Koala Mattress Long Term Review: 3 Years Later

I’ve been sleeping on a Koala mattress for three years, and in this article, I’ll be detailing my long-term experience with the well-known mattress in a box.

Since I originally wrote my review back in 2021, the brand has updated its model line-up and the ‘Calm As’ mattress that I’m reviewing here is no longer on sale. Still, my overall experience will help answer a few of your burning questions, including how long these mattresses last, whether can you trust them, and whether they are any good.

If you’re considering buying one, the good news is that I’m still sleeping on my Koala Mattress and it’s just as comfortable as the day I got it. I’ve slept on this mattress for more than 900 nights and it hasn’t skipped a beat. That’s not to say that it’s without a couple of disadvantages, but overall, it’s a worthwhile purchase. Now, let’s check out the review.

Koala Mattress Review at a Glance

Originally the brainchild of two mates from Byron Bay, the Koala range first hit Australian bedrooms back in 2015.

I’ll be looking back at the last three years I’ve spent with the mattress, highlighting all the processes from start to finish, finishing with my long-term thoughts about the mattress.

Price: The mattress I’ve been testing is the middle-of-the-range ‘Calm As’ Koala mattress because it’s likely to be the most popular amongst consumers. When it was available, it was priced at AUD$1,699. Today, Koala mattresses have come down in price as the market has become more competitive. You can pick up a Queen-sized Koala Plus Mattress for AUD$1,590, but we’ve regularly found them on sale for around AUD$1,200.

Set-up: When setting up the Koala mattress you have a choice of firmness settings by simply flipping the foam. I chose the firm side – mimicking my previous mattress in firmness – and had absolutely no issues sleeping. Even taking into account some of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world that I’ve had the chance to sleep in over the years, this remains one of the comfiest. Combine your mattress with the new Koala Sheet Set and it’s truly a magical hotel-like experience every night. Alternatively, check out the best linen brands in Australia to get your linen fix.

Comfort: The ‘Calm As’ Koala mattress has been a joy to sleep on for the last three years. All the features described on the tin indicate this is a seriously comfortable sleeping experience, but I can back that up after 900 nights of sleep. You really feel all 3 zone supports individually, and with StayPut edge support you’re never worried about falling off the edge like some cheaper foam options on the market.

There are plenty of critics who say that a foam mattress has no ‘spring’ and feels lifeless, and during my time with the mattress, it has certainly lost some of its initial spring. The multi-layered zoning and zero disturbance technology still works and remains comfortable, but it has lost some of its bounce.

Summary: After three years of use, the mattress is still just as comfortable as when I first received it to test for this review. When it comes to mattresses you either have a good night’s sleep or you don’t, but time can degrade cheaper foam mattresses and this simply isn’t the case with the Koala. It has lost some of its bounce, but all the comfort is there, and I’ve never had a poor night’s sleep on it. From summer to winter it has no trouble in any season, hot or cold.

How Much Does the Koala Mattress Cost?

I tested the Koala ‘Calm As’ mattress for my review, but it has since been discontinued.

Still, you can pick up one of the new Koala Mattresses below for an even lower price than they were when I was given mine. The range kicks off at AUD$950 for a Queen-sized Koala SE and maxes out at AUD$2,990 Super King-sized Koala Luxe Mattress.

Koala SE Mattress

• Single – AUD$650
• King Single – AUD$750
• Double – AUD$850
• Queen – AUD$950
• King – AUD$1,150

Koala Mattress

• Single – AUD$850
• King Single – AUD$990
• Double – AUD$1,090
• Queen – AUD$1,250
• King – AUD$1,450
• Super King – AUD$1,650

Koala Plus Mattress

• Single – AUD$990
• King Single – AUD$1,250
• Double – AUD$1,390
• Queen – AUD$1,590
• King – AUD$1,890
• Super King – AUD$2,190

Koala Luxe Mattress

• Double – AUD$2,000
• Queen – AUD$2,250
• King – AUD$2,690
• Super King – AUD$2,990

Now, let’s check out the rest of the review.

How is the Koala Mattress Packaged?

The whole benefit behind the mattress-in-a-box solution is the seamless purchase and delivery process. Gone are the days of rocking up to your local mattress store and being treated to a sales assistant who tries to convince you that the $8,000 mattress is exactly what need. Koala has made the process easier, simpler, and quicker with an easy-to-use buying and delivery process.

Upon delivery, I was greeted with two boxes. One included the main mattress base layer and the other housed the ‘comfort’ layers including the flippable top. The boxes are BIG so be prepared to find some space to house them while you remove your old mattress. Koala has teamed up with Soft Landing in Melbourne and Sydney (selected areas) to remove your old mattress for a reasonable fee (no longer free).

Is the Koala Mattress Easy to Setup?

The video above will demonstrate the setup process in general, but I’ve provided a few key tips for those who are looking to make the most out of their new bed.

Once your old mattress is out of the way, I recommend clearing a space and laying out the foam mattress. If your bed base is flat, that would work perfectly, otherwise, you’ll have to use a separate room and then transfer the bed back onto the bed base after a few hours. It’s worth noting that if you’re the owner of an IKEA bed base (we own the MALM) the Calm As will be a tight squeeze but it just fits. Alternatively, Koala offers bed bases in their catalogue.

Zipping the mattress together is easy as it gets. Unlike some foam mattresses, you can sleep on the Koala bed straight away, but it won’t reach its comfiest until around 48 hours after release from the plastic, so plan ahead. I let mine rest overnight and slept on it the next day. The only decision you have to make is how firm you want your top layer to be, I chose firm to match my previous bed.

Is the Koala Mattress Comfortable?

Through three years of testing the Koala mattress is very comfortable. I can assure you that every single feature outlined below has a real-world effect on your sleep. You might ask yourself, how complicated can a foam mattress be? Well, as it turns out, it can be very complicated (and comfortable).

Features of the Koala ‘Calm As’ Mattress include the following;

• 7cm Flippable Kloudcell Comfort With COOLMAX Technology
• 1cm quilted plush cover
• 3 Zone Support
• Multi-Layered Zoning
• StayPut Edge Support
• Zero disturbance technology
• CertiPUR-US certified foam
• Anti-Slip Bottom
• Anti-Bacterial Treatment

So how does all this technology translate to real-world comfort? Well, the secret to staying asleep for longer is staying cool. It turns out it’s not all about cushion and support, and in my testing, I have to say their COOLMAX technology works wonders. I’ve never had better sleep, and I’ve never stayed cooler thanks to the speciality fibres and permanent moisture-wicking technology. Unlike wearing a scratchy set of athleisure with “moisture wicking” tech, you can’t even tell it’s working until you wake up 10 hours later feeling comfy and sweat-free. No more restless sleep.

Next on my list of favourite features is the support. Multi-layered Zoning is the feature that immediately removes the foam mattress sceptics from the conversation, it’s not just a ‘piece of foam’ it’s clear from the moment you lay down that you’re going to be supported from all angles no matter how you sleep. With three high-density targeted support zones to disperse your weight and provide extra support for your lower back, you can feel the technology working.

I’m a face-down sleeper (with the odd leg kick-out maneuver) so support is not super necessary. Back sleepers and restless sleepers will be able to appreciate the extra support and secureness, and they’ll love the addition of StayPut Edge Support which is very noticeable (zero roll-overs). You’ll avoid those leg kicks in the middle of the night from your partner who’ll fully appreciate the zero-disturbance technology (wine glass trick) just ask me how I know. Deciding on what side of the Kloudcell flippable layer you rest on is the only point of contention!

It’s also worth mentioning that the new Koala mattresses are the first fully certified GECA mattresses in Australia. That means you’re supporting environmentally preferable production and consumption. How often do you see mattresses sitting on the side of the road destined for a landfill? Too often is the answer. But with the help of Soft Landings and Koala, that disappointing image might disappear sooner rather than later.

Man of Many’s Verdict on the Koala Mattress

I tried very hard to find something I didn’t like about the new Koala Mattress range, but it’s very hard to critique a lineup with so much research and development involved. Ultimately, you just want to have a good night’s sleep, and after using the mattress for the last three years, it’s hard to complain about a mattress that works flawlessly.

Factor in a 120-night free trial, a 10-year warranty, mattress removal, and free shipping and it’s a wise investment.

While my initial plans for the mattress were to review it and move it into a guest house, I opted to replace my existing mattress (that cost nearly three times the price) with the ‘Calm As’ Koala mattress. If you’re sitting on the fence when it comes to a mattress-in-a-box solution, sometimes the big name has the technology and R&D to it up, the new Koala range is a no-brainer in my opinion.

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