Groove Pillow Review – Designed to help with neck pain
Advantages
Removable cover
The cover is removable & comes with the zipper.
Breathable
Highly breathable due to the bamboo-charcoal infusion.
Great for neck pain treatment
Thanks to the lateral raised sided, you get ergonomic design that relieves you from neck pain.
Disadvantages
Cover is hard to remove
Being in the centre, zipper can be difficult to remove.
One size
The current size may not be suitable for bigger people.
Features you should know about The Groove Pillow
Everyone wants to sleep easy at night and there are some features within this product that can help with that. As previously mentioned, The Original Groove Pillow is ideal for different sleep positions but also for hot sleepers due to its breathability. Another key point is the low maintenance of it which is something many people will look for.
Ergonomic design
The lateral raised sides are perfect for side sleepers. Having lateral raised sides means it keeps your head and neck alleviated, and in turn, it helps to soothe any neck pains. There is space underneath the pillow for your shoulders to fit comfortably when sleeping on your side. Both of those design features are used as a way to keep your upper body muscles tension-free, whilst keeping your spine straight.
For those who are back sleepers, there is a groove in the pillow which gives the ideal placement for your head and promotes neutral spine alignment. Again, the underhang of the pillow allows your shoulders to rest to stop any stiffness or leave you waking up with aches and pains.
Bamboo and charcoal-infused
Bamboo and charcoal both have their benefits when it comes to sleep products. Firstly, bamboo helps to regulate sleep temperature because it is fully breathable and moisture-wicking, allowing you to have a good night's sleep.
On the other hand, charcoal provides odour-eliminating and hypoallergenic properties. Both of these elements work together so your sleep remains germ-free and allergy-free.
Machine-washable cover
So many pillows can be too much to maintain over time but The Original Groove Pillow has been made to make your life a little easier. The soft scuba cover comes with a pillow and is removable to be machine-washed. While the pillow itself can't be washed, the outer shell can be to keep your pillow clean. There is an inner protective layer that ensures memory foam longevity, so it is perfectly fine to just keep the cover washed.
KEY FEATURES:
- Size: 60 x 34 x 11/6 cm
- Weight: 1 kg
- Cover material: Soft scuba
- Layer(s) material: Bamboo/charcoal infused memory foam; polyester lining
- Firmness: 7.5/10
- Support: 8/10
- Breathability: 10/10
- Motion isolation: 8.5/10
- Pressure relief: 9.5/10
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
- Removable cover: Yes (recycled plastic zipper)
- Care instructions: The cover is machine washable
- Warranty: 100 days warranty
- Trial: 100 days
- Delivery info: Free; 2-4 working days within the UK
What we like about The Groove Pillow
- Soft pillows feel pleasant to lie on, everyone can agree, and the soft polyester lining of this pillow is what makes it even better to sleep with. There will be no irritation from the cover, just a dreamy softness.
- If you are a back or side sleeper, you will know how important it is to have a good posture while you sleep because it can easily cause upper back pain, and neck and shoulder pains. Having a design in the Groove pillows that reduces your movement and keeps you in one position, is a great solution.
- This pillow is high-density which can put some people off. However, if you are like me, you will find that it is firm enough to support your head and neck, but also squishy enough to be comfy.
What we don’t like about The Groove Pillow
Not everyone will agree on the same type of pillow, as there are always cons for someone when it comes to choosing their pillow.
- This Groove pillow can easily move around on the bed if you are a fidgety sleeper. There is no real grip on the pillow, having a super soft cover all over the pillow. It can be difficult to remain in one place, as we found out from testing. Although, once you are used to the pillow there should be less chance of movement during the night so it shouldn't stay an issue.
- The pillow dimensions make the pillow flat compared to others, for example, fluffy pillows. It was just about right for me but those with a deeper profile or broader shoulders will find it harder to get comfortable.
- The zipper for this pillow is in the centre of the base which makes it trickier to remove the pillow from the cover.
The common problems with The Original Groove Pillow & how to solve them
It might not be easy to adjust to the pillow as it is different to a fluffy pillow. You will need to continue with it until you become used to it. However, if you are a stomach sleeper then it is unlikely that you will find it comfortable. So, if it is the first time trying a memory foam pillow like this then be prepared to accommodate for this design.
Groove's customer service and company information
Delivery – There is free shipping available on purchases over £70, otherwise there is a delivery fee. The delivery can take 2-4 working days to arrive.
Payment – You can pay with standard card payments, as well as Google Pay, Apple Pay and PayPal.
Customer service – On their website, there is an email address and phone number for any support you may need. However, there is no live online chat like many other companies have. This can make contacting them more difficult if you are wanting an immediate response.
Check the alternatives to The Original Groove Pillow
If a memory foam pillow seems like the type of pillow you are looking for but are unsure if the Groove pillow is the one for you then we have another suggestion for you. We recommended having a look at the Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow from Panda.
Panda Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow
It is within the same price range as the Groove pillow price, so there's no worry about having to spend a lot more on one than the other.
This pillow also has the properties of being infused with bamboo, making it breathable, antibacterial and hypoallergenic – all factors that are achieved by The Original Groove Pillow.
If you would like to learn more about this product, we highly recommend you checking our review of Panda Memory Foam Bamboo pillow.
Advantages
100% eco-friendly
The pillow is eco-friendly & safe for vegans as well.
Thermo regulating
You won't get hot, nor do you get cold with this one.
Supportive
Great support & orthopaedic-like properties.
Disadvantages
Not ideal for stomach sleepers
Some stomach sleepers found it to be too firm.
One size
It is available in one size only.
Average motion isolation
The motion isolation is lower than one would expect for this price range
What makes this product better than some other similar ones?
The Original Groove Pillow has a removable cover which other memory foam pillows don't often have. The actual pillow is inside an inner case to stay protected. Memory foam pillows have a longer lifespan than others, and this pillow increases longevity with this feature. Also, it is orthopedically approved so those with chronic neck pain, shoulder pain and tension headaches will find the pillow will aid them and not make the pain worse.
Is The Original Groove Pillow eco-friendly or sustainable?
There are a few sustainable and eco-friendly factors for the pillow, such as:
- Cruelty-free, vegan and recyclable
- Recyclable plastic zipper
- Absolutely no extra chemicals are used
However, some things are not so sustainable. For example:
- Made from man-made fabrics – polyester and scuba – rather than natural fabrics
So, it is not necessarily the most sustainable choice and there definitely could be improvements, but they do have some environmentally friendly ethics.
How did we test the product?
With every product we review, we undergo a handful of tests to see if it is accurate to the website descriptions. This includes paying close attention to the key features and how well they do their job. After all, we want you to find the pillow that you are most likely to benefit from. All the products we review go through the following tests:
- Visual inspection
- Hands-on inspection
- Measured tests
When testing and comparing pillows, we took the specific tests below to find out the quality of the product.
- Looked for any visual details
- Trialled different sleep positions
- Spent time lying on the pillow to see how it adjusted, retained shape and
- Tested the success of the key features
- Directly compared to other pillows
Overall impressions of the product after the testing
In our opinion, as someone who is a combination sleeper, we found it comfortable to lie in my usual sleep position. After testing the product, we felt as though the usual aches in our neck and shoulders had reduced. This pillow is slimmer than other pillows we used which took time to adjust to, but it did suit our shape comfortably.
If you have broader shoulders, then you may have discomfort with this pillow and finding a pillow you can layer with another or that has a higher loft will be more beneficial. The Original Groove Pillow is not practical for front sleepers as they will not be able to follow the ergonomic groove.
FAQs about The Groove Pillow
How do I wash my Groove Pillow?
Remove the cover and wash it regularly with any other whites you have. As simple as that. You can easily keep your pillow fresh and clean.
What is the lifespan of foam pillows?
Typically, any pillow with memory foam needs to be switched every two to three years. You should get more out of The Groove Pillow because it has a protective cover.
Why should I change from a fluffy pillow to a firmer pillow?
Although a fluffier pillow seems comfier and nicer to sleep on, it could be the reason for any pain you get. Whereas a firmer pillow – like The Groove Pillow – is focused more on support as well as comfort. You are guaranteed the support you need but the same can't be said for a fluffier pillow.
What is the return policy?
If you are finding that the pillow isn't exactly what you want, you have a 100-night trial to return it to Groove. This gives you plenty of time to adjust to the pillow and see if there is an improvement in your sleep.
