The beach accessory I didn’t know I needed
7/7/2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Pia Seidel
You probably already have a beach towel. But a beach cushion? Lavie’s Ada pillow proves that comfort and design can be combined at the lake, the pool and the ocean too. I gave it a try.
If you regularly hit the beach or pool, you’ll be well aware of this problem. After an hour of soaking up the sun, your neck starts to hurt. The thing is, using a rolled-up towel as a makeshift pillow rarely provides the comfort you’re after. Enter Swiss brand Lavie, which has come up with its own solution to your sunbathing woes – the Ada beach cushion, featuring the brand’s distinctive stripy design. It’s part of a set that includes the Ada beach towel, but I’ll be focusing solely on the cushion in this review.
Since it was founded in 2016, the Zurich-based brand has focused on timeless, understated patterns and GOTS-certified organic cotton produced in Portugal. Although the Ada cushion carries those hallmarks too, its origins are a bit more complex. The cotton comes from India, while the fabric is woven, dyed and sewn in Portugal.
Unboxing: small but sophisticated
Measuring 25 × 40 cm and weighing 287 grammes when dry, the Ada is pleasantly compact and lightweight. Just like a regular neck pillow, it gives a little when you lie on it, but still keeps its shape.
Galaxus currently stocks the Ada in three colour combinations: Coffee/Lemonade/Pink, Indigo/Jade/Undyed and Indigo/ Jade/Pink. I went for the first option because «Coffee» reminds me of iced coffee, and «Lemonade» has that zesty vibe promised by the name.
Despite coming from different colour families, the shades go together surprisingly well and look just as pretty in person as I’d hoped.
The softness doesn’t disappoint either: it reminds me of my Lavie terry towels, which I wrote about in a previous article. The loops of thread are nice and soft, giving the gorgeous cushion a voluminous look.
Material and finish: terry cloth with a mission
The outside of the pillow is made of soft, shape-retaining cotton terry cloth. It’s filled with recycled polyester, which, according to Lavie, comes from China. While there’s proof that the filler material is recycled, it doesn’t have a Global Recycled Standard (GRS) label, as Lavie’s Portuguese production facility isn’t certified. On the bright side, the company has found a GRS-certified version for next summer.
How does the Ada fare at the lake?
The strap is handy for hanging the Ada on a basket, bike handlebars, or, in my case, on a carabiner attached to my handbag.
The only tricky part? Just like Lavie’s towels, the cushion’s weave is slightly coarse and can easily get caught on things. With that in mind, I prefer carrying it inside my bag over clipping it to the outside.
At the lake, lying on the Ada feels great – regardless of whether I’m stretched out on a wooden deck, concrete or grass. The cushion takes the comfort of your bed outdoors. If it gets wet, it quickly dries in the sun. Mind you, it takes slightly longer to dry in the shade, so it might still be a little damp by the time you make your way home. Seeing as I carry it in my bike basket, though, that doesn’t really bother me.
The washing machine test
As recommended, I regularly wash the beach pillow at 40 degrees, then put it in the dryer on a low setting. It hardly takes up any space in the drum, so I can easily wash it alongside other items. Once the laundry’s done, the filling remains intact, the cushion keeps its shape and the strap survives the machine unscathed.
Even after several washes, the cushion retains its shape and colour and smells as lovely as a freshly washed towel.
Is the cushion travel-friendly?
The Ada isn’t inflatable, so it takes up more space in your suitcase than a standard travel pillow. Even so, I’d have no problem taking it on holiday. Tipping the scales at just 287 grammes, it hardly adds any weight to your luggage. Plus, it doubles as a pillow while you’re travelling to your destination. In fact, Lavie deliberately ruled out producing an inflatable version, stating that pre-filled cushions are more comfortable, easier to use and fresher-looking. I see where the brand’s coming from – my last inflatable pillow got a hole in it, rendering it unusable. So what you pay for in packing space, you get back in long-lasting comfort.
In a nutshell
The Ada turns your beach towel into an open-air bed
No matter whether you’re on a staycation or soaking up the sun overseas, the Ada beach pillow takes the comfort of your home to the great outdoors. The soft terry cloth feels great on any surface and dries quickly in the sun. With the attached strap, the cushion is also easy to transport. The pillow is straightforward to wash, and I like the Coffee/Lemonade/ Pink colour combination even more than I’d expected to.
There are two small flies in the ointment – for one thing, the coarser weave can easily snagl. Secondly, the filling hasn’t yet received GRS certification, though Lavie plans to address this in time for next summer. If you don’t have a strict preference for inflatable pillows, the Ada is a good choice.
Pro
- Soft, voluminous terry cloth that stays fluffy, even after washing
- Compact, lightweight and comfortable on any surface
- Easy to care for: washable at 40 °C, dryer-safe
- Practical strap for hanging up or carrying the pillow
Contra
- The weave is slightly coarse, meaning it catches on things easily
- Takes a long time to dry
- Not inflatable, so takes up more space in your luggage
Header image: Pia Seidel
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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