Memory foam pillows like the Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Bamboo Pillow are hugely popular, and for good reason. Made from materials that conform to your head and neck, these cushions claim to keep your spine properly aligned while you sleep. The goal is to wake up feeling refreshed, without stiffness or soreness in your upper body. They usually come in one of two varieties: slab foam, meaning there’s one large piece of foam that makes up the pillow, or shredded, meaning that the foam is broken down into pieces. Before purchasing a pillow, it’s important to consider your standard sleeping position. Shredded pillows are supposedly ideal for any type of sleeper—side, back, or stomach—because you can “arrange” the fill in whatever configuration is most comfortable for you. The Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is filled with shredded foam, but is it worth the high price tag? Read on to find out.

Material and Weave: Soft and cool

The outer shell of the Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is made from a mix of bamboo, polyester, and Lycra, a synthetic material that’s very elastic. It uses Kool-Flow™ technology, which allows air to circulate while you sleep, so the pillow remains cool throughout the night—and so do you. The outer shell is thick and feels soft to the touch. Because of this, it doesn’t require a pillowcase, although using one will help keep the pillow cleaner longer. It has a zippered closure, which opens to reveal a second zippered cover containing the fill. Make sure to fully close this zipper after removing fill to ensure the pieces don’t fall out and get caught between both shells. In our experience, the pillow had a slight odor initially, which dissipated after washing the outer shell. Take a look at other product reviews and shop for the best cooling pillows available online.

Fill: Crumbly, yet customizable

This memory foam pillow is made domestically and filled with shredded foam that’s CertiPUR-US®-certified, meaning it doesn’t contain ozone depleters, flame retardants, lead, mercury, heavy metals, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates, and other potentially harmful ingredients. The shredded foam allows you to add or remove fill as needed to customize the pillow to your height and density preference. The fill is crumbly, however, and can be messy to remove, so be sure to do so over a bag or trash can. In terms of performance, the foam immediately softens when you lie down, contouring to your head and neck, but it returns to its original shape as soon as you lift your head. See more reviews of our favorite memory foam pillows available for purchase.

Texture: Thick and soft

When the Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow arrives, it’s flattened into a vacuum-sealed roll (the manufacturer doesn’t ship the pillow in a box, making it even more eco-friendly) but inflates as soon as it’s opened. You can speed up the process by putting the pillow in the dryer on a low setting for 20 minutes. Once inflated, the pillow feels dense and expensive. The outer shell is thick and seems well-made—the stitching is solid, and the zipper opens and closes easily.

Washing: Outer shell washes well

The outer shell of the Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is easy to clean; simply toss in your washing machine on the cold setting. After drying on a low setting, the shell emerged perfectly intact and didn’t shrink. It slipped back onto the inner shell without issue. If washing the inner shell and fill, don’t use a machine with a center agitator, which can tear or damage the pillow. Additionally, keep in mind that it may take several dry cycles to fully dry.

Helpful Features: Easy to fluff

The Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is designed to retain its shape, but if it does lose its puffiness, grab the pillow on opposite sides and push in and out until it fluffs up. Alternatively, you can put it in the dryer for 15 to 20 minutes. The queen version is notably larger than the standard size, and it’s only a few dollars more; consider upgrading if you like more surface area. Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best pillows for combination sleepers.

Price: Worth the money

The Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow is well-made, efficiently designed, and comfortable and cool to sleep on. It withstands washing, and the customization feature is a welcome bonus, allowing for a truly personalized sleep experience. While more expensive than some shredded memory foam pillows on the market, the benefits are well worth the splurge. Plus, this product is actually more affordable than a comparable competitor, the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow.

Xtreme Comforts Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow vs. Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow

On the outside, these pillows are nearly identical to each other; the only visual design difference is the color of the foam inside. The Snuggle-Pedic’s filling is white, while the Xtreme Comforts’ is blue. The Snuggle-Pedic comes with a 20-year warranty versus the Xtreme Comforts’ 6-year warranty. However, the former’s queen-sized option is more expensive than the latter’s. Because they’re essentially the same thing, we’d recommend sticking with Xtreme Comforts to save a few bucks. Still can’t decide on what you want? Our round-up of the best pillows can help you find what you’re looking for. If you wake up with back and neck soreness or tend to get overheated while you sleep, the Xtreme Comforts Adjustable Thickness Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow may be just what you need. The high-quality outer shell, cool sleeping experience, and customization options make this memory foam pillow worth the price.