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Sleepopolis contributors and certified sleep science coaches included the Cariloha bamboo Retreat Pillow in their article review, “Best Cooling Pillows (2026): Recommended by Certified Sleep Science Coaches”, highlighting specific qualities of these top-rated pillows for a better night’s sleep.
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Best Cooling Pillows (2026): Recommended by Certified Sleep Science Coaches
By Riley Otis, Certified Sleep Science Coach, and Updated by Dan Caffrey, Certified Sleep Science Coach, Certified Stress Management Coach
If overheating is a nightly battle, you may be a hot sleeper. These sleepers are known for constantly flipping their pillow over to the “cold” side in an attempt to find relief. If this sounds like you, you may benefit from a cooling pillow.
Designed to regulate your temperature, dissipate heat, and wick away moisture, these pillows can bring cooling comfort to a sweaty nightmare.
If your pillow is made from heat-trapping materials, it’s more likely to retain your body heat, preventing you from sleeping comfortably.
According to our Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, a pillow that promotes airflow and regulates your temperature can be beneficial to anyone who experiences night sweats, hot flashes, or frequent sleep disruptions due to temperature changes.
To help you on your journey to cooler sleep, our team of certified sleep science coaches and expert testers evaluated over 35 of the most popular pillows on the market.
We evaluated each pillow for a variety of performance factors, such as the quality of its materials, support, care, extra features, and more. I’ve evaluated the data and hand-picked the best cooling pillows based on our team’s hands-on experience.
What I Looked for in the Best Cooling Pillows
When choosing cooling pillows for hot sleepers, I focused specifically on breathable materials, a comfortable yet supportive feel, and an easy care routine.
- Cooling Materials: When selecting cooling pillows, I paid attention to the materials and whether they promoted airflow or trapped heat. I looked for naturally cooling materials, as well as cooling infusions, such as gel, designed to draw heat away from the sleeper. Additionally, I paid attention to whether our tester reported an initial cool-to-the-touch feel upon lying down.
- Support: Different sleeping positions require different levels of support. When choosing pillows for this roundup, I chose a variety of firmnesses and feels, so there’s something for everyone on this list. Regardless of the loft or construction, I selected pillows that offered enough support to keep the neck and spine properly aligned.
- Ease of Care: Pillows can be a hassle to keep clean, but it’s important to keep them free from allergens since you’ll have your face in or near them night after night. When choosing pillows for this roundup, I made sure they had machine-washable covers or were able to be spot-treated.
Cariloha Retreat Pillow – Best Cooling Pillow for Side Sleepers
When side sleeping, it’s crucial that your pillow properly supports your head and neck to prevent pain from occurring. Our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta says the best pillow for side sleepers has a thicker, taller loft that fills in the gap between the head and shoulders.
With a whopping height of 8 inches, I chose the Cariloha Retreat pillow as the best cooling choice for these sleepers. Packed with 5-star, sustainable materials, this pillow offers breathable comfort perfect for hot sleepers.
It also earned 5 stars for extra features and 4.5 stars for experience due to its flippable, dual-chamber design that offers two different firmness levels.
The Cariloha Retreat pillow contains two removable chambers – a soft side and a firm side. In theory, this pillow can be a good match for any sleeping position, depending on how you configure these inserts.
But when it comes to side sleeping, our expert tester Kate Meier recommends keeping both inserts inside the removable cover.
This creates a super tall loft that supported her head and neck in this position. She rated her experience 4.5 stars, saying, “The pillow is supportive where you want it to be, yet soft where you need more cushioning.
Whether you play around with the firmness or keep the pillow intact, you can appreciate the premium materials, which Kate rated 5 stars. The soft side is made from natural shredded latex foam and Kapok, which is a plant-derived fiber that feels similar to down but without the insulating properties that make you overheat.
Both materials are naturally breathable and hypoallergenic, which contributes to cooling. The firm side consists of perforated bamboo charcoal memory foam, which also promotes cooling. Kate said, “I do notice the firmer side always feels cooler than the softer side.” However, we think hot sleepers can find relief from this pillow on either side.
Another standout feature is the Cariloha Retreat’s quilted cover. Made from bamboo viscose, it’s soft, cozy, and easy to snuggle into. While you can certainly cover it with a pillowcase, it’s comfortable enough to be used without one.
It’s even removable and machine washable, so you won’t have to worry about oil and dirt buildup from your face. Just keep in mind, the filling is spot treat only.
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