Emma Diamond Pillow review: The must-have cooling pillow
Called the “perfect pillow for everybody and anybody” thanks to one unique detail, this top-rated pillow also keeps you cool even in summer.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
Hands up if this has happened to you: You’re finally about to drift off to sleep when all of a sudden your pillow feels way too hot or flat or not quite right. In a fit of rage, you reshuffle your pillow and flip it to the ‘cool’ side only to find that you can no longer fall back to sleep.
I’d argue that sleeping on the right pillow is just as important as your mattress in getting a good night’s sleep. Yet many of us will suffer with an uncomfortable, likely cheap pillow that’s probably lost its shape and wonder why we aren’t sleeping better.
But I get it, finding the perfect pillow might just be as elusive as Goldilocks finding a bowl of porridge that’s “just right”. Is it too tall, too flat? Too soft or too hard? Does it heat up too much during the night?
I am one of those people who has held onto my faithful pillow for much longer than I’d care to admit. I have bought pillows that seem right after trying them in stores but once I sleep on them for a few nights, discover they’re not quite as comfortable as I thought during my 30 second try in store (funny that).
So that’s why I was keen to trial the Emma Diamond Pillow, from leading sleep brand Emma for a few reasons:
- You can essentially personalise the pillow with the removable, adjustable foam layers so you can choose the firmness and height that’s right for you.
- The cooling foam promises to keep your pillow at the right temperature throughout the night which I hoped meant no more waking up hot and sweaty during the ridiculously humid summer Sydney is currently going through.
- The 100-night trial to test out the pillow at home, with a full refund if you decide it’s not suitable for you.
Read on for everything you need to know about the Emma Diamond Pillow*, plus my honest review of it.
HOW WE TEST PRODUCTS
At news.com.au checkout, it’s our mission to help you make informed shopping decisions. To ensure you buy the right product at the best price, we rigorously test products so you don’t have to. As well as sorting through mountains of consumer reviews, product manuals and conducting thorough product research, our team of expert writers puts each product we review through a series of hands-on tests to ensure we give you honest feedback about its performance and whether it’s worth your hard-earned money.
To properly test the Emma Diamond Pillow, we made it as close to the customer experience as possible — ordering it online, getting it delivered and unboxing it ourselves. I tested the Emma Diamond Pillow for over a month during Sydney’s summer, which had many hot, humid nights, and in two sleeping positions: side and back.
In this article
- Delivery and service
- What is the Emma Diamond Pillow made of?
- How firm and comfortable is the Emma Diamond Pillow?
- How much is the Emma Diamond Pillow?
- Verdict: Is the Emma Diamond Pillow worth buying?
DELIVERY AND SERVICE
The delivery and service of the Emma Diamond Pillow was quick and efficient. I’ve previously ordered a mattress from Emma so I wasn’t surprised by the super fast delivery and the helpful updates on the status of my order.
A day after the pillow was ordered, I received an email notification that it was to be delivered that day. The pillow came rolled up in a medium sized box. You simply have to cut through the plastic and unfurl the pillow and it’s good to sleep on immediately.
If you’re worried about ordering a pillow online without being able to test it out first, all Emma pillows come with a 100 night trial so you can roadtest the pillow in the comfort of your own home. If you find that it doesn’t quite suit your needs, you can send it back for free.
Countless reviews online praise Emma’s customer service, noting the return process is seamless and easy to do.
WHAT IS THE EMMA DIAMOND PILLOW MADE OF?
The Emma Diamond Pillow is made up of three layers, wrapped up in a breathable, sweat-wicking knitted fabric that’s removable and therefore washable – huge tick in my books.
- The top layer (medium firm side) consists of the Diamond Degree foam which helps regulate temperature and keeps you cool at night.
- The middle layer is made of HRX foam, which supports your neck and shoulders, keeps your spine aligned and relieves pressure.
- The bottom layer (soft side) – the Gel Memory foam – hugs your neck, allowing your head to sink in.
Unlike most pillows, the dual sides of the Emma Diamond Pillow gives you choice – the top is medium firm while the bottom layer feels softer (it’s labelled on the pillow don’t worry!).
But the feature that got me excited was the fact that you can customise the height and firmness of the pillow to your needs. We all know that people have highly personalised pillow preferences and different sleeping positions so the ability to choose your own adventure in one pillow is such a game changer.
As I oscillate between sleeping on my side and back throughout the night, it took a few nights to find the right combination for myself. I found the OG three layers very comfortable for sleeping on my side – supporting my head, neck and shoulders – but I’d often roll to my back during the night and the three layers were a tad too high. In the end, I settled on two layers which allowed me to sleep comfortably throughout the night on my side and back without any issue.
Play around with the different combinations of foam layers to find the perfect pillow for you – after some experimentation for my two layers I went with the Diamond Degree foam and the HRX foam layer, leaving out the Gel Memory foam.
I am not a front sleeper but Emma recommends just one layer for front sleepers.
HOW FIRM AND COMFORTABLE IS THE EMMA DIAMOND PILLOW?
When I first pulled the Emma Diamond Pillow out of the box and did the mandatory push into it with my hand, I was worried it was going to be much too firm for me.
I’ve actually never slept on a foam pillow before; all my previous pillows had been super soft and fluffy as I thought I preferred a soft pillow but then wondered why my pillows would get so flat throughout the night.
So while eager to try something completely different, I went to bed that first night a tad apprehensive (and worried about my neck). But I needn’t have.
While the pillow is firmer than I have been used to, it is not rigid. There is give to the pillow, especially on the soft side, so your head will sink into it while your neck still feels supported. And thanks to the foam, it holds its shape throughout the night so no need to fluff it back up.
As I mentioned, it took a few nights to find the right combination for my sleeping positions so I did wake up the first night when I’d rolled onto my back and found the pillow too high. Once I found my perfect pillow height and firmness, this wasn’t an issue anymore and I slept comfortably on my side and back throughout the night.
But the stand out feature of the Emma Diamond Pillow has to be the ‘Diamond Degree’ technology that keeps your head cool throughout the night. I didn’t realise the difference it was making until I realised I was no longer waking up in the middle of night to flip my pillow. It has truly been a godsend during the past month in the height of Sydney’s sweaty and humid summer and has made it much easier to get a good night’s sleep.
HOW MUCH IS THE EMMA DIAMOND PILLOW?
The Emma Diamond Pillow costs $258.
Not in your budget? The Emma Foam Pillow is the brand’s bestseller and costs $129.
If you’re not a fan of foam pillows, Emma’s most premium pillow – Emma Cloud Hybrid Pillow – combines the lightness of the microfibre pocket and the support of the memory foam core, priced at $279.
All Emma pillows come with free delivery and returns.
Hot tip: Keep an eye out for Emma’s great sales throughout the year where pillows like the Diamond Pillow can be slashed by half.
VERDICT: IS THE EMMA DIAMOND PILLOW WORTH BUYING?
I wasn’t expecting to like the Emma Diamond Pillow as much as I do. Although my initial impression was that the pillow would be too firm to be comfortable, I was proven wrong. While the pillow is firmer than say its feathered and synthetic counterparts, it’s supportive to sleep on and doesn’t sacrifice comfort, especially if you use the ‘soft side’. Plus, you can mix and match the three layers of foam to create the perfect pillow for your preferences.
But what really sets the Emma Diamond Pillow apart from other pillows, including the others in the Emma range, is its temperature regulation. We all know you sleep better when it’s not too hot or too cold and having used this pillow through some super humid nights, the pillow keeps you cool and therefore relaxed while sleeping. I’ve had some of my best sleeps in recent memory since switching to this pillow.
If you’re a hot sleeper or can never find the right pillow, then the Emma Diamond Pillow is for you. With its cooling features and adjustable layers that can be tailored to individual sleeping styles, I’m going to go so far as to say it’s the perfect pillow for anybody and everybody.
More Pillow Coverage
Best cooling pillows for summer
Best pillows for side sleepers
More Coverage
If you love a discount, make sure you stop by news.com.au Coupons. You’ll find impressive deals across categories from homewares to tech, on brands including Bed Threads and Myer.
Lastly, stay up to date on all the best new shopping trends by signing up to our shopping newsletter here.
*Product has been provided by Emma Sleep for a 100 per cent independent, honest review.
‘Very comfortable’: Best pillow for every kind of sleeper
Feel like you're sleeping on a cloud with our roundup of the best pillows - including this must-have latex pillow that shoppers say "improved the quality" of their sleep.
’Best pillow ever’ thousands of Aussies love
Choosing the right pillow is essential for getting a good night’s sleep. And this best-selling pillow has been labelled the “best pillow I’ve ever owned”.
‘Perfect’: Cooling pillows to beat summer sweat
According to thousands of five star reviews this pillow is ideal for stomach sleepers, plus it helps keep you cool even in summer.
$12 Target pillow that’s the ‘best buy ever’
Find out why shoppers are raving about Target’s affordable pillow for side sleepers, plus a round-up of the best from other brands.