How We Built Australia’s Best Mattress – And Why It Still Stands the Test of Time

An Inside Look at the Design Process with Our Founder

The mattress industry is full of big claims, every brand promises the most comfortable, most supportive, most life changing sleep. But at Sleep Republic, we don’t just make claims—we back them up with science, industry awards, and thousands of five star reviews.

So what does it take to design Australia’s best hybrid mattress? And how have we maintained that title for years? We sat down with Sleep Republic founder Mark Ottley to discuss the meticulous design, testing, and innovation behind our award winning hybrid mattress.

A Mattress Designed for Sleep, Not Marketing

Mark Ottley has been in the mattress industry his entire life. With decades of experience in production, logistics, and customer service, he saw firsthand the confusion consumers faced when choosing a mattress.

“Mattresses were missing honesty,” Ottley explains. “It was almost impossible to compare models. Most of the time, mattresses were the same, just wrapped in different fabrics with different names.”

That’s when the idea for Sleep Republic was born. Instead of following industry trends, Ottley set out to design a mattress based on what customers actually needed:

✔️ Medium firm support – the ideal balance for most sleepers
✔️ Temperature regulation – no overheating during the night
✔️ Premium materials – long lasting durability
✔️ Minimal partner disturbance – motion isolation for undisturbed sleep

Using 30+ years of industry data, the team identified key factors that make or break a great mattress. But the challenge wasn’t just to create a mattress that met all these needs—it was to engineer one that would last more than 10 years.

Reinventing the Hybrid Mattress

Ottley and his team knew that no single mattress type could deliver everything customers needed. Memory foam offered plush comfort but lacked support. Innerspring mattresses provided support but lacked durability. Other types excelled in some areas but failed in others.

So, they built something entirely new.

“We started from the ground up,” Ottley says. “We tested every material combination until we found the perfect balance.”

The result? The Sleep Republic hybrid mattress, featuring:

🔹 High definition pocket springs for superior support
🔹 Gel infused memory foam for cooling comfort
🔹 Natural latex for durability and breathability
🔹 5 zone support system for spinal alignment
🔹 Reinforced edges for increased sleep surface

Each component was carefully selected, tested, and refined through over 15 prototypes before the final design was perfected.

What’s Inside the Sleep Republic Hybrid Mattress?

🔹 High Definition Pocket Springs: Unmatched Support

Most spring mattresses have around 900 coils. The Sleep Republic hybrid mattress has up to 2500, ensuring precision support and less motion transfer. Each steel spring is individually wrapped, creating targeted support for different areas of the body.

🔹 Gel Infused Memory Foam: Comfort Without the Heat

Memory foam is known for its pressure relief, but traditional memory foam retains heat. By infusing our memory foam with cooling gel, we created a breathable layer that contours to the body without overheating.

🔹 Natural Latex: Breathability and Resilience

To create the perfect balance between softness and support, we incorporated natural latex—a material known for its durability, antimicrobial properties, and responsiveness. Unlike synthetic alternatives, natural latex stays supportive for years.

🔹 5 Zone Support System: Precision Comfort

Unlike standard mattresses with only 3 zones, our 5 zone system provides targeted support for the shoulders, back, and hips—areas that need the most pressure relief and alignment.

🔹 Reinforced Edge Support: A Stable Sleep Surface

Weak edges are a common complaint with mattresses, but not with Sleep Republic. Our reinforced edge support provides a firm seating area and ensures the mattress holds its shape over time.

12 Years of Testing and Counting

A mattress isn’t just about how it feels on day one—it’s about how well it holds up over the years. That’s why every Sleep Republic mattress undergoes rigorous testing, simulating 12 years of use in just a few weeks.

✔️ Durability testing: 36,000 cycles of force applied to simulate a decade of sleep
✔️ Edge support testing: Pressure applied to the mattress perimeter to ensure it won’t sag
✔️ Material quality control: Every batch of raw materials is checked for consistency and safety

“Our customers trust us to provide a mattress that will last,” Ottley says. “That’s why we go the extra mile in quality control.”

Why We Keep Innovating

At Sleep Republic, we don’t just design mattresses for the sake of selling them. We build them because people deserve better sleep.

“There’s no point in designing a mattress that looks cool or has trendy features if it doesn’t actually provide comfort and support,” says Ottley. “Everything we do is for the customer—so they can sleep well for years to come.”

And that’s why Sleep Republic continues to be one of Australia’s most awarded mattresses—not because of marketing claims, but because of real innovation, real design, and real results.

Ready to Upgrade Your Sleep?

If your mattress is past its prime, or you’re simply looking for better sleep in 2025, it’s time to invest in quality.

Try the Sleep Republic Hybrid Mattress risk-free for 150 nights.

✅ Recommended by CHOICE 4 years in a row
✅ Awarded Best Overall Mattress in a Box 2023, 2024, & 2025 by Bedbuyer
✅ Backed by thousands of five star reviews

Shop now and experience the difference.