Simba Hybrid 2500 Mattress Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

Simba sells mattresses in 4 countries. The models are all similar, but there are some differences. For this review, we are focusing specifically on the Simba Hybrid 2500 made for Simba Canada.

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 9 different factors that impact the comfort and feel of the mattress. Testing categories include:

Test	Rating
Cooling	Excellent
Sinkage	Minimal
Motion Transfer	Extremely Low
Response Time	Extremely Fast
Bounce	High
Edge Support	Very Good
Sex	Excellent
Pressure Relief	Excellent
Off-Gassing	Excellent
Company	Exceptional

How is Simba Hybrid Different?

The Simba Hybrid has better overall performance than average and a price tag that is below average—35% less than the average hybrid for a savings of $539 (for a queen-size mattress).

Advantages

Other advantages besides price include slightly better cooling performance, low levels of motion transfer, better sex performance, and a thicker comfort layer than average.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has 12% less sinkage than average and 18% more bounce than average. Both bounce and sinkage are more preferential factors than “good vs. bad”, but still worth considering.

Disadvantages

The Simba Hybrid struggles a bit with poorer edge support than average as well as slightly slower material response time.

Factor	Simba Hybrid 2500	Average
Overall	9.67	9.51
Price	C$1,499	C$2,038 (Hybrid only)
Cooling	9.5	9.4
Max Sinkage	1.91″	2.17″
Total Motion Transfer	3.70 m/s²	8.52 m/s²
Response Time	0.5 sec.	0.4 sec.
Total Bounce	11.42″	9.65″
Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage	4.50″	4.11″
Mattress Thickness	12.0″	12.0″
Sex Overall	9.8	9.6
Comfort Material	5.8″	4.2″
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	5 days	5 days
Trial	200 nights	160 nights
Warranty	10 years	26% have lifetime warranties, average of other 74% of mattresses is 14 years

Cooling performance on the Simba Hybrid 2500 mattress was excellent. In our cooling tests, I never felt any significant heat retention or heat build-up around my body.

The Simba mattress breathed well, released heat, and remained comfortably cool. The material design and layering help to improve cooling and breathability. The top layer of graphite foam has a visibly large open cellular structure.

This type of foam structure allows air to more easily penetrate the foam, improving cool.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

In addition, the base foam is a zoned foam. For cooling, the large cutouts allow air to flow through the mattress.

Lastly, the microcoil layer also increases airflow. All three of these design factors have a positive impact on the total cooling experience of the Simba.

Looking at our objective data we saw a maximum temperature of 88.5°F. After heating the mattress with body heat for 15 minutes and then getting off the mattress we saw a decline of 3.6° during the first 1 minute, from 88.5 to 84.9°.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

This is about average compared to all other mattresses we’ve tested to date. By the 5-minute measurement mark, the Simba mattress had declined to 81.1°.

The heat dissipation curve is good, but not overly impressive. It has a gradual and continual heat decline over the entire 5-minute measurement period, with fairly typical temperature declines from minute to minute.

The Simba Hybrid 2500 mattress has a minimal to moderate level of sinkage. In our tests, we measured 1.91” of sinkage.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

This is notably lower than the average sinkage across all of our mattress tests to date, which is 2.21”. The Simba has a relatively thin comfort layer. There is 2.25” of strict comfort foams and 3.5” of transitional support / comfort foam.

It seems that the 3.5” transitional poly foam layer is really creating quite a lot of pushback and support. While this is great in terms of support, it does mean sinkage is more restrained, and may not be ideal for all side sleepers.

Motion transfer on the Simba Hybrid 2500 is very low. In our accelerometer motion transfer tests, we measured 3.70 m/s² of acceleration.

This is significantly better than the average motion transfer based on all of our mattress tests to date, which is 8.52 m/s².

The level of motion transfer is documented in the video below.

While the Simba does include microcoils, microcoils don’t create nearly the same level of motion transfer a more typical pocketed coil mattress will.

As a result, the Simba’s motion transfer level looks far more like an all-foam mattress than a hybrid. Looking at our motion transfer chart (which visualizes our accelerometer data), we can see the highest motion levels dissipate by 0.35 seconds.

A slight to moderate level of motion persists until 0.78 seconds, after which, motion returns to near-zero levels. The motion duration and motion peaks are both very low. Overall, very low motion transfer for Simba. 

Response time on the Simba Hybrid 2500 is very fast. In our tests, we measured a mostly recovered response time 0.5 seconds and a fully material recovery of 1.3 seconds.

This is about average compared to all of our mattress tests to date. Even so, being average is plenty fast enough for the vast majority of sleepers.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

On average (across all of our mattress tests to date) we see a mostly recovered response time of 0.4 seconds and an average full material recovery of 0.8 seconds. The poly foam layers and microcoils bounce back to shape extremely quickly.

While this isn’t the fastest response time we’ve tested to date (which is 0.2 seconds), it is still extremely quick. Most sleepers should find response to be a non-issue.

The Simba Hybrid 2500 has a high level of bounce. In our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 11.42”.

This is notably more than the average bounce height, which is 9.65” (based on all of our tests to date). Bounce is a bit of a preferential factor.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

Although bounce is largely based on personal preference, more bounce makes the mattress easier to move around on, gives it a more traditional feel, and improves sex. At 11.42” the Simba has plenty of bounce.

The edge support on the Simba Hybrid 2500 is good, but not great. In our tests, we measured 4.5” of compression while sitting directly on the edge of the mattress.

This is just slightly better than the average edge compression, based on all of our mattress tests to date, which is 4.11” of compression.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

Typically, I want to see 4.0” of sitting edge compression or less. While sitting edge support leaves something to be desired, edge support while lying directly on the edge was excellent. I felt fully supported while lying directly on the edge in all sleeping positions. 

The best mattresses for sex have high bounce, good edge support, quiet materials, and good pressure relief and cooling.

These 5 factors make up the NapLab sex performance score.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	60%	10	High
Edge Support	20%	9.3	Very Good
Noise	10%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.5	Excellent
Cooling	5%	9.5	Excellent

For the Simba Hybrid 2500 mattress, these individual factors generated a sex score of 9.8.

This is a very good score. Let’s walk through the factors that helped produce this score.

First is bounce—bounce is arguably the most important factor for sex and makes up 60% of the overall sex score. Bounce levels on the Simba were relatively high, which gave it a score of 10.

Edge support is good, but not great on this mattress with 4.5″ of sinkage when sitting directly on the edge. This is a little more than I like to see and brings the edge score down to 9.3.

Noise, pressure relief, and cooling were all non-factors really, and had good scores.

The Simba Hybrid 2500 has excellent pressure relief. The mattress has 2.25” of pure comfort material and another 3.5” of comfort / support transitional poly foam.

Those layers work together well with the zonal support layers to create fantastic pressure relief for most sleepers and sleeping positions.

While the top layer of foam is a poly foam, it still leans more towards more of a memory foam feel with respect to the contour and hug.

The Simba Hybrid 2500 creates a dramatic contouring effect around the body. This design fact, combined with the zonal support, allows for deeper sinkage in the midsection and hips.

For side sleepers in particular, this is ideal, as it helps to create a neutral spinal alignment while sleeping. However, I could see that deeper mid-section sinkage creating support problems for stomach and back sleepers.

The Simba Hybrid 2500 had a strong off-gassing smell upon immediately unboxing the mattress.

That strong odor lingered for 5 days before dissipating. After the 5th day, the smell was no longer significant.

On average, the mattresses we’ve tested smell for 2.80 days. So the Simba is a good bit more than average, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

The company score takes a look at factors that may influence your experience with the mattress.

Factors include length of the trial period, warranty, shipping / return costs, and country of origin.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	25%	10	200 nights
Warranty	25%	10	10 years
Shipping	25%	10	$0
Returns	25%	10	$0
Country of Origin	0%		Global

For Simba, these individual terms and conditions generated a company score of 10 out of 10.

Simba offers a 200-night trial period with a 10-year warranty. This trial period is 40 nights longer than the average trial period (160 nights).

Two nice extra features they offer are:

• 0% financing: They partner with a 3rd party financing company which offers 0% financing if you need to split up payments.
• In-room delivery: You can opt for contact-free delivery or delivery to a room of your choice. (Note: This does not include unboxing, setup, or box disposal.)

One other factor to make a note of is that the Simba headquarters is located in London, the heart of the UK. But they also have a home base in Toronto, Canada.

The Simba mattress is available in one firmness that is around a 6 out of 10. Generally, this is a good pick for the widest range of sleepers.

Support on the Simba Hybrid 2500 was excellent. In all of our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions.

The Simba’s base foam layer is cut with channels to enable zonal support. This creates more support where you need it and less where you don’t.

Zonal support is helpful for all sleeping positions, but especially side sleepers.

My only concern with respect to support is that heavier-weight stomach and back sleepers may find the zonal support detrimental.

This is because the middle zone is allowing for more sinkage, which is great for side sleepers, but not for stomach / back sleepers.

As a result, some stomach and back sleepers may find it doesn’t create enough support in the middle of the mattress.

Who is Simba Hybrid 2500 best for?

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe

Design

The Simba Hybrid 2500 is a hybrid mattress that uses layers of poly foam as well as micro coils for support and comfort. It has a thicker profile than many other mattresses we’ve tested and also has a thicker comfort layer.

Materials

Below the cover, there are four distinct layers on the Simba 2500 Hybrid mattress.

• 1.25” graphite poly foam (3.175 cm)
• 1.0” microcoil (2.54 cm)
• 3.5” poly foam (8.89 cm)
• 6.25” support foam (15.875 cm)

The top two layers are true comfort layers, graphite poly foam and a thin layer of microcoil. The mid-level poly foam is a bit of a comfort layer and also a bit transitional, easing the sleeper into the support layer below.

The Cover

The cover of the Simba Hybrid is ultra-soft and stretchy. It is hypoallergenic as well, designed to keep your mattress fresh and cool.

The sides use a denser gray fabric with contrasting blue piping trim to separate the reinforced edges from the softness of the top.

There are also four handles on the Simba, two on each side. The handles on the Simba are a bit wider than other handles we typically see—they feel very strong and are user-friendly.

The Comfort Layer

After the cover is the comfort layer, which is primarily 3 layers thick.

1. Graphite poly foam: The top layer is the graphite poly foam. This layer is great for response and cooling. Thickness: ~3 cm (or) ~1.25″
2. Microcoils: The middle layer is a thin layer of microcoils that are designed to adjust with great accuracy around the contours of the body. Microcoils are great for limiting motion transfer, yet also improving bounce. Thickness: ~2.5 cm (or) ~1.0″
3. Poly foam: The bottom layer of comfort layer acts a bit like a transitional layer before the support foam. It’s denser than the top poly foam, yet still provides softness and support. Thickness: ~9 cm (or) ~3.5″

These three layers work together to provide softness, support, contour, and pressure relief for the sleeper.

The Support Layer

The bottom layer is a high-density foam that supports the layers above as well as the weight of the sleepers.

This layer uses a 7-zoned system that allows for pressure relief and sinkage in the midsection of the mattress.

While this is a really nice feature for side sleepers, it may be less than ideal for stomach or back sleepers.

Product Evolution

The Simba Hybrid 2500 mattress was recently launched in 2021 and has undergone no significant changes since its launch.

I will add that other versions of the Simba Hybrid have been around since 2018. These subsequent models are very similar to the Hybrid 2500, with slight differences in the feel, materials, and company policies.

For example, the UK version of the Simba offers an extended trial period (200 nights) as well as more size options available to suit the UK market.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Still not sure if the Simba Hybrid 2500 is right for you? Check out some of our other top recommendations below for other mattresses to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions on the Simba Hybrid 2500? Check out our list of popular FAQs below.