We put Sleeping Duck’s mattress in a box to the test

I have a lot of rules for the bedroom.
And no… it’s not what you’re thinking. 
Such bedroom rules include: 
Completely normal, right?
All of this is to ensure I get a good night’s sleep. After all, my bed is my sanctuary and it should be treated as such. 
So when the kind folks at Sleeping Duck reached out to see if I would like to test out their queen-sized SD MACH II mattress, I’m not going to lie I was a bit hesitant.
A mattress in a box? That I can’t even test first? And only two firmness options?
What on earth?
I was stressed but here goes nothing. 
For the uninitiated, Sleeping Duck isn’t your stock standard mattress shop. They’re mostly online (with the exception of their one Melbourne showroom) and they only offer one kind of mattress.
There’s no dillydallying between which mattress is best for you – it’s only the SD MACH II available and you choose from two firmness levels: Medium (perfect for side or front sleepers) or Firm (recommended for back sleepers or those with back problems).
I chose the medium and was also assured by the Sleeping Duck representative that if I had any issues with the mattress I would be able to swap out the firmness via foam swaps over the next 100 nights for free.
Additionally, if you and your partner can’t agree on firmness, Sleeping Duck also offers a half-half option where you can get both. Win-win!
Here’s a look at what the box looks like when it first comes delivered.
You can’t see it in the picture but there are wheels at the end of the box! If you got standard delivery like I did (delivered to my front door on my preferred day/time), then the wheels are extremely helpful so you can move it around your home with ease.
In terms of unpacking, the process in itself was very straightforward and easy.
I’d recommend watching this two-minute video beforehand to get a rough idea of what to expect and do. And it’s worth phoning a friend too! The mattress is heavy and wouldn’t be fun setting it up entirely on your own.
All you need to do to unpack the SD MACH II is to prepare a clear space, away from any walls, furniture or pets. Then, pull the mattress out of the box (if anything, this was probably the hardest part and it wasn’t even that hard).
The mattress comes out of the box fully compressed, vacuum sealed and rolled. You then just have to take off the plastic layer, line it up on your bed frame and cut the plastic. The mattress then starts to inflate (and yes, there is a whizzing inflating sound).
Within seconds, a fully formed mattress appeared and you’d never have guessed it was literally in a rectangular box just minutes before.
You then have to flip the mattress so the white bit is facing the ceiling. What’s great about the Sleeping Duck Mach II is that there is no head, foot, top or tail, so as long as the white bit is facing up, it’s comfortable and nice no matter what.
The mattress takes about three hours to fully decompress but it was already pretty much done within 15 minutes, from start to end. 
I’ve now had this mattress for three months – three months of blissful, uninterrupted sleep – and I feel fully qualified to tell you my thoughts.
Here are the top five things I love about it. 
The box is heavy. I was honestly surprised at how much it weighed. It does come with wheels so you can push it along, but be warned, it was a shock to my system.
If you can splurge on Premium or Premium Plus Delivery, I’d highly recommend it as both involve delivery to the room of your choice as well as unpacking the mattress for you.
Otherwise, you’ll definitely need to phone a friend to help unpack the mattress!
If you suffer from decision paralysis like I do, Sleeping Duck is a great choice.
You only have to choose from one type of mattress and two levels of firmness. And if you hate it, you have 100 nights to change the firmness via foam swaps for free! And if by the end of those 100 nights, you’re still not enjoying it, Sleeping Duck will also pick up the mattress free of charge and give you a full refund.
What have you got to lose? 
How much does the mattress cost? The queen-sized SD MACH II is $1649 with free next-day, no-contact delivery.
How much does delivery cost? With standard delivery, delivery is free. This includes delivery to your front door and your choice of scheduled delivery day and timeslot.
But as I mentioned before, I’d definitely recommend going for Premium or Premium Plus Delivery if you can. It just helps add some extra peace of mind.
Do Sleeping Duck mattresses smell? There was a slight odour when I unpacked the mattress, given how tight it was vacuum-packed and sealed. But it was gone within 24 hours and nothing a good ol’ candle can’t fix.
Do you recommend it? Yes, 10/10 would recommend. I never thought buying a mattress could be this easy and simple! And let’s not forget about the excellent customer service. With quick and prompt follow-up emails, calls and texts every so often, I felt well taken care of.
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