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- A fantastic combination of comfort and support
- Excellent temperature regulation
- Corner straps and grippy bottom to keep the topper in place
- Expensive
- Not the best option for those who prefer firm support
If you’re looking for a mattress topper that makes a big difference to the feel of your mattress, a hybrid topper may be a good pick. Combining foam and springs, hybrid toppers aren’t too common, but they can pack a real punch. And the Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress topper certainly delivers.
However, it doesn’t come with a cheap price tag and, at £340 for a UK Double, it’s definitely a product that needs some consideration before you invest. Having said this, I’d have no hesitation in recommending it as one of the best mattress toppers you can buy – it’s got much to recommend it. Let’s find out more.
Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress topper: What do you get for the money?
The Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress topper is an impressive 7.5cm thick, and is made up of five layers, starting with a removable bamboo cover that can be washed at 30°C and hung to dry. Up next is a layer of the brand’s “BioCell” foam: an open-cell memory foam infused with bamboo (a naturally hypoallergenic, breathable and antibacterial material). This is the same foam that’s used in Panda’s Hybrid Bamboo and Hybrid Bamboo Pro mattresses, which helps to provide a breathable and temperature regulating surface.
Underneath this is the micro-spring layer, with up to 2,100 springs depending on the size of the topper, followed by a layer of orthopaedic foam that Panda says is designed to contour to your sleeping position. The topper is held together by a mesh frame that’s ventilated on the sides, with an anti-slip base and four corner straps to hold it in place on your mattress.
The topper arrives, vacuum sealed, in recycled and recyclable packaging. You’ll need to allow it to inflate after unpackaging before you sleep on it: I found that it took a good few hours to inflate to its full height and I actually left it for the entire day to ensure that it was fully ‘puffed up’. As is usual with products containing memory foam, there’s a slight offgassing smell, but this had fully dissipated by the following morning.
On the eco front, Panda appears hard to beat. As with all its products, the topper is made in the UK from “ethically sourced organic bamboo”, it’s vegan friendly and free from pesticides. In terms of credentials, all threads and dyes meet OEKO-TEX’s Standard 100, the foams are CertiPUR certified and it’s also compliant with EU regulation on the use of chemical substances (REACH certified). All of this means that you won’t find any harmful substances or nasty chemicals. Panda also says that it will collect the topper at the end of its life, to recycle and repurpose its components.
Price wise, the Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress topper is an expensive option. Prices start at £250 for a UK single, rising to £320 for a small double and £340 for a double. A king size will set you back £360 and a super king is £400. It also comes in EU sizes: an EU single, double and king come in at £260, £350 and £370 respectively. Expensive as it may be, this is an impressive range of sizes. Delivery is free, as are returns and you’ll get a 10-year guarantee, as well as a 30-night trial period, during which you can return the mattress if it’s not for you.
How does this compare to other mattress toppers? One of the Panda Hybrid Bamboo topper’s closest rivals is the Simba Hybrid topper, which is fractionally more expensive at £350 for a double. There are cheaper options available, but these are often all-foam options, such as the REM-Fit Halo at £189 (double) or the Origin Contour at £195. Alternatively, you could consider a fibre-filled topper such as the Dorma Full Forever (£80 for a double) or a feather/down option such as the Dusk Supreme Goose Down topper (£100 for a double).
What did we like?
For a while now, Panda’s original Memory Foam Bamboo mattress topper has been our favourite memory foam mattress topper, so I was expecting good things from the new hybrid version. And it didn’t disappoint. Memory foam is notorious for trapping heat, but Panda’s open cell foam and breathable bamboo cover – alongside the addition of springs and mesh ventilation for airflow – really do prevent this from being an issue. The resident hot sleeper (my long-suffering husband) slept soundly on the Panda Hybrid topper, finding it breathable and comfortably cool throughout the night. On the other hand, I’m of a more reptilian nature, but the topper does a great job of regulating temperature and I didn’t feel cold at all.
At the time of testing, I’d been sleeping on the Slumberland Air 6.0 mattress, which I found a touch too firm for side sleeping. Adding the Panda topper certainly helped here, providing plenty of sink-in comfort around the shoulders. While my husband found it contoured comfortably around his hips, I still found it a tiny bit too firm in this area: this is worth bearing in mind if you are a particularly lightweight build, as I am.
There’s plenty of support for back sleepers and I think the vast majority of them will find this a very comfortable option. I gave this topper to a friend to try out after I’d finished testing it. Her sagging mattress needed replacing because it was causing her to suffer from back pain, but she found that this topper completely resolved the problem. While a mattress topper shouldn’t be a substitute for a new mattress that really needs replacing, the Panda Hybrid Bamboo topper is a fantastic addition to a mattress that’s beginning to show its age, adding enough support to extend its life just that bit further.
Motion isolation was pretty good on the Panda Hybrid topper too. While the springs do add some bounce, you’d need to be sharing your bed with a pretty restless sleeper to notice any movement. I was also really impressed by how well the topper kept its shape at the edge of the mattress. And thanks to its combination of a grippy bottom and adjustable elasticated straps, it will fit a variety of mattress sizes and will stay in place too.
How can it be improved?
The Panda is only the second topper that I’ve personally given five stars and a Best Buy award to. However, I do have a couple of reservations, particularly as someone who prefers really firm lumbar support. Owing to its slow-moving memory foam, you will sink into it as it contours around your pressure points. The springs underneath prevent it from losing support, but if you’re not a fan of the memory foam ‘hug’ it might not be the best option for you.
There’s also the price. There’s no way to gloss over the fact that the Panda Hybrid topper costs almost the same price as a new mattress, albeit a very budget-friendly one. For instance, the Origin Hybrid mattress, which we gave a Recommended award, costs £477 in a double – and that’s when it’s not discounted.
Should you buy the Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress topper?
That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress topper to anyone looking to add a bit more life to a tired mattress, as well as those suffering from back pain and other niggles. This really is a fantastic topper.
It’s extremely comfortable and still offers great support thanks to its micro-spring layer. It’s also a fantastic choice for hot sleepers, and I was greatly impressed by its temperature regulating bamboo cover and BioCell foam.
Yes, it’s undoubtedly an investment but, if you’re in need of a good mattress topper, I don’t think you’ll regret investing – particularly when you’ve got that trial period to fall back on too.
