A woman lies on her Koala foam mattress and smiles down at her phone as she considers the advantages of a Koala mattress over a pocket springs mattress

What exactly are you sleeping on? We take a look at bamboo mattresses, memory foam and more

What exactly are you sleeping on? We take a look at bamboo mattresses, memory foam and more

At Koala we love geeking out over everything to do with sleep: the perfect position, the best pillow, how to deal with a wriggly bed partner. And also sweat — like how to deal with it if you run just a little too hot. From questions to quandaries, we’re all here for it. If you’re on the hunt for a good night’s sleep, we’ll bet a new mattress is top of your list. From futon to memory foam, latex to a pocket springs mattresses, bamboo mattresses and more, your options are seemingly endless. However, once you know what we know about the materials actually used inside your mattress, you might find it easier to make a decision! Knowing how to bounce your way through this complicated world of mattresses can take some serious learning. But lucky for you, we’ve done the learning for you and have all the details you need to be in the know. So, are you up for finding out what’s really lurking beneath the sheets? Well, get jumping because we’re about to go mattress testing.

What’s inside your mattress?

Ahhh, the age-old question: what makes for the perfect snooze surface? One thing we know is that a good mattress needs to support your bod and be so comfortable you never wanna get out of bed. Most mattresses will use materials like foam, pocket springs and memory foam to support your body while you sleep. Materials like bamboo, charcoal and tencel are used to keep you cool and comfy. If you’re unlucky, you might also find things like adhesives and flame retardants in there, AKA the hidden nasties we all get warned about time and time again. So, depending on the support you’re looking for and whether or not you have any allergies, the type of materials inside your mattress could be the very thing that makes or breaks your sleep.

Foam and pocket springs vs bamboo mattresses

Let’s break it down, shall we? Foam mattresses have been around for a while and are really popular. They’re generally affordable, easy to find and come in a range of firmness options to suit all sleep styles. Foam is a material that conforms to your body’s shape, giving you that cloud-like feeling as you drift off into dreamland. However, certain foam mattresses can retain heat — making you sweat — and they’re not always the most eco-friendly option. What about a pocket spring mattress? These are a pretty standard find when it comes to mattresses. The idea with a pocket spring mattress is to give you support while reducing motion transfer. But these mattresses can be a bit on the pricey side. And while they do offer support, they may not be the best choice for those who need extra pressure relief or who suffer from back pain. This tech is also getting old. It’s time to move on. Enter the bamboo mattress. No longer a juicy food for pandas, bamboo has made its way into the bedroom as an eco-friendly material for mattresses, pillows and other bedding types. So, if you fancy yourself as a bit of an ecowarrior, a bamboo mattress is definitely worth considering. Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial, which is a big win for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies. And if you’re a hot sleeper, bamboo mattresses are a good choice — the material is naturally cooling, so you can say goodbye to sweaty nights and hello to blissful slumber.

What we use inside your Koala mattress

What can we say? When you hang out with us, you learn stuff. But wait, we’ve got more to say. Because we know a lot about mattress materials! When we started designing the Koala mattress, we were on a mission to find the best combination of materials to bring you the best sleep. We knew we wanted bamboo to feature, but we quickly realised it was all about layering different materials to keep your comfort levels high and give your whole body the support it deserves. Here’s what we landed on.

Bamboo charcoal-infused memory foam

Memory foam has to be the OG of pressure-relieving materials. It's like a big ol’ hug for your body, but it can sometimes feel a little too cozy, like sinking into a fluffy marshmallow. We’re often asked, ‘Does memory foam sleep hot?’ If you’re lying directly on it, the answer is yes, because your body can heat up pretty quickly on a memory foam mattress. That’s why at Koala, we’ve put our bamboo charcoal-infused Kloudcell™foam further down the layers. The clever Kloudcell™layer offers breathability and bounce. So while the foam is doing its super-supportive thing, it’s not going to make you overheat. In fact, on a Koala you keep your cool all night long.

COOLMAX® Technology

Our Koala Calm As Mattress features a COOLMAX® fibre cover that wicks away moisture from your body, so you don’t get all hot and sticky while you sleep. No more waking up in a sweat-soaked sheet sandwich — hallelujah! A trademark of the LYCRA Company, it’s basically the LeBron James of mattress materials. It’s the king of keeping you cool and dry, and it’s here to take your sleep game to the next level.

Tencel™ Lyocell fibre

What is tencel? TENCEL™ is a brand name for two types of fibres called lyocell and modal (it’s like Glad® Wrap and cling film). These fibres are produced from sustainably sourced wood. We’re always thinking about the planet at Koala. The process used to create TENCEL™ fibres is totally eco-friendly, and it’s even won awards for being so low impact. The TENCEL™cover on our Koala Mattress is more absorbent than cotton and softer than silk. And to top it all off, it’s cooler than linen, so at least that’s one hot mess you won’t have to deal with throughout the night.

Sensapole® phase-change technology

Featured on the Soul Mate Mattress, this is our comfort layer that incorporates phase-change materials (or PCM if you’re into acronyms). Basically, these materials absorb, store and release heat to keep you at the perfect temperature all night long. It’s like magic or science. Whichever floats your boat. From support and comfort to moisture-wicking properties, these materials are all about helping you get the rest you need to take on the day. So the next time you’re in the market for a new mattress, don't settle for basic. Go for the cutting-edge and sleep like your boss’s boss.

Materials we avoid and why

While some mattresses contain flame-retardant chemicals, we choose not to include them in our foams or textiles. These chemicals can be harmful to humans with long-term exposure, so we do everything in our power to keep them at bay. We also care about the environment — big time. That’s why we choose to make our mattresses without using ozone-depleting substances like methylene chloride and other CFCs. There’s a lot of jargon to process when talking about mattresses, but this is the sort of jargon we’d rather do without.
The Koala Calm As Mattress in beautiful bedroom with timber features and beautiful art Like all Koala mattresses, the Calm As Mattress is engineered with TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres, bamboo charcoal memory foam and COOLMAX® fabric

Koala mattresses — ready to give them a try?

At Koala, we don’t mess around when it comes to designing mattresses. We put every mattress through its paces, testing and assessing each one to ensure it has the lowest possible impact on your health and the environment. We check for things like heavy metals and harmful phthalates in the materials we use, and we only incorporate foam that has been CertiPUR-US® certified. Our Koala mattresses — the Koala SE Mattress, Koala Mattress, Calm As Mattress and Soul Mate Mattress — are cleverly designed, and we’ll be the first to admit that we get a kick out of talking about them. They’re engineered with the best materials and tech so you have that sort of sleep that only dreams are made of.

What to consider when buying a mattress

Finding the best mattress for you will depend on a few things. And just so you know — it’s about to get a little personal. 😴 Whether you’re a side sleeper, front sleeper or wriggle-around-all-night sleeper, you’ll find a Koala mattress that’s just right for you. 😴 For those of us with larger frames or heavier bodies, you’ll want a mattress designed to give you the support you need to stay comfy throughout the night. 😴 If you’re an allergy sufferer, consider a hypoallergenic mattress. 😴 Waking up with pesky hip pain? There’s a mattress for that too. So, still wondering if a Koala mattress is worth it? Look, you didn’t hear it from us, but they really are. We’re Australia’s most awarded mattress range, with more than 50,000 five-star reviews. With those sorts of numbers, we’ve gotta be doing something right. Take our mattress quiz to find out if we’ve got something for you.

Time for an upgrade?

Now that you know all about what maketh a mattress, chances are you’re giving yours the side eye. We don’t blame you. Give any of our mattresses a trial run for 120 nights, and if you’re not entirely happy with what you’ve got, we’ll arrange for a return and full product refund in all our metro areas. Simple. So, time for that upgrade yet? Go on — make Koala your first port of call.
Back to blog