Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow review: A close second favourite on my bed

The struggle of the side-sleeper is one I know well: one pillow isn't enough and two is too many. Yet, with the Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow, I think I've cracked the code to getting a good night's sleep.

I'm always on the lookout for the best pillows for side sleepers - and this one ticks all the boxes and more. From my first look, I could tell it was going to be good for side sleepers like me thanks to the high-tech memory foam in the pillow (called iGel Advance). This offers gentle pressure relief that supports the head and aligns the spine with a depth deeper than other pillows I've tried to achieve that alignment.

This is certainly one of the best pillows around. Here, after several nights of testing, I reveal why it's worth buying and what you need to know about this premium pillow before you invest.

Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £79.99
• Size: 48x70x20cm
• Sleep position: Side
• Filling: Memory foam and foam blend
• Firmness: Firm
• Trial: None
• Guarantee: 1 year

First impressions of the Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow

This is one bulky pillow. It's heavy and considerably deeper than most - even walled pillows like the Snuggledown Luxurious Hotel Side Sleeper pillow. So, on removing the pillow from the packet, I could tell this would be a pillow of interest to anyone like me who finds that sleeping on one pillow isn't supportive enough.

From the moment I lay my head down, the memory foam conformed to my shape, providing gentle, firm, and comfortable pressure relief. And while it's not ice cold to the touch, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the iGel offers cooling properties that wick away moisture. While it may not be the best choice for some in cooler seasons, it's a great option for any side sleepers looking for one of the best cooling pillows as well.

What is the Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow like to use?

Crucially, this pillow is very comfortable. After a few nights sleeping on this pillow, I could see it becoming a regular on my bed. It doesn't do anything radical and its techy materials are invisible - you can feel them, rather than see them - but I consistently slept well with it. I can't say the same for every pillow I've tested over the years, so that's saying something.

However, I do occasionally sleep on my back. I don't toss and turn but I do change position - and this pillow really is only right for exclusively side sleepers. It didn't ruin my sleep by any means but when I would naturally sleep on my back for a time, I felt my pillow was too high and rolled to one side or the other. I didn't wake up - but it showed me this is a side-sleeping-only pillow.

Per Bensons for Beds, this pillow transfers heat seven times faster than standard foam, helping regulate your body temperature and wicking away moisture. Its "phase change crystals" can store or release energy, to cool you when you’re hot and warm you when you’re cold, they say. I didn't find the pillow ice cold to the touch like the Luff Sleep Mayfair Cooling Gel Pillow - but I didn't wake up with a hot head either, so it does help to regulate temperature but in a subtle way. For anyone experiencing night sweats as a perimenopause symptom, this could be a good choice.

I did notice it smelled a bit of foam, a phenomenon called "off-gassing". I didn’t like the smell but it doesn't last and, being CertiPUR labelled, the pillow should at least be free from harmful substances.

How does the Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow compare?

Of all the pillows I've had designed for side sleepers, this is my second-favourite - my top choice being the Simba Hybrid Firm Pillow but at double the cost, this is a very close second. The Bensons pillow is a great choice, so long as you sleep on your side.

For affordable options, consider the Dreams Side Sleeper Pillow which you only need one of, or the Slumberdown Super Support Firmer Pillow, which you need two of if you’re a side-sleeper.

Should you buy the Bensons for Beds iGel Side Sleeper Deep Pillow?

This is a pillow suitable only for those who sleep on their side - and if that's you, then this is a good buy. The thickness is perfect for aligning the spine, the materials feel premium, and the temperature regulation is an unexpected benefit.

If you struggle with finding a pillow to sleep on your side with, for the price, this is truly one of the best choices.