Adjustable pillows are a great match for just about anyone because you can find that sweet spot that works for you. But sometimes, those adjustable pillows mean taking out messy inner fills and can take a lot of trial and error. The Marlow pillow is the perfect answer to take out the guesswork of adjustable pillows.
In my unbiased Marlow pillow review, I’ll cover everything you need to know. I’ll tell you how the adjustability works, what goes into the pillow, my experience with it, and more.
Let’s get started!
Brooklinen Marlow Pillow
The Marlow pillow is a new take on the adjustable pillow. It has zippers along the sides of the pillow to change the loft and firmness. You don't have to worry about messy shredded foam fills to find the sweet spot that works for you with this memory foam pillow.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.20 / 5
Read Full Review
Marlow Pillow Overview
Marlow comes from the brand that makes the Internet’s favorite sheets: Brooklinen! Here at Mattress Clarity, we’ve covered many Brooklinen products before, like the Classic Core sheet set, the down pillow, and the down comforter.
Overall Rating
But Brooklinen branched out to create Marlow, which offers customers a new take on the adjustable pillow. Here’s a quick overview on who will enjoy the Marlow pillow, and who will need to consider something else:
Who Might Like the Marlow Pillow?
- Back and side sleepers
- Fans of memory foam pillows
- Hot sleepers
Who Might Not Like the Marlow Pillow?
- Fans of super firm pillows
- Fans of down pillows
- Stomach sleepers
Marlow Pillow Firmness and Feel
Firmness and feel are two important factors to consider when looking for a new pillow. Let’s talk about how Marlow pillow fares in these categories.
How Firm is the Marlow Pillow?
The key feature of the Marlow pillow is its new look and design from the adjustable pillow. Along the two long sides of this pillow are two zippers that will tighten the cover and change the loft.
I wouldn’t say the zippers change the firmness, as it felt fairly medium-firm. Even with one, both, or none of the zippers zipped up, the firmness stayed consistent. However, I should note that this was my experience with my pillow.
Firmness is rather subjective, and Marlow did design the pillow to have its firmness change when you open or close the zippers.
Sleeping on the Marlow Pillow
When I first tested the Marlow pillow, I was surprised at how responsive it was. For a shredded foam pillow, I was expecting that slow-moving feel, but it felt very responsive. Starting out on my back, with both zippers unzipped, this pillow felt very comfortable; using the pillow this way is ideal for back sleeping.
Moving on to my side, this pillow also felt really comfortable! I didn’t notice much of a difference with just one zipper zipped up, but when I had both zipped up, things changed. I would say if you’re a side sleeper with broad shoulders, having both zippers closed works best. If you have more narrow shoulders, it would be better to keep the side gussets unzipped.
30-60 Min Nap
When I test out products, I test them out awake at first, just to get an overall feel for the sleeping positions. I’m a strict side sleeper by nature, so I decided to take a quick nap with the Marlow pillow. I started out with both zippers closed. At first, it felt really natural and comfortable, but towards the end of my nap, it felt like my neck was straining.
So, the next day I decided to unzip both sides and try again. This felt much better. Because there wasn’t as much tension pulling the cover of the pillow tight, my head was able to compress the pillow better. One thing I will note is that, even with a pillowcase on, when I had both zippers open, I could feel the teeth of the zippers which could feel a little uncomfortable for a full night of sleep.
What Does the Marlow Pillow Feel Like?
Despite being full of memory foam, the pillow feels more like a down alternative pillow. It’s rather fluffy and doesn’t have that slow-moving quality memory foam is known for.
RELATED: Best Memory Foam Pillows
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lb – 230lb
Overall, average weight sleepers of all sleeping positions should find what they’re looking for in the Marlow pillow. For back sleepers, I’d recommend keeping the zippers open for the best sleep. Side sleepers could keep the zippers open, too but if you have broad shoulders, I’d recommend zipping them up.
As for stomach sleepers, you need a relatively flat pillow to avoid developing neck pain. The Marlow pillow shines in adjustability, but even with the zippers open, this pillow won’t be the best match for stomach sleepers. Also, you may feel the zipper teeth through your pillow case, which could feel uncomfortable, too.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230lb
Heavyweight back and side sleepers will enjoy the Marlow pillow, too! As a heavier person myself, this pillow worked well for back and side sleeping. Though if you have broader shoulders than I do, keep the zippers closed.
One thing I will say, while the standard-sized pillow worked well for me, I did find it a little small. Luckily this pillow comes in a king size option so you can opt for that to give yourself more room.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lb
For lightweight sleepers, keeping the zippers open would be the best option for back and side sleeping. Again, if you’re a side sleeper with broad shoulders, zipping up the sides may be better. But overall, this is a medium-firm feeling pillow, and you might not be able to compress the pillow very much.
I wouldn’t recommend this pillow to lightweight stomach sleepers. Even with the sides unzipped, this pillow will be too tall to sleep comfortably.
Marlow Pillow Construction
Let’s take a look at what goes into making the Marlow pillow.
Cover
On the outside you’ll find a high-quality, 100% cotton shell. The long sides of the pillow have gussets on them, which you can zip or unzip. When you unzip the sides, you’ll find a mesh fabric. This is what gives the pillow its adjustability.
Core
Inside the pillow you’ll find a shredded memory foam core of polyurethane foam and polyester fibers.
Weight
The standard-sized Marlow pillow weighs 40 oz. The king-sized pillow weighs 55 oz.
Height/Loft
With both zippers closed, the Marlow pillow comes in at about 7” tall. The pillow becomes slightly shorter when you unzip one or both sides of the pillow.
Marlow Pillow Size Options and Price
Take a look at our up-to-date pricing chart below for the Marlow pillow!
| Size | Price |
| Standard | $65 |
| King | $85 |
Brooklinen Marlow Pillow
The Marlow pillow is a new take on the adjustable pillow. It has zippers along the sides of the pillow to change the loft and firmness. You don't have to worry about messy shredded foam fills to find the sweet spot that works for you with this memory foam pillow.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.20 / 5
Read Full Review
Marlow Pillow Performance
So, how did the Marlow pillow perform in a few key categories? Let’s find out.
Sleeping Hot or Cold
The Marlow pillow has been designed to be a cooling pillow. The cover is made with cotton, which is a breathable material on its own. But the mesh gussets on the side also help this pillow breathe. Memory foam can trap heat at times, but these innovations have been included to combat that.
Overall, as someone who tends to run hot, I never thought the pillow was going to overheat. The gussets for airflow are a nice addition for hot sleepers!
Off-Gassing
The Marlow pillow does come to you compressed in a box. However unlike most memory foam pillows I’ve opened, this one puffed up fairly quickly.
There may be a slight chemical smell, which is a result of the pillow being compressed. But don’t worry, this usually dissipates after about 24 hours.
Care Instructions
Unfortunately, the Marlow pillow is not machine-washable. The company recommends that you spot clean any dirty areas, and fluff regularly.
Allergies
Marlow mentions that the Marlow pillow is 100% antimicrobial. This means that it will repel dust mites and bacteria.
Company Policies
Here’s what you can expect when you make a purchase with Marlow.
Warranty Info
Marlow offers a full 2-year warranty on the Marlow pillow! It is worth noting, this warranty covers manufacturing defects, and not normal wear and tear.
Sleep Trial
You’ll have a full 365 days to test out the Marlow pillow!
Return Policy
If, during the 365-day trial, you decide that you don’t like your Marlow pillow, you can return it for a full refund. Marlow offers free shipping on all orders and returns and exchanges.
Common Marlow Pillow Complaints
While customers have praised the Marlow pillow for its adjustability, many were surprised to find that the pillow was not as soft as they thought it would be.
I’ll even admit that the firmness surprised me, but I still found this pillow to hover around medium-firm. If you are the type of sleeper who needs a soft pillow to really sink into, softer memory foam pillows do exist! Or you could opt for one of the best down pillows as well.
How Does the Marlow Pillow Compare to Other Pillows?
Marlow is still a relatively new brand, and you may not have heard of this pillow before. That’s why it’s always a good idea to do some comparison shopping! Let’s compare the Marlow to two other popular brands on the market.
Marlow vs Brooklinen
Brooklinen is actually a sister brand to Marlow, but Brooklinen makes a down and down alternative pillow. Brooklinen’s most popular pillow is its down pillow, so let’s compare a traditional down pillow to the memory foam Marlow pillow.
The obvious difference between these two pillows is the fill. Brooklinen uses high-quality, ethically sourced down in its down pillow, while Marlow uses a combination of shredded foam and microfibers.
This gives both pillows a very different feel. Brooklinen’s down pillow is very soft and cushiony. The Marlow pillow is much firmer. You can adjust the Marlow pillow to change the height, but the Brooklinen pillow comes in three firmness options to meet different needs.
Who Should Get the Marlow Pillow?
- Fans of firm pillows
- Anyone looking for adjustable pillows
Who Should Get the Brooklinen Down Pillow?
- Fans of down pillows
- Fans of soft pillows
Read our full Brooklinen Down pillow review.
Marlow vs TEMPUR-Pedic
One other popular brand that uses memory foam in its pillows is the brand that started it all: TEMPUR-Pedic. There are a good number of TEMPUR pillows, but the TEMPUR-Cloud pillow is the brand’s standard pillow.
Unlike the Marlow pillow, this is a single piece of TEMPUR material. It feels much softer and more slow-moving than the Marlow pillow. If you’re looking for a super soft foam pillow, the Cloud is for you. But if you prefer things a bit firmer, opt for the Marlow.
The Cloud is not an adjustable pillow, and isn’t very tall. It’ll work best for back and stomach sleepers. The Marlow pillow is much taller, and will work better for side sleepers. Finally, the Cloud may trap heat, so hot sleepers, take note. The Marlow is the better option for hot sleepers.
Who Should Get the Marlow Pillow?
- Fans of adjustable pillows
- Hot sleepers
Who Should Get the TEMPUR-Cloud?
- Stomach sleepers
- Fans of soft, slow-moving memory foam
Read our full TEMPUR-Cloud pillow review.
FAQs
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about the Marlow pillow.
Who makes the Marlow pillow?
Marlow is the most recent brand under Brooklinen. Here at Mattress Clarity, we’ve reviewed the Brooklinen down pillow and all three of the core sheet sets from the brand.
Brooklinen designed the Marlow pillow to help take the guesswork out of adjustable pillows. Just unzip one, or both sides of the pillow to help you find the right loft and feel for you!
What if I don’t like my Marlow pillow?
The good news is you have a whole year to test out the Marlow pillow! This will give you plenty of time to play with the adjustability of this pillow. If during that time you don’t like it, you can return it for a full refund! Marlow covers all shipping costs.
How long will the Marlow pillow last?
In addition to the 365-day trial, the Marlow pillow comes with a 2-year warranty. This warranty covers factory and manufacturing defects, and doesn’t cover general wear and tear. However, with that warranty in mind, the pillow should last at least 2 years, if not more with good care.