WITH the weather heating up, sleeping through the night is only set to become more difficult.
And for those of us who have a tendency to overheat anyway, finding the best pillows to get us through the summer becomes something of a priority.
And that’s before life stages like menopause and hot flushes come into the mix.
But help is at hand because there’s a wealth of pillows out there that are specifically designed so you keep your cool and 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 special surfaces that draw heat away from your body.
In addition there are steps you can take to keep yourself cool.
According to sleep expert The Sleep Charity, 16°C – 18°C is ideal for a good nights sleep, but if your bedroom temperature is over 24°C you’re likely to wake up.
So adapt your sleeping arrangements to take account of this. When it’s warm sleep under a lighter duvet (or even a sheet) and always have your window open so air can circulate.
A fan can also be a good idea – especially one with a quiet night setting that won’t disturb you while it’s running.
If the thought of a pillow to keep you cool sounds like something you need, then just chill and read on for our pick of the best cooling pillows available now.
How we tested
The following cooling pillows were reviewed by the Sun Shopping team.
Each pillow was tested over several weeks in our reviewers’ homes.
They took a variety of factors into consideration when rating the products, including the fabric and how cool it was, the shape of each pillow, thermoregulating properties and any special features, such as open-cell memory foam, spring layers, adjustable height and cooling technology.
In addition of course, the pillows had to be soft to the touch, comfortable, supportive and something our reviewers actually liked sleeping on.
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 PillowBest cooling pillows
Simba Cooling Body Pillow
Lucy GornallSimba Cooling Body Pillow, £109
BUY AT SIMBAPros: 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 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 reading in bed. In fact 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 (made from recycled PET bottle fibres), Support: Soft but supportive
Woolroom Organic Washable Wool Baby/Travel Pillow
WoolroomWoolroom Organic Washable Wool Baby/Travel Pillow, £71.24 (was £94.99)
BUY AT WOOLROOMPros: Organic fabric and filling, cooling in summer, very comfortable, machine washable, great size
Cons: Price
Rating: 4.5/5
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 an outer cover made from 100% organic cotton. It’s also endorsed by Allergy UK because of the wool’s hypoallergenic qualities and it’s 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
READ MORE:
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Lucy GornallSimba Stratos Pillow, £60
BUY AT SIMBAPros: 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
The Simba Hybrid
The Simba Hybrid Pillow, £109
BUY AT SIMBAPros: 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 general 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)
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow
Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow, £159
BUY AT SIMBAPros: 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, Aerocoil, Support: Firm to medium-firm (adjustable)
Slip Silk Pillowcase
AmazonSlip Silk Pillowcase, £94.86
BUY AT AMAZONPros: Cooling, soft, lovely to sleep on, machine washable
Cons: Price
Rating: 4/5
This Slip mulberry silk pillowcase not only brings beauty benefits, such as helping prevent lines and wrinkles while you sleep, but it also kept me cool.
The fabric is incredibly soft and once I’d inserted my pillow and fastened the zip, it was a delight to sleep on.
It has been dubbed the eight-hour beauty treatments and creates 43% less friction than a cotton pillowcase, says the company. My skin felt soft when I woke up and I think the silk helped my skincare products of the night before absorb more fully.
To say I was impressed would be an understatement – and I love that the pillowcase is available in different colours so you can match it to your décor.
Material: 100% mulberry silk, 22 momme, Support: not applicable
Soak&Sleep Ivory Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase Pair
Soak&SleepChampagne Pure Mulberry Silk Standard Housewife Pillowcase Pair, £55.25 (was £65)
BUY AT SOAK&SLEEPPros: Temperature regulating, soft, hypoallergenic, kept my hair frizz-free, machine washable on delicate cycle
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This Soak & Sleep pillowcase keeps you cool on warm nights, thanks to its temperature-regulating properties. It’s made from 19 momme mulberry silk satin, which is hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial.
The price is competitive – especially when you take into account it includes two pillowcases – so you can alternate them or use both as a matching set.
I tested these on a warm night and I can confirm the pillowcases kept me cool and stopped me from overheating. I found them incredibly soft against my skin and they kept my hair looking frizz-free so I didn’t wake up with a bedhead in the morning.
The pillowcases also come with a two-year guarantee.
Material: 100% mulberry silk, 19 momme, Support: not applicable
Eve Sleep The Memory Foam Pillow Hybrid Front and Back Sleeper
Eve SleepEve Sleep The Memory Foam Pillow Hybrid Front and Back Sleeper, £70
BUY AT EVE SLEEPPros: 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, hollowfibre mid layer and honeycomb memory foam top layer, encased in a cotton cover, Support: Medium
Best cooling pillows FAQs
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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 air flow, 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 lie 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?
There are a number of cooling pillows that could take the title of best, depending of course 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 find you need more support, especially for your neck, then the Simba Hybrid Firm is another option and that has over a thousand five-star reviews.
What fabric, high-tech features and firmness to go for depend 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 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 types and work in different ways, helping ensure you get the best night’s sleep.
Their effectiveness depends on their features, as well as 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 then need re-cooling – by not using them or by refrigerating the gel pack – before you can sleep on them again.
Technical fabrics, such as Simba’s Stratos, 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.
Keeping the bedroom window open if it’s not too hot outside, or sleeping with a fan to circulate the air can also help cool a warm pillow.
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 nigh sweats, due to menopause for example, then 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, keeping the window open at night or having a fan running in the bedroom.
Buying a gel pad that you can pop in the fridge then put in your pillowcase along with your pillow could also help ease night sweats.
What is the best cooling pillow for side sleepers?
Side sleepers should look for a cooling pillow that’s supportive and on the firm side, with a higher loft (thickness).
This is because lying on your side can mean your body is not aligned, so leading to pains in your shoulders, neck, knees and hip.
Memory foam could be a good choice as it moulds to your body, supporting you as you sleep, however it does absorb heat. For that reason, go 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 on getting a great night’s sleep check out our sleep tips and tricks section.
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