This Strange Cube-Shaped Pillow Is a Side-Sleeper’s Dream
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Some products show up everywhere — subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we're testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype?
What’s everyone talking about?
Pillow Cube, a brand of cube-shaped memory foam pillows.
What’s the buzz about?
The Pillow Cube claims to be the “perfect pillow for side sleepers.” Because, unlike round, plush pillows, Pillow Cubes are shaped to fit right into the space between your head and shoulder, providing balanced support with no adjustments needed.
Where’s all the hype coming from?
A successful 2019 Kickstarter campaign
Reviews from The Strategist, Wirecutter, and Apartment Therapy
Tons of ads on social media and YouTube — including this one with 9 million views
So, does it live up to the hype?
How’d we come to this conclusion?
As a side sleeper with the sensitivity of Princess and the Pea-like proportions, I've come to accept that cloud-like puffy pillows are not for me. Even if they look great on a bed and feel wonderful to rest my head on for a minute, they either push my neck way out of alignment, or they feel lumpy and thin, requiring lots of restless wrestling through the night.
All of my favorite pillows are pancake-flat and supportive yet soft, so I guess you could say that Pillow Cube's products were made with a sleeper like me in mind. I had the opportunity to test out both the classic Pillow Cube ($70) and Pillow Cube Pro ($120), and while I'm still a little confused by one, I actually love the other.
Both pillows are made of solid memory foam and are covered by a quilted polyester cover. The only difference between them is the height options and shapes. The classic Pillow Cube comes in a 5- or 6-inch height and is 12x12 inches. The Pillow Cube Pro comes in 4-, 5-, and 6-inch heights and is twice as long. It's actually slightly smaller than a standard-sized pillow. Both Pillow Cube versions have custom-fitting pillowcases available separately on their site.
To be honest, the classic Pillow Cube really didn't work for me; it's just not compatible with my lifestyle. Even the site's quiz that I took to help determine which pillow model and size I should get suggested that the Pillow Cube is best for traveling with or “napping on a couch.” I’m not sure I need to buy a specific pillow for couch-napping, though†me some reviews do tout that this model works well for CPAP-machine users. The Pillow Cube's shortest height, 5 inches, was also too high for me, and I wasn't able to rest on it long enough before the pushback on my neck began bothering me.
Now, the Pillow Cube Pro is a different story. I opted for the 4-inch height to appease my narrow shoulders. The pillow's memory foam is slow-reactive and not springy at all, and if you choose the right height, it conforms to the shape of the head and cradles it without aggressively pushing. If you roll to the other side of the pillow, you'll feel the side you just left slowly morph back into shape.
For a memory foam pillow, I was incredibly surprised by the Pillow Cube Pro's lightweight and heat-wicking properties. While not a cooling pillow per se, I felt that the foam never held onto heat or made me feel sweaty in the night. When my head hit it after a long day, it stayed there. What began as an intrepid weeklong test with this pillow turned into a month of great sleep.
What’s the bottom line?
Even if the classic version of the product wasn't a fit for me, I still think that both versions of the Pillow Cube are well-made, high-quality products. The Pillow Cube Pro is definitely the better pillow for side sleepers, and it ended up being one of the most enjoyable solid memory foam pillows I've ever tried.
It's tough to give a total endorsement for all sleepers, though. Both pillows are pricey, and in order for them to look neat on your bed, you have to buy specific pillowcases for them. The brand says in its own marketing that these pillows aren't for everyone, and I have to agree with that.
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