I ditched my thin pillow for a firmer hybrid side sleeper pillow, and my shoulder pain disappeared – here’s the pillow I now recommend, and it’s on sale too

(Image credit: Panda London)

I had shoulder pain that I had accepted as part of my life, so splashing out on a pillow just didn't seem worth it to me. But when my husband started raving about his pillow, the Panda Hybrid pillow for £71 at Panda London, I thought I'd give it a try.

He suffers from chronic back pain, and said the Panda London Hybrid pillow was making a big difference. After stealing his for a few nights while he worked nightshifts, I decided to take the plunge and get one for myself, which ended up being the best thing I could do.

Like some of the best pillows we've tested so far, the Panda London Hybrid is made of memory foam infused with bamboo and charcoal — used to make it sleep cool. It has a medium firm feel, offering plenty of support for head and neck alignement. It boasts Active O₂ Micro-pods, that promotes better airflow and I've felt that this helps me sleep cooler at night. Right now, this pillow is down to £71.96 which matches the price we saw during Black Friday. It also comes with sleep benefits like a 10-year guarantee and free delivery and returns in the UK.

User score: ★★★★½ (670+ reviews)

Why I love the Panda Hybrid Pillow

I was frequently buying super cheap pillows and finding no comfort or relief with them. Yes, I know £71 is still a lot of money. However, investing in this pillow has truly eased my shoulder pain, which in turn has helped me get better quality sleep.

As a side sleeper, I find the Panda London Hybrid delivers a balance of comfort and support for my head, neck and shoulders, providing immense pressure relief.

Additionally, the bamboo charcoal-infused memory foam core works wonders for hot sleepers like me, since it regulates temperature and wicks away moisture. Struggle with allergies? The Panda London pillow also comes with anti-allergy and naturally antibacterial properties.

The only thing to note about this pillow is that it is on the firmer side, boasting "advanced support" for your neck and shoulders. If you prefer something softer, or want to be able to customize the feel of your pillow, consider the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow below.

If you like something softer...

Alexis recently joined the Tom's Guide Sleep Team as a Deals Writer. She is passionate about helping others get better sleep and even more passionate about finding a great deal, whether that's on some of the top mattress brands out there like Saatva, Nectar and DreamCloud, or on leading sleep tech like smart trackers. She is an experienced writer and editor in the lifestyle industry and has worked on major UK and US publications, including Daily Mail, Space.com, and Black Women Rising Magazine.