The purpose of a pillow is pretty simple: Keep your head and neck aligned while you sleep. If only shopping for pillows were as straightforward.
Store shelves and catalogs are stuffed with options: Down, memory foam, latex, polyester, buckwheat hulls. Adding to the confusion is the fact that terms used to describe pillows—such as soft, medium, and firm—differ from brand to brand. And the price isn’t necessarily an indicator of performance.
So many consumers look for a pillow that feels just right in the store. But a squeeze only tells you so much. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes for your neck to relax onto the pillow, according to Susan Gordon, associate professor of physiotherapy at James Cook University in Australia.
“You will need a week sleeping on a pillow to work out if it really is the right pillow for you,” she says. Others opt for trial and error: “The pillow that I have is too soft/hard/flat, so I’ll get a firmer/softer/fuller one next time.”
Many give up and sleep with multiple pillows, though that can keep your head too high and throw off the natural curve of your neck.
If you’re a multiposition or combination sleeper, the best pillow for you might have softer and firmer sections, or one that’s lower in the center (for back sleeping) and higher on the sides (for side sleeping).
The foam pillow comes in low, medium, or high loft versions, so there’s a Muse pillow for you, no matter your sleeping position or height preference. The core contains dense molded foam for contouring support, while shredded foam and fibers surround the core to make the pillow soft and breathable.
A cover made from cooling fabric is designed to help you maintain a comfortable temperature as you sleep, and several reviewers confirm this cooling feature really works. In fact, some people say it’s the coolest pillow they’ve ever slept on.
What Buyers Are Saying:
In general, reviewers call this pillow-soft and supportive, and several people even say it helps them wake up without pain. Customers claim it is a great pillow for all kinds of sleepers having interviewed customers who were side, back, stomach, and combination sleepers.
What makes it Stand out:
- Breathable – it is designed to have the air circulate easily in order to have a cool and comfy sleep.
- Hypoallergenic - they made sure that everyone, even with allergies can enjoy this pillow. Making it possible with their technological advancement.
- Washable - Unlike other memory foam pillows, you can have this pillow machine washed and not damaging it. The hygienic choice.
Value:
Not only does it come with a one-year warranty, but unsatisfied buyers can also return the product within 30 days of purchase FREE of charge.
Some memory foam pillows tend to lose shape and go flat, but the WonderSleep solves that problem. Customers rave about the pillow keeping its shape and not going flat even after months of use.
An essential aspect of the pillow is that it is easy to customize, which is a great feature. And even though many companies offer it, this company gets it right.
The firmness can be easily increased or decreased depending on how much stuffing is put into the pillow. This is a good pillow for shoulder pain relief, and it also helps to get rid of head and neck pain. Overall, the pillow is one of the best we found.
The most significant criticism of this pillow was the smell. It might be something to scare some customers off, but the company makes a list of instructions on how to get rid of the smell.
A strange odor is not something uncommon for new pillows, and after setting up the pillow for up to 48 hours, it should go away.
What Buyers Are Saying:
Customers say this pillow gets rid of their pain in neck and back areas. They also have a hard time getting rid of the smell that lasts up to a week upon purchase.
What makes it Stand out:
This pillow does not lose its shape after continuous use. It is also easy to customize for your preference.
Value:
This pillow comes with a one-year warranty.
This pillow offers a gel-infused memory foam that is easy to shape and mold. The gel provides the support of memory foam while maintaining a coolness many other pillows can’t give. Customers even compared the feeling of the pillow to that of a down pillow, but with better support.
Many users enjoyed the plushness, breathability, and shape of the pillow. It is also fully adjustable, making it an excellent choice for nearly all sorts of sleepers.
A major downside is actually not connected with the pillow itself. Some customers found the company hard to work with and were frustrated that there weren’t more sizes available.
The company provides a five-year warranty and will allow for a refund within the first one hundred days. However, customers found that the warranty did not cover some issues and felt the warranty was not clear when they bought the pillow.
What Buyers Are Saying:
- Customers say its thickness is easily adjustable and good for most sleep positions.
What makes it Stand out:
- This pillow comes in three sizes: King, Queen, and Standard.
- Hypoallergenic and washable.
Value:
- Comes with a 100-day return with no questions asked.
- 5-year warranty.
The design of this pillow is one of the most interesting designs on this list. The Pancake is made up of multiple soft layers that can be adjusted and taken out.
The pillow can be made very thin to extremely full. Customers also mentioned that the company was great to work with. The pillow is also considered top of the line, and great for all sleep positions.
Even though the design of this pillow has advantages, it also has a few significant disadvantages. Customers found that it was hard to find the perfect comfort level at first.
It may take a while to figure out how many layers are in the right amounts. Also, because of the design, the pillow can have strange pressure points and heat up quickly.
What Buyers Are Saying:
- The pillow becomes baggy when layers are taken, a problem that many customers found to be annoying.
- You also need to turn over the pillow from time to time since it heats up easily.
What makes it Stand out:
- Its adjustable height. The pillow comes with six soft stackable inner pillow layers for preferred height.
Value:
- Comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.
With its unique two-chambered design the SNÜZ Sleep Bed Pillow doesn’t look like any other pillow on this list. The design is meant to cradle your head and support your neck.
Customers felt that the pillow did a great job of relieving their back, neck, and shoulder pain. Even with its odd design, the pillow still works well for all types of sleep positions
What Buyers Are Saying:
The shape of the pillow might work for many people, but not for all of them. Some people felt it was too soft for their liking. The design also bothered some customers, but firmness seemed to be the main issue for most of them.
What makes it Stand out:
- This pillow comes with two firmer options: Firm and Extra firm.
- Filled with high-performance polyester and its case is 100% cotton.
- It is also hypoallergenic and washable.
Value:
- Comes with 60 days no reason return.
This pillow was designed to provide the right amount of air circulation. Holes are built inside the pillow to prevent and push body heat away from you while you sleep.
We loved how cool the pillow stayed through the night. The holes in the pillow also give firm and comfortable support. The larger holes support your head, while the smaller holes support your neck. The material the pillow is made of is also great for sensitive skin.
What Buyers Are Saying:
- Customers say this pillow overheats easily while you sleep and is easily worn out, but we recommend that you try it out.
- This pillow is also a little bit thinner than usual pillows, so if you prefer a taller pillow or are having neck pain, this isn’t the pillow for you.
What makes it Stand out:
- Filled with 100% pure natural Talalay Latex. The case is made up of 75% polyester, 25% bamboo rayon
- It is also mild dew proof and dust mite resistant.
Value:
- The pillow comes with a thirty-day return policy and 1-year warranty.
The place you rest your head deserves some careful thought. A quality pillow can improve your sleep and leave you feeling more refreshed in the morning.
Some things to consider when choosing a pillow:
• Look for CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold badges for less off-gassing. If you’re looking to avoid certain chemicals, like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), look for brands whose pillows use CertiPUR-US or Greenguard Gold certified materials to narrow down your options.
• Aim for 3 to 4 inches of height. In order to best keep your head, neck, and back in neutral alignment, look for a firm or extra firm pillow that keeps your head around 3–4 inches above the mattress. Pillows that have wide side gussets are better at maintaining this height over time.
• Foam and latex fillers can provide both loft and softness. Since side sleepers require loft of around 3–4 inches, you may wish to choose a pillow made from filler materials that don’t flatten readily, such as memory foam or latex.
There’s a wide range of fillers and materials to choose from. Each has a different feel and the ones you like best may simply come down to personal preference.
Still, new pillows may not solve every sleep problem, so it’s always best to talk with your healthcare provider about any lingering pain and discomfort.
