Panda Hybrid pillow vs original pillow
We’ve tested both these pillows, and we think they are great - but what are their differences and similarities?
The table below gives you a comparison of the differences:
Panda Memory Foam Bamboo pillow | Panda Hybrid Bamboo pillow | |
Core | 3rd generation memory foam | 100% charcoal infused memory foam |
Cover Material | 40% bamboo & 60% polyester |
Outer cover & inner cover: 100% rayon bamboo Cover filling: 80% bamboo microfibre & 20% recycled nano microfibre |
Cover Design | Soft and slightly textured cover in white & Panda logo | Silky soft Plush BambooCloud cover in white with air mesh sides & Panda logo |
Size | 60 x 40 x 12 cm (27.5 x 15.7 x 5.11 inches) | 70 x 40 x 13 cm (23.6 x 15.7 x 4.7 inches) |
Weight: | 1.8 kg (3.9 lbs) | 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs) |
The main differences between the pillows are the materials, size, and weight.
Yet, both these luxurious pillows come in medium-firm support and provide pressure-relieving comfort.
You’ll also get the 10-year-guarantee, 30-night sleep trial, free delivery, and returns no matter your choice.
Both pillows include ethically sourced bamboo with a high standard of sustainability. ♻️
The original pillow is more budget-friendly for those who want a comfortable pillow that is good value for money.
Check it out below:
Panda Hybrid pillow composition
The Panda Hybrid Memory Foam pillow is so comfortable that we no longer want to get out of bed! 😴
It features slightly more advanced materials than the original, including CharcoCell foam and a 100% bamboo cover.
It takes just a few high-quality materials to create this once-size-fits-most pillow. 🥰
They are:
- Orthopaedic grade, charcoal-cell polyurethane
- Protective mesh fabric inner cover
- BambooCloud quilted removable cover
So, what does all this pillow jargon mean?
Charcoal-cell foam
The main “ingredient” of the Panda Hybrid pillow - and what makes it a hybrid - is the exclusive charcoal-infused Visco foam core.
For those that don’t know, memory foam is well-loved for its pressure-relieving and contouring capabilities.
Memory foam responds to body temperature and pressure, meaning it can mould to the exact shape it needs to support you. 🧽
See how it works on a memory foam mattress below:
But unlike many other pillow brands, the Panda Hybrid pillow is infused with charcoal.
Charcoal is great for absorbing moisture and eliminating odours, which will help your pillow stay clean and last longer.
It also dissipates heat to regulate your body temperature. ♨️
But that’s not the only “cool” factor about the Panda Hybrid Memory Foam Bamboo pillow.
Active 02 Micropods
Breathability and temperature control are key components in the Panda Hybrid Memory Foam pillow design. ✅
The Micropods are essentially little ventilation pockets integrated into the core foam.
This encourages hot air to be dispensed out of the pillow and fresh air to flow in for maximum breathability.
Mesh protector
Wrapped around the foam core is the deluxe mesh fabric cover.
Not only is this inner cover highly breathable, but it helps to protect your pillow from bacteria and moisture build-up. 💦
Like a mattress having a mattress protector, your pillow should be encased with additional protection.
But many people don’t bother with pillow protectors.
Panda London has cut out the middleman by integrating this soft pillow protector as part of the Panda Hybrid pillow.
Bamboo cover
And last but certainly not least is the new BambooCloud cover. 😍
This is a significantly different design from the Panda Memory Foam Bamboo pillow cover.
Unlike the original cover, which only contains 40% bamboo, the Panda Hybrid pillow cover is made from 100% bamboo.
Bamboo has antibacterial properties and is inhospitable to dust mites. 🦠
It also features a mesh frame airflow system for even more breathability.
But we’ll go into more detail about the BambooCloud cover features later.
Panda Hybrid pillow firmness
It’s our job to test the best pillows on the market - and we’ve tried a bunch of them!
But the Panda Hybrid pillow is one of our favourites.
It has a supportive feel that hugs the head and snuggles the shoulders. 🤗
The Panda Hybrid pillow is rated medium-firm, and we’d agree with this rating. ✔️
Most people are used to soft hollowfibre pillows that you sink right into and might feel sceptical about using a firmer pillow.
Yet, the Panda Hybrid pillow still feels soft whilst supportive.
Take a look at the image:
As you can see, the weight sinks into the pillow without fully plummeting to the bottom.
This is the perfect balance of sinking and support you need, particularly if you are a side or back sleeper.
But more on that below. 👇
Panda Hybrid pillow comfort
You may have heard that you need a particular mattress for your sleeping position, but are you aware you need a certain pillow too? 🤔
This can make shopping for a new pillow even more complicated . . .
But don’t worry; we’re here to guide you through the process.
Side sleeping
Over half of the population are side sleepers [1].
This means your body is turned to the side with one shoulder and hip pressed into the mattress. ⚓
Yet, this creates a large gap between the head and shoulder where your pillow should go.
Therefore you need a fairly high-loft and firm pillow to ensure you are properly supported throughout the night.
We felt very comfortable on the Panda Hybrid Memory Foam pillow in the side sleeping position.
The pillow supported the head and neck so that it stayed mostly in line with the spine.
We felt completely comfortable and suffered no aches and pains throughout the night. ❤️
Back sleeping
Back sleeping is less common but is great for spine health [2].
By laying flat on your back, you take pressure off your spine, joints and organs.
The gap between the head and shoulders isn’t quite as large in this position, so a medium-height and medium-feel pillow works best. 👍
We felt very supported on the Panda Hybrid pillow in the back sleeping position.
The head was lifted, so there was a very slight bend, but overall alignment was maintained.
We also enjoyed how the memory foam cushioned the shoulders and relieved the head from pressure. 🥰
Stomach sleeping
Stomach sleeping isn’t the best for you, but for many, this is the only way to feel comfortable.
Sleeping on your stomach puts the most pressure on the spine and neck, creating a bend when the neck is turned sideways.
There is not much space between the chin and chest. 🤔
Therefore, it’s essential to opt for a low and soft pillow that ensures the head isn’t bent upwards too much.
As you can see from the image above, the Panda Hybrid pillow was too high for this sleeping position.
This created neck pain and a bend in the bottom of the spine. 🥴
However, most stomach sleepers get on better with an adjustable pillow with removable layers or shredded foam.
This means front sleepers can put in their required amount of layers of foam (just one or two for this position).
Take a look at our favourite adjustable memory foam pillows:
Does the Panda Hybrid pillow sleep hot?
You might be thinking, why would I buy a memory foam pillow if I want a cooler sleep?
But Panda London has come up with an innovative design that regulates temperature and promotes breathability.
In fact, despite testing this pillow during a heatwave, we felt cool and comfortable throughout the night. 🌙
Temperature control
The bamboo cover is highly breathable with moisture-wicking properties that will help sweaty sleepers stay drier at night.
Another great feature of the memory foam is the additional charcoal-infusion technology. 🔬
Not only is charcoal antibacterial, but it also absorbs excess body heat.
This encourages you to stay at the perfect temperature without overheating.
Airflow
The Active 02 Micropods have been included to promote airflow throughout the pillow. 🍃
These small holes within the foam structure encourage air to circulate throughout the pillow.
The cover also features air mesh sides that allow any stored heat to easily pass out of the pillow.
A combination of all these different features assured we slept coolly even during a UK heatwave. 🌞
Panda Plush Bamboo Cloud Cover
The cover is one of the most noticeable new features of the Panda collection.
The original model has a textured feel compared to the new silkier design. ✨
The cover consists of the following:
- Inner & outer cover: 100% made from bamboo
- Cover filling: 80% bamboo microfibre & 20% Nano-Microfibre (from recycled polyester)
This is much more premium than the original Panda cover, made from just 40% bamboo fibres and 60% polyester.
How easy is it to remove the cover?
The cover was easy to unzip (smooth and no catching on threads) and remove with its L-shaped zip design, despite our Sleep Hero kitty wanting to help. 🐱
This created a large opening to pop out the pillow easily.
This was much easier than when we tested the Emma pillow.
Putting the layers back in the Emma Original pillow was difficult because the opening was small.
But because of the L-shaped opening on the Panda Hybrid pillow, it was easy to pop back into its cover.
100% bamboo cover
Overall, we were delighted with the quality of the cover. 😅
It has a smooth, silky, and cool-to-the-touch feel.
We’re also glad that Panda didn’t forego the adorable Panda logo in their new design - which has been a favourite feature among our testers.
The border and logo do shine through if you're using a white pillowcase.
But it's also not necessary to use a pillowcase since the bamboo pillow cover provides optimal protection.
The cover is thick and durable (our cat has occasionally used the pillow as a file for his claws), and the Panda Hybrid pillow has remained in excellent condition.
The bamboo cover is also 100% machine-washable, which will help it stay clean and last as long as possible.
Head down to our FAQs for more details on washing your Panda Hybrid pillow.
Air mesh sides
Another new feature of the Panda cover is the air mesh strip.
This air mesh has little holes that encourage airflow for the best breathability.
It also gives the pillow a slightly futuristic look. 👽
The bamboo material and air mesh design make this one of the most breathable pillow covers we’ve seen.
Panda Hybrid pillow size
The Panda Hybrid pillow is the largest yet, measuring 70 x 40 x 13 cm (27.5 x 15.7 x 5.11 inches).
This is larger than the original pillow, which measures 60 x 40 x 12 cm (23.6 x 15.7 x 4.7 inches).
If you’re a side sleeper and find the previous model too low, you might get on better with the Panda London Hybrid pillow.
The Panda Hybrid pillow is also significantly heavier than other pillows, weighing 2.2 kg (4.8 lbs.) 🏋️
So, we wouldn’t recommend using it for pillow fights.
Yet, despite its large size, we’ve experienced no issues with using a regular pillowcase on the Panda Hybrid Memory Foam Bamboo pillow.
Panda Hybrid pillow price
The Panda Hybrid pillow has a lot going for it. 👍
Therefore, the price is steeper than the other pillows on the market.
The Panda Hybrid pillow is around £90, which is still cheaper than the Simba pillow and Emma pillow. 💰
It also has a longer guarantee and is more eco-friendly than these products.
Therefore, we think it’s excellent value for money and a worthy investment if you're looking for a long-lasting, high-quality pillow.
Panda Hybrid pillow discount code
Is the Panda Hybrid pillow out of your price range?
No worries!
Panda London often has promotional sales throughout the year, where you can get huge savings on Panda products.
Sleep Hero often has exclusive discounts on some top brands, including Panda.
You can keep tabs on all the best Panda promotions on our discounts page or sign up for our newsletter. 🏷️
Panda London pillow delivery
Panda offers free delivery for all orders over the minimum order value to qualify for free delivery in the UK.
You can also order to Ireland and countries outside of the UK, but there may be an additional charge. 💰
Once you’ve placed an order, it should arrive within 5 working days either by DPD, UPS or DHL couriers.
You’ll get a text with a delivery date and tracking code before you receive your order, and a one-hour time slot on the day of delivery.
Our Panda Hybrid Memory Foam Bamboo pillow arrived in a rectangular cardboard box.
The cardboard box is made from recycled and recyclable packaging. ♻️
This is biodegradable and compostable Kraft paper that naturally decomposes over time without leaving any toxic traces in the soil.
This is part of the Panda initiative to create eco-friendly products that don’t harm our world or wildlife. 🐼
The packaging was easy to open and could even be kept if you wanted to use it again.
We also received a little personalised note from Panda, which was a thoughtful touch.
Overall, the delivery process was as efficient as possible. 😅
Panda sleep trial
We think it’s highly unlikely that you’ll not get on with your Panda Hybrid pillow.
But seeing as we love ours, we’re a little biased.
Luckily, Panda offers a 30-night sleep trial on all their pillows, mattress toppers, and mattress protectors.
This means you can fully test your Panda Hybrid pillow and send it back if it’s unsuitable. 😄
You’ll receive a full refund once your pillow has been returned (clean and undamaged) to Panda.
You can see the full terms of this trial on the Panda website.
Panda Hybrid pillow guarantee
Not only do you get 30 nights to test the pillow, but a 10-year guarantee as well.
Orders from the Panda website are automatically included in this guarantee.
If you ordered from a 3rd party store such as Amazon, you might need to register your Panda product to be eligible for the 10-year warranty.
A guarantee this long on pillows is almost unheard of; in fact, many pillow brands don’t include a guarantee.
The Panda warranty protects you from defects in the pillow, such as faulty workmanship or materials. 🛠️
You should contact the Panda customer service team as soon as you find the fault.
Should you buy the Panda Hybrid pillow?
It would be unfair of us to say that you’re definitely going to love this pillow.
We’ve had a phenomenal experience with the Panda Hybrid pillow and the other Panda products we’ve tried. 💕
And we feel great about investing in a brand that cares about its environmental impact.
But pillow comfort is subjective, so it’s important to consider whether this pillow is right for you.
You also have a 30-night trial to give you some extra peace of mind if you’re still unsure. 🤞
Contact Panda London UK
Customer service: To contact Panda Life directly for complaints, support, or queries, please e-mail them at info@mypandalife.com, call them on +44 208 935 5380, or visit their live online chat.
Registered office: Panda Life Ltd, 447 High Road, N12 0AF, London, UK
Alternatively, message us directly via the Contact Us page.