Groove Pillow Review

Groove Pillow Review UK (2024)

Last updated: 26.01.2024 Reading time: 10 Min. Liked by: 16

Back and neck pains are increasingly common, with poor posture and long hours spent behind a desk certainly at fault.

But your choice of pillow can also play a significant role. 👩‍💻

That’s why ergonomic pillows like the Groove pillow (formerly the EasySleeper pillow) are so popular, promising you a night of restful, easy sleep.

We love the Groove pillow.

The company has been going through some changes, but it looks like they're accepting orders again. Just to be safe, though, we'll offer you some of the best Groove pillow alternatives and insight into why we like the Groove so much.

Find out more in this Groove pillow review. 👇

Groove pillow

Best UK Groove pillow alternatives

The following aren't all ergonomically designed pillows, like the Groove, but are the most similar in terms of composition and feel.

Best Groove pillow alternatives:

Groove pillow composition

The Groove pillow has an ergonomic design and combines a core of memory foam with cotton fillings.

SleepEasy pillow layers
The Groove pillow has a unique ergonomic design.

This provides the head and neck with excellent support while allowing the pillow to remain soft and comfortable.

Memory foam is known for its contouring abilities, relieving pressure points and offering optimal support.

Since the memory foam used in the Easy Sleeper pillow is bamboo and charcoal-infused memory foam, it also offers enhanced breathability and better temperature regulation. ❄️

You'll have a largely similar experience with the Panda pillow, which combines a core of cooling memory foam with a bamboo cover.

Groove pillow cover

The original Groove pillow comes with a quilted diamond-patterned cover made of a polyester knit, and it feels very soft and luxurious to sleep on.

Conveniently, the cover has a full-length zipper on the back so you can take it off quickly.

Groove pillow memory foam

Groove pillow zipper

The Groove pillow cover is machine-washable at 30℃ and can be hung up to dry, but it isn't safe for tumble-drying, bleaching, or ironing.

The pillow cover is recyclable, and the zipper is made from recycled plastic.

Memory foam itself is not washable, so memory foam pillows should never be put in the wash. 🧼

To best protect your pillows, we'd always recommend purchasing a good pillowcase and, where possible, a pillow protector - check out some of our favourites below.

Luxurious pillowcases:

What does sleeping on the Groove pillow feel like?

The Groove memory foam pillow is specifically designed to eliminate neck, shoulder, and upper back pain by correcting your posture while sleeping. 💤

But is the pillow still comfortable?

Let's take a closer look at this.

Groove pillow firmness

The EasySleeper pillow is available in one standard medium-firm version.

This is the perfect level of support that will suit most back and side sleepers well.

Soft pillows cause too much sinkage, while too-firm pillows can often cause spinal misalignment as they push the neck up too much.

Side sleeper pillow alignment
Your pillow should keep your neck in perfect alignment.

By coming in a medium-firmness, the EasySleeper is the perfect pillow for a good night's sleep.

During our Easy Sleeper pillow review, we found that the pillow offered the perfect balance of sinkage and support.

It was comfortable in every position. 😴

Groove pillow ergonomic shape

The first thing you'd notice when looking at the Easy Sleeper pillow is that it doesn't look like most pillows on the market.

While still standard-sized and with the rectangular shape you may be used to, it's a little odd-looking.

This is because the EasySleeper pillow has a unique concave ergonomic shape, allowing you to place your head and neck where they are most supported.

This design offers superior neck support, making the Groove a great pillow for anyone struggling with pain.

concave shape of groove pillow
The unique shape of the pillow allows for excellent comfort and support.

Lying back on the pillow for the first time for our Groove pillow review definitely felt like a comforting hug around the neck. 🤗

Regardless of how you sleep (i.e. if you're a back sleeper or a side sleeper), the Groove pillow hugs the space between neck and mattress perfectly.

This allows for excellent support and relief of pressure points. 🙌

Sleeping positions for the Groove pillow

The original EasySleeper pillow has been designed for back sleepers and side sleepers.

While you can use it as a stomach sleeper, this is strongly discouraged. 🙅‍♂️

SleepEasy pillow sleep positions
The Easy Sleeper pillow is designed for back and side sleepers.

The ergonomic design, firmness, and loft of this pillow aren't ideal for stomach sleepers, and you'll likely end up with neck tension if you do sleep on your front.

Stomach sleepers often sleep well without a pillow, a very flat pillow, or a pillow with a unique shape, like the Tempur Ombracio pillow.

But the Groove pillow is the perfect support pillow for back and side sleeping.

But how exactly do you sleep on this pillow? 🤔

How to use the Groove pillow

So, how do you "sleep easy" on the EasySleeper?

As a neck pillow, the Groove EasySleeper is designed to eliminate neck pain, shoulder pain, upper back pain, and stiffness and tension by correcting your posture during sleep.

Pillow alignment
The perfect pillow aligns your neck and spine.

By allowing for neutral spinal alignment in the side and back sleeping positions, using the pillow eliminates unnecessary pressure and tension.

This allowes you to wake up tension- and pain-free.

So how should you sleep on the EasySleeper pillow?

You'll start by placing the pillow flat on your mattress, with the concave side facing your bed (i.e. where your neck would go).

The pillow should not be used with any other pillows or layers under or on top of it.

You may feel slightly uncomfortable when you first start using your ergonomically designed pillow - this is because supportive sleeping can feel a bit unusual. 😧

How to use SleepEasy pillow
Using the EasySleeper pillow is relatively easy.

You should always stick to a new pillow for a few weeks (or even up to ten weeks) to give your body the chance to get used to it.

How do you use the Groove pillow as a side sleeper?

These are the EasySleeper pillow guidelines for sleeping on your side:

  • Place the Groove pillow on your mattress.
  • Lie down and lean your cheeks against the lateral raised sides of the pillow (either left or right, depending on your side position).
  • Your shoulder should fit snugly into the space underneath.

This position allows your chin to be aligned with your chest and eliminates additional tension on your cervical vertebrae. 🦴

Side sleeper on pillow
Side sleepers generally do well on ergonomic pillows.

So, how did this work for our Groove pillow review?

At first, lying in this position felt like a dream.

What felt nice was that the concave part perfectly aligned the neck and spine, but you still had those lateral raised sides for extra comfort.

But, since changing sleeping positions is pretty standard, we didn't stay in this position all night long. ⏰

On most mornings, our test sleepers woke up hugging a different part of the pillow, with the neck not actually in the concave part.

Luckily, though, the entire pillow is incredibly comfortable (not too soft and not too firm), so we felt great even if we did not experience the full ergonomic design.

How do you use the Groove pillow as a back sleeper?

These are the Easy Sleeper pillow guidelines for sleeping on your back:

  • Place the Easy Sleep pillow on your mattress.
  • Place your neck in the concave memory foam area in the middle of the pillow.

This position raises your head slightly, allowing the natural curvature of your neck and head to stay aligned.

back sleeper on pillow
The Easy Sleeper pillow keeps your head and neck in place.

Our test sleepers aren't pure back sleepers, but some did start the evening in this position. 🌔

Like with the side sleeping position, the Groove pillow offered the perfect balance of comfort and support for back sleepers.

Lying back on the pillow, you can instantly feel pain, tension, and pressure in the neck area melt away.

This is also a great position for bedtime reading. 📚

Try these other pillows for reading:

Who is the Groove pillow suitable for?

Most people - except stomach sleepers - are likely to find the Groove pillow comfortable. 💤

Correct spinal alignment is always important, even if you're not struggling with severe cervical or neck pains.

According to Groove, the pillow can help with the following:

  • Relieve a stiff neck, tension, and pain
  • Chronic neck pain from joint conditions
  • Upper back and shoulder pain
  • Tension headaches and migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Sports-related injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Sleep apnoea and snoring
  • Restless sleep

Let's look at some of these in more detail. 👇

People with back pain
The EasySleper pillow helped alleviate pain.

People prone to tension headaches and migraines

Tension headaches and migraines are often caused by cervical tension.

This may be as a result of bad posture throughout the day, too much strain from computer work, or incorrect spinal alignment while sleeping.

If the latter is the cause, then improving posture while sleeping can greatly minimise the chances of getting a tension headache or migraine attack. 🖥

Bad posture
Lousy posture can increase the frequency of tension headaches.

People with orthopaedic concerns

Of course, the original EasySleeper pillow was designed to combat back and neck pains.

It may also be helpful for people with severe and chronic pain, as well as those struggling with sciatica and scoliosis.

But if you are struggling with a more severe condition, we recommend you check with your physiotherapist or doctor before using the pillow. 👨‍⚕️

A massage gun can also help alleviate neck, shoulder, and back pain.

People struggling with sleep apnoea or snoring

Most anti-snore pillows [1] work by keeping the head in a particular position, which keeps the airways open. 💨

A uniquely-designed pillow like the EasySleeper also helps keep the head and neck in place.

This can reduce snoring and help eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnoea.

We didn't find that the Groove pillow kept our head "in place" all night long, but this may still have worked for some people!

People prone to allergies

The original EasySleeper pillow is hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial.

Woman with allergies
The EasySleeper pillow is hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial.

This makes it suitable for people with sensitive skin and those prone to allergies. 🤧

Restless sleepers

People often have restless nights because they can't find a comfortable position.

The Groove pillow offers good support and unique contouring that keep your head and neck firmly in place.

By giving you a more comfortable position, the EasySleep pillow allows you to "sleep easy" by helping you stay in position and enjoy a night of deep sleep.

Does the Groove pillow sleep hot?

Even though the Groove pillow predominantly features memory foam (which typically sleeps warmer), it also has a unique design that helps with temperature regulation. 🥵

This includes:

  • The memory foam is bamboo and charcoal-infused, both of which enhance breathability, drawing away excess moisture and helping with temperature regulation.
  • It features more breathable cotton fillings in addition to the memory foam.
  • It has mesh sides for enhanced airflow.

By implementing cooling technologies, Groove Pillows aims to counteract the heat retention properties of memory foam.

mesh sides on the easysleeper
The mesh sides allow for enhanced breathability to keep the pillow cool.

We felt cool and comfortable with the Groove pillow - even with a UK summer heatwave. ❄️

It felt cooler and more comfortable than many other memory foam pillows we've tried!

Try these cooling pillows:

What size is the Groove pillow?

The Groove pillow comes in one standard size of 60 x 34 cm (23.6 x 13.3 inches), but the height varies according to the side of the pillow. ⛰

The higher side measures 11 cm (4.3 inches), and the lower side measures 6 cm (2.3 inches).

The pillow weighs approximately 1 kg (2.2 lbs). ⚖️

This may seem heavy, but the pillow is actually quite a bit lighter than many other memory foam pillows we've tried.

Tempur pillows, for example, are quite heavy, and even the Panda pillow weighs 1.8 kg (3.9 lbs).

Groove pillow delivery conditions

The Easy Sleep pillow is delivered within a few working days in a recyclable box, protected in a biodegradable plastic wrap.

Unfortunately, shipping is only free for larger orders, and we found the whole tracking system (with e-mail and live tracking, including a 2-hour time slot) a little slow and inconvenient.

Most companies give you a time slot at the start of the day, which makes planning your schedule more manageable. 📆

But, with Groove, we only got a notification of the two-hour slot by lunchtime, so we sat around waiting for half the day.

Customer service for the delivery service was also non-existent - the only chat option connected you to a computer, which repeatedly fed out the same message.

To top it off, the delivery personnel never actually rang the bell or knocked at our door and simply left the package outside. 🔔

This was a tad inconvenient, and we've definitely had better experiences with companies like Panda London!

But we still received the pillow in good order, despite the slight inconvenience.

How do you unpack the Groove pillow?

The pillow came compressed and rolled to minimise packaging. 📦

As soon as you take it out of the box and remove the plastic wrapping, the pillow pops back into shape.

It was at its full size almost instantly - but sometimes it may take a few hours for full expansion.

Does the Groove pillow smell?

We experienced zero off-gassing with the Groove pillow.

But should you ever experience off-gassing with memory foam products, there's no need to worry - off-gassing isn't harmful or toxic.

It can be a little unpleasant, though, so we'd always recommend unwrapping new products in a well-ventilated room. 🏡

Is the Groove a good pillow?

The Groove is an excellent pillow that we recommend to:

  • People struggling with neck, shoulder, and upper back pains
  • Side and back sleepers
  • People who like the memory foam feel
  • Snorers or those struggling with sleep apnoea
  • People looking for the perfect balance of comfort and support

Unfortunately, this pillow company went into liquidation at the start of 2024 - it's back online now, but you may also want to check out some alternatives just in case.

Our favourite UK Groove alternative pillows:

Frequently asked questions

  • Is it the Groove pillow, Sleep Easy pillow, or the Easy Sleeper pillow?


    What is the actual name of this pillow?

    You probably heard it referred to as the Sleep Easy pillow, the Easy Sleep pillow, or the EasySleeper pillow.

    EasySleeper pillow was correct until the company rebranded as Groove Pillows - but it was still marketed as one to help you "Sleep Easy".

    We used these terms - Sleep Easy, EasySleeper, and Groove pillow - synonymously throughout our article, but always mean the original EasySleeper - or Groove - pillow!

  • Does the Groove pillow come with a trial period?


    The original EasySleeper pillow comes with a 100-day trial period.

  • Can you wash the Groove pillow?


    You cannot wash the Easy Sleep pillow - but you can wash the quilted cover! 

    Water can damage memory foam, so it’s always worth remembering that memory foam products should never be immersed in water. 

    Luckily, though, you can wash the Groove pillow soft scuba cover.

    To wash the UltraSoft scuba cover,  you simply have to place it in your normal load together with your whites and then air to dry.

    Dealing with stains

    If you ever have an accident - perhaps a coffee spill or the like - and you do have to wash your EasySleeper pillow, then you can do the following:

    • Soak up as much of the stain as quickly as possible with a clean cloth.
    • Soak a clean cloth in warm water and add a small amount of soap or detergent.
    • Dab the stain with the damp cloth, rinse, and repeat.
    • Pat the pillow with a detergent-free damp cloth.
    • Let the pillow air dry in a well-ventilated area.

    This will remove the stain and kept your memory foam pillow protected. 

  • How do you store the Groove pillow?


    While your EasySleeper should be a staple on your bed, you may need to store it for some reason.

    In that case, you can keep it somewhere dry and away from direct sunlight. 🔆

    You'll also want to protect your pillow from dust and dirt, so keeping it in a bag is ideal.

  • Is memory foam the best for neck pain?


    Memory foam is often recommended for side sleeper pillows and neck-pain relief.

    This is because of memory foam’s unique contouring abilities. 🤗

    It manages to support you gently while contouring to the shape of your head and offering good pressure relief.

    But not everyone likes the firmer feel of memory foam pillows.

    If you prefer more traditional pillows, like feather pillows or down pillows, then you probably wouldn’t like the more stiff and rigid feel of memory foam pillows.

    You could also try a shredded memory foam pillow like the Simba Hybrid pillow.

    These offer a slightly more traditional feel while still providing some of the contouring of memory foam.

  • References

Nicky

Nicky

Editor & Certified Sleep Therapist

Nicky is an experienced writer and editor with numerous qualifications. As a certified sleep coach, her interests lie in understanding how sleep problems arise from hormonal and environmental issues, particularly as part of stress and anxiety management.

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