If you live in Australia, the chances are you have heard of Koala, the Sydney-based maker that delivers boxed mattresses. We all need a good sleep but with all these options in the market, it can be tough to find the one that suits our needs. In this Koala mattress review, I will talk about this foam-only option and whether it’s one you should consider.
Founded a few years back, Koala creates eco-friendly mattresses to help Aussies sleep better. However, their work doesn’t stop there. They have partnered with WWF so every time you buy a mattress from them, they adopt a Koala. Furthermore, they donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental charities. This is a great gesture and hopefully, more makers will follow their lead. It’s time now to move to the full review below.
- Who is the Koala mattress suitable for?
- What is a Koala mattress made of?
- What is the cover made of?
- How does the Koala mattress feel?
- Will I sleep hot with this mattress?
- What type of bed should I use with this mattress?
- Will it come in a box?
- Will the Koala mattress come with a trial period?
- How much does it cost?
- Who should buy the Koala mattress?
- Alternatives to consider
Who is the Koala mattress suitable for?
- Sleepers who look for a mattress with a customisable feel.
- Couples that don’t want to disturb each other during sleep.
- Those looking for a breathable mattress.
- People who want to get the most for their dollars.
What is a Koala mattress made of?
The Koala mattress features 2 layers plus the cover. These are:
- Top Layer: A Kloudcell comfort foam layer which acts like memory foam and latex. However, it’s way more breathable and has some bounce. It will provide your body with the needed pressure relief.
- Bottom Layer: An Ecofoam support foam layer which is the base of this mattress. It’s there to support your body with its 5-level zoning system.
The Koala mattress measures 22cm in height and all foams used to make it follow the GECA Standards.
What is the cover made of?
The cover of the Koala mattress is a really nice one. They used a blend that is made of 70% Polyester and 30% Tencel. Polyester is a strong material and it’s quite breathable. Tencel has anti-microbial abilities and it’s an eco-friendly material. Koala did well with this choice and the cover looks and feels great. It features a 2-tone design, with the sleeping surface featuring a white colour and the sides being navy. You can remove the cover if you need to clean it but you cannot use your washing machine. Instead, you should use a mild detergent and spot-clean it. Overall, I think that Koala did a great job with this cover.
How does the Koala mattress feel?
I want now to continue with this Koala mattress review and talk about its feel. When designing this mattress, they wanted to create one that would suit the average sleeper. For this reason, the Koala mattress has a medium-firm feel. If I use my virtual scale here, I would say it’s a 6.5 with 10 being really firm. Let’s see now how this mattress performed.
Starting from the back position, the two foam layers did a good job and my body was well-supported. I felt quite comfortable in this position and my spine was aligned correctly.
Moving to the side position, the mattress reacted quickly and sinkage increased. I didn’t feel any discomfort in the hips area and I felt that the mattress did a good job with my spine alignment.
Finally, moving to the stomach position, I felt that pressure relief was adequate and my hips and shoulders were well supported. I think that stomach sleepers would probably prefer a slightly firmer mattress but Koala did a decent job here.
If you share your bed with a partner, this mattress is an excellent choice. It has minimal motion transfer so you won’t disturb each other.
Will I sleep hot with this mattress?
If you live in Australia, it’s essential to have a mattress that sleeps cool and the people at Koala fully understand that. This mattress is made with Kloudcell, a type of foam that has an open-cell construction. This allows it to breathe which is very important. Around the core, the tencel cover allows airflow and that completes an efficient cooling system. Overall, the Koala mattress is suitable for the Aussie climate and it’s not a coincidence that it’s such a bestseller.
What type of bed should I use with this mattress?
You can use any type of bed frame with your Koala mattress providing that it’s supportive and allows airflow. I personally advise you to use a slatted frame which can do both. If you use one, make sure the distance between the slats is no longer than 7.5cm. Besides slatted frames, you can also use a box spring or a divan bed.
Will it come in a box?
Most mattresses these days come rolled and packed in a box and Koala is not an exception. Having said that, there is something else that separates them from their competitors. For all Metro areas, they offer free 4-hour delivery which is amazing! I am personally very impressed by it and it’s definitely the fastest service I have seen in Australia. For all other areas, you should expect your mattress within 2-7 days and you will pay a small delivery fee. Overall, it’s a great service offered here and it’s definitely one of the main reasons you should buy from them.
Will the Koala mattress come with a trial period?
When you buy a Koala mattress, you will get a 120-night trial period which is more than what the other makers offer. This gives you 4 months to try this mattress and decide later whether you want to keep it or not. If you are not happy with it, you can return it and get your money back. In addition, all Koala mattresses come with a 10-year guarantee so you know you are covered for a really long time. Of course, make sure to read their T&Cs so you know what is included there. Overall, this is a complete package and Koala did great here.
How much does it cost?
The Koala mattress is available in 6 sizes so you will probably find the one to suit your needs. The smaller (Single) starts at $850 and the bigger (King) goes for $1,650. The table below has pricing information for all available sizes.
SIZE | DIMENSIONS | PRICE |
Single | 92 x 188 x 23cm | $850 |
King Single | 107 x 203 x 23cm | $990 |
Double | 138 x 188 x 23cm | $1,090 |
Queen | 153 x 203 x 23cm | $1,250 |
King | 183 x 203 x 23cm | $1,450 |
Super King | 203 x 203 x 23cm | $1,650 |
Who should buy the Koala mattress?
This is always a good question and I guess I have to answer it now that I complete this Koala mattress review. I think that this mattress would be a great option for anyone looking for:
- A foam-only mattress that is supportive and has some bounce.
- An eco-friendly mattress that is built in Australia and comes with great service and support.
- A mattress that sleeps cool and it’s designed for the Australian weather.
If you look for all these, you should have this mattress high on your list. It’s well-balanced and it will suit most sleepers. It’s also fairly priced and I think that it’s a mattress that won’t disappoint you. It’s a great choice from a company that you can trust.
Alternatives to consider
If you don’t want to spend more, another option you should consider is the Eva Comfort Classic mattress. Unlike the Koala mattress, this one has a different design philosophy as it’s a hybrid one. It combines memory foam, latex and pocket springs and the result is a well-balanced mattress that is very supportive. Moreover, the Comfort Classic mattress features a 5-zone pocket spring system that will provide your body with tailored support. As for its cooling system, the combination of pocket springs with the gel memory foam works efficiently so you won’t sleep hot. If you decide to buy one, you should expect free delivery, a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty. All of these make this mattress a lucrative package.
Another great option in this price range is the Origin Hybrid mattress. This is also a hybrid alternative and it’s built with high-quality materials. You should choose it if you are looking for better edge support. The people at Origin have added reinforced side walls that do a great job. That means that you can get in and out of bed with ease but also sleep near the edge without feeling that you will fall off. The Origin Hybrid mattress can also provide you with plenty of pressure relief thanks to the Hexagrid layer. It’s designed to sleep cool and it comes with a comprehensive support package. Overall, it’s a versatile option that won’t disappoint.