Review: I upgraded my mattress to the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress and it solved my biggest sleep problem

I'd been thinking about replacing my mattress for a while but it was stay at my mum's house on a hybrid memory foam mattress that finally convinced me it was time. I found it exceptionally comfortable and when I got home it really made me notice that, after several years with my old mattress, it wasn’t as comfy anymore and I was even getting an ache in my hip when trying to settle down to sleep.

As a side sleeper, I knew I wanted something that would provide plenty of support without being too hard. I love that cosy, cushioning feeling you get from memory foam, but I don't like the exaggerated sinking sensation you can get with some fully memory foam mattresses. I'd also owned a particularly firm mattress in the past and found it simply too hard.

So, I was confident that hybrid would be the perfect middle ground for me, combining the cushioning of memory foam with the support of pocket springs. After looking at a few options, I opted for the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress, which has a medium-firm feel, six layers of sleep technology and up to 960 individually encapsulated pocket springs.

It is certainly an investment. I got a double via Mattress Next Day, which is currently priced at £799. Prices for all sizes of the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress range from £649 for a single to £959 for a super king. But after sleeping on it for a month, has it delivered the balance of comfort and support I was looking for?

What I like about the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress

The biggest positive about the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress is that it has delivered exactly the combination I was hoping for. The mattress does feel a little on the firmer side initially, but that wasn't a surprise. Any new mattress can take some getting used to, and memory foam also needs time to respond to your body so I was expecting this, but even in those early days I still felt very comfortable and got a good night’s sleep.

Panda themselves say it can take anywhere from a few nights to several weeks for your body to adjust, with one to two weeks being the average for its Hybrid Bamboo Mattress so you do need to be patient. After a month of use, however, I can definitely say that it feels softer and even more comfy than it did when I first slept on it.

Importantly, those hip aches I had started experiencing with my old mattress (which was not Panda brand or from Mattress Next Day) have gone.

The pocket springs provide the support I wanted without making the mattress feel uncomfortably firm, while the memory foam gives enough cushioning to make it comfortable. The independently working springs also help distribute weight across the mattress, which contributes to that supported feeling.

I particularly like that the mattress doesn't have that sensation of being swallowed up that I experienced with a completely memory foam mattress. When I tried a fully memory foam mattress I found it too soft for my liking, which was a surprise as I would say I do love a soft bed, but I’ve now realised the hybrid construction of the Panda gives me the best of both worlds.

The bamboo element is another feature I appreciate. The mattress has a removable, washable bamboo cover, while the bamboo-infused memory foam is designed to improve airflow and reduce heat retention. The bamboo sleep surface is also naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial, which all-round helps to keep it feeling, looking, and actually being as fresh and clean as possible.

The 25cm depth has also worked particularly well for me. It feels substantial enough to provide plenty of cushioning and support, but it isn't so deep that I've had to replace all my existing bedding. That was important to me because while I was happy to invest in a new mattress, I really didn't want to discover that my new mattress was so thick that my fitted sheets no longer fitted properly.

I also appreciate the reinforced edges, which mean more of the mattress surface can be used rather than losing sleeping space around the perimeter. The mattress is single-sided too, so there's no need to turn it over, although Panda recommends rotating it head to toe regularly.

Delivery was another positive experience overall. I ordered through Mattress Next Day and my mattress arrived less than 24 hours after placing the order. I was also given a two-hour delivery window the evening before, which made it much easier to organise my day around its arrival.

I chose option to have it delivered to my room as I knew I wouldn’t be able to get the box up the stairs and into my bedroom themselves. The delivery team, who are separate from Mattress Next Day, arrived and had it in my room swiftly.

There was also the option to have my old mattress taken away for an additional £39, which I used because it saved me another job. The delivery took five minutes and was very efficient.

What I don't like about the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress

The mattress itself has very little that I dislike, but there are a few things I'd recommend knowing before ordering.

First is the unpacking. The fact that the mattress arrives vacuum-packed and rolled is brilliant for delivery, particularly if you have narrow stairs like me, but the delivery team doesn't unpack it for you.

I managed to get it out of the box, onto my bed frame and unrolled by myself, but it was not easy. If you're buying anything larger than a double, I'd definitely recommend having another person available to help.

There's also the waiting period. Panda recommends leaving the mattress for at least six to eight hours before sleeping on it for the first time, while the company says it can take longer for it to fully settle.

My mattress arrived at around 3pm, so I just about managed to give it the recommended time before I wanted to go to bed. However, Mattress Next Day deliveries can take place as late as 8pm so that’s just worth being aware of.

If you only have one bed, as I do, this is a particularly important consideration. It's understandable that someone has to be last in the delivery schedule, but nobody wants to be making their bed at only just getting into it somewhere between 2am and 4am. So, if possible prepare to sleep in another bed on the day you get your new mattress delivered.

There is a premium morning delivery option available from £25, if you want to make sure you definitely get your bed in plenty of time to allow for the expansion time so you will be able to use it the night you get it.

There are also additional charges to consider. Delivery to the room of your choice costs £19, while old mattress removal is £39. Depending on the extras you need, the additional costs can therefore add up to more than £80.

For most postcodes, standard delivery is free when you choose to receive your order within three days though, which does help offset some of these charges.

I understand why there is a cost attached to taking away an old mattress and choosing a specific delivery slot, but I do think charging extra for room-of-choice delivery is disappointing. For many people, particularly those who can't physically move a heavy mattress themselves like me, this isn't really an optional extra.

The other thing to be aware of is the smell when the mattress is first unrolled. There was quite a strong chemical smell for the first two or three days. It wasn't unbearable, but it was noticeable, so I'd recommend opening windows prior to your mattress arriving and keeping them open for as long as possible after delivery to help air the room.

If you have another bed available, I'd also suggest sleeping elsewhere for at least the first night for that reason, even if the mattress has had enough time to expand. I didn't have that option, so I simply had to put up with the smell but it wasn’t too bad.

I used an oil burner with lavender in my bedroom, which didn't completely disguise it but did make the room more pleasant.

My Verdict

After a month of sleeping on the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress, I'm really pleased I made the switch.

I went into this knowing exactly what I wanted; the cushioning comfort of memory foam without feeling like I was sinking into the mattress, combined with enough support to keep my spine comfortable as a side sleeper. That's exactly what I've got.

The mattress felt firmer when I first started using it, but as I've adapted to it, it has become noticeably more comfortable. Most importantly, the hip aches I had started experiencing with my old mattress have disappeared

I also think the 25cm depth strikes the right balance, giving the mattress a substantial, luxurious feel without being so deep that I had to replace all my existing bedding.

At £799 for a double, this is a mid price option. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s not the most expensive either, and I do think it's worth investing in a good mattress. Sleep affects practically every part of your life, and a quality mattress is something you can potentially use for many years.

My previous mattress was cheaper but only had a seven-year guarantee, and after that amount of time I felt it had reached the end of its useful life for me. The Panda comes with a 10-year guarantee, which makes the higher initial investment feel more worthwhile.

The delivery extras and initial smell are things I'd definitely advise prospective buyers to be aware of, but neither has changed my overall opinion of the mattress. For me, this has been a worthwhile upgrade and I'm very happy to have found that ideal middle ground between softness and support.