SIMBA Hybrid Pillow Review: Is this pillow really worth the £109 price tag?

You’ve probably heard of SIMBA because of its mattress range, which offers next-day delivery and a 100-night sleep guarantee. I’m already an owner of a SIMBA mattress, which I’ve been sleeping on (and loving) for the last two years. But its offering isn’t solely restricted to mattresses. The brand also sells a diverse range of bedtime products, including beds and bases, mattress protectors, duvets and pillows – including the Hybrid Pillow.

The is slightly different from your traditional pillow in that it sits somewhere between a down-filled cushion and a memory foam pillow. Simba isn’t the only brand out there making a Hybrid pillow, with Emma also offering their own version. But what made the Hybrid most appealing to me is that you can change how firm it is in a matter of seconds. This is because of what SIMBA describes as its “nanocube technology”. These small, squishy foam-like cubes can be added and removed depending on how firm or soft you want your pillow to be. They can also help you change the shape of your cushion depending on how you like to sleep. The cubes are made from a foam-like material, which feels squishier and lighter than traditional memory foam. Simba also says it is more environmentally conscious as the material doesn’t contain the same harmful chemicals found in memory foam, which can be dangerous for the environment when the mattress eventually breaks down. 

One of the things that piqued my interest about the  was the multiple reviews online claiming it can reduce neck and shoulder pain. I’m a side sleeper, but in recent years, I’ve increasingly been plagued by shoulder pain, particularly when I wake up in the morning. I was intrigued to find out whether being able to adjust my pillow’s shape and density would have an impact. 

The pillow also features what SIMBA calls its “cool-touch” technology on one side. This is basically a temperature-regulated piece of fabric so that you are always sleeping on the cool side of the pillow.

However, this futuristic bedtime companion has a hefty price tag of £109 each. 

How it works

The Hybrid consists of two layers. The outer layer comprises a foam filling, the “cool touch” fabric on one side, and a cushioned filling on the other. The cooling side is also marked with a subtle cube-like pattern and turquoise border. 

The second layer, a soft, white, zippable compartment, is where the foam cubes are housed. While the exterior case is washable, the nanocubes won’t survive a spin in the washing machine. 

A thick mesh stripe runs around the middle of the pillow, which SIMBA says will keep air circulating around the cubes, further aiding temperature control. 

How we tested

We tested the SIMBA Hybrid Pillow by sleeping on it for 21 nights to determine whether it’s really worth the money. I tried to spend an equal number of nights sleeping on both sides of the pillow and took into consideration how I felt laying on the pillow in different positions.

To maximise testing the temperature, I also asked my partner to sleep on the pillow for a few nights to get his opinion both on comfort and heat. 

I disassembled the pillow, removed the casing, and adjusted the foam cubes to determine how easy it was to change the firmness of the pillow and wash the outer casing. Finally, with all of these elements in mind, I considered the price of the pillow and compared the cost with other similar products on the market. 

SIMBA Hybrid Pillow review

The is available for free next-day delivery if you order by 2pm. As promised, mine arrived within a day, meaning I didn’t have to wait long to put it to the test. The pillow arrives safely guarded in a lightweight zippable storage bag, accompanied by a smaller pouch, which I was initially confused about. 

It turns out this is to store any excess nanocubes that you might want to remove. On arrival, it comes fully stuffed, which might feel a little too firm for those who like to sink their head into something soft. If that is the case, you can unzip the side of the pillow and remove as many nanocubes as necessary for your perfect firmness and height. You can also give them a jiggle about if you want to change the shape of the pillow before settling down to sleep. 

Measuring 45 x 70cm, the Hybrid slid comfortably into our usual pillowcases and plumped them out perfectly. 

The cushioned outer layer and the ability to adjust the cubes to my perfect firmness seem to have directly impacted how my shoulder feels each morning. As someone who likes a big fluffy pillow, I initially kept all of the cubes in the pillow and found that the Hybrid’s plumpness meant I could do away with using two pillows. 

Now, instead of fluffing up two pillows and bunching them to the right consistency, I can sink onto just one squishy yet comfortable pillow, knowing my head and neck will be supported.  

It took me a few nights to decide how many nanocubes felt best. After a few nights of the pillow filled to maximum consistency, I found that removing a handful of cubes created the perfect consistency. If you tend to sleep on your back or front, you may need to adjust the nanocubes to accommodate this. Over time, the cubes might also need fluffing up, so it’s worth giving the filling a little jiggle every couple of weeks.  

To test just how much the pillow impacted my shoulder pain, I also spent a few nights using a different pillow and found the old ache returned by morning. 

Given the shape of the foam cubes, I wondered if I would be able to see or feel them jutting through the fabric, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this was not the case. The pillow also offers comfortable back support when propped up reading a book.

Then, there is SIMBA’s cooling technology. Admittedly, I was a little sceptical about this at first but was pleasantly surprised to find that you can actually feel the temperature difference when comparing one side to the other.  SIMBA claims you can feel “instant, tangible coolness even through a pillowcase”.

However, once inside my pillowcase, I couldn’t really tell which side was which, though I naturally gravitated to sleeping on the cooling side for comfort alone. Luckily, my partner is someone who runs like a furnace at night, so he made a fantastic guinea pig.

He says he has been sleeping much more comfortably, but for full disclosure, we have also been trialling , which we think has had a more significant impact on temperature.

SIMBA Hybrid Pillow Final Verdict

Now, it’s undeniable that the  comes with a pretty hefty price tag, and whether it’s worth the investment is really down to your budget. hen I initially saw the price, I did wonder just how good a pillow could be. It’s not as expensive as some higher-end down-filled pillows on the market, which can retail for more than £200, but combines some of the perks of memory foam and down-like softness. But, with the likes of , spending £109 seemed like an investment I wasn’t sure I could justify. 

However, the difference it has made to my neck and shoulder pain is worth shouting about. Before putting the Hybrid to the test, I didn’t even consider that a pillow could make that much difference. Adjusting the firmness and rearranging the foam cubes inside has been a game changer and, in my opinion, makes this an excellent choice for those prone to shoulder and neck pain in the mornings.

The two outer casings are machine washable, so you can say goodbye to gross-stained cushions (just make sure you don’t put the nanocube filling in the wash).

While the cooling technology is noticeable, you may have to forego your pillowcase if you really want to feel a difference while sleeping. 

If the price tag seems a little too daunting, . They also offer mattress and bedding bundles at a discounted price during select periods if you want to overhaul your sleep set-up. 

In fact, if you shop before February 20, 2025, you can . 

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