Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow Review (2024): A Hands-on Comparison
I tested 14 different pillows over the course of six months. I slept on each pillow for at least one week each. I rated each pillow based on how comfortable it was to sleep on over an extended period of time, whether or not the construction seemed high quality to me, and my take on suitability for different body types and sleep positions. Here is my in-depth review of the Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow.
Where Does the Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow Rank?
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Solid Memory Foam
- Affordable price
- Extra firm support
- Foam is certified by CertiPUR-US
- Ventilation in memory foam
- Not adjustable
- May be too firm for stomach-sleepers and side-sleepers
- Materials seem lower quality
The Weekender Ventilated Memory Foam Pillow is a good option for back-sleepers who want a firm pillow instead of a soft pillow, though I consider the pillow too firm to be comfortable for stomach-sleeping and side-sleeping. Like the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud, the Weekender is a solid memory foam pillow, but the contrast in materials is noticeable. The Weekender also isn't adjustable, unlike the Saybrook and Coop memory foam pillows.
I measure the loft at 5 inches, and the pillow barely compresses when I lay my head down passively. Though it compresses slightly more than the Pillow Cube, which is also a solid memory foam pillow, there is almost no compression compared to the Tempur-Pedic. I'd say the Tempur-Pedic is extra soft memory foam, the Weekender is extra firm, and the Pillow Cube is beyond-too-firm-for-my-taste. The firm support from the Weekender pillow feels pretty good when I sleep on my back, but the angle isn't quite right when I sleep on my side. Because the loft can't be adjusted, I don't recommend this pillow for side-sleepers. The firmness can also apply too much pressure against my face when sleeping on my side or stomach. This is uncomfortable for my jaw.
The memory foam comes with holes throughout the pillow, which provide ventilation. Solid memory foam pillows are in general the least breathable category of pillows, so the ventilation is meant to address that issue. Personally, I still feel heat trapped against my face, so the ventilation doesn't completely solve the problem.
Like the Tempur-Pedic, the Weekender pillow comes with a removable cover, but the cover is much thinner, which leads me to give it a lower score on perceived quality of construction. In combination with the pressure it applies against my face, the lower perceived quality of the materials leads me to recommend investing in a higher quality pillow since this is a purchase that will see regular use. However, for back-sleepers who are looking specifically for an extra firm pillow, the Weekender can be a great option.
Which Pillows do I Recommend?
Based on my extensive sleep testing, here's a quick overview of which pillows performed best, by category.
- Best Memory Foam Pillow: Saybrook Adjustable Pillow
- Best Down and Feather Pillow: Chamberlain Down Dual-Chamber Pillow
- Best for Side-Sleepers: Saybrook Adjustable Pillow
- Best for Back-Sleepers: Chamberlain Down Dual-Chamber Pillow
- Best for Stomach-Sleepers: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud
- Best Luxury Pillow: Chamberlain Down Dual-Chamber Pillow
- Best Adjustable Pillow: Saybrook Adjustable Pillow
- Best Cheap Pillow: Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow
- Best Flat Pillow: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud
- Best Hotel-Style Pillow: Chamberlain Down Dual-Chamber Pillow
- Best for Neck Pain: Saybrook Adjustable Pillow
I would highly recommend reading the full, detailed review so that you can decide for yourself.
Compare Pillows: What are Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow alternatives?
Comparing pillows can be difficult because reviews out there are often written by people who've only tried one pillow. What does it mean for a pillow to be soft or firm if there's no point of comparison? How do you know if one pillow is truly better than another? Which pillow is right for your body type and sleep position?
My experience systematically trying each of 14 pillows provides some insight into how to compare the pillows. You can read my comparisons of each pair of pillows in the links below, or you can read the full review with all the pillows as well as my pick for the best pillow.
Saybrook Adjustable Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Chamberlain Down Dual-Chamber Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Casper Original Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Coop Eden Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Purple Harmony Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Sleepgram Adjustable Pillow vs. Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. Beckham Hotel Collection Pillow
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. Puredown Natural Goose Down and Feather Pillow
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. Wondersleep Pillow
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. MyPillow Premium Series Pillow
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. Pacific Coast Double DownAround Pillow
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. Pillow Cube Pro Pillow
Picking the right pillow can be important. I did all the research here to make the process easier. I hope that this blog helps you as you make your decision.