5 Best Pillows

We’ve all got our favorite positions to sleep, whether it be the right side, left side, or on our backs. Some can’t imagine trying to fall asleep with their head facing up, while others can only get comfortable laying on their stomach. If you’ve taken the time to invest in a great mattress, then you’re well on your way to restful sleep. But doesn’t the best mattress also deserve the best pillows?

A lousy pillow can undo all the benefits of a high-end mattress. Likewise, a well-made, quality pillow can make up for a cheaper one. Since so much of restful sleep depends on the position of your head, why wouldn’t you want the best pillow you could find? For this reason, we’ve done a side-by-side comparison so you can get the facts about the top 5 best pillows and choose the one that's best for you.

Product FAQ

1. Why Do Pillows Matter?

A good pillow provides you with the proper neck support and comfort. We all understand that a good pillow can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and one spent tossing and turning. But the real difference lies in how the neck is supported.

If you wake up feeling tired, the cause might be from strain on the neck muscles. If your pillow isn’t giving you proper support, your neck might be bending at an angle while you sleep. This means that your neck isn’t properly straight and your neck, back, and shoulders may become sore as a result.

2. What Should You Look For in the Best Pillows?

The pillow should be firm enough to support your neck, but not so firm that it puts pressure on your ears and head, making it harder to doze off. When you try a pillow in the store for the first time, make sure that it remains spongy and will spring back into shape as soon as you stop applying pressure.

3. What Are The Best Way To Use Pillows?

In addition to the one supporting your head, you can also use additional pillows to support the rest of your body. If you sleep on your side, try slipping a pillow between your legs and then placing one behind your back and another in front of you. That way, if you turn in the middle of the night, you’ve got all-around support.

4. Where Can I Buy A Quality Pillow?

You can find good pillows wherever home goods are sold including any department store at the mall and, of course, mattress retailers. Amazon.com offers a wide array of top-selling pillows too.

5. What Type Of Pillow Is Right For Me?

If you primarily sleep on your back, then an extra-firm pillow isn’t ideal for you. Instead, look for one that’s a little flatter so that your neck can recline comfortably. Firm pillows are best for those who sleep on their side and need greater neck support. For those who sleep on their stomach and put pressure on the head, soft pillows are best.

You should also find out what your pillow is filled with before you buy it. This is especially important if you have an allergy to one fill or another. Even if you don’t, it’s likely that you’ll find a certain fill you love and want to stick with after some experimentation.

How We Reviewed The Best Pillows

The following products were reviewed based on their features, pros & cons, price, where to buy, and the warranty they carry. Each pillow we chose is of high-quality, and though it was hard to pick one winner, we were diligent in giving each of these candidates a fair chance. Each pillow was primped, fluffed and hand-selected. Each one of these pillows is of fine quality and worthy of due consideration.

Overall Price Range Of This Product

The pillows in this review range in price from around $50 at the low end and up to $150 at the high end. Most hover around $100 per pillow.

What We Reviewed

  • Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow
  • Shredded Memory Foam Pillow with Viscose Rayon Cover Derived From Bamboo by Coop Home Goods
  • V&R Natural’s Latex Kapok Blend
  • Parachute's Down Alternative Pillow
  • Beautyrest Black Ice Memory Foam Pillow

Sleep Number ComfortFit PilloW

pillows

Features

Though it feels like the foam is mixed in with goose down for softness, it’s actually a synthetic material called Fiberfill. It’s hypoallergenic, and it’s good for the goose. And what’s good for the goose is good for you.

Pros

  • A mix of foam and fill
  • Firm but yields too
  • Available in three shapes

Cons

  • Pillow isn’t machine washable (cover is)
  • Relatively high-priced
  • No return policy

Price

The Sleep Number ComfortFit Pillow is available for around $90-150 each, depending on size.

Warranty

5-year limited warranty.

 

Shredded Memory Foam Pillow By Coop Home Goods

Features

No products found.

The Shredded Memory Foam Pillow by Coop Home is a firm pillow designed for side sleepers. The filling inside is visoelastic foam, better known as memory foam. It’s perfect for those who need lots of neck support, but it probably is too firm if you sleep on your stomach. The foam also has an odor. The material inside is non-toxic and produced sustainably, but you may notice a smell at first.

Pros

  • Made in the USA
  • Responsibly sourced materials
  • Adjustable fill

Cons

  • Dense padding
  • Too firm for some sleepers
  • Has an odor when new

Price

The price varies depending on the size of the mattress that the pillow is paired with, but each pillow is roughly in the $50-60 range.

Warranty

5-year warranty which promises it won’t go flat.

 

Latex Kapok Blend by V&R Natural

No products found.

Features

We like that the product comes from Colorado and is made from organic Kapok seeds. It’s an innovative material to use in a pillow; however, if you do open it up, the seeds will likely spill out everywhere. The fill was a little lumpy and wouldn’t always distribute evenly.

Pros

  • Light-weight
  • Produced in Denver, CO
  • Made from organic materials

Cons

  • The filling doesn’t always settle
  • Can feel too-firm
  • Kopok seeds can spill out if unzipped

Price

The price for one pillow runs between $90-130 per pillow.

Warranty

2-year limited warranty.

 

Parachute's Down Alternative Pillow

No products found.

Features

The softness of this pillow comes from the microfiber which is meant to feel like down. We did a side-by-side comparison and found that it collapses a little easier than real down. You can choose the amount of filling that’s right for you based on what firmness you desire. It feels like real down, not like a synthetic. There’s no gusset, which is a feature usually used to extend the height of the pillow for side sleepers.

Pros

  • 60-day trial period
  • Adjustable density
  • Competitively priced

Cons

  • Might compress too much for some
  • Collapses differently than down pilloes
  • No gusset

Price

The price for one pillow is roughly $60-90

Warranty

3-year warranty


Beautyrest Black Ice Memory Foam Pillow

Beautyrest Black Ice Memory Foam Pillow

Features

The Black Ice by Beautyrest derives its name from the microdiamonds which the company boasts diffuse heat and keep it cool. If you take off the cover, you’ll see lines of black dots meant to help ventilate the pillow so that it's never hot.

Pros

  • Stays cool
  • Size fits a King- or Queen-sized mattress
  • Memory foam is great for side sleepers

Cons

  • Feels heavy
  • To firm
  • Expensive compared with similar pillows

Price

At around $150 for one pillow, it’s the most expensive of the pillows reviewed here.

Warranty

3-year limited warranty.

What Are The Best Pillows - The Verdict

Each of these pillows is a great product. That’s why we were tossing and turning trying to pick out only one winner. But after some debate, the Down Alternative by Parachute took the crown. It had all the features that we were looking for, and it's available at a reasonable price point. But which pillows are the best pillows?

Parachute’s Down Alternative provides both comfort and firmness. It’s got adjustable firmness levels so that you can get the one that’s right for you, though you’ll probably need to test a few to get the one that’s right for you. It feels like down, but it’s more ethically sourced out of hypoallergenic materials. Though it is distinguishable from down, it takes a pretty keen eye to notice the difference.

Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than many of its competitors. Only the Coop Home Goods pillow beat it. Consider the fact that you’re never in the market for a single pillow. At a minimum, you’ll need two for you and your partner. Then, if you want more pillows for your sides and one between your legs. And what about the other beds in your house? The costs can quickly add up.

For this reason, Parachute’s Down Alternative takes the top prize of best pillows, but each of these pillows belongs in a top five list. If you’re interested in learning more, give them each a try for yourself and see which you think are the best pillows.

Last update on 2023-03-07 at 03:25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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