Even after living here for over six years, I still dread New York City summers: stuffy subways, sweaty commutes, and inadequate air conditioning. But thanks to a couple of strategic bedding swaps, I can escape the city heat in my bedroom and wake up feeling cool and refreshed. 

As a warm sleeper for my whole life, I’ve tried cooling sheets, thin blankets, and more to combat sweating through the night during the summer months, but never thought to invest in a cooling pillow. (Frankly, I didn’t know such a thing existed.) That’s until I tried the Casper Hybrid Snow Pillow nearly two years ago—and reader, I cannot live without it now.

Cool to the Touch

The first thing I noticed about this pillow is that it’s immediately cool to the touch. Even after two years, I’m met with cool memory foam every time I touch this pillow thanks to Casper’s “snow technology.” According to Casper, this pillow guarantees over 12 hours of cool sleep, and I agree that the pillow feels equally cool when I fall asleep as when I wake up. 

The combination of the pillow’s foam layers and a fiber core makes for a very supportive and comfortable surface that molds to your head and neck, and the fiber components keep this pillow feeling breathable, dense, and again, supportive all night long.

On warm nights, I look forward to laying my head on its cool surface. I’ve found that when my head is cool, the rest of my body stays cool as well. Of course, when combined with cooling sheets, a lightweight linen duvet cover, and an oscillating tower fan, I get to enjoy the perfect recipe for summer sleep. 

Support for Every Sleeper

Casper says this pillow is best for side sleepers. I start on my side, fall asleep on my stomach, and often wake up on my back, so I’m considered a combination sleeper. I can attest that this pillow supports you in any and every sleep position.

The thickness of the pillow fits perfectly between my neck and head. The cushioning leaves me feeling supported but not suffocated; super lofty and soft pillows can sometimes have that kind of feel, to me at least.

In comparison, my other favorite pillow, the Slumbercloud Core Down Alternative Pillow, lacks the cooling properties of this one, but also the supportive qualities. I often find myself reaching for additional pillows to pair with my Slumbercloud to provide the level of support and loft I just automatically get with my Casper one, further proving it’s an all-in-one option for warm sleepers who need support in every position. 

To top it all off, the supportive nature of the Casper Hybrid Snow Pillow lasts. One of my favorite aspects of this pillow is its ability to keep its shape. Before trying it, I’d never had a foam pillow, and I’m truly amazed that after two years of sleep, it still bounces back.

Extra Details You’ll Love

Unlike other pillows I’ve tried, this one comes with a removable cover. Known as the “cooling cover,” it can be easily machine-washed and tumble-dried similar to a pillowcase, which I love. No extra effort required. 

I find the cover and the pillow inside equally cool to the touch, but since this pillow is meant to be cooling, you could use the cover as a makeshift pillowcase so no cooling technology gets lost in the layers. 

For both practical and aesthetic reasons, I usually opt to still put a pillowcase over this pillow. Luckily, I can still feel the coolness of the pillow through the thin pillowcase. I choose to just wash my pillowcase instead of the cover as a result.

I usually opt for a silk pillowcase that allows me to protect my skin and hair more so than with the knit cover included with the pillow. Plus, I find silk to be naturally lightweight and cooling, so doing so adds one more refreshing element to my sleep routine. 

All this said, my one gripe with the Casper Hybrid Snow Pillow is the slight blue hue. I’m sure the color is meant to mirror the cooling technology inside, but I find that the blue is still visible even through my pillowcase. This can take away from a monochromatic bedding scheme, but this is a small price to pay for a cooler night’s sleep. 

Why It’s Worth It

While I previously couldn’t see myself spending $150 for a pillow, I can’t withstand New York City summers without the Casper Hybrid Snow Pillow. It comes in two sizes (standard and king), and the standard is just under $150. It’s also the one I opted for.

A full foam pillow can become heavy and dense (I already find the hybrid option quite heavy compared to the rest of the pillows on my bed), so that’s something to keep in mind if you do plan to store this pillow away in the winter. 

However, I often find myself reaching for this pillow even during colder months to combat the blaring central heat in my small apartment, and you might not want to put yours away either, especially if you’re a hot sleeper. 

TL;DR: I recommend this pillow to anyone and everyone in warm or cold climates, year-round, and despite sleep style. It’s the extra-cooling and supportive pillow that I was missing out on for so long—and now that you know, you don’t have to miss out on it, either.