What Makes the Hybrid® Pillow Different from a Standard Pillow?
Disclaimer: The following information is general guidance and should not be construed as medical advice. If you deal with neck pain, back pain or any other health issues mentioned throughout this blog, speak to your GP for personalised advice and an appropriate treatment or management plan.
A standard pillow comes at one height and one firmness. You buy it, you try it, and you hope it suits the way you sleep. The Hybrid® Pillow works differently, because you can change its height and firmness yourself until it feels right. It also has cooling technology in the cover and a breathable design all the way through. Here's a closer look at how it's made and why those differences matter for your sleep.
Why Pillow Height Matters So Much
Your pillow's job is to fill the space between your head and the mattress, so that your neck stays in line with the rest of your spine. The size of that space depends on how you sleep.
If you sleep on your side, the gap between your ear and the mattress is as wide as your shoulder, so you'll usually need a higher, fuller pillow. If you sleep on your back, the gap is smaller, and a medium height tends to feel best. If you sleep on your front, you'll want something much flatter.
That's the problem with a fixed pillow. It can only be the right height for some people, some of the time, and when it's wrong your neck spends the whole night bent up or down. Many standard pillows also flatten with use, so even a good match doesn't always stay that way. If you change position during the night, share pillows with a partner, or simply aren't sure what you need, an adjustable pillow takes the guesswork away.
The Adjustable Nanocube® Core
Inside the Hybrid® Pillow is a core filled with tiny foam cubes, which we call Nanocubes®. They're made from CertiPUR® verified foam, and they do two things.
First, they let you customise the pillow. Open the pillow, take out a handful of Nanocubes® for a lower, gentler feel, or leave them all in for a higher, firmer one. You can keep adjusting over a few nights until it's exactly how you like it, and the pillow comes with a separate bag for storing any cubes you remove.
Second, they help the pillow breathe. Because the core is made of many small pieces, air can move freely between them.
A Down-Like Outer Layer
Around the Nanocube® core is an outer sleeve filled with Simba Renew™. These fibres are made from recycled bottles, combed and folded into soft, airy layers. They give the pillow a cloud-like cushioning on the surface, they encourage fresh airflow, and they hold their shape very well.
So you get two kinds of comfort working together: a supportive, adjustable centre and a plump, down-like layer around it. That combination of materials is what makes it a hybrid.
Cooling Where Your Head Rests
If your head gets warm at night, you'll appreciate the cover. The cotton cover of the Hybrid® Pillow features our Stratos® technology, which is designed to be cool to the touch, to prevent heat building up and to help moisture evaporate. In independent testing by HeiQ, Stratos®-treated fabric was up to 3°C cooler than untreated fabric.
The pillow also has an open mesh border. It lets air flow in and out of the pillow as you move, which works with the Nanocubes® and the airy outer fill to keep things fresh.
Easy To Live With
The outer cover zips off and can go in the washing machine, which makes it simple to keep the pillow clean. It comes with a reusable storage bag, and it's delivered free the next working day to most UK postcodes if you order before 1pm.
The Hybrid® Pillow also carries the GenM Menopause Friendly symbol, which is given to products that can ease, relieve or support one or more of the signs of menopause.
Hybrid® Pillow Vs Standard Pillow At A Glance
Standard pillow |
Hybrid® Pillow |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Height and firmness |
Fixed |
Adjustable by adding or removing Nanocubes® |
|
Fill |
Usually one material |
Foam Nanocube® core with a Simba Renew™ outer |
|
Cooling |
Depends on the fabric |
Stratos® cover and open mesh border |
|
Washing |
Varies |
Zip-off, machine-washable cover |
|
Suits |
The height it was made at |
Any sleep position, once adjusted |
How To Set Yours Up
When your pillow arrives, try it for a night or two with all of the Nanocubes® in. If it feels too high, take out a few handfuls and try again. Small changes make a noticeable difference, so it's best to adjust gradually.
As a starting point, side sleepers often keep most of the cubes in, back sleepers usually take some out, and front sleepers tend to take out the most. If you change the mattress in the future, you can adjust the pillow again, because a mattress with more cushioning lets your shoulder settle further in and reduces the height you need.
If you'd like to see the full details, sizes and current price, you'll find everything over on our Hybrid® Pillow product page.
Who Will Get The Most From It
You're likely to love the Hybrid® Pillow if you've never quite found a pillow that’s actually comfortable, if you wake up with a stiff neck, if your head gets warm at night, or if you and your partner have very different preferences and would like the same pillow to work for both of you.
If you prefer a lighter, simpler pillow, our AeroDown Pillow has an airy, down-like Simba Renew™ fill with the same Stratos® cool-touch technology. If you're a side sleeper or you're pregnant and you'd like full-body support, our Body Pillow is designed for exactly that.
FAQs
It pairs with our 50 x 75cm pillowcases. We offer those in cotton percale, cool linen and Egyptian cotton, in a choice of seven colours.
Yes. Keep the spare cubes in the bag provided, and you can add them back whenever you'd like a higher or firmer feel. It's worth keeping them even if you're happy with the height, because your preference can change if you get a new mattress.
The outer cover zips off and is machine washable. You'll find full care instructions on the label. The zip-off design means you can freshen the cover as often as you wash your bedding.
Yes. The Hybrid® Pillow is part of our Refurbished range when stock is available, and every refurbished product is cleaned, inspected and sanitised before it's sold. It's a good way to try our pillow technology at a lower price.
Give it a week or so. Your neck and shoulders need a little time to settle into a new position, and you can fine-tune the height as you go.
