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What Is a Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow?

Combining the best of both adaptive memory foam and cooling gel, gel-foam pillows bring advanced comfort technology to transform the way you sleep.

Gel-Infused Memory Foam

Just as the name sounds, gel-infused memory foam pillows are pillows made with memory foam that has been infused with gel particles or beads. This means that the gel is spread evenly throughout the memory foam – from the core to surface.

Gel-Coated Memory Foam

Gel-coated memory foam is another common type of gel-foam found in both pillows and mattresses. In a gel-coated memory foam pillow, the gel is found only on the surface of the memory foam material.

What Are the Cooling Benefits of Gel Foam?

Whether infused or coated, gel brings an extra-cool feel to memory foam pillows. This is thanks in part to the liquid properties of gel. Because gel is part-liquid, and because liquid is a known cooling agent, gel-infused memory foam helps to disperse heat and keep you cooler for longer periods of time.

The second way gel memory foam helps keep you cool is by increasing the airflow within the memory foam. During the manufacturing process, the act of infusing gel into memory foam helps to create more open-air passageways, increasing breathability – and allowing heat to more easily disperse and escape.

What Are the Supportive Benefits of Gel Foam?

Another benefit of gel is that it offers high support, and when combined with memory foam, promotes proper neck and spinal alignment. While the density of gel makes it super-supportive, the liquid properties of gel give it a slow-conforming effect, allowing it to mold to the exact shape of your head, neck and shoulders.

Memory Foam vs. Gel Memory Foam

Memory foam is foam-only. Gel memory foam is foam with tiny gel beads. While memory foam can be designed with air passageways for breathability, gel memory foam is often the premier choice if you want a cooler night’s sleep.

Best Cooling Pillows

Pure Care Latex Pillow

100% talalay latex material sets the Pure Care apart, the Frio fiber cover making for a more breathable and contouring surface (as opposed to solid foam). Perfect for anyone who’s ever wanted a cooling latex mattress in pillow form.

Pure Care Chill Pillow

While the engineers behind the Pure Care line could’ve stopped at the Latex, they instead kicked the cooling tech up a notch. Enter the Chill pillow, infused with a signature Pure Care material called “Identically Down,” which, combined with the pressure-relieving foam fill, makes for a ridiculously cool and comfy sleep.

Storm 3.0

Bedgear, the maker of this heaven-sent design, uses a weightless support chamber at the core of the Storm to keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. For breathability, the Storm also contains Air-X, a Bedgear technology that relieves stuffiness. The best part about the Storm, though is the cover: a cool-to-the-touch feel that stays cool, no matter what. 

Storm 3.0: Featured Customer Reviews

“I bought this pillow for my boyfriend for his birthday and he LOVES it! The cooling tech actually works through my cheap pillow cases and I love that you can wash the outside of the pillow. The only reason I marked it as 4 star instead of 5 is because we probably should have gotten the 2.0 as this one seems to kink his neck up due to the height.” – Manders
“After several weeks of sleeping with the Storm 3.0, it is the best pillow ever purchased.” – J Warren

Tempur Adapt Pro 

The Tempur material helped astronauts sleep easy in space; now, it's in the form of a pillow, complete with cooling technology for a better night's sleep. While the brand isn't known for its gel (it's more known for memory foam!), the Adapt Pro is designed to keep you cool thanks to extra-breathable foam with open-air passageways. (It's also super comfy!)

Tempur Adapt Pro: Featured Customer Reviews

“Good sleep means better days. I've been suffering terrible back pain and Tempur-pedic really helped me a lot.” – West
“This pillow has great neck support. Perfect for when I'm sleeping on my back or side.” – StaceyLucille

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Editorial Disclaimer: Articles featuring tips and advice are intended for educational purposes and only as general recommendations. Always practice personal discretion when using and caring for furniture, decor and related items.