10 months after testing this buttery-soft Tempur-Pedic pillow, it's still my go-to for banishing neck pain — here's why

Tom's Guide Senior Staff Writer Ruth Jones lies on her stomach while using the Tempur-Cloud Pillow under her head. A blue circular inset image shows more detail about the pillow itself

(Image credit: Tom's Guide, Future)

Part of my job as a senior sleep staff writer for Tom’s Guide involves testing a revolving cast of bedding. About 10 months ago a box arrived on my desk and inside was the Tempur-Cloud, a buttery-soft pillow that’s currently priced $79 at Tempur-Pedic.

Maybe it’s because of the name, but upon opening the box I was expecting to find a thick pillow as fluffy as a child's drawing of a cloud. That isn’t what I found; the Tempur-Pedic Cloud is a lot flatter.

But you know what? That initial disappointment soon faded because this super-soft foam Cloud turned out to be the best pillow I’ve ever tried as a stomach sleeper.

Here's everything I've learned about it in the 10 months I’ve been sleeping on it…

1. It can prevent neck pain

The Tempur-Cloud pillow has two features that make it perfect for back and stomach sleepers: a low loft and soft foams.

Low loft means your head isn't tilted upwards, allowing your neck and spine to maintain alignment. The soft feel ensures your head can sink to a comfortable position, instead of staying propped up in the wrong place.

A woman lies on her back with her head resting on the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Pillow. — (Image credit: Future)

I'm a stomach sleeper and when I slept on taller pillows I used to experience a lot of neck pain in the morning, alongside jaw pain, headaches and shoulder pain (it was an ache from the skull down.) Spending the night on the wrong pillow could quite literally ruin my day.

Since switching to the Tempur-Cloud pillow, these morning pains are rare, which is particularly impressive when you consider stomach sleeping is widely regarded as the worst sleep position.

2. It's easy to clean

Just discovering that you're meant to wash your pillows? Sorry about that. And most pillows don't make it easy, with complex care demands.

But the Tempur-Cloud comes wrapped in a thick cover that can be removed and machine washed with ease.

This helps prevent staining and can keep your pillow fresher for longer, particularly as the cover stops moisture from seeping into the foam core (where it's much harder to remove.)

A closeup of a hand unzipping the cover of the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Pillow to show the Tempur Material interior — (Image credit: Future)

Easy cleaning is also good news for anyone with allergies, as an unwashed pillow can harbor dust mites, pet dander and pollen, pressing it right against your face as you're sleeping.

When I first started testing this pillow I came down with a pretty bad fever. I'll spare you the details but let's just say that by the second night I was worried my bed could be used in germ warfare. Thanks to the Tempur-Cloud's removable cover, my brand new pillow didn't become a 'resevoir for germs.'

3. The cooling upgrade has its benefits

If I have one regret with the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud pillow, it's not opting for the cooling upgrade.

The dense foams of the Tempur-Cloud trap warmth and are slow to expel heat. On a warm night, that means I spend a lot of time searching for a non-existent 'cool side.'

A close-up of a hand pressing into the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Pillow, demonstrating the pressure relief — (Image credit: Future)

The only time in the past year that I didn't use my Tempur-Cloud pillow was during a summer heatwave when I was worried the overnight temperatures might melt my pillow like a marshmallow in a s'more.

The cooling upgrade is the same basic pillow but it comes with a cool-to-the-touch cover from just $20 extra at Tempur-Pedic.

This should help dispel the pesky overheating problem and means I can use my preferred pillow year-round.

Alternatives to consider

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Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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