This new Simba range is so good, I'm upgrading all my old bedding

When I heard that Simba had launched a new range of bedding, featuring six different fabric collections, I was immediately intrigued.

Having fallen hook, line, and sinker for a Simba mattress that I reviewed for our best cooling mattresses buying guide, I was curious to see whether the same level of comfort and attention to detail that had wowed me would carry over to something as, well, boring as bed sheets.

I'm obsessed with the Simba Hybrid Luxe mattress and love the idea of making my bed feel like a five-star suite, but bed sheets are one thing I’ve never got excited about, nor been inclined to spend a fortune on. With three children and a guest room, there's usually five sets of bedding in rotation in my house at any one time, so practicality has always taken priority over luxury. I’ve owned plenty of bog-standard bedding over the years, and none of it has ever made me rethink my entire bed linen collection - until now.

Simba Cool Linen review

Initially tempted by Soft Muslin, I settled for the heat-regulating Cool Linen set for this review. A blend of linen and Tencel, it promised breathability, softness and a more regulated sleeping temperature.

How we tested the Simba Cool Linen bedding

I took delivery of a Cool Linen Bedding Set - supplied by Simba for testing purposes - and committed to sleeping on it with my husband for this review. I noted all the key features of this bedding, such as its moisture-wicking and heat-regulation properties, and set out to discover whether it delivered on Simba’s promises.

Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress review: Specifications

Simba Cool Linen Bedding: First impressions

I’m fussy when it comes to temperature at night. I’m perimenopausal, so prone to night sweats. At the same time, I have an underactive thyroid, which means I feel chilly most of the time – and I hate being cold in bed.

That puts me in an awkward position when it comes to bedding. I want warmth and cosy comfort, but I also need breathability. Most bedding – just call me Goldilocks – is either too warm, too cool, or just not quite right.

I currently sleep on brushed cotton bedding from Dunelm with a washable wool duvet from The Woolroom, both of which I’m very fond of. But as summer and heatwave season arrived, I started to find my usual setup too warm.

The challenge is finding bedding that strikes that balance between comfort and temperature control. And because I’m so attached to what I already have, I wasn’t in any rush to change it.

But the moment I unwrapped Simba’s Cool Linen bedding, I understood what I had been missing.

I hadn’t planned to put the bedding on the bed straight away, but I ended up doing so because it was so inviting straight out of the packaging.

The first surprise was how soft the fabric felt. I’d expected something closer to traditional linen – slightly crisp, maybe even a little stuif – but this was remarkably soft and comforting to the touch.

It also has a lovely, lightweight quality, too. Changing a king-size duvet cover is never a task I look forward to – but this seemed extra easy to pop on. The fabric is light to handle, and there was plenty of room inside the duvet cover and pillowcases, so nothing felt tight, awkward or overstuffed. Yet neither did the duvet swim around inside the cover.

One tiny complaint – I find buttons on duvet covers a bit fiddly, and I think I would have loved this even more if it had avoided them altogether.

Simba Cool Linen Bedding: Comfort and performance

That first night, I couldn’t wait to climb into bed - this bedding is seriously inviting.

I kept my brushed cotton fitted sheet in place, as I was testing the Bedding Set (£229, King size), which includes the duvet cover and a pair of pillow cases – although a full Bedding Bundle is also available, and that includes the fitted sheet.

The duvet cover felt cool without being cold against my skin, and the fabric was exceptionally soft but not clingy. There was no period of adjusting that you often get with new bedding – it was just like slipping into hotel bedding that's so good, it makes you want to check the label to see where it’s from.

Most importantly, the Cool Linen bedding seemed to help regulate temperature in a way that suited the quirks of my inner thermostat. I didn’t wake up feeling too warm, but I also didn’t feel chilly in the way I usually do with lightweight bedding. I honestly didn’t think bedding existed in this sweet spot, but here it is.

Simba Cool Linen Bedding: Who would it suit?

It’s the blend of linen and Tencel that seems to be the key to how well Simba’s Cool Linen bedding performs.

Linen is naturally breathable and cooling, but it can sometimes feel a little rough, particularly when used for bedding. Tencel, by contrast, is exceptionally soft and excellent at wicking moisture away from the body.

If, like me, you’re a bit of a mixture of temperatures – or you’re dealing with hormonal changes or health conditions that can affect your body temperature at night – I think you’ll find this fabric combination nothing short of magical. Soft yet cool, and cosy yet breathable, it sounds almost contradictory, but that’s exactly what Simba has managed to achieve.

It also makes an excellent choice for in-between seasons, when heavier bedding feels too warm but summer sets still feel a little too light.

Simba Cool Linen Bedding: Who might want something else?

Something unexpected that I’ve come to appreciate bout this bedding is its relaxed appearance. It has a sort of 'artfully crumpled' look that feels unfussy, and it doesn’t need ironing, which I also love, because life's too short for that.

Somehow this bedding makes the whole room feel calmer and more inviting – but if your bedroom vibe is more starched sheets and the curated perfection of an interiors magazine, you might prefer the crispness of Simba's new Cotton Percale or the silkiness of its new Egyptian Cotton bedding range.

Simba Cool Linen bedding review: should you buy it?

I’ve always thought of Simba as a brand that has perfected mattress design. What I didn’t expect was for that same expertise to translate so well into bedding.

It’s not the cheapest bedding you can buy, but it does feel like one of those purchases where the difference in quality is unmistakable from the second it's out of the packaging. A premium price tag doesn't always mean a better product, of course, but in this case, you're getting what you pay for. It's hands-down the best bedding I've ever experienced.

Having tested it for several months now, I can honestly say I don’t see myself going back to other bedding brands. I’ve finally discovered bedding that genuinely solves my ongoing 'too hot, too cold' dilemma in a way that feels reliable but luxurious – and that's something I'm entirely prepared to pay more for.