The Koala Mattress Review
The Koala Mattress is a good foam mattress that is highly certified as non-toxic and eco-friendly. It comes with a handy customisation feature, allowing you to change firmness levels to suit your individual preference.
The Koala Mattress is a revamped model of the hugely popular (Original) Koala Mattress that was first released in 2015.
The Original Koala Mattress
The Koala Mattress forms the entry level model in Koala’s mattress range that also includes the mid range Calm As Mattress and the flagship Soul Mate Mattress.
Purchase and delivery
As with other mattress in a box products, you can order the Koala Mattress online (through the Koala website), and it will be delivered to your door. Due to the new and improved design of this mattress, it comes in two separate boxes, one for the mattress base, and the other for the flippable comfort layer – more on this later.
Delivery of the Koala Mattress is free and the mattress can be delivered Australia-wide (see delivery times below in our ‘Delivery’ section further down). Koala offers an impressive ‘same-day delivery’ to major metro areas.
Due to the ‘2 box’ delivery system, removing the Koala Mattress from its packaging takes a little longer (15-20 minutes) than ‘single boxed’ competitors. As always, we recommend having two people available to unpack a mattress in a box.
The Koala toy was a nice touch, but we would have preferred a cutting tool, as removing the plastic wrapping wasn’t as easy as some other bed in a box products that we have unpacked.
As per our standard testing process, we gave the mattress 24 hours to decompress before we conducted our testing. You can see the Koala Mattress in ‘real life’ in our video review below:
In the past, the (Original) Koala Mattress had been available to try out at Myer and at ‘The Treehouse‘ in Sydney. Currently though, the Koala Mattress isn’t available to try out in a showroom. The only way that you can try this mattress is through their 120 night trial.
In terms of pure aesthetics, the Koala Mattress presents nicely with a clean, modern style. It uses a white and (light) grey colour theme, and its brand name label gives it a nice finishing touch. The brand label on the zip puller is a fine example of Koala’s attention to detail.
Mattress construction
The Koala Mattress can be broken up into 3 distinct components.
1. Sleep surface
The separate comfort layer is 7cm deep and uses a cover made from Polyester (65%) and TENCEL™ Lyocell fabric (35%). This cover has been specially designed for moisture absorption and breathability. 
2. Comfort layer
This outer cover encases a double-sided Kloudcell™ comfort layer made from Polyurethane foam. This layer gives you the option to choose between a ‘medium-firm’ feel or a ‘firm’ feel.
3. Support layer
The support layer of the Koala Mattress is a 3 zone, high density support layer.
All Koala Mattresses also have an ‘anti-slip bottom’ that helps to reduce movement of the mattress when placed on a bed base.
How does the customisation work?
The Koala Mattress has a handy customisation feature that allows you to choose what comfort level suits you best.
The separate comfort layer can be attached via small cylindrical clips that form the start of a zip mechanism. This zip is fairly easy to use, but it may require some patience – we found that it worked better with a slow, gentle motion rather than a strong forceful one.
Nevertheless, you can switch between the two firmness options (firm and medium-firm) by unzipping and flipping this comfort layer.
This comfort layer comes with convenient tags (at the base) to indicate which side is firm and medium-firm. Flipping this top layer should be manageable with one person, but is much easier with two people.
Other mattress in a box options that include a customisation feature include the Macoda Mattress, the Ecosa Mattress, and the popular Sleeping Duck Mattress.
Comfort and support
The medium-firm version feels dense, but it is comfortable and absorbs body weight nicely. It has a distinct spongy feel, but it is still fairly easy to move around in. This configuration should suit all sleeping positions (side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers), but understandably its suitability may vary between individuals.
In terms of firmness, our team rated this configuration as a 6.5 / 10 on the firmness scale (with 10 being the firmest). This was the same firmness rating that we assigned to the Original Koala Mattress, but we must emphasise that they do ‘feel’ different.
Please note that our firmness ratings are just a guide and they do not necessarily relate to comfort. Furthermore, our firmness ratings are assigned based on Bedbuyer’s testing process and these may differ from firmness ratings given by individual companies.
Medium-Firm Version
As you would expect, the firm version is firmer, but the difference (from the medium-firm) isn’t significant. The firm version also feels dense, and absorbs body weight smoothly.
This firm configuration would most likely suit back sleepers, but depending on the individual, it should still offer enough comfort for side sleepers and stomach sleepers.
Our team rated the firm configuration as a 7.5 / 10 on the firmness scale (with 10 being the firmest).
Firm Version
Both firmness configurations feel stable, well balanced, and offer good spinal support. Based on our testing, this mattress should also accommodate people of all sizes.
As we alluded to earlier, the Koala Mattress doesn’t have the natural bounce and responsiveness of many innerspring mattresses. In basic terms, this means that changing sleep positions (and intimate activities) may be easier on other mattresses.
Please note that our responsiveness scales are just a guide and preferred responsiveness levels will vary between individuals. It’s worth noting also that innerspring mattresses are generally more responsive than foam mattresses.
The finer details
Our team liked the feel of this mattress better than the previous version. The (Original) Koala Mattress felt quite ‘rubbery’ and lacked the stability and balance of this new model.
In terms of build quality, the Koala Mattress is very respectable and a notable improvement from the original version. The quality of materials and finishings is sound, and Koala has also added 2 cm of extra height (25 cm) from this original version which was only 23 cm high.
The zip mechanism works reasonably well if you need to flip the comfort layer. The ‘anti-slip’ bottom (100% Polyester with PVC dot) should prevent any sliding or slipping of the mattress on your bed base.
Like the original version, motion transfer is minimal. Obviously this is relevant for those who are easily disturbed by a restless partner. Understandably though, partner disturbance will depend on the size of the occupants of the bed.
The Koala Mattress is a notable improvement from the original version.
If we are to be critical, the lack of side handles is disappointing. Edge support is not exceptional, but is certainly within normal limits for a foam mattress – most users should be able to use the entire surface of the mattress without fear of falling off the edge.
The Koala Mattress maintains its 120 night trial period from the original version, meaning that you can return the mattress for a full refund if you are not satisfied. The mattress also comes with a handy 10 year warranty, giving you plenty of peace of mind.
It’s worth noting that the Koala Mattress is the first mattress (along with the others in the Koala Mattress range) to be fully GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) certified. GECA certifications are based around human health, non-toxicity, and environmental impacts.
The Koala Mattress is also certified as non-toxic by another reputable group, CertiPUR-US®. This certification gives customers the reassurance that a product (or product components) have been tested for toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, formaldehyde, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Additionally, all Koala mattresses have antimicrobial additives to prevent the growth of mould and bacteria.
What bed base should I use?
As with most mattresses, we recommend the Koala Mattress to be used with a solid bed frame with fixed slats (such as the Koala Paddington Bed Base), or a solid ensemble base (with the slats no longer than 8 cm apart).
A bed frame (with flexible slats) may still be adequate, but again, we strongly recommend that the distance between each slat is less than 8 cm. Use of an unsupportive mattress foundation will usually void the mattress warranty.
Furthermore, we do not recommend the Koala Mattress to be used with an adjustable (electric) bed base as this will also void the warranty. Here is our full list of mattresses that are compatible with an adjustable bed base.
It’s worth noting here that mattress firmness, performance, and durability will vary with different bed bases.
Available sizes
This mattress is available in 5 sizes (king, queen, double, king single, and single size) so it should accommodate almost all sleeping arrangements.
Here are Australia’s standard bed (mattress) sizes in 2022.
Final verdict
The Koala Mattress is a nice mattress that is notably more refined than its popular, original version. It has a handy ‘customisable’ design, and is well balanced with comfort and support. Its non-toxic certifications are also noteworthy.
Bedbuyer’s rating: 4 / 5
Here are our ratings for each category:
Comfort
Spinal Support
Build Quality
Partner Disturbance
Value for Money
Did you know? Bedbuyer recently announced Australia’s Top 12 Mattress in a Box in 2022!
If you have any questions about the Koala Mattress, comment below or please contact us!
* Click SHOP NOW and use code BEDBUYER120 at checkout to get $120 off. If you have any questions about this discount, comment below or please contact us.
In a nutshell 🥜
- Customisable design
- Full foam construction
- Nice balance of comfort and support
- 120 night free trial
- Click SHOP NOW and use code BEDBUYER120 to get $120 off!
Recommended Retail Prices Special Bedbuyer Prices*
* Once Bedbuyer discount code is applied. Click SHOP NOW and use code BEDBUYER120 at checkout. If you have any questions about this discount, comment below or please contact us.
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
10 years
Delivery
Shipping is free for all of our products, everywhere in Australia.
If you’re in one of our same-day delivery areas (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth) you can select a delivery time that’s convenient for you. Order before 2pm on any weekday and we can deliver your order within 4 hours. Weekday evening and Saturday morning deliveries are also available!
Outside of our same-day delivery areas delivery is still completely free. Your items will be shipped from our metro warehouses so delivery will take longer. You will receive your delivery in 1-10 business days.
All our furniture items are delivered by a courier up to your nominated delivery street address. For safety (OH&S) reasons our couriers are not allowed to enter your home, or carry the items up more than three flights of stairs. If you think you’ll struggle with the bigger or heavier boxes, we recommend inviting someone over to help.
Please note if you live in an apartment block, our drivers may not be able to take your items to your front door so you may have to meet them at the front. We hope you LOVE your new Koala product(s).
Certifications – Koala Mattress
The Koala Mattress is the first mattress to be fully GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) certified.
All our mattresses are tested to ensure they are made without formaldehyde, are low-VOC, and free from nasty chemicals.
Specifications – Koala Mattress
- Weight: 35.43 kgs (Queen mattress)
- Height: 25 cm
- Maximum Weight Limit: no weight limit
1. Lyocell Sleep Surface
Nothing beats breathability in bed. Made with a TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre, all you need to know about our sensitive and soothing 7cm comfort layer is that it absorbs and releases moisture, making nodding off a breeze.
2. Flippable Kloudcell™ Comfort
Our customisable, double-sided Kloudcell™ comfort layer means you can choose what firmness level of work for you. It comes in a medium-firm feel but if you’re on the lookout for something a little firmer, it’s as easy as unzipping and flipping the comfort layer.
3. NoPressure Adaptive Core
To help create an ideal foundation for sleeping, 3 targeted high-density precision cut support zones are designed to take the pressure off. No matter what position you prefer, overall it helps make a better sleeping experience.
Modify your mattress
What might feel right to your mate, doesn’t feel right to you. That’s why we’ve created our double-sided comfort layer that gives you the choice between medium-firm support and firm support. Just unzip and flip it to find what works for you.
Support in all the right places
We have a firmer support base right beneath the hips that prevents your body from sinking into the mattress. This comes in real handy when it comes to helping you maintain a healthy sleeping posture.
Keeping you cool all night long
Nothing beats breathability in bed. Made with TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre, all you need to know about our sensitive and soothing 7cm comfort layer is that it absorbs and releases moisture, making nodding off a breeze.
Zero disturbance means zero worries
Put the tossing and turning to bed. Our Zero Disturbance® mattress means you’ll sleep soundly no matter who you sleep next to.
All Koala Mattresses have:
1. Anti-Slip Bottom – this little gizmo reduces the movement of the mattress when placed on the bed frame.
2. Anti-Bacterial Treatment – all mattresses have antimicrobial additives that help prevent the conditions that microscopic little monsters love.
3. CertiPUR-US® – all our mattresses are tested to ensure they are made without formaldehyde, are low-VOC, and free from nasty chemicals.
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