Tempur Ombracio Smartcool Pillow review: comfortable and cool, but a weird shape

The Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow is certainly an unusual shape. It's described by the manufacturer as a “four-notch cloverleaf” but I’d call it X-shaped. The reason for its non-rectangular shape is that it’s designed for front sleepers and pillow huggers, with the notches at the sides being where you can rest your hands.

Similar to a few of the best pillows I've tested, such as my favourite Dreams Tempur Cloud Air SmartCool Medium Pillow, it's made from the trusted Tempur memory foam – made in Denmark, born from NASA technology. Filled with Tempur Adapt Material micro-cushions, its ability to adapt to your exact profile promises to offer pressure relief.

Also like the Dreams pillow, Tempur's Ombracio SmartCool pillow has a SmartCool cover that's designed to be cool to the touch, and to absorb excess body heat – so could it be one of the best cooling pillows?

Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow review

Specifications

• RRP: £199
• Size: 50x60x14cm
• Sleep position: Front (and pillow huggers)
• Filling: Memory foam
• Firmness: Medium
• Trial: 30 nights
• Guarantee: 3 years

First impressions of the Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow

The Tempur Ombracio feels super-squishy, like a marshmallow. When I unpacked it, I was genuinely excited at the prospect of sleeping on it. And the cover feels soft and cool to the touch.

The shape is striking. But the pillow is small (I measured it at more like 50x45cm) so it wouldn’t fill a pretty pillowcase anyway, even if it was the right shape.

What's the Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow like to use?

If you sleep on your front, the best option is… to stop. Even if it seems comfortable, it’s doing your spine no favours. I spoke to sleep posture experts including Levitex founder James Leinhardt, who explained that you should avoid any ‘provocative’ position that sees both your knees touch the mattress.

So if you sleep on your side, don’t let the top leg roll forward, and sleeping on your front is a no-no. You can read James’s advice in more detail in my Levitex Sleep Posture Pillow review, but in a nutshell, you should get the right pillow and posture instead of sleeping on your front.

Thankfully, despite its X-shape being designed for front-sleepers, the Tempur Ombracio does seem useable in all positions.

I found its (removable, washable) cover very cooling and, especially considering the funny shape, would be tempted to buy a second cover and not bother with a standard pillowcase at all.

How does the Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow compare?

The Dreams Tempur Cloud Air SmartCool Medium Pillow is a regular-shaped pillow with the same filling and same SmartCool cover as the Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow. And I much preferred it.

If you’re determined to sleep on your front, by all means go for the Ombracio, it’s a good pillow. But the Cloud Air is a better all-rounder, with the same delightful filling. It actually feels like how I imagine sleeping on a cloud would feel.

Should you buy the Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow?

I did like the Tempur Ombracio SmartCool pillow… yet I’d say if you're a front-sleeper then it’s better to correct your sleep posture and get the Dreams Tempur Cloud Air SmartCool Medium Pillow instead. It’s actually cheaper and I can’t see any advantage in the Ombracio’s quirky shape, once you’ve got the right posture.

Either way, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Tempur Outlet page where you can find some pillows half price. Not all pillows are on there but be patient, as stock changes daily. The outlet pillows have the same three-year guarantee but only a 14-day free trial instead of 30 days. Still, it brings the price down tremendously. You can see today's best deals from other retailers below.