WITH the weather heating up, sleeping through the night is set to become more difficult.
And for those of us who tend to overheat anyway, finding the best cooling pillows to get us through the summer is something of a priority.
Stay cool and comfy[/caption]
And that’s before life stages like menopause and hot flushes come into the mix.
But there’s a wealth of pillows designed to keep you cool, so you sleep like a baby.
Some are made from thermoregulating fabrics, such as bamboo or silk, others employ high-tech foam layers that allow air to circulate or materials that draw heat away from your body.
According to The Sleep Charity 16°C – 18°C is ideal for a good night’s sleep, but if your bedroom temperature is over 24°C you’re more likely to wake up.
Using a lighter tog duvet (or even a sheet), a home fan with a quiet setting and opening your windows to let air circulate all help keep your room cool as you rest.
If the thought of a pillow to keep you cool sounds like something you need, then read on for our pick of the best cooling pillows.
How we tested cooling pillows
Each cooling pillow was tested over several weeks in our reviewers’ homes.
They considered several factors when rating the products, including the fabric, how cool it was and the shape of each pillow.
Each reviewer also considered the thermoregulating properties and any special features it had, such as open-cell memory foam, spring layers, adjustable height and cooling technology.
Our testers also evaluated whether the pillows were soft to the touch, comfortable, supportive and something our reviewers actually liked sleeping on.
READ MORE ON MATTRESSES
Best cooling pillows at a glance:
- Best cooling pillow overall: Simba Hybrid Pillow
- Best for back sleepers: Eve Sleep The Memory Foam Pillow Hybrid Front and Back Sleeper
- Best firm pillow: Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow
- Best budget: Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow
- Best for night sweats: Emma Premium Foam Pillow
- Best for side sleepers: Simba Cooling Body Pillow
Best cooling pillows
Best overall: The Simba Hybrid
This one has over 14,000 glowing reviews online[/caption]
The Simba Hybrid Pillow, £109
Pros: Customisable height, temperature-regulating, breathable, soft
Cons: Pricey
Rating: 5/5
The Simba Hybrid pillow has been cleverly designed to regulate your temperature and increase airflow.
It incorporates astronaut-inspired temperature regulation, which absorbs, stores and releases heat as and when you need it, which means that — even on a hot summer’s night — it’ll absorb the heat and keep you cool.
With over 14,000 five-star reviews, we decided to put one to the test and see what all the fuss was about.
As someone who usually opts to buy budget £5 pillows, I was taken aback by the price, but once my head hit the pillow, I couldn’t believe the difference in comfort.
The pillow is filled with breathable and lightweight nanocubes, which can be removed to adjust the height and firmness of your pillow.
Once I tweaked the height to suit my needs, it was glorious to sleep on. The material is thick, plush and supportive, and I swiftly found myself among the army of Simba pillow lovers.
Whilst this is one of the more expensive pillows in our round-up, the consensus of those who have tried it is that it’s worth every penny.
Read our full Simba Hybrid Pillow review here.
Material: Cotton, hypoallergenic microfibre, foam Nanocubes; Support: Medium-firm (adjustable)
Best for back sleepers: Eve Sleep The Memory Foam Pillow Hybrid Front and Back Sleeper
The honeycombed layer helps air circulate[/caption]
Eve Sleep The Memory Foam Pillow Hybrid Front and Back Sleeper, £70
Pros: Honeycomb memory foam top layer ensures coolness, supportive, anti-allergy hollowfibre
Cons: Price
Rating: 4/5
The Eve Memory Foam Hybrid pillow is constructed in three parts: there’s a memory foam centre that relieves pressure on your neck and head, a hollow fibre layer that gives extra support and an outer layer of breathable memory foam.
This final layer is honeycombed, allowing air to pass through it, so you don’t overheat and your head stays cool.
I tested this pillow for a week and really noticed the difference from my old cheap pillows. This one is more supportive as it keeps your spine in alignment, which helps prevent aches in your neck and back.
It also kept me cool and I didn’t feel too hot while I was sleeping on this pillow, which I think is due to the fact it has a breathable cotton cover and mesh borders, as well as the air holes in the memory foam that worked their cooling magic.
The cover is removable and you can wash it in the machine, which is handy.
Eve also offers a 30-night trial, which is a great idea if you’re unsure about buying as you can return the pillow if it’s not to your liking.
Material: Memory foam middle layer, hollow fibre mid layer and honeycomb memory foam top layer, encased in a cotton cover, Support: Medium
Best firm pillow: Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, £159
Pros: Breathable, temperature-regulating, supportive, adjustable height
Cons: Expensive, might be too big for some pillowcases, firmness may not be to everyone’s taste
Rating: 4.5/5
Simba seems to be storming ahead of its competitors when it comes to cooling technology.
The sleep company is known and loved for its Simba Hybrid Firm pillow (and many other products), and I tested it out during a heatwave.
The Hybrid Firm is comprised of three individual pillows (two soft fibre pillows and one layer of firm Aerocoil springs), which can be combined and rearranged to adjust the height and firmness of the pillow.
It also features Stratos tech (the astronaut-inspired temperature regulation we mentioned earlier), which means it’s as good as a pillow can be at regulating your body temperature.
While it took me a few days to get used to the firmness of the pillow, its superior cooling properties and adjustability make it the most comfortable pillow I’ve ever slept on.
Undeniably the price of the pillow is pretty high, but if you’re able to afford it, we believe it will be a worthwhile investment.
Read our full Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow review here.
Material: Cotton, mesh, Aero coil, Support: Firm to medium-firm (adjustable)
Best budget: Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow
Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow, £44.95
Pros: Luxurious, improved the quality of my sleep, next-level comfort
Cons: Genuinely couldn’t find one!
Rating: 4/5
The Panda Hybrid Pillow is designed with sleep tech to regulate your body temperature while in the land of nod and it is incredibly comfortable.
The Orthopaedic grade design is made from a bamboo charcoal-infused memory foam and whether I am sleeping on my back, side or front, this pillow provides ample support.
The bamboo fabric is highly breathable promoting airflow to keep your body at the optimum temperature and draws moisture away from the skin keeping you dry and comfortable.
It has made a considerable difference to the quality of my sleep and I genuinely wake each morning feeling ready to start the day, having had good quality rest.
Material: bamboo fibre outer layer, polyester, memory foam; Support: medium-firm
READ MORE:
Best for night sweats: Emma Premium Foam Pillow
Emma Premium Foam Pillow, £75 £63.75
Pros: Removable and washable moisture-resistant cover, layers can be removed and changed to suit you
Cons: Expensive!
Rating: 4.5/5
The Emma Premium Foam Pillow certainly lives up to its premium name.
Its temperature-regulating design means it is filled with removable layers, and stays fresh and clean.
The removable layers include a foam layer that regulates temperature, which means you can adjust the pillow to suit how you sleep.
This is great for women struggling with menopausal or general hormonal night sweats as the design is customisable and easy to remove and replace.
I like that the knitted white fabric of the pillow is breathable as there’s nothing worse than a hot, sweaty sleep.
I won’t lie, I did love this pillow, but because of the memory foam, you may find this pillow a little harder than others. I also think it’s expensive at full price.
Material: ThermoSync foam, HRX Foam, polyester and 2% elastane Support: Medium (but fully adjustable layers)
Best for side sleepers: Simba Cooling Body Pillow
A great option if you prefer to sleep on your side[/caption]
Simba Cooling Body Pillow, £109
Pros: Good for pregnancy and nursing, washable cover
Cons: High price point, takes up a lot of space on the bed
Rating: 4/5
This body pillow is designed to provide extra support if you sleep on your side as it keeps your spine and hips in alignment. It’s also fab if you’re pregnant as it supports your bump while taking pressure off your hips.
I found it really soft – thanks to the Simba Renew Bio fibres inside – and cool. It is made with Stratos cool-touch technology, which stops you from getting too hot and I could definitely feel that coolness.
The cover is removable and it’s machine washable, which is always a good thing.
The body pillow is incredibly comfy, as well as supportive, and it’s ideal as a back pillow for sitting and reading in bed.
The only issue you’re going to have is finding somewhere to store it when you’re not using it.
Material: 100% cotton cover incorporating Stratos cooling technology with down-like Simba Renew Bio fibre interior; Support: soft but supportive
Simba Stratos Pillow
Simba Stratos Pillow, £60
Pros: Supportive, cooling technology, hypoallergenic
Cons: None
Rating: 4/5
The Simba Stratos is filled with recycled fibres from plastic bottles – Simba Renew Bio – which is breathable, so reducing heat as you sleep and avoiding sweating.
Simba’s Stratos technology on one side of the pillow keeps the fabric cool to the touch.
It reacts to your body temperature and dissipates heat, ensuring you feel cool and comfortable. The sustainable cotton cover is washable, which is another plus point.
I loved that this pillow arrived in a strong bag, which is useful for storage should I need to ever pack it away.
Material: Sustainable cotton cover; Simba Renew Bio interior (made from recycled plastic bottles); Support: Soft but supportive
Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Baby/Travel Pillow
Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Baby/Travel Pillow, £71.24 (was £94.99)
Pros: Organic fabric and filling, cooling in summer, very comfortable, machine washable, great size
Cons: Price
Rating: 3.5/5
Wool is a great material for regulating your temperature so this pillow is a must for hot summer nights.
It’s a travel pillow so great for you or the kids when you’re heading off on holiday, though I must admit I use it more at home.
It’s also lovely and soft for sleeping on – I’m not a fan of hard pillows and sleep much better on a squishy (or medium-squishy) version.
This one is made from 100% organic British wool and has a 100% organic cotton outer cover.
Because of the wool’s hypoallergenic qualities, it’s endorsed by Allergy UK and house-dust mite resistant.
Sustainability is important to me so I love that the wool is traceable back to the farms from which it was sourced and the sheep that supply it are kept in high welfare conditions.
The pillow is also certified by the Soil Association and meets the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). It even comes with its own zipped carry bag for storage.
Material: 100% organic British wool inner with 100% organic cotton cover; Support: soft
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Best cooling pillows FAQs
Click the links below to navigate.
- How do cooling pillows work?
- Do cooling pillowcases really work?
- What is the best cooling pillow in the UK?
- How to keep your pillow cold at night?
- Do cooling pillows help with night sweats?
- What is the best cooling pillow for side sleepers?
How do cooling pillows work?
Cooling pillows are used mainly in the warmer, summer months to prevent heat retention and provide a cool surface when sleeping.
The design of the pillow increases airflow, so keeping you cooler, while fabrics are breathable and often include natural fibres, such as bamboo, silk or wool.
Some pillows may contain water or gel pouches that absorb heat from the skin, cooling you down and wicking away moisture.
As they absorb your body heat they warm up so need to be cooled again – either by not sleeping on them, or turning them over.
You can always pop the gel pack into the fridge for a few hours before bed so it cools ready for use.
Do cooling pillowcases really work?
Fans of cooling pillowcases swear they really do work.
Silk is usually the fabric of choice. It is thermoregulating and also wicks away moisture, but its added skin and hair benefits seal the deal.
Hair is less frizzy because the super smooth fabric reduces friction as you move around in bed and your skin is less creased in the morning, in theory, leading to fewer wrinkles.
Bamboo is another good option as it regulates temperature and feels cool to the touch, especially when you first lay your head on the pillow.
Natural fibres generally will be cooler than synthetic fabrics, which hold in heat.
What is the best cooling pillow in the UK?
Many cooling pillows could take the title of best, depending on what you’re looking for.
The Simba Hybrid is an incredibly popular choice and has more than 27,000 five-star reviews on Simba’s website.
If you need more support, especially for your neck, then the Simba Hybrid Firm is another great option with over a thousand five-star reviews online.
What fabric, high-tech features and firmness to go for depends on the individual and the budget.
Generally speaking, when looking for the best cooling pillow available go for natural fibre covers, such as silk, bamboo and wool as they draw heat away from the body.
As for the filling, again that’s a personal choice – natural materials are cooling, but so is the recycled polyester used in many man-made bestsellers and it’s a lot cheaper than feathers and down.
How to keep your pillow cold at night?
Cooling pillows come in different designs that work in different ways to ensure you get the best night’s sleep.
Their effectiveness depends on their features and how you use them.
Pillows with gel or water inserts only keep you cool for a certain amount of time – your body heat transfers to them as they cool you and eventually they’re no longer cold.
They need re-cooling (either by not using them or refrigerating the gel pack) before you can sleep on them again.
Technical fabrics, such as the ones used in the Simba Stratos pillow design work by absorbing body heat, while the nanocubes inside allow for greater airflow.
Again though, you may find even the high-tech material becomes warm after a few hours.
Buy pillowcases made from natural fibres such as cotton, linen, bamboo, wool and silk, as these are cooler to sleep on.
Once your pillow becomes too warm, simply turning it over will give you a whole new layer of coolness.
Do cooling pillows help with night sweats?
Anything that feels cool on your face or body is going to help with night sweats, but it’s a question of degree.
The cover and filling in a cooling pillow are designed to draw heat away from your body, so you don’t wake up feeling all hot and bothered.
As a result, your sleep isn’t disturbed and you’re more rested in the morning.
However, if you suffer from frequent and intense night sweats due to menopause you may need to take extra steps to keep cool.
These could include using only natural-fibre bedding, sleeping under just a sheet, buying a cooling mattress or running a fan in the bedroom.
Buying a gel pad that you can pop in the fridge and then put in your pillowcase with your pillow could also help ease night sweats.
What is the best cooling pillow for side sleepers?
Side sleepers should look for a supportive cooling pillow with a higher loft (thickness).
This is because lying on your side can mean your body is not aligned, causing pain in your shoulders, neck, knees and hips.
Memory foam is a good choice as it moulds to your body, supporting you as you sleep, however, it does absorb heat.
Instead, you can opt for a pillow with open-cell foam layers that allow air to circulate, improving breathability and coolness.
Side sleepers may also want to consider adding a second pillow – between their knees – to help keep their spine, neck and hips in alignment.
The Simba Cooling Body Pillow is great for this and our reviewer found it “incredibly comfy, as well as supportive”.
For more cool ways to get a great night’s sleep check out our sleep tips and tricks section.
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