The invention of memory foam ushered a new age in sleep. The space material was suddenly a common household item. However, it has a catch: it retains heat all too well and not everyone likes that “stuck” feeling. Is there a foam pillow with all the qualities of memory foam without the cons? In this Tuft and Needle Pillow review, we’ll see if this foam pillow is worth your coin.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Foam Pillow
Memory foam is not for everyone. Those who want the benefits of memory foam but don’t want to get that trapped, hot feeling commonly associated with it should consider buying a true neutral foam pillow. Foam pillows keep their shape better than down and feather pillows and have a responsive feel so no matter how much weight you exert on it, it will keep its shape.
Loft and Fluff
The loft of the pillow is its thickness when you rest your head on it. However, a high loft doesn’t guarantee that your pillow will stay elevated. Fluffiness is a secondary factor, which refers to how cushioned a pillow is and if it flattens easily.
Firmness and Sleep Position
You need a pillow that will complement how you sleep. The best pillow for you will give you enough support so your spine stays in its natural alignment. Sometimes, this boils down to preference. The firmer a pillow is, the better it holds its shape when compressed.
Cover
It’s not all about the fill. The best pillow covers will feel silky and soft to the touch while wicking away moisture and heat. If you want a luxurious feel, choose a high thread count cover. Hot sleepers will need cooling, airy fabrics while those with allergies need a mite-resistant, allergen-free pillow cover.
Certifications
While not a must, industry certifications are nice to have because they ensure that the pillow adheres to ethical and safety standards.
Price and Customer Service
Look for a foam pillow that’s in your budget. It isn’t worth getting a pillow if you can’t afford it. There are a lot of options at every price range. Secondly, aftersales is important. A sleep trial, good return policy and warranty will prevent buyer’s remorse.
Presenting the Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow
The Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow is comprised of the company’s proprietary T&N Adaptive Foam which has the body conforming quality of memory foam but without the slow, heat-retentive response. It promises to relieve pressure and last a long time.
If you’ve tried sleeping on Tuft & Needle mattresses, you’ll be familiar with this material.The breathable open-cell foam is infused with graphite and cooling gel. Graphite takes away heat from the body while the cooling gel absorbs heat and releases it away from the sleeper.
The CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certified pillow has a stretchy micro polyamide and polyester cover that’s machine washable. The fill is a single piece of ventilated foam that promotes air circulation. It feels medium firm and has a 5-inch loft at its fullest but flattens down to a 2-inch thickness. This has a bouncy, lightweight response that’s reminiscent of latex.
The Tuft & Needle foam pillow is reasonably priced, comes with a 30-night sleep trial.
Though the pillow is not as dense as memory foam pillows, it provides ample support and pressure relief due to the responsiveness of the foam, which feels like a true foam. The loft and support makes this suitable for back and side sleepers.
Stomach sleepers will find it too high and firm for their sleep habits. If you’re a fan of the Tuft & Needle line, definitely check out their pillow for the full experience.
Read the full review for a comprehensive look at this offering from the popular mattress brand.
Pros
- The Tuft & Needle pillow is a medium firm foam pillow made with T&N Adaptive Foam, a memory foam alternative
- The aerated design and cooling cover gives breathability
- The 5-inch loft is best for side sleepers but also good for supporting back sleepers
- Carries CertiPUR-US and OEKO TEX certifications
- Reasonably priced with a 30-night sleep trial and 3-year warranty
Cons
- The Tuft & Needle pillow not suitable for stomach sleepers because of its loft and firmness
- Not as dense as memory foam and it feels more like a latex pillow
- Not adjustable
Features & Benefits
Cover
The stretchy Tuft and Needle pillow cover is a blend of polyester, Tencel and elastane. It’s hypoallergenic, removable and machine washable. However, it’s not recommended to tumble dry it. The pillow core is not washable at all. Polyester reduces heat as you sleep on the pillow because it has moisture wicking properties. The core is accessible through a zipper. This is handy for quick washing of the cover as you can just zip it and throw it in the machine.
Foam Fill
This is definitely the star feature of the Tuft and Needle pillow. It’s a single piece of Tuft and Needle Adaptive Foam, which can be found in the comfort layer of the brand’s mattresses. However, they tweaked the foam to support the sleeper’s head and torso better. The pillow core has an aerated design for enhanced breathability, which is a plus if you’re a hot sleeper. Though the pillow isn’t adjustable, you won’t need to fluff it up as it will keep its shape pretty well. The pillow won’t go flat. According to the brand, this pillow falls in between a memory foam pillow and latex pillow without the disadvantages of both. The foam carries CertiPUR-US and Standard 100 by OKEO-TEX certifications for health and safety. That ensures you get comfy, non-toxic sleep with a pillow made from high quality materials.
Loft and Firmness
The Tuft and Needle pillow has a relatively lofty profile at 5 inches. It feels medium firm yet bouncy. Unlike the slow response of memory foam, this pillow springs back into shape quickly. It feels more like latex because it’s lighter and not as dense as memory foam. Your experience may vary but I think the pillow is a perfect fit for back sleepers due to its loft and firmness. It relieves pressure points in the neck and shoulders and allows your cervical spine to relax and fall in its natural alignment. You won’t sink into the foam. Your head will lay on top of it, great if you dislike the quicksand quality of memory foam pillows. The Tuft and Needle pillow will give great pressure relief for side sleepers. The foam, as its name suggests, is very adaptive. The loft will support your neck as you sleep on your side and your head won’t dip too much or crane up too high. If you change positions a lot when you sleep, this is also a good pillow for you. It’s responsive so it can keep with you as you toss and turn. It won’t get frozen into place.
Stomach sleepers will be at a disadvantage if they buy this pillow because it’s too high of a loft for them. It’s also firmer than the recommended softness for stomach sleepers.
Temperature Regulation
The foam’s construction combined with the polyester blend cover makes this a breathable pillow. The ventilated core won’t trap heat as you sleep. Polyester wicks moisture away while Tencel is similar to bamboo rayon in breathability. Air can circulate freely so sleeping hot won’t be a problem.
Price and Customer Service
I wouldn’t call this product affordable but it’s priced very reasonably. Perhaps the cost isn’t appealing to college students and young professionals but anyone outside that age bracket should consider picking it up if they’re in the market for a foam pillow. You also have the benefit of a 100-night trial to quell any misgivings you may have about the product. You get a guaranteed full refund in case it’s not a good match. On top of that, they have a no gimmicks 3-year warranty.
Social Proof
To verify the claims and find out what other customers’ experiences were like with the Tuft and Needle Pillow, I browsed the web for feedback and found these promising Tuft and Needle Pillow reviews from satisfied users.
These pillows are the perfect fit. Not too firm but not too soft. They breath so they feel cool all night, and are easy on my neck. I work shift work so sleep is crucial for me and I am sleeping so much better now. I highly recommend this pillow for all!
- Eric91
I’ve had every pillow you can imagine. I’ve had neck surgery and have tried bean pillows, water pillows, chiropractic pillows, Casper pillows. None of any of these even compare to the quality, support, comfort, and breath ability as of this Tuft & Needle pillow! I am soo happy with everything!
- hubja
Wow. This was probably the best money I’ve ever spent on sleep, health and relaxation beyond the T&N mattress. I’ve had foam mattresses and was skeptical when I first felt the pillow but when I laid down to sleep, I felt all of the kinks and pains from my neck and shoulders come out and had one of the best sleeps I’ve had in a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever loved somethings so much that I’ve had to tell others about it + write a positive review. Whatever you’re doing to make these pillows, keep doing it. Simpy amazing!
Alternatives
WEEKENDER WKKK30GF Memory Foam Pillow
This memory foam pillow from weekender has the same ventilated design as the Tuft & Needle Pillow and carries certifications from CertiPUR-US as well. It comes at a more affordable price and has an added gel infusion to the foam for better temperature regulation. It also has a 5-inch loft like the Tuft & Needle pillow. It’s softer than the Tuft & Needle pillow, so stomach sleepers may get more pressure relief out of this pillow. The cover is machine washable. This is the pillow to get if you want a breathable, affordable memory foam pillow.
- Made of ventilated gel-infused memory foam with CertiPUR-US certification
- 5-inches thick
- Softer than the Tuft & Needle Pillow
- Machine washable cover
- More affordable
- Best for stomach sleepers
SENOSUR Memory Foam Pillow
This is a plusher pillow than the Tuft & Needle Pillow. The single piece of memory foam has a ventilated honeycomb design similar to Tuft and Needle’s. The gel-infused CertiPUR-US certified memory foam gives ample support and soothes aches and pains. The breathable Tencel and cotton cover ensures you stay cool and dry as you sleep. The cover is also treated with carbon-like fiber technology that repels bacteria. The mid-loft is best for stomach and back sleepers. With this affordable product, you get a 100-night trial and 1-year warranty that covers any defects.
- Made of ventilated foam like the Tuft & Needle Pillow but feels softer
- Has gel infusions and carries CertiPUR-US certifications
- Has a Tencel and cotton cover
- Antibacterial
- Great for stomach and back sleepers
- 100-night trial and 1 year warranty
TEMPUR-Cloud Pillow for Sleeping
The TEMPUR-Cloud is a very soft pillow made out of a single piece of memory foam. Its firmness and relatively low 5-inch loft (that compresses easily due to its softness) makes this ideal for stomach and back sleepers. The brand’s proprietary TEMPUR Material has a good reputation. It will cradle your head, neck, and shoulders and provide pressure relief to sore spots. The foam is durable and long-lasting. The TEMPUR-Cloud has a knit cover that’s removable and washable like the Tuft pillow. This is, however, a step up in price. It comes with a 5-year warranty but no sleep trial. Check this one out if you prefer a squishy feel to your pillow.
- Very soft memory foam core
- 5 inch loft
- Best for stomach and back sleepers
- Removable and washable knit cover
- More pricey than the Tuck & Needle Pillow
- 5-year warranty but no sleep trial
Conclusion
I hope this Tuft & Needle Pillow review gave you more insight into this offering from the popular mattress brand. This pillow is for a niche customer, one that does not like a memory foam pillow but wants ample pressure-relieving support nonetheless. Here’s the verdict: the Tuft & Needle pillow is a great buy if that’s what you’re looking for.
The Tuck & Needle Adaptive Foam contours the body but its design mitigates that hotness associated with memory foam. I liked the stretchy and soft cover which amped up the experience. It’s the little details that make this a pleasure to use, like the fact that it springs back into shape after nights of use. The OEKO-TEX and CertiPUR-US certifcations ensures safety and quality, which is something I value as a consumer.
If this sounds like music to your ears, I recommend checking out the Tuft & Needle Pillow.
