Finding the right pillow has been a bit of a mythic quest for me. I want something firm and supportive, but with just enough give. I also want it to keep my head cool. For a long time, I assumed I’d never find it—then I tried the HIBR Pillow and it’s been a game changer. It’s not perfect...but it’s pretty close.
First, some details. The goal of HIBR, and its pillow, is to offer a new kind of memory foam that’s a world apart from what you get today: A type of foam that supports your head and neck, but also solves the big problem with memory foam: temperature and breathability.
The HIBR Pillow is a Kickstarter success story (formerly called the Fohm Pillow,) comes in three shapes, and will set you back $80. Now, that’s a lot for a pillow, even a foam one—so when the folks at HIBR sent me one to try out, I was skeptical it could be good enough to justify the price. After sleeping on one for several months, I can say that while it’s not for everyone, it’s good enough I’m considering buying another one.
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All This Fuss Over a Pillow?
You spend (hopefully) about eight hours every day in bed. That’s a lot of time—and a huge percentage of your life. Considering how much time you spend in bed and how important sleep is to your health, it’s worthwhile to invest in the best gear for a good night’s sleep. Don’t be afraid find your perfect pillow, or your perfect mattress. You also shouldn’t be afraid to put a little money into it. One of the best things you can do for your health is to upgrade from a crappy, uncomfortable mattress or an unsupportive pillow to one that suits you better.
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That said, the HIBR pillow is definitely one of those upgrades—both in comfort and in cost. It’s available in three flavors:
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The “Simple” Pillow: A standard rectangular pillow, tapered on all sides, and oval-shaped from the sides. It’s about 24.5” wide and 15” long, and 5” deep. It’s $79 direct from HIBR, or from Amazon.
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The “Side” Pillow: Designed for side-sleepers, this wing-shaped pillow is tapered on the edges, but has a curve in the bottom that’s perfect for resting against your neck without compressing your shoulder. Just shy of 23” wide and 16” long (at the edges, not in the center), and 5” deep. It’s $79 direct, or at Amazon. This is the version I tested.
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The “Silhouette” Pillow: This shape is more like the memory foam pillows you’ve seen. It’s designed for back sleepers (or people who want to be back sleepers,) with twin “humps,” one for your neck and the other to cushion the top of your head, and it’s flat on the sides. It’s 21.5” wide, just shy of 16” long, and 5.1” deep at the top, and 4.1” deep at the bottom, where your neck would rest. Like the others, it’s $79 direct from HIBR, or at Amazon.
If you’re worried by the words “memory foam,” don’t be. HIBR’s foam is less “squishy” than memory foam pillows you may be familiar with. What you will notice right away is how cool the HIBR is to the touch, and how springy it is. You can push your hand into it, but instead of watching your handprint slowly vanish while the foam expands again, it rebounds quickly. That speaks to the HIBR’s firmness, something memory foam pillows traditionally don’t offer.
HIBR credits this firmness and coolness to its unique combination of materials. Instead of just layering in a firm layer between two soft foam layers (like other memory foam pillows,) they incorporate a cooling, gel-like material throughout the foam. This leaves the pillow firm and supportive while still being comfortable to rest your head on for long periods. Similarly, HIBR says their foam material includes solid gel capsules in the core that, when heat is applied, liquify to soften the pillow even more—meaning when you put your head down the pillow is firm, but as you rest and sleep, it softens over time to keep you comfortable.
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Where It Excels
A lot of tech, thought, and design went into the HIBR Pillow, but it’d all be for nothing if it weren’t comfortable to sleep on, and after sleeping on it for several months, it’s really comfortable to sleep on. It definitely keeps its promises. It’s firm without being unyielding, so once my head is down for the night I can rest comfortably on it without feeling like I’m sleeping on a rock. It has just enough give to remind me that it’s foam, but not so much give that I feel like my face is buried in it. It’s also small enough to stash in a suitcase or day bag if you want to get a little travel use out of it (if you, like me, hate hotel pillows.)
The HIBR is also one of the physically coolest pillows I’ve slept on. It can get warm, but it definitely dissipates heat well, and I never had one of those moments where I flipped it over looking for a cool spot for my head only to find the other side was warm too. While HIBR claims to have a “firm” side and a “cool” side, I found little difference between sides, and that’s a good thing. Both were firm and cool, even in the middle of the night after I’d been sleeping on it for hours. Once you have a pillowcase on the HIBR, you probably won’t know which side is which, and that’s okay.
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I mentioned that I tested the Side Pillow, since—at least at the beginning of the night—I’m a side sleeper. The curve cut out of the bottom is perfect for my shoulder, and lets me get the center of the pillow right against the middle of my head without feeling like it’s too high or too low. In fact, I wasn’t the only person in my household who liked it—to the point where not too long after I started testing it, the HIBR moved over to the other side of the bed, where it is today. That’s why I’m considering another one.
Where It Falls Short
The HIBR is great, but it’s not for everyone, and it’s not a lottery ticket for a good night’s sleep. Sleep is highly individual, and super important. People who like soft pillows like down, feather, or those hotel pillows I can’t stand (seriously, they’re so soft I feel like I’m inhaling the pillow), will probably think the HIBR Pillow is like sleeping on a slab of granite. If you prefer super soft and fluffy pillows, this isn’t for you. We should also note that it’s spot-clean only. This isn’t a pillow you can toss in the laundry.
Similarly, all HIBR pillows are only five inches deep. If you’re a bigger person (like me) or just need your head elevated a little higher, you’ll probably put the HIBR on top of another pillow. This is less of a con than just a point to remember. If you already sleep with multiple pillows, this will probably replace the one on top. If you don’t, it’s a non-issue, but don’t expect this to replace all of your pillows.
Finally, the HIBR Simple Pillow is the largest they offer, and while my Side Pillow is a touch smaller, it’s still noticeably small. When you compare it against other queen-sized pillows, it feels tiny, and it’s not the kind of pillow you’ll be able to sleep in the corner of, roll over, and still feel like there’s plenty of pillow left. Toss this into a standard queen-sized pillowcase, and you’re going to have a lot of fabric left over on the sides. Of course, you don’t have to put it in a case—HIBR even says their fabric is the pillow cover, but odds are you’ll want a pillowcase for it anyway.
The Bottom Line: Pricey, but You Won’t Regret It If You Spend It
So does the HIBR live up to its price tag? That depends on how much you’re willing to spend on a pillow. I say yes, it is, but I also say a good night’s sleep is priceless. I’d rather go broke making sure the sleep I get is restful than save a few bucks and feel awful every morning when I get up.
Plus, if you’re wary that the HIBR will be right for you, the company offers a “100 night sleep guarantee,” meaning if you try it, you have 100 nights to return it for a full and complete refund. Similarly, if you get a Side Pillow and realize you want a Simple Pillow, or a Silhouette, they’ll even swap them for you for free as well. They even handle shipping for returns and exchanges. All of their pillows are made in the United States, and we should note, HIBR ships to US addresses only.
At the end of the day, I don’t mind spending 80 bucks on a pillow if it’s a great pillow, and the HIBR is a great pillow—one that kind of sets every other pillow I have to shame. That said, it’s not the only pillow on my bed, and I don’t think the HIBR will replace all of yours either, since odds are you’ll only buy one (maybe two, if you want to avoid the aforementioned partner-theft.) I know a lot of people aren’t willing, or just can’t drop that kind of cash. Even so, if you do spend the money, you won’t regret it—and a good night’s sleep is worth it.
http://www.amazon.com/HIBR-side14-Si...
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