Simba Cooling Body Pillow Review

Written By Connie

CPD Sleep Consultant

How we test

Our testing process

Presented by

Paige Our presenters

5 April 2024 7 min read

Our Simba Cooling Body Pillow review is the place to be for everything you need to know about the product. We are here to give our honest opinion on the cooling surface, what it feels like to lie with and whether there are benefits to using it.

Body pillows tend to be popular during pregnancy but they can also be super useful for everyday use, depending on your sleeping position. They can be used alongside other pillows by cuddling into it and placing it between your knees to keep your body aligned when sleeping on your side.

This is Simba's only body pillow so let's see if it's of the same quality as their Simba Hybrid Pillow and Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow.

Shop Now £109

Advantages

Machine washable

Washed at 40ºC on a delicate cycle.

Good for hot sleepers

Instantly cooling and absorbs excess heat to keep you cool and dry.

Great quality

Created to a high standard to last you a long time.

Disadvantages

The cover is difficult to remove

The filling is very plump which can make removing the cover a little tricky

More expensive than alternatives

But then it has unique technology and there's more to it than just providing support.

Who is this product for?

This Simba pillow is for those who want more support and alignment in the side sleeping position. Of course, the most obvious person to benefit from the pillow is someone who gets hot throughout the night. As we previously mentioned, a lot of women use a body pillow during their pregnancy to help support their bump. 

To summarise, it's for:

• Back and side sleepers
• Pregnant women
• Those looking for comfort and support
• Hot sleepers

What do we use this product for?

Its main purpose is to keep you cool and at a comfortable temperature while you sleep and reduce night sweats. It can also provide back support when sitting up on your bed and it takes the pressure off of your knees when lying on your side. The pillow is also nice to just snuggle up to when you go to take a nap.

It's predominantly used for:

• Support and comfort
• Keeping cool
• Spinal alignment

Features you should know about the Simba Cooling Body Pillow

There aren't many features to this pillow as there are with their other pillows but that doesn't mean there's nothing worth mentioning. We've picked out the main features of the cooling pillow to talk about in more detail so you can have a better understanding of the product.

Review of the Simba Cooling Body Pillow

The Simba Cooling Body Pillow is very plump and quite firm so you’ll get both comfort and support – plus, it’ll last you a while before it becomes flat. For a pillow, it feels quite weighty which is great for its purpose because it means if you fidget to get comfy, the pillow won’t slide around the bed.

I found it comfortable to cuddle into it and place it between my knees for full support while sleeping on my side. Otherwise, it can be used to support your back whilst sitting up in bed.

One thing we have to mention is the reusable storage bag the pillow comes in. It’s perfect for neatly storing the pillow away when you don’t need to use it, or you can use it to keep your spare bedding tidy. The bag has a zip running along three sides which makes it easier to remove and put back.

Shop Now £109

What we like about the Cooling Body Pillow

If a cooling pillow is what you're looking for then there's so much you will like about this product. Here are just a few reasons why we enjoyed trying out the pillow.

• We love that thisis softer than a feather pillow and cooler than a memory foam pillow. You really get the best of both worlds. Even with a big pillow by your side, you won't be feeling too hot while you sleep. 
• It has a super plump filling that will last a long time without becoming flat. So there's no need to be replacing all the time – it will see you through many years.
• The Simba Cooling Body Pillow can be used during the day as well as at night. You can use it to rest your back for support while sitting in bed so it has more purpose than just helping you to be comfy when you sleep.

What we didn’t like about the Cooling Body Pillow

There isn't a lot to dislike about this pillow as it does what it's supposed to do. However, we can pick out a few minor things that some people might not like – depending on how they sleep. Here they are.

• The pillow can only be used properly as a side sleeper, so if you sleep in other positions it can become a little difficult. The shape and size of it have been designed for those who sleep on their side to keep their spine aligned.
• It is quite a plump pillow which might not be for everyone (although it is soft and comfortable). The pillow can't be adjusted either so you'll have to see if it's suited to you and your sleep style.
• We didn't enjoy how tricky it was to remove the cover. Luckily it won't need to be done too often but when it does, it may seem like a bit of a chore. Due to the plumpness, the cover is squeezed onto the insert.

The common problems with the Cooling Body Pillow & how to solve them

The main problem with this pillow is removing the cover for washing. The cover is tight to the pillow and folds over the tip so it has to be wriggled off. A solution to this would be to have two people remove and put the cover back on. One of you squeezes the pillow while the other holds the cover. It's not the most practical resolution but it's as easy as it can get.

Simba's customer service and company information

Delivery – The smaller products, like this body pillow, will be delivered within three working days. Those who have ordered a mattress and a pillow will receive them on the same delivery date – which is how my order arrived. If there’s any confusion with your order or the products, you can go online and ask the bot a question from the selection provided – otherwise, you can check out their FAQs or fill out the form for an email response.

Payment – Simba accepts standard card payments and PayPal, or you can split the payment using Klarna, DivideBuy or Splitit. Be sure to look at their specific terms.

Online customer service – If there’s any confusion with your order or the products, you can go online and ask the bot a question from the selection provided – otherwise, you can check out their FAQs or fill out the form for an email response.

Check the alternatives to the Simba Cooling Body Pillow

If you're not looking for a body pillow that's cool to the touch but still like the idea of using one, then we've found an alternative for you. It is a little more expensive but that's due to the manufacturing, benefits and the overall quality of it.

Wool Room V-Shaped Washable Wool Pillow

This one might not be instantly cooling but it is temperature regulating thanks to the wool filling. It can be used throughout the year to keep you at an optimum temperature. Of course, it still provides the comfort and support you would expect from this type of pillow. Those who are side and back sleepers can have a relaxing sleep when using this. What's more, it's an adjustable pillow that you can remove the filling to suit your sleep position. It's designed in a specific V shape and with adjustable filling, so it's more suited to back sleepers than the Simba one.

Check out our full V-Shaped Washable Pillow review.

Shop Now £105

Advantages

Hypoallergenic

Wool is known to be anti-bacterial & hypoallergenic.

Removable cover

Remove the cover and wash it in a machine.

30 day trial

There is a 30-day trial period to test out the pillow.

Disadvantages

Not for stomach sleepers

Front sleepers won't like it as there isn't really a comfortable way to sleep with it.

No warranty

You do not get any warranty for this product.

Is the Cooling Body Pillow eco-friendly or sustainable?

Simba’s Cooling Body Pillow is made from recycled bottle fibres to create a cloud-like filling that’s biodegradable. This is an innovative design to help protect the environment whilst keeping you cool and comfortable. The cotton used for the cover is part of the Better Cotton Initiative so you know it’s from a sustainable source. On top of that, they claim to have 100% carbon-neutral delivery and are on their way to becoming Net Zero.

How did we test the product?

Every product we review undergoes various tests to see if it's accurate to the brand descriptions and has successful features. All the products we review go through the following tests:

• Visual inspection
• Hands-on inspection
• Measured tests

When testing this particular pillow, we took the specific tests below to find out the quality of the product.

• Looked for any visual details
• Trialled different sleep positions
• Spent time lying on the pillow to see how it adjusted and retained its shape
• Tested the success of the key features
• Directly compared to other pillows

Overall impressions of the product after the testing

It has a removable cover that can be washed at 40º and the same goes for the inner pillow, however, they should be washed separately. I found that the cover was quite tight because the pillow’s so plump. This made the cover fairly difficult to take off. Which is better for a great night’s sleep? A flat pillow with a super easy removable cover or a plump pillow with a slightly trickier removable cover? I would go with the latter.

For those who sleep hot, you’re definitely going to want this pillow in your life. I could instantly feel the coolness as soon as I unzipped the bag. It’s the same feeling as going in the freezer for an ice cream on a hot day. The Body Pillow is cool to the touch, so any part of your body that touches it will almost immediately cool down. It makes it even better that the Stratos technology is all over the pillow. Simba refers to the Stratos technology as your pillow thermostat which basically means it can regulate your body temperature by sensing and dissipating any excess heat.  No matter how you sleep, you’ll still feel the benefits.

To summarise, this is an ideal body pillow for those who need extra support, including anyone pregnant, if you're a hot sleeper or a side sleeper. The pillow will become your new best friend and help to change the way you sleep.

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About the author

Connie

As a CPD certified Sleep Consultant I know how important sleep is. And as a combination sleeper, I have found it difficult to get products to suit my sleep style. I have more than 2 years product testing experience with The Sleep Advisors which means I have slept on, with and under more than 500 products with varying degrees of success. This is added to more than 2 years experience as a product reviewer for Closer, Heat and Grazia magazines, so I've got a rigorous process. I love sharing my sleep testimonials with our readers and hearing their experiences too.