I tested TEMPUR's cool-to-the-touch memory foam pillow, and found this space-age design offers a great night's sleep

My TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool Pillow review puts this space-age pillow through its paces to see how it compares to the best pillows on the market.

In a nutshell

The TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool Pillow is different from any other pillow I've come across.

Not only does it feature a space-age cool-to-the-touch cover that kept my head and neck cool and fresh throughout the night, but its memory foam inner is different from any other memory foam pillow I've slept on.

Compared to the best memory foam pillows we've tested, the TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool is much more malleable, and instead of looking like a foam brick, it resembles a normal pillow shape, which is a big bonus if – like me – you prefer a pillow that still looks nice on the bed.

I found it to be a great option if you're a side or back sleeper who likes a firm pillow that still has enough 'give' that it will mould comfortably around the head and neck.

The main downside is its price. At £149, this pillow certainly isn't cheap. However, I haven't encountered any other pillows quite like this one, and if that uniqueness means it suits your body and offers you a better night's sleep than your current pillow, it could well be worth its weight in gold.

TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool Pillow review

Specifications

• Best for: side or back sleepers
• Materials: inner: TEMPUR Adapt^® Material memory foam, cover: 61% polyester, 38% Polyethylene, 1% Elastane
• Dimensions: approx. 74cm x 50cm
• Care instructions: machine washable up to 40°C, line dry only
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 30-night

Comfort

My first impression of the TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool Pillow was how unusual, and well, space-age it felt!

Unlike most memory foam pillows, it doesn’t feel like a solid block of foam; instead it feels much more malleable and almost like a very densely filled bean bag or sandbag. It's also *heavy*.

As someone who usually sleeps on my side or back, I found this pillow ideal for both positions. That's because the memory foam inside adapted to my head and neck to offer comfort and support whatever position I slept in.

On my side, I felt my head sink into the pillow so it felt comfortable, but it also offered the right amount of support to keep my neck and spine in alignment.

When sleeping on my back, my head wasn’t too upright like some other, less adaptive pillows that I’ve tried. It meant that I didn’t wake up with an aching neck or shoulders like I sometimes do.

I did find that it took a few minutes for the pillow to slowly mould around my head and neck in my chosen sleep position, but once it did, I found it to be a nice mix of firmness and support.

Temperature regulation

As a 45-year-old woman, I’m very mindful of the fact that the hormonal changes that are occurring as I near the menopause mean that my body temperature can vary dramatically during the night. Because of that, a pillow that offers good temperature regulation can make the difference between a good and a terrible night's sleep for me.

Initially, I was a bit concerned that a memory foam pillow would cause me to overheat, because despite its plus points – such as its malleability – memory foam isn't known for its breathability.

However, TEMPUR has combatted this with the unusual outer cover of the TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool Pillow. The brand says this 'cool-to-the-touch cover is woven with TEMPUR SmartCool^™ Technology, which helps to absorb excess body heat to keep you feeling cool and fresh.’

The removable outer cover is partly what makes for the pillow's space-age feel. It has a raised pattern of parallel lines that looks like a geometric brain teaser. This fabric is very slinky-feeling surface and feels incredibly nice to touch. True to expectations, it also feels cool to the touch.

The only downside of this is that if you use a thinnish pillow case, such as the silk one I put onto the pillow, you’ll find that this textured pattern can be seen and felt through the pillowcase, which might annoy some people.

When I slept on this pillow, I tried it without a pillowcase and with. Both ways made a noticeable difference to my temperature in the night. Instead of waking up feeling clammy and sweaty around the back of my neck and chest, I felt much cooler and less sweaty than usual.

Ease of care

The cover of the TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool pillow is machine washable up to 40°C, however, it’s not suitable for tumble drying, so line drying is advised.

The manufacturer also warns not to use bleach or harsh chemicals on it, and not to iron or dry clean it.

I found it very easy to unzip the cover for removal, and although you can add a pillow protector to a pillow to prevent stains and dirt from reaching the pillow itself, I liked the fact that this pillow has a nice, thick cover that's so easy to clean.

However, the brand does warn against trying to wash, sponge, or dry clean the pillow itself.

Sleep trial

It can be really difficult to find a pillow that feels just right, and there are so many factors that impact whether a pillow is a good fit for us, from our body shape and weight, to our sleeping position, to what mattress we’re sleeping on.

It’s for this reason that a sleep trial is so invaluable. They’re something which is typically found when buying a new mattress, but now many brands are extending them to pillows too.

Whilst feeling a pillow with your hand will give you an idea about the texture and feel, it’s only by sleeping on it that you’ll really discover if it's right for you.

Fortunately, TEMPUR offers a 30-night sleep trial on this pillow, meaning that you can try it at home on your mattress to see if it delivers a good night's sleep.

Value for money

At £149, there's no denying this pillow is very expensive. However, as I've mentioned, it is pretty unique to the market, which I suppose allows TEMPUR to charge a premium price.

From the minute I touched it, I could also tell this was a premium product. It feels very well-made and robust.

In comparison, the best value memory foam pillow we've tested – the Panda Memory Foam Pillow – retails for £44.95. That's clearly a lot cheaper, however, Panda's pillow is a lot less malleable than TEMPUR's Cloud SmartCool, so it has a very different, more 'block-like' feel.

If you love the firmer support and mouldability of memory foam, but like a standard-shaped pillow, the TEMPUR Cloud SmartCool is for you. It's also one of the coolest memory foam pillows we've tested, thanks to TEMPUR's innovative cool-to-the-touch cover.

So does it offer good value for money? Comfort and value are both subjective, but this pillow definitely offers some unique features that few others do.

How I tested

Rachel Tompkins

I’m Rachel, a mother of two and a freelance reviewer who helps the Ideal Home team put all manner of products through their paces to find the top recommendations for our readers. For this review, I tested the Tempur Cloud SmartCool Pillow.

In order to test out this pillow, I slept on it for two weeks on my own bed to assess its comfort and temperature regulation. I also assessed its ease of care, any sleep trials available, and how it compares to similar products on the market to see if it offered good value for money.