It’s no secret that sleep is important. Good sleep is tied to almost every single aspect of our health, and recent studies have found that a lack of it is even linked to the onset of dementia.
Needless to say, not only do you need sleep, you need good, uninterrupted hours of it!
If you get night sweats, though, it may wake you up and ruin long nights of sleep. It could be due to a medical condition, the climate of your area, or just the nature of your own body, but it’s uncomfortable and damaging to your sleep.
Cooling pillows are an excellent way to fend off night sweats, and we’re going to look at the top ten best cooling pillows to buy in 2021.
First, though, let’s take a look at why you might need one and how they work.
Why Do I Need a Cooling Pillow?
If you have ever woken up in the middle of the night so sweaty your shirt sticks to your skin, you understand how uncomfortable it is.
Not only does that heat sometimes wake you up from a good night of rest, but it can be an ongoing problem.
Sleep deprivation is life-threatening, and you want to ensure you get a good full night of rest as often as you can.
Night sweats can also be a sign of menopause or possibly a medical condition that you may not even be aware of.
It could even just be because your house is too warm or you live in a warm climate. Maybe you’re wearing too many layers at night or your pajamas are too thick.
No matter the cause, though, it is important to speak with your doctor about your night sweats if they are persistent. If it is due to a medical condition or a larger problem, it’s best to consult with a medical professional.
That being said, there are some easy fixes that you can make for yourself, such as looking for cooling pillows!
How Do Cooling Pillows Work?
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, felt uncomfortably warm, and flipped the pillow over?
Chances are the pillow felt colder on the opposite side.
This may work for you once in a while, but it usually doesn’t last long. The best cooling pillows use materials or properties that keep you cooler for longer.
There are a few distinct forms of a cold pillow:
- Gel pillows
- Breathable material pillows
- Phase-Change Materials (PCM) pillows
We’ll look at each of these a little closer.
Gel Pillows
Memory foam pillows have been popular for a long time now, but they tend to make your neck and shoulders feel hot throughout the night. That’s why you’ll see a lot more memory foam pillows now with gel lining on one or both sides.
The gel material (sometimes water) absorbs heat from your body and spreads it, giving an overall cooling sensation.
Breathable Material Pillows
Some materials, such as buckwheat and bamboo, are perfect for cooling pillows as they are breathable and allow for natural airflow throughout the pillow.
The plus side to these types of pillows is that they are usually hypoallergenic and are a good option if you have allergies to synthetic materials.
Phase-Change Material (PCM) Pillows
This is a rather new (and fancy) option as it was only recently developed by NASA.
These substances melt and solidify at specific temperatures. When they change state from liquid to solid, they can release or absorb heat, depending on the circumstances.
Therefore, if you’re sweating or not, the phase-change material will essentially cool you down.
Top 10 Best Cooling Pillows for 2023
We’ve already looked at some of the top mattresses to buy, but a cold pillow could be the ultimate cherry on top for the best night of sleep of your life.
Now that we’ve discussed what they are, how they work, and why you need one, let’s look at some specific options you can consider.
1. Classic Brands Reversible Cool Gel Memory Foam Pillow
The Reversible Cool Gel Memory Foam Pillow from Classic Brands is called that because one side has a classic, firm memory foam side and a more plush-like, gel side.
This makes it easy to enjoy the contour-forming memory foam side and then flip it for some cooling relief when the night gets too hot.
2. Laniloha Orthopedic Charcoal Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow
This one diverges from the gel idea.
Leniloha’s Charcoal Bamboo pillow is made from a breathable, thin bamboo material that will allow for extra airflow at night making for a cool night of sleep.
Not only that, they claim the charcoal is excellent for naturally purifying the air.
It’s also hypoallergenic and still has that memory foam core for firm support of the neck, shoulders, and back.
3. Perfect Cloud GelBasics Memory Foam Pillow
Not only does Perfect Cloud’s GelBasics pillow claim a cooling gel layer for those too-warm nights, but it also features ventilation holes for improved airflow.
In that way, it’s sort of a crossroads between gel pillows and breathable materials.
4. PharMeDoc Contour Memory Foam Pillow + Cooling Gel
PharMeDoc actually provides a number of good cooling pillow options, but the Contour Memory Foam Pillow + Cooling Gel is probably their best option.
It features memory foam for firm neck, back, and shoulder support, plus a cool layer of gel for heat dispersion.
This option is particularly good for back and side sleepers.
5. Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Combination Memory Foam Pillow
Snuggle-Pedic doesn’t have a gel option anymore, but they still have a great bamboo option.
With shredded material for the core, it should never go flat, is hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and provides great natural airflow.
6. Xtreme Comforts SlimSleeper Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
We’re going to keep the breathable material train going with Xtreme Comforts’s SlimSleeper Shredded Memory Foam Pillow.
This one is going to be one of the best options for those rare stomach sleepers due to the pillow’s overall thin dimensions.
Also, it comes with a bamboo cover, which is thin and breathable, allowing for a cool night of sleep.
And, yes, as we’ve established, it’s hypoallergenic too.
7. Z Gelled Microfiber + Gel Dough Layer
These Z pillows are sold by Malouf and this particular option is a good all-around choice as it works well with any type of sleeper.
It doesn’t matter if you’re on your side, back, or face down, chances are that this pillow has a shape that will work well for you.
It also features a plush filling that eliminates odors and allergens and a layer of gel foam for heat dispersion.
If you don’t feel that the gel layer is a good idea for you, Z also carries another option that only features the breathable gelled microfiber filling.
8. Product Stop Cooling Gel Memory Foam Pillow
We’re not going to say that this is necessarily the best cooling pillow on this list, but it’s certainly one of the more affordable options and gets the job done.
It’s exclusively sold through Amazon and it features memory foam to form to your body.
This is probably your best bang-for-buck option, and it comes in a shape that is ideal for a side sleeper.
9. Penguin Cooling Pillow Mat
This Penguin product is actually a little different than everything else on this list considering that it is actually not a pillow.
This is a pillow mat that features a gel core that will keep you cool throughout the night.
This is a great option if you already have a pillow that you’re satisfied with. Maybe you already found a pillow that is the perfect shape and material for your body and the way that you sleep.
With this cooling pillow mat, just slip it under the cover and you’re good to go!
In fact, this product is a good idea for travel.
Maybe you’re visiting friends or family or going on a trip. A whole pillow would be difficult to stuff into a suitcase or carry-on bag, but you could always just roll up this pillow mat and use it on whatever pillow is at your destination.
10. Columbia Cooling Pillow
Remember that phase-change material we talked about in the beginning? Well, here you go.
The Columbia Cooling Pillow uses PCM to drastically change the temperature of your entire bed. According to them, it can drop the relative temperature by five degrees.
Plus, the materials wick very well to enhance the natural process of cooling by drying up that obnoxious moisture from a night of sweating.
More Advice for the Best Sleep of Your Life
Night sweats and hot sleeping can be more than just a nuisance.
It can be gross and uncomfortable, but if it’s significantly and constantly affecting your sleep, it can be harmful to your health.
Any of the cooling pillows from this list will be a great help on your road to a more restful night of sleep.
Hopefully, this list gave you something to think about, but a pillow is only a part of the journey. If you want more advice on how to get a better night’s sleep, check out some of our blogs on sleep routines.
