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Cabeau offers several different types of travel pillows in its Evolution line. The Evolution Cool is all about, well, keeping the traveler cool.
From its smooth, athletic wear-like cover to its breathable side vents and 360-degree support, the travel pillow is a nice option for those wanting to try a U-shaped neck pillow but afraid of getting warm mid-flight.
I’ve got a few considerations, as always! So check out all the details in my video and written post below to find out if this travel pillow is worth taking on the next trip.
Cabeau Evolution Cool Travel Pillow Review
Key Features
Dimensions: 9.75″ x 9.5″ x 5.5″ and 12.6 oz in weight
The cover is 92% polyester and 8% spandex with side cooling vents
Pillow filling is 100% polyurethane memory foam
The core is dual-density memory foam: soft on top and firmer at the bottom
360° head and neck support with magnetic clips and c-loops
Curved downward by the ears to leave room for headphones
Curved for shoulder support as well
Can be rolled to half of its size for compact travel
Comes with a travel case
Comes in Black, Red, Purple, and Blue color options
Full price: $59.95
Cabeau Evolution Cooling Travel Pillow
Cabeau offers several different types of travel pillows in its Evolution line. The Evolution Cool is all about, well, keeping the traveler cool.
The Evolution Pillow line (including the Classic, S3, and Cool) is made by Cabeau, a company whose products are designed to help make travel more comfortable.
One of the company’s goals is “transforming Coach-Class woes into a First-Class experience.”
Shoppers will probably see one of the Cabeau Evolution travel pillow varieties — the S3, Classic, or Cool— at an airport, train station, or rest stop off the highway. This is a super popular brand, and they’ve expanded from their original Evolution travel pillow to provide options that will suit specific traveling needs.
In addition to travel pillows, Cabeau also sells items such as socks, backpacks, travel adapters, and umbrellas.
See how the Classic Evolution travel pillow fares in my best travel pillow comparison.
Pros
Pillow cover feels cool to the touch, and the vented areas enhance breathability
The magnetic clasp is super easy to use
The pivot loops/c-loops allows the travel pillow to work for smaller necks
The travel storage case can be used to compact the pillow to half its size
The 360-degree support system keeps the wearer comfortable at any angle
Cons
The packaging says the cover is machine washable, but I couldn’t actually get the cover off because of the extra built-in c-loops
Soft foam on the top layer may be too soft and not supportive for everyone
More expensive than other Cabeau Evolution models
My Experience
I’ve had the opportunity to review two other travel pillows in the Cabeau Evolution line: the Classic pillow and the S3 pillow. These travel pillows, in addition to the Cool, are very similar in their basic construction. They’re all U-shaped neck pillows filled with a solid piece of memory foam. And they all feature clasps that allow the pillow to stay anchored to the traveler’s neck and provide 360-degree support.
The Cool option features innovative features to enhance breathability. The cover is smooth and cool to the touch. It’s made with mostly polyester and a little bit of spandex. It also has side vents that cut through the memory foam filling.
The Cool also has dual-density memory foam and contoured edges. This gives the pillow less of a “neck brace” feel and is a little softer compared to the Classic and the S3 options. It also allows space for the shoulders and space below the ears for low-hanging earbuds.
The toggles connect to the ends of the pillow and allows the person wearing it to adjust the tightness. This is where an individual will get the full supportive effect of the solid memory foam core.
For these reasons, I think the Evolution Cool is a nice travel pillow for those hot sleepers who want a U-shaped neck pillow but are worried it’ll be too hot. It should also work well for average or more petite individuals who are concerned about being engulfed by a lot of supportive foam.
My one hesitation with this travel pillow is the care. The packaging instructions and the tag say that the cover can be removed machine washed. However, I was unable to remove the cover. The magnetic toggles would not fit through the holes stitched in the cover material.
I even tried to remove the plastic within the memory foam in an effort to get the cover off, but the memory foam started to break and I didn’t want to destroy the pillow. So if being able to machine wash a travel pillow cover is a priority, take note of this.
Despite that, I really like the overall design of the pillow and the ease of the magnetic clasps that keep it anchored to the neck. This allows the person to wear it to move or adjust positions while resting and not worry about the travel pillow falling off the neck.
Overall
I really like that Cabeau offers an Evolution model that is designed for hot sleepers. I also appreciate that the memory foam core is softer around the edges and firmer in the center, so people with smaller body types can enjoy the supportwithout feeling overwhelmed.
The price point is a little bit higher, but there is some additional value thanks to the cooling material, magnetic clasps, and c-loops for extra customization.
I do wish I had been able to get the cover on and off smoothly and machine washed it, but it was not possible based on the design of the pillow I had. Be prepared to spot-clean this purchase!
Curious about other travel pillows? See my list of best travel pillows.
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Katie Golde
Senior Digital Content Manager/Managing Editor
About Author
Katie Golde is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and previously served Managing Editor and Head of Sleep Research for Mattress Clarity. She handled the daily operations of the site and you’ll still see her in plenty of reviews, from mattresses to travel pillow and bed pillow reviews – plus the occasional How-To video. In addition, Katie reported, writed, and edited sleep health and sleep industry news for the site.
Since joining the Mattress Clarity team in 2016, she has reviewed hundreds of sleep products, like bed pillows and mattresses and written over 200 sleep-related stories for the site. She probably knows more about bamboo sheets and bed pillows than any one person should.
Katie has been writing about wellness-related topics, including sleep, for the last eight years. The first sleep story she wrote covered the best and worst foods to eat before bed. Her previous work can be found in print and online publications like Discover Magazine, USA Today, Bustle and The Huffington Post.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in Journalism with a focus on Interactive Publishing from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism as well. During her graduate studies, Katie focused on health and science reporting and she received the G.D. Crain Award for demonstrating leadership, management, and entrepreneurial excellence during her final innovation project.