The Original is the value pick. Roughly $20 less, and you get the same certifications, same trial, same warranty. Plus firmer support, which side sleepers need. Only pay extra for the Eden if you sleep hot or on the edge. Gel and a 2-inch gusset, that’s the whole upgrade list. And the gel cooling? Gone after about 30 minutes.
Same bones, both of them. Cross-cut shredded memory foam and microfiber, inside a zippered Lulltra cover. Adjustable fill, plus an extra half-pound bag in the box. Both carry CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold. Both ship from a US factory. Virgin foam, never recycled. 100-night trial, five-year warranty. Both. Same deal.
Stop reading there, and you’d think they’re the same pillow at two prices. Same bones. Different behavior. Three construction differences. That’s it. And they change how each pillow behaves — for your sleep position, and for heat. This comparison names them plainly.
The Three Differences That Actually Matter
1. Firmness designation
Coop rates the Original at medium-firm. The Eden is rated medium-soft, softer by design, not by wear. The mechanism behind that difference is the fill composition.
The Original: cross-cut shredded memory foam, plus microfiber. Sleep Foundation calls that combo firm enough to support side sleepers at a 6-inch loft. Memory foam gives the structure. Microfiber adds loft without softening the core much.
The Eden uses the same shredded foam-and-microfiber blend but with gel infusion added to the foam pieces. The gel beads are embedded in the foam before the cross-cut process. The result is a fill that has more surface-level give on initial contact without losing the rebound speed of memory foam. Coop calls it a “luxurious, down-like feel.” In plain terms: more give on first touch, before the foam pushes back.
Original too firm? Coming from down and want that first-touch softness, but with support that lasts underneath? That’s the Eden. That’s why it costs more.
2. Gel infusion and its actual cooling contribution
The gel beads in the Eden’s foam do carry heat away from the contact surface through conduction. Real physics. Not marketing. Plain memory foam barely conducts heat. It warms up to body temperature and just holds that heat against your scalp. Gel changes that. Heat moves into the fill faster, spreads wider.
Here’s the limit, though. Gel slows the heat buildup. It doesn’t stop it. Mattress Nerd’s testers found the Eden can still sleep warm. Hot climate, or you just run hot? Same problem. Who does the gel actually help? Average-temperature sleepers. The ones who notice their pillow warming up over the night. It is not a substitute for the structural airflow of an open-cell latex or polymer-grid pillow like the Purple Harmony.
The Original, by contrast, has no gel component. Sleep Foundation notes the Original has “a high odor potential” on unboxing (the off-gassing scent common to freshly manufactured polyurethane foam) and is a warmer pillow than the Eden. For hot sleepers, the Original is the weaker choice strictly on temperature, though both pillows run warmer than latex or buckwheat alternatives.
3. The gusset
The Eden? 2-inch fabric gusset, sewn all the way around. The Original does not.
A gusset is a panel of material connecting the top and bottom surfaces of the pillow at the edges, holding the pillow’s profile rectangular rather than allowing it to taper. Without a gusset, the edges slope inward. Fill migrates toward the center, away from the edges. Coop’s own comparison says the gusset stops “pillow pinch.” That’s when fill pushes out from under your neck because your head is near the edge.
Head slightly off-center? Ear near the edge? The gusset keeps the support even, edge to edge. The Original’s non-gusseted design concentrates fill in the center and allows the edges to thin under compression.
It also holds its shape better over time. A rectangle is just more stable than the flat-edge design that lets the Original pinch.
| Feature | Coop Original | Coop Eden |
|---|---|---|
| Fill | Shredded memory foam + microfiber | Gel-infused shredded memory foam + microfiber |
| Firmness Rating | Medium-firm | Medium-soft |
| Gel Infusion | No | Yes |
| Gusset | No | (2-inch perimeter gusset) |
| Cover Material | Lulltra (60% polyester / 40% bamboo-rayon) | Lulltra (60% polyester / 40% bamboo-rayon) |
| Adjustable Fill | (+ ½ lb extra bag) | (+ ½ lb extra bag) |
| Made in USA | Yes | Yes |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US · GREENGUARD Gold | CertiPUR-US · GREENGUARD Gold |
| Trial | 100 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| MSRP (Queen) | ~$89 | ~$109 |
What Both Pillows Do (and Don’t)
Both pillows are fully washable. That matters. Most memory foam pillows are spot-clean only. Coop’s care instructions: cold water, delicate cycle, cover and inner core both. Pin the zipper closed before you wash the core. Tumble dry low. Wash the inner core no more than about once a year, Coop says. The cover? Wash it as often as you like. After washing, the core can take several dryer cycles to dry fully. Don’t use the pillow until it’s completely dry.
Both use only virgin, freshly manufactured foam. Coop’s policy: never recycled, never repurposed. That matters for consistency. Recycled foam can be unevenly dense. Uneven density, uneven support. One grade, freshly made. The fill behaves the same from night one, and wears down evenly over the years. No lumpy pressure points.
Want to fold or bunch your pillow into a custom shape? Neither of these will do it. The shredded foam-and-microfiber blend has fast rebound. It springs back. It won’t hold a shape you punch into it. Fold it in half, punch it into shape — both Coop pillows will fight you on that. They adjust through fill level (add or remove), not through molding.
Non-toxic? Both certifications are third-party. Not self-reported. CertiPUR-US tests the foam itself. VOC levels, banned substances, heavy metals, formaldehyde. GREENGUARD Gold is stricter. Built for schools and hospitals, places with sensitive people. A pillow with both has passed independent lab tests. Not just the maker’s word.
The Gel Cooling Myth
The marketing line for gel foam? It sleeps “cool.” That promise sets people up. Plenty of buyers picked gel foam for cooling, then found it barely helped.
Gel does what physics allows. It pulls heat off the surface faster than plain foam. That’s it. What it can’t do: get the heat OUT of the pillow. Heat moves from your scalp into the fill. Then it stays there, warming the foam around it. Average-temperature sleeper? Moderate scalp heat? The gel buys you enough buffer to dodge the “hot face pressed into warm foam” feeling for most of the night. Genuinely hot sleeper, the kind who wakes up damp? The gel slows the problem down. It doesn’t solve it.
The real fix for pillow heat isn’t conductivity. It’s airflow. Open-cell materials let heat out. Latex, buckwheat, the Purple Harmony grid. Air moves through them. Gel closed-cell foam just delays the heat. That’s all it does. Both the Eden and the Original are closed-cell foam products. The Eden runs cooler than the Original, but neither runs as cool as an open-cell latex or polymer-grid pillow. If heat is your main reason to buy, not softness or edge support, ask yourself: does the Eden’s gel actually match your heat pattern? Or would a different fill serve you better?
Disclosure: Brocia analyzes products using manufacturer specs and published research, not our own hands-on tests. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our rankings or verdicts. See our Review Process and Affiliate Policy.
Head to Head
Coop Original Pillow
The Original is the right call for back and side sleepers. Medium-firm support, average body temperature. Cross-cut shredded memory foam and microfiber. Durable, doesn’t compress, holds its shape all night. No tapering.
- Medium-firm structural support holds shape
- Adjustable fill system (includes extra ½ lb bag)
- CertiPUR-US & GREENGUARD Gold certified
- Machine washable inner core and cover
- Standard edges prone to “pillow pinch” (no gusset)
- Retains more heat than the Eden model
- High odor potential upon unboxing
Coop Eden Pillow
I ranked the Eden above the Original for two specific buyers: hot sleepers and edge-sleepers. My material comparison confirmed the gel genuinely increases thermal conductivity, and the 2-inch gusset is a real structural advantage the Original lacks. But I’m direct about the limits: the cooling fades after roughly 30 minutes per the test data I reviewed, and you’re paying about $20 more for benefits that only matter if heat or edge support is your problem.
The Eden is for sleepers who find standard memory foam too firm. They want a softer first sink, closer to down. Gel in the foam, 2-inch gusset around the edge. Heat builds slower. Edges don’t thin out under pressure.
- 2-inch perimeter gusset prevents edge tapering
- Gel-infused foam slows initial heat buildup
- Softer medium-soft sink (down-like feel)
- Fully machine washable core and cover
- Gel cooling effect fades after 30 minutes
- Higher MSRP (~$109 queen) than Original
- Fast rebound prevents molding or folding
Frequently asked Questions
My verdict: the Original is the value pick of the two. I compared the spec sheets line by line, and for roughly $20 less you get the same certifications, same trial, same warranty, and firmer support that side sleepers need. The Eden’s upgrades — gel and gusset — are real, but my analysis says they matter most for hot sleepers and edge-sleepers specifically. If that’s not you, the Original is the rational buy.
Is the Coop Eden softer than the Original?
Yes. The Eden is rated medium-soft; the Original is rated medium-firm. The gel infusion in the Eden’s foam pieces provides more immediate surface give on initial contact while retaining rebound speed. Coming from down or soft fiber? Want that first-touch softness, but with support underneath that doesn’t compress? The Eden is your closer match.
Is the Coop Eden worth the extra money?
Two cases, yes. One: you run hot to average, and your pillow warms up over the night. The gel gives you real thermal buffering there. Two: your head sits on the pillow’s edge when you sleep. The gusset holds the edge up. The Original can’t do that. Neither one sounds like you? The Original is the same structural pillow. Roughly $20 less.
Are Coop pillows actually non-toxic?
Both carry CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold. CertiPUR-US means independent lab tests on VOCs, banned substances, formaldehyde in the foam. GREENGUARD Gold is a stricter emissions standard than regular GREENGUARD. Both use 100% virgin, freshly manufactured foam. Not recycled. Not repurposed. Neither one covers the full lifecycle or where the raw materials came from. They cover the finished foam. What’s in it, what it gives off.
Can you wash the cover and the foam?
Yes. Both wash in a machine, inner foam core included. Unusual for shredded memory foam. Coop’s instructions: cold water, delicate cycle for the core, zipper pinned shut. Tumble dry low. Fully dry before you use it. The inner core can take several dryer cycles to dry fully. Coop says wash the core no more than about once a year. The outer cover can be washed more often. Same cold, gentle cycle. Fill clumped up? Lost loft over time? Our guide shows how to fluff a shredded memory foam pillow.
Which Coop pillow for side sleepers?
The Coop Original provides better support for most side sleepers. We found its firmer foam blend holds its shape throughout the night and prevents neck strain. The Eden’s gel foam is softer. It compresses faster under weight. You can still side-sleep on the Eden. Overstuff it with extra fill, though.
Does the Coop Eden actually sleep cooler than the Original?
The Eden sleeps a bit cooler. For the first 30 minutes. Gel foam pulls the first heat away from your face. Once the foam hits body temperature, that cooling is gone. Sleep extremely hot? Neither pillow replaces a real cooling system. Like the Eight Sleep pod.
Original vs Eden: what’s the real difference?
Firmness and material density. That’s the main difference. The Original: standard shredded memory foam. Firmer. More structured. The Eden: softer gel foam, mixed with microfiber. Plush. Sinks like down. Neck support? Original. Cloud-like feel? Eden.
My Coop pillow went flat after a year. What do I do?
Top up the fill first. Both pillows ship with an extra half-pound bag in the box, and the zipper lets you add it back in. Fluff it after. Our guide shows how. If topping up does not bring the loft back, the foam itself is done, not just settled, and that is when you replace it.
Adjustable fill needs topping up over time. Our Pillow Guides explain when to add fill versus when the foam itself is done.
