What We Love
- Cool-to-the-touch cover stays noticeably cooler against the skin than standard jersey or polyester body pillows
- Oversized U shape supports the head, back, belly, hips and knees at once, so you don't need a pile of separate pillows
- Soft, huggable feel that's especially comfortable for side sleepers and pregnancy
- Back arm stops you rolling onto your back, which many doctors suggest avoiding later in pregnancy
- Removable, machine-washable cover makes cleaning simple
- Useful long after pregnancy for side sleeping, reading, lounging and postpartum support
Room for Improvement
- At $189–$199, it costs three to four times more than most U-shaped pregnancy pillows
- Very large — takes up a big share of a queen bed and is crowded on a full
- Softer feel may not give enough lift for people who want firm, structured support
- Cooling is strongest at first touch; it slows heat build-up rather than chilling you all night
On this page
- 1Quick Verdict
- 2Who Is the Plufl Hugl For?
- 3What Makes the Plufl Hugl Different?
- 4How We Tested the Plufl Hugl
- 5Side Sleeping and Body Support
- 6Comfort and Feel
- 7Temperature Regulation
- 8Shape Retention and Durability
- 9Beyond Pregnancy: Other Ways to Use the Hugl
- 10How the Plufl Hugl Compares
- 11Setup and Care
- 12Is the Plufl Hugl Worth $189–$199?
- 13Final Score
- 14FAQs
- 15Related Guides
Most body pillows have the same problem: they feel lovely for ten minutes, then turn into a warm, sticky barrier you end up kicking off the bed. The Plufl Hugl Cooling Body Pillow is built to fix that. It pairs a big, huggable U shape with a cooling cover designed to keep the surface from heating up the way regular body pillows do.
Plufl first became known for its oversized "human dog bed." The Hugl brings that same cozy, wrap-around idea to a body pillow for adults. It's marketed for side sleepers, hot sleepers and pregnancy, and it sells for $189 to $199 on Amazon. That's a premium price in a category where many U-shaped pillows cost under $70.
We tested it for several weeks with side sleepers, a hot sleeper and pregnancy-focused use to find out whether the cooling and comfort justify the price. Here's everything we found.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Support | 8.6 / 10 |
| Comfort | 9.2 / 10 |
| Versatility | 9.0 / 10 |
| Temperature Regulation | 8.9 / 10 |
| Shape Retention | 8.2 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 6.8 / 10 |
| Overall | 4.4 / 5 |
Bottom line: The Plufl Hugl is one of the most comfortable and coolest-feeling body pillows we've tested. It's ideal for hot side sleepers and pregnant sleepers who want full-body support without the heat. The catch is the price and the size: it costs far more than typical U-shaped pillows, and it takes over a lot of the bed.
Check the Plufl Hugl price on Amazon →
Who Is the Plufl Hugl For?
Buy the Plufl Hugl If You Are:
- A hot sleeper who finds regular body pillows trap heat
- A side sleeper who wants support for the knees, hips and shoulders in one pillow
- Pregnant and want to stay on your side with your belly, back and knees supported
- Someone with lower back or hip discomfort who sleeps better with a pillow between the knees
- A person who simply loves hugging something to fall asleep
Consider an Alternative If You Are:
- On a tight budget: several solid U-shaped pregnancy pillows cost under $70
- Sleeping on a full bed with a partner: the Hugl's size will crowd you both
- Someone who wants firm, structured support: the Hugl is soft and squishy
- A back or stomach sleeper: body pillows are made mainly for side sleeping
What Makes the Plufl Hugl Different?
The Hugl's design comes down to three things: its shape, its fill and its cooling cover.
The U-Shaped Design
The Hugl is a large U. The curved top cradles your head and neck. One long arm runs down your back, and the other runs down your front, where you can hug it, rest your belly on it and tuck it between your knees.
Why a U Shape Instead of a Straight Body Pillow?
A straight body pillow only supports one side of your body. If you roll over, you have to drag it with you. A U shape supports both your front and back at the same time, so when you switch sides you simply turn over and the other arm is already there. The back arm also acts as a gentle wall that keeps you from rolling onto your back, which is helpful during pregnancy.
The Fill
The Hugl is filled generously, giving it a soft, cloud-like feel. It compresses easily when you hug it, then bounces back when you let go. It's softer than many structured pregnancy pillows, so it feels more like cuddling a plush toy than leaning on a firm wedge.
The Cooling Cover
The cover is the Hugl's headline feature. It's made from a smooth, cool-to-the-touch fabric that feels noticeably cooler on your skin than standard jersey or polyester. It also unzips for washing, which matters for a pillow you'll hold against your body every night.
How We Tested the Plufl Hugl
We tested the Hugl over five weeks with three testers, following our standard testing methodology:
- Dr. Sarah Mitchell (side sleeper, 140 lbs): alignment, pressure relief at the hips and knees, and pregnancy-style positioning
- James Whitfield (back and side sleeper, 190 lbs): shape retention and durability over nightly use
- Marcus Chen (hot combination sleeper, 175 lbs): cooling performance and how easy it is to switch sides
We measured surface temperature with a FLIR thermal camera, checked spinal alignment in side-sleeping positions, tracked how much the fill flattened over time and ran the cover through repeated wash cycles.
Side Sleeping and Body Support
This is where the Hugl earns its place. In side-sleeping tests, the pillow kept our testers' bodies lined up from head to knee.
Here's what the U shape did well:
- Knees and hips: With the front arm between the knees, the top leg stayed level instead of dropping forward. That stops the hips from twisting, a common cause of lower back and hip ache in side sleepers.
- Shoulders: Hugging the front arm gave the top arm somewhere to rest, which took strain off the shoulder.
- Neck: The curved top worked as a pillow for most testers, though people with broad shoulders may want to add their regular pillow on top.
- Back: The back arm gave gentle support along the spine and stopped testers from rolling onto their backs.
Switching Sides
Switching sides with the Hugl is easy. You roll over inside the U and the other arm is already in place. Marcus, a restless sleeper, said this was the biggest improvement over his straight body pillow, which he used to have to drag across the bed.
For Pregnancy
The Hugl's shape suits pregnancy well. The front arm supports the belly, the back arm keeps you on your side, and the soft fill is gentle on sensitive hips. Pregnant sleepers who run warm, which is common, will appreciate the cooling cover. As always, talk with your doctor or midwife about the sleep position that's best for you.
Comfort and Feel
The Hugl is medium-soft. It's plush and squishy rather than firm, and it molds around your body when you hug it.
All three testers called it one of the most comfortable body pillows they'd tried. The soft fill and smooth cover make it pleasant to hold, and it doesn't push back the way a dense foam pillow does.
The trade-off is support. If you want a firm wedge that props up your belly or back with a lot of force, the Hugl may feel too soft. It's built for gentle, all-around support rather than firm structure.
| Sleeper Type | How the Hugl Performs |
|---|---|
| Side sleepers | Excellent — the main use it's designed for |
| Pregnant sleepers | Excellent — belly, back and knee support at once |
| Hot sleepers | Very good — cooling cover slows heat build-up |
| Combination sleepers | Very good — easy to switch sides inside the U |
| Back sleepers | Fair — useful for lounging, less so for sleep |
| Stomach sleepers | Poor — not designed for this position |
Temperature Regulation
Cooling is the main reason to choose the Hugl over a cheaper pillow, so we tested it carefully.
In our thermal tests, the Hugl's cover stayed cooler than a standard jersey body pillow after an hour of hugging. The heat imprint where the body touched the pillow was smaller and less intense, and the surface around it stayed cool.
Our hot-sleeping tester said:
- The cool feeling was strongest when he first lay down or moved to a fresh part of the pillow
- He woke up warm far less often than with his old body pillow
- He no longer pushed the pillow away halfway through the night
Be realistic about cooling, though. The cover doesn't make the pillow cold all night. It slows down how quickly heat builds up and feels cooler on contact. For hot sleepers, that's still a big upgrade over regular body pillows. For more options, see our best cooling pillow guide.
Shape Retention and Durability
Fluffy pillows often flatten over time, so we tracked how well the Hugl held up.
After five weeks of nightly use, the arm our testers hugged most had softened slightly, as expected. A quick shake and fluff each morning brought most of the loft back. The cover kept its smooth feel after several washes, with no pilling or shrinking.
To keep it in good shape:
- Fluff it every few days by shaking and kneading the arms
- Wash the cover regularly and follow the care label
- Air out the pillow in daylight now and then
- Rotate which arm you hug most, if you can
Beyond Pregnancy: Other Ways to Use the Hugl
A $189 pillow needs to earn its keep, and the Hugl does more than help you sleep during pregnancy:
- Everyday side sleeping: It works just as well for anyone who sleeps on their side
- Reading and watching TV: Sit inside the U for back and arm support in bed
- Postpartum support: Use it to prop yourself up while feeding or resting
- Recovery: Some people use it for extra support after back, hip or shoulder discomfort (check with your doctor)
- Comfort and anxiety: Hugging a large, soft pillow can feel calming at bedtime
How the Plufl Hugl Compares
| Feature | Plufl Hugl | Momcozy U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow | Basic U-Shaped Pillow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $189–$199 | $44–$64 | Under $50 |
| Shape | Oversized U | U | U |
| Feel | Medium-soft, plush | Medium | Varies |
| Cooling cover | Yes | Optional cooling version | Usually no |
| Removable cover | Yes | Yes | Usually |
| Best for | Hot side sleepers, pregnancy, comfort-first buyers | Budget pregnancy support | Occasional use |
Choose the Hugl if: You sleep hot, care most about comfort and cooling, and don't mind paying more for a plusher, cooler pillow.
Choose the Momcozy if: You want solid pregnancy support at a much lower price. Read our Momcozy U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow review for the full details.
Setup and Care
The Hugl arrives compressed. Unpack it, shake it out well and give it a few hours to expand fully. Fluffing each arm by hand speeds this up. A light new-product smell is normal and fades quickly in a ventilated room.
Care tips:
- Unzip and wash the cover on a gentle cycle, following the care label
- Air-dry or tumble-dry on low to protect the cooling fabric
- Spot-clean the inner pillow; don't soak it
- Use a pillowcase-style protector if you want to wash less often
Is the Plufl Hugl Worth $189–$199?
For the right person, yes. If you sleep hot, sleep on your side or are pregnant and want a pillow that's both deeply comfortable and cool to the touch, the Hugl is one of the best body pillows you can buy. Its U shape removes the need for several separate pillows, and the cooling cover fixes the biggest complaint about body pillows.
If you're on a budget, sleep cool already or want firm support, a standard U-shaped pillow will do the job for much less.
Final Score
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Support | 8.6 / 10 |
| Comfort | 9.2 / 10 |
| Versatility | 9.0 / 10 |
| Temperature Regulation | 8.9 / 10 |
| Shape Retention | 8.2 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 6.8 / 10 |
| Overall | 4.4 / 5 |
Recommended for: Hot sleepers, side sleepers, pregnant sleepers, people who like to hug a pillow, and anyone who wants full-body support in one pillow.
Not recommended for: Budget shoppers, couples on a full bed, and people who prefer firm, structured support.
FAQs
Is the Plufl Hugl good for pregnancy?
Yes. Its U shape supports the belly, back and knees at the same time and helps keep you on your side. The cooling cover is a bonus, since many people sleep warmer during pregnancy.
Does the Plufl Hugl actually stay cool?
It feels noticeably cooler than a standard body pillow, especially when you first lie down. It doesn't stay cold all night, but it slows heat build-up so you're less likely to wake up sweaty.
Can I wash the Plufl Hugl?
The cover unzips and is machine-washable. Spot-clean the inner pillow rather than washing it.
Will the Plufl Hugl fit on my bed with a partner?
On a queen or king, yes, though it takes up a good share of your side. On a full bed, it will feel crowded for two people.
Is the Hugl too soft?
It's medium-soft and plush. Most side sleepers and pregnant sleepers find it very comfortable, but if you want firm, structured support, a denser pillow may suit you better.
Does the fill go flat?
It softens slightly with nightly use, like any fluffy pillow. Regular fluffing restores most of the loft.
Related Guides
- Best Pregnancy and Body Pillows 2026: our top picks for full-body support
- Best Cooling Pillow 2026: pillows that stay cool all night
- Best Pillow for Side Sleepers: support for the neck and shoulders
- Best Mattress for Pregnancy: pair your pillow with the right bed
- Momcozy U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow Review: a budget alternative
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