In years gone by, my sleeping arrangement was akin to The Princess and the Pea – aka many layers.
Every time I moved house, an army of bedding followed. Beyond bedsheets, there was a topper and a protector before you even got to the main mattress event, all in a bid to create the plushest, softest and most sumptuous sleeping environment.
These elements are considered essential to any slumber set-up when dealing with a mattress that perhaps has seen better days. You know the type: lumpy, dipping in your most frequented spots or when you’re trying to compensate for a misjudged firmness level. It takes time, thought, effort and your hard-earned cash to form such a delicate, personalised balance.
But what if you could find a mattress that was ready to sleep on from the get-go? A mattress so comfortable that Goldilocks herself would approve?
Enter: The Simba Hybrid Ultra.
Key specifications
- 13 layers
- Medium-firm
- 8,500 Aerocoil springs
- Cooling natural wool layer
- 34cm Depth
- FusionCool™ heat control
- 100% recyclable
- Made in the UK
- Free mattress protector included
Delivery
As Simba is best known for being a bed-in-a-box company, I was surprised that the Hybrid Ultra arrived in the old way, fully formed, wrapped in plastic and no box in sight. This is worth bearing in mind if it needs to travel up several stories. It took three people to haul the heavy bed up and around my narrow staircase. “Pivot” was repeated through gritted teeth so often that it put Ross from Friends to shame.
It does mean that, contrary to these rolled-up alternatives, it’s ready to sleep on that very night without needing to wait for it to rise or inflate.
The design
The cocoon creation from Simba is made up of a 13-layer construction that uses recycled and natural materials. Packed with both springs and memory foam, this hybrid model is so deeply comfortable, Goldilocks would never want leave, bears be damned. To double down on its universal appeal, it is at a medium-firm level, which makes it ideal for couples with opposing sleeping preferences.
What makes this mattress stand out from the crowd is the sheer ingenuity and technology that Simba has channelled into each layer.
It boasts the highest spring count in its range and that brings with it the myriad of benefits associated with the mattress type where each coil has been carefully placed to take the pressure off your joints and support your back and spinal alignment. The brand has also featured not one, but two layers of its signature Simbatex foam, a memory foam that will combat any preconceived ideas of the material as it was created specifically to encourage airflow, while still imbuing it with supportive cushioning.
The breathability of the design is a real emphasis here, something instantly obvious from the list of materials used in the construction. Kapok (a light plant fibre), wool, charcoal and bamboo make up one of the thermo-regulating layers, while latex and, unusually, coconut that has a cooling effect (who knew?) are harnessed in another.
The trademarked foam is less dense than models of time gone by on account of an open-cell design that is springier and heat and sweat-wicking. All this combines to create a mattress dubbed by the brand to have 30x more airflow than standard memory foam.
The Hybrid Ultra Mattress came complete with a protector at no additional cost, a nice touch from the brand and also composed of that wonder breathable material kapok.
The sleep test
I am an incredibly light sleeper and yet I have found a partner who tosses and turns throughout the night, gets up at the crack of dawn and is all around restless. He requires the firmest of mattresses and runs at 100 degrees – not the most ideal situation. Yet, this is where the Hybrid Ultra shines.
Since investing in this product, I have not been disturbed thanks to the seemingly miraculous way the mattress counteracts motion transfer. In fact, I have managed to sleep through each of my S.O.'s three alarms every 15 minutes from 6am for the last few months. While this is no doubt in part due to the innovative construction, it’s also due to sheer comfort.
The springs are positioned under the hips and shoulders, providing a supportive base to drift off into dreamland. The firmness is the perfect balance between his desire to sleep directly on a wooden table and the plush cloud-like setting that I prefer. Bravo, Simba.
Prices
- 90X190 UK Single - £1,599.40
- 135X190 UK Double - £2,279.40
- 150X200 UK King - £2,399.40
- 180x200 UK Super King - £2,699.40
Verdict
A testament to the premium comfort of the Hybrid Ultra, there are no additional purchases necessary as this ergonomic, supportive mattress is all that is required to sleep in utmost luxury. So say goodbye to toppers once and for all.
The ergonomic zones provide relief for back pain and the like, while side sleepers like myself will appreciate the edge-to-edge support that ensures you can curl up on the periphery of the piece. A full, interruption-free sleep is just a purchase away.
