‘I tried Simba's pillow - it made a big difference to morning neckache'

Daily Mirror

25-05-2025

The Simba pillow isn't cheap, so we put it to the test to see if it's worth the high price tag
My pillows have seen much better days. Over the past few weeks, I've often been waking up with a neckache, likely in large part due to the pillows losing their shape and firmness over time and making sleep pretty uncomfortable.
We spend a huge amount of our lives sleeping, so I was long overdue for an upgrade in the hope of avoiding waking up with that stiff neck feeling. Enter Simba's Hybrid Firm Pillow, priced at £135.15 - a £24 saving on the usual £159 price.
Getting a pillow online always feels like a bit of a gamble. I'd ideally prefer to give it a squeeze on a shop shelf to find the right type of softness for me. But what I did like about the Simba pillow is the adjustable aspect, allowing you to alter the firmness to your own personal preference.
Upon arrival, I was pleased to discover the pillow comes in its own carry case, which will prove handy if I decide I can't sleep on anything else when staying overnight. I was eager to get it open and test it out, only to find that when I first laid my head on it, it felt very firm, much firmer than I would like.
But that mild disappointment quickly vanished as I set about adjusting the interior sections to fit my personal preference. Depending on how you like it, the interchangeable layers can be altered to give you a medium, medium firm, or firm feel.
The Hybrid Firm pillow has three inner pillows, two are made with down-like Simba Renew, plus a more supportive one made with Aerocoil micro springs encased in a cushioned sleeve. You simply layer them up to suit your sleeping style and your preferred level of firmness.
Liking a pillow that gives adequate support but also has a bit of a softer feel, I opted for the medium setup and found this much more to my taste, sinking back into a fluffy paradise of comfort.
Eager to properly test it out, I decided to try and take a quick afternoon nap, only to drift off for a couple of hours, such was the comfort. I've since slept with the pillow for a week and found it to offer brilliant support, and banish that stiff neck feeling when I wake in the morning.
And fear not, for those doing the maths for two pillows and gulping, Simba says only one pillow is needed, something I'd agree with, such is the height and support offered.
What else is out there?
If the Simba firm pillow is a bit pricey for your liking then then it does also stock a cheaper version, the Hybrid pillow. That's usually priced at £109, though it's currently down to £92.65 in a sale.
Those familiar with sleep brands will likely have heard of Emma, too. I have one of their mattresses - the Original mattress - which I've found to be extremely comfortable.
Emma also sells a range of pillows, including the Premium Cloud Pillow, which is priced at £104.99. That boasts technology to keep sleepers 'cool and comfortable', while the inner layers are made of Aerosoft microfibre but they're thinner and removable so that you can adjust the height and firmness of the pillow to your exact liking.
Shoppers on the hunt for something much more budget friendly might find joy in the likes of the Silentnight Hotel Collection Pillows 4 Pack, priced at £34.99 on Amazon. Those pillows are said to be hypoallergenic, meaning they're kind to skin and don't include any contents likely to cause allergies.
Keeping cool at night
Another thing I tend to struggle with is being too hot when I sleep. I have a fan running most of the time, so having a pillow that is said to help with that, too, has been most welcome. Simba says its Stratos cool-touch tech is similar to the innovation that keeps astronauts cool in space, calling it 'a sort of pillow thermostat'.
It's designed to offer an instant, tangible coolness, even through a pillow case, and help dissipate excess heat. It hasn't been excessively warm in the time I've tested out the pillow so far, but I have noticed the cooling effect Simba speaks of, which will be very welcome as the weather continues to warm up.
It also features a zip-off washable cover so it's easy to keep it nice and fresh for a good night's sleep.
What's not so great?
There's a glaring elephant in the room with this pillow - the price. When you mention pillows I immediately think of those ones you see on the end of supermarket aisles reduced from a tenner to £7.
So the idea of a pillow costing £135 does instantly make me raise my eyebrows. It is an excellent product that's clearly well made, but that's a seriously expensive price point.
For someone with the budget to spend at that sort of price range then I'd say it's worth it, but if that's above the amount you'd typically spend then there are plenty of other options out there that are significantly cheaper.
What the reviews say
One delighted buyer said: 'Why would you spend over £100 on a pillow? Well, that's something I would have said until I tried the Hybrid Firm pillow. I was suffering from an ache in my neck and shoulder, which I couldn't shift, so I took the plunge and just bought the one to give it a go. Arrived quickly and well packaged, and I set it up for the firmest. After one night sleeping with it, I felt way better and so I ordered a second. They are so full that they are a little snug inside a standard pillow case but will fit. No going back, and even my daughter tried and loves them.'
Another added: 'Loving my new Simba adaptable pillow. You just have to make sure you have the right side facing up!'
Despite the positive feedback, one buyer did point out: 'Bought this pillow as an upgrade for the hybrid pillow I recently purchased but I much prefer the hybrid to this one, not worth the money.'