Koala vs Emma Comfort Mattress Comparison

The Koala mattress will suit side sleepers well (in fact, it’s our pick for the best mattress for side sleepers) because it provides great alignment for side sleepers’ necks and spines. As a side sleeper, Elese loves the supportive softness that’s good for pressure relief. It’s also good at minimising partner disturbance as the foam absorbs pressure well, making it ideal for co-sleepers.

Any type of sleeper who’s after a supportive, cradling night’s sleep might appreciate the Emma Comfort - especially if you prefer a firmer mattress. With its great ability to minimise partner disturbance, it’s ideal for co-sleepers.

We rate the Koala mattress better than good - we rate it great. This foam mattress is dreamily soft yet supportive and breathable. We love that it’s really effective at minimising partner disturbance. Koala itself has a top-notch approach to environmental sustainability which is a big tick for us. Oh, and it comes with a little Koala toy. What’s not to love?

• The soft and cosy feel.
• Less deep than other mattresses in a box, so fitted sheets fit easily.
• Customisable firmness level that can be flipped. 
• Koala’s commitment to doing good for the planet, people and animals.

• No handles which makes turning and moving it pretty difficult.
• A little hot during Aussie nights, especially in comparison to the Eva mattress which Elese has also tested.

Thousands (literally) of Aussie sleepers reckon the Emma Comfort mattress is a very good mattress. Even CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, named it as their top scoring mattress for 2021. This all-foam mattress is supportive and pressure relieving for all sleepers and sleeping positions, although some sleepers do find it very firm.

From our personal experience, we feel the Emma Comfort mattress is one of the best budget mattress buys on the market, just bear in mind it suits sleepers who like it firm.

• The removable, washable cover which is the only one we’ve found.
• It’s pretty light for a mattress in a box so it's easy to move.
• The lack of partner disturbance.

• Some sleepers (including Daniel, our tester) found it very firm (and borderline hard).
• The buying process isn’t the most streamlined.

The Koala mattress is a foam mattress that boasts 3 layers:

1. A 7cm comfort layer topped with a breathable Tencel Lyocell fabric that’s 35% Tencell Lyocell and 65% polyester.
2. A customisable firmness layer that can be flipped. One side is medium-firm, the other side firm. You can change the firmness by unzipping the mattress and flipping this layer.
3. The final support layer that has 3 different support zones to cradle every inch of your weary body and prevent your hips sinking too low.

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

The foam Emma Comfort mattress has 2 layers:

1. A layer of Airgocell foam which is intended to minimise partner disturbance and is also moisture wicking to keep you cool and dry all night long.
2. A layer of supportive HRX foam to help your hips, shoulders and spine stay in their correct alignment. It’s also breathable to promote good airflow.

The Emma Comfort mattress has a removable and washable cover that’s 99% polyester and 1% elastane. It’s also got a side cover (100% polyester) and a bottom cover (87% polyester and 13% polypropylene).

Emma seems less bothered about environmental concerns than other brands, with information tucked away in the ‘quality mark’ accordion. There we found that every layer complies with OEKO-TEX® Standard 10 which means it’s free of harmful substances.

The Koala mattress comes with a 120-night free trial which is slightly longer than the average (100 nights). Shipping is free nationwide (apart from weekend delivery which costs $70) and 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. You might even get a cheerful delivery person who’ll help you tackle the stairs.

The Koala mattress has an industry standard warranty of 10 years.

Emma offers you 100 nights to try the Comfort in your home. They do ask that you try it for at least 3-4 weeks before deciding if it’s right for you. If it’s not, simply email them to arrange a free pick-up - as long as you live within their delivery area. If you’re outside these areas (not listed on their website), you’ll need to take it to your nearest drop off location. Once it’s been picked up (or dropped off), Emma will refund you within 14 days.

You need to wrap it in its original plastic packaging ready for collection and it needs to be free from mould, dirt, stains, smells and bed bugs.

The Emma Comfort comes with a 10-year warranty that covers sags or dips that are greater than 2.5cm, cracks or hollows in the foam, a mattress that doesn't fully inflate within 2 weeks, and damage to the cover (but not normal wear and tear). To claim under the warranty, you need to email Emma with photos of the problem.

Shipping is free, Australia-wide. If you live in metro areas (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide) and order before 10am on a weekday, you should get it between 2 and 6pm that same day. Otherwise you can expect it within 2-7 business days. Tracking information is provided via SMS for metro areas, and via email for everywhere else.