This guide covers the Sleeping Duck Mach II mattress for Australian readers, with practical detail on how it is built, how it feels and who it suits.
Sleeping Duck Mach II mattress review
Sleeping Duck may have its name, but it’s not sleeping when it comes to product innovation. The company has released a new model, SD Mach II, that promises to be “one giant leap” for your sleep. It is similar to its predecessor in that it has a modular design with a hybrid bed that can be changed, shuffled and swapped around until you find the right sleeping arrangement. Is this mattress just a bunch of “quack” or is it the intuitive, next-generation bed Australians have been looking for?
That is the question this review sets out to answer. We look at the SD Mach II top to bottom: construction, comfort, cooling, customer service, and more.
A hybrid, for anyone new to the term, combines a foam comfort layer with a base of springs. If you want the background on how mattresses are put together in general, the Wikipedia entry on mattresses is a decent primer.
Recommended:
- Those who are particular about their sleeping requirements or appreciate customisation.
- Couples with different preferences, body types or requirements (half-half design).
- All sleeping positions
- Heavy folks.
- Who needs strong edge support?
Not Recommended
- Consumers with a limited budget.
If budget is the main constraint, our guide to the best cheap mattresses in Australia is a better place to start.
Sleeping Duck vs Ecosa and the brand behind it
The SD Mach II mattress starts at $999 and is not cheap when compared with other brands. The performance of the mattress is comparable to that of traditional premium mattresses, which are priced much higher.
Sleeping Duck’s modular foam layer can be adjusted to a desired firmness in 12 different regions, 6 on each side of the bed. The owner can choose between a medium or firm firmness overall, with micro-settings for soft, medium, and firm. The natural pressure foaming process and Australian foams also make this mattress guilt-free.
The Sleeping Duck mattress is a product of a company that has gone above and beyond to create a mattress for anyone–front or side sleepers, couples with different sleeping preferences, or even those who have pressure points at night. Interested? You can test the SD Mach II Mattress for 100 nights without any risk. If you are not satisfied, you may return it free of charge.
Brands and their value
Sleeping Duck was founded in 2014. It is Australia’s most popular bed-in-a-box company and has won three “CHOICE Recommended Awards” plus a “Good Design Australia Award” consecutively.
The two founders of the company, Winston Wijeyeratne, and Selvam Sinappan, were frustrated by the difficult mattress-buying process. They decided to create their mattress – the “perfect” mattress (or, at least, something close to it), and to spread the magic that is good sleep throughout Australia.
Sleeping Duck, since then, has expanded to produce base, sheet, pillow, and duvet. The company appeared on the TV show Shark Tank but declined the $500,000 proposed investment to maintain greater control over the business.
Construction of the Sleeping Duck Mach II
Sleeping Duck SD Mach II is a high-end, substantial mattress, with dark edges and a white, crisp sleeping surface. The hybrid design allows the best of both foam and pocket spring mattresses to shine. Take a look at it from top to bottom.
- BreatheTech cover: A mattress protector is the first line against spills of wine or sweat and protects the bedding from everyday wear. Sleeping Duck’s promo video claims that BreatheTech Cover is more than just a mattress cover. It eliminates pressure points by moving away from traditional mattresses’ stiff tufted design. Bamboo provides unbeatable comfort and many other benefits. It is naturally antimicrobial, breathable and hypoallergenic. Although it looks delicate, it is highly durable because you can unzip and wash it whenever you like.
- AntiGravity Foam: This proprietary air-grown foam does what memory foam cannot. It’s the top layer and is supposed to cushion your body when you lie down on it. However, memory foam doesn’t adjust to the micro-movements you make in the bed. This leaves you feeling stuck. Sleeping Duck air-grown memory foam displays characteristics of latex in its responsiveness and bounciness. The foam’s excels are firm enough to keep you in place but flexible enough for you to toss and flip without resistance.
- Precision firmness pads: This is the place where the magic happens. Sleeping Duck calls this “the life of a mattress”. This middle layer is available in two different settings: firm or medium. It consists of 12 polyurethane foam rectangular pads, six of which are for each side of the bed. Unzipping the cover, you can swap them out as desired. You need something a bit firmer at the shoulders. Sleeping Duck can send you a firm panel for the shoulder area of the mattress. This is only for your side; your partner may choose the firmness that they prefer for their shoulders. Calling customer service, you can order a half-side or new foam pad during your first 100 nights. SD Mach II makes it much easier to swap out the foams than its predecessor.
- Motherboard: The last layer of pocket springs gives the Sleeping Duck Mattress its hybrid identity and durability. Each spring is isolated in its pocket and can react independently to pressure. Pocket springs also offset the firmness of the foam to make the mattress more all-round, and able to suit the needs of a variety of sleepers. The sections of the pocket-spring layer have been designed to support the five sections of your body. (Head and shoulders, back and spine, hips and lower back, legs and knees, feet and ankles). The makers also claim that the steel coils have been tempered two times and are indestructible.
The SD Mach II mattress measures 31 cm in thickness. Other foam mattresses such as Koala and Ecosa are the natural points of comparison here. The extra thickness of hybrid mattresses makes them more supportive, and they can be used on the floor, although our piece on whether sleeping on a floor mattress is a bad idea covers the trade-offs.
It is also worth highlighting the production process of this Sleeping Duck Mattress. Not only is it GECA certified (which means that it’s produced in an ethical, environmentally-friendly way), but both foam layers are also expanded using pressure, not unnecessary chemicals. This method is more environmentally friendly and gives the mattress additional features.
Comfort, firmness and feel
It’s difficult to describe the exact firmness of the SD Mach II due to its customisable features. Two different customers may have had two very different experiences. These customisation features allow us to recommend the SD Mach II mattress to a wide range of people, including those who suffer from pain in specific parts of their body.
The AntiGravity foam is patented and combines firm, supportive features with bouncy elements to create a feeling of floating during the night. The softer foam is more noticeable for this feeling. The pocket springs also help to evenly distribute the weight and relieve pressure on sensitive or heavy sleepers.
The two options available for the Precision Firmness Pads or customisable foam layers are “medium” (6/10 on the scale of mattress firmness) and “firm” (8/10 on scale of mattress firmness). You’ll initially be asked to select one of the two options for your entire bed. You can also choose a half-half design, with one half being firm and the second medium.
After three weeks, of the Sleeping Duck recommended adjustment period, you will be able to request firmness strips for an entire side or different panels of firmness for specific parts of the bed. Say you want hip support, but your partner wants shoulder support. Sleeping Duck will order the relevant pieces at no additional cost, and you won’t have to send back any excess foam panels. This customisation window is only valid for the 100-night test. You won’t have the option to customize the mattress after 100 nights.
That three-week wait is sensible, because bodies need time to adjust to any new surface. Our guide to breaking in a new mattress explains why a bed that feels odd on night two can feel quite different by week three.
We use the mattress firmness as a guide, but the feeling of a bed is completely subjective. A mattress rated 8/10 may feel firm to one person but soft to another. These ratings should not be considered scientific measurements, but rather guidelines. If you are unsure which end of the scale suits you, our explainer on firm vs soft mattresses is a useful companion. I’d argue the adjustable window, rather than the foam itself, is the strongest reason to consider this bed, since it lets you correct a wrong guess instead of living with it.
Sleep position ratings
What does firm, medium or medium-firm mean to you? If you prefer to sleep on your side or stomach, then the medium-firmness option is for you. If you choose a firmer mattress, it could cause pressure on your hips/shoulders or internal organs if you sleep on your stomach. The medium option will also give you more of the responsive bounce of the pocket springs.
The firm option is more likely to be the best choice for back sleepers. The firmer foam will keep hips, shoulders and spine aligned throughout the night. Meanwhile, the springs will ease pressure where it is most intense.
The pocket spring bottom layer, which is bouncy and supportive, will distribute weight evenly in all sleeping positions.
The SD Mach II, regardless of the sleeping position used, is a great purchase for those who suffer from nighttime pains or aches. Sleeping Duck has found that the majority of people who suffer from sleep-related pain only experience it in one part of their body (for example, the shoulders). Sleeping Duck allows customers to choose firm support for that area while keeping the rest of their body soft.
A general rule applies to any mattress: the aim is a spine that stays reasonably straight, with enough give at the shoulders and hips to let them sink a little. If your pain is persistent, it is worth raising with your GP rather than expecting a mattress to fix it. For broader guidance on healthy sleep, the Sleep Health Foundation is a good starting point.
Temperature neutrality and edge support
It is essential to stay cool and dry in these hot Australian evenings. Every layer of the SD Mach II Mattress works in some way to promote coolness and breathability. The BreatheTech Cover is made from naturally cooling bamboo. Pocket springs allow airflow that would otherwise be impossible on a foam mattress.
Sleeping Duck’s foams are formed with an open-cell structure due to the unique way they expand (pressure rather than chemicals). According to Sleeping Duck, pressure-expanded Foams are “8 times cooler than chemically expanded foams”. As a general point, open-cell foam lets air move through it more freely than dense foam, which is why it tends to sleep cooler. If you are weighing other foam options, our list of the best memory foam mattresses gives some context.
Edge support
This mattress will prevent you from slipping out of bed at night or sagging. Do you want to use it as an extra seat? Go ahead! You can all perch on the edge. SD Mach II reinforces the edges of the layer of pocket springs with heavy gauge coil springs, making this mattress a standout performer when it comes to edge support. It’s not surprising that the Sleeping Duck looks incredibly durable from the outside, despite its comfort.
Motion transfer
Sleeping Duck’s rebranded SD Mach II Mattress has several features that should help it to be a star in terms of isolating movements and minimizing partner disturbance during the night. While it is effective at preventing movement transfer, the partners of fidgety people may still not have a peaceful night. This is due to the spring-loaded layer at the bottom of this mattress.
Sleeping Duck claims the foam layers in this product work together with the pocket springs to “eliminate all forms of disturbance”. The Hyper-adaptive AntiGravity Pads and the high-density Precision Firmness Pads do a great job of reducing motion (especially when the firmer foam is used), but the springs don’t help much. Their bounciness introduces some unwanted motion transfer.
Sleeping Duck proudly declares that their product eliminates “any type of disturbance”. However, due to the bouncy springs in its pocket, this is not true.
Is the Sleeping Duck Mach II right for you?
You are in charge of your mattress destiny with SD Mach II. Interchangeable mattress segments are a real innovation for both targeted pain relief and personalised comfort. The product’s excellent build quality (especially its edge support which is stellar) reinforces its premium status. Sleeping Duck is a company that has built a reputation for excellence. With dedicated post-purchase assistance (including a risk-free 100-night trial) in Australia, they go above and beyond to ensure customers are satisfied with their purchases.
The trade-offs are plain enough. It is not a budget buy, and the springs mean partners of restless sleepers may still feel some movement. If those two points don’t bother you, the customisation is the reason to put it on your shortlist.
