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Koala Mattress (2018 model) review

Foam mattress. Priced at $1050.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

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CHOICE Expert Rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

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The product's best features and benefits

Bad points

Drawbacks or issues you need to know about
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Type View more details.

Mattress in a box options come condensed in a package and expand on opening. These are mostly online only. Retail mattresses are full size (not condensed) and sold through bricks and mortar and online stores. Ikea also sells roll packed mattresses similar to mattress in a box, in its stores and online.

Mattress-in-a-box
Build View more details.

Core construction, which can indicate the feel of the mattress. Mattresses are made from specific types of springs, foam or a combination of both which is called hybrid.

Foam
Size View more details.

We tested double and queen-sized mattresses. These are approximately 203x151x30cm, though thickness will vary.

Queen
Claimed firmness View more details.

The level of firmness claimed by the retailer.

Medium
Recommended View more details.

We recommend mattresses with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 75% or more. Our previous cutoff of 70% has been increased to 75% as of May 2021. This has been retroactively applied to all previously tested mattresses. Mattresses that score between 70% and 75% are still worth considering. Other factors, including poor customer service based on member feedback or visible damage to the mattress on arrival, can factor in to the recommended criteria.

CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

This is made up of: brand new unused mattress comfort score (male and female average, 30%); comfort retention after eight years score (30%); stabilisation score (15%); sagging score (10%); sweat repellent score (10%) and usage wear or damage score (5%).

Unused mattress comfort score – male/female average View more details.

Average score of support assessments for men and women sleeping on their backs (dorsal) and on their sides (lateral) when the mattress is brand new.

Unused mattress comfort score – male View more details.

We conduct body support tests for both dorsal (back) and lateral (side) positions based on male body types only when the mattress is brand new.

Unused mattress comfort score – female View more details.

We conduct body support tests for both dorsal (back) and lateral (side) positions based on female body types only when the mattress is brand new.

Comfort retention score after eight years – overall View more details.

We roll a cask-shaped roller over each mattress for 30,000 cycles to simulate approximately eight years of use. Then, comfort is assessed based on sleeping assessment in dorsal (back) and lateral (side) positions. The higher the score, the closer the mattress will feel to how it did when it was brand new. Note that this score is not an average of the male and female results. It's a separate test that assesses combined male and female use of the mattress at the same time.

Comfort retention score after eight years – male View more details.

We roll a cask-shaped roller over each mattress for 30,000 cycles to simulate approximately eight years of use based on male body types only. Then, comfort is assessed with the same body type based on sleeping assessment in dorsal (back) and lateral (side) positions. The higher the score, the closer the mattress will feel to how it did when it was brand new.

Comfort retention score after eight years – female View more details.

We roll a cask-shaped roller over each mattress for 30,000 cycles to simulate approximately eight years of use based on female body types only. Then, comfort is assessed with the same body type based on sleeping assessment in dorsal (back) and lateral (side) positions. The higher the score, the closer the mattress will feel to how it did when it was brand new.

Stabilisation score View more details.

Using an oscilloscope we measure the movement of the mattress after a standard impact (17.5kg), simulating the turning body of a sleeping person. We also count the number of bounces up and down before the mattress is calm again. We run two tests, one to simulate bounces for a single sleeper and a second to simulate the impact of movement on a second sleeper (note the IKEA Åkrehamn, Ǻbygda and Valevåg only underwent one test). Higher-scoring mattresses exhibited fewer bounces and less movement during standard impact.

Sagging score View more details.

We roll a cask-shaped roller over each mattress for 30,000 cycles to simulate approximately eight years of use. We measure height and firmness straight out of the box when the mattress is new, then again after this test to note any differences. Mattresses with a higher score show less sagging over time, while lower scoring mattresses show increased sagging.

Sweat repellent score View more details.

A technical assessment of permeability and water intake. Lower scoring mattresses absorb more fluids, which can cause damage and odour buildup over time.

Usage wear or damage score View more details.

We roll a cask-shaped roller over each mattress for 30,000 cycles to simulate approximately eight years of use. Visible damage such as cracking, broken springs or pilling contributes to the fatigue score. A higher score means less damage.

Insulation (mattress warmth) View more details.
We place a copper plate on each mattress and heat it to 37°C, then measure the amount of energy it takes to keep the plate at that temperature on the mattress over the course of eight hours. We use a relative scale to classify the energy used in everyday language - e.g. if lots of energy is required then the means the mattress is "cool", as it efficiently moves the heat away from your body through the mattress.
Availability View more details.

'Tested models' should still be available in shops. 'Discontinued models' may still be available second-hand or online.

Discontinued model
Price View more details.

The recommended retail price at the time of testing.

$1050
Price paid on sale/after bargaining View more details.

Mattresses sold at traditional retail stores are often on sale, or you can score a steep discounts by haggling. This data is designed to illustrate the steep markups that are applied to mattresses by retailers and the amount you can save by waiting for a sale and asking for a deal. Bed-in-a-box mattresses are often on sale, but they're typically sold at a lower price point so savings aren't as significant.

$950
Core type
Foam
Cover composition (claimed) View more details.

As claimed by the manufacturer.

Not tested
Springs per metre squared View more details.

Mattresses are cut open to count springs.

N/A
Number of layers View more details.

A corner of the mattress is cut to count layers and note layer types. A visual cross-section of each mattress is included in the gallery of each product page.

6
Weight (kg)
27
Thickness (cm)
22
Dimensions (cm, L x W x H) View more details.

The length, width and height of the mattress measured in centimetres.

Not tested
Free pickup (metro areas) View more details.

Most mattress-in-a-box brands will organise a free pickup in metro areas, if you wish to exchange the mattress.

Yes
Free pickup (rural areas) View more details.

Some mattress-in-a-box brands will charge a pickup fee in rural areas, if you wish to exchange the mattress. This varies based on location.

No
Trial period (days) View more details.

Mattress-in-a-box brands offer home trial periods that range from 30 to more than 100 nights. If you're unhappy with your purchase, you can exchange the mattress for a different model (if available) or a full refund.

120
Free exchange View more details.

Occasionally, you'll encounter brands that charge an exchange fee, on top of the pickup costs, if you wish to exchange the mattress.

Yes
Handles View more details.

A mattress with more handles is easier to rotate, flip and move.

0
Handle positions
N/A
Memory foam layer View more details.

Many spring mattresses include a memory foam layer. This is often unadvertised.

Yes
Washable cover (claimed) View more details.

As claimed by the manufacturer.

Not tested
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Average rating

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