Although the pillow comes in a low and high loft, our tester notes that the former probably isn’t for you if you’re looking for firmness. The low height doesn’t offer as much support as its higher counterpart, but it may be the right option if you prefer to sink into your pillow. Either way, bedtime just got cooler.
The Latex Pillow by Saatva is our most sustainable pick. The inner latex foam and cotton cover add breathability so you don’t end up with a stuffy pillow.
If you’re an eco-conscious sleeper, the Saatva Latex Pillow is for you. Shredded latex foam is extra breathable and cooling while offering support for your neck and head. You might think the latex is firm, but the pillow is pretty bouncy. Latex is also hypoallergenic and repels dust mites and mildew better than synthetic foams. Our tester does say that the shredded foam tends to bunch together, requiring a good fluff every few nights, but the pillow is encased in 100% cotton, which is more breathable than engineered fabrics. However, our tester also notes that the shredded latex pillow had a chemical smell for the first few days after opening. It might be hard to justify the higher price tag for a standard-sized pillow, but Saatva offers discounts if you buy the pillows in a pair.
The EdenCool+ Pillow from Coop has a double-sided design—so you get the cool side of the pillow every time—and uses proprietary adjustable foam pieces so you can switch up the height and firmness to your liking.
Multiple features of the Coop EdenCool+ Pillow solidify its place as one of the best cooling pillows. Memory foam tends to trap heat, but the EdenCool+ combats this with a double-sided design, foam pieces that add breathability, and a heat-wicking inner liner. According to our “human furnace” tester, it’s refreshing and light—even while getting some shut-eye after her marathon training.
One side of the pillow has ventilated phase-change memory foam that’s substantially firm and cool, while the other side jumps right into the soft Oomph+ fill, a proprietary cooling gel-infused foam and microfiber blend, that sits on the pillow’s surface. (CoopSleep Goods clearly didn’t skimp out on the cooling technology.) Plus, to get that just-right firmness and loft, you can unzip the cover and add or subtract the Oomph+ foam pieces (the brand also includes an extra half-pound of the material).
The Tempur-Cloud Dual Cooling Pillow is our pick for side sleepers who want a medium-firm, sturdy loft for neck support. It maintains coolness and shape thanks to layers of gel-infused foam on both sides.
The Tempur-Cloud pillow has cooling gel on both sides to allow for an even temperature distribution (our tester notes that he only had to flip the pillow once). A medium-firm block of memory foam sits in the pillow’s core to adapt to most positions, followed by a layer of cooling material that absorbs heat. Everything is then wrapped in a 100% cotton removable pillow cover that you can throw in the washing machine.
Side sleepers usually require a higher lofted pillow to support their neck in that position, and our tester appreciated that although it’s a medium-firm pillow, the memory foam comfortably propped his head as he turned from side to side. The only downside to this luxury pillow is the nonexistent return policy. Still, for the five-star cooling and comfortable support, our tester says the pillow is well worth the cash.
For those who like a little more luxury, the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow has a lavish silk-stuffed interior and a breathable bamboo viscose shell for a one-way ticket to dreamland.
Have you ever slept on silk? And we’re not talking close-but-not-the-same shiny satin, either. What makes the Cozy Earth Silk Pillow a winner in this category is that it uses 100% mulberry silk, a naturally temperature-regulating and hypoallergenic material. The pillow itself is heavy and floppy with the air of a fancy resort-style pillow, plus it’s ultra-breathable and moisture-wicking. According to our tester, it isn’t the coldest pillow we tested, but the Mulberry silk strands inside the bamboo viscose cover offer a plush, ventilated place to rest your head. The velvety pillow also doesn’t need to be fluffed, like, at all.
