doesn't feature an edge trim, as more expensive mattresses generally do.

One of the main USPs of this mattress is also its affordability, and having put numerous budget mattresses through their paces, the one area they do all tend to scrimp on is edge support.

As you can see, the mattress sinks quite a lot at the edge when I'm sat on it, and – as a parent who is regularly joined in bed by our toddler – I found this a bit of an issue when sleeping too.

During the night, if my toddler fancied sleeping in the starfish position and I found myself at the very edge of the mattress, I found that my leg would slip off the mattress and onto the floor. This was only when I was pushed to the very, very edge, though.

6. Sleep trial

As this mattress is sold via Amazon rather than direct from Simba, I was really pleasantly surprised to find out it still comes with Simba's usual 200-night sleep trial.

That's important because it can be tricky to tell if a mattress is really going to suit you when you're buying online, so it really helps to take some of the risk out of the purchase.

7. Ease of care

Similarly, considering this is a purse-friendly mattress, I was pleasantly surprised to discover it still comes with a removable cover that unzips for easy cleaning.

You can add a mattress protector to any mattress, of course, but, personally, I think that the removable cover is a total game-changer, as I like to wash all of my bedding, pillow protectors, and everything else I sleep on, a good few times a year. Especially since my dog sometimes comes up on our bed while we watch TV in the evenings.

Once unzipped and removed from the mattress, the washing instructions say to wash the cover at 40C; you just can't tumble dry. This makes the job of cleaning your mattress a breeze, plus it is easy to unzip and fit back onto the mattress.

It also comes with sturdy side handles – again, something many under-£500 mattresses lack – and they make rotating the mattress every few months a dream. It's not that heavy either, plus there's no need to flip this mattress, so it's very easy to care for.

8. Delivery

When it comes to the Simbatex Cool mattress delivery process, you get free shipping, and this can be as fast as three days. You have the option to also buy service add-ons, which include unpacking (£5) or unpack and recycle (£20), in which they will take your old mattress and recycle it.

You will be contacted by a carrier to choose a delivery date that suits you. I chose a day I knew I would be working from home. Unfortunately, I also received a text the day before this, alerting me that my delivery was en route, but this turned out to be a glitch in the system.

I was assured by my contact that this was wrong and it would still arrive the next day. However, unlike a normal order from Simba's own website, I couldn't use any online tracking capabilities, which did make things a little more stressful.

On the delivery day, I did receive a tracking text with a link that gave me a more specific timeframe for delivery, and it informed me I needed to be home to sign for the mattress.

The mattress arrived rolled, although not boxed. And unlike a normal Simba delivery, which is delivered to your room of choice, I needed to get it into our bedroom myself.

I received a king-size mattress, which is heavy, so I wouldn't have been able to lift it on my own, but luckily I had help on hand.

This mattress did initially have a strong chemical smell after being unwrapped. This lingered for around a day. It wasn't unbearable, and rest assured, my bedroom air purifier didn't flag it, but I did leave the windows open whilst it was offgassing.

The plastic that this mattress was protected in was labelled as '4 LDPE', which is recyclable. This does depend on your local authority, though, as in some places you can leave it kerbside with the rest of your recycling, while in other areas, it may need to go to your local supermarket.

9. Third-party reviews

The only way to buy one of these mattresses is via Amazon. Since it's a pretty new product, there aren't a huge number of reviews yet – 24, as of writing, to be exact.

Overall, it's given a 4.5 out of 5 star rating, and shoppers rave about how supportive it is, plus mention it being budget-friendly and noticeably cooling. I agree with the support and purse-friendly pricing, but I can't relate to the cooling comments, unfortunately, and my husband agrees.

Some shoppers complained about the chemical smell after unwrapping their mattress, which I can definitely relate to, as this does linger for a day or so.

10. Value for money

Starting at only £349 for a single size, I think this mattress is a true steal. The most you'll pay for one of these mattresses is £479, and that's for a super king size.

In comparison with our best-rated mattress, which is the Simba Hybrid, you'll be saving 50%. This mattress comes in at £999 for a king-size (when it's not on sale).

I do think the Simbatex Cool feels like a cheaper mattress when compared directly to the Simba Hybrid, but then, it is. And you still get a lot of the bonuses of a 'normal' Simba mattress, such as the cooler graphite-infused foam and 200-night sleep trial.

Even our best-rated affordable mattress, which is the DreamCloud Hybrid, is still £599 for a king-size. So, overall, if you're looking for an under £500 mattress, I think the Simbatex Cool is a very good option.

11. Environmental impact

This mattress perhaps doesn't scream green in the same way as Simba's more expensive range, but it is made in the UK, meaning it won't travel far to get from production to your doorstep. It also has CertiPur-approved foams inside – these are certified for safe sleep, meaning these foams have been tested for environmental, health and safety properties.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

Sleep position: Back/side
Tension preference: Medium-firm
Sleep problems: None

In putting the Simbatex Cool Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, I considered the eleven factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that my husband and I, (plus quite frequently my 2.5-year-old and dog!) slept on the mattress for a month before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched the mattress's environmental impact and any third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

My Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper review puts the brand's latest launch, and its most affordable topper yet, to the test.

The Cool Foam claims to allow five times more airflow than standard memory foam mattress toppers, and as someone who has spent four years testing the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market, I wanted to put that claim to the test.

In a nutshell

After sleeping on top of the Simba Cool Foam Mattress Topper for the past three weeks, I think this topper is a brilliant option if you want to add some extra cushioning to your bed.

My husband and I also appreciated the improved motion isolation it added to our bed. We couldn't feel each other toss or turn at night, and when our kids jumped into bed, I wasn't bounced awake as I usually am.

However, I did find it fairly soft – if you crave a more solid sleep surface, this might not be the mattress topper for you. In terms of the name “Cool Foam”, I’m also not totally sold that this is more cooling than most other mattress toppers I’ve tried.

However, it didn’t cook me while I slept as some memory foam toppers have in the past, so although it wasn't as cool as the natural materials in the Woolroom Deluxe Mattress Topper I usually sleep on, if you're not a hot sleeper this likely won't be an issue, and even if you are, this topper still didn't actively cause me to overheat.

Overall, I think the generous 200-night sleep trial, Simba's excellent customer service, and this topper's cushioning comfort and excellent motion isolation will make it a good buy for many.

Simba Hybrid Essential Topper review

Specifications

• RRP: £149 / £199 / £199 / £249 / £299
• Sizes: single / small double / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 6.5cm
• Construction: foam
• Care instructions: removable cover is machine-washable at 40ºC, do not tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

Attaching the topper to the bed

When the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper arrived on my doorstep, it was in a tiny box. As a seasoned mattress-topper reviewer, I was genuinely mystified as to how a king-size topper could fit in such a small box. But it did – probably because this mattress is pure foam, rather than hybrid, so it can squash down a lot smaller.

Inside the box, the topper was vacuum-packed in plastic, which was easy to remove. Just be careful not to cut into your topper while executing this move. The mattress topper then unfurled. I would suggest unboxing your topper as far in advance of sleeping on it as you can – a day or so. This is because the topper slowly reshaped and expanded over time.

It also allows time for off-gassing – the release of VOCs from the manufacturing process. The off-gassing smell from this topper was quite strong – I left the room well ventilated, but it still took a while to dissipate.

There are thick elasticated straps on the corners of the topper to attach it around the mattress. Plus, there is an anti-slip underside of this topper, but I found this to be almost imperceptible. However, the elasticated straps were generous enough to fit around my extra-thick Brook + Wilde mattress underneath with ease, so it should fit most mattresses.

Comfort

The main difference between the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper and Simba's other toppers is that it's made from three core layers rather than four, and that 'missing' layer is the microsprings the other toppers use. Instead, the Cool Foam is a foam-only topper.

The uppermost layer is Simbatex – this is Simba’s own comfort-engineered memory foam. This foam is infused with graphite particles. The idea is that the graphite will draw heat away from the body, while the open-cell structure will allow fresh air to flow into the topper to keep you cool.

We’ll dive into temperature regulation in the next section, but in terms of comfort, Simbatex is meant to be bouncier and more elastic than regular memory foam. This layer is the cushioning element of the mattress, offering pressure relief on hips and joints so you feel gently supported without that sinking feeling you get from a lot of old-style memory foams.

Underneath this layer is a foam base. This section is doing the heavy lifting in the topper – it should distribute your weight evenly over the mattress topper so no spots get overloaded. This means you feel supported and your spine stays in good alignment (the holy grail in terms of minimising discomfort while sleeping).

This topper is 6.5cm deep, and Simba says that it's medium-firm, although I found it fairly soft.

However, despite usually preferring a firmer mattress, I really enjoyed sleeping on the Simba Cool Foam topper. I found it responded well to my body, cocooning me and contouring around my body. I woke without an ache or pain – many soft mattresses leave me with lower-back pain.

During testing, I also really appreciated the motion isolation it added to our bed. Even when my children bounced into bed in the morning, I found that I remained asleep – we call that in the parenting trade “an absolute win”. But it shows that the topper does a good job at limiting the transfer of movement across the bed. This is also essential if you’re disturbed by your partner fidgeting next to you.

I have tested many other mattress toppers – including the Simba Hybrid Essential Topper, which costs £299 for a double, and the premium £349 Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper, both of which incorporate supportive springs. In comparison, I would say this £199 all-foam topper does feel a little less robust and a little less supportive.

However, if you're simply looking to add an extra layer of comfort and cushioning to a mattress, or to mask the movements of a fidgety partner, the Cool Foam topper did a great job.

Temperature regulation

I err on the side of being a hot sleeper and often find myself overheating in bed, which then disturbs my sleep. I usually find memory foam is a particular problem for this.

As previously explained, the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper has a layer of Simbatex foam on the upper part of the topper. This foam is designed to draw heat away from your body via the graphite particles and then allow fresh air to circulate underneath you.

I slept on this topper under my usual Woolroom wool duvet during some fairly temperate nights. I did find that I felt warmer sleeping on this topper than I do on my usual Woolroom deluxe mattress topper. I think it would be hard for a synthetic foam to outdo natural materials, especially temperature-regulating wool, when it comes to breathability.

However, by no means was it intolerable heatwise, and there was no overheating that kept me awake. I was aware I was slightly warmer than I was used to, but I do think this topper slept cooler than other non-graphite-infused memory foam toppers I've slept on.

Care instructions

Looking after this mattress topper is fairly easy. There’s a zip-off cover that is machine washable cover at 40ºC on a reduced spin cycle. You shouldn’t tumble dry it though, so pick a sunny day when you can dry it on the washing line.

If you want a deeper clean, you can spot clean the foam using a soft damp cloth. You should make sure the foam is absolutely dry before sleeping on it though.

However, it is worth noting that 40ºC isn’t always hot enough to kill those pesky dust mites that cause a lot of allergies to flare up. Personally, I'd always recommend using one of the best mattress protectors over the top.

Sleep trial

Simba offer a 200-night sleep trial on this topper. This is more than enough time to figure out if the topper is right for you.

It’s worth noting that this sleep trial kick starts as soon as your topper is delivered. So if you don’t try it for 199 nights and find out that it’s not for you on night 201, you’re out of luck. And, of course, you will need to actively notify Simba of your plans to return the topper if you’re not keen on it.

If you’re buying through a third party, double check that this offer extends to you. Not all retailers will have the same offers in place.

Value for money

The Cool Foam is now Simba’s most affordable topper. A double of this topper costs £199, while Simba's Hybrid Essential Mattress Topper costs £299 and the premium Simba Hybrid Mattress Topper is £349 for a double.

In order to achieve that lower price point, this mattress topper has been “streamlined” by Simba, so it’s foam only. The brand's other toppers are hybrid and include springs.

I found that meant this topper is a little softer than the brand's two sprung options, but I still found it very comfortable, and it added some welcome cushioning and motion isolation to our bed.

That said, I do think its £199 price point is still quite expensive. This is a pretty thick topper, at 6.5cm, but the 5cm deep Panda Topper is only a tad thinner, and the Panda Topper costs £134.95 for a double. Similarly, the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper costs £135 for the 6cm deep option and £175 for the 10cm deep option.

We've reviewed both the Panda Topper and the Dunelm Gel Fusion Mattress Topper and found both similar in terms of temperature regulation and comfort. The main difference is that the Dunelm option doesn't come with a sleep trial, whereas the Simba and Panda options both offer 200 nights to test out on your own bed.

Overall, do I think the Simba Cool Foam mattress topper is good value for money? I think it's still a little on the expensive side. Personally, I'd wait for some Simba deals to drop and hope there's a discount before I shopped.

How I tested

Usual sleep position: side
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: hip pain

In order to test out this mattress topper, I slept on it for three weeks in my own home on top of a hybrid mattress. I assessed how easy it was to attach to the bed, how comfortable it was when sleeping on my back and side, and whether it offered good temperature regulation. I also took into account how easy it was to care for and any sleep trials on offer.

Simba has just launched its Easter sale, and I've spied a £500 discount on the mattress that one of our mattress reviewers recently described as 'blissful' to sleep on.

Our mattress testing expert, Jennifer, who has spent the past month sleeping on the Simba Hybrid Luxe mattress, recently dubbed it her 'new favourite mattress', and thanks to Simba's one-week sale, you can currently snap it up with a 30% discount.

If I weren't already the happy owner of a Simba mattress, then I would be very tempted to shop this deal myself.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I spend a big chunk of my time testing mattresses for our guide to the best mattresses on the market, and as one of the leading mattress makers in the UK, that means I also spend a lot of time keeping up-to-date with all Simba's latest deals.

This Easter sale features some of the biggest Simba savings I've seen so far in 2026, with reductions on a par with the brand's Black Friday sales back in November 2025; an event that usually sees Simba offer its lowest sale prices of the year.

The Simba Easter sale runs from Monday, March 30th, until Monday, 6th April 2026, and although there are plenty of good savings to choose from, based on our tester Jennifer's recent rave review of the Simba Luxe Hybrid mattress, it's this £500 saving that instantly caught my eye.

Now, admittedly, the Luxe mattress isn't cheap. A double normally costs £1,699 at full price. But that 30% discount brings the price down to £1,189.30, which, although still an investment, is a very welcome saving.

The mattress that I own – the bestselling Simba Hybrid mattress – is also included in the sale. And although the saving isn't quite as big (there's 25% off the Simba Hybrid mattress, which means a double is reduced to £599.25 from £799), it is still the more affordable of the two.

However, having tested both mattresses, our reviewer Jennifer has voted the Luxe as her favourite. Namely because she likes the softer feel compared to the original Simba Hybrid. She's a side sleeper, so this makes sense as a side sleeper needs a cushioned sleep surface for the shoulder and hip to sink into.

I found the Simba Luxe a little *too* soft when I first tested it, and preferred the extra 'resistance' that the Simba Hybrid offered, but I have to admit, as I get older and more body parts start aching and complaining, the Luxe's extra cushioning that Jenny speaks so highly of is suddenly starting to sound quite appealing!

In fact, whatever kind of sleep surface your body prefers, there's an option to suit in the Simba range, and they all have good discounts this weekend. I've rounded up my top three suggestions below.

Having tested well over twenty Simba products by this stage, I can also confirm that Simba's customer service has always been second-to-none. I've never had such good communication, as speedy a delivery, or such versatile delivery and installation options as I've experienced with Simba.

Whenever friends and family are shopping for a mattress, this is always the brand I recommend for ease, convenience, comfort, and value for money. So if you are mattress shopping this Easter, I think this sale is definitely one to have on your radar.

Simba, one of the UK's best-known sleep retailers, has just launched an Amazon-exclusive mattress that costs only £349. That's nearly half the price of the brand's usual entry-level mattress.

The Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress went on sale for the first time this week and will be sold exclusively through Amazon's online marketplace.

As Simba puts it, it's a mattress developed 'for those seeking Simba’s signature cool comfort at an accessible price point', and its budget-friendly price tag is certainly very appealing.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've put plenty of Simba mattresses through our testing process to see how they rank against the best mattresses on the market, and I've always been impressed.

In fact, our review team has ranked the brand's original mattress, the Simba Hybrid Mattress, as the winner of Ideal Home's 'best mattress overall' category for the past five years running.

That's a big accolade, and makes it one of the few mattresses that have scored 5 out of 5 stars in our testing process. Overall, it offers a great combination of comfort, support, and value for money, with the cherry on top being Simba's excellent customer service.

However, whilst I think the Hybrid offers great value for money, it still couldn't be described as cheap. A double of the Simba Hybrid Mattress costs £799.

In contrast, the Amazon-exclusive Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress costs £399 for a double and £349 for a single. That's a £400 saving if you have a double bed.

It's also considerably cheaper than what *was* Simba's most affordable mattress, the Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress, which retails at £649 for a double.

We put the Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process last year, and it's a good mattress, but due to its price point, I didn't feel we could crown it the best budget mattress you can buy. That accolade went to the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress instead, which costs £499 for a double.

However, now that Simba has launched a mattress that's nearly half the price of its pre-existing range, all of this may change. We'll be testing this new Amazon-exclusive as soon as we can, but in the meantime, how does it differ from Simba's standard mattress range?

Well, according to the small print, this is Simba's only mattress that doesn't include springs. The rest of the brand's range consists of hybrid mattresses, which means that they're a mixture of micro or pocket springs paired with various combinations of the brand's Simbatex foam and other comfort and breathability layers.

In contrast, the new Simba Simbatex Cool Mattress is a foam-only mattress. In practical terms, that may mean that, minus the springs, it could offer a little less support than the brand's usual range, and potentially a little less breathability.

That said, Simba's 'Simbatex' foam does sleep cooler than most. That's because it's graphite-infused. Simba says this foam 'delivers over 5x more airflow than traditional memory foam, helping reduce heat build-up for cooler sleep,' and we've always found this to be true during testing.

Unlike many other mattresses at this price point, Simba also makes sure to use CertiPUR® approved foams, which means all its foams have been tested to ensure they meet environmental and health standards. This means they emit low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are made without heavy metals such as mercury, lead, or cadmium, for example.

Plus, it looks like this mattress also benefits from Simba's standard 200-night sleep trial, which is a really useful feature that allows you to test the mattress out in your own home before you commit to keeping it.

I've included doubles in Simba's next two most affordable mattresses below for comparison, but as you can see, the new Amazon launch offers by far the most budget-friendly investment, and I think it looks like it could be a great buy.

In this Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress review, I put one of the brand's most popular mattress through its paces to see how it compares to some of the best mattresses on the market.

In a nutshell

I've reviewed a lot of mattresses over the past six years and I *think* I have a new favourite. Before I tested the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress, I would have told you the more affordable Simba Hybrid Mattress was the best sleep I've had, but things have changed.

The Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress is a wonderful concoction of springs, foam, and wool. It has a nice amount of bounce, great support, and, compared to the standard Simba Hybrid, a squishier top layer that makes for a softer feel.

As a side and back sleeper, I found this softer surface blissful, although it may not suit everyone. Heavier-weight sleepers, or front sleepers, may well find it too soft, but, personally, my comfort level whilst sleeping on the Luxe has been off the scale.

From the first night I slept on this mattress, I've found my body relieved of its usual stresses and strains. All the layers worked in harmony to support my heavy head, tense shoulders, and achy joints from an intense day as a busy mother of two. I also didn't get hot or notice any disturbance from my husband rolling over in bed. For me, that's a win, win, WIN.

Other than its softer feel dividing opinion (I have colleagues who've found this mattress too soft for their liking, and that's borne out with mixed third-party reviews, too), the only downside I encountered was that at 31cm deep this mattress may be too deep for some. Depending on your bed frame, if you're on the shorter side, you may find yourself needing to 'climb onto' this mattress rather than 'fall into' bed.

Overall though, I loved this mattress. And although the Luxe is admittedly twice the price of the Simba Hybrid at £1,699 compared to the £799 Simba Hybrid, I found it a more luxurious, cushioned sleep that I'd happily pay extra for.

Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress review

Specifications

• Type: hybrid (springs + foam)
• Construction materials: bamboo-infused wool layer, Simbatex, Aerocoil springs, micro-springs, high-density foam
• Sizes: single, small double, double, EU queen, king, super king
• Tensions available: medium-firm
• Height: 31cm
• Side handles: yes
• Flip or rotate: rotate
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 night

1. Comfort

The Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress is a hybrid foam and sprung mattress made up of nine layers.

It has a removable cover with 'cool-touch Stratos tech' that prevents heat build-up; a layer of British wool that's infused with bamboo to increase breathability; a 'Simbatex foam layer' for enhanced air flow compared to regular memory foam; two layers of 'Aerocoil' springs in 13 supportive zones; a CertiPUR foam layer for structural support; an extra layer of 900 high carbon steel micro springs; a 'SupportCore' sprung base with up to 1,000 pocketed, tempered steel barrel springs for edge-to-edge support; and a high-density foam base and cover for overall stability.

These nine layers amount to an overall mattress depth of 31cm. It makes it one of the deepest mattresses I've tested, and, with that, it makes it one of the highest beds I've slept on.

The average mattress is around 25cm deep, and depending on the height of your bed base, this could be an issue for those who are more petite than I am. I'm 5ft 8 inches, and I still found my bed quite high once this mattress was in place.

You may also find that, unless you have extra-deep fitted sheets, you run into some resistance when tucking the sheet under the mattress corners.

The Simba Hybrid Luxe is also a medium-firm mattress, which is my favoured tension. I'm a back and side-sleeper, and in both of these positions, I found myself very comfortable on the Luxe from night one.

I found the mattress offered me a "hugged", cradled feeling thanks to its cushioned top layers and support all over. My joints and the areas of tension I had in my body felt "lifted" sleeping on the Luxe, and I found relief in my pressure points. My husband agreed.

Ultimately, I found sleeping on the Simba Hybrid Luxe a dream. It feels softer than my former favourite mattress – another Simba offering, the more affordable Simba Hybrid Mattress – but I found this extra cushioning suited my side sleeping well.

That said, if you're a front sleeper, you may find it has a little too much squish for comfort, and similarly, heavier-weight sleepers may find they sink in a little too much. I weigh just under 13 stone, but heavier sleepers may prefer the firmer support of the Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress.

2. Motion isolation

The Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress has fantastic motion isolation, no doubt thanks to the softer top layer of foam and spring support working in harmony.

Neither my husband nor I noticed when the other one got out of bed in the night. Similarly, if either one of us changed sleeping position during the night, there was zero motion transfer to the other side of the bed.

There was also no rolling together into the middle of the mattress either; we both stayed on our respective sides of the mattress.

3. Responsiveness

Testing this mattress, I remembered all over again that no two hybrid mattresses feel the same. Switching from the hybrid Nectar Premier Mattress I have just tested, to sleeping on the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress gave me something that I hadn't realised I was missing, and that's bounce.

It's something the Simba Hybrid Mattress shares in common with the Luxe – instead of feeling a little 'flat' and 'dead' as many memory foam mattresses can, Simba's Simbatex foam feels 'alive' and responsive.

Thanks to that fantastic responsiveness, I didn't struggle to switch sleeping positions through the night, and any contouring around my body quickly reshaped for unrivalled support. In fact, I didn't even realise I had rolled over in the night until I woke in the morning.

4. Temperature regulation

In the past, I've woken up hot and sweaty when testing foam mattresses. But not this time. Simba has made a conscious effort to keep you feeling extra cool on its Hybrid Luxe Mattress, and I have no complaints.

The removable cover has the 'cool-touch' tech to prevent heat build-up; the bamboo-infused wool layer wicks away any moisture for enhanced breathability, and the Simbatex foam layer has enhanced airflow compared to standard memory foams.

Aside from having no quibbles about temperature regulation myself, this mattress also carries the GenM Menopause Friendly symbol. This means that it can ease, relieve, or support one or more of the 48 symptoms and signs of menopause. In this case, helping to regulate temperature throughout the night.

5. Edge support

Possibly because it has so many layers packed into its 31cm depth, the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress has good edge support.

I haven't once felt like I was sitting on the bed frame as I was launching off the side of the bed. Similarly, I haven't ever felt like I was going to roll out of bed as I was pushed to the edge by our co-sleeping toddler. The sides of the mattress don't dip, so you can make the most of every square inch of the bed.

This is likely thanks to two of the nine layers that make up the mattress. The 'SupportCore' sprung base has up to 1,000 pocketed, tempered steel barrel springs for a firm, edge-to-edge support with no roll off. Then, underneath this, is the high-density foam base and cover that offers stability and support.

I weigh just under 13 stone, and I found my weight was evenly distributed regardless of my sitting or sleeping position. However, whilst the edge support was fine for me, it may be a little too soft for others. The edges of the mattress do collapse a little from a sitting position. If you have any mobility issues, then you may prefer a slightly firmer surface to push against, such as the Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress.

6. Sleep trial

Simba offer a 200-night sleep trial so you can be sure that you're happy and comfortable with your new mattress.

In comparison, Nectar and DreamCloud have the longest sleep trial in the business, with a generous 365 nights to try out their mattresses. But it is on a par with the likes of Emma and Brook + Wilde, and it is still one of the most generous trial periods available.

7. Ease of care

The Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress has a cover that can be zipped off and machine washed at 40°C. This will keep your mattress looking good-as-new. However, I wouldn't envy anyone taking on the task of removing the cover – especially if you have a king or super-kingsize.

Instead, I would always advise popping on one of the best mattress protectors, which are a lot easier to remove and stick in the washing machine. If you don't have a protector already, the Simba mattress protectors look like a breathable, comfortable fit.

You'll need to be prepared to rotate your mattress to ensure even wear and tear, but this is a lot easier than flipping a mattress. Simba recommends that you do this at least once a month for the first three months, and then every three to six months.

The handles on the side are sturdy enough to help with rotating, but, as with most things, two pairs of hands will be better than one to help shift the overall mass.

8. Delivery

If you order the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress by 1 pm, the brand says you'll receive it the next day – for free – which is incredibly speedy, and turned out to be true for me.

This next-day delivery service is a free two-person delivery to your room of choice. If you need a specific timeslot or weekend delivery, you can upgrade to 'Specified Time Delivery' for £10. And an additional £10 will upgrade your order to the 'Mattress Setup & Packaging Removal service', which means the delivery team will unpack and install your mattress on your bed and remove and recycle all packaging.

You can also pay around £50 to have your old mattress taken away on delivery day. A mattress bag will be sent out to you ahead of the delivery/collection day to protect your old mattress in transit, and Simba will responsibly recycle your unwanted mattress.

In my case, the same day that the mattress was ordered, I received an email to say that my order was on the way. The next day, I received another email to say that it was in transit and would be delivered that day between 11:47 and 15:47.

The Luxe is delivered as a mattress in a box, meaning it's rolled and vacuum-packed in a compact box. This means that, should you prefer to move the mattress yourself, the size won't be the problem – just the weight.

If you want to take on the heavy lifting, the cardboard box does have handles cut into the sides to help you lift, though I thoroughly recommend letting the delivery team do the hard work for you, especially since it's free.

Inside the box, the Luxe Mattress is rolled and wrapped in plastic. The plastic is a very tight fit; as soon as I made the first cut, air entered, and the mattress started to inflate. This is the point you need to be a little careful, as the mattress can spring open and could easily knock you off your feet if you don't have your wits about you.

Again, if you're less mobile, I thoroughly recommend opting for Simba's 'Mattress Set-Up' service to make your life easier. Many brands, such as Emma and Nectar don't offer this service, and I think it's well worth taking advantage of.

Within one minute, I had removed the plastic, and the mattress was resting on our slatted-base bed frame.

Because it's vacuum-packed to fit into the box, Simba advises that your new mattress may need a few hours to re-inflate, and up to 48 hours to regain its shape fully, so I was glad that I unpacked the Luxe in the morning.

A strong chemical off-gassing smell is often associated with foam mattresses after unpacking, but I didn't notice anything of the sort with this one. Still, I opened the window just in case my sense of smell was failing me, and by bedtime that same day, it was ready to dress with bedding.

9. Third-party reviews

The Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress is widely available at many third-party stockists, with resellers including John Lewis, Bensons for Beds, and Mattress Next Day, as well as direct from Simba.

On Simba's own website, the Luxe has a *lot* of customer reviews: 14,017 to be exact. And it receives high praise; the overall consensus is that it's a worthwhile investment for a significantly better sleep experience. Reviewers speak highly about the comfort, back support, temperature regulation, and motion isolation, all of which are in line with my testing experiences.

One reviewer says: 'thankfully, this investment was worth it. Having gone to multiple bed stores to try different mattresses, the Luxe mattress won my heart. Within 24 hours, I had noticed the difference in my sleep.'

Any negative feedback tends to revolve around its softer feel: some found the tension too soft, and not everyone loves the bounce that I found so appealing. One John Lewis reviewer says: 'It's quite springy and has a lot of movement. I think it should be more stable and have less movement. Strange to sit up in as it seems to dip.'

If you're not used to the cushioning of a memory foam mattress, I can see how this mattress might feel different, but, thankfully, that's where the 200-night sleep trial comes in handy, as it gives your body time to adapt and see if a different feel suits you.

As another reviewer notes, 'This mattress is superb. I originally felt it was a bit too firm, but after sleeping on it for a couple of weeks, I now think it is perfect...'

As a brand, Simba also scores consistently highly on TrustPilot, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from its 59,000 reviews.

10. Environmental impact

As a brand, Simba is certainly making more efforts than most mattress brands to be environmentally conscious. Through using CertiPUR foam and recycled materials where possible, and recycling or refurbishing old Simba mattresses, they're taking action to turn their manufacturing processes into a circular economy, where no Simba mattress enters landfill.

The brand will also recycle your old mattress, regardless of the brand or size, with no Simba purchase necessary, which is awesome. For £50, their specialist mattress removal and recycling service will collect the mattress for you. Working with their UK-based partners, they'll carefully strip down mattresses into their component parts at a rate of about 12,000 mattresses per week.  All components will then be sorted and sanitised before a check and redistribution to their next life.

By continuing to do its bit to protect the planet, Simba is also doing all it can to be Net Zero by 2030. It's also proud to be a B Corp, which means that it's been verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

11. Value for money

Simba has a hybrid mattress to suit all budgets. From £649 for a double of the brand's most affordable Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress, to £2,299 for the top-of-the-range Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress.

Where does the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress sit in all this? It's the brand's mid-range offering, priced at £1,699 for a double. To offer a little more context, that's more expensive than the Simba Hybrid Pro at £1,199 for a double, and nearly twice the price of the £799 Simba Hybrid Mattress.

According to Simba, what the Luxe offers for that extra investment is a deeper mattress, more spring support, and a 'plush' top layer that makes this mattress feel softer to lie on than the three more affordable mattresses in the Simba range.

Our testing finds this to be true. After testing all three, we've found the Simba Hybrid Pro feels the firmest of the three, the Luxe is softer, and the budget-friendly Simba Hybrid mattress lies somewhere in the middle. I still think the Simba Hybrid is a fantastic mattress for its price, which is why it keeps its crown as the best mattress overall. But, I've discovered I do love the softer top layer of the luxe, which is especially well-suited to side sleepers thanks to its extra cushioning.

Personally, I think that £1,699 is pretty reasonable for what you get. From my first night sleeping on this mattress, my body was relieved of the stresses and strains that had built up during the day, and as a busy mother of two, for me, that's priceless.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

Sleep position: back or side
Tension preference: medium/firm
Sleep problems: shoulder and/or neck pain and occasional pins & needles
Height & weight: 5"8 and 13 stone

In putting the Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, I assessed eleven factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that myself (and my husband) slept on the mattress for a month before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched the mattress's environmental impact and any third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

My Simba AeroDown Pillow review puts the brand's most affordable pillow through its paces to see how it compares to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

If you're a side sleeper who wants a medium-soft, mid-height pillow that won't cause you to overheat and is fully machine washable, the Simba AeroDown pillow could well be the one for you.

I think its £60 price tag is pretty steep for what's essentially a polyester-filled pillow (although those fibres are made from recycled plastic bottles, which is better news for the environment), but the addition of Simba's ‘Stratos® tech’ on the outer cover did mean my head stayed cooler than normal when I slept on it.

There was no flipping the pillow over to find the cooler side during the night with the Simba AeroDown, which, as a 45-year-old perimenopausal woman, I appreciated.

I also appreciated the fact that it's fully machine washable, as it means it's very easy to care for, and I liked the fact that it comes with a 30-night sleep trial, so you can test it out for yourself before you commit to keeping it.

Simba AeroDown Pillow review

Specifications

• Best for: side sleepers who prefer a medium-soft pillow and don't want to overheat
• Materials: inner: 'Simba Renew Bio™' which incorporates recycled plastic bottle fibres, cover: cotton with Stratos ‘cool-touch’ tech on one side.
• Dimensions: 50cm x 75cm
• Care instructions: machine washable up to 40°C on a delicate wash, tumble dry on a low heat
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30-night

Comfort

Now I’m quite fussy when it comes to pillows. I'm a side sleeper who sometimes sleeps on my back, and I don't like a pillow that's too firm, so some of the best memory foam pillows on the market are too 'brick-like' for my preferences

However, a pillow also can’t be so soft that it doesn't offer enough support for my neck and spine. Overall, I prefer a pillow with a medium level of firmness, and that's medium height.

Simba describes the AeroDown as having a soft to medium level of cushioned support, so I had high hopes it might do the trick and solve all my pillow needs in one fell swoop.

When I lay the Simba AeroDown pillow for the first time, I found it felt quite high for my sleeping preferences, both on my back and my side. However, it was soft and comfortable.

Being Simba, I'd initially thought that I might be able to adjust the amount of filling in this pillow to lower its height, but Simba says not. Unlike the Simba Hybrid pillow and Simba CustomFlex pillows, which use removable nanocubes or layers that allow you to adjust the pillow height, the AeroDown is one height only.

As such, I found it too high for back sleeping, but I did find it offered me enough support to keep my neck and spine in alignment when I slept on my side. And I found it didn’t let my head sink too far down towards the mattress or make my head and ear ache like some firmer pillows.

Temperature regulation

One of the key selling points of the Simba AeroDown pillow is that one side of its cotton cover has ‘Cooling Stratos® technology’ added. Simba states that this cooling technology means the pillow sleeps 3°C cooler than non-treated fabric.

According to the brand, ‘Cooling Stratos® technology’ is 'cool to the touch, prevents the build up of heat, and helps moisture to evaporate, for drier, more comfortable sleep'.

The cooling side of the pillow can be differentiated by the fact that it has a grey geometric pattern design, whilst the other is plain white, and I found it does feel cool to the touch.

The first time I slept on this pillow was during winter; however, my husband had cranked up the central heating, and, in my opinion, our bedroom was too warm. Lying on the Simba AeroDown pillow felt like an instant breath of fresh air, making my head and neck feel cool and refreshed. I fell asleep quickly and didn’t wake up in the night, feeling too hot.

I’ve got long, thick hair, and as a 45-year-old peri-menopausal woman, when I wake up, I find it’s often damp and sweaty. However, when I slept on this pillow, it wasn’t.

I also gave the Simba AeroDown to my youngest son to test. He's nine and also tends to get very hot in the night. However, sleeping on this pillow, he said that he didn’t wake up feeling hot and sticky like he usually does, and didn’t need to turn it over to keep finding the cool side as he does with his usual pillow.

All in all, I can’t fault the temperature regulation of this pillow.

Ease of care

The Simba AeroDown pillow can be machine washed at 40°C on a delicate cycle and after testing a lot of pillows where only the cover can be washed, I liked the fact that the whole pillow can go in the wash for a proper clean.

Simba just advises shaking the pillow after washing to disperse the filling and then tumble drying on a low heat.

I put it to the test, and found that it came up as good as new after being washed and dried.

The cover does also have a zip, so if you do only want to wash the cover rather than the whole shebang, that's an option too.

Sleep trial

Simba states that the Simba AeroDown pillow comes with a 30-night sleep trial. That means you can purchase it, test it out on your own bed, and then return it if you find it isn't the right fit for you.

When it comes to how to choose a pillow and finding the best filling for a pillow, there's no one-size-fits-all approach, so I think the option of a sleep trial is a great way to avoid wasting money on a pillow that ends up not quite fitting your needs.

Value for money

The Simba AeroDown pillow costs £60, and, as of testing, it's the most affordable pillow in the Simba range.

However, that is still quite a lot of money, especially considering this is essentially a polyester-filled pillow, and you can pick a two-pack of those up at the supermarket for under £10.

It is made partially from recycled fibres – the Simba Renew™ fibres are made from recycled plastic bottles – but then so are the Dunelm Fogarty Pack of 2 Anti-Allergy Side Sleeper Pillows, which are only £12 for a pack of two.

However, what does set the Simba AeroDown pillow apart – and could justify its higher price point – is its cooling cover, and I did find that this pillow slept cooler than your average polyester pillow.

So is it worth the money? If you're a hot sleeper who likes a medium-soft, mid-height pillow, then yes, I think the Simba AeroDown pillow could well be worth the investment.

How I tested

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offers good value for money.

I'm a sleep product reviewer, which means I’ve tested dozens and dozens of pillows. However, as someone who alternates between side and back sleeping, runs hot at night, and can’t stand a pillow that’s too soft or flimsy, I've still struggled to find the best pillow for my needs.

That is, until I tested this pillow, which I instantly fell in love with. And if you, too, are a fan of a firm pillow, I think this is an option you'll want on your radar.

Yes, of the many pillows I've tested, the Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow is the only one that I’ve stuck with, night after night. Why do I think it's so good? Firstly, as the name might suggest, it’s a firm pillow. Those who want marshmallow softness are best looking elsewhere.

Secondly, you can adjust its height. In my opinion, this makes it one of the best pillows for a side sleeper like me, as I could tweak its loft until I found my perfect sweet spot.

That's because there are three pillow inserts inside its cover. Two are made of a fibre that’s made from recycled plastic bottles, which mimics the soft feeling of down. The third insert is made from flexible springs that adjust as you move to provide firmer support.

Wait, a pillow with springs inside?! Yup. I was sceptical at first. When it comes to how to choose a pillow, springs probably don’t offer the soft and squishy vibe you may be expecting. In reality, the springs give the pillow a kind of ‘responsive firmness’ that I haven’t found in other pillows, even those billed as firm.

Other so-called ‘firm’ pillows I’ve tested have relied on dense memory foam – but I often find even the best memory foam pillows can feel hot and too solid for me.

I’ve even found memory foam akin to sleeping with a pillow made out of wet sand sometimes. The Hybrid Firm is the only pillow I've come across that utilises springs, and I find it a completely different sleep experience. In a good way.

This trinity of fillings can be adjusted to suit your needs. You can remove some inserts completely to lower its height, or juggle the order of the inserts until you’ve created your perfect pillow.

I’ve tried every combo, and I find I like sleeping with the spring layer on top because I like a sleep surface that gently pushes back – it supports my neck without ever feeling rigid or blocky, and gives me the firm, structured top I like, with just a touch of sink underneath.

This pillow may not be for everyone. Some of my fellow side sleeping co-testers have described it as so firm it hurt their ears. But for me, it’s the firm, structured feel that makes this pillow so satisfying and reassuring.

Below are a few other options I tried that didn't quite hit the mark for me, but may be right up your street.

Alternatives

For me, Simba's firmest pillow is the closest I’ve come to finding a pillow that feels like it was made bespoke to me – and it took me all of two nights of experimenting with its interchangeable layers to find the right mix of support.

I really miss this pillow when I go on holiday and I'm forced to use other pillows – but I draw the line at packing the pillow to take with me.

Plus, not only is it comfortable, but it’s also plump enough to look inviting on the bed (so many pillows fall down in this area). And, it doesn't make my head hot at night.

As I mentioned, I’m a somewhat hot sleeper. There’s nothing that ruins my sleep more (with the notable exception of having newborn twins a few years ago) than waking up hot and sweaty. But I’ve found that this pillow keeps me just right all night long, temperature-wise.

As far as I'm concerned, there's only one downside to this pillow, and - sadly - that's it's price. No, I never thought I’d become someone who raves about a £159 pillow. Yikes.

However, after testing so many other options and finding them lacking, I’m convinced it’s worth it – especially with Simba’s 30-night sleep trial.

To my mind, that sleep trial means there’s no harm in trying this Goldilocks solution to the perfect-pillow quest – you might find it’s just right for you too if you’re hunting for a firm pillow.

My Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress review puts the brand's most affordable mattress through its paces to see how it performs compared to the best mattresses on the market.

In a nutshell

The Simba Hybrid Essential is the brand's most affordable mattress. That said, compared to the under £500 mattresses I've been testing recently, it isn't cheap. This entry-level sleep surface costs £599 for a double and £699 for a king.

However, having slept on budget mattresses from Emma, IKEA, Dreams, Origins and more in the past few months, I do think this mattress is worth the extra investment. It offers brilliant motion isolation – my husband couldn't praise its lack of bounce enough after a few months testing mattresses where we both felt each other's every move – as well as good cushioning for joints, and a medium-firm tension that offered great support for spine alignment when I slept on my side and back.

The Hybrid Essential delivered good temperature regulation too; both myself, and my youngest child who is prone to overheating, got a cooler and more well-rested sleep on this mattress.

Simba's delivery process and customer service were also very good. However, on the downside, the edge support of the Hybrid Essential was poor, I missed having side handles to rotate the mattress, and I really noticed the smell of the mattress ‘off-gassing’ for about a week.

Ultimately, it all comes down to budget I think. The slightly more expensive Simba Hybrid Original has improved edge support and comes with side handles, but if you're looking to save money, I still found the Hybrid Essential offered a great sleep.

Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress review

Specifications

• Type: hybrid
• Construction materials: memory foam, micro springs
• Sizes: single, small double, double, king
• Tensions available: medium-firm
• Height: 20cm
• Side handles: no
• Flip or rotate: rotate
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 night

1. Comfort

If I’m honest my first impressions of this mattress weren’t great. Once unboxed and on the bed, its 20cm depth looked noticeably thinner than other budget mattresses I'd just tested, including the Emma Hybrid Original mattress (which is 22cm tall) and the IKEA VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress (which is 24cm high).

However, when I lay on the Simba Hybrid Essential I had a very pleasant surprise! I normally prefer a medium-firm mattress (more firm than medium to be honest) and the Essential certainly delivered in that department.

My sleeping preference is usually on my side or back, and the Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress was perfect for both positions. It's a hybrid mattress with a top layer of memory foam and a layer of micro springs, and in practice, I found it felt firm and supportive to sleep on, whilst the foam top layer felt luxurious and offered good cushioning around my shoulders and hips.

I often go to bed with tension and aching in my shoulders and neck, but when sleeping on this mattress, nothing ached in the morning! My husband, who is predominantly a back sleeper, also liked it instantly and found it supportive and comfortable.

2. Motion isolation

Memory foam is known for its ability to dampen movement, and the combination of this and the micro springs means that this mattress doesn’t disappoint in the motion isolation department.

After testing a couple of mattresses that were too bouncy for his liking, my husband was particularly impressed by the Essential's good motion isolation and its ‘no bounce’ surface.

After the first week of sleeping on it, I also really enjoyed how grounded and calm it made me feel. I couldn’t feel the reverberations of my husband's movement and I slept really well on it.

On the occasions my husband came to bed later than me, I wasn’t woken up by the movement of him getting into bed like I sometimes have been when sleeping on other mattresses, and my two boys – who are 12 and 8, and usually refuse to share a bed because the youngest moves so much and disturbs the other – both slept soundly when sharing it.

3. Responsiveness

Although I found the top foam layer of this mattress provided ample cushioning for my joints, it’s not overly soft and sinky like some memory foam mattresses.

For this reason I found it didn’t mould too much around my body and make it hard to change position. When I push my hand into the mattress it’s quite hard to push it in too deep. It's responsive and springs back really quickly as you can see in the video.

For this reason it makes a good choice for active sleepers who change position in the night, and would be good for anyone with mobility issues who may find it harder to change position in bed.

4. Temperature regulation

Unlike traditional memory foam – which is notorious for causing overheating and best avoided if you're a hot sleeper – Simba's mattresses use specially engineered Simbatex® foam.

This has foam has a more open structure to allow for better airflow, and it's infused with graphite, which is designed to draw body heat towards it and away from the sleeper to prevent overheating.

When I read some of the customer reviews of this mattress a number of them referred to its ability to help regulate temperature, so I was intrigued to see if I noticed any difference. And I did!

Because I’m often cold at night when I go to bed, I wear thick PJs, and then reliably wake up in the night or morning, sweating. Only on this mattress I didn’t. My youngest son, who always wakes up very sweaty when sleeping on his usual mattress, didn’t when he slept on Hybrid Essential either. All in all that improved temperature regulation meant a much more restful sleep for both of us.

5. Edge support

As with most of the more budget-friendly mattresses I've tested, the Hybrid Essential's edge support is lacking.

When I sat on the edge of the mattress, my bottom sank straight to the bottom of the bed frame. This not only makes it uncomfortable to sit on in the morning, but also makes it harder to push up to standing, something that could cause a problem for anyone with mobility issues.

However, when lying on the mattress and rolling towards the edge, the mattress didn’t dip too much or give the sensation that I was going to roll out of bed. But then I am nine and a half stone or thereabouts; a heavier sleeper may encounter more issues.

6. Sleep trial

It can take a while to get used to a new mattress and assess whether it's the right fit for you, so Simba's 200 night sleep is a great selling point.

If you decide the Hybrid Essential isn't quite right, Simba will arrange a free collection and ensure your mattress is either recycled or donated.

While there’s no minimum time you have to keep it, Simba recommends giving your mattress at least 30 nights to settle in because they say that ‘every new mattress can take a little getting used to’.

7. Ease of care

This mattress can't be flipped due to its foam top layer, but Simba recommends rotating it 180 degrees once a month for the first three months, and then every three months after that.

However, although this mattress is lighter than some (it weighs 22.5kg in the double size), the lack of side handles makes this tricky to do on your own. Presumably, this is a feature Simba has removed to keep the price point of the Essential lower, but I missed them for ease of maneuverability.

On the plus side, the Essential does come with a removable cover. This is straightforward to unzip and can be machine-washed and line-dried. When I washed it, I did so cold just to be on the safe side, and then left it to dry on an airer and it went back on easily and didn’t shrink.

Of course, you can add one of the best mattress protectors to any mattress, but I still think having a removable washing cover is a nice feature.

8. Delivery

Delivery of this mattress was fast and efficient, with great communication. I received an initial email to confirm my order, and then an email to let me know the delivery company was expecting my parcel. There was then an email on the day that my Simba mattress was going to be delivered with a specific one-hour time slot.

I found this really useful as it meant that I didn’t have to wait in for the whole day or afternoon. I also received a text message on the morning telling me my time slot too, and giving me options if I wasn’t going to be in.

Mattress delivery was to my room of choice, and as this is a mattress-in-a-box the delivery team had no trouble negotiating my narrow staircase.

Unboxing was also easy enough; I just had to cut through the plastic casing and the mattress sprang open and gradually inflated.

According to Simba, the mattress is ready to sleep on just six hours after unboxing. Although the brand does say it can take up to 72 hours to fully rise to perfection.

I did notice an off-gassing odour when I walked past the bedroom door for the first couple of days, but after three or four days, the smell had gone. My children both commented on it too, so it’s worth considering if you are sensitive to smells.

Simba will also collect your old mattress, no matter what brand or size, when delivering your new one. The standard mattress removal service costs £50, you just need to select the ‘Standard Delivery With Old Bed/Mattress Removal & Recycling’ option at the checkout. However, you do need to manhandle your old mattress into a special packing bag that Simba sends out pre-delivery.

Alternatively, the brand also offers a premium delivery option (£100), where the crew will remove all packaging and install your new mattress on your bed of choice. They will also bring the mattress removal bag with them and do the heavy lifting and bagging for you.

9. Third-party reviews

As of writing, the Simba Hybrid Essential has received 1592 reviews on the Simba website with an overall star rating of 4.8 out of 5. Most of the reviews are hugely positive, with customers praising the mattress for its ability to offer comfort and support, and also for its temperature regulation. They were so good in fact that it took me pages of scrolling to find a negative one!

One side-sleeping customer summed up a lot of reviewers thoughts in saying, 'Very pleased with the budget friendly hybrid mattress we ordered. It has been really comfortable, the right level of support with no back problems since purchasing. Its been a good remedy. We believe we made the right decision.'

Another 5-star review praised the temperature regulation; 'This mattress has really helped me to sort out my sleep routine... The mattress is really comfortable, supportive but not too firm and most of all, it doesn't get too hot!'.

Simba's overall review ratings are high too, with the brand currently scoring 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

10. Value for money

As of writing, the Simba Hybrid Essential mattress costs £599 for a double and £699 for a king-size mattress.

That makes it one of the more expensive entry-level mattresses I've tested. For comparison, Emma's most affordable mattress, the Emma Hybrid Original mattress is currently £418 for a double and £468 for a king-size mattress, so that's a nearly £200 difference.

For me, the Simba Hybrid Essential mattress wins out over any other budget mattress I've tested, though. Despite its poor edge support and its annoying lack of handles, it scored well in every other aspect, from its mix of firm support and comfortable cushioning to its excellent motion isolation and good temperature regulation. I was also impressed by Simba's delivery and customer service options.

All in all, I think whether it's the right choice for you comes down to your budget. If you need a mattress that's under £500, I would point you in the direction of the Emma Hybrid Original mattress, or the even cheaper Origin Hybrid mattress, or the IKEA VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress if you're looking for an option that isn't memory foam.

However, if your budget can stretch a little further, I think the Simba Hybrid Essential is a better mattress overall. And if you can stretch a little further still, it's big brother the Simba Hybrid Original mattress solves those niggles with edge support and ease of care to deliver a great value mattress for £799 for a double and £899 for a king-size.

How I tested

My sleep stats:

Sleep position: back or side
Tension preference: firm
Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In putting the Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process I assessed ten factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that myself (and my husband) slept on the mattress for a minimum of two weeks before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

Around five years ago I began to suffer from hip and shoulder pain in bed. Already at that age when sleep begins to suffer, joint pain was not one of the symptoms I had bargained for, especially since the classic sprung mattress plus foam topper I'd been sleeping on for a good three or four years had been perfect for me, until suddenly it wasn't.

I'm a determined side sleeper, which meant that I was not only waking up every morning with pain and a stiff body, but that I also tossed and turned throughout the night to get comfortable. After months of physio, osteopathy, yoga and sleep deprivation, I decided not so much that my existing mattress was worn out and in need of replacement, more that it just no longer suited my body.

So, I took up the offer of a free trial on the Simba Hybrid Original, and I've never looked back. My physiotherapist even asked my friend, another of her clients, where I'd gone. 'She's got a new mattress, it's changed her life,' she told her. You can read our Simba Hybrid mattress review for more detailed information, but this is how I discovered it, why it suits me, and why it might work for you, too. Looking at you, ladies, but I'd say anyone with joint pain should try it.

Obviously, I moaned in the Ideal Home office about my poor sleep quality. And obviously I directed my complaints at the sleep expert on the team (sorry, Amy Lockwood).

At that time, we, as a team, were just starting on a round of mattress testing, including on hybrids. I didn't know a huge amount about hybrid mattresses at that point; they were fairly new to market and tended to be delivered in a box with a free trial. I was much more used to trying out a mattress in store before feeling safe enough to buy. A mattress is a big investment, right?

However, Amy said trying one might offer a solution to my joint pain, since they seemed to promise the kind of support with cushioning that I couldn't get from a sprung mattress and topper combination.

So, I opted into the Simba 200 day sleep trial, which allows you to try out your chosen mattress for long enough that you can really judge whether it works for you. Most mattress-in-a-box companies offer these trials, which are way more practical than lying on a mattress in a store with your clothes on for 10 minutes.

For years, when younger, I'd slept on a futon (hardcore), then swapped to a sprung mattress which, as I got into my 40s, began to feel a little unwelcoming. I added a topper (a John Lewis foam mattress topper like this one) and that worked really well for a few years. But it, and a new topper, didn't solve the joint pain problem, which was becoming chronic, and expensive to treat. So, I didn't hold out much hope for the Simba, if I'm honest.

However, as soon as I lay on it, on my back to start with, I noticed the difference in the support quality. Lying on my sprung mattress, I could feel the resistance of the mattress layer beneath the (fairly deep) topper. With the Simba Hybrid, I felt like I was floating on a cloud. However, unlike the older memory foam mattresses I'd tried in the past, there was no sinking, no moulding around my body. Just floating.

Night one: I slept on my side and woke up, for the first time in months, without hip and shoulder pain. And so it's continued. There's a reason the Simba Hybrid Original takes the number 1 spot in our best mattress buying guide, and for me, it's the comfort and support combination.

I have to add a couple of extra points: it is engineered for cooler sleeping, but for me, the mattress couldn't do that alone; so I swapped to a lighter, breathable duvet, too: the M&S Supremely Washable All-Seasons duvet, which features in our best duvets list as the top budget buy.

The Simba Hybrid has also got next-to-faultless motion transfer, which was a must for me. My nights were being further disturbed by a partner who came to bed later and got up earlier than I did, so I was being woken by the bounce of him getting up and down at both ends of the night. That ended with the Simba.

And finally, I invested in a new pillow to complement my new mattress. I already knew that if you shop a new mattress, you should buy a pillow that works with it to suit not just the mattress firmness but your sleep position, so it made sense to me to buy the Simba Hybrid Pillow, which features top of our list of best pillows and which is designed to work with the Simba Hybrid. You can adjust its depth to suit not just your sleep position but how deeply you sink into your mattress, which, of course, varies from person to person, depending on their weight and the firmness of their mattress. You can find out more in our Simba Hybrid Pillow review, which goes into all the science.

I've now had the Simba Hybrid for around five years; my joint pain has disappeared completely, and I've calculated that I've saved around £80 a month on physio in that time. At full price, the Simba around £899, so it's paid for itself five times over.

I put the bestselling Simba Hybrid Duvet to the test on my own bed in this review to see how it fared compared to the best duvets on the market.

In a nutshell

During testing, I found the Simba Hybrid to be a decent duvet. It draped nicely on my bed and the duvet's filling and square-stitched panels meant it felt more premium than your average synthetic duvet. The Hybrid is also machine washable at 40°C and its recycled polyester fill and cotton cover should be vegan-friendly (although Simba makes no such claims, so that remains unconfirmed).

However, despite the temperature-regulating Stratos finish to one side of the duvet cover, as a hot sleeper, I still found the Simba Hybrid to lack breathability, and I regularly overheated under this duvet in the middle of the night.

I also found that Stratos finish made the duvet feel stiffer than I'd have liked and it created some noise when I changed position or tucked the duvet in around me on cold nights.

However, my biggest bugbear with the Simba Hybrid Duvet is its price. As of writing, the Simba Hybrid Duvet costs £199 for a double, and considering you can buy a good quality microfibre-filled duvet for around £40 to £60 for a double, that's a lot to pay for a polyester duvet.

Overall, if you're looking for a synthetic duvet and you can snap the Hybrid up when there's a Simba deal on offer or get it as part of one of Simba's bundles when you're buying a new mattress, then this duvet isn't a bad buy. However, I think there are far cheaper alternatives to consider if you're shopping when it's full price. More on those in my full verdict below.

Simba Hybrid Duvet Specifications

• RRP: £139 / £199 / £249 / £259
• Sizes: single (135 x 200cm) / double (200 x 200cm) / king (225 x 220cm) / super king (260 x 220cm)
• Materials: cotton cover and polyester fill
• Care: machine wash at 40°C and low tumble dry
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30-night

Feel

The Simba Hybrid Duvet is a synthetic duvet that features a recycled polyester filling and a cotton cover that has a 'Stratos' finish on one side. The brand says this Stratos ‘cool-touch’ tech is designed to help with temperature regulation and prevent overheating.

Synthetic duvets have some great plus points, namely affordability and ease of care, but they're not known for feeling particularly luxurious (especially compared to a good quality down-filled duvet). However, the Simba Hybrid Duvet does feel nicer than many synthetic options.

Simba doesn't specify which type of polyester it uses, preferring to refer to its fill as 'Simba Renew Bio', but the brand shares that it's made from recycled plastic bottle fibres (good news for the environment), and it feels very much like a good quality microfibre filling to me.

This is a good thing as it gives the duvet a nice feel when you scrunch it up and means that the duvet as a whole has a nice fluid drape on the bed. This is helped by the fact the duvet is stitched into squares (which Simba says also prevents clumping). It also meant that the duvet had enough flexibility to tuck in nicely around me at night to avoid draughts.

The only downside is the fact that the Stratos finish on one side of the duvet cover (more on that in a bit) does make the duvet feel a little bit stiff, and I found that stiffer layer made some rustling noise as I bunched the duvet up to get it into position around me.

Temperature regulation

Similarly, synthetic duvets aren't known for their temperature regulation. This is because polyester lacks breathability and tends to reflect body heat back toward the sleeper. That's fine if you're a cold sleeper, but, if you're a hot sleeper, like me, then a synthetic duvet is usually the most likely to have you waking up in a hot and sticky mess at 3am.

Simba aims to combat this by adding a 'Stratos' finish to one side of the Hybrid duvet. The brand says that this ‘cool-touch' finish is 'similar to the tech that keeps astronauts cool in space' and will 'offer an instant, tangible coolness' that 'helps dissipate excess heat'.

On unpacking the Simba Hybrid Duvet I did immediately notice this 'cool touch' tech. The side of the duvet with the blue piping is covered in a hexagonal print and when I put my hand against it, it felt surprisingly cool to the touch. So much so that rather than being worried about overheating at night I was now a little worried about being too chilly!

Thankfully, having a duvet cover between myself and the duvet took away most of the chill factor and after 10 minutes or so I was soon pretty snuggly under the covers.

I tested this duvet in October, which is probably the best possible time for putting its 10.5 tog rating to the test, as a 10.5 tog duvet is a good all-rounder that should offer the ideal warmth for spring and autumn.

However, it's a shame that this is the only tog the Simba Hybrid duvet is available in, as it will likely be too warm for summer and too cool for winter. Most duvets come in a range of 4.5 tog and 7 tog options for summer, and a warmer 13.5 tog option for winter. You can opt for the more expensive Simba Hybrid 3-in-1 Duvet instead which offers a 3.5 tog and 7 tog duvet that combine to give 10.5 togs of warmth, but there's no warmer option.

However, thanks to the Stratos finish, perhaps I would find that a single 10.5 tog really could do it all.

Sadly, not quite so. As mentioned, I'm a hot sleeper, and having been lucky enough to test multiple duvets in my role as Sleep Editor for Ideal Home, I've found wool is the best duvet filling for me as I need the extra breathability it offers at night. True to form, despite the Stratos finish, I still woke up too hot and sweaty in the middle of the night under the polyester-filled Simba Hybrid Duvet.

Although I agree that the Stratos finish did deliver 'instant, tangible coolness' when I first laid my skin next to it, sadly, this didn't seem to translate into good temperature regulation all the way through the night.

If you're a cold sleeper you might fare better than I did, although I've still found wool to offer a cosier sleep than a synthetic duvet. Unfortunately, despite its added technology, the Simba Hybrid Duvet hasn't changed my mind on that.

Ease of care

As mentioned, ease of care is one of the big plus points of opting for a synthetic duvet, and the Simba Hybrid Duvet is no exception.

This duvet can be machine-washed at 40°C (just check out our guide to how to wash a duvet before you do, and make sure you have a large enough washing machine) and tumble-dried on low. In my tests, it washed well and it dried quickly on the line or in the tumble dryer.

However, although it may be a more eco-friendly temperature to wash at, 40°C isn't quite as high a temperature as some synthetic duvets can be washed at. Many allow washing at 60°C which could be a bonus if you're worried about bed-wetting or are someone prone to allergies.

Likely it's the Stratos finish printed onto the Simba Hybrid Duvet's cover that limits the cleaning temperature a little.

Value for money

As of writing, the Simba Hybrid Duvet costs £139 for a single, £199 for a double, £249 for a king-size, and £259 for a super king duvet. To my mind, that's a lot of money for a synthetic duvet.

Especially when you consider that you can buy a good quality synthetic duvet in a comparable 10.5 tog for between £30 and £50.

Yes, the Hybrid Duvet features that Stratos finish cover – which had mixed results in keeping me cool and fresh as it claims – but that's still a big jump in price compared to the competition.

Verdict

All in all, I found the Simba Hybrid Duvet to be a decent duvet. If you're looking for a duvet that's easy to care for with a filling that doesn't rely on animal byproducts then you won't be disappointed by Simba's machine-washable polyester-filled design.

The Hybrid Duvet's filling may be synthetic, but it feels nicer and drapes better than your usual cheap synthetic duvet and its Stratos finish cover possibly does mean it causes a little less overheating than a synthetic duvet normally would.

However, although I usually think it's worth investing in a more expensive duvet for a better night's sleep, is it worth paying nearly five times more for the Simba Hybrid Duvet than you would for a decent high-street synthetic duvet like the M&S Supremely Washable Duvet or the John Lewis Synthetic Soft Touch Washable Duvet?

In this case, personally, I think not. Whereas a more expensive high-quality feather and down or wool duvet has always proved worth the extra investment in my experience, I can't really see how the materials used in the Simba Hybrid duvet justify its extremely high price point.

If you get this duvet included as part of one of Simba's deals when you're buying a new mattress then it makes a good addition to the bed. But if you're buying it at full price, then, to my mind at least, there are far more affordable synthetic duvets (such as the John Lewis and M&S options above) that you can opt for instead.

Plus, if you're a hot sleeper like me, I would say this duvet isn't for you. Instead, I'd recommend investing in a wool duvet, like the best-in-class Floks Luxury British Wool Duvet, the washable Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Duvet, or the budget-friendly Slumberdown Wonderful Wool Duvet. This hot sleeper found all of these wool options offered more breathability and better temperature regulation.

Similarly, if you're looking for a duvet that oozes luxury and will make you feel like you're snuggling up into cloud-like softness, then although the Simba Hybrid Duvet does feel nice, it can't compare to a top-of-the-range feather and down duvet like the Soak & Sleep Hungarian Goose Down Duvet, the scooms Hungarian Goose Down Duvet or The White Company Hungarian Goose Down Duvet.

How I tested

I tested the Simba Hybrid duvet at home on my own bed, sleeping underneath it for a week to see how it performed.

Whilst testing I assessed the duvet's feel – this includes how malleable and squashy it feels to scrunch up in my hand, how well it tucked in around my body at night, if it made any noise when doing so, and how well it drapes on the bed.

I also assessed the duvet's temperature regulation and breathability. In doing so I made sure to keep my bedroom at the ideal bedroom temperature recommended by sleep scientists to help us sleep better – between 16°c and 18°c. I also made sure to use the same breathable cotton duvet cover I use to test every duvet we put through Ideal Home's duvet testing process.

As a hot sleeper who is prone to overheating, I then set to snoozing to see if I slept comfortably throughout the night, or whether I woke up hot and sticky under the covers and had to fling a leg out of bed or throw the covers off myself to cool down. And, alternatively, if I woke up too cold.

I also assessed the duvet's ease of care, and where possible made sure to wash the duvet according to its care instructions to see if it came out of the washing machine looking and feeling as good as when it went in.

Lastly, I considered the duvet's price point and value for money, as well as researching any third-party reviews to see what a wider selection of owners think of the product, before giving the duvet a score out of five.

Our Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress review tries out the brand's only children's mattress to see if it's the best mattress to lull a restless toddler to sleep.

Quick review

The Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress gets close to top marks from our family of three (soon to be four). What I like about it is that it is comfortable for children – my three-year-old daughter loves it – and grown-ups when they need to climb into bed for bedtime stories and cuddles. Unlike other kids' mattresses my daughter and I have tested, this Simba option combines a decent amount of bounce in the springs and a cradling comfort in the foam.

This was the second kid's mattress that we have reviewed; the first was the REM-Fit Remy Kidz Eco Mattress, and the two couldn't be more different. The Remy Kidz Eco is a firm-feeling all-foam mattress our daughter rated "too hard", whereas the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress is a bouncier and squishier combination of springs and foam. The Simba offering is by far the favourite of both our three-year-old (it was immediately declared "nice") and her Mum and Dad.

You will just need help to rotate the Hybrid Kids Mattress because, annoyingly, there are no side handles and whilst the price of £349 is competitive, I do feel that it is a little high.

Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress review

Overall we consider eight factors when we test kid's mattresses. We then use these to score each mattress out of 5. The Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress scored 4.5 out of 5. Read on to find out why.

Specifications

Type: hybrid memory foam
Materials: polyester cover, CertiPUR foam and titanium alloy Aerocoil springs
Sizes: Single
Comfort level: medium-firm
Height: 16cm
Side handles: No
Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

The Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress is constructed from five layers of spring and foam. These include the removable and machine-washable cover, an open-cell memory foam layer, high-definition foam for support, titanium alloy Aerocoil springs, foam edge support then a foam support base. It has a total depth of 16cm which is slim enough to be used in bunk beds.

In practical terms, we found that this hybrid mattress is true to the 6/10 medium/firm tension Simba promises (10 being at the firmest end of the scale) with plenty of squish and bounce yet support. Our 3-year-old was previously sleeping on the REM-Fit Remy Kidz Eco Mattress which had a firmness rating of 7/10, and was, in her words, "too hard" for her with no bounce.

While we were reviewing the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress, we also received the Little Green Sheep Natural Junior Mattress. This is made from completely natural fibres; coconut fibres (core), natural latex, wool and a cotton cover. While our daughter found this mattress comfortable it was, again, "too hard" with no bounce.

She is a side, front, back, and everything in-between sleeper and she found the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress to be "nice" for her. Myself and my husband concur, as we often slept on the mattress whilst our daughter was in the big bed with mummy or daddy.

Of course, there are individual factors that can affect how firm you find a mattress, the main ones being your weight and build. Whilst Simba doesn't specify the weight limit of their Hybrid Kids Mattress they do suggest that it is 'suitable for sleepers aged three and up (including grown-ups)'.

2. Responsiveness

With this mattress being a hybrid I found that it achieves the perfect balance of responsiveness, unlike all-foam mattresses that can sometimes lack this. This is because hybrid mattresses combine spring with foam; the foam contours around the body whilst the springs ease movement.

To test this I filled a glass part way full of water, covered the top of it and placed it on the mattress. My little helper (our daughter) then rolled around on the surface of the mattress. The glass didn't topple and no water was spilt. It was only if you were to deliberately quickly apply pressure to the sleep surface next to the glass that there was some water sloshing.

3. Temperature regulation

I continue to be amazed by the temperature regulation of synthetic mattresses, and the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress is no exception.

Standard memory foam mattresses can be prone to causing overheating because the material is too dense to allow for airflow. The foam in this hybrid - Simbatex foam layer - encourages heat absorption and air flow. This layer is the first which is in contact with the body, underneath the knitted polyester cover. Springs also allow air flow throughout the mattress, so this kids mattress ticks both boxes in terms of the materials.

Throughout our time trying it out, neither of the three of us (a 3 year-old, mummy and daddy) experienced any over heating. I tend to be cold getting in to bed but warm up quickly, which is the same for our daughter. My husband, on the other hand, is warm the majority of the time. We didn't wake in the night sweaty or even wanting / needing to hang a leg out the side of the duvet to cool down.

4. Edge support

To test the edge support on the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress our 3-year-old sat on the edge of the bed to see how easy it was to stand up from it, and also pressed her hand down on the sides of the mattress to get a closer measure of the support.

This mattress is 16cm deep which is thicker than the REM-Fit Remy Kidz Eco Mattress (13cm) and the Little Green Sheep Natural Junior Mattress (12cm).

It sank down to 10cm when sitting on the edge of the bed and when applying pressure by hand on the edge too. It's also worth noting that at no point in the night did any of us feel that we were going to roll out of bed and, in the morning, we didn't struggle to get out of bed either; the top Simbatex foam layer was a comfortable launch pad.

5. Ease of care

The Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress needs to be rotated rather than flipped to ensure even wear and tear. It's recommended that you rotate it regularly - at least once a month for the first three months, and then every three to six months - but there are no handles so you may need some help with this.

A one-sided mattress may lack some longevity, compared to a high quality two-sided mattress, over time. However, after two months of use the Hybrid Kids Mattress still feels like new so I guess it depends on the size of the child and/or grown up on the mattress, how much bouncing the mattress endures and whether or not a mattress protector is in situ that'll effect this mattresses condition.

While you can remove the knitted cover from the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress you can not machine wash it. I see this a little pointless; to have a removable mattress cover that you can not wash, especially on a children's mattress that you can pretty much guarantee will get damp and stained in its lifetime.

Simba does have removable and machine washable covers on most of its adult mattresses, such as the Simba Hybrid Original and Simba Hybrid Pro mattress, so they have the technology already in place and it's a little disappointing not to see it utilised on the kid's version too.

However, you can always invest in a mattress protector to keep it clean and avoid any staining to the mattress itself. It's a lot easier to wash a mattress protector than it is to figure out how to clean a mattress.

Ready for a top tip? Add a couple of layers of protection with a mattress protector and a fitted sheet for a quick (and easy) sheet strip should an inventible toilet accident happen. You can then all go back to sleep without (hopefully) any further disruptions.

6. Sleep trial

As with any Simba mattress, kids and grown-ups can trial the mattress for 200 nights. This is a chance for every member of the immediate family to sleep on it, roll on it, and jump on it to see if it's the right big-person mattress for them.

After testing several mattresses our daughter found too hard, I would say a sleep trial is vital in getting this important purchase right.

7. Delivery

The Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress arrived wrapped and rolled in a cardboard box; it's the typical arrival of a mattress-in-a-box. Being a kids mattress, it wasn't as heavy or as big as the grown-up beds so manoeuvring it was relatively hassle-free. Delivery can be made to a room of your choice, and an old mattress removed; you'll just need to opt for this at checkout. Not all mattress retailers offer this service. Emma, for example, only deliver its mattresses to outside your door.

I received the Hybrid Kids Mattress within 24 hours, from the time of ordering through to the point of delivery. It's a free next day service between 7:00 and 19:00 to most UK postcodes. Also, depending on what you order, weekend and preferred time delivery options are also available, as well as a free Click & Collect service for pillows, duvets and bedding and a bespoke VIP home delivery service for mattresses and frames for a small additional fee.

The VIP home delivery service, for example, means is that for just an extra £50 a specialist team will install your new mattress for immediate use and remove all packaging. Whilst this won't be something everyone needs, if time isn't on your side or you just don't want the hassle, it is a helpful option to have.

I recycled the cardboard box and disposed of the plastic wrapping into landfill. Whilst Simba's packaging is up to 60% recycled and comes from approved FSC sources, this is only relative to the cardboard so there's is perhaps some more attention required on the lifecycle of the plastic wrapping used.

Once unpacked, the Hybrid Kids Mattress mattress took just an hour or so to reach it's true depth of 16cm. I didn't notice any strong off-gassing odours from the mattress after unpacking it – a common feature of foam and memory foam mattresses - and it was ready to use that night.

8. Value for money

The Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress is one of two mattresses in the brands baby and kid mattress range. This mattress on test is for single-sized frames, whereas the Hybrid Cot Bed Mattress is for toddlers aged 3-and-under whilst using a cot bed. It can be bought either direct from Simba for £349 or from resellers such as Mattress Next Day and Amazon which, at the time of writing, were oddly cheaper than buying direct.

It would be worth bookmarking our mattress deals page which includes all of the latest discounts on offer from Simba and resellers, plus its competitors.

To compare, the REM-FIT Remy Kids Mattress retails for £349 and the Little Green Sheep Natural Junior Mattress retails for £345.95. These are both competitively priced with the Hybrid Kids Mattress, especially when there are sales on. I do feel that this price is high for a children's mattress, especially when you can buy grown-up sized mattresses for £100-or-so more (when there is a sale on). The materials used are also not natural like the Little Green Sheep Natural Junior Mattress which I appreciate commands it's high price due to the sources.

I haven't seen any comments on the Simba site, or reseller sites, that are specific to the price - although one reviewer notes that it is "An investment totally worthwhile!". Overall, reviewers rave about the Hybrid Kids Mattress and have awarded it 4.9-out-of-5 stars on simbasleep.com and 5-out-of-5 stars on Mattress Next Day based on the delivery service, comfort and suitability for a top bunk.

How I tested

Sleep position: side (me), side, front and back (daughter)
Tension preference: medium / firm (me), medium (daughter)
Sleep problems: shoulders, lower back and 9mo pregnant (me), kicking off the duvet (daughter)
Height & weight: 5ft 8 & 80kg (me), 2ft 9 & 22kg (daughter)
Average sleep time: 8 hours (me), 11 hours (daughter)

During my testing of the Simba Hybrid Kids Mattress, I assessed the eight factors that the Ideal Home team deems vital to any kid's mattress purchase.

With the help of my 3-year-old daughter, I assessed the mattress for comfort, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support through at-home testing. This means that the mattress was slept on by my child (and me or my husband every so often) for a minimum of four weeks before writing my review.

I also took into consideration durability, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, and the mattress's environmental impact and its value for money.

Where possible, I also took into account third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.

Would you spend over £100 on a pillow? Fans of the Simba Hybrid Pillow certainly would, with this pillow now amassing over 25,000 reviews on the Simba website and achieving an average customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Why is it so popular? Well, its cult following largely comes down to the fact that this pillow is customisable. It's filled with what the brand dubs 'Nanocubes' (more on those later) which you can add or subtract from the pillow to raise or lower the pillow's height according to your sleep preferences.

Pillow height is a key factor in finding the best pillow for your sleep style as it's the make-or-break component that determines whether a pillow creates good spinal alignment.

Ideally, whether you sleep on your front, side, or back, you want a pillow that supports the head and neck so that there's one continuous line between your spine and the crown of your head. A pillow that lifts your head too high or allows it to drop too low will form 'kinks' in your neck that can lead to neck pain, so finding the right pillow height for your sleep style, and your body frame, is the key to creating the best position for a good night's sleep.

An adjustable pillow fill seems like an obvious solution to this problem, but it's a bit of a rarity in the pillow world, which is what makes the Simba Hybrid Pillow so popular. But how would this pillow fare in practice? Myself and my partner put it the test to find out.

Simba Hybrid Pillow review

Specifications

• Construction materials: Cotton and polyester
• Product size: H adjustable x W70 x D45cm
• Care instructions: Cover is machine washable at 40°C. Tumble dry on low heat.
• Manufacturer sleep trial: N/A

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• As a 6 foot tall side sleeper I tend to need a high loft pillow that matches my shoulder width in order to keep my head and neck well aligned
• Prefer to sleep with two firm pillows and on an incline due to allergies (hayfever, dust) and breathing problems
• Can get neck and back pain if pillows aren’t firm enough

My partner's sleep stats:

• A 5ft8 side or front sleeper who tends to use two pillows when side sleeping

Construction

The Simba Hybrid pillow is constructed from two main layers, a cotton outer quilted with cushioning microfibre that features a breathable mesh around all four sides, and an inner pillow that unzips and is filled with lightweight foam 'nanocubes' (which we’ll tell you all about in the next section).

The outer cotton layer comes from Better Cotton Initiative sources, which promote better standards in farming for workers and the environment, and one side of this cotton outer is equipped with 'Stratos® finish', something the brand describes as 'cool-touch' technology which aims to deliver a cooler sleep.

Unique selling points

The main factor that makes the Simba Hybrid pillow stand out from the crowd is what the brand dubs its 'Nanocube® technology'.

In practice, this is basically lots of little blue foam cubes that are housed within an inner pillowcase within the pillow. This pillowcase can be unzipped which allows you take out or add more Nanocubes to your pillow in order to customise its height to your exact preferences. Need more loft? Add more cubes. Want the pillow to feel softer and be lower in height? Take those cubes out.

This seems like a bit of an obvious idea once you think about it, but very few pillows offer this feature, and as pillow height is a key factor in finding the best pillow for your sleep style, it makes the Simba Hybrid pillow a very versatile option that suits a lot of sleepers.

Now, the process of actually adding or removing the Nanocubes can be a bit fiddly and you’ll likely drop a load of cubes on the floor like this reviewer did. Having said that, the pillow does comes with a little bag designed for storing your unused cubes, and once you've got the pillow to your exact requirements, you shouldn't need to alter it too often.

What type of sleeper does it suit?

A key factor in the Simba Hybrid Pillow's popularity is that its customisable height makes it suitable for a wide range of sleepers.

A front sleeper looking for a thinner pillow just needs to take out a large chunk of Nanocubes in order to drop the height, while a back sleeper is likely to want to remove a few Nanocubes to turn it into a mid-loft pillow, and a side sleeper can stuff the pillow full to raise their head as high as they need to for the neck and spine to be in good alignment.

You can also buy extra Nanocubes if needed to make the pillow really full for a firmer feel.

However, in practice, I turned out to be someone for whom the Simba Hybrid Pillow isn't quite suitable. I'm a side sleeper with a 6 foot frame and fairly wide shoulders which means I need a high, dense pillow that lifts my head in line with my neck. So, for me, even with all the Nanocubes stuffed into the inner compartment, I still found this pillow too low and too soft for side sleeping as it allowed my head to sink down too low.

Luckily, Simba also offers the Simba Firm Hybrid Pillow, which I loved, and which is designed specifically for us side-sleeping firm pillow lovers who need more height.

That said, my partner, who is a side sleeper with a smaller frame, found that the Simba Hybrid Pillow was one of the most comfortable pillows she's slept on. She's usually a two pillow side sleeper, and found that with the Simba Hybrid Pillow under her head she could sleep with just one pillow for the first time ever.

How comfortable is it?

This is a squishy pillow which soft pillow fans will adore, however, if you like a firmer feel then you may find the Simba Hybrid pillow too soft.

As mentioned, I'm a side sleeper who is firmly in the 'firm pillow' camp and I found I sank in to this pillow too much. However, my partner loved the feel and found the squishy, sink-in feel akin to that of 5-star hotel pillow.

Unlike a feather and down pillow, we also found that the Nanocubes meant the Simba Hybrid Pillow retained its shape well, so there was no need to keep plumping it to get the pillow back into shape.

How breathable is it?

This is predominantly a synthetic pillow that uses polyester microfibre and foam cubes for cushioning. As both of these materials are forms of plastic, that could mean that the pillow lacks breathability as synthetic materials can tend to reflect heat back towards the sleeper leading to a hot and sweaty head if you sleep warm.

However, Simba uses various technologies to combat overheating. Firstly, the pillow's cover is made from cotton, a natural material that offers better breathability than a polyester cover would, and one side of this outer cover also features Simba's 'Stratos® technology' which is designed to offer better heat diffusion.

Secondly, Simba says that the foam Nanocubes used in the interior help airflow compared to solid foam, and better airflow means heat can dissipate away from the head.

Thirdly, the mesh border around the pillow is also designed to help air to circulate.

In practice, I certainly found this pillow more breathable and cool than your ordinary synthetic pillow. Although I did find I needed to make sure I was sleeping with the side that has the 'Stratos' technology next to my head.

However, I found the natural materials in the Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Pillow I usually sleep on to be marginally more cooling and breathable, and our tester who usually sleeps on a feather and down pillow found the Simba Hybrid Pillow definitely reflected back more head heat in comparison.

Is it good for those with allergies?

As a synthetic pillow, this is certainly going to help those with allergies who wish to stay away from a feather fill. The cover is also machine washable at 40°C which will help prevent dust and dirt build up.

I myself have a number of allergies, including hayfever, which were kept firmly at bay while using the Simba Hybrid Pillow.

On a separate note, foam can often be made out of harsh chemicals but the squishy foam Nanocubes in the Simba Hybrid Pillow are certified to CertiPUR® requirements, so they contain no heavy metals like mercury or lead. This won’t eliminate all the bad things in the air inside your home, but it will help you avoid bringing more into your home.

Will it help with snoring?

Natural back sleepers are usually the worst culprits when it comes to snoring. Lying on your back makes the base of your tongue and soft palate collapse to the back wall of your throat, causing a vibrating sound during sleep.

Sleeping on your side may help prevent this, and the Simba Hybrid Pillow is a good option for people looking to switch from a back to a side sleeping position to aid their snoring as you can adjust the height of the pillow to your needs – as long as you don't have particularly wide shoulders to accomodate.

So effectively what is really going to help sleepers of all positions when it comes to snoring issues is the adjustability offered by the Simba Hybrid Pillow.

Care instructions

As mentioned in the section about allergies, the pillow cover is machine washable at 40°C. However, this is only the cover – not the inside of the pillow. It’s also worth noting that the pillow cover can also be tumble dried on a low heat.

Verdict

The Simba Hybrid Pillow is an investment, and at first it's hard to see how it's going to justify its price tag. But, once you realise the versatility that's offered by its adjustable height, its high price tag becomes a little more palatable.

My partner isn't the only one to love this pillow, it's also proved a hit with multiple members of the Ideal Home team who each praise its customisable fill and are fans of its softer feel.

If you want a synthetic pillow because of allergies or because you want to avoid the animal byproducts used in a wool or feather and down pillow, then this is also one of the few synthetic pillows to really make efforts towards creating a cooler and more breathable sleep.

In my opinion, it doesn't offer as a cool a sleep as a wool or feather and down pillow does, but the 'Stratos finish' and the efforts to increase airflow within the pillow do pay off and help to combat the overheating that often goes hand-in-hand with synthetic bedding.

If you're a side sleeper with a wider frame, then this pillow might not be high enough for you, and if, like me, you prefer a firmer pillow, the Simba Hybrid Pillow may well prove too soft.

However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a versatile pillow with a great deal of worthwhile sleep tech going on. Overall, I think that does justify its premium price point, and for many sleepers this could well be the perfect pillow.

Simba is perhaps one of the best-known sleep brands on the market, with its mattresses regularly scoring highly in our mattress testing process. But does the Simba CustomFlex Pillow stand up as one of the best pillows on the market?

The only specifically firm pillow in the Simba pillow range, the Simba CustomFlex Pillow promises extra stability at a premium cost. But is it worth it, especially for side sleepers who need that extra support when sleeping? I put this pillow to the test over several months, and as someone who prefers a truly firm pillow, I think its one of the best pillows for side sleepers going. This is why.

Simba CustomFlex Pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £159
• Construction materials: Recycled polyester and titanium alloy springs with cotton outer
• Product size: H adjustable x W70 x D45cm
• Care instructions: Machine washable at 40°C (cover and filled pads only). Tumble dry on low heat (cover and filled pads only). Spring pad is sponge clean only.
• Manufacturer sleep trial: N/A

How I tested

My sleep stats:

• As a 6 foot tall side sleeper, I tend to need a high-loft pillow that matches my shoulder width in order to keep my head and neck well aligned
• I prefer to sleep with two firm pillows and on an incline due to allergies (hayfever, dust) and breathing problems
• I can get neck and back pain if pillows aren’t firm enough

Construction

The main construction of the Simba CustomFlex Pillow – and its unique selling point that we’ll get onto later – is the three inner pillow pads.

These layers include one firm layer that contains titanium alloy ‘Aerocoil’ springs designed to keep your head perfectly supported. This layer is perfectly weighted in my book – firm and supportive with a bit of give. Some firm pillows can feel like you’re sleeping on a brick. This isn’t one of them.

The other two layers are softer and filled with 'Simba Renew fibres' that are designed to mimic a feather or down pillow while holding their shape rather than flattening down over time. Simba Renew is a polyester fill made from recycled PET plastic bottles, while the Simba-Pure foam in the pillows is made to be free from environmentally damaging pollutants.

While feather and down is thought to be the more premium option, it’s worth keeping in mind this synthetic filling will help those – like me – who suffer from allergies brought on by dust or feather and down fills.

The pillow covers are made from 100% cotton and is approved by the Better Cotton Initiative, while Simba is a B Corp – a group of companies dedicated to sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices. (Which might just help you sleep a bit easier with your purchase).

Unique selling points

As already mentioned, one of the key features of the Simba CustomFlex Pillow is the three inner pillows that allow you to layer and personalise your pillow according to your sleep preferences.

Some similar customisable pillows can be a faff, but this keeps it really simple. If you want a lower loft pillow, just take a layer out. If you want a firmer, taller pillow, keep all three layers in with the firm layer at the top. Some evenings, I would just flip the pillow around depending on if I wanted a softer pillow or a firmer pillow that night.

The other main USP is the titanium alloy micro springs contained in one of the Hybrid Firm pillow's three layers. There aren't many pillows on the market that have actual springs inside them, but this is a key component that helps the CustomFlex maintain its height throughout the night without becoming compressed.

There’s also body heat-regulating technology in the pillow cover that’s meant to draw heat away and provide an instant cooling sensation. This was somewhat noticeable on really hot evenings, but arguably not as much of a selling point as the three layers.

What type of sleeper does it suit?

While billed as a firm pillow – and therefore aimed at side sleepers – the inner layered system means this is actually a really versatile pillow that can also be used by back sleepers.

If you’re a back sleeper, you’ll likely want to drop down to just the two layers, or try with the three layers and see how you go. If you wake up with neck pain because you're over extending your neck just remove one of the layers.

How comfortable is it?

I prefer a firm pillow, so for me, the Simba CustomFlex Pillow is about as comfortable as it gets. As a side sleeper, I also appreciated the height that the micro spring layer offered, which meant my head didn't slowly sink lower during the night. And, thanks to those two inner layers filled with soft polyester, this pillow isn't rock hard – I found it had enough softness to relax into, whilst still offering the height and support I need as a side sleeper with wider shoulders.

However, it's worth noting that a couple of other testers on our review team found this pillow too firm for their liking – even in 'medium firm' mode with the two inner comfort layers on top of the spring layer. In fact, one reviewer reported this pillow gave them an earache as they found it much too firm, so, like in many things, comfort is subjective and does come down to personal preference.

How breathable is it?

This is a predominantly synthetic pillow that uses polyester fibres within two of the inner pillow layers. Polyester is a form of plastic which tends to lack breathability and can reflect heat back twards the sleeper leading to a hot and sweaty head if you sleep warm.

However, Simba employs a few tricks in the Simba CustomFlex Pillow to help to combat overheating. The pillow's cover is made from cotton, a natural material that offers better breathability than a polyester cover would, and one side of this outer cover also features Simba's 'Stratos® technology' which is meant to support heat diffusion.

The side of the pillow with this technology has a subtle meshed cube pattern. Whilst I was testing I certainly found this side felt a lot more breathable than the other side of the pillow which is just normal cotton.

If you want to take advantage of this breathability, you do have to keep track of what side the pillow is on though – beware of the pillow flip. I'm not quite sure why this cover couldn't have been added to both sides of the pillow, but, if you tend to sleep warm on a synthetic pillow you may find this technology offers some relief.

The springs inside the Simba CustomFlex Pillow will also likely help with breathability as they increase airflow within the pillow a little, and the mesh sides of the pillow will help air to circulate so any head heat can dissipate more easily.

However, I didn't find this pillow slept as cool as my Woolroom Deluxe Washable Wool Pillow – the cotton outer paired with its naturally temperature-regulating wool fill meant I slept a lot cooler on the Woolroom option. Sadly, as a side sleeper with wider shoulders the loft of the Woolroom pillow is just a little low for me.

Is it good for those with allergies?

Generally, synthetic bedding fillings are better for people with allergies so this is a good option if you’re someone who can suffer from allergies.

I’m firmly in that allergies camp, and regularly suffer from excess dust in the house and hayfever. I definitely noticed my allergies were kept relatively at bay during testing the pillow – even if other factors might have been at play here.

Pillows can trap allergens, like dust mites, setting off allergy symptoms so the fact the Simba CustomFlex Pillow is relatively easy to throw in the washing machine – just take the filled pads out of the cover and wash them separately at 40°C (the only part you can't wash is the pad with the springs in) – adds to its allergy-proof credentials.

Care instructions

As mentioned in the section about allergies, the pillow is machine washable at 40°C. However, it is only the cover and two polyester filled pads that can be popped in the washing machine. The firmer spring pad inside the pillow is sponge clean only, which can be a pain to remember.

Verdict

As a side sleeper who has wider shoulders I found this an extremely effective pillow for me. Over the months of use I found a noticeable improvement in the back and neck pain I sometimes suffer from, while I haven’t seen any allergy flare-ups or had any breathing issues whilst using the pillow.

It was really simple to get the firmness level I needed and the pillow has stayed firm and plump over time.

However, many of our side sleeping testers with smaller frames than mine found this pillow a little too high, which is why I couldn't give this pillow full marks. You can remove one, or both, of the comfort layers if this is the case, but that will then make the pillow firmer, and, unlike me, some of our testers did find this pillow too firm for comfort.

That said, if like me, you're a side sleeper who wants a high loft pillow that won't compress overnight and you prefer a firm feel rather than a pillow you sink into, I think you'll enjoy sleeping on this pillow.

One thing to note is that this is quite a large pillow, and when reviewing it I found it was a tight squeeze fitting it into our usual pillowcases. Not the be-all and end-all, but something to keep in mind if the way a pillow looks on the bed is important to you.

Beyond that, the only real downside in that case is this pillow's premium price point. At full retail price this pillow is currently £159, which is very expensive. However, there aren't many other pillows on the market that offer this unique mix of springs and adjustable comfort layers, so if you’re a side sleeper who really values their sleep and wants to make the investment, I would recommend the Simba CustomFlex Pillow.

Thankfully Simba deals are also a regular occurence, so shop when bedding deals are in full swing and you could be able to snap up this pillow with a decent discount.

This Simba Hybrid Topper review puts the brand's bestselling mattress topper to the test to see how it compares to the best mattress toppers and best cooling mattress toppers on the market.

The Simba Hybrid Topper is fairly unique in that rather than just offering cushioning like most mattress toppers do, it's also designed to deliver support thanks to its combination of pocketed micro springs underneath a memory foam top layer.

Simba's Simbatex® memory foam is also more breathable than most thanks to an 'open cell' design that offers better air circulation than denser memory foams. That, combined with the graphite infused into the memory foam top layer to draw heat away from the sleeper, and the addition of springs which also improve air flow, should mean this topper is also breathable. And that means a cooler, more restful night's sleep.

It's not a budget buy, but potentially this topper could save you money by extending the life of your current mattress or even removing the need to buy a new mattress at all. And, as the best mattresses on the market certainly don't come cheap, that could make it worth the investment.

As such, I was eager to test out this topper in my own home to see whether it could live up to its claims. During testing, I noted how easy it was to attach to my bed, how comfortable myself and my partner found it to sleep on, whether it was able to keep me feeling cool overnight, and how easy it is to care for.

Simba Hybrid Topper review

Specifications

• Construction: Hybrid memory foam and springs
• Sizes available: Single / Small Double / Double / King / Super King
• Depth: 6.5cm
• Care instructions: Machine-washable removable cover

How I tested

What the brand says

Before we start, it's worth making sure a mattress topper is the best fit for your needs. So, what is a mattress topper? A topper is a cushioning layer that you can add to the top of your existing mattress to increase your sleep surface's comfort or breathability. As even the best sofa beds can be on the firmer side, a mattress topper is also a useful way to make a sofa bed more comfortable. 

If you're looking for ways to sleep better, but you're not sure whether you need a topper or a new mattress, our mattress topper vs new mattress guide can help. A topper also shouldn't be confused with a mattress protector, our mattress topper vs protector article can make sure you're choosing the right option for you.

So what is it that makes the Simba Hybrid Topper different from its competitors? The brand claims that the Simba Hybrid Topper can 'transform any mattress in any instant', which it does by way of its four-layer construction.

The first layer is the removable and machine-washable cover. Then there's the Simbatex® memory foam which is an ‘open cell’ construction that's less dense and designed to allow better airflow than standard memory foam. The Simbatex® memory foam is also infused with graphite, a mineral hugely popular in the sleep world at the moment due to its ability to conduct heat away from the sleeper.

Underneath this is the Aerocoil® spring support layer which features up to 2500 pocketed micro springs. Then, there's the high-density Certipur® foam base and an anti-slip base cover fitted with four corner straps for attaching the topper to a sleep surface.

Unboxing

The Simba Hybrid Topper arrived rolled up in a branded Simba box, pretty much the same size as one of the brand's full size mattress-in-a-box deliveries. I was initially really shocked at how big and heavy this box was, however, thankfully once the mattress topper is out of box, it’s a lot lighter and easy to move around.

Once I'd removed the plastic wrapping and had the mattress topper on the bed it quickly expanded to its full 6.5cm height. That height makes it one of the deepest mattress toppers I've tested, beaten only by the 9cm deep Emma Premium Mattress Topper, although, the Emma topper is pure foam, and doesn't contain any springs like the Simba Hybrid Topper does.

Once unboxed, there was thankfully none of the off-gassing smell I encountered with the Emma topper, which I was half expecting since this Simba topper does still have a memory foam upper layer.

Attaching the topper to the bed

Unlike some mattress toppers I've tested, there is no way the Simba Hybrid Topper is going to slide off your bed.

Not only have Simba added four wide elasticated straps to each corner of the topper so that you can slip them over your mattress or sofa bed to hold the topper in place, but the base is also made from an anti-slip material which keeps it firmly secured.

The straps aren’t adjustable, but they’re big enough to wrap around a mattress up to 30cm deep. And even though the slip-proof base does a good job of stopping the topper from moving around at night, it's still easy enough to position on the bed to begin with so that it fits perfectly across your mattress.

One other bonus of these straps – and this mattress topper in general – is the fact that the topper has been designed so that you can roll it up for easier storage when you don’t need it. This means it’s ideal for use on sofa beds or even if you’re travelling. When you want to store the topper, simply roll it up and use the straps to keep it secured.

Comfort

The mattress I sleep on is the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress, so I've already discovered I'm a big fan of Simba sleep surfaces, and I had high expectations of this topper. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed.

At 6.5cm in depth, this is a pretty thick topper, and I found it did a great job of masking a hard sleep surface underneath.

The topper has a medium-firm rating, so most sleepers should find it comfortable, although I found it felt a little more on the firm side for the first two to three nights I slept on it. But once I’d acclimatised to it, I found it soon felt a little softer and a lot more comfortable.

I mainly sleep on my side and found the memory foam upper layer and spring support did a really good job at providing extra support for my back, neck and shoulders in this position. I also move around a lot and found this topper to be super responsive, snapping back in to shape instantly.

Because I share a bed with my partner I was initally a little worried that the springs might make the topper feel a little bouncy any time either of us moved, but it did a really good job of isolating movement. I didn’t notice when my husband got up to use the toilet or when the dog jumped on the bed, so if you have a fidgety partner, you might be able to say goodbye to restless nights.

Breathability

I tend to sleep super hot. Even in the middle of winter I’ll wake up to find I’m outside of the blankets with one leg hanging out of the bed to cool me down.

This topper did an excellent job of keeping me cool during the night, and I found I slept through the night and remained under the duvet every single night that I slept on it.

The topper did feel warm to the touch when I got up of a morning, but it certainly didn’t seem to make me overheat like I've experienced on a lot of denser memory foam sleep surfaces, and I never woke up in a pool of sweat.

This would seem to prove its breathability and that graphite-infused top layer were doing their thing and drawing any excess heat away from me.

Care instructions

The Simba Hybrid Topper has a removable top cover which unzips from the rest of the topper.

The cover can be machine washed at a maximum of 40°c. Simba just advises you don’t use too much laundry detergent as this can cause a build-up within the fabric, and avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach. It can also be tumble-dried on a very low setting.

Our guide to how to clean a mattress topper has more info on how to clean your topper.

If you won't be using the Simba Hybrid Topper on the bed permanently, then the fact it can be rolled up and secured with the straps also makes storage much easier.

Verdict

The Simba Hybrid Topper isn't a budget buy, especially when compared to the likes of the budget Aidapt Memory Foam Cool Mattress Topper or the Silentnight Airmax Mattress Topper. However, this is one of the best mattress toppers I've tested, and technically it could potentially save you money by extending the life of your current mattress or even removing the need to buy a new mattress at all.

Comfort-wise I found this topper on a par with the more affordable Panda Mattress Topper. However, whereas the Panda Topper is pure memory foam, the fact the Simba mattress is reinforced by springs means it offers more support, and, in my opinion, that means the Simba option can do a bit more to mask an uncomfortable bed.

The mix of springs with a memory foam upper layer mean this mattress topper is comfortable and cushioning but also supportive and responsive, making it a good choice for both side and back sleepers.

I found that the graphite-infused open cell memory foam, and extra technology Simba has added to make this topper more breathable also meant it kept me at a comfortable temperature all night. In fact, I would go as far to say that I've had some of my best night's sleep on this mattress topper and I thoroughly recommend it.

In my opinion, the only real downsides to this topper are its price and the fact that it's made from non-biodegradable synthetic materials. As such, it's environmental impact is going to be higher than an all-natural mattress topper such as the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper. Although, Simba does at least state that the brand either refurbishes or recycles any of its mattress returns to keep them out of landfill, which is more than many other brands promise to do.

Price-wise, the good news is that Simba deals are a regular occurence, so at various points throughout the year you should be able to snap it up for less. Keep an eye on our bedding deals page to find the lowest prices.

All in all, I think is a really good topper choice whether you’re looking to revive an old mattress that's seen better days, you want to soften up a firm mattress or sofa bed, or you want to add a cooling layer to an all-foam mattress that's causing you to overheat. 

Simba also offers a super long 200-night sleep trial that allows you to test this topper out for yourself and see if it's the right fit for you.

We all love a good deal. Especially when it involves getting 20% off our top-rated mattress from Simba Sleep. From today until Monday 13th May, you can bag this deal with our exclusive 20% discount code applied at checkout. The deal applies to all Simba mattresses, as well as it's top-rated bedding and bed bases.

Simba’s Hybrid Original mattress tops our list of our best mattresses so we wouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to get 20% off the usual price of £869 for a double size. We all know, mattresses don’t come cheap, especially the good ones so take advantage.

How to get 20% off a Simba Mattress

All you need to do is apply our exclusive code SIMBAFUTURE20 at checkout on the Simba Sleep website, which is valid on all orders over £300, with the exception of any bundle, clearance or multi-buy promotion purchases. But mattresses, beds, pillows, duvets, mattress protectors, bed linen and even the Orbit weighted blanket are all fair game

One other thing you need to know about the six day-long discount event is that it’s exclusive to the UK and it is online only.

Our top Simba picks

There are many reasons to love Simba, whether it’s the high comfort levels of the brand’s mattresses which are not too soft nor too firm, or that it’s the first UK-based sleep brand bearing the B Corp certification for meeting the high standards of environmental and social performance.

But it’s not just Simba’s mattresses that we hold in high regard, even though we keep going on about them because they are just that good. Simba is also known for its bedding and makes the best pillows and best duvets we’ve ever tried.

‘The Simba Original Hybrid mattress is the top-rated mattress in Ideal Home’s best mattress guide, with other mattresses in the brand’s range also rated highly by our review team,’ says Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor, Amy Lockwood. ‘The brand’s bedding also regularly tops the charts in our guide to the best duvets and pillows, so any excuse to snap up a discount on Simba’s products is always welcome.’

So run, don’t walk to Simba Sleep’s website while you have the chance to bag this exclusive offer before Monday 13th May.

Simba is one of the most renowned mattress-in-a-box brands that has never failed to deliver quality and convenience time after time. Well, we've got good news because the sleep brand's bestselling Hybrid Original Mattress is currently 25% off in their Easter sale, offering shoppers over £200 in discounts for a double.

As far as best mattresses go, the Simba Hybrid Original Mattress has earned its rightful spot in the Ideal Home team's hall of fame as our #1 rated mattress – and for good reason, might we add. Scoring five stars across the board in our review and dubbed the 'Goldilocks' of the mattress world by our reviewers, it provides unmatched support and comfort, irrespective of whether you're a side or back sleeper.

At a discounted price of £614.25 down from its usual £819 price point, our Ecommerce Editor and in-house mattress expert, Amy Lockwood, says this is the 'best price' she's seen for it in months. Therefore, consider this a mattress deal worth stopping in your tracks for.

• Simba Hybrid Original Mattress, double was from £819 now from £614.25 at Simba

While there's often a Simba mattress deal to be had, this one is certainly different from the rest we've spotted since the beginning of the year.

Commenting on the deal, Amy says, 'Simba is renowned for its regular sales, so whilst it's rare to encounter a time when the brand doesn't have some kind of discount happening on its site, there are definitely times when discounts are stronger than others – and today is one of them.

'Since the January sales ended, the best price I've seen on the Simba Hybrid Original has been £819, so today's 25% saving – that brings the price of the double down to £614.25 – is the best deal I've seen in a few months,' she assures.

While the bestselling Hybrid Original Mattress is our current pick of the best deal on the site, Simba is offering the same 25% discount on a handful of selected mattresses on their site, including the Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress and Simbatex Foam Mattress. Therefore, rest assured that there'll likely be something to suit your needs, no matter your budget.

However, if you ask us, we think there's no better time to snap up the Hybrid Original Mattress than while this Easter deal is hot.

Simba mattresses have long been an Ideal Home favourite, and they've now made their mattress range even more appealing with the launch of their earth mattress range. 

Simba is one of the best mattress brands around in our opinion. Its top-rated hybrid mattresses are comfortable and well-made, but natural they are not. However, Simba's new range has decided to address this by fusing their mattress technology with natural materials grown in the UK, upcycled or responsibly sourced, along with making them 100% recyclable.

Simba Earth Range first look

The new range includes three different mattresses, the entry-level Earth Source mattress, the level-up Earth Escape mattress and the luxury Earth Apex mattress. 

Each of the three mattresses however is made from a slightly different natural material and has varying comfort levels. 

We have yet to get our hands on one to test, however, our mattress expert, Ecommerce Editor Amy Lockwood welcomes the introduction of these sustainable and natural materials in a Simba mattress range.

'Simba's mattresses have always proved popular with our review team with both the Simba Hybrid Original mattress and Simba Hybrid Pro mattress scoring top marks in our testing process,' she explains. 

'However, both hybrid mattresses feature a memory foam top layer, and whilst Simba's open-cell memory foam is more breathable than many alternative memory foam mattresses, some of our self-diagnosed 'hot sleepers' still prefer not to opt for this synthetic material. Plus, memory foam doesn't biodegrade, so it's not a sustainable or environmentally-friendly option. 

'The new Simba Earth collection looks to swap out this memory foam upper layer for a variety of natural materials, including wool, cotton, and hemp. These are all naturally breathable materials that should make for good air circulation and a cooler sleep. 

'Simba has also made this new foam-free collection glue-free as well, which the brand claims makes the collection 100% recyclable. Good news, because so many synthetic mattresses are non-biodegradable and end up in landfill'.

A natural improvement

On top of these innovations, the new range has kept the features that have made the original Simba mattress range popular. All three offer medium to firm support and include the Quadcore Base to minimise motion transfer and the contouring support layer. 

However, you'll likely have spotted that the eco-friendly perks of the Earth Range come with a price. All three are more expensive than the Simba Original and Simba Pro. This is unfortunately often the case with mattresses made from natural materials. 

However, if you are looking for a natural mattress under £1000 you can pick an all-natural wool Beulah 1000 No-Turn Mattress from Wool Room for £775. Wool Room is currently running a 25% discount across many of its mattresses so if you are in the market for a deal on a sustainable mattress it is a good time to pick one up.

However, if you already know and love the Simba range, it's safe to say they always deliver a quality mattress so we're expecting big things from this range.

Our Simba Hybrid Pro mattress review puts the brand's mid-range hybrid mattress through its paces to see how it compares to the best mattresses Ideal Home has tested so far.

Quick review

I’ve reviewed multiple mattresses over the years, and I think it's fair to say I've just uncovered my new favourite.

The hybrid design of the Simba Hybrid Pro – with its not-too-deep memory foam top layer and spring base layer – gave me all the right support and cushioning in all the right places, and its medium-firm tension eased the back and neck pain I'd been suffering from after sleeping on a softer all-foam mattress previously.

As a hot sleeper, I was initially worried the memory foam upper might cause me to wake up hot and sticky, but the wool layer, the open-cell graphite-infused memory foam, and the extra springs Simba has used to increase breathability seemed to do the trick, and I didn't overheat at night, even in the hottest of months of the year.

Plus, although there was enough memory foam to cushion my joints, I still found the mattress felt responsive, meaning I could turn over and change position easily in the night without getting sucked into the foam!

The only slight downside was that myself and my partner did feel some motion transfer when one of us turned over too heavily, but I wouldn’t say that it's too much of a negative unless you’re a very light sleeper.

Overall, I think this could be the perfect mattress for me, and I've certainly had some of my best night's sleep on it.

Simba Hybrid Pro mattress review

Overall we consider ten factors when we test mattresses. We then use these to score each mattress out of 5. The Simba Hybrid Pro mattress scored an impressive 4.5 out of 5. Read on to find out why.

Specifications

Type: Hybrid
Construction materials: Memory foam, titanium springs, British wool
Number of springs: 4000
Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Superking
Comfort level: Medium-Firm
Height: 28cm
Side handles: Yes
Flip or rotate: Rotate
Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

I bought the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress after sleeping on an all-foam mattress for over six years. It's recommended you should change your mattress every seven to ten years, but I upgraded early because I was suffering from back and neck pain that didn't seem to be helped by sleeping on a fairly soft all-foam mattress that had started to dip and sag regardless of how often I turned it.

Experts say that the best mattress for back pain is a medium-firm tension, which is exactly how Simba describes the Simba Hybrid Pro, so I was hoping it would help.

As a combination sleeper, I was also hoping the combination of a memory foam top layer with sprung support would suit my variety of sleeping positions. I often start off the night resting on my side but will wake up on my back or stomach, which means I need a mattress that isn't too soft or too firm.

Luckily, from day one, I had the best night's sleep on this mattress. In fact, I pretty much stopped experiencing the aches and pains I had with my last mattress within days of sleeping on the Simba Hybrid Pro.

Personally, I would agree with Simba's rating of this as a medium-firm mattress, but how a mattress feels can depend a lot on your weight, with heavier sleepers sinking in more to a mattress surface than lighterweight sleepers. So if you're on the lighter end of the scale you may find this mattress feels firmer.

I loved the memory foam top layer, which offered enough cushioning for my joints without my sinking in so deeply that I felt overwhelmed by the memory foam 'hug', and although I couldn't feel any of the springs, there was definitely much more firmness underneath than I'd encountered with my previous all-foam mattress.

In fact, the Simba Hybrid Pro utilises a double layer of titanium alloy Aerocoil® micro springs for its support (that's double the springs of the more affordable Simba Hybrid Original mattress, which is currently #1 in Ideal Home's guide to the best mattress). Simba says, 'each spring compresses individually in response to body weight', with 'thirteen support zones to mirror areas such as hips and shoulders'.

It was hard to accurately assess the impact this extra zoning had on my sleep quality, but I definitely enjoyed the firmer feel. I felt like I was laying on this mattress rather than sinking into it, so I found it a lot more comfortable than our old mattress, and my usual back and neck pain was instantly reduced.

2. Responsiveness

Going from a pure memory foam mattress (with no springs in sight) to this hybrid mattress was game-changing for me.

I hadn't realised just how much I missed that bit of bounce and the extra support that's offered by springs. Plus, I didn't wake up at night struggling to turn over because I'd gotten stuck in a dip like I used to with my old all-foam mattress.

Instead, the Simba Hybrid Pro felt really responsive to sleep on, allowing me to change position easily throughout the night.

3. Motion isolation

If it wasn't already clear, after sleeping on this mattress for multiple months, I've been very impressed by the Simba Hybrid Pro's sleep comfort. However, the one area it didn't perform quite so well in is motion isolation.

As a combination sleeper I tend to move around a lot at night, but pair that with a partner gets up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, and two naughty terrier dogs who sometimes think their dog bed isn’t quite comfortable enough for them, and low motion transfer is a must for us. It was part of the reason we chose our old all-foam mattress, as the lack of springs meant it did a great job of dampening movement within the bed.

Sleeping on the Simba Hybrid Pro instead, there are times when we both feel a little movement coming from the other side of the mattress. Although usually it's when someone has flopped into bed rather than just turning over. Overall, the motion transfer is pretty good, and the springs and cushioning foam do a good job of absorbing most of the movement, it just isn't the best mattress I've slept on in this regard.

If you're a very light sleeper who is easily disturbed by a partner's movements then it could be worth looking at an all-foam mattress. The luxury Tempur Sensation mattress or budget Emma Original mattress are both particularly good at dampening movement, although (as I'll expand on shortly) their memory foam construction does mean they sleep warmer than the Simba Hybrid Pro.

4. Temperature regulation

Simba says that the Hybrid Pro has been designed for hot sleepers, just like me. Like many people, I tend to overheat on standard memory foam mattresses because they're too dense to allow for air flow. Good air circulation in a mattress is what allows body heat and humidity to dissipate so that our body can regulate its temperature whilst we're asleep.

For instance, when I tested the memory foam Emma Original mattress I regularly woke up in the night due to overheating and found the mattress surface hot to the touch in the mornings becuase my body heat was reflected back towards me by the mattress rather than dissipating.

In comparison, the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress incorporates several elements designed to increase air circulation. First, there's a layer of wool just under the mattress cover. Wool is exceptionally good at helping to regulate temperature as it's highly breathable which allows heat and humidity to drift away from the body.

Then there's the open-cell Simbatex® foam. Unlike dense old-school memory foam, open-cell memory foam has a more open construction that allows for improved air circulation. Simbatex® is also infused with graphite, a good heat conductor that aims to draw heat away from the body.

In addition, Simba has added an extra layer of Aerocoil® micro springs to the Hybrid Pro (in comparison to the Simba Hybrid Original mattress) that are also designed to aid air circulation. Simba states these tiny titanium alloy coils 'gently push fresh, cooling air through the mattress as they compress'.

I'm a hot sleeper anyway, but I tested this mattress during the height of the summer when we experienced a mini heatwave, so I’ve been able to get a good idea of just how well it does when it comes to regulating temperature. I can honestly say I’ve not woken up too hot once during the whole time I've slept on the Simba Hybrid Pro, which is amazing for me because I really do run warm at night.

It's perhaps marginally warmer to sleep on than a mattress that avoids memory foam and is instead packed with natural materials such as the Hypnos Pillow Top Select mattress, but if you love the cushioning feel of memory foam and want a memory foam mattress that won't mean a compromise on breathability, I think the Simba Hybrid Pro manages to strike that balance well.

5. Edge support

Simba says the Hybrid Pro features their 'SupportCore® base, with 1000 pocketed barrel springs to ensure 100% edge-to-edge support with no roll-off'. These springs are a bit bigger than the double layer of Aerocoil® micro springs used in the centre of the mattress, and help to reinforce the outer edges of the mattress so that it won't dip and make you feel like you might roll out.

Often manufacturers use firm foam for mattress edge support, but the use of springs instead reduces the foam content of the mattress, a good step towards a more eco-friendly design.

I naturally like to sleep on the edge of the bed, and this mattress has such good edge support that I feel protected and haven’t once felt like I was about to roll out. It doesn’t matter how close to the edge you lie or even sit, it doesn’t slope, it just effortlessly holds the weight.

For anyone who has mobility issues, the edge support on this bed is perfect as it has enough support on the edges that it’s easy to just push yourself up and out of bed without feeling like you’re going to sink in or fall.

I'm ashamed to say that my home workout game is weak so I don't have any weights to place on the bed to show you just how good the edge support it. However, as you can see by the image, my two dogs, who are solidly built (weighing 18.5kg combined) barely make a dent on the edge of the bed.

6. Sleep trial

As of writing, Simba offers a 200 night sleep trial on the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress, which is plenty of time to test out whether this is the right sleep surface for you.

This isn’t quite as long as the 365 nights currently offered by Nectar, but it's on a par with the likes of Emma and Brook + Wilde, and is still one of the most generous sleep trial periods available.

Simba also takes care to mention that any mattresses returned during its sleep trial are 'recycled, refurbished or donated to charity' rather than going to landfill, something not all of its competitors offer clarity on.

In fact, Simba is perhaps one of the most environmentally conscious synthetic mattress manufacturers we've come across. The brand is dedicated to continual improvements to its manufacturing process in order to get as close as possible to a circular economy, where no components of the mattress go to waste at the end of its lifespan and all can be reused to make new products of some kind.

7. Ease of care

This is a one-sided mattress, meaning you can only sleep on the side that has the memory foam top layer. As such, the Simba Hybrid Pro needs to be rotated rather than flipped to ensure even wear and tear.

The brand recommends that you rotate the mattress at least once a month for the first three months, and then every three to six months, and there are sturdy side handles on the mattress to make rotating it easier.

Potentially a one-sided mattress could lack some longevity compared to a high quality two-sided mattress. However, after six months of daily use the SImba Hybrid Pro still feels like a brand new mattress, so it's construction seems durable and good quality so far. I'll update my review in time.

One extra thing that I love about this mattress is the fact that its top cover can be unzipped, removed and washed. The cover is small enough (even with a king size mattress) to fit in a regular washing machine, and it dries really quickly.

Obviously you could add one of the best mattress protectors to a mattress that doesn't have this feature, but it shows some extra consideration has gone into the design process. And anything that makes it easier to keep a mattress clean – especially if you're concerned about how to clean a memory foam mattress, which can be a little trickier – is good news in terms of extending its lifespan.

The washable cover may also be a plus point for anyone who's looking for a mattress that will keep allergies at bay, as it gives you a way to regularly clean any build up of pollen or pet dander from the mattress itself.

8. Delivery

The Simba Hybrid Pro mattress is delivered rolled and boxed, which can be particularly useful if you have awkward delivery access to negotiate.

As of writing, the brand offers free Next Day Delivery to most postcodes, which involves a two-person delivery to the room of your choice. For an extra £10 you can upgrade to Specified Time Delivery which gives you a 4-hour time slot for delivery, or for £50 you can opt for the VIP Delivery which means the mattress will be unpackaged, installed onto your bed, and all packaging removed.

Although it costs more, the latter is a great option if you don't have the strength, mobility, or time, to heft a mattress around your bedroom. If you're more able-bodied then the mattress box does have cut-out handles to help with manouvering, although it's worth noting the king-size mattress I tested weighed in at 43kg – so the boxed mattress may be compact, but it's not light!

You can also opt to have your old mattress removed and recycled for a charge of £50.

Once unboxed, the mattress takes a bit of time to decompress to its full height. Simba state the mattress can be ready to sleep on in as little as three to six hours, but it can take up to 72 hours before it fully rises.

Sometimes memory foam mattresses can have a strong chemical off-gassing smell when they're first unpackaged, so I left the windows open as a precaution whilst I waited for the mattress to inflate, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was no strong smell from the Hybrid Pro.

9. Value for money

The Simba Hybrid Pro is the next step up from the Simba Hybrid Original mattress in terms of specifications and price point. As of writing, a double Hybrid Original mattress will set you back £869, and a double of the Simba Hybrid Pro currently retails for £1279.

So what do you get for the extra money? Well, in technical terms, the Hybrid Pro offers an added wool layer, an extra layer of springs, and extra zoned support.

In practical terms, I found that means more breathability, and a little extra support than the Hybrid Original delivers. So if you're a hot sleeper like me, or a heavier weight sleeper, it could well be worth the extra investment to upgrade to the Hybrid Pro.

However, if these factors don't matter as much to you then we still think that the Simba Hybrid Original mattress is the best value for money, which is why the Original has kept its top spot in our guide to the best mattress to invest in.

10. Third-party reviews

It's not just me that's a fan of this mattress. The Simba Hybrid Pro mattress seems to score exceptionally well with reviewers across the board.

Customers who purchased the mattress via Amazon have given it an average of 4 out of 5 stars, with happy owners mentioning how comfortable it is and praising the mattress for helping alleviate their back pain. Although some reviewers have noted that their mattress had a strong off-gassing smell, which I didn’t experience.

Simba also get rave reviews on TrustPilot where the brand has 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers have highlighted how good the customer service is and also praised the returns process. Some customers also say that despite the purchase price being a little high, for the quality of the goods they feel Simba mattresses are worth it.

All in all, it seems like you won't be disappointed if you invest in the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress.

How I tested

Sleep position: combination sleeper, but mainly side
Tension preference: medium firm
Sleep problems: hot sleeper, lower back and neck pain

During our mattress testing process I assessed ten factors that the Ideal Home team deems vital to any mattress purchase.

I assessed the mattress for comfort, responsiveness, motion isolation, temperature regulation, and edge support through at home testing. This means that I slept on the mattress for a minimum of two weeks before writing my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, the delivery process, any sleep trials available, value for money, and, where possible, third-party feedback from other verified owners before writing my review and giving this mattress a star rating.

If you’ve been researching a new mattress lately, then you’ve likely come across the Emma vs Simba debate.

These brands are perhaps two of the best-known names in the UK sleep market, at least if online searches are anything to go by. ‘Emma mattress’ averages a whopping 110,000 online searches per month, and ‘Simba mattress’ is a close second with 74,000 online searches per month.

Both brands also regularly feature Ideal Home's guide to the best mattress money can buy. But which brand comes out on top in the Emma vs Simba battle? We dig into the nitty-gritty to find out.

Emma vs Simba

On the face of it, these two sleep brands have a lot in common. Both are online only retailers, both offer mattress-in-a-box delivery, and both offer a choice of memory foam hybrid mattresses at a range of different price points. However, dig into the details and there are some key differences between the two retailers.

Emma mattress range

Emma offers four mattresses, and has the most affordable pricing of the two brands, with its lowest priced mattress, the Emma Hybrid Original, starting at £359 for a double.

All prices below are correct as of writing, and reflect the full recommended retail price for a double mattress.

• Emma Hybrid Original | £359 | 22cm : hybrid memory foam and pocket springs
• Emma Hybrid Premium | £528 | 25cm : hybrid memory foam and pocket spring
• Emma Hybrid Thermosync | £799 | 27cm : hybrid graphite-infused memory foam and pocket spring
• Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress | £999 | 27cm : hybrid AirGrid foam, memory foam, and pocket spring

Simba mattress range

In contrast, Simba's most affordable mattress, the Simba Hybrid Essential, starts at £649 for a double. The brands collection is much larger, and features the 'Earth' range, which incorporates more natural materials.

All prices are correct as of writing, and reflect the full recommended retail price for a double mattress.

• Simba Hybrid Essential | £649 | 20cm : hybrid open-cell graphite-infused memory foam and micro springs
• Simba Hybrid | £799 | 25cm : hybrid open-cell graphite-infused memory foam and micro springs
• Simba Hybrid Pro | £1199 | 28cm : double layer springs, open-cell graphite-infused memory foam, wool
• Simba Hybrid Luxe | £1699 | 31cm : triple layer springs, open-cell graphite-infused memory foam, wool and bamboo
• Simba Hybrid Ultra | £2299 | 34cm : triple layer springs, open-cell graphite-infused memory foam, kapok, wool and bamboo
• Simba Earth Source | £1199 | 25cm : double spring layer, wool, hemp and flax
• Simba Earth Escape | £1699 | 28cm : triple spring layer, wool, hemp, and flax
• Simba Earth Apex | £1999 | 30cm : triple spring layer, cashmere, mohair, wool, hemp, and flax

Mattress comparison

First, and probably most importantly, how do Emma mattresses rate against Simba mattresses? We’ve now put multiple Emma and Simba mattresses through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, and, overall, we've found the Simba Hybrid mattress to be the best all-rounder.

The Simba Hybrid (previously known as the Simba Hybrid Original) offers a winning combination of good cushioning, medium-firm support, decent temperature regulation, good motion isolation, and good value for money. It also benefits from Simba's room of choice delivery and excellent customer service support.

Emma's closest match to the Simba Hybrid is the Emma ThermoSync mattress, but with this mattress you only get doorstep delivery, there's no option of removal of your old mattress on delivery day, and in our experience, there's a lot less communication during the delivery process than Simba offers.

You can see how each Simba and Emma mattress Ideal Home has reviewed ranks below. Click through to read the full review.

• Simba Hybrid Original review | £799 : a great all-rounder 5 out of 5
• Simba Hybrid Pro review | £1199 : added breathability and a firmer feel 4.5 out of 5
• Emma Hybrid ThermoSync review | £799 : Emma's coolest mattress 4.5 out of 5
• Emma Hybrid Premium review | £528 : an affordable memory foam hybrid 4.5 out of 5
• Simba Hybrid Essential review | £649 : an entry-level memory foam hybrid that's just a bit pricey 4 out of 5
• Emma Hybrid Original review | £359 : a basic but budget-friendly hybrid mattress 3.5 out of 5
• Emma Hybrid Airgrid review | £999 : AirGrid support that proved a bit too bouncy for our reviewer 3.5 out of 5

Simba and Emma deals and discounts

Of course, the full price of the brand's mattresses is less relevant when there are deals on, and both Emma and Simba offer deals and discounts throughout the year, with Black Friday deals usually offering the lowest prices.

In 2025, Emma is offering Black Friday discounts of up to 30% off selected mattresses, whilst Simba's Black Friday deals are also offering 30% off selected products.

Customer satisfaction comparison

As of writing, Simba has over 50,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. 78% of reviewers gave the brand 5 stars, with customers raving about the comfort of the mattresses, the ease of setting them up from the box, and the speedy delivery service. 7% of reviewers rated the brand just 1 star.

In contrast, Emma has just under 50,000 reviews on Trustpilot and an average rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars. 61% of reviewers gave the brand 5 stars, but 23% of reviewers only gave the retailer 1 star, with complaints about poor communication and poor customer service being the main theme.

Sleep trial comparison

Both Emma and Simba are online only retailers. That means there are very limited brick-and-mortar stores where you can go to test out their mattresses in person. However, Simba has now launched its mattress range in Bensons for Beds stores nationwide.

Instead, if you buy direct from Simba or Emma, then, as of writing, both manufacturers offer sleep trials that let you test out a mattress within your own home, and then return it (even after it’s been slept on) if you find it isn’t the mattress for you.

You must pay for the mattress first, and you need to ensure that you follow any terms and conditions set out by the retailer. However, both Emma and Simba currently allow you to change your mind within 200 nights of sleeping on their mattresses.

So, in the Emma vs Simba battle, both brands are neck-and-neck in terms of the length of the trial they offer. The only problem is what happens to those mattresses that get returned. But more on recycling and sustainability in a moment.

Delivery comparison

It may not seem as important as how a mattress feels to sleep on, but a mattress is a heavy and bulky item, and for many of us, that means that the delivery process is a key part of the mattress buying puzzle.

Both Emma and Simba are known for their mattress-in-a-box delivery. Several years ago, this was something of an innovation, especially if you lived in an apartment block where access to your home was up several flights of stairs. Rather than negotiating getting a flat double or king-sized mattress up tricky stairwells or down awkward hallways, instead the brand’s mattresses were vacuum packed and rolled into a conveniently-sized, and far easier to manoeuvre, cardboard box.

Most of the brand’s ranges are still delivered this way. However, there is some discrepancy between the two brands in other parts of the delivery process.

As of writing, Simba offers free delivery of its mattresses to your front door or the room of your choice. For a £50 charge, you can also have your old mattress removed and recycled at the same time, and for an additional £50 fee you can opt for VIP delivery whereby the team will ‘install your mattress or bed for immediate use and remove all packaging’.

In contrast, Emma does offer free delivery, but only to your doorstep, and unfortunately there’s no option to pay more for delivery to the room of your choice. Not ideal for anyone who isn’t able to heft a mattress into their home by themselves.

Emma also doesn’t offer to take your old mattress away when they deliver your new one. You can find out how to recycle a mattress independently, and there are lots of alternative ways to get rid of a mattress responsibly other than relying on the manufacturer delivering your new one. But, it's extra hassle that Simba solves on delivery day.

So, for ease of delivery and customer service options, we think Simba wins in this particular Emma vs Simba scenario.

Sustainability comparison

In 2022, the National Bed Federation released a report that stated in the UK only 24% of all discarded mattresses were sent for recycling between 2014 and 2022. More worryingly, the ‘real’ rate of recycling (meaning majority of the mattress components were salvaged and repurposed) was only 14%.

According to the NBF that means ‘around 4.75 million mattresses every year end up in landfill or are incinerated in the UK, that’s equivalent to an area almost four times the size of the City of London and enough to fill Wembley Stadium twice or the Royal Albert Hall 22 times’.

The Simba website currently offers a lot more clarity on how the brand avoids contributing to mattress landfill than we could find on the Emma website. Plus, Simba has the Simba Earth mattress collection. This range vetoes non-biodegradable memory foam for more eco-friendly materials, including welded springs for easier recycling at the end of the mattress' lifespan, and comfort layers made from natural and biodegradable materials such as wool, hemp, and flax.

This is a really positive step forward from Simba, in particular because it acknowledges the huge problem that memory foam and synthetic mattresses can cause to the environment, especially if they end up in landfill.

In fact, Simba now operates its own recycling initiative. For £50 you can book the collection of any mattress from your home via the Simba website. The brand and its partners will then recycle this mattress responsibly to ensure as many components are salvaged and repurposed as possible.

Verdict

So, all things considered, which brand should you opt for in the Emma vs Simba debate?

Well, if affordability is a key criterion in your search, then, as of writing, Emma offers mattresses at a lower price point than Simba. Simba's lowest-priced double mattress, the Simba Hybrid Essential, currently costs £649 at full RRP. In comparison, Emma offers the more affordable Emma Hybrid Original mattress, which retails at £359 for the double.

However, if you're able to invest a little more, then at £799 for a double, we rate the Simba Hybrid mattress as one of the best mattresses you can buy, and investing in this choice means you benefit from shopping with a brand with a high TrustPilot rating and excellent customer service record.

If you don't want to get all hot and bothered before you even get the mattress onto the bed, Simba also offers that all-important delivery to the room of your choice, as well as the option of white glove delivery. If you opt for an Emma mattress, the delivery team will only get the mattress as far as your doorstep and the rest is down to you.

If you're concerned about sustainability and want to invest in a mattress that either utilises natural materials or helps consumers to recycle their mattress responsibly at the end of its lifespan, then Simba also comes up trumps here. The brand is investing in greener biodegradable and recyclable materials in its new Earth mattress range, and offers customers the ability to recycle not only Simba's own mattresses, but any mattress, at the end of its life.

Hopefully this has helped you to determine some of the differences between an Emma and a Simba mattress, and will help you to decide which is the right choice for you.

Simba deals are always a welcome sight, and if you've got your heart set on a Simba mattress or some Simba bedding, then this is the week to shop.

Two key Simba sales are happening this week, one on Simba's own website, where the brand is offering up to 25% off multiple bestselling products, and another on Simba's Amazon storefront, where up to 30% off Amazon Prime Day deals are delivering some even lower prices on selected lines.

All in all, the result is some great savings, whether you shop Simba's new and affordable Simbatex Cool mattress, which is sold exclusively on Amazon (a double was £399 and is now just £299.25), or you opt for the brand's bestselling Simba Hybrid mattress, which we rate as one of the best mattresses you can buy (now reduced from £899 to £719.20 for a double). Plus, the brand's popular pillows and toppers are also on sale.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've been tracking Simba prices for the past five years, and I've rounded up all the top deals to shop below. However, if you're considering snapping up a bargain, you will need to move fast. Amazon Prime Day is set to end at midnight on Friday 26th June, and Simba's own sale is due to end on Tuesday 30th June.

Today's best Simba mattress deals

Today's best Simba bedding deals

A good night's sleep isn't all about the mattress. What you put on it counts too, whether that's the best pillow for your preferred sleeping position or a duvet that keeps you warm but stops you from overheating in the night.

Or perhaps you're weighing up whether to invest in a mattress topper vs a new mattress. If so, Simba offers some of the best mattress toppers we've tested.

I've rounded up today's best Simba bedding deals to help you shop for less.

When to shop Simba mattress deals

If you're waiting for a Simba deal to save money on a new mattress or bedding, then it used to be the case that you'd never have to wait too long for an offer to appear. However, in recent years, Simba has reduced the frequency of its sales events considerably.

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've been tracking mattress deals for the past five years, and these are the key dates I've seen the biggest Simba reductions.

Simba Amazon Prime Day deals

Amazon Prime Day – the retailer's yearly price-slashing event – can mean some significant discounts on brands, like Simba, that maintain an Amazon storefront.

In 2025, there weren't many reductions at the Simba Amazon storefront, either during the first Prime Day of 2025, which ran in July, or the second Amazon 'Big Deals Days' which ran from Tuesday, 7th October until midnight on Wednesday, 8th October.

However, July 2026 has seen a lot more Amazon sales action. Starting on the 23rd of June until the 26th of June, Simba's Amazon store offered up to 30% off selected mattresses (most notably the Simba Amazon exclusive range, such as the budget-friendly Simba Simbatex Cool mattress), up to 26% off pillows, up to 24% off duvets, and up to 15% off mattress toppers.

On selected lines, those Amazon Prime deals outdid Simba's own up to 25% off sale that ran during the same week.

Simba Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals

Often hailed as the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday always falls on the last Friday of November, but for the last couple of years, we've been seeing weeks or even a full-blown month of sales.

In 2025, Simba's Black Friday sale started on Friday, 21st November, and its Black Friday deals offered some of the biggest discounts I'd seen all year, with up to 30% off across a wide selection of the brand's bestselling lines.

In fact, Simba dubbed 2025 as its 'biggest Black Friday ever', with the 30% discounts an increase on its 2024 Black Friday discounts of up to 25% off.

Overall, Simba offered reductions of up to 30% off mattresses, up to 20% off selected pillows and duvets, and 10% off mattress toppers.

Simba Boxing Day & January deals

If you're done with the turkey and ready to nab a bargain, then you'll usually find some great Boxing Day Simba mattress deals just after Christmas.

In 2025, Simba's 'New Year' sale started on Saturday, 27th December, and ran until midnight on the 5th January 2026.

Similar to the brand's Black Friday sale, there was up to 30% off selected lines, including up to 30% off Hybrid mattresses, up to 20% off selected pillows and duvets, 10% off Hybrid toppers, and 20% off selected beds.

FAQs

Does Simba ever have discounts?

Yes, Simba does offer discounts throughout the year. The brand's biggest sale is usually over Black Friday at the end of November. In 2025, Simba offered up to 30% off its bestselling mattresses, up to 20% off selected pillows and duvets, 10% off mattress toppers, and 20% off selected beds.

The brand also launched a New Year sale, which saw up to 30% off discounts running from the 27th of December 2025 until the 5th of January 2026.

How to get a Simba discount?

If you're looking to save on Simba products, then Ideal Home's exclusive Simba discount codes can help. On top of that, Simba deals often crop up on the brand's website during the key dates I've listed above.

Does Simba do Blue Light discounts?

If you have a Blue Light Card, the good news is that Simba offers Blue Light discounts. That means those working in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector, armed forces, and teaching community can shop Simba products for less.

Finding the best mattress for your sleep needs can make a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. I should know, I spent years considering myself a 'bad sleeper', tossing, turning, and overheating in bed, before I realised it was my mattress to blame.

What I've learned, both as Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor and during the past five years as a professional mattress tester, is that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to finding the right mattress. However, if you don't live near a mattress showroom and you don't want to order an online mattress unseen, mattress shopping can be tricky.

That's why I’ve spent the last five years testing the comfort of over 150 mattresses – including bestsellers from Simba, Emma, Silentnight, Hypnos, TEMPUR, and many more – to find the best mattress for side sleepers, back sleepers, hot sleepers, and all sorts of budgets.

Overall, the great value Simba Hybrid mattress remains one of the best that our team and I have tested. However, there are more great options on the market, and this guide will narrow down the best fit for you.

Best mattresses 2026: shop now

• Best mattress overall: Simba Hybrid, £799
• Best budget mattress: DreamCloud Hybrid, £525
• Best mattress for back pain: Sealy Newton Posturepedic, £1,499
• Best mattress for side sleepers: TEMPUR EASE, £799
• Best mattress for hot sleepers: Hypnos Pillow Top Select, £1,998
• Best memory foam mattress: TEMPUR Pro Plus SmartCool, £2,399

How I test

As Ideal Home's expert mattress tester, over the past five years, I've personally lain on over 150 mattresses in-store, at trade shows, and through at-home testing. Following this research, I selected only the top candidates to put through our rigorous Ideal Home mattress testing.

This means that over 45 mattresses have been slept on at home for a month, by either myself or one of our expert testing panel, to assess cushioning, support, temperature regulation, motion isolation, and edge support in real-life conditions. I also assess any sleep trials, the delivery process, value for money, and, where possible, take into account third-party reviews and environmental impact.

Each mattress we test is then rated out of 5 stars, and I've chosen the six best mattresses overall to include in this guide. However, you can find all the sleep surfaces we've tested on our mattress reviews page.

Best mattress overall

The Simba Hybrid is Simba's bestselling mattress, and once I got it onto my bed, I could easily see why.

This is technically a hybrid mattress, but the memory foam top layer is paired with micro rather than full-sized springs. Before testing, I wondered if this would mean it felt too soft, but it feels bang-on medium-firm, with just the right mix of support and cushioning pressure relief around my hip and shoulder when I sleep on my side.

No wonder our expert testing panel has dubbed it the 'Goldilocks of mattresses – not too soft or too firm'. Although if you're a heavier-weight sleeper, I would recommend opting for the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress instead. This feels a little firmer, but has more spring support.

As a hot sleeper prone to overheating on memory foam, I've also been impressed by its temperature regulation. The synthetic fill isn't as breathable as a mattress filled with natural materials, like the Hypnos Pillow Top Select further down this list, but Simba's graphite-infused open-cell memory foam sleeps cooler than any other memory foam mattress I've tested.

Add to that good motion isolation that makes it a great option for couples as you won't be disturbed by a fidgety bed partner, a decent amount of bounce that makes it feel nice and responsive, a sleep trial that allows you to test out the mattress for 200 nights in your own home, great third-party reviews, a hassle-free delivery process, Simba's ongoing commitment to lowering its environmental impact, *and* great value for money, and I think the Simba Hybrid rightly deserves its 5-star rating.

Tested by: Amy and Linda – Linda's full Simba Hybrid mattress review has more detail.

Best budget mattress

Our expert tester, Rachel, slept on this mattress for a month, and having compared it to numerous other budget-friendly options – including the £649 Simba Hybrid Essential, the £449 REM-Fit Hybrid Pocket 1000, the £418 Emma Hybrid Original, and the £219 IKEA VALEVÅG Pocket Sprung mattress – she rated it as the best affordable mattress she slept on.

It's a hybrid mattress with a pocket spring base and memory foam top layer that impressed with its medium-firm tension. This is something I've struggled to find in mattresses below the £500 price point – generally, a lower price point means fewer springs and a softer feel. 'I slept so well on my side, and on my back, I found it was firm enough to prevent my hips and lower back from dipping too low,' says Rachel.

The DreamCloud Hybrid's motion isolation also scored well, meaning we think it's the best mattress for couples in this price bracket, 'my husband often comes to bed later than me,' says Rachel, 'and on some mattresses the movement reverberation of him getting in wakes me, but not on this mattress.' Rachel also found its edge support to be the best of all the affordable mattresses she's tested. 'That meant when the kids climbed into our bed, I could lie right on its edge without any feeling I was about to roll out,' Rachel shares.

Overall, I still think my first choice, the Simba Hybrid Original mattress, is the best value mattress you can buy. But if you're on a strict budget (and there are no Simba deals on when you come to shop), then you might want a cheaper alternative. In which case, at £525 for a full-price double, the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress is my top choice for best budget mattress, plus, its 365-night sleep trial is the longest in the business.

Tested by: Rachel – her DreamCloud Hybrid mattress review has the full lowdown.

Best mattress for back pain

If your current mattress is causing you back pain, then it may be the wrong tension for you. Most likely, it will be too soft and lacking in support.

Research by the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology says that the best mattress for back pain is one that's medium-firm. However, our weight has a significant impact on how firm a mattress feels for us. The best way to solve this is to opt for a mattress that comes in different tension options so you can find the right feel for you. Like the Sealy Newton Posturepedic, which is available in both medium or firm tension to suit your build.

The Newton is also my top recommendation if you love a firm mattress in general. Thanks to its mix of latex comfort layer and spring support, this is one of the few mattresses I've found that feels firm without feeling *hard* (there's an important difference).

That latex comfort layer means that, unlike many memory foam mattresses, I felt I was lying 'on' the mattress rather than 'in' it during testing. This is important if you have back pain, as you don't want to be struggling to fight out of a memory foam 'hug' to change position in the night. (If you *are* a memory foam lover, the Brook + Wilde Ultima mattress is another good option that comes in a choice of three tensions).

Plus, this mattress has another vital feature if you're prone to back pain, and that's the best edge support I've come across in any mattress. This means there's no dipping (and painful spinal adjustments) if you roll too close to the edge, and there's firm support for getting in and out of bed.

Tested by: Amy and Rachel – find the full details in Rachel's Sealy Newton Posturepedic mattress review.

Best mattress for side sleepers

Side sleepers need good cushioning around the hip and shoulder joints to sleep comfortably, which is why a memory foam mattress like the TEMPUR EASE can be a great choice.

'I found that I slept more comfortably on my side than on any other mattress I've tested,' says our tester Jennifer during her four-week test of the TEMPUR EASE. 'My shoulders and hips were relieved of pressure, and I wasn't waking in the night with pins and needles down my arms. The mattress contoured around me, cushioning and supporting each inch of my body.'

This mattress comes in three depths, 20, 22cm, and 25cm. We tested the most affordable 20cm depth, but Jennifer recommends paying the extra for the deepest 25cm option so you get a little more support – fitted sheets will also fit more snuggly.

Jennifer also loved this mattress's motion isolation, saying, 'My husband and I agreed this mattress exceeded our expectations in how well it absorbed movement. We have a young family, so one of us is often in and out of bed during the night, and we were a lot less disturbed by each other's movements on this mattress.'

Jenny also appreciated TEMPUR's 100-night sleep trial. The only downside, other than the mattress's weight, which means some heavy-lifting is required to rotate it, and a lack of edge support, is the fact it only comes in one tension option: medium-firm.

Jennifer and her husband were more than happy with the medium-firm feel, and found it suited their approximately 13 stone builds well for both side and back sleeping, but lighter weight side sleepers are likely to find it feels a little firmer and not sink in as much, and heavier weight side sleepers may find it feels softer and sink in more.

If you want to be able to tailor your mattress's comfort to your exact body type, as an alternative, TEMPUR's Pro Plus SmartCool mattress comes in four firmness options. As it is, if you're a side sleeper who loves the cocooning feel of memory foam cushioning or you have a fidgety sleep partner whose movements you'd like to mask, this could well be the mattress for you.

Tested by: Jennifer – Jenny's full TEMPUR EASE mattress review has more detail.

Best mattress for hot sleepers

I've always been a hot sleeper, prone to waking at 3 am in a sweaty mess, thanks to my hormonal cycle, and even more so now I'm officially in the perimenopause age bracket. If you too are prone to night-time overheating, I can't tell you what a game-changer this mattress has been.

That's because this is a pocket spring mattress (pocket springs mean good airflow throughout the mattress's core) finished with a pillow top comfort layer that's packed with natural, breathable, temperature-regulating materials – such as wool, kapok, and cotton.

In the three years I've been sleeping on the Hypnos Select, I've found it the coolest mattress I've tested by far, and that's meant a far deeper, less disturbed sleep than I tend to get whenever I switch back to a synthetic or memory foam mattress and my body struggles to regulate its temperature again. Plus, I love the fact that those natural materials are a far more environmentally friendly option and will biodegrade at the end of the mattress's lifespan.

It's also *comfortable*. I tend to find that a lot of traditional pocket spring mattresses can feel very firm to sleep on – especially if you're a side sleeper, like me – as there isn't a lot of cushioning on the top for the hip and shoulder joints. However, Hypnos solves that problem with the Select's sewn-on 'pillow top' which is packed full of natural cushioning materials.

I find the padded top is perfect for side sleeping, offering just enough comfort and pressure relief to avoid any tension in my shoulder or hip during the night. Thanks to its medium tension, the mattress also has a little give to it, which helps me to get more comfortable on my side than a firmer mattress would.

If you too are a hot sleeper, I definitely recommend this mattress. The only downsides as far as I'm concerned or some motion transfer if you have someone tossing and turning next to you at night, and the fact

Tested by: Amy – my Hypnos Pillow Top mattress review has more detail.

Best memory foam mattress

This is the best memory foam mattress I've tested. That's partly because, unlike most all-foam mattresses, it comes in four tension options – soft, medium, medium-firm, and firm – making it much easier to find the right tension option for you, no matter your body weight.

Every time I lie down on this mattress, I let out a sigh of contentment – it's that comfortable. I actually tested this mattress's predecessor, the TEMPUR Sensation mattress, whilst I was moving house. Every muscle in my body ached from lugging heavy storage boxes around, but this mattress moulded around me to cushion every joint at night, making for a pain-free sleep. If you have joint pain, it's a great choice.

However, as a hot sleeper, I did struggle with overheating on that older version of the mattress. Thankfully, TEMPUR took note, and this new-and-improved version comes with a SmartCool cover to offer better temperature regulation. My colleague, Jullia, tested out the 25cm deep Tempur Pro Plus SmartCool, and testifies that it does indeed offer a cool sleep.

That movement-dampening memory foam is also brilliant at motion isolation, so it's one of the best mattresses for couples, as you're less likely to be disturbed by your partner tossing and turning in the night. The downside is that I did find its cocooning memory foam 'hug' could be difficult to get out of. Because it moulded around me so well, it was sometimes an effort to change position in the night. Plus, both Jullia and I found its edge support lacking. Sit down to put your socks on, and it's hard to get up.

Do I forgive those niggles for the comfort it offers? Yes. Everyone I've enlisted to lie down on this mattress has made the same 'ooooh' of delight. That said, it's very expensive. If your budget won't stretch, you might want to give TEMPUR's entry-level EASE mattress above a try, or the £499 Nectar Memory Foam mattress and its 365-night sleep trial. The Nectar option is much softer, so it won't be suitable for heavier-weight sleepers, but it is much more affordable.

Tested by: Amy and Jullia – Jullia's full Tempur Pro Plus SmartCool mattress review has more detail.

Mattress comparison at a glance

Best of the rest

I've kept our main shortlist to just the six very best mattresses that we've ever tested. However, you might be considering a mattress that didn't make the shortlist and be wondering how we rated it.

As such, I've rounded up some of the key runners-up below, including the best Emma mattress we've tested, the best mattress under £250, and our top IKEA recommendation.

You'll also find details of all the mattresses we've tested at Ideal Home's testing on our mattress reviews page.

How to choose a mattress

Finding the best mattress for your most comfortable night's sleep can be tricky. That's because we each have different needs, and things like our preferred sleeping position, our weight, and any aches and pains can all affect which sleep surface will suit us best.

Here's my quick guide to what you should consider before you shop.

• Sleeping position: If you're a side sleeper you need a mattress with a well-padded surface that will cushion your shoulder and hip joints and support your waist. A back sleeper generally needs a firmer mattress that doesn't allow the hips to dip too low. The same goes for front sleepers. (However, stomach sleeping is best avoided if you can. 'Sleeping face down is generally advised against, as it significantly increases the likelihood of straining your neck muscles and irritating your lower back', explains Dave Gibson, registered osteopath, sleep expert, and founder of The Sleep Site).

• Motion isolation: If you sleep with a partner, look for a mattress with good motion isolation. This means that when one of you rolls over or tosses and turns in bed, those movements won't vibrate through the mattress and disturb your co-sleeper.
• Responsiveness: If you're an active sleeper who changes position a lot in the night, or you have any mobility issues, the responsiveness of a mattress can be important. This means how easily the surface of the mattress allows you to change position in bed. You may want to steer clear of memory foam which moulds to your body to cradle it and can make turning over more difficult.
• Edge support: A mattress with good edge support will have an even tension across the whole mattress surface. This means that when you sit or lie on the edge of the mattress, it shouldn't dip down too much. This increases the usable sleeping area of the mattress and makes it easier to push off the bed and stand up.

• Weight: Our weight can affect how a mattress feels and the level of support we need. As osteopath Dave Gibson explains, 'heavier individuals may require a firmer support, while lighter individuals might find a softer mattress more comfortable'. Our guide to what type of mattress is best for heavier people has more info.
• Depth: Mattresses differ in depth, with the most affordable options starting at 20cm and luxury models reaching 30cm and above. And as Martin Seeley, sleep expert at MattressNextDay explains, 'thicker mattresses generally offer better support and comfort.' I would say 25cm is a decent depth for someone of average weight, but if you're of a heavier build, more depth can mean more layers and better support.
• Aches and pains: 'Research generally suggests that a medium-firm mattress is best for alleviating lower back pain' says osteopath Dave Gibson. Alternatively, if you're a side sleeper and find your shoulder or hip joints become sore or get pins and needles during the night, you may sleep better on a mattress a pillow top, latex, or memory foam top layer to relieve pressure on the joints. (If your aches and pains are new or temporary, you may also find one of the best mattress toppers can transform the feel of your existing mattress).

• Temperature regulation and breathability: In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, researchers found that being too hot at night can contribute to poor sleep quality. A mattress that offers good breathability makes it easier for your body to maintain a steady temperature and prevents overheating. Breathable mattresses tend to be filled with natural materials, in particular wool, which is well-known for its temperature-regulating properties. In contrast, synthetic materials, like memory foam, lack breathability and can be a bad choice for hot sleepers.
• Ease of care: Mattresses come in two types, one-sided mattresses that will need rotating every few months to ensure even wear and tear, and two-sided mattresses that can be both rotated and flipped upside down. If you live alone or struggle to lift heavy weights a one-sided mattress can be easier to care for, but some people think a two-sided mattress has better longevity.
• Mattress size: If you have a small bedroom you may not have as much choice in mattress size as you'd like. However, when choosing the right mattress size, bigger is usually better, especially if you share a bed. As sleep expert Dave Gibson points out, couples would need to opt for 'a super king to give you the same room as two single mattresses'.

Sleep trial: If possible, look for a mattress with a sleep trial that allows you to test out the mattress at home, on your own bed. This is important because, as sleep expert Dave Gibson explains, 'it can take about four weeks to fully adjust to a new mattress'.

Bed base: Your bed base will affect how a mattress feels. This is why an at-home sleep trial is important. If you're testing a mattress in store, ask for it to be put on a sprung divan bed base, an ottoman bed, or a slatted bed frame that's similar to the base you'll be using at home.

Delivery process: Will your new mattress be delivered as a mattress-in-a-box (super useful for those of us with awkward access) or delivered flat? Our guide to everything you need to know about mattress delivery has more details.

Disposal of your old mattress: You might also want to check if the retailer you're buying your mattress from offers collection and disposal of your old mattress. You can organise this separately – our guide to how to dispose of a mattress explains how – but it's often easier to have the old mattress taken away on the day of delivery.

FAQS

Our expert testing panel

Our Simba Hybrid Original mattress review puts the brand's bestselling hybrid mattress through its paces to see how it compares to the best mattresses Ideal Home has tested so far.

Quick review

All in all, the Simba Hybrid Original mattress offers a good night's sleep at a good price point, which is why, after years of testing alternative mattresses, we still rate it number one in our guide to the best mattresses you can buy.

There are no wildly luxurious touches to this mattress perhaps, I'd say the Simba Hybrid Pro offers a little more in that regard, but nor does it feel cheap, and we think it represents great value for money.

For the average person, its medium-firm hybrid design is a crowdpleaser comfort-wise, with a great mix of cushioning memory foam and spring support. Those of us who are heavier or lighter than average may find it falls too soft or too firm, in which case it could be worth paying more for Brook + Wilde's Ultima mattress that comes in four tension options, but for many, especially the side and back sleepers amongst us, we think this mattress will be the 'Goldilocks' of the mattress world – not too soft or too firm.

It also offers better temperature regulation than most memory foam mattresses, and decent responsiveness, motion isolation, and edge support. Plus, a 200-night sleep trial gives plenty of opportunity to test if it's the right fit for you, Simba's delivery options are top notch, and the brand's commitment to constantly improving and lowering its environmental footprint is admirable, with the brand leading the way in making synthetic mattresses more sustainable.

If you're looking for a mattress that ticks all the boxes, then this bestselling mattress has Ideal Home's seal of approval.

Simba Hybrid Original mattress review

Specifications

Type: Hybrid
Materials: Foam, memory foam, pocket springs
Sizes: Kids / Single / Small Double / Double / King / Super King
Comfort level: Medium-Firm
Height: 25cm
Flip or rotate: Rotate
Side handles: Yes
Manufacturer sleep trial: 200 nights

1. Comfort

This is a hybrid mattress that combines layers of foam and memory foam with spring support. The brand officially rate the Hybrid Original a medium-firm tension, and after enlisting the help of several co-testers all of varying bodyweights to test out this mattress, we unanimously agreed. This mattress is the Goldilocks of sleep surfaces – i.e. not too soft, nor too hard.

That said, bodyweight will still play a big factor in how this (or any) mattress feels for you. Lightweight sleepers will generally find any mattress firmer than a heavier weight sleeper, so the more solidly built you are, the softer you're likely to find the Hybrid Original. However, this mattress is a crowdpleaser, so if you're within a fairly average weight range the experience of myself and my co-tester suggests it should be ‘just right’.

As a memory foam hybrid the Simba Original is also a great option for side sleepers. The upper memory foam layer sculpts to your body shape, offering good cushioning around key pressure points like the hips and shoulders, whilst the springs still offer good support.

I found the Hybrid Original offered enough support when laying on my back too. However, it may be less suitable for front sleepers as the memory foam can allow hips to dip a little too low in this position. All in all though, I think this mattress is a great all-rounder in terms of comfort, it may not feel wildly luxurious, but it offers everything you need for a good night's sleep.

2. Responsiveness

Because this is a hybrid mattress that has springs under its memory foam top layer, it definitely feels more responsive and has more bounce to it than an all-foam mattress.

I didn't find the memory foam layer hugged me too much, so it was still easy enough to change position in the night, something that was more of an issue when testing the all-foam Tempur Sensation and Emma Original mattresses.

3. Motion isolation

On the flip side, increased responsiveness does naturally have an impact on motion isolation. Motion isolation, or motion transfer, relates to how much one person's movements can be felt by another when there are two people sharing a bed.

The two layers of foam sandwiching the Hybrid Original's springs certainly have a dampening effect and help to isolate movement, but, my husband and I did notice there was a little motion transfer if one of us tossed and turned dramatically.

However, it definitely wasn't enough of an issue to disturb our sleep, and personally I welcomed that extra bit of bounce as I can find an all-foam mattress (usually the best option if you want to eliminate all vibrations) feels a bit 'dead'.

4. Temperature regulation

Like many people, I can tend to overheat on standard memory foam mattress. Good air circulation is what allows body heat and humidity to dissipate so that our body can regulate its temperature whilst we're asleep. The dense structure of traditional memory can lack breathability, which in turn traps heat and leads to us waking up feeling hot and sticky.

The Simba Hybrid Original mattress aims to combat this in two ways, first Simba uses ‘open cell’ foam that the brand says allows thirty times the airflow of standard memory foam. This is also infused with graphite, a highly conductive material that is included in order to draw heat away from the body.

Although I'm prone to being warm in bed, on testing I didn't notice any particular overheating whilst sleeping on this mattress which suggests Simba's sleep technologies are doing their job.

5. Edge support

The Simba Hybrid Original definitely feels supportive around the edges, offering a good surface to sit on, and preventing any 'roll off' if you're prone to sleeping near the mattress edge.

When you're choosing the right mattress size I'd always opt for the largest mattress possible to avoid anyone sleeping on the edge, but if you co-sleep and are limited to a double mattress by budget or room size – or you're a parent with kids who regularly climb into the bed – then good edge support is a must.

Similarly, if you lack mobility then good edge support provides a better surface to push off to stand upright in the mornings, so this is another tick in the Simba mattress's favour.

6. Ease of care

As a hybrid mattress, the Simba Original is one-sided, which means you can only sleep on the side with the memory foam comfort layer. That means it can't be flipped but should still be rotated regularly to ensure even wear and tear. Four side handles make that rotation easier to do.

Another nice feature is that the top cover of the Simba Hybrid Original is removable, so you can simply unzip it and pop it in the washing machine to freshen it up. I still added a mattress protector over the top, but it's great to have an additional layer of protection to save having to figure out how to clean a mattress should accidents happen.

It's perhaps worth mentioning that compared to a traditional two-sided mattress, a one-sided mattress could perhaps lack some longevity. After all, that's 50% less mattress surface to sleep on, all in all. My first impressions are that the mattress seems durable and of good quality, but I also delved into third-party customer reviews to see how those who had owned it for longer than me were getting on.

All in all, the brand's mattresses seem to get very positive feedback. Simba's Trustpilot score is 4.4 out of 5, which is a fantastic average considering as of writing the brand has over 50,000 reviews, and I couldn't find many negatives regarding this mattress. The brand's customer service is also largely praised.

7. Sleep trial

It can be difficult to tell if a mattress is the right one for you, even if you can test it out in store. Sleeping on a mattress night after night is a different kettle of fish than a quick lie down in a showroom, and in Simba's case, the brand doesn't have bricks-and-mortar showrooms, so to an extent you're buying 'blind' online. This is where a sleep trial is a brilliant solution.

A sleep trial generally means that you can buy a mattress, sleep on it in your own home and on your own bed base for a specified number of nights, and return it for a refund if it isn't the right fit for you.

Terms and conditions differ between brands, but as an online-only retailer, Simba was one of the first brands to begin offering sleep trials on its mattresses and, as of writing, you can take advantage of a generous 200 nights to test out the Hybrid Original mattress.

This is one of the most generous trial periods in the business, matched by the likes of Emma and Brook + Wilde, and only beaten by Nectar and its whopping 365 night testing period.

8. Delivery

The Simba Hybrid Original mattress is delivered vacuum-packed, rolled and boxed, which can be particularly useful if you have awkward delivery access to negotiate.

As of writing, the brand offers free Next Day Delivery to most postcodes, which involves a two-person delivery to the room of your choice. This is a great service compared to some of the brand's competitors, like Emma, that only offers doorstep delivery. Plus, for an extra £50 you can opt for the VIP Delivery which means the mattress will be unpackaged, installed onto your bed, and all packaging removed.

The latter is a great option if you don't have the strength, mobility, or time, to heft a mattress upstairs and into your bedroom. Despite the fact I was testing a king size mattress, the box was a very manageable 107cm x 50cm x 50cm, but that doesn't mean it isn't heavy.

You can also opt to have your old mattress removed and recycled for a charge of £50.

The mattress also comes with a super useful cutting tool to open the mattress plastic without causing any damage – always a brilliant addition.

Once unboxed the official line from Simba is that the mattress will reinflate and be sleep-ready within three-to-six hours after unboxing. However, I found its springs meant the mattress recovered from compression far faster than a spring-free foam mattress and my test mattress felt fully inflated within an hour or two – especially useful if your only other option to sleep on is the floor or sofa!

One final point on unboxing; the Simba Hybrid is by far the least smelly mattress I've reviewed. Most new foam mattresses suffer from a touch of off-gassing in the first few weeks. It doesn't bother everyone, but sensitive souls can find it extremely obnoxious and hard to bear. Happily, the Simba Hybrid barely smelt at all. The very slight odour after unboxing was completely gone within a record-breaking 24 hours.

9. Environmental impact

Just like many other products, mattresses can pose significant environmental problems, especially when it comes to how to get rid of a mattress at the end of its lifespan. Industry body the National Bed Federation estimates that between 2017 and 2021 over 6.4 million mattresses were disposed of and only 14% of these were recycled. That means millions of mattresses going to landfill and causing further harm to the environment.

Buying a mattress with a lower environmental impact can do a lot to help. A mattress made predominantly from natural materials – like the Hypnos Pillow Top Select mattress or Woolroom Hebridean 3000 mattress – is often the best bet as natural materials are renewable, usually easier to recycle, and if they can't be recycled will naturally biodegrade.

In contrast, synthetic mattresses – which are those that use manmade foams such as memory foam – can have a higher environmental toll. Not only are these foams made from non-renewable petrochemicals, but at the end of their lifespan they're far harder to recycle or repurpose.

However, synthetic mattresses are usually more affordable and lots of us love the cushioning of manmade memory foam. In this case choosing a manufacturer that's consciously trying to lower its environmental impact can make a big difference, and in recent years Simba has begun to lead the way in making its manufacturing processes more sustainable.

The brand has recently become a B Corp and regularly publishes an environmental impact report detailing the measures it's taking to make its production processes circular. That means less waste, lower energy use, more recycling and aims to get to Net Zero by 2030. It also offers a recycling service – both for its own mattresses and other makes – and ensures any mattresses returned during its sleep trial are refurbished or repurposed.

This is a lot more transparency and postive action than most mattress maufacturers are delivering, and means Simba is one of the brands leading the way in terms of taking responsibility for, and reducing, its environmental impact.

10. Value for money

All in all, the Simba Hybrid Original mattress nails a lot of important components in the mattress search, and it does so at a relatively reasonable price point.

As of writing, a double Hybrid Original mattress costs £799 at full price. Whilst this isn't cheap, it is good value considering how many boxes the mattress ticks.

For comparison, the Emma NextGen Premium mattress costs £659, but has less temperature regulating technologies, is only delivered to your doorstep rather than the room of your choice, and the brand lacks the same investment in sustainable manufacture that Simba demonstrates.

The REM-Fit 600 Lux Elite Hybrid mattress could be another contender. This mattress retails at £1299, but is often on sale with up to 50% off making it cheaper than the Simba Hybrid Original at times. But, again, it has less temperature regulating tech, there's no 'white glove' delivery service (although REM-fit do deliver to the room of your choice), and REM-fit doesn't appear to be as hot on lowering its environmental impact as Simba is.

Plus, although Simba now runs far fewer sales than it used to, there are still a few key times of year when the Hybrid Original may also be discounted. After keeping track of discounts for several years, in our experience, Black Friday tends to be when Simba offers the biggest savings of the year. Your best bet for a lower price is to keep track of our round up of the best mattress deals each month.

How I tested

Sleep position: side and back
Tension preference: medium-firm
Sleep problems: overheating
Height & weight: I enlisted a team of testers ranging from 10 to 17 stone

In putting the Simba Hybrid Original through Ideal Home's mattress testing process I assessed ten factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

My husband and I tested the mattress for comfort, responsiveness, motion isolation, and edge support. This means that we slept on the mattress for a minimum of two weeks before I wrote my review. As a combination sleeper, its comfort levels have been put through their paces in various different sleep positions, and, as a hot sleeper who tends to struggle with overheating in the night, I was also able to test out the Hybrid Original's temperature regulation to see if it delivered a cool night's sleep.

I also took into consideration ease of care and durability, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, the mattress's environmental impact, its value for money, and, where possible, any third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.