Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro review: “It's cool, supportive and super comfortable”

RRP at time of testing: from £950 (single) | Check price at Panda, Dunelm or MattressOnline

Our verdict

Mattress marketing has a habit of making every bed sound supportive, breathable and vaguely life-changing. What matters is how it performs in an ordinary bedroom, with two people, pets and a heatwave involved.

The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro is the firmer and more substantial mattress in Panda’s range. It combines bamboo-infused memory foam, high-density support foam and up to 1,500 pocket springs in a 27cm-deep, six-layer construction. Panda rates it 7/10 for firmness and sells it with a 100-night trial and 10-year guarantee.

Mumsnet tester Poppy O’Neill slept on her own at home for 30 nights, sharing the bed with her partner and pets. She wanted something cooler and more supportive than her previous mattress. On both counts, it did the job.

The 27cm-deep Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro combines foam with up to 1,500 pocket springs

“Yes, the mattress is nice and firm, my whole body feels supported when I sleep on it. It's breathable and has reduced the amount I sweat at night. I'd had the Panda bamboo mattress topper before, but this is a lot firmer.”

Firmness was the big story for Poppy. She liked the mix of dense support and contouring, and the mattress stayed supportive right to the edges instead of dipping when she sat or lay near the side. She also barely noticed her partner moving, rather more useful at 3am than any diagram of seven support zones.

It also passed its hot-weather test. The surface felt cool to the touch and Poppy didn’t wake overheated or sweaty, despite normally struggling to sleep in a heatwave.

The practical details mostly work well. The handles helped when Poppy initially put the mattress upside down, and the zip-off top section is easier to wash than a full wraparound cover. The less clever bit: the two sides looked too similar and the mattress sprang open with some determination when she cut the outer plastic.

The boxed mattress arrives rolled and compressed; the inner plastic lets you unroll it before it starts to expand

The main barrier with this one is price. The single starts at £950 and larger sizes move well into four figures. Poppy thought the support, cooling and washable cover justified the cost, but this is still a serious purchase. The 100-night trial helps, though it’s less generous than the 200-night trials offered by some bed-in-a-box brands, like Simba and Emma.

Poppy was clear when she compared it with mattresses she had already used: “It's so much more comfortable than my previous sprung mattress (I'm a real hybrid convert, they truly are the best of both worlds). Compared to my Emma thermosync, it feels firmer and cooler to the touch, so I'd say this is the better mattress.”

If you like a firm mattress, run warm or share with a restless partner, the support, cooling and motion isolation all worked well in Poppy’s test. If you want a soft, enveloping feel, use the trial rather than hoping it will magically become squishier.

How we tested the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro

Poppy tested an EU queen-size Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro at home for 30 nights. She’s a combination sleeper, works full-time and has a moderately active lifestyle. She shares her bed with her partner and pets, and her household also includes two teenagers aged 13 and 15.

Before testing, Poppy described her sleep quality as good but said she became hot at night. She hoped the Panda would feel more supportive and help her sleep cooler. And while her home is generally cool, the mattress itself had to do some of the work when temperatures rose.

During the test, she assessed comfort, firmness, full-body and edge support, temperature regulation, motion isolation, setup, movement, maintenance, build quality, off-gassing and value for money. She also compared it with her previous sprung setup: a Panda bamboo topper and an Emma Thermosync mattress.

What is the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro?

The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro is a medium-firm hybrid with six layers. On top is a removable cover with a bamboo surface layer and recycled-polyester inner layer. Underneath are Panda’s bamboo-infused BioCell Foam™, high-density OrthoAlign Foam™, seven zones of pocket springs, a high-density memory-foam comfort base and an anti-slip base.

Panda says the cover is breathable, hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial. The open-cell BioCell foam is designed to improve airflow, while the OrthoAlign layer and zoned springs are intended to distribute weight, support spinal alignment and reduce pressure around the shoulders, hips and lower back.

The mattress is 27cm deep and available in standard UK and EU sizes. Depending on size, it weighs between 25kg and 59kg. It’s single-sided, so it doesn’t need flipping, but Panda recommends rotating it every three to six months.

Once unrolled, the mattress needs enough space to expand fully on the bed frame

How comfortable and supportive is the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro?

Poppy gave the mattress five out of five for comfort in her usual sleeping positions. She described the firmness as “just right” and felt “extremely well supported” throughout the night. She summed it up like this: “Really comfortable, I like the combination of firm support and contouring.”

Is the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro good for back pain?

Because Poppy didn’t have regular aches or pain before the test, she couldn’t judge whether the mattress helped with back pain. Her answer was simple: “No, but this wasn't an issue for me before.”

She did feel strongly supported across her whole body. Panda says the combination of OrthoAlign foam and seven spring zones is designed to relieve pressure and support alignment, particularly around the hips, shoulders and lower back. 

A mattress isn’t a medical treatment and back pain has many causes. Treat support claims as product claims, not medical advice.

Does the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro keep you cool?

Cooling was one of the mattress’s strongest results in Poppy’s test. She described it as cool rather than neutral or warm, said she never woke up overheated or sweaty and felt it had improved her sleep during hot weather.

“Yes, I struggle to get to sleep in a heatwave so I have fans (yes plural!), the window open, a cooling blanket and [now] this cooling mattress adds another layer of comfort.”

Panda attributes the cooling performance to the bamboo cover, open-cell BioCell foam and airflow around the pocket springs. Memory foam can sometimes retain heat but in Poppy’s bedroom, the mattress did what it said it would.

Poppy found the firmness consistent right up to the edges and corners

Is the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro good for couples?

Poppy could hardly feel her partner moving or getting out of bed, and she described the mattress as very stable. In Poppy’s test, the individually enclosed springs and dense foam kept movement on one side instead of sending it across the bed.

She praised the sturdy build, motion isolation and edge support together: “Yes, very well made. It has a sturdy structure and you can feel the quality of the foam in its soft yet dense consistency. 

“There's no sinking and I can't feel a thing when my partner moves around. The side support is excellent, the firmness is consistent right to the edges and corners. Very impressive.”

Is the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro well made?

Poppy rated its quality five out of five on first impression. She liked the simple look and the feel of the top cover: “Nice clean design with distinctive branding. The bamboo cover is cool and smooth to the touch, with a subtle texture.”

She saw no sagging, soft edges or drop in performance during the 30-night test. That’s encouraging, though 30 nights can’t tell us how it will hold up over a 10-year guarantee.

How easy is it to set up and maintain?

The mattress arrives compressed and rolled in a box. Poppy found the general setup easy and the instructions clear, but there were two catches: the correct sleeping side wasn’t obvious and the mattress expanded quickly when released.

“It has handles on the side, which is really useful for getting it into place. 

“When I first unpacked it, it wasn't clear which size was 'up' as they looked similar, so I put it upside down. The handles made it simple to flip it over without too much faff.”

She also warned: “The mattress comes in a box and springs out quite forcefully when you cut open the outer plastic wrapping. So it's important to clear a space or have your bedframe ready before you unpack it. There's an inner plastic wrapping too, which I liked as it meant you could unroll the mattress before it began to inflate.”

The zip-off top cover was a practical win for Poppy, who said: “the zip-off bamboo top is great - you can wash it but don't have to struggle getting the whole mattress back in a cover. Great feature.”

Panda recommends washing the top cover at up to 30°C with a mild detergent and line drying it. The mattress itself can be wiped with a damp cloth, while regular rotation every three to six months should help it wear evenly.

The removable bamboo top cover felt cool and smooth and can be washed at 30°C

Was there any off-gassing smell?

Poppy noticed a manufacturing smell after unpacking, but it cleared on the day of delivery: “Yes, the mattress was delivered at around 11am, and the smell had gone by 8pm that night.”

Panda says a slight scent is normal with a new memory-foam mattress and usually dissipates within 12 to 24 hours. Ventilating the room before sleeping on it should help.

What does Panda say about safety and materials?

Panda says the mattress complies with BS 7177 UK fire-safety requirements and EU REACH chemical regulations. Its foams are CertiPUR approved, while the mattress materials are certified to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. Poppy experienced no allergies, irritation or breathing problems during testing.

The company also says its bamboo is organically grown in managed forests, the packaging contains recycled material and the mattress can be collected for recycling or repurposing through its Circle of Life programme. 

That’s worth knowing, but this is still a mattress built largely from polyurethane foams, not an all-natural one.

Is the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro good value for money?

At £950 for a single before discounts, this is an expensive mattress. Poppy still thought the quality and performance justified the price.

“It's a great quality mattress and you can feel the high quality materials. At over £1000 [for an EU Queen size], it's an investment for most families, but the level of support, breathability and comfort is well worth it for those who suffer with aches and pains.”

She said she’d buy it at full price, mainly for the support and removable top cover. Free room-of-choice delivery, old-mattress removal, a 100-night trial and a 10-year guarantee add value, but they don’t make it a budget purchase.

After 30 nights, Poppy reported no sagging, soft edges or drop in performance

Who would the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro suit?

Poppy’s test suggests it suits combination sleepers who prefer firm support, hot sleepers who want a cooler surface and couples easily disturbed by movement. 

Strong edge support also makes it useful for people who sleep close to the side or want a stable surface when getting in and out of bed.

Poppy thought it would suit people who get night sweats and anyone looking for more support. Her biggest surprise was “how firm yet comfortable it is.”

Who should avoid this mattress?

This won’t suit anyone who wants a very soft, deeply cushioned mattress. Although the foam contours around the body, Poppy found it notably firmer than Panda’s bamboo topper and firmer than her older Emma Thermosync mattress.

The price will rule it out for plenty of households, and the heaviest sizes will be awkward for one person to rotate. If you’re unsure about the firmness, use the 100-night trial rather than trying to talk yourself into liking it.

Final verdict: should you buy the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro?

The Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro proved firm, cool and comfortable in Poppy’s home. It supported her in different sleeping positions and stopped most of her partner’s movement travelling across the bed. Strong edge support and a washable bamboo top cover made it practical too.

The drawbacks aren’t complicated: it’s expensive, larger sizes are heavy and clearer orientation markings would have saved Poppy from putting it upside down. A stronger warning about how quickly it expands wouldn’t go amiss either. If you like a soft mattress, this isn’t it.

Poppy’s final verdict was clear: “I would definitely recommend this mattress to friends and family. It's cool, supportive and super comfortable.”

It’s worth considering if you want firm support without losing all contouring, share a bed or tend to overheat. The full price is substantial, but Poppy felt the comfort, cooling and build quality earned it.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is Mumsnet’s resident home and lifestyle expert, covering sleep, cleaning, kitchen, wellness and everyday comfort. She has worked in journalism since 2010, holds a postgraduate diploma in Journalism and previously led editorial at ExpatWoman in Dubai. As a mum of two, she writes honest product reviews and advice for time-poor, sleep-deprived parents - and they all have to survive contact with real family life.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices are correct at time of publication.