Hybrid or memory foam is the real question here, and we're using the Simba Hybrid Mattress and the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress as worked examples of each.
You are choosing between two constructions, so it helps to treat these two mattresses as worked examples rather than the whole story. Hybrids like the Simba Hybrid combine foam layers with pocket springs, 1,900 conical Aerocoil microsprings in Simba's case, which means the surface pushes back a little and responds quickly when you move. Memory foam designs like the Nectar are foam from top to bottom, so they contour slowly and cradle you, what Nectar calls its "hug".
Both examples sit at 25cm deep, both use five layers, both are rated medium-firm by their makers, and both build stated cooling measures into the design. On feel and build, this pairing is closer than the type labels suggest. Where they separate is value, and on that measure the memory foam side wins. The Nectar sits well below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, while the Simba sits noticeably above the typical hybrid price. Our verdict goes to the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress.
That said, if you know you want a springier surface, the hybrid still earns a look. Simba offers eight sizes to Nectar's five, so awkward bed frames are better served on the hybrid side here.
Our verdict at a glance: which mattress wins?
The Nectar delivers comparable depth, layering and cooling design at a price well below its category's typical level, where the Simba sits above its own.
WINNER
You want spring response rather than foam contour
The Simba's 1,900 Aerocoil microsprings compress individually, which means the surface responds quickly and a partner's movement stays on their side of the bed.
You need a less common size
Simba offers eight sizes against Nectar's five, useful if your frame is anything other than standard.
You run warm but dislike the foam feel
The graphite-infused Simbatex layer is designed to draw heat away, so you get temperature help without an all-foam surface.
RUNNER UP
You want the stronger value
The Nectar sits well below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, where the Simba sits above the typical hybrid price. Like for like, your money goes further here.
You sleep on your side or want pressure relief
The contouring memory foam adapts to your shape, easing pressure on hips and shoulders, with a 7-zone base adding firmer support where your body is heaviest.
You want a full year to decide
Nectar's 365-night manufacturer trial is unusually long, and the 10-year guarantee backs it up.
Simba Hybrid
Nectar
Firmness
Medium-firm
Medium-firm
Layers
5
5
Trial (nights)
200
365
Guarantee (years)
10
10
Price Range
£699 to £1,099
£199 to £649
On construction alone, these two are too close to call. Both are 25cm deep with five layers, and both build in stated cooling measures: graphite-infused Simbatex foam in the hybrid, a cooling cover and open-cell foam in the Nectar. The real difference is character rather than quality. Springs give the Simba a responsive, pushed-back feel, while the Nectar's all-foam build contours slowly around you.
Construction verdict: which wins on build?
On construction alone, these two are too close to call. Both are 25cm deep with five layers, and both build in stated cooling measures: graphite-infused Simbatex foam in the hybrid, a cooling cover and open-cell foam in the Nectar. The real difference is character rather than quality. Springs give the Simba a responsive, pushed-back feel, while the Nectar's all-foam build contours slowly around you.
Which mattress feels better?
<p>Both examples are rated medium-firm by their makers, with Nectar putting a number on it at 6.5 out of 10. That rating puts the Nectar in territory suited to most back and combination sleepers, and its contouring foam gives side sleepers pressure relief at hips and shoulders. Fans of a very soft, sink-in surface may find it a little solid.</p><p>The Simba's medium-firm feel comes with two caveats from reviewers: Tom's Guide found it less suited to committed front sleepers, and noted lighter weight sleepers may find it a touch too firm. Across owner reviews, the most common adjustment note is that it feels firmer than expected in the first few weeks before settling in.</p>
Other important factors to consider before buying.
Feel matters most, but the terms around your purchase decide how safely you can test it at home. Both brands back their mattresses with a 10-year guarantee. The table below sets out the trial periods and guarantees side by side.
Simba Hybrid
Nectar
Trial (nights)
200
365
Guarantee (years)
10
10
Do bear in mind that as these mattresses come delivered in sealed boxes they will have a rubbery smell when first extracted. They need a good few hours in a room with the windows open before you sleep on them.
Environmental impact and sustainability
Simba Hybrid
Nectar
Certifications
CertiPUR
CertiPUR
Prices change often, so check the live tables below. As a rule here, the Nectar comes in lower against its own category's typical price than the Simba does against hybrids.
Simba Hybrid Mattress
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
The memory foam side wins this comparison, with the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress as its example, and value is the dimension that decides it. On construction, layers, cooling and buying terms the two types run too close to separate: both examples are 25cm deep, five layers, medium-firm and designed with cooling in mind. But the Nectar sits well below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, while the Simba Hybrid sits above the typical price for a hybrid, so the foam route simply gives you more for your money here. Nectar's certifications add a smaller point in its favour. Choose the hybrid instead if you want a springy, responsive surface or need one of Simba's wider range of sizes. If you're happy sleeping slightly in the mattress rather than on it, the Nectar is the buy.
Decision helper
Consider your primary need: a springy, responsive surface with quick recovery, versus contouring pressure relief at a lower price.
WINNER
You want spring response rather than foam contour
The Simba's 1,900 Aerocoil microsprings compress individually, which means the surface responds quickly and a partner's movement stays on their side of the bed.
You need a less common size
Simba offers eight sizes against Nectar's five, useful if your frame is anything other than standard.
You run warm but dislike the foam feel
The graphite-infused Simbatex layer is designed to draw heat away, so you get temperature help without an all-foam surface.
RUNNER UP
You want the stronger value
The Nectar sits well below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, where the Simba sits above the typical hybrid price. Like for like, your money goes further here.
You sleep on your side or want pressure relief
The contouring memory foam adapts to your shape, easing pressure on hips and shoulders, with a 7-zone base adding firmer support where your body is heaviest.
You want a full year to decide
Nectar's 365-night manufacturer trial is unusually long, and the 10-year guarantee backs it up.
Is a hybrid or memory foam mattress better for side sleepers?
Memory foam tends to suit side sleepers well because it contours around hips and shoulders, and the Nectar pairs that with a 7-zone base for spinal alignment. A hybrid like the Simba can also work, with its nine-zoned base supporting those wider areas, though reviewers found it firmer than some lighter sleepers prefer.
Do memory foam mattresses sleep hotter than hybrids?
Foam has a reputation for heat, but both these examples build in stated cooling measures, so the gap is smaller than the stereotype suggests. The Nectar uses a heat-wicking cover and open-cell foam, while the Simba uses graphite-infused Simbatex foam and an open-structure core to help airflow.
What is the main difference in feel between hybrid and memory foam?
Springs push back, foam cradles. A hybrid like the Simba responds quickly when you move, thanks to its 1,900 microsprings, so you sleep more on the surface. Memory foam like the Nectar adapts slowly to your shape, so you sleep slightly in it. If an enveloping feel puts you off, go hybrid.
Are hybrid mattresses more expensive than memory foam?
Often, and this pairing shows it. The Simba Hybrid sits above the typical price for a hybrid, while the Nectar sits well below the typical price for a memory foam mattress, which is the main reason the foam side wins this comparison. Springs and extra components tend to add cost.
Which type is better for couples, hybrid or memory foam?
Both types can isolate motion well. The Simba's microsprings compress individually, so a partner's movement stays on their side, and owner reviews praise its motion isolation. All-foam designs like the Nectar naturally absorb movement too. Base your choice on feel and budget rather than motion transfer alone.
Author
Jo Plumridge
Author