Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow review: can this gel-infused pillow help with night sweats and migraines?

Price on writing: £30 | Buy now from Amazon

How we tested

Our tester Sam put the Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow through its paces over the course of a month. She slept on the pillow every night, taking detailed notes on its effectiveness against night sweats and migraines, as well as how comfortable and versatile it was.

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Our verdict

While Mumsnetters swear by the best neck fans for keeping you cool during the day, night time is a different kettle of fish altogether. With night sweats, hot flushes and heat waves to deal with, keeping your bed cool can be a tall order.

Our tester Sam was keen to try out Silentnight's Cool Touch Pillow as an antidote to the dreaded night sweats, but found an added bonus in its soothing abilities for migraines. Sceptical at first, she was really impressed with the effectiveness, coolness and comfort of the pillow.

Using pressure-activated gel, the pillow actively cools your head and neck all night. What's more, it's compatible with any type of pillow insert and cover, so you won't need to forego your memory foam or feather pillow, or your silk pillowcase.

Read next: The best handheld fans for keeping cool on the go

What's the Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow like to sleep on?

The first thing to know about the Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow is that it's the removable cover that contains the cooling gel. Sam likes to sleep with a supportive memory foam pillow, so she was glad to see that you can remove the microfibre pillow that's included, and replace it with your own preferred type of pillow. What's more, you can then put your favourite pillowcase over the top - great those who prefer a silk, high-thread-count cotton or bamboo pillowcase. Silentnight do have a matching Cool Touch Pillowcase, but it wasn't part of our test.

The cooling gel layer has an unusual look, not unlike bubble-wrap, and you can feel it through your pillowcase. However, its cooling effects far outweighed its alien texture, and Sam was a convert straight away.

As the gel is only on one side of the pillow, it's easy to flip over when you don't need or want the gel layer, then flip back when you do. While it didn't manage to reduce Sam's night sweats, it's a lovely relief to have your pillow cool you down.

The very best thing about this pillow however, is its effectiveness during a migraine. Sam found the coolness of the pressure-activated gel comforting and soothing, providing some much-appreciated relief from the pain of a migraine.

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How effective is the Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow?

The pressure-activated gel is a genius invention. Press down with your hand and you'll immediately feel it get to work, and as you move around during the night, its cooling powers never wear out. While the effects of some cooling products can be more subtle, the Cool Touch pillow provides a really pleasant, cool surface to lay your head on.

It's very effective at cooling your head and neck down, providing relief when you get overheated or sweaty at night. When Sam was dealing with a painful migraine, the pillow's coolness was soothing and provided a bit of relief.

What's more, scientists have investigated the best temperature for a good night's kip, and it turns out a cool environment signals to our brains that it's time to wind down, leading to better quality sleep.

Related: The best air coolers for heatwaves

Is the Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow good value for money?

There are a number of cooling pillows on the market, most of them made from moisture-wicking and temperature regulating fabrics and memory foam, which respond to your body temperature. The Silentnight Cool Touch Pillow goes one step further, with effects more like a refrigerated gel insert. Providing active cooling with a gel that doesn't warm up or wear out, Sam is very impressed with its results.

At £30, it's certainly not cheap, but when compared to other pillows with cooling properties like the Tempur Cloud SmartCool at £139, we think its a great price and, if you suffer with night sweats, migraines or are simply trying to get through a heatwave, it makes a wise investment in your sleep quality.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 2 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer.

About Mumsnet reviews

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