Koala is one of the biggest mattress brands in Australia and they recently decided to develop a budget option. In this Koala SE mattress review, you will find everything you need to know about this interesting new release.
Koala has a wide range of mattresses that also include the Koala Luxe mattress which is their most premium offering. When designing the SE mattress, they followed the same recipe so this is another foam-only option. Mine was delivered almost ten days ago, so it’s time now to move to the full review below.
- Who is the Koala SE mattress suitable for?
- What is this mattress made of?
- Does it come with a nice cover?
- How firm is the Koala SE mattress?
- Does this mattress sleep cool?
- Do I have to pay for delivery?
- Is there a way to try this at home?
- How much will I pay for it?
- Should I buy the Koala SE mattress?
- Alternatives to consider
Who is the Koala SE mattress suitable for?
- Those looking for a value-for-money mattress that performs well.
- Sleepers looking for a foam-only cooling mattress.
- Back and side sleepers that have comfort as their priority.
- Students looking for an affordable but versatile mattress.
What is this mattress made of?
The Koala SE mattress is made of 3 layers plus the cover. In detail, these are:
- A bamboo charcoal foam layer that is designed to regulate your body’s heat during sleep. It’s naturally antimicrobial and can remove odours.
- A Kloudcell foam layer that is responsive and helps with support. What separates it from other foams is the fact that it is very breathable.
- A support foam layer that features 3 different zones. These are designed to support demanding areas like your hips and shoulders. This layer is the foundation of the Koala SE.
The mattress has a medium profile and measures 24cm in height. I have to mention here that Koala uses only CertiPUR-US certified foam which is free from harmful substances. The image below shows us the position of each layer.
Does it come with a nice cover?
The cover of the SE mattress is made of 65% polyester and 35% tencel. This is a great combination that works well. For starters, this blend is breathable so you will definitely sleep cool. This is super important, especially during the hot summer months. Additionally, tencel has the ability to absorb the extra moisture which is another great property of this cover. Moreover, the people at Koala added a fixed quilted topper that increases comfort and makes it feel more premium.
Unfortunately, this is not a removable cover so you cannot machine-wash it. Furthermore, there are no side handles that can help you move it and I think this is one of the ways to cut costs. The cover feels soft and it has a beautiful and modern design. Overall, I think that this is a functional cover that does the job.
How firm is the Koala SE mattress?
I want to continue writing this Koala SE mattress review and discuss its feel. The majority of boxed mattresses are designed to suit the average sleeper and this one is no exception. For this reason, it comes with a medium-firm feel so if I use my virtual scale here, I would say it’s a 6.7 with 10 being really firm. Let’s talk now about the different sleeping positions and how this mattress performed for the past ten days.
Starting from the back position as always, the mattress hugged my hips and shoulders but I didn’t feel that I was sinking into it. I was comfortable in this position and I felt that support was adequate.
Turning to the side position, the mattress reacted quickly thanks to the Kloudcell foam which is very responsive. Sinkage increased and that allowed my spine to sit in a neutral position. The mattress didn’t cause any discomfort in my hip area which was great.
Finally, moving to the stomach position, I felt that the mattress could do a better job supporting my hips and chest. If you sleep this way, maybe the Koala mattress would be a better choice.
For those sleeping with a partner, the Koala SE mattress has minimal motion transfer so you won’t disturb each other during sleep. On the other side, edge support is not great but that is expected from a mattress at this price range.
Does this mattress sleep cool?
During the design process, the engineers at Koala carefully chose the materials to ensure that this mattress breathes well. For this reason, the cover is made of a tencel and polyester blend and the core is made of Kloudcell. These are all open-cell materials and have the ability to allow airflow. That results in a mattress that sleeps cool, even during the hot summer months. Despite the lack of springs, the people at Koala managed to build an efficient cooling mechanism here so if you are looking for an affordable cooling option, the Koala SE mattress might be all you need.
Do I have to pay for delivery?
One of the reasons that Koala is such a successful company is the fact it offers a fantastic service. When you buy a mattress, you will get free delivery which is usually very quick. For Metro areas, they offer free next-day delivery. For rural and regional deliveries, the time is longer but they still offer a fast service.
I live in Sydney and I got my mattress within 2 days. What really impressed me is that they provided me with real-time delivery tracking information so I knew everything about my order. The box arrived in mint condition and the driver was polite. Overall, I was happy with their service and I felt that Koala did an excellent job.
Is there a way to try this at home?
Many people hesitate to buy a mattress online so Koala decided to help them out. All their mattresses come with a 120-night trial period which is one of the longest in Australia. That means that you have 4 months to try it at home before you decide whether you want to keep it or not. Returns are free so if you are not happy about it, you can return it and get a full refund.
Moreover, the mattress comes with a 10-year warranty that will cover you for a long time. This is what most makers offer these days and if you want to know more about it, you should visit their dedicated warranty page. Overall, I would say that this is a complete package so no complaints at all.
How much will I pay for it?
As I have already mentioned, this is an affordable mattress so you won’t break the bank. The smaller size (Single) goes for $650 with the bigger one (King) selling for $1,150. There are plenty of options to choose from so you will definitely find the one that suits your needs. The table below has pricing information for all available sizes.
| SIZE | DIMENSIONS | PRICE |
| Single | 92 x 188 x 24cm | $650 |
| King Single | 107 x 203 x 24cm | $750 |
| Double | 138 x 188 x 24cm | $850 |
| Queen | 153 x 203 x 24cm | $950 |
| King | 183 x 203 x 24cm | $1,150 |
Should I buy the Koala SE mattress?
This is the main question that I need to answer before I complete this Koala SE mattress review. In my opinion, this can be a good option for anyone looking for:
- An affordable mattress that is built with high-quality materials.
- A foam-only mattress that sleeps cool.
- A mattress that comes with a 120-night trial period.
Koala managed to build an affordable mattress that performs well and it’s an ideal option for those with a tight budget. The SE mattress is also great for students or as a guest bed and I think it’s a great addition to the Koala range.
Alternatives to consider
If you are looking for an option with similar performance and price tag, the Onebed Original mattress should be on your list. This is another foam-only mattress but it’s made with latex and memory foam. Around the core, you will find a removable and washable cover that has a woven construction. The interesting fact about this mattress is that it comes with an adjustable feel so you can choose between a medium, medium-firm or firm setup. The Onebed Original will suit every sleeping position and it has a great cooling mechanism. It’s slightly cheaper when compared to the Koala SE mattress so this is definitely an advantage over it. Overall, it’s a value-for-money mattress that won’t disappoint.
Another great option to consider is the Ecosa Align Firm mattress. Unlike the Koala SE mattress, this is a hybrid option that combines cooling latex with pocket springs. This is a mattress that has a firm feel so it’s an ideal choice for stomach and back sleepers. The Align Firm mattress is built with high-quality materials and it’s packed with great service and support. You can expect free delivery, a 15-year warranty and a 100-night trial period. Depending on the period, you can buy this mattress for around $850 (queen size) so it’s an affordable option. Overall, this is a versatile mattress that won’t break the bank.