The Simba Hybrid Essential is a 20cm, four-layer hybrid with up to 1,000 Aerocoil springs, the cheapest way into the Simba range.
The Simba Hybrid Essential is Simba’s entry-level hybrid: a 20cm, four-layer mattress with up to 1,000 Aerocoil microsprings over a five-zone foam base, rated medium-firm (6 out of 10 on our scale). At a regular £699 for a double it costs 22% less than the Simba Hybrid in the same size.
Four layers, as listed on Simba’s UK product page. It keeps the Aerocoil springs that define the range but cuts the spring count from the Hybrid’s 1,900 to 1,000 and drops its separate core layer.
| Layer | Material | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cover | 500g knitted cover with zip-off top | Machine washable |
| 2. Comfort | Simbatex CertiPUR foam with graphite | Open-structure cushioning, cooler feel than dense foam |
| 3. Springs | Up to 1,000 25mm Aerocoil springs, titanium alloy, made in Leeds | Responsive support, less motion transfer |
| 4. Base | Five-zone CertiPUR foam | Firmer zones under hips and shoulders |
For many buyers the price bracket is realistic rather than a compromise. In a National Bed Federation survey of 500 recent bed buyers, 46% spent up to £399 and three quarters spent under £800, so the Essential’s double sits inside what most UK households actually pay. The same survey found 41% replacing their old mattress within five years or less. That is the honest limit of a 20cm mattress with one spring layer, which has less material in reserve than the 25cm Hybrid. We would buy it for a guest room, a first flat, a teenager’s room or a lighter adult, and step up for heavier sleepers or daily use by a couple.
The Essential is 5cm thinner than the Simba Hybrid, has 900 fewer springs, a five-zone rather than nine-zone base and no separate core foam layer. Both keep the zip-off washable top and the graphite-infused Simbatex comfort foam, so the surface feel is related; the difference shows most under heavier bodies and after years of use.
Simba sells the Essential in four UK sizes only. The technical sheet lists a “150X200 UK Super King”, which is a typo: there is no 180x200 variant to buy. Regular prices at the time of writing (September 2026):
| Size | Dimensions (cm) | Regular price |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 x 190 | £549 |
| Small double | 120 x 190 | £699 |
| Double | 135 x 190 | £699 |
| King | 150 x 200 | £799 |
All foam in the Essential is CertiPUR certified, the EUROPUR standard for polyurethane foam made without heavy metals and with low VOC emissions. Delivery is free to most of the UK, and the Essential gets the same 200-night trial and 10-year guarantee as Simba’s dearest mattresses, which is its strongest selling point at this price.
| Brand | Simba |
|---|---|
| Material | 500g knitted cover with zip-off washable top, graphite-infused Simbatex CertiPUR foam, up to 1,000 titanium-alloy Aerocoil pocket microsprings and a five-zone CertiPUR foam base. |
| Firmness | Medium firm (6/10) |
| Height | 20 cm |
| Sleep trial | 200 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years |
| Delivery | Free delivery to most of the UK |
| Available sizes | 90x190, 120x190, 135x190, 150x200 |
| Overall score | 7.8/10 |
| Certifications | CertiPUR |
“Buy the Hybrid Essential for a guest room, a first flat or a lighter sleeper who wants springs on a budget, since the double costs 22% less than the Simba Hybrid. Heavier sleepers and couples should step up, because 20cm of foam and a single spring layer leave less in reserve.”
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