In-depth Comparison (2024): Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow vs. Wondersleep Pillow
I tested 14 different pillows over the course of six months. I slept on each pillow for at least five nights 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 an in-depth comparison of the Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow and Wondersleep Pillow.
At a Glance
| Brand Name | Weekender | Wondersleep |
|---|---|---|
| Pillow Name | Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow | Pillow |
| Overall Rank | #8 out of 14 | #11 out of 14 |
| Fill Type | Solid Memory Foam | Shredded Memory Foam and Polyfiber Mix |
| Firmness / Softness | Extra Firm | Soft |
| Starting Loft | 5 inches | 6 inches |
| Sleep Positions | Back | Stomach |
| Body Types | Petite, Average, Big-and-tall | Petite, Average |
| Filling Comfort | ||
| Construction Quality | ||
| Score Out of 10 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Detailed Reviews
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.
Wondersleep Pillow
Shredded Memory Foam and Polyfiber Mix
- Affordable price
- Foam is certified by CertiPUR-US
- Removable cover
- Doesn't come with enough filling for me to consider it adjustable
- Stiff memory foam chunks
- Dominated by polyester fiber fill
On paper, the Wondersleep Premium Adjustable Pillow should be similar to the Saybrook and Coop pillows: it has shredded memory foam and polyester filling. However, that's where the similarities end. I selected this candidate because it was much cheaper than the other pillows while sporting the same reported features. I wanted to see what the difference was in person. Unfortunately, the pillow case quality, the adjustability, and the filling comfort level don't match up in my opinion.
Immediately upon unpacking, I notice the pillow has much less filling compared to other pillows and is very thin. The thinness of the pillow defeats the purpose of the adjustability because it won't be in the loft range many people need. The loft might be okay for stomach sleepers who appreciate a thinner pillow. Though the initial loft measures at 6 inches, the pillow compresses a third of the way down for me when I lie down due to the softness.
The sensation of the Wondersleep pillow fill is dominated by polyester fiber for me, with pieces of shredded memory foam buried throughout. The memory foam feels stiff, not just firm, as if it had been left out in the sun too long. The pillow reminds me of clumps of cattail fluff in the wild: mostly soft and fluffy but with random bits of hard seeds (or in this case, memory foam) inside.
Though many shredded memory foam pillows under $50 can look similar to the Saybrook and Coop pillows on paper, I recommend investing more to get the higher quality construction and better filling found in the top picks.
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.