Simba vs Eve mattress: Which is better?
Rest assured, once you’ve read our comparison, you’ll know which bed is right for you
Bed-in-a-box type mattresses such as the Eve Original and Simba Hybrid are fast becoming favourites in the UK. Not only are they cheaper than traditional, sprung mattresses, but they also usually come with a 100-night trial, so you can send them back for a full refund if you decide it’s not the mattress for you.
And that’s handy because picking a mattress is a very personal thing. Whilst some people prefer firmer, more supportive beds, others enjoy being enveloped in soft, deep comfort layers.
We scored both the Eve and Simba mattresses very highly when we tested them and, although they might seem similar on the surface, once you delve a bit deeper there are a few key differences. On this page, we’ll compare their construction, firmness and temperature regulation among other features to help you make an informed buying decision.
Simba vs Eve mattress: Construction and features
The most apparent difference between these two mattresses is what they’re made from. Simba falls into the hybrid category, mixing memory foam with pocket springs, whilst Eve is composed of only foam layers.
Simba is made up of four layers under its hypoallergenic sleep surface: 25mm of “Simbatex” which mimics latex, 25mm of conical springs, 45mm of polyether support foam and 160mm of supportive foam at its base. In addition to this, there is extra side support built-in to prevent you from rolling off at night – perfect for more fidgety sleepers.
The Eve mattress, however, is only composed of just three layers: 30mm of springy open-cell foam, 35mm of softer memory foam and 160mm of dense foam base.
For both mattresses, the base is composed of different “zones” that each work to relieve pressure from the hips and shoulders. They both sit at around 250mm deep in total and both have removable, washable top covers so you can easily keep them fresh.
In both cases, it’s recommended that you rotate your mattress to extend its lifespan. You should do so once a month for the first year with Eve and for the first three months with Simba. After that, every three to six months will suffice. Unfortunately, rotating your Simba that consistently, however, might prove a little tricky due to the lack of side handles.
Each model is Certipur certified through independent testing, so you can sleep easy in the knowledge that there won’t be any harmful chemicals lurking beneath your sheets. They also have 100-night money-back guarantees and 10-year warranties.
Winner: Draw
Despite Simba having a slightly more complex construction, there’s nothing to say Simba’s build is inherently superior to the three layers of foam used by Eve. On the contrary, the fact Eve has carry handles is arguably more of a practical consideration than anything else when choosing which one to buy. Having said that, with both mattresses otherwise offering such similar features, we’ll settle for scoring this heat a draw.
Simba vs Eve mattress: Comfort and performance
As with most bed-in-a-box mattresses, the unpacking process for both products is fairly speedy. Eve recommends leaving the mattress for between four to five hours for it to reach its full size, although you can sleep on it right away. For the Simba to reach its full size you’ll have to wait for 24 hours, but you can sleep on it after just three. In both cases, there’s a plasticky smell that is emitted from the mattresses for a short period, which can be off-putting but this quickly disappears altogether.
Our reviewer gave the Simba a firmness rating of seven out of ten (where ten being the firmest) and the Eve a 7.5. He described the Simba as “surprisingly firm” despite its soft, comfortable top layers. What’s more, its springs don’t really add any amount of bounce.
Firmness, of course, is very much down to personal preference. People heavier than 75KG may find it softer while those lighter than this may find it firmer still. The Eve proved only a little firmer in comparison to Simba but also demonstrated much less “sinkage” than its other all-foam rivals and indeed Simba. That’s good if you like to feel like you’re on top of your mattress rather than being enveloped by it
In regards to temperature control, both sleep slightly hotter than traditional pocket sprung mattresses with natural fillings. As such, it’s probably unwise to choose a memory foam bed if you have any tendency to overheat at night. However, both mattresses managed to retain a solid level of support even as they warmed up, which isn’t always the case with foam-based mattresses.
Winner: Draw
With both mattresses offering excellent levels of support and comfort and similar temperature control properties, it’s difficult to split them in terms of performance. If anything, your decision should come down to your personal preference regarding firmness. If you like a slightly firmer bed and mostly sleep on your front or back, Eve is probably the better option, but if you’re a side sleeper, and can benefit from softer top comfort layers, you may prefer the Simba Hybrid.
Simba vs Eve mattress: Price
As far as bed-in-a-box mattresses go, Eve and Simba are both at the slightly pricier end of the market. Since we tested the Simba, however, it’s crept up from £700 for a king size to £750, while the Eve Original remains at £700. What’s more, we’ve also found Eve is more likely to be discounted, meaning you don’t normally have to wait so long for a good saving.
Winner: Eve
Eve just snatches the win here. Although it’s only £50 cheaper than its rival, we’ve also found it to be more regularly discounted by a significant amount. Having said that, at the time of writing, the Simba Hybrid currently has 20% off its asking price when you spend more than £575, so both can be had for a bargain price if you get the timing right.
Simba vs Eve mattress: Verdict
In truth, there’s not a great deal to separate Eve and Simba – they’re both great bed-in-a-box mattresses that we’re very happy to recommend. However, which one is right for you can potentially be decided by much of what we’ve touched on in this comparison article.
Above all, firmness should probably be a key deciding factor. If you prefer a slightly firmer bed, you’re better off with the Eve Original, which is firmer than Simba and its all-foam rivals from Casper, Leesa and Emma. Otherwise, the main consideration ought to be price. If one mattress is discounted by significantly more than the other, that’s a good enough reason to choose it over the other. Whichever you go for, the 100-night trial will ensure there’s no risk of you losing money if it’s not the mattress for you.