Simba Hybrid Topper review – the premium mattress topper tried and tested

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

Rachael Penn

I’m Rachael, a freelance reviewer who helps the Ideal Home team put products through their paces to find the top recommendations for our readers. For this review, I tested out the Simba Hybrid Topper over my existing mattress on a king size slatted bed base.

I'm a combination sleeper, so this mattress topper's comfort levels have been put through their paces in various different sleep positions, and – much to my partner's annoyance – I tend to move around a lot at night, so I was able to test out the Hybrid Topper's motion isolation as well. As a hot sleeper I was also well placed to assess the topper's breathability to see if it delivered a cool night's sleep.

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

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.