Last updated: February 2,2017
It doesn’t have to be the middle of a scorching summer to warrant the need for a cooling pillow. The best cooling pillows work all year, in all temperatures, to keep you cool because we don’t only sweat when the air conditioner isn’t working. Some people just sleep hot and can sweat simply from being in a deep sleep. It’s hard to get a good night’s sleep when you wake from some sweat dripping down your head. With the advent of memory foams, as well as throw back material like buckwheat hulls, there are many pillows to choose from that will allow you stay cool at night and not overheat.
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Product | Price | Features | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
  PharMeDoc Cooling Gel | $$ |
|  |
 CPAPfit CPAP Pillow | $$$ |
| |
  | $$$$ |
| |
  Xtreme Comforts Slim Hypoallergenic | $$$ |
|  |
  | $ |
|
Table of Contents
How does a cooling pillow work?
The concept behind cooling pillows is that your body heat is wicked away from your skin and allowed to flow through the pillow, keeping you cool. The pillow itself doesn’t cool down; it merely keeps you from overheating.
A traditional pillow heats up quickly and retains the heat you direct onto it. That heat bounces right back onto your head causing you to sweat. Conventional memory foam is the worst offender when it comes to retaining heat. New technology, though, has improved memory foam with the addition of gel and open cell memory foam.
The cool sleeping gel in the foam is slow to heat up, feeling cool to the touch. Open cell foam then allows the heat to move around, so your pillow never heats up. It will continue to feel cool to the touch. Natural materials like buckwheat hulls can also help keep you cool. Since the filling is full of air because the hulls stay apart, your body heat flows through away from your head. No more having to turn the pillow over searching for the cool side!
What to look for in a cooling pillow
There are many pillow manufacturers who claim their pillows are the best pillows to keep you cool. Some might just be cool to the touch and slow to heat up but, after a while, will still leave you hot. As I mentioned, the most important factor for a cool pillow to stay cool is to allow for airflow.
Pillows covered in bamboo viscose material are very good at dispersing your heat and remaining breathable. They are also very comfortable. You will see many cooling pillows featuring micro gel beads that keep you cool. These are great, but they will eventually warm up. If you get a pillow with these beads, make sure the pillow also has an open cell structure to allow the air to move inside the pillow.
A pillow also needs to give adequate support. Make sure it is high enough to keep your neck and back aligned. You shoulders will also find relief when your pillow is the right height for you.
Best Cooling Pillows for Side Sleepers
PharMeDoc Cooling Gel Memory Foam Pillow
- Cooling gel cells-disperses body heat
- Hypoallergenic-resists bacteria, dust mites, and microorganisms
- Phthalate Free, Lead Free, & BPA Free
- Ultra soft plush cover
- Reversible and cools from both sides
Best for Side Sleepers
The PharMeDoc cooling pillow is as luxurious as it is practical. The cover is plush and oh so soft. Your head will sink into the memory foam and feel gently cradled by the pillow. As comforting as it is to place your head down on this pillow, it also does its job of keeping you cool very well.
The gel cells absorb your body heat and transfer the heat away from your head. The space between the cells acts as a highway for your heat to escape from the pillow. So, you get the comfort of memory foam without the heat buildup associated with it. In addition, you get support. The memory foam gives way to conform to your contours just enough to be comfortable while still providing support. It is a breathable foam and won’t reflect your heat back onto your head.
The shape of the pillow is ideal for side sleepers. It is high enough that, when your head sinks in, your neck is aligned with your spine. This gives your shoulders support, as well. It’s also a good option for people who have allergies as it is hypoallergenic. The pillow cover is also washable so you can keep it fresh and clean.
If you just can’t give up the habit of turning your pillow over during the night, there is the added benefit of this pillow being reversible. You can turn the pillow over and still enjoy the breathable memory foam on the other side.
As is the case with any memory foam products, there is an off gassing that occurs when you take the pillow out of the bag. The drawback with this pillow is that the off gassing does take a bit longer to disappear than some other memory foam pillows. It will take at least a few days, so you may want to leave your pillow in another room before you use it if you have a sensitive sense of smell.
Best Cooling Pillow for CPAP Mask Wearers
CPAPfit CPAP Pillow--Cool, Dry, Adjustable
- Filled with buckwheat and shredded foam
- Totally adjustable and filling can be removed
- Comfortable, quilted, and removable cover
- Hypoallergenic
Best for CPAP Users
Though this pillow is ideal for CPAP mask wearers, it also deserves some praise as a cooling pillow. It is filled with a combination of buckwheat hulls and shredded memory foam. With plenty of air pockets between the hulls, there is a way for your hot air to move freely through the pillow, keeping you cool.
The shredded memory foam provides an added layer of comfort and support. This is a totally unique pillow that is completely adjustable. Once you have it filled to the thickness you prefer, you simply arrange the pillow how you like it. If you are a side sleeper, that means you can arrange your pillow to the height which makes your head and neck aligned with your spine.
Once you place your head on it, the hulls will conform to your head, and you won’t need to move it around anymore. Even if you flip to your other side, the pillow will stay in the position you like. In addition to keeping you cool, the air trapped in between the hulls will also act to keep you warm in the winter.
With this pillow, you never have to deal with an allergy to dust mites since the material is hypoallergenic. When you have your pillow customized to how you like it, you will be rewarded with a cool and comfortable rest.
GhostPillow, Patent Pending Real-Time Cooling Aerated Gel Memory Foam
- Immediate coolburst airflow technology
- Performance fabric is cool to the touch and engineered to wick away moisture
- Plush, removable cover
- 100 night trial, free returns within 100 days of receipt of shipment
Best Overall
The makers of Ghostbed have put their years of expertise in making comfortable beds to use in making a great cooling pillow. It uses an aerated gel memory foam that has holes in it. When you lie on it, you feel a rush of cool air on your face. When you aren’t moving, those holes are wicking heat and moisture away from your face to keep you cool.
This pillow employs Phase Change Technology which allows the pillow to adapt to the temperature of your head. I’m still a bit unsure about how exactly this works, but it has something to do with how the air is trapped in the memory foam. It might seem too thick, but it is deceiving. Your head will sink into the foam and leave you feeling like it is being cradled by the pillow. Once settled, your head, neck and spine will all be aligned.
The cover also adds to the comfort and cooling. It is plush, but still breathable. In addition, it can be removed and washed. This pillow is not cheap, by any means. It will last for years, however, and it is one of the best cooling pillows on the market. It’s not just ideal for side sleepers either. It will give you great support even if you sleep on your back.
Best Cooling Pillow for Stomach Sleepers
Xtreme Comforts Slim Hypoallergenic Shredded Memory Foam Queen Bamboo Pillow with Cover
- Thin profile is ideal for stomach sleepers
- Filled with shredded memory foam to keep you cool
- Entire pillow is machine washable
- 6 year warranty
- 43% bamboo is luxurious, breathable, and cooling
- Retains its shape and never becomes lumpy
Best Stomach Sleeper
Many cooling or orthopedic pillows are just not suitable for stomach sleepers. Fortunately, you can have both the support and the cooling effect in a thin pillow from Xtreme Comforts. It is made with shredded memory foam and bamboo fiber for a luxurious feel that also relieves the pressure points when sleeping on your stomach.
This pillow will not become lumpy and will always retain its shape. You can move it around, flip it over, and it will remain just as it was the day you bought it. The memory foam and bamboo also resist bacteria and dust mites, so you can sleep without any little friends that might want to make your pillow their home.
Kool Flow Micro Vented technology keeps the air flowing away from your face to prevent you from overheating. Besides the cooling feature of the pillow, I think the best part is that the whole thing can be thrown in the washing machine. You may not sweat much, but stomach sleepers are notorious for drooling when they sleep. Whatever the reason for your pillow not feeling so fresh anymore, it’s nice to know it can be washed easily.
Even if you aren’t a stomach sleeper, if you like a thinner pillow that still offers support and keeps you cool, then I think you have found the perfect pillow.
Best Cooling Pillow for Travel
Z Gel-Infused Dough Memory Foam Pillow Travel Pillow
- 100% Polyester
- Gel-infused foam and two liquid gel packets provide temperature regulation
- Breathable, removable, and washable velour bamboo cover
- Open cell construction is cooling and durable
Best for Travel
This travel cooling pillow uses some pretty cool technology (excuse the pun!) to bring you cool comfort when you travel. They refer to their polyester memory foam as gel dough. It is firm but allows your head and neck to really sink into it. Two liquid gel packets inside the pillow also add to the comfort.
But, it is how cool you feel when using the pillow that makes it shine. The cover is a breathable velour bamboo which wicks away heat and moisture. Then, the gel memory foam also disperses the heat and allows it to pass away from your body.
If you are on a train, plane, or even a passenger in a car, you will get all the comfort of your pillow that you use in bed. Maybe even more. It conforms to your contours and still props your head up so you don’t sink down into it.
This travel pillow is resilient and will bounce right back into shape when you move around. It reacts instantly as you move. In addition, it is totally hypoallergenic, won’t end up attracting any bacteria from your travels, and will resist dust mites. To make travel more palatable, it pays to travel with a cooling pillow like this one from Z-Gel.
Final Thoughts on Cooling Pillows
The best cooling pillows will give you great support while they keep you cool and make sure that you get the rest you have been craving. With today’s technology, it is possible to get everything you want in a pillow including comfort, support, and temperature regulation.
Hopefully, this review of the best cooling pillows has helped you find the right pillow. As with anything sleep related, pillows are one of those things that people are very particular about. With these recommendations, you should find a pillow that ticks off all of the boxes of features that you find important.
If you have a cooling pillow that you love, leave a comment and let us know so we can add it to the list!
Best Pick: Xtreme Comforts Slim Hypoallergenic Shredded Memory Foam Queen Bamboo Pillow with Cover
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