Simba Hybrid Pillow review: I tried the £109 memory foam pillow — does it live up to its 20,000 five star reviews?

has built a strong reputation for helping shoppers get some shuteye, but can its Hybrid Pillow live up to the hype and deliver the Zzz?

After a gander at its website, I can see that Simba has racked up an impressive haul of awards across its product lines (from Sun Shopping, among others) along with a staggering 325,000 five-star reviews. 

I have to confess that I am a frugal shopper, and the £109 price tag made my eyes water. 

I’m also a sceptic of buzzy marketing phrases, and Simba is no stranger to interesting terms to describe the tech it uses in its pillows. 

However, as a self-professed wriggler — I wake up throughout the night needing a bit of comfort and support — I knew I was the candidate for the job. 

I’ll admit upfront that my previous pillow setup was far from ideal; an assortment of crappy pillows with inconsistent firmness, stacked on top of each other to support me while in the land of nod. 

I am mildly ashamed to admit this, but I naively believed that all pillows were the same, rarely spending over £20 unless I got two.

But the for one, and with that steep price tag, it will be interesting to see if spending more will improve my quality of sleep. 

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Stratos sleep tech
• Customisable
• Luxurious

Cons:

• Could be more supportive
• On the expensive side

Rating: 7/10

Simba Hybrid Pillow review: how I tested

As The Sun’s Home and Garden eCommerce writer it's my job to try and test products to see if they’re worth adding to your basket, especially if they come with a hefty price tag. 

The arrived surprisingly quickly — and I’ll admit that it sat untouched for a few days before I finally got around to unwrapping it — but once I did, I committed to trying it for a full week.

I wanted to keep things as close to a normal week for me: no late-night cheese binges or overly strenuous activities that might skew my sleep quality. 

Let’s just say it was a thoroughly average week designed to test the pillow in a fair way. 

My previous pillows were not of a premium price point either, so this was an eye-opener to see if paying more does pay for a good night's sleep.

Simba Hybrid Pillow, £92.65 (was £109)

Simba Hybrid Pillow: Quickfire Q&A

How much is the Simba Hybrid Pillow? The Simba Hybrid Pillow retails for £109 and that feels a bit steep to me.

Who's it best for? This is suitable for most shoppers, the Nanocubes mould to the pressure, offering gentle support without being too firm on the ole' head and neck.

What I loved The Stratos cool-touch sleep tech is award-winning and I can really see why. It is beyond luxurious and kept me cool all night long.

What I didn't like The price. However, I would definitely consider buying it when its on sale.

The Nitty Gritty

First impressions

The Simba Hybrid doesn’t look like your average pillow.

It's slightly bigger and the mesh-like seam that runs around the pillow's edge is over an inch wide, helping to increase airflow in and around the pillow. It's a really nice touch. 

When you first prise the pillow out of its branded storage bag, there isn't a plasticky smell, despite its quite synthetic fabrication.

I will say, as pillows go, it is the perfect plumpness, and doesn’t flatten even after a tight squeeze.

I have to confess; I immediately hugged the pillow into a tight embrace and let out a little squeal, because it was such an upgrade from what I had been sleeping on.

Within seconds,, it puffed back into its original plumpness and I was excited to pop it on my bed to sleep on it.

Just like the Simba Hybrid Firm pillow, the is quite full and does take some effort to cram into a standard size pillow case, which is something to consider.

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Simba Hybrid Pillow, £92.65 (was £109)

However, the pillow does have a removable cover to wash, so depending on your preference, I reckon you could sleep without a pillow case.

It has a pretty cool design, so I don't think it would look too out of place on your bed.

Opening up the pillow and unzipping the middle to scoop out some Nanocubes, I felt a bit disappointed.

For £109, you don’t want to see warped, mottled cubes that look like someone has cut up a bathroom sponge and filled your pillow with it.

However, that really is my only gripe, because it's still an upgrade to my previous pillow. 

And for those with sensitive skin and reactions to ordinary down pillows, Nanocubes are a great alternative, with little difference in feel.

In all honesty, I am really sold on Simba's cooling Stratos sleep tech because it is a treat to lay your head against — but I have to confess I do prefer its firmer counterpart (which you can read more about in my which I tested and shared a full Simba Hybrid Firm pillow review).

I am really sold on Simba's Stratos sleep tech

isn’t messing around when it comes to sleep, but would I part with £109 for this pillow? Maybe not.

Luckily, it regularly goes on sale, and at the time of writing (February 2025) you can pick it up for a smidge over £90.

Performance

The Simba Hybrid errs on the softer side, and I really thought I would prefer this over the Simba Hybrid Firm.

In the end, however, I didn't — as a wriggler, I need firmness to keep my head and neck in a comfortable position as I shimmy from side to side.

That's not to say that this pillow doesn't have any support, because it does, but the tiny Nanocubes definitely mold around your body instead of adding a little resistance to support it.

Admittedly, they're a great novelty, but as someone who sleeps in all sorts of positions, I occasionally woke up wriggling into the pillow needing further support.

I’d say it looks firmer than it actually is, but if you like a squishier pillow - then this will deliver on comfort as you really do sink into it.

To customise the height and firmness of this pillow, all you need to do is unzip the main pillow case and then unzip the bag inside containing the Nanocubes and scoop out a couple of handfuls to suit your desired height and firmness.

I didn’t actually remove any during the week because if I could, I would have had it firmer. 

A couple of nights in, I considered adding an extra pillow underneath, for a little extra height and support.

I was curious to see if my sleep improved as I got used to the pillow. I definitely slept better than I did before, but I was happy to return to the Simba Hybrid Firm.

The Stratos cooling tech in the pillow's removable case gives it a full-bodied exterior that resumes its shape even after applying lots of pressure and despite sounding synthetic, it is breathable and I didn’t feel the need to flip it over to the ‘cool’ side at any point.

Simba Hybrid Pillow, £92.65 (was £109)

What's the difference between the Simba Hybrid pillow and the Simba Hybrid Firm?

The main difference is that Simba Hybrid Firm has removable layers with support feels evenly distributed; meanwhile, the Simba Hybrid has tiny Nanocubes, which are also removable but mould to any pressure applied with little resistance.

I reckon if you’re on the fence about which to choose, head over to and start a live chat with a helpful advisor, they can help pick the best pillow for your budget and needs.

Are Simba pillows worth it?

Your budget and needs are an important consideration.

However, in my experience of using the versus my previous pillows, the quality is worlds apart.

Simba is a sleep specialist brand and that expertise and passion comes at a cost; a steep one, admittedly, but my sleep noticeably improved.

I was definitely a sceptic to begin with, but is award-winning and I can see why. 

I was definitely a sceptic to begin with, but Simba’s sleep tech is award-winning and I can see why. 

The Stratos down-like filling keeps you cool and the cleverly designed fillings can be adjusted to suit your sleep style, which are touches I am now more open-minded to pay for.

And considering we spend so much time sleeping, my girl math calculated that over the course of the year, you’re spending less than 30p a night to sleep on such luxury.

Can you wash Simba pillows?

In short, yes — parts of them, at least.

However, it’s worth noting that each Simba pillow is designed a bit differently, so it’s always a good idea to check if your chosen pillow can be washed.

Both the Simba Hybrid and Simba Hybrid Firm pillows feature removable, quilted covers that can easily be tossed in the wash. 

Keeping your pillow fresh and clean is a simple way to extend its lifespan, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a wash every now and then. 

There’s no overall rule for how often, but I’d suggest keeping an eye out for any signs like discolouration or odours – all good indicators that it’s time for a clean.

Do you need a pillowcase for a Simba pillow?

This one’s entirely up to you!

Personally, I opted to use a pillowcase out of habit – I just love the feeling of fresh sheets and matching bedding. 

That said, the Simba Hybrid Firm is a bit on the larger side, and I did find myself wrestling it into a standard pillowcase, which was a snug fit at best. 

If you’re planning to use a pillowcase, I’d recommend sizing up for a better fit, if possible.

The good news is, Simba pillows don’t actually require a pillowcase. 

Both designs come with a quilted, removable cover that’s perfectly presentable on its own.

So, if you’re happy with the way they look, you could easily skip the case altogether.

If you're curious about how to sleep better, check out our sleep tips and tricks page.