The quick answer#
The Foam People make budget, made-to-order all-foam mattresses from around £109, with custom sizes. Simba is a premium bed-in-a-box best known for its spring-and-foam hybrids with a more responsive, supportive feel and a long home trial. Choose The Foam People to spend the least or get a custom size; choose Simba for a springier hybrid feel and a risk-free trial.
Price and value#
- The Foam People: roughly £109–£198, the cheapest credible route to a supportive bed, and the only one here that makes non-standard sizes.
- Simba: markedly higher prices, though frequently discounted. You pay for the hybrid engineering, branded comfort layers and a longer trial.
Feel and support#
The Foam People build 100% foam, close contouring, strong motion isolation, a medium feel that suits side sleepers and couples. Simba's hybrids pair pocket springs with foam, giving a more responsive surface that is easier to move on and supports heavier sleepers well. For most people a medium feel is the safest target, a systematic review of 39 studies found medium-firm best supports comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment.1
Sleeping cool and foam smell#
All-foam mattresses can sleep warmer and have a faint initial odour. Independent testing of memory-foam emissions found volatile organic compounds well below health-based guidance values, decaying within weeks, so airing the mattress briefly is usually enough.2 Simba's spring layer aids airflow; if you sleep hot on foam, look at The Foam People's CoolMax options or see our cooling guide.
Durability#
Quality foams retain much of their firmness through extended use, though all foam softens over time.3 Simba's hybrid springs offer a different, often longer-lasting support profile, while the comfort layer softens first. Rotate either regularly.
Which should you choose?#
- Choose The Foam People if: you want the lowest price, a custom size, or an all-foam contouring feel.
- Choose Simba if: you want a responsive hybrid, better support for a heavier frame, and a long home trial.
Read our Foam People review and Simba review, or take our quiz to match a bed to your sleep style.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
The Foam People vs Simba at a glance#
| The Foam People | Simba | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | All-foam: memory foam or reflex foam over a supportive base foam | Hybrids: layers of small conical micro-springs between foams, over a foam base |
| Firmness | Medium across the range; one firm (Comfort Ortho Firm) | Medium, marketed as a universal feel; more spring layers in higher tiers |
| Double price | £109–£198 | Mid-to-premium, frequently discounted |
| Custom sizes | Yes – cut to order, non-standard sizes available | No |
| Home trial | None | Typically 200 nights |
| Warranty | 5 years | Typically 10 years |
| Made / delivered | Made to order in the UK | British brand, sold direct and through retailers, delivered rolled |
The Foam People models we have scored#
| Model | Type | Depth | Feel | Support | Comfort | Price (double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood Memory Foam | Foam | 18cm | Medium | 7.8 | 8.0 | £109 |
| Comfort Ortho Firm | Foam | 20cm | Firm | 8.6 | 7.9 | £157 |
| The Saffron Comfort Deep | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.3 | 8.5 | £174 |
| Comfort CoolMax Intelligent | Foam | 20cm | Medium | 8.4 | 8.6 | £192 |
| Superior Cashmere | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.5 | 8.8 | £198 |
Simba's hybrids are not conventional pocket-spring mattresses. Their springs are small conical coils in a thin layer, sandwiched between foams, so the feel is closer to a responsive foam mattress than to a traditional sprung bed. That makes The Foam People's deeper medium models, the Saffron Comfort Deep and Superior Cashmere, a fairer comparison than you might expect. If you want a full-height pocket-spring hybrid instead, our hybrid guide compares the ones we score.
Prices are for a double at the time of writing (September 2026), using the sale price where the brand runs a permanent one. Rival brand terms are as published at the time of writing; check the retailer before you buy. Full scores are on each review page. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you; it never affects a score.
What a Simba does that a Foam People cannot#
- Bounce and responsiveness. The micro-spring layer makes turning over and getting up easier. Memory foam is slow.
- Airflow. Even a thin spring layer breathes better than solid foam.
- Depth. Simba's main models run 25–31cm; The Foam People top out at 23cm. Deeper builds hold their firmness longer.3
- The trial. Two hundred nights to change your mind, against none.
What a Foam People does that a Simba cannot#
- Cost £109–£198. A Simba double, even discounted, costs several times that.
- Fit an odd frame. Cut to order, any reasonable dimension.
- Be genuinely firm. The Comfort Ortho Firm is a proper firm mattress; Simba's feel is medium across the range.
- Isolate motion completely. All-foam is still the best at this.
The medium-feel question#
Both brands centre on a medium feel, and the research supports that as the best all-round target: a systematic review of 39 studies found medium-firm surfaces best for comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment.1 The difference is how they get there. Simba engineers one medium feel and adds spring layers as you move up the range. The Foam People let you choose depth and cover, and sell a firm alternative. If you already know medium suits you, Simba's polish is what you pay for; if you suspect you need firmer, The Foam People's Ortho Firm gets you there for £157. Our firmness-by-weight chart is the quickest way to tell.
Verdict by sleeper#
| If you are… | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Wanting a responsive, easy-to-move-on surface | Simba |
| Wanting the lowest price for a main bed | Saffron Comfort Deep (£174) |
| A front sleeper or wanting firm | Comfort Ortho Firm |
| Over 16 stone | Simba, or a full pocket-spring hybrid such as the LuxeErgo 3400 |
| Needing a custom size | The Foam People |
| Sharing with a restless partner | The Foam People – all-foam isolates motion best |
| Wanting a long trial | Simba |
Frequently asked questions#
Is Simba a true hybrid mattress?#
Simba uses thin layers of small conical micro-springs between foams rather than a full-height pocket-spring core, so it feels more like a responsive foam mattress than a traditional sprung bed. It still breathes and bounces better than an all-foam Foam People.
How much cheaper is The Foam People than Simba?#
A Foam People double is £109–£198 at fixed prices. Simba sits in the mid-to-premium bracket and is frequently discounted, but even on promotion you will usually pay several times the Foam People price.
Which is better for back pain?#
For a firm, supportive surface on a budget, the Comfort Ortho Firm (8.6 support, £157) is the clear pick. Simba's medium hybrids suit average-build back sleepers, and their springs handle heavier bodies better than foam alone.
Which is better for a hot sleeper?#
Simba's spring layers move more air than solid foam. The Foam People's CoolMax models help at the surface for under £200. If heat is your main problem, a full pocket-spring hybrid does more than either.
Does Simba make custom sizes?#
No. Simba sells standard sizes. The Foam People cut every mattress to order and will make non-standard dimensions.
References#
- Caggiari G, Talesa GR, Toro G, Jannelli E, Monteleone G, Puddu L. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2021;22:51. doi:10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
- Beckett EM, Cackovic K, Charles S, et al. Quantification of volatile organic compound emissions from memory foam mattresses and predicted inhalation exposures. Chemosphere. 2022;303:134945. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134945
- Vlaović Z, Klarić N, Domljan D. Investigating the Impact of Long-Term Use on Mattress Firmness and Sleep Quality: Preliminary Results. Applied Sciences. 2024;14(21):10016. doi:10.3390/app142110016
