During the recent heatwaves, something that’s really taken a hit has been our sleep. Because your body must lower its core temperature to fall asleep, your bedroom even being just a few degrees warmer can disrupt this process, making it harder to get rest and reduce the overall quality of your sleep. Thankfully, popular sleep brands are now engineering cooling technology to get you through sweltering nights, case in point: Simba’s cool foam mattress topper.
The best cooling mattress toppers can make sleeping in the heat more bearable, with tech like foam containing gel capsules and natural materials like wool, all while promising the comfort you’d expect from the best mattress toppers.
The Simba cool foam topper aims to do both of these things and at the most affordable price of its mattress topper range. As a hot sleeper testing the topper in the heatwave, I put these claims to the test. Keep reading for my full review of the Simba cool foam mattress topper.
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Simba cool foam mattress topper
Why we love it
- Very comfortable
- Transformed by old mattress
- Soft, removable cover
- Secure fit with straps
Take note
- Not as breathable as described
- Pricey
Unboxing
The Simba cooling topper arrives compressed, rolled, and tightly wrapped in plastic inside a cardboard box. Ripping the plastic away from it, the topper stays folded until you peel the layers away. This made it easy to move on top of my bed and roll out onto my mattress to expand.
It was pretty quick to take shape and I was able to sleep on it in the evening of its delivery. The off-gassing smell is one thing to take note of as it’s quite strong and lingers for a while – though opening the windows helped air the room.
The mattress topper was a dream to fix to my mattress, with four elasticated straps for each corner that secure it in place.
Design
Simba’s cool foam topper has three key layers. The top is a knitted cover that is irresistibly soft and underneath is the brand’s patented Simbatex foam layer. The latter is the brand’s take on a memory foam, which gives the same contouring feel but adds cooling and breathability. Below this a contoured base, which has a peaked structure that restores air flow.
Comparing it to the hybrid mattress topper from Simba (which is our best mattress topper), the design is simpler and focuses more on comfort and breathability than support, as it misses the hybrid’s microspring layer. At a thick 6.5cm depth, it’s a considerable addition to your bed – one that feels like a slim mattress rather than just a layer.
Comfort
The Simba cool foam topper provided maximum comfort and completely transformed my old, overused mattress I was handed down with my rented room. I was battling popping springs and a dip down the middle, but the topper made my mattress anew for a fraction of the price of a new mattress. Two months in, the dip has slightly returned and a new mattress is definitely due, but the supreme comfort offered by the topper is still great.
The first layer is supple, while the rest provides enough support for me as someone without any aches and pains. While Simba say it offers a medium-firm feel, I would say it’s on the softer side. If you need a more solid base to support you, our tester found the Simba hybrid mattress topper to offer “brilliant pressure relief, spinal support and just enough sink to cushion your pressure points”. The level of comfort I experienced when sleeping on the cool foam topper improved my sleep and levelled up the comfort of my bed.
Breathability
Simba’s new cool foam topper aims to fill the cooling gap in its range and as someone who generally sleeps warm, my attention was piqued. Putting it through its paces, I tested the cooling topper through both of this summer’s heatwaves but I wasn’t overly impressed by the cooling performance.
Its breathability comes down to two design features: its foam middle layer that’s graphite-infused and the base that has a contoured texture, which creates pockets of space to allow air to flow freely.
It wasn’t enough to keep me cool throughout the night, especially when it was red hot that day, but I found it helped to lower my body’s temperature making it easier to fall asleep. When sharing the bed, I found its cooling potential further reduced.
Care
Taking care of the topper is easy, as the top zip-off cover is machine washable at 40C on a reduced spin cycle. Note, you can’t tumble dry or iron it. The base fabric can also be cleaned using a damp cloth in small circular motions. To protect and extend the life of your mattress topper, I’d recommend layering one of the best mattress protectors on top.
Key specifications
Buy now £199, Simbasleep.com
Is the Simba cool foam mattress topper worth it?
If you’re looking for Simba’s mattress tech on a budget, the cool foam mattress topper is the most affordable of its range. In my test, it offered excellent comfort, enough support, and decent breathability. As a cooling topper, I wasn’t convinced of its performance so it might be better to look for less synthetic materials. In our review of the best cooling mattress toppers, we rated the Panda bamboo mattress topper (£139.95, Pandalondon.com) and Woolroom deluxe wool mattress topper (£399.99, Thewoolroom.com). If you’re unsure, Simba also offers a 200-night sleep trial on this topper so you can find out if it's right for you.
How I tested the Simba cool foam mattress topper
I tested the mattress topper for two months alone and alongside my partner to see if it improved my sleep, even on disrupted nights during the summer heatwaves. I considered the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer at IndyBest who has a worn mattress and struggles to sleep in the heat, making her well-placed to test the effectiveness of the Simba mattress topper. She’s previously reviewed sleep products like the Tropic pillow mist.
Elsewhere, the IndyBest team takes sleep seriously, and has tested everything from the best mattresses and the best storage beds, to the best summer duvets and best weighted blankets.
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