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An honest review of the Tuft and Needle Pillow

Tuft and Needle is mostly known for the comfortable T&N Adaptive Foam it uses in its Mint mattresses. T&N Adaptive Foam was engineered to combine the contouring benefits of memory foam with the bounce and support you’d expect from something springier. The Tuft and Needle pillow was made from this same material, but with an adjusted density and firmness.

When it comes to buying a pillow to improve your sleep, you can never be too careful. Everyone sleeps in their own unique way, and if you don’t choose the right pillow for you, you could end up with extra neck pain at an expensive price. So whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper, or stomach sleeper, it’s important to do your research before you buy. We got our hands on the Tuft and Needle pillow to help you make an informed decision.

First Impressions

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The pillow arrives neatly curled up inside a box. Upon initially opening up the plastic within, you will notice an initial off-gassing odor, but that quickly fades after a couple of hours or so. The T&N Adaptive Foam is soft and pliable to the touch but quickly bounces back after you squeeze it. When we first looked at it, our initial reaction was that it would work great as a pillow for side sleepers.

Comfort: The Tuft and Needle pillow is neither too soft nor too firm, but is somewhere in between. We wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the Goldilocks of pillows, but it is certainly a nice place to rest your head. Unlike a lot of traditional memory foam pillows, it also seems to be retaining its shape over time, making it ideal for heavy use. Additionally, the cover is made from a soft blend of polyester, Tencel, and elastane.

Temperature: Overall, the T&N pillow sleeps quite cool. The unique foam construction on the inside closely resembles memory foam but is actually enhanced with “open cell technology” to provide that cooling pillow effect. Heat-wicking graphite and cooling gel also help regulate the temperature of the pillow throughout the night.

Loft: The pillow sits 5 inches off the bed, making it mainly suitable for side sleepers. Since the inner foam is fairly malleable, it also works pretty well for back sleepers. If you tend to sleep on your stomach at all, however, a loft this high could end up causing unwanted neck pain.

Price: Coming in at $75 for the standard size and $100 for the king size, it isn’t exactly the most affordable memory foam pillow on the market. It does come with a 100-night trial and a 3-year limited warranty, though, so you won’t be stuck with a really expensive pillow if you end up disliking it.

Who is it for?

Good for Bad for
Side sleepers Stomach sleepers
Back sleepers Combination sleepers
Those who sleep hot

We slept on the Tuft and needle pillow for about a month and, overall, we were pleased with its performance. The T&N Adaptive memory foam proved to be the perfect combination of firm and soft and it retained its shape throughout the span of the review. While the pillow itself worked great for some of us, there were some sleep positions that didn’t exactly mesh well with every type of sleeper. Here’s a quick rundown of its pros and cons:

Pros and Cons

After fully assessing this pillow, it is clear that the pros greatly outweigh the cons. If you’re someone who is looking for a new pillow to improve sleep, reduce neck pain, and offer high-quality comfort and support, the Tuft and Needle pillow is an excellent option.

Pros Cons
Sleeps cool Not adjustable
Retains shape High price point
Machine washable cover Initial off-gassing odor
Hypoallergenic
Standard and King sizes available
100-night sleep trial
Three-year limited warranty
Free shipping and returns

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