Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector review: "successfully did exactly what you'd expect it to do"

RRP at time of testing: from £49 | Check price at Simba or Amazon

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

My verdict

Mattress protectors aren't exactly exciting purchases. Nobody's opening one on Christmas morning before bursting into tears of joy. But once you've got children, they quickly become one of those household essentials you don't fully appreciate until they save a mattress you'd rather not replace.

That's exactly why the Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector ended up on my eldest son's bed.

Although he's now six, he still has the occasional night-time accident when he's sleeping particularly deeply, so waterproof protection isn't optional. Over our 30-day test, the Bamboo protector had a job to do rather than simply sitting underneath a sheet.

The packaging is neat, simple and does the job

He slept on it every night, giving us around 330 hours of real-world testing. During that time, it was washed several times following night-time accidents, allowing me to see not only how well the waterproof protection worked but also how the protector stood up to repeated laundering.

The good news is that it never felt like the old-fashioned waterproof protectors many of us grew up with. There was no obvious rustling every time he moved, no plasticky feeling underneath the fitted sheet and no sense that we'd sacrificed comfort simply to keep the mattress protected. It remained soft, discreet and easy to forget about.

At £49 for a single, it's still a premium-priced mattress protector. There are certainly cheaper waterproof options available. The difference is that many of those cheaper protectors also feel cheaper.

The Bamboo protector strikes a much better balance between everyday comfort and practical protection, making it one I'd happily recommend for children's beds where accidents, spills and the realities of family life mean waterproofing matters.

How we’ve tested the Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector

We tested the Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector on my eldest son's bed over a 30-day period. He slept on it every night during testing, typically between 8pm and 7am, equating to around 330 hours of use.

Unlike his younger brother, who was simultaneously testing Simba's Tencel Cool protector in the warmest bedroom of the house, my eldest's bed provided the ideal real-world test for waterproof performance. He still has the occasional night-time accident, allowing us to evaluate how well the protector coped with genuine family use rather than relying solely on laboratory claims.

Throughout the month, the protector was washed several times following accidents, giving us a good opportunity to assess both durability and ease of care.

Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector: what’s in the box?

In the box, you get the mattress protector ready to unfold and fit straight onto the bed. There’s no set-up or  instructions you need a degree to decode and no fiddly layers to wrestle with. 

It fits like a fitted sheet, with an elasticated skirt designed for mattresses up to 40cm deep. Simba sells it in single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double and EU queen sizes.

First impressions of the Simba Bamboo mattress protector

Straight out of the packaging, it felt much softer than the old-school waterproof protectors many of us still have lurking in a cupboard. There was no stiff, plasticky feel and no ominous crinkle suggesting your child is about to spend the night on a packet of Mini Cheddars.

The top layer is made from 100% rayon from bamboo, which gives it a smooth, jersey-like feel. It’s worth noting, though, that this isn’t an all-natural product. The backing is TPU and polyester, and the skirt is polyester too. If natural fibres are a priority, that matters. That said, waterproofing usually means some synthetic materials, so the construction isn’t surprising.

It’s also thin. That’s good if you want a protector that disappears under a fitted sheet. Less good if you’re expecting cushioning. This won’t soften a firm mattress or add a cosy quilted layer.

The Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector straight out of the box

Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector: what’s it like to sleep on?

My eldest slept on the Bamboo protector every night throughout our month-long test. Given that he was also the child who actually needed waterproof protection, I was pleased that comfort never seemed to become the price he paid for practicality.

Underneath a fitted sheet, the protector was barely noticeable. It didn't alter the feel of the mattress, didn't bunch up overnight and remained securely fitted throughout the month. It also stayed quiet.

My eldest moves a lot in his sleep, so much so you’d think he’s dreaming about auditioning for The Greatest Showman. But despite plenty of overnight movement, I never noticed the crinkly soundtrack that's often associated with cheaper waterproof protectors.

Most importantly, bedtime remained bedtime. There were no complaints about texture and no comments that the bed felt different. 

What’s the Simba Bamboo mattress protector like to clean?

One advantage of assigning this protector to my eldest's bed is that it ended up facing a much tougher real-world test than I'd originally planned. 

Because he still has the occasional night-time accident, the Bamboo protector was washed several times during our 30-day testing period. Simba recommends washing the protector separately on a gentle cycle using mild detergent before tumble drying it on a low heat. It also advises against bleaching, ironing or dry cleaning.

I'll be honest - the "wash separately" instruction is slightly annoying. When you're already stripping a child's bed at 2am, the thought of running another dedicated wash isn't exactly thrilling.

Thankfully, the protector itself proved much less demanding. After repeated washes, it still fitted neatly over the mattress, the elastic remained strong and the surface stayed just as soft as when it first came out of the packaging. There was no noticeable shrinkage, no curling edges and no loss of shape.

Perhaps most importantly, it continued to feel like an ordinary mattress protector rather than developing the stiff, crackly feel that some waterproof products seem to acquire after a few trips through the washing machine.

Simba's branding is distinct and consistent

Is the Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector waterproof?

Yes - our eldest still has the occasional night-time accident, so this protector had a  waterproof job to do throughout the month.

Simba says its TripleShield technology meets BS EN ISO 20811 waterproof testing standards and has been tested to withstand water pressure exceeding 1,500mm. Those are reassuring specifications, but they're only useful if they translate into real-life performance.

Fortunately, they did. Throughout our testing, the protector successfully did exactly what you'd expect it to do: it protected the mattress underneath while allowing us to strip the bed, wash the bedding and carry on without worrying about permanent damage to the mattress itself.

That's especially important because the protector was fitted over a Naturalmat mattress - something I'd much rather protect than attempt to deep-clean after every accident.

Does the Simba Bamboo mattress protector help with cooling?

Simba describes the bamboo-derived sleep surface as breathable and designed to help keep sleepers comfortable.

After our month of testing, I think that's a fair description - but I wouldn't buy it primarily for cooling. The protector certainly never felt hot or plasticky underneath the fitted sheet, and it avoided the sweaty, sealed-in feeling that some waterproof protectors can create.

However, if cooling is your absolute priority, I'd still choose Simba's Tencel Cool version. We happened to test both protectors at the same time, with my youngest sleeping on the Tencel Cool in the warmest bedroom of the house. That comparison made it easier to appreciate the small differences between the two.

The Bamboo version feels comfortable and breathable. The Tencel version feels slightly cooler. For many families, the Bamboo protector will be absolutely comfortable enough. But if someone regularly overheats at night, I'd spend the extra £10 on the Tencel.

The sheet fits just fine on my child's single bed

Is the Simba Bamboo mattress protector suitable for children?

Absolutely. In fact, I think that's exactly where it makes the most sense. Children's beds face all sorts of abuse - night-time accidents, drinks, the occasional stomach bug, mysterious sticky patches that nobody can explain and the general chaos that comes with family life.

A waterproof mattress protector takes one of those worries away. During our month-long test, my eldest never complained about comfort or texture, despite sleeping on it every night. Once the fitted sheet was on, the protector was effectively invisible.

Simba Bamboo protector: will it fit deep mattresses?

The Bamboo protector uses the same generous 40cm elasticated skirt as Simba's Tencel version. On our mattress there was plenty of fabric to tuck securely underneath, helping the protector stay firmly in place throughout the month. At no point did I find myself constantly refitting corners or wrestling elastic back underneath the mattress at bedtime.

If you've got an especially deep mattress paired with a thick topper, it's still worth measuring first. For most family mattresses, though, the 40cm depth should be more than adequate.

Simba's recognisable blue branding

Simba Bamboo vs Simba Tencel Cool mattress protectors

The closest comparison is Simba’s own TripleShield Tencel Cool Mattress Protector, which my older child was testing at the same time.

The Bamboo version starts from £49 for a single, while the Tencel Cool version starts from £59. Both offer Simba’s waterproof TripleShield protection and both fit mattresses up to 40cm deep. The difference is mainly the top fabric and the feel.

Is the Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector worth the money?

For a child’s bed, yes, with the usual caveat that cheaper options exist.

At £49 for a single, this is more expensive than many basic mattress protectors. But it feels better than the bargain versions I’ve used before. It’s soft, thin, quiet and easy to fit, and it didn’t make the bed feel plasticky or uncomfortable.

It also sits in a sensible place in Simba’s range. It’s cheaper than the Tencel Cool version but still has the waterproof TripleShield protection and 40cm depth. That makes it a good middle ground if you want proper mattress protection but don’t necessarily need the most cooling-focused option.

For a barely used spare bed, I’d be tempted to spend less. For a child’s bed that’s used every night, particularly one belonging to a small person who still wets the bed, water bottles and the occasional disregard for clean pyjamas, it feels like a practical buy.

The bamboo protector is 40cm deep and will fit most, if not all, mattresses

Final verdict: is this the right mattress protector for you?

After 30 nights of testing, I'd happily recommend the Simba TripleShield Bamboo Mattress Protector to families looking for reliable waterproof protection without making their bed less comfortable.

Its biggest strength isn't any one standout feature - it's the fact that it just gets on with its job. It doesn't rustle every time your child turns over. It doesn't feel plasticky beneath the fitted sheet. It doesn't noticeably change the feel of the mattress underneath. Instead, it simply protects it.

For us, that protection mattered. My eldest still has night-time accidents sometimes, so this wasn't a case of hoping the waterproofing worked one day - we relied on it several times during the testing period. Each time, the protector made dealing with the aftermath much simpler, and repeated washing didn't seem to affect either its fit or comfort.

Could you buy a cheaper waterproof protector? Absolutely. But would it feel this comfortable? Based on my experience with budget protectors over the years, probably not.

The Bamboo achieves a nice balance between comfort, practicality and price. It's still a premium purchase, but it's also one that helps protect something considerably more expensive sitting underneath it. For a child's everyday bed, that's money well spent IMHO. 

About the author

Rebecca Roberts (aka Beccy) is our resident lifestyle expert with a practical focus on sleep, wellness and everyday comfort. She’s equally at home tackling frank, NSFW‑adjacent topics as she is road‑testing kitchen appliances, mattresses and vacuums that work for real parents. A former editor of LJMU’s Looprevil Press, she cut her teeth in journalism in 2010, earned a post‑grad diploma in Journalism and later led editorial at ExpatWoman in Dubai before joining Mumsnet. As a mum of two, she writes with the time‑poor, sleep‑deprived in mind - honest product reviews, realistic routines and products that make parents’ lives easier.

When she’s not at her desk, she’s probably product‑testing with her two helpers, corralling a PTA or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

About Mumsnet reviews

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All prices are correct at the time of writing.

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