Quick Answer
GhostBed offers two pillow models: the solid Gel Memory Foam GhostPillow and the Shredded Memory Foam GhostPillow. The solid version provides medium-firm, consistent support with a cooling gel infusion and works best for side and back sleepers who prefer a traditional memory foam feel. The shredded version lets you add or remove fill to adjust the loft, making it more versatile across sleep positions.
Both use the Ghost Ice Fabric cover, which feels cool to the touch initially. The solid model holds its cooling sensation longer but sleeps hotter through the night because solid foam restricts airflow. The shredded model breathes better due to gaps between fill pieces but has a lumpier surface feel.
The 101-night sleep trial is generous. The off-gassing smell on arrival, particularly with the solid model, is not. Plan on airing it out for a full day or two before using it.
If you already like how memory foam cradles your head and neck, the GhostPillow is a competent option with genuine cooling on first contact. If you run very hot or sweat significantly, a down alternative or latex pillow may serve you better through the full night.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
GhostBed launched the GhostPillow to complement its mattress line, and the marketing leans heavily on cooling. Ghost Ice Fabric, phase change material, aerated memory foam. The language suggests you will sleep on a cloud stored in a freezer.
The reality, as with most cooling pillows, is more nuanced. The GhostPillow does cool noticeably when you first lie down. Whether it stays cool through the night depends on your body, your room temperature, and which of the two models you choose.
At roughly $95 USD, it sits in a competitive segment where Tempur-Pedic, Coop Home Goods, and a dozen DTC brands all make similar claims.
Two Models, Two Very Different Experiences
The solid Gel Memory Foam GhostPillow is a single piece of CertiPUR-US certified foam with cooling gel infused throughout. You cannot adjust it. The loft is set, the firmness is set, and the support profile is consistent across the entire surface. This is a strength for sleepers who know they like traditional memory foam. It cradles the head, responds slowly to pressure, and maintains its shape night after night. The limitation is that a solid block of foam, regardless of gel infusion, restricts airflow in ways that shredded or ventilated designs avoid.
The Shredded Memory Foam GhostPillow takes the same base material and tears it into irregular pieces stuffed inside a zippered cover. The advantage is adjustability. Remove fill and the pillow becomes thinner and softer, suitable for stomach sleepers. Add fill back and it builds enough loft for side sleepers who need gap-filling between ear and shoulder. The disadvantage is consistency. Shredded memory foam pillows develop lumps and valleys over time, requiring periodic fluffing and redistribution. Some people find this maintenance annoying. Others barely notice it.
Both models share the Ghost Ice Fabric outer cover, which is where the initial cool-touch sensation comes from. The phase change material in the fabric absorbs body heat on contact, creating that cool-pillow feeling for the first several minutes. After the material reaches thermal equilibrium with your body, the sensation fades. This is how all phase change materials work. It is not a flaw specific to GhostBed, but the marketing rarely mentions it.
The Off-Gassing Question
Memory foam pillows, particularly solid ones, arrive compressed and vacuum-sealed. Opening the package releases volatile organic compounds that smell like a chemical factory held a meeting in your bedroom. The GhostPillow is no exception.
Multiple reviewers report needing one to two full days of airing before the smell dissipates enough to sleep on comfortably. The CertiPUR-US certification means the foam meets standards for emissions, content, and durability, but it does not mean the pillow arrives odourless. If chemical sensitivity is a concern, consider a latex or wool pillow instead.
Both materials have minimal off-gassing because they do not rely on the same polyurethane chemistry.
Sleep Science
Phase change materials (PCMs) work by absorbing energy during a phase transition, similar to how ice absorbs heat as it melts. In pillow fabrics, microencapsulated PCMs absorb body heat until they reach their transition temperature, then stop absorbing. The result is a cool sensation that lasts minutes, not hours.
For sustained cooling through the night, airflow matters more than surface material. This is why shredded fill, ventilated latex, and buckwheat hulls often outperform solid memory foam in overnight temperature tests, even when the memory foam has more advanced cooling technology on paper.
Brad has seen this pattern consistently over 38 years of pillow fitting: the pillow that feels coolest in your hand at the store is rarely the one that sleeps coolest at 3 AM.
Who Should and Should Not Buy
The solid GhostPillow suits side sleepers and back sleepers who already know they like memory foam and want a cooler version of what they have. The loft is moderate to high, which fills the shoulder-to-ear gap for side sleeping and supports the cervical curve for back sleeping. Stomach sleepers will likely find it too thick, pushing the head upward and straining the neck.
The shredded GhostPillow suits people who want adjustability and do not mind the maintenance. It works across all sleep positions if you take the time to dial in the fill level. Combination sleepers who shift positions during the night benefit from being able to punch and reshape the pillow on the fly.
Neither model suits hot sleepers expecting all-night cooling. The initial cool touch is real but temporary. If night sweats are the primary problem, a Bedgear pillow with mesh ventilation panels or a natural latex pillow with pin-core holes provides more sustained airflow. It is difficult to say whether any pillow truly "solves" night sweats, since the issue often involves mattress materials, room temperature, and medical factors beyond what a pillow can address.
For Brantford Residents
Pillow selection is personal enough that online reviews only get you partway there. Our showroom at 441 1/2 West Street carries memory foam, latex, and down alternative pillows you can test in person, lying on the mattress type you actually sleep on.
Dorothy matches pillow loft to your shoulder width and sleep position, which prevents the common mistake of buying a pillow that feels great standing i
n a store aisle but creates neck pain in bed. If you are comparing the GhostPillow against alternatives, bring your current pillow in and we will show you the difference side by side. Call (519) 770-0001 or visit: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Is the GhostPillow good for side sleepers?
The solid Gel Memory Foam model works well for side sleepers. The moderate-to-high loft fills the space between your ear and shoulder, and the memory foam contours to distribute pressure. If you need more or less loft, the shredded version lets you adjust, though the surface feel is less consistent.
How long does the GhostPillow stay cool?
The Ghost Ice Fabric provides a cool-to-the-touch sensation for the first several minutes after lying down. The phase change material absorbs body heat until it reaches equilibrium, after which the cooling effect diminishes. For sustained overnight cooling, airflow through the pillow matters more than surface cooling technology.
Does the GhostPillow smell when new?
Yes. Like most memory foam pillows, it arrives vacuum-sealed and releases a chemical odour when first opened. Most users report the smell dissipating within one to two days of airing in a well-ventilated room. The CertiPUR-US certification confirms the foam meets safety standards for emissions.
How does the GhostPillow compare to Tempur-Pedic?
Both use memory foam with cooling technology. Tempur-Pedic pillows typically cost $70-$200 depending on model and use proprietary foam formulations. The GhostPillow at $95 USD is competitively priced. Tempur-Pedic generally offers more model variety and denser foam. The GhostPillow's Ghost Ice Fabric provides a cooler initial touch. Neither brand dramatically outperforms the other for the average sleeper.
Where can I try cooling pillows in Brantford?
Mattress Miracle at 441 1/2 West Street carries memory foam, latex, and alternative fill pillows you can test on actual mattresses. Dorothy helps match pillow type and loft to your sleep position and shoulder width. Call (519) 770-0001 or visit: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
Mattress Miracle
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford
Phone: (519) 770-0001
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
Our team has 38 years of experience helping customers find the right sleep solution. Call ahead or walk in any day of the week.
Sources
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers K, Trott P. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical pain, sleep quality, and pillow comfort in side sleepers. Manual Therapy. 2009;14(6):671-678. DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2009.02.006
- Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers KA, Trott PH. Pillow use: the behaviour of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain. J Pain Res. 2010;3:137-145. DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S11074
- Erfanian P, Tenzif S, Guerriero RC. Assessing effects of a semi-customized experimental cervical pillow on sympathetic nervous system parameters. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2004;48(1):20-28. PMCID: PMC1840035
- Persson L, Moritz U. Neck support pillows: a comparative study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21(4):237-240. PMID: 9608379
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441 1/2 West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle -- 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, ON -- (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 10am-6pm, Thursday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm.
Come in and let our team help you find the right mattress for your needs. No pressure, no commission.