Our Ecosa Vs. Koala Mattress Comparison Guide
Both Koala and Ecosa are Australian brands that follow the bed-in-a-box shopping concept, which may lead buyers to believe they are similar in construction.
While it’s true they both feature an all-foam construction, similarities stop here, as each brand developed special and innovative materials to make sleep a more pleasant experience. Since Ecosa and Koala strive to reach the same goal (the Goldilocks of online beds), we decided to review them together and compare the main features. This way, buyers will know which brand fits their needs best.
Below you can read in-detail our opinions on the two most impressive mattresses in the Australian market right now, but we also have a quick summary for those of you who just need the juiciest of details.
Additionally, we have reviewed each mattress and we recommend you to read them as well:
Should You Buy an Ecosa or Koala?
Each brand comes with unique features, which influence how the mattress feels and behaves. Below you can read about the ones that are unique to each brand so you can make an informed decision on which is best for your needs.
Unique for Ecosa:
- Ecosa incorporates one layer of natural latex – Latex is quite rare in online mattresses, which is why Ecosa’s surface is so unique on the market. The layer makes the bed hypoallergenic but also brings certain flexibility, only specific to this natural fiber.
- Ecosa’s firmness can be adjusted as needed – The internal layers can be switched to adjust the way Ecosa feels. All the three layers can change position, so the same surface can have three levels of firmness (medium, medium-firm, and firm).
- Specially designed memory foam – In a successful attempt to create a soft but firm surface, the Company created the Ecosa™ G-7 Memory foam. This is viscoelastic material infused with special gel particles and provides both support and a cooling effect to the entire mattress.
- 100% waterproof – The first layer of fabric that encases the sheets of foam is a cover created with German micro-filament fabric that repels liquids and protects the materials underneath from dust mites.
- Fire resistant barrier – While almost all foam mattresses are designed with fire retardant elements, Ecosa is among the few that has a special layer designed to stop the fire in the case of an accident.
Unique for Koala:
- Kloudcell for the first layer – A unique material, with an open-cell structure, specially designed for Koala. The foam feels like a combination of memory foam and latex, it is bouncy and allows the air to go through, in order to keep the sleeper’s body temperature at an optimal level.
- Unprecedented ventilation and comfort – Koala is specially designed for a humid, hot environment as the Kloudcell technology offers amazing ventilation and temperature control.
- Zero Disturbance technology – Motion transfer is extremely reduced in Koala, so sleepers can share the bed with a restless partner. The technology is so advanced that almost no motion is sent from one partner to the other.
- You can try the Koala before purchase – Unlike most products sold online, Koala partnered up with Myer, and curious buyers can check the mattress out before putting down their money.
Comparing Construction and Materials
Now that you know about the unique features of each mattress, it’s time to talk about what makes them so great (aka, the inner structure). We’ve reviewed both beds and bellow is the complete list of their inside structure.
Ecosa’s Inner Structure
Starting from the top, the first thing you will notice is the soft cover. The design is simple but elegant, and the fabric can be removed and machine-washed.
Right underneath the cover, there are two layers of thin fabric: a fire-resistant barrier, and a waterproof layer. The first one will melt, suffocating the oxygen out of any accidental fire, which improves the safety of your family. The second one contains German micro-filament fabric and has the role to protect the foams underneath from any accidents.
Once you go past these three layers, you get to the core of the mattress, where you’ll find the following sheets of foam:
- A breathable layer of natural latex – It keeps the bed bouncy and hypoallergenic while keeping the airflow constant to increase the cooling system’s efficiency.
- Ecosa™ G-7 – Improved memory foam, with gel particle insertions that absorb the heat and help with weight distribution and pressure points. This is the layer that keeps you supported while creating a contouring surface for side sleepers.
- HD support foam – The base has a chocolate-like design for extra breathability and supports the layer on top. The base was created to absorb most of the movement and keep your spine well-aligned.
In combination, these three layers provide sleepers with contouring, support, and overall wonderful comfort.
Koala’s Inner Structure
Unlike Ecosa, Koala decided to keep things as simple as possible. To be more exact, underneath the breathable, stretchy cover, you will only find two layers of foam:
- A layer of Kloudcell – Is a proprietary type of foam designed especially for a hot and humid environment. The foam combines the features of viscoelastic materials and latex, creating an improved version of both. The result is a surface that contours around your body gives some sinkage, but remains flexible and well-supported.
- A foam base – This one provides durability and support for the top layer but also has the role of absorbing any motion on top.
Just like with Ecosa, the cover is removable and can be machine-washed. While it may seem like Koala has less to offer, Kloudcell is a fantastic material that is comfortable and will keep cool regardless of outside temperatures.
The Firmness Levels
The way a mattress feels is one of the most important aspects, and this is why we tested them both thoroughly for our review. Read below and choose the bed that works best for you.
Koala
Koala took the universal snooze surface approach and only has one level of firmness (medium). This targets most sleepers out there but makes the bed best suited for back sleepers, people who sleep on the side but are not very sensitive about this, and people who change positions while sleeping.
The surface is flexible and gives a bit of sinkage (why side sleepers love it), but it’s also firm and supportive, providing good spine alignment and lumbar support.
Ecosa
Ecosa came with a unique approach to firmness. If other producers create different products for each level, they only switch the layers in the same mattress. This is a bold move and proves that all the layers are designed with the best possible materials.
This level is achieved by placing the memory foam layer on top. Because it’s softer and responds slower than the latex foam, the sleeper will have better contouring and a bit more sinkage.
According to our results during the review and other online reviews, this side is best for people who sleep on the side and need a softer surface.
In this case, the latex sheet of foam is on top, and the surface is bouncy and supportive. The medium-firm version is the most popular, but we believe back sleepers and people that don’t favor a certain position would make the most out of it.
The third level of firmness can be reached by placing the base on top, over the first two sheets. Since the foam here is denser, the surface will feel firmer which is why most stomach sleepers will enjoy it.
Sleeping Cool
Both products are equipped with impressive cooling systems:
- Koala – The Kloudcell technology in the first layer is not just for contouring and support – it was specially designed to open the cell structure of the foam and keep the airflow unhindered. Furthermore, the breathable cover and the simple inner structure significantly reduce the risk of overheating.
- Ecosa – Each layer is equipped with channels or small orifices designed to improve the airflow. As a plus, the viscoelastic sheet has gel particles, capable of absorbing heat and sending it away from the sleeper.
In conclusion, both products are effective in providing optimum sleeping temperature, but Koala is the only one that’s specially created for hot and humid environments.
Edge Support
None of the two products we considered for this review have any special reinforcement for edge support. Still, this doesn’t mean you can’t use the entire surface of your bed for sleeping!
Both Koala and Ecosa behave well when lying on edge, but there will be some compression when it comes to sitting. In Ecosa, you may see deeper compression in the soft version.
Summary
After having reviewed them both, we have the pleasure of informing our readers that both products provide innovative features and top-of-the-art materials. Both companies took care of the overheating problem, and both surfaces are capable of providing contour and support at the same time.
Koala focused more on the cooling system and only has one version of firmness, but the surface is great for most sleepers out there. The new material used for the top layer is great for contour but still keeps the surface bouncy while offering impressive motion isolation.
Ecosa, on the other hand, focused more on providing comfort for specific sleepers. They have three layers made of innovative materials and give you the possibility to choose how firm the surface will feel. Still, the surface will keep cool and provide enough comfort to satisfy most sleepers out there.
Of course, the choice is yours and yours alone. Both products have extensive trial periods, but you can test the Koala in a Meyer store before the purchase. We recommend reading other users’ reviews and choosing the one that looks best for you.
