WHO IS SLEEP REPUBLIC?
These experts have decades of experience in the mattress industry. They know beds inside and out, from designing to making and selling them. With a strong preference for innerspring mattresses over foam ones, they offer just one option for comfortable sleep: a hybrid mattress that combines foam in the comfort layer and pocket springs in the support layer.
What really stands out to me is their transparency. On their website, they clearly explain the components of their boxed mattress and how each part works together. When I asked for more details, they readily shared specifics like foam density and spring coil gauge, without hiding behind “proprietary information.” It’s refreshing to see this openness, as these details can truly impact sleep quality, and it’s reassuring to know exactly what you’re paying for.
Sleep Republic clearly believes in their product, and with their very generous 150-night free trial (most competitors offer much less time for you to trial the beds), they give you every reason to believe in it too.
WHERE ARE THEIR MATTRESSES MADE?
Though the Sleep Republic mattress has been designed in Melbourne, the manufacturing process is actually done in China. I had some questions about the quality of the product as China doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to transparency and quality control.
Sleep Republic takes quality control seriously. Their director physically visits the factory on a regular basis. This year has understandably been an exception, but there have been visual conferences and video inspections in this time. Additionally, an independent third party inspector will visit during each production run to randomly pick out a fifth of the products in order to inspect and review them to ensure they meet specifications and guidelines.
WHAT IS THE SLEEP REPUBLIC MATTRESS MADE OUT OF? ARE THERE DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIS MATTRESS?
Cashmere Cover
The cover is made of “cashmere knitted fabric”. If that doesn’t sound absolutely luxurious, I’m not sure what does. What is it though, and what are the benefits of cashmere?
Cashmere is the hair of a cashmere goat. It’s a natural, biodegradable fibre that is all at once strong, silky, soft and warm, all properties that are really great for a cosy bed. It’s not the best choice if environmental concerns are a high priority for you though, as cashmere does have a large carbon footprint and isn’t the most sustainable of materials. In terms of comfort though, it’s a winner. Sleep Republic has blended it with 60% polyester which gives it elasticity and durability. CSIRO have tested this fabric in Australia and tested it to be clear of harmful chemical substances.
Layer 1 – Gel Memory Foam
The first layer in the Sleep Republic mattress is a gel infused memory foam layer 3cm thick. The cooling gel is designed to help regulate your body temperature as you sleep, and the memory foam will contour to your body to provide pressure relief as your weight is distributed evenly from head to toe.
The foam density of this layer is 60kg/m3. Foam density is not a measure of how firm the mattress is. Instead it is more indicative of durability and to an extent quality, with higher numbers being preferred. For heavier sleepers, this is even more important as heavier sleepers will sink further into the bed if the top layers can’t hold them up. Though lower density foams have the one advantage of being more lightweight and easier to move around, here at Time to Sleep HQ, we’re more concerned about the durability of your bed than how portable it is. As the top layer of a bed will be more prone to sagging and breaking down, the foam density in this layer will be more important. Anything over 50kg/m3 is high density, so Sleep Republic’s 60kg/m3 gel memory foam is excellent.
The last thing to take note of is that this foam layer has been approved by Certipur-US, which indicates there are low VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs are let off by many materials, both organic and synthetic. They include a wide variety of chemicals and may have short and long term effects on people’s health. The lower the amount of VOCs, the better, and this certification gives peace of mind.
With the beds being made in China rather than in Australia with Australian standards, certification by Certipur gives all sleepers peace of mind.
Layer 2 – ECOLAY Natural Latex
This dunlop latex layer is also 3cm thick. Pure dunlop latex is dense, which means it’s very resilient, durable, and supportive. However, it does retain more heat than other kinds of latex or polyurethane mattresses. To combat this, Sleep Republic have designed this layer to have thousands of ventilation holes. This helps with cooling by allowing air to flow through the mattress.
From an environmental standpoint, dunlop latex is the best way to go as it’s from a sustainable resource, recyclable, and ultimately biodegradable.
My main question with this layer is with regards to its lack of certification. If this layer is truly natural latex, then it won’t have any VOCs, which is great. However, there is no certification for this layer of foam by an independent body, so that is a bit confusing.
Layer 3 – Pocket Springs
Sleep Republic are proud of their spring mattress, and it’s easy to see why. Their high definition pocket springs are individually pocketed. With pocket springs, you have the benefits of springs (high level of responsiveness), while avoiding the negatives (namely movement transfer). You’ll get great ventilation, preventing moisture and bacteria building up.
Sleep Republic have put 1850 tensile steel springs into their queen mattress – well past the expected 1000 springs. You want a high spring count, as this means your weight is distributed across more springs, meaning each individual spring bears less weight. Ultimately, this means stronger support and higher durability. For those of you who sleep with a partner, Sleep Republic virtually eliminates partner disturbance. Your partner getting up for a glass of water at night will only be felt by the particular springs they were sleeping on, and not by you. Goodbye partner disturbance! However, a high spring count by itself does not a quality mattress make. Too many springs and the bed will feel too firm.
The springs are all made of high tensile steel for durability, so your bed is less likely to sag, and more likely to stay durable night in, night out, year in, year out. The springs have been divided into 5 zones – head, shoulder, hip, leg, and foot zones. For most people, you don’t need quite as much support in your feet as say, your shoulders and hips, especially if you’re a side sleeper. So it makes sense for Sleep Republic to recognise this and adjust their coil gauges accordingly. Coil gauge refers to the thickness of the wire used to make the springs, and in a Sleep Republic mattress, these thicknesses will range from 1.8-1.9mm, with 2.2mm wide coils around the perimeter to give you solid edge support.
1.8 – 2.0mm is quite standard among mattress manufacturers, so that’s another tick for Sleep Republic.
3D Spacer Fabric
The last feature in the Sleep Republic mattress is the side panels of the mattress – the black sides on the cover. While the top is cashmere fabric, the sides are “3D Spacer Fabric”, essentially mesh made by knitting various fibres together. This mesh is designed to help with airflow and ventilation in order to keep heat buildup to a minimum.
Sleep Republic Mattress Dimensions and Weight
Sleep Republic’s bed sizes are all in accordance with the standard Australian bed sizes, with the queen measuring 152x203x31cm and weighing 49KG. All in all, a very solid mattress.
WHAT IS THE FIRMNESS OF THE MATTRESS?
The Sleep Republic bed is a medium to firm mattress. It should be right for most stomach sleepers and back sleepers, while some side sleepers may find this to be a tad too firm for their liking. Regardless of the type of sleeper you are, this bed is definitely worth a chance.
HOW STRONG IS THE EDGE SUPPORT?
As mentioned earlier, Sleep Republic have put 2.2mm thick steel coils around the perimeter of the mattress for a firmer edge. You can really sleep up to the very edge of the bed and feel just as supported as if you were sleeping in the centre of your mattress.
WHAT WAS THE BUYING EXPERIENCE LIKE?
Purchasing Online
You can make your mattress purchase using major credit cards (including Amex, UnionPay, and JCB) or choose from PayPal, Zip Pay, Afterpay, and Klarna for flexible payments. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are also accepted.
Delivery of the mattress
If you order your bed from Sleep Republic before 2 pm on a weekday, next-day delivery is usually available for metro areas including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast (excluding weekends and public holidays). Outside metro areas, delivery typically takes 3-7 days, and up to 21 business days for some rural or remote locations.
All Sleep Republic deliveries are now automatically set to Authority to Leave, so your mattress will be left safely at your door or in a secure location if no one is home. You can still provide special instructions if you prefer a signature on delivery.
Please note that delivery staff cannot enter your premises, so all deliveries will be made to the front door or another safe, covered area. Sleep Republic does not remove old mattresses, so you will need to arrange disposal separately.
Sleep Republic Mattress in a Box Unboxing
The box has wheels. It has wheels. It has a handle and it has wheels.
Excuse me while I make a song and dance about this. Sure it won’t help you sleep better over the next 12 years, but it’s hard to carry around something that weighs more than me. So yes, dance I shall, and witness my excitement you shall.
Honestly I don’t know why this isn’t more common with box mattresses.
Sleep Republic includes a tool which allows you to cut through the tough outer plastic wrapping. There’s a second layer of wrapping as well that the tool will make short work of once you’ve settled the bed on your bed base. Remove this second layer, allow the bed a few hours to inflate, then lie down, close your eyes, and drift away.
Customer Service
Email and Form
For the most part Sleep Republic were quite good about replying to my questions via email. They didn’t address my questions about foam densities even after asking twice, but my colleague had earlier emailed them asking for this information and got an answer then. They were polite and fairly prompt, replying within a few days.
Warranty – Anything to watch out for?
Sleep Republic have built their mattresses to last, so they offer a 12 year warranty against faulty workmanship or materials.
What is covered
You can use “any stable and level base substantial enough to support” the mattress. Your bed base must have centre support. Sleep Republic recommends a solid, straight timber slat base or a firm, flat surface with adequate ventilation to support the mattress and ensure its longevity. Curved, flexible, or sprung bases are not suitable, and gaps between slats should not exceed 8cm. Don’t use it with an adjustable base as the bending of the mattress will make the springs squish into one another which can damage the mattress and void warranty.
Sleep Republic will cover any sagging or indentations deeper than 3.5cm when there is no weight on the bed.
What is not covered
Wear and tear, odours, and minor imperfections that don’t affect how the bed works will not be covered under their warranty policy. Damage caused by incorrect opening, misuse or handling of the mattress will not be covered. Please note that if you use the bed for rental, commercial, or business purposes, such as Airbnbs, the warranty period is 12 months instead of 12 years.
Warranty Process
To make a warranty claim, you’ll need to email Sleep Republic at info@sleeprepublic.com.au.
Returns – How are the beds disposed?
Returned mattresses are never re-sold. Sleep Republic donates them to charities such as The Salvation Army and Lifeline where possible. Otherwise, the mattress is recycled, and not just thrown into landfill.
SUMMARY
Sleep Republic know what they’re doing when it comes to beds, and their outstanding mattress confirms this. They’ve taken the best of foam mattresses, the benefits of latex mattresses, and combined it with the strengths of innerspring mattresses.
That said, they have a one size fits all philosophy. I loved it, and I believe that most people will too. However, if during the 150 night trial period you aren’t convinced, return it and look for another one because there’s no changing the firmness levels on this bed.
