Best hybrid mattress 2023: Our favourites from Simba, Emma and more

The best hybrid mattresses combine the lush comfort of memory foam with the support of pocket springs. These days, most popular bed-in-a-box brands such as Emma, Simba and Eve make at least one hybrid mattress, so there’s certainly no shortage of choice on the market.

But, as is often the case with buying a new mattress, deciding which is the best hybrid for you isn’t always an easy task. What might be sleep heaven to one person may be a nightmare to the next. And while the trial periods offered by most bed-in-a-box mattress brands will allow you to test out a mattress before you’ve made a commitment to it, it helps to do your research first.

This is where we can help. After testing heaps of mattresses, we’ve put together a roundup of the best hybrids below, as well as a short buying guide to help you make the right decision.

READ NEXT: The best mattresses to buy

Best hybrid mattress: At a glance

• Best hybrid mattress overall: Simba Hybrid Pro
  
• Best budget hybrid mattress: Silentnight Studio Eco
• Best firm hybrid mattress: Otty Original Hybrid

How to choose the best hybrid mattress for you

What is a hybrid mattress?

Before we get started, it might help to clarify exactly what we mean by “hybrid” mattress, particularly as the term gets thrown around quite loosely. While they might differ when it comes to the finer design details, all hybrid mattresses have essentially one thing in common: they are made from a combination of foam (or other synthetic materials such as latex) and springs. The sprung layer in a hybrid mattress can serve either as a comfort layer (micro springs) or as part of its foundation (full size springs).

What is the benefit of a hybrid mattress?

Many people find it difficult to get along with all-foam mattresses, whether it’s because of the feeling of being enveloped, or because they can feel quite warm. A hybrid can alleviate these problems without sacrificing the comfort you get with a foam mattress. A layer of springs should improve airflow throughout the mattress and usually gives a more subtle feeling than you get with foam alone.

How much do I need to spend?

Compared with all-foam mattresses, you’ll usually need to splash out a bit more on a hybrid. Take the Emma Hybrid, for instance. This will cost you £919 in a king size, compared to £799 for the all-foam Original. Similarly, Eve’s Original foam mattress also costs £799 in a king size, while the Original Hybrid in the same size will set you back £869. Despite the extra cost, given the benefits outlined above, you might decide that a hybrid mattress is worth the investment.

With the exception of some of the most expensive mattresses we’ve tested, you’ll rarely need to pay over £1,000 for a decent hybrid mattress (in a king size). And if you’re really on a budget, you can get a decent one for as little as £509 (see the Silentnight Studio Eco in our roundup below).

How we test mattresses

It will come as no surprise to hear that we test our mattresses by sleeping on them. However, we don’t just put our feet up, there are a number of factors we aim to include. In addition to comfort and support, we consider firmness and temperature control – though, when applicable, we will also factor in edge support and motion isolation.

To illustrate, all-foam mattresses will retain heat more so than others, making them a less viable option for those who are prone to overheating in their sleep.

Where you place your mattress – whether it’s a sprung slatted bed, robust divan base or even the floor – will affect how the mattress feels beneath you. And while we can’t always test a selection of bases when reviewing our mattresses, we will always take this into account.

Finally, we take any trial runs that might be on offer into consideration – which are common within the bed-in-a-box market – before asking the vital question, is the mattress good value for money?

If you’re still feeling in the dark when it comes to buying a new mattress, we recommend checking out some of our other pages, listed below:

• How to choose a mattress
• Best mattress type
• Best cooling mattress
• Best mattress for a bad back
• Best mattress for side sleepers
• Best cheap mattress deals

The best hybrid mattresses you can buy in 2023

1. Simba Hybrid Pro: Our favourite hybrid mattress

Price when reviewed: From £1,159 (single) | Check price at Simba

Bed-in-a-box brand Simba has three different hybrid mattresses in its range. Before the Luxe came along, the Hybrid Pro was the most expensive. Following a few price increases, it now starts at £1,089 for a single and rises to £1,529 for a king-size mattress.

While it’s not cheap, the Hybrid Pro remains our favourite Simba mattress and one of the best hybrids we’ve tested. It has not one but two layers of micro springs (an upgrade on the regular Hybrid’s single layer), as well as an upper comfort layer made from wool, which is an excellent temperature regulator.

As such, the Hybrid Pro is a comfortable, cool and supportive mattress. Best of all, though, it comes with a 365-night trial, so you can return it for a full refund if you’re not happy.

2. Emma Premium: The best hybrid mattress for couples

Price when reviewed: From £799 (single) | Check price at Emma

Previously known as the Original Hybrid, the Premium is Emma’s most expensive mattress, starting at £799 (single). Alongside several layers of foam, it uses full-sized pocket springs which set it apart from many of its hybrid rivals. Overall, the mattress measures in at 250mm deep.

Emma describes the Premium as “medium/firm”, which we’re inclined to agree with. It might feel a bit hard to begin with, but the mattress does soften up and feels comfortable in most sleeping positions. It’s also rather effective at reducing motion transfer, making it a good choice for those who are often woken up in the night by their partner’s movements. However, much like Emma’s regular Hybrid, which has now been discontinued, the Premium is best placed on a solid base if you want to get the best levels of support from it.

While it is the brand’s most expensive mattress, the Emma Premium is still more affordable than the Simba Hybrid Pro featured above. Plus, you get a 200-night to test it out.

3. Silentnight Studio Eco: The best budget hybrid

Price when reviewed: From £369 (single) | Check price at Silentnight

One of the most affordable hybrid mattresses we’ve tested, the Silentnight Studio Eco will set you back just £509 in a king size. Admittedly, you don’t get the lengthy trial period offered by the above bed-in-a-box brands (Silentnight offers a 60-night “comfort exchange” instead). However, when a hybrid mattress is this competitively priced, you can’t really complain.

The Eco is part of the brand’s Studio collection: a range of affordable, bed-in-a-box-style rolled mattresses that you can get delivered straight to your door. Despite its competitive price, it’s a cool and comfortable mattress. In fact, the only real complaint we had about the Studio Eco was its lack of edge support, which isn’t great for those who roll around a lot during the night.

Nevertheless, if you haven’t got the budget for a hybrid mattress from the likes of Emma or Simba, Silentnight’s Studio Eco is a great budget buy.

Check price at Silentnight

4. Otty Hybrid: The best firm hybrid mattress

Price when reviewed: From £799 (single) | Check price at Otty

Otty has a grand total of four hybrid mattresses to its name, from the affordably priced Aura to the Pure Hybrid with its bamboo and charcoal-infused memory foam. Featured here is the brand’s Original Hybrid.

The Original Hybrid contains 140mm pocket springs (2,000 of them, to be exact), rather than the micro springs that are contained in the Simba and Emma mattresses featured in this roundup. These longer springs are sandwiched between a foam base and two upper memory foam comfort layers, and make the mattress feel slightly firmer when compared to, say, the Simba Hybrid Pro.

The Otty Original Hybrid is a very comfortable mattress, although that firm level of support might not be for everyone. If you’re on the heavier side or like to sleep on your back, though, it’s a great choice. Since its launch, Otty’s prices have gradually increased but at £1,100 for a king size, it has remained cheaper than the Simba Hybrid (£1,149) and the Hybrid Pro (£16,49) as well as the Emma Premium (£1,299). You get a 100-night trial to decide whether it’s right for you.