Simba Mattress Topper review

How did the Simba Hybrid Topper stand up to review? We're big fans of the Simba Hybrid mattress, so were interested to see how it stood up to our thorough testing

Simba mattress topper review
(Image credit: Simba)
Real Homes Verdict

Can transform an old mattress so that it feels like a Simba mattress. If you've got the extra cash, though, we'd opt for the mattress instead.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Nearly all the supportive comfort of a Simba mattress.

  • +

    Cooling for (most) sweaty sleepers.

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Price – it's among the more expensive of the mattress toppers.

Why you can trust Real Homes Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Lucy Searle
By
published

When asked to do a Simba Hybrid mattress topper review, I was intrigued. Already a veteran of the Simba Hybrid mattress (which I love), I thought it would be interesting to see how they compared. So, I gave it a spin for a few nights – then passed it on to a friend with a very different body shape, a very different mattress beneath and a very different type of back ache to see how she got on. I've collated our pros and cons to give you a balanced view.

If you're looking to find the best mattress for your needs, you'll find plenty of choice in our mattress guides – but don't miss our deep review of the Simba mattress first. Check our Simba mattress deals page for the latest bargains, too.

Specifications:

Sizes: single; small double; double; king size; super king size

Who will the Simba mattress topper suit?

Anyone with a tired but sound mattress; anyone who finds their current mattress too hard; side sleepers who need a more forgiving surface; anyone who can't afford a Simba mattress (yet). It will also please anyone who likes a medium to medium/medium-soft but supportive (ie, not saggy) sleep surface. And allergy sufferers will appreciate its ability to keep dust mites somewhat at bay.

What is the Simba mattress topper like to sleep on?

It's not exactly like sleeping on a Simba mattress, but it's not far off. As with any topper, however good, you can always feel the presence of the mattress beneath the topper. That said, this is one of the thickest and probably the best quality mattress topper I've ever tested, and it's safe to say that the mattress beneath was barely detected by my tired old bones.

So, what sets it apart? The combination of foam and springs gives you plenty of support – more than you get from the usual memory foam mattress topper and much, much more than you could ever hope to get from a feather or down topper. It really suits me, since I tend to sleep on my side and need plenty of support around my waist area and a forgiving surface at hip and shoulder level. Other side sleepers would appreciate its 'hugging' qualities, I'm sure.

Another bonus: because its springs are – as I've said – designed to 'hug' your body, the motion transfer is minimal, unless of course you have an unbelievably bouncy mattress beneath and an incredibly fidgety partner, neither of which applies to me. 

As for my friend, she's very tall (unlike me), sleeps mostly on her back (unlike me), on a hard mattress (ditto), and has only ever tried memory foam mattress toppers before. She says – and I quote: 'The Simba topper is really comfy, I don't wake up with a painful back any more!'

Does its breathability live up to the hype? For me, not so much, but I do tend to get quite hot at night, and even my Simba Hybrid mattress doesn't keep me cool (especially at certain times of the month, when I've had too much wine or it's a hot night). My friend, however, is really enjoying the breathability of the topper (which, by the way, she's refusing to give back). 

Simba mattress topper

(Image credit: Simba)

What else? The anti-slip base and wriggle-free straps mean the topper doesn't move when you sleep, which, as a fidget, I really appreciate (for anyone considering buying a topper without straps, think twice – you'll be forever hauling it back into position as part of your morning routine). 

The Simba topper is also designed to be easily rolled and stored away – or taken with you wherever you go. Two things: a double is, well, double-sized; and it's heavy. We'd both say that while it's easy to roll, you'd have to have a very large estate car and lots of storage space at home to keep this anywhere but on a bed. 

Picking a new pillow, too? See all our best pillow picks – the Simba pillow came out top of the list.

What do you get for your money?

The Simba Hybrid topper, like any Simba product that is not a mattress, can be returned within 14 days of receipt, in the same condition and with the original packaging.

Is the Simba mattress topper worth the money?

It depends on your budget. At full price, a Simba double mattress is £649, while a topper of the same size is £269. So, while the mattress is a decent price for the quality, the topper is on the more expensive side for that kind of buy. My opinion is that if you can wait and save up for the mattress, you should do so. If, however, it's way out of your price range, you have a newish mattress that you've fallen out of love with and want to give a hybrid mattress a try, or if you've got the cash to splash on upgrading a mattress in a spare room, for example, you can't do much better than this.  

One thing to bear in mind is that Simba constantly run deals with really good discounts. You can keep up with them on our regularly updated Simba mattress deals page.

Simba mattress topper fillings (and what they do)

There's a Simbatex synthetic latex layer (2.5cm deep); a high resilience/density foam
layer (2cm); 2,500 conical pocket springs, enclosed in a 100 per cent polyester pocket.

Ordering and delivery

  • Delivery options: there are four delivery options, each of which incurs a different cost. 
  • Removal of an old mattress is not free; unwanted mattresses don't go to landfill, and will be recycled if it is not a Simba. 
  • Delivery time slot: this depends on the provider. If you have the two-man delivery, then you will receive a time slot. 

More mattress reviews to check out

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Lucy Searle
Lucy Searle

Lucy is Global Editor-in-Chief of Homes & Gardens having worked on numerous interiors and property titles. She was founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home, before becoming Editor-in-Chief of Realhomes.com in 2018 then moving to Homes & Gardens in 2021. She has also written for Huffington Post, AOL, UKTV, MSN, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. Find her writing about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening.