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Layla Kapok Pillow hands-on review: firmer feel for side sleepers
The Layla Kapok pillow stands out from the others on the market thanks to its unique blend of fill, which features naturally hypoallergenic kapok fibers and plush memory foam. And, the brand claims it’s suitable for all sleep styles, shapes and sizes.
Layla Kapok Pillow Specs
Fill: Shredded memory foam and kapok fibers
Best for: All sleepers
Firmness: Medium-firm to firm
Warranty: 5 years
MSRP: from $109 at Layla
I’ve been sleeping on it for about five days now and my initial thoughts are that it feels as good as its striking grey and white honeycombed design makes it look. The medium-firm adjustable pillow feels like a good fit for all sleepers, especially side sleepers who like a supportive feel to their headrest.
The best pillows we’ve tried and tested boast excellent support for your head, neck and shoulders, maintaining healthy spinal alignment so you sleep peacefully and wake up without any aches or pains. Could I say the same for the Layla Kapok pillow? Let’s take a closer look at my early experience and whether this pillow really is for everyone.
Layla Kapok Pillow: Price & trial
- Layla’s premium pillow offering, starting from $109
- Layla runs frequent deals throughout the year
- Currently on a ‘buy one get one 50% off’ summer sale
Layla is a brand which focuses on delivering good value for money with their mattresses and bedding. However, since adjustable pillows are designed to fit all kinds of sleepers, they aren’t generally the cheapest options available.
The Kapok is the most expensive of Layla’s two pillow options, and is priced at $109 for a queen, while a king will cost you $129. You can often find Layla mattress sales running throughout the year that include discounts on the Kapok pillow. For instance, the current ‘buy one get one 50% off’ summer sale offer drops the price of a pack of two queen pillows from $218 to $163.50.
In comparison to other similar pillows, the Layla Kapok is slightly more expensive than the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable (our top pick for customizable pillows), which is $85 for a queen and $99 for a king. However, if you’re buying two Kapok pillows, the current deal means you’ll pay less than if you were to buy two of the Coop option.
The bedding benefits offered by Layla for the Kapok are pretty standard, but decent for the price at which they are offered. This includes a 30-night sleep trial, 5-year warranty and free shipping and returns.
Unboxing my Layla Kapok Pillow
- No expansion time mentioned by the brand
- No noticeable off-gassing
- I waited for 24 hrs before sleeping on it
The Layla Kapok arrived rolled up and vacuum sealed in plastic within a cardboard box. It started unfurling as soon as I cut the pack open, and so the initial pillow set-up was fairly easy.
Even though I couldn’t see that Layla had suggested any specific instructions to follow before sleeping on the Kapok, I waited for 24 hours, following the timeframe used for our top adjustable model in our best pillows guide, the Coop Original Adjustable.
Like some of the best memory foam mattresses, you can find sometimes find that off-gassing occurs with new pillows. However, I didn’t notice any odd smell while the Layla Kapok was expanding. So, after the 24-hour period, it was just a matter of sleeping on it and testing it…
My first few days on the Layla Kapok Pillow
Night 1: Firm support for side sleeping
The Layla pillow comes overstuffed to begin with and I found that it takes a bit of trial and error to nail down to the actual loft and firmness my sleep requires.
My initial plan for the first night using it was to sleep without adjusting the fill. However, it felt too firm and tall for me. For reference, I moved to the Layla Kapok after testing the Coop Sleep Goods Original Adjustable Pillow, which I think has a more plush feel at first use.
I then removed a quarter of the fill (and stored it in the complimentary cloth bag the brand provides) and fluffed up the pillow to evenly distribute it. As a combination sleeper (side and back), the Layla Kapok pillow felt firm yet contouring to my neck, head and shoulders after the adjustment.
I found it to be great for side sleeping, as the loft and firmness perfectly bridged the gap between my head and shoulders. It never flattened or shifted, even though I changed positions during the night.
Nights 2-5
Kapok is a naturally derived filling material that comes from Kapok Tree seed pods. It’s vegan, hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking and is known to be silkier than cotton. That makes it an excellent choice for those with sensitivities to allergies, such as dust mites, pet dander and pollen.
The Layla Kapok pillow is crafted from a combination of these kapok fibers and shredded memory foam and is encased in a cover made from polyester, rayon and spandex, with a polyester liner.
While I found the Layla Kapok to be a highly supportive pillow, especially for side sleeping, it took me a while to break into it.
It is an adjustable model, but I found it quite hard to nail the exact amount of fill need for my sleeping preferences. While it seemed quite comfortable for side sleeping after the initial adjustment, the Layla Kapok seems a bit too tall for back and stomach sleeping.
Even though the brand says it feels ‘refreshingly cool’, I found the Layla Kapok maintained a neutral temperature. That said, during the 5-day initial testing period, I didn’t wake up due to overheating (days transitioning to be warmer) or nightsweats. However, I would recommend a dedicated cooling pillow for those prone to sleeping hot.
Adjustable pillows can need regular refluffing, but the Layla Kapok seemed better, during this initial period, at maintaining the shape and support than some others we have tried.
We have reached out to the brand for any guidelines for setting up the pillow for each position, so stay tuned for the full review to know more.
My early thoughts on the Layla Kapok Pillow
If you’re a side sleeper who prefer a firmer headrest, I think the Layla Kapok pillow would be a great pick. The shredded memory foam and silky kapok fibers means the pillow feels like it ‘hugs’ your form, supporting your head, neck and shoulders for a good night’s rest.
I think the Layla Kapok should also suit anyone who experience neck pain or aches since unlike some adjustable models, it maintains it’s shape and support without flattening overnight, even if you change sleep position often. That means it should do a good job of keeping you supported through the night and keeping your neck and spine in alignment.
I did feel that this pillow would fall short if you’re expecting a really plush, sink-in cushioning sensation from your pillow.
While I didn’t overheat during this initial testing period, I found this pillow to be temperature neutral rather than cooling. So, it might not be the best option for hot sleepers.
For more insights on the comfort, support and temperature regulation of the Layla Kapok pillow, stay tuned for the full review.
