They often say that it's the little things in life that matter the most. When it comes to achieving a refreshing, rejuvenating night's sleep, this statement couldn't be truer. Among those 'little things' is your pillow. Overlooked and often under-appreciated, a truly good pillow can be the difference between waking up revitalised and refreshed, or spending the day nursing a neck sprain or back ache. The Luna Gel Memory Pillow is sold on two promises, pressure-relieving support for your head and neck and a cooler night's sleep, and owners have had plenty to say about both.
How we assessed it
This is a moulded block of gel memory foam, 12cm deep and 40cm by 64cm, so it sits at one fixed height. A fibre pillow can be shaken up or squashed down to suit you, but a moulded one can't, so judge that 12cm before anything else. On paper it's a tall pillow with a medium feel, and I'd expect it to fill the gap between a side sleeper's ear and shoulder far better than it suits anyone lying on their front. Owners describe the same build: one called it "Firm enough to keep neck at comfortable height but soft enough to be comfortable", while another credited "The box shape and firm yet comfortable texture" for the support.
Design and Features
The Luna Gel Memory Pillow seeks to offer a medium comfort rating, designed to balance comfort and much-needed head and neck support. Its main feature is the moulded gel memory foam, hence the nomenclature. Fringed with a 3D breathable border and encased in a hypoallergenic, removable cover, the Luna offers a fresher and supposedly cosier sleeping experience. But here's where I feel the need to interject with a healthy scepticism. Owners keep describing it as comfortable and supportive, so comfort isn't my worry. The cooling is another matter. A breathable border runs round the edge, but your head still rests on moulded memory foam, which holds on to warmth. The gel should take the edge off that, so I'd expect it to sleep cooler than a plain memory foam pillow and warmer than the listing suggests. The few owners who mention heat are happy with it so far, though one of them still wrote "I just hope it stays cool during the summer nights".
Construction
The Gel Memory Pillow is made with hypoallergenic materials aimed to cater to those with sensitive skin or inherent allergies. The hypoallergenic feature is a plus and the removable cover provides further convenience. It is machine washable, further improving the pillow's hygiene aspect. However, the gel memory foam is where my reservations lie. The moulding itself should do its job, and one owner wrote that "it does adjust to your shape every time". The depth is what bothers me. As someone who prefers a lower pillow, I'd expect one this deep to prop my neck up further than I'd like. A couple of owners found exactly that. One who prefers "a slightly lower pillow height for better neck comfort" now keeps theirs for sitting up in bed.
Suitability
The Luna Gel Memory Pillow, I believe, is more suitable for side sleepers or those who sleep with wide shoulders due to the height they maintain from the mattress. Also, if you're someone who battles with allergies, the hypoallergenic feature is a nice point to consider. But if one shares my preference for a lower pillow, you may find the pillow's design a bit troubling. And though it is touted as a cooling pillow, if you're someone who gets hot during the night, the Luna might not meet your freshness expectations.
What Customers Thought
Owners are mostly happy with the Luna. Comfort and neck support come up most often: one wrote that it "is comfortable and supports the head and neck perfectly", and another said "my morning neck pain was easing" once they had got used to the shape, which took "a good 2 weeks". Several side sleepers like the depth. One bought it for a partner whose wide shoulders made normal pillows difficult and wrote "this gel is deep enough", while another found it "the right height for me alone" and said it "has not flattened over time". The cooling gets some praise too: one owner wrote "Love the pillows keeps me nice & cool". The complaints are fewer and most are about height. One owner echoed my sentiment, writing "I've found the pillow too high my head always comes off it". Another found it "just a little thicker than our preference" for sleeping, though one thought it "a little low for side sleepers". One reviewer said it "Made my shoulders & neck ache", and one found it "a tad on the stiffer side" when sleeping on their side.
The Verdict
In wrapping up this review, it's clear the Luna Gel Memory Pillow presents a contentious ground. On the upside, it is comfortable and supportive, and the hypoallergenic feature is brilliant. But it's far from perfect. The height can be challenging for those who prefer a softer, lower pillow, and the cooling feature might leave you feeling lukewarm. Regardless, it's indisputable that much thought has been put into the design and construction in an attempt to cater to various sleepers. It hits the mark if you want a tall, supportive, hypoallergenic pillow, and misses if you want something low, soft or genuinely cooling.
