Quick Answer: The True North Cooling Adjustable Pillow is a $89 Canadian-made hybrid foam pillow combining memory foam contouring with latex responsiveness and gel infusion for more consistent cooling than gel-side-only designs. Queen size, medium firmness, 2-year warranty. Best for hot sleepers who also want responsive support without the "sinking" feeling of standard memory foam.
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Most hot sleepers who buy a memory foam pillow and find it runs warm eventually try two things: flipping it to the cool side, and then eventually replacing it with something else. The True North Cooling Adjustable Pillow addresses the root cause rather than providing a workaround. It combines three mechanisms for temperature management in a single Canadian-made pillow at $89.
Why Hybrid Foam: Memory Foam vs Latex
Memory foam and latex are fundamentally different materials. Memory foam is viscoelastic: it deforms slowly under pressure and recovers slowly when pressure is released. This creates the contouring effect that makes it good for pressure relief at the temple, ear, and jaw. The downside is that viscoelastic foam traps heat in its closed-cell structure.
Latex foam is elastic: it responds immediately to pressure and springs back immediately when pressure is removed. It does not contour as closely as memory foam but runs cooler because its open-cell structure allows better airflow. Latex also does not create the "sinking" sensation that some sleepers find disorienting in memory foam, where the head slowly settles into the pillow over several minutes rather than finding its resting position quickly.
Sleep Temperature and the Role of Pillow Materials
The Canadian Sleep Society recommends a bedroom temperature of 15 to 19 degrees Celsius for optimal sleep because core body temperature drops 1 to 2 degrees during sleep onset, and a cool environment supports that drop. The head generates a disproportionate share of body heat during sleep, making the pillow surface temperature particularly relevant to sleep onset. Research in Physiology and Behavior found that localized cooling of the face and head specifically reduced sleep latency, which is the mechanism both the gel infusion and the open-cell latex structure in the True North are designed to support.
The True North combines both materials. The memory foam component provides pressure contouring. The latex component provides responsive support and better baseline airflow. The gel infusion adds active heat conductivity. The result is a pillow that adapts to your head and neck without the heat accumulation of standard memory foam.
How Gel Infusion Differs From a Gel Layer
There are three main ways gel is incorporated into foam pillows:
Three Gel Approaches and What They Mean
- Gel layer (flip pillow): A dedicated gel surface on one side of the pillow. Effective when you first lie on the cool side but warms up and requires flipping. This is how the Cool Ice Pillow works.
- Gel infusion throughout: Gel particles or liquid mixed into the foam during manufacturing. The gel is distributed through the foam rather than concentrated on one surface, so the heat-drawing effect is present throughout the material rather than just at one face.
- Gel channels or tubes: Channels cut into the foam and filled with gel. A more structured approach that concentrates gel along specific pathways.
The True North uses gel infusion throughout the hybrid foam. This means the cooling effect does not depend on which side of the pillow you are sleeping on and does not require flipping when one side warms up. The cooling is more modest in intensity than a dedicated gel surface but more consistent across the full night.
Specifications and What to Expect
True North Cooling Adjustable Pillow Specifications
- Price: $89
- Size: Queen (15" x 25" x 5")
- Fill: Hybrid foam (memory foam + latex) with gel infusion
- Firmness: Medium
- Airflow: Flow-through open-cell structure
- Warranty: 2 years
- Made in: Canada
The 5-inch profile works for most side and back sleepers. At 15" x 25" in queen size, it fits standard queen pillowcases. The medium firmness is appropriate for most adults, though people with broader shoulders who are side sleepers should compare this with the Somnia 5.5" cervical pillow to determine whether a height-specific solution would better address their alignment needs.
The 2-year warranty is notably longer than most pillow warranties, which typically run 1 year or are not offered at all. It reflects the manufacturer's confidence in the material durability.
Our Experience Recommending the True North in Brantford
In our experience at Mattress Miracle in Brantford, the True North tends to suit customers who have tried both standard memory foam (found it too warm) and latex pillows (found them too bouncy or firm) and want something in between. The hybrid design splits the difference in a way that works for a broad range of preferences. At $89 it is positioned between the $60 Cool Ice and the $124 Somnia cervical options. If cooling is the primary concern and alignment is secondary, the True North is generally our first recommendation. Come in to 441 1/2 West Street if you want to feel the difference between it and the other pillows we carry.
Comparing Cooling Pillow Options at Mattress Miracle
Which Cooling Pillow Suits Which Sleeper
- Cool Ice Pillow ($60): Entry-level, flip-to-cool design, best for hot sleepers who want to try cooling memory foam without a large investment. Works best in a cool room.
- True North Cooling Adjustable Pillow ($89): More consistent cooling through hybrid foam and full gel infusion. Better choice if you are staying with memory foam long-term and want the cooling effect throughout the pillow rather than on one side only. Canadian-made, 2-year warranty.
- Somnia Cervical 4.5" or 5.5" ($124-$134): Not primarily a cooling pillow, but better choice if cervical alignment is the main concern. The right height matters more than cooling features for neck pain management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the True North and the Cool Ice Pillow?
The Cool Ice Pillow ($60) uses a two-sided design with a dedicated cooling gel layer on one side, requiring you to flip to the cool side when the other warms up. The True North ($89) uses hybrid foam with gel infusion throughout the material, so the cooling effect is present on both sides without requiring flipping. The True North also adds latex foam for more responsive support and has a 2-year warranty. Both are reasonable options for hot sleepers; the True North is the better choice for someone who wants consistent cooling across the full night.
Is the True North pillow good for side sleepers specifically?
The 5-inch profile works for average-shoulder side sleepers. If you have broader shoulders and need a taller pillow to maintain cervical alignment, compare the True North with the Somnia 5.5" cervical pillow, which is designed specifically for that shoulder width. A cooling pillow that is too low for your shoulder gap will cause neck stiffness regardless of its other properties. Come to our Brantford showroom for a shoulder assessment before deciding.
Is the True North pillow made in Canada?
Yes. The True North Cooling Adjustable Pillow is Canadian-made with a 2-year warranty. Canadian manufacturing means the product meets Canadian safety standards and warranty service is domestic.
How do I care for the True North pillow?
Use a pillow protector and spot-clean the pillow itself. Do not machine wash foam pillows. The protector handles regular exposure and can be washed normally. The 2-year warranty covers manufacturing defects but not normal wear or improper care.
Can I try the True North pillow at your Brantford store?
Yes. We keep cooling pillow options on hand at Mattress Miracle, 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford. Call (519) 770-0001 to confirm what we have in stock before visiting. Our team can walk you through the difference between the Cool Ice, the True North, and the Somnia cervical options based on your specific sleep concerns.
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Compare All Our Pillow Options in Brantford
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. The True North and our other pillow options are available to feel and compare at 441 1/2 West Street.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
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Related Reading
- Cool Ice Pillow: Honest Review for Hot Sleepers
- Somnia Cervical Pillow: Choosing the Right Height
- Cool Breeze Mattress: Three-Layer Cooling System Explained
- Best Pillow for Side Sleepers 2026: Memory Foam, Adjustable, and Cooling Options Compared
Compare the Orthex Sophia Adjustable Bed Lineup
The Canadian-made Orthex Sophia line includes three models, each built for a different use case:
- Sophia 2, the standard adjustable bed: head, foot, lumbar, and massage. Best for first-time buyers.
- Sophia 3, adds hi-low height adjustment up to 30 inches. Class I medical device, ideal for aging-in-place.
- Sophia 4, adds full Trendelenburg tilt for post-surgical recovery and homecare use.
Full side-by-side breakdown with specs and Canadian pricing: Orthex Sophia 2 vs 3 vs 4: Adjustable Bed Comparison.