Koala Soul Mate vs Eva Mattress Comparison

Honestly, at this price point the Koala Soul Mate mattress should be for everyone (*who can afford it). Though we say it’s more a master bedroom mattress than a guest or kids one.

It does seem to deliver a good night’s sleep for all types of sleepers. Because of the 5 zone support that’s specifically for your head, shoulders, lower back, thighs and feet, it works really well for side and back sleepers, helping ensure your spine stays in the correct alignment. The addition of the bamboo charcoal memory foam layer ticks both hot sleepers (it’s breathable) and bed-sharers’ (it reduces motion transfer) boxes.

We reckon side sleepers and back sleepers will enjoy the firm, supportive feel of the Eva mattress. Thanks to its minimal partner disturbance, it’s ideal for people who share a bed. Its breathability and coolness impressed us too, so it’s great for hot sleepers.

The Koala Soul Mate has a lot of tech in it. For a mattress in a box, it’s more comparable to a shop-bought mattress which makes it very good. But what you get for the higher price point doesn’t bowl us over. You’re basically getting a bamboo charcoal layer and foam springs. Most sleepers seem to love it although it doesn’t always live up to its price, with a few people pointing out that for them, it’s not zero partner disturbance. If you’re looking for a firm, supportive mattress in a box and you’re happy on the higher end of the price scale, we reckon the Koala Soul Mate is worth a go.

• The oh-so supportive, cradling feel.
• That it offers a flippable firmness level between medium and medium-firm.
• Luxe feel, thanks to the 9cam sleeping surface plus 2cm quilted cover.
• Koala itself with their planet-friendly focus.

• It’s quite high (33cm) so you’ll probably need new sheets.
• No handles so turning and moving it is tricky.
• It’s heavy - the king weighs almost 60kg so handles would be even more helpful.
• That price though.

We reckon so. We rate its great combination of quality materials. As a hybrid mattress, it’s packing latex, gel memory foam and pocket springs. This trio gives great support and comfort and reduces partner disturbance. It also helps keep the Eva mattress cool and breathable. Which - as anyone who’s ever sweated through a hot Aussie night knows - is super important.

Add to this quick delivery, wheels on the box to easily move it around, handles to easily turn it and a medium-soft feel, and you’ve got one of the best value mattresses we’ve ever slept on.

• Hybrid construction that makes it oh-so-comfortable and supportive.
• Super-breathable and cool thanks to the pocket springs that allow air to circulate.
• Minimal partner disturbance.
• Longer than standard trial period and warranty.
• Transparency around their manufacturers.

• The metres and metres of soft plastic that Eva vacuum-seals mattresses in.
• Tendency to feel a little like you’re rolling into the middle.
• Heavy, with a queen weighing 55kg.

The Koala Soul Mate mattress is a foam mattress with 5 layers. It’s sort of a hybrid because it’s got springs as well as foam. But these springs are foam, not steel.

1. A 9cm sleeping surface made of polyester and viscose which is designed to keep you at the right temperature, whatever the weather’s doing. This is topped by a 2cm quilted cover for that plush feel.
2. The same flippable comfort layer you’ll find in all Koala mattresses. It offers a medium-firm or firm feel.
3. A bamboo charcoal memory foam layer. As well as being antimicrobial, the memory foam is pressure relieving and helps air flow nicely around the mattress.
4. A layer of 5 zoned foam springs. This tripped us up, a lot. Foam. Springs. We consulted an engineer and apparently this could be a thing but it’s certainly not well known tech. The idea behind it is that the springs respond to all your body’s movements to give you support exactly where you need it.
5. Edge support so when you’re getting in and out of it, you won’t sink.

All the foam is polyurethane foam that’s certified free of formaldehyde and other nasties and is low-VOC (volatile organic compounds).

The Eva mattress is a hybrid mattress, which means it’s got both foam and pocket springs. Its 4 layers consist of: 

1. Gel memory foam for cooling and pressure relief.
2. Latex foam for breathability and support.
3. High density foam for firmness.
4. 5 zone pocket springs to minimise partner disturbance. Plus extra springs along the side pockets gives edge support so you don’t slip off when putting your socks on.

Koala offers a better-than-standard 120-night free trial period. If you’re in most areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, it’s good news: Koala will pick up your unwanted Koala mattress for free. If you’re outside these areas, you need to bring or send it to the nearest Koala warehouse, and they won’t cover any of these costs. Although they promise a full refund, note that delivery fees are non-refundable.

Koala ships for free nationwide, with optional weekend delivery costing $70. Delivery can be same day in metro areas. Outside metro areas, you’re looking at 1-15 business days. They have a delivery checker on their website so you can get a more accurate idea of how long it could take.

Like all 3 of their mattresses, the Koala Soul Mate mattress comes with an industry standard warranty of 10 years. Honestly, for the price you’re paying we don’t think it’s great that the warranty is the same as the 2 less expensive options. The warranty doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, which includes ‘softening of the product that does not affect performance’. This sounds a little subjective to us as your idea of your mattress becoming too soft they might argue isn’t performance related.

The Eva mattress comes with a whopping standard free trial of 365 nights. Shipping is fairly standard too, with next-day metro delivery. Non-metro areas will take between 1-8 business days. Wherever you are in Australia, shipping is free.

Oh, and they’ll only deliver to your door, not inside your home. If you live in an apartment complex or have lots of stairs, you might want to rope someone in to help.

The Eva mattress warranty is better than standard (10 years). Instead, it comes with a 12-year warranty. Which is even more impressive when you consider you’re paying less than a grand for even the largest size.