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- Comfortable yet supportive
- Breathable
- Great for those who prefer a firmer pillow…
- …but not suitable for those who prefer a softer pillow
- On the pricier side, with no trial period
- Boxy construction might be offputting for some
It’s been a little while since I got my hands – or head – on one of Eve’s pillows. That was back in 2021 when I reviewed the now discontinued Memory Foam Pillow. In 2022, the company went into administration before being bought by Bensons for Beds and, for a short while after that, its online store inventory was rather pared back.
Fast forward a few years and Eve seems to be getting back on its feet with more product releases, such as its latest Wunderflip mattress range, as well as the return of bedding and bed frames to its lineup. It now has three memory foam pillows on offer.
Despite its side sleeper moniker, I found this variant of the Eve Memory Foam pillow to be supportive and comfortable in a range of sleeping positions, although it is a bit boxy, and some might find it too firm. Read on to find out if this might be the pillow for you.
Eve Hybrid Side Sleeper Pillow: What do you get for the money?
Eve makes two Memory Foam Hybrid Pillows: the side sleeper variant on trial here, and one for front and back sleepers. The difference between the two lies in the loft (or height) of the pillow: while both measure 74 x 48cm (width x depth), the Side Sleeper pillow is 17cm high, while the Front-and-Back Sleeper measures 14cm.
Both pillows cost £70 and are available either directly from the Eve site or from Bensons for Beds. They’re filled with hollowfibre and memory foam, with quilted cotton cover and mesh sides, and offer a “medium” level of support with a “deep-profiled, firm-feeling design”. For more flexibility when it comes to firmness levels, there’s the Eve Adjustable Pillow, which contains removable layers corresponding to different support levels, surrounded by a jersey knit cover that more closely resembles the original Eve Memory Foam pillow that I reviewed four years ago.
What do we like about it?
I found Eve’s Hybrid Side Sleeper Pillow offered a firm level of support that wasn’t so hard as to be uncomfortable: there’s still a good amount of give and plushness to it. To be honest, I was a little bit surprised at how negative some of the customer ratings on Eve’s site were, and I think the one-star review calling it a “breeze block” is a slight exaggeration. That said, the disparity of these reviews is only proof of something I have said time and time again – that comfort is, to a point, subjective.
Nevertheless, I’d be inclined to recommend the Hybrid Side Sleeper to those who prefer a firmer feeling pillow. And although it’s marketed towards those who sleep primarily on their side, I was perfectly comfortable while lying on my back too. I also found it cool and breathable, which is perhaps testament to the mesh walls lining the sides of the pillow. However, I should add that I did review this pillow during the winter months.
What could be improved?
The Eve Hybrid Side Sleeper pillow is less suitable to those who like a soft pillow. If you prefer plush comfort you can sink into, and especially if you’re not used to sleeping on memory foam pillows, then you might find it quite dense and hard.
I’m accustomed to sleeping on memory foam pillows and, given the choice between down-like softness and slightly firmer support, I’d choose the latter – but not everyone is the same. The Eve Hybrid Side Sleeper pillow also has a rather boxy shape. While this is also something I’m used to (one of my favourite pillows being the equally boxy Otty Deluxe Pure), I’d be surprised if some people weren’t put off by it.
And another thing that may put you off is the price. It’s quite an expensive option at £70, and there’s no trial period allowing you to try it out before you commit that money. That said, I wasn’t totally shocked by the price, given how much some of its rivals cost.
The aforementioned Otty Deluxe Pure, for instance, is the same price, as is REM-Fit’s Deluxe Pocket Sprung Pillow, which is another great option for side sleepers. The Simba Hybrid Pillow, on the other hand, costs £109, and the Tempur Original SmartCool Pillow I reviewed recently is a whopping £149. If you’re after a cheaper foam option, the Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is well worth considering: it’s comfortable, supportive and great value at £45.
Nevertheless, there is a chance you might find the Eve Hybrid Side Sleeper discounted during one of the brand’s online sales, particularly around peak sales events such as Black Friday.
My final complaint concerns the name of the product. I’ve found that mattress and bedding brands (and Eve is not the only guilty party here) have become all-too-ready to slap the word “hybrid” onto products, to the point that it’s become almost meaningless.
I can understand when it’s used to refer to a mattress made from a combination of memory foam and springs (as the word was traditionally used by bed-in-a-box brands), but it’s not clear what it’s referring to here. The combination of memory foam and hollowfibre, perhaps? But if so, that opens the door for anything that uses more than one type of filling or material to be called a “hybrid”, which seems silly.
Should I buy the Eve Hybrid Side Sleeper pillow?
Anyway, I’m straying into petty semantics, here. Ultimately, it matters little what Eve calls its pillows. If you’re comfortable with departing with £70 and you like a firmer feeling pillow, the Eve Hybrid Side Sleeper is a great option.
I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking for plush softness or anyone on a tight budget. If you’re in the latter camp, check out the Panda pillow I mentioned above. But as someone who likes a bit of firmness and isn’t offended by the denser feel of memory foam, I found it struck a great balance between comfort and support.
