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. 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 my book!
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.
7. Delivery
The Simba Hybrid Pro mattress is delivered rolled and boxed, which can be particularly useful if you have a 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.
8. 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 the sleep trial are 'recycled, refurbished or donated to charity' rather than going to landfill, something not all of its competitors offer clarity on.
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.
