Best Pillows
Decisions, Decisions.
I consider myself lucky doing what I do. I mean what’s more fun than sleeping? OK, and trying to share what I feel and think about products I sleep test!
If you think a pillow is just a pillow, you are very wrong. Pillows don’t just come in different shapes and forms, it’s also what’s inside of them and what they are made out of that make or break the deal. True I do get to test them, that doesn’t mean they all work out for my sleepy head.
The fact that A PILLOW is where you rest your head alone makes it one of the most important purchases you will ever make! That’s why I put together the Best Pillows I have tested for you to make that decisions easier on you. So next time you ask yourself: ” Which is The Best Pillow out there?” and ” How can I trust this source?”, you will find answers to your questions below:
Finding the Best Pillow For You
I just got back from the CES in Vegas and am excited to update my pillow picks for 2018, now that I know about all of the new and hot items on the market!
Unlike many of the review sites out there, I sleep test every pillow that I review for about 2 weeks. This means that I can only get to 20-25 pillows per year, so I am pretty selective about the ones that I choose to test. Everyone has different sleep preferences and there is no one solution for every sleeper. If you are a side, back or the rare stomach sleeper we have solutions for you.
We have compiled a list of the best pillows we have tested and separated them into different categories to help you choose. The prices listed are before discounts on a queen size pillow.
Top Foam Pillows 2018
| Brand | Type | Score | See Reviews | Price | Coupons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Plush | 94 | Tomorrow Sleep Review | $75 | Shop Tomorrow Sleep |
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Foam | 92 | Leesa Pillow Review | $75 | Shop Leesa |
| |
Foam | 92 | Tomorrow Sleep Review | $99 | Shop Tomorrow Sleep |
#Bestpillowever |
Talalay Latex | 91 | Brooklyn Bedding Review | $40 | Code Nonbiased10 |
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Foam | 90 | Nectar Review | $75 | Shop Nectar |
 Easy Breather |
Foam | 90 | Easy Breather | $99 | Shop Nest Bedding |
Casper |
Foam | 90 | Casper Pillow Review | $55 | Free Shipping |
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Copper infused Foam | 89 | Layla Pillow Review | $75 | Shop Layla |
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Foam | 83 | Bear Review | $95 | Shop Bear |
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Foam | 82 | MyPillow Review | $40 | Buy 1 Get 1 Free |
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Talalay Latex | 76 | Pangeabed Pillow Review | $125 | $30 Off |
|
Foam | 74 | Live & Sleep Review | $50 | Shop Live & Sleep |
| Tuft & Needle | Foam | 75 | Tuft & Needle Review | $75 | Shop T&N at Amazon |
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Foam | 50 | Purple Pillow Review | $99 | Shop Purple |
Tomorrow Sleep Plush Pillow
Tomorrow Sleep currently offers 2 types of pillows: The Memory Foam Pillow and The Plush Pillow. Let’s start with my personal favorite among these two, The Tomorrow Sleep Plush Pillow.
Tomorrow Sleep may be a new name, but their experience in the industry is unparalleled, as they are backed by the giant Serta. I have tried both their memory foam pillow and their plush pillow. Both Pillows are high quality, when I unboxed the plush pillow I caught myself saying “it’s kind of hotel quality”. I’m sure it depends on what type of hotel you usually stay at, but from my perspective that was high praise.
The folks at Tomorrow Sleep have adopted a very smart move by offering a pillow with a down alternative and a dense memory foam pillow.
Besides the fact that this pillow feels something like sleeping in the clouds, it is also designed for cushy comfort with hypoallergenic down alternative that feels fluffy while providing support.
The Tomorrow Sleep Plush Pillow is suitable for all types of sleepers, it cradles your head in lofty fill that is more dense than down for added neck support.
Here’s what else they have to offer:
100 day trial period
High profile down alternative
Cooler than down pillows
“Hotel Quality”, which is hard to find. I was very impressed with the quality of the pillow.
Like most sleep related products your preference may be different than mine, both of these pillows offer quality that is far above many of their competitors. I’m willing to bet that a good deal of these pillows are going to make it into households throughout the country.
Best Material and Type
What kind of pillow would I build if I were in charge?
Memory Foam
You will generally find two forms of foam within a pillow. This foam is generally going to be more dense than the memory foam that you would likely find on top of it. of visco-elastic (or memory) foam. This is the material where you can see your hand print right after you remove your hand. In the picture below you can see the give that the memory foam layer has.
Hybrid (Latex & Foam)
You don’t see this combo very often. The Latex adds a little bit of bounce to a foam pillow.
Latex
Latex is a much more breathable substance than memory foam. That helps keep it cooler in the summer, which for me is an incredibly important as I live in Arizona. There are two competing ways of making latex, they are:
- Dunlop
- Talalay
Talalay is considered the more refined & better process. The molded pieces of latex foam are vacuumed of air and then frozen. The resulting talalay latex product is much more bouncy than that of a Dunlop process. If you are looking for a bed that is more springy then talalay will be your choice.
#bestpillowever talalay latex pillow from brooklyn bedding
In addition to the two manufacturing methods there is a spectrum of ways that the foam can be constructed from synthetic to 100% natural. The closer you get to 100% natural the fewer additives will be found in the pillow. You can expect to pay more for anything approaching 100% natural talalay latex.
Latex pillows will last much longer than foam pillows. Some latex pillows are designed to last up to 30 years if properly cared for.
Shredded Pillows
Shredded pillows are hit and miss. The scraps of foam are recycled and turned into pillows. Sometimes you will find that the foam inside a pillow has infused graphite, or copper. Sometimes the foam is dense, others extremely light. This category is really hard to judge. It is advised that if you purchase a shredded pillow make sure there is a trial period and a zipper so that you can remove any unwanted foam.
Smart Pillows
Smart pillows can track your sleep, but so can some beds, sleep trackers, phones and fitness trackers. I haven’t found a smart pillow that is worth the extra cost given the other sleep tracking options available. I’m still on the lookout for one that is appropriately priced, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll check out your suggestions.
Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
I’m a side sleeper, so this category is my specialty. I try to avoid pillows that are too squishy or too firm. As a petite person I will end up with lower back pain, sometimes hip pain. My go to type of pillow would be an adjustable pillow of shredded memory foam.
Top Budget Pillows
On a tight budget? You aren’t going to find great quality pillows under $15 if you walk into a retail store. They have too many salaries and other major expenses like rent and utilities to pay to get you out the door at the $15 or below price range. To find a pillow of the proper quality you need to think “outside the box” or rather get one that comes shipped to your door in a box.
My best budget pick is the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay latex pillow. They are so confident in the pillow that they snagged the hashtag, #bestpillowever.
Top Luxury Pillows
Want a pillow delivered to your door that just screams luxury at a fraction of an in store price? Of course you do!
Recommendations for People with Medical Issues
Back Pain
I was in a major car accident in 2002, every day I am reminded how lucky I am to have survived by the pain that I encounter. Each day it is difficult to escape from bed, and I truly know the difference between sleeping on a good bed and a bad bed, by how my body reacts in the morning. I know back pain and a few pillows that I have tested find a way to completely block out that pain for me.
Scoliosis
As embarrassing as this is to admit, I have slight scoliosis. This coupled with my life threatening car accident force me to mainly sleep on my side. Therefore, I’m really picky about my pillows.
Neck Pain
Fortunately, I don’t currently suffer from neck pain. I found an adjustable shredded memory foam pillow and I swear by it. If my husband is using it, even if he is sound asleep, I will yank it out from under him. I won’t go anywhere without my Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow.
Snoring
You can try sleep masks, or mouthguards, and they may provide you with relief from snoring at an affordable price. However, there are two simple ways to combat snoring. One is to upgrade your pillow to something thicker. This will allow you to get a better angle to increase your flow of oxygen while you sleep. The best cure to snoring is the one that worked wonders for my family. An adjustable bed frame will tilt up the head section of the bed just enough to keep your partner from snoring.
Our Rating Criteria
We use 10 categories to rate the pillows we sleep test. Each category is scored 1-10. Unlike other reviewers we aren’t scared to give a pillow a low score if it is deserved. If I spend 2 weeks sleeping on a pillow that consistently gives me back pain, you will read about it on my review!
Sleep QualityIf I’m not able to sleep on a pillow, then it’s possible that you may have the same issues. This is really the most important category that a buyer should be focused on.
Stays Cool
I live in Scottsdale, Arizona and I’ll tell you a little secret about the weather here… It gets hot in the summer. Having a breathable pillow is a must here. There aren’t a ton of things worse than having extra heat rising up from your pillow making your back or side sweat. I’m a huge fan of talalay latex, gel infusions, phase change material, and alternative construction (like Leesa’s Avena foam).
Feel
Surely what’s inside the pillow matters right? How does it feel to squish? Does it get warm and need flipping?
Cover
The Cover is one of the most important things to look for. It has to be something you would be willing to put your face on, yet breathable as well.
Value
You really have to look at the prices of the pillow vs. the competition. Not just the direct to consumer, bed in a box model, but the in store values as well. The bed in a box model offers consumers huge cost savings vs. buying from the store. This is because the middle man is cut out and the companies don’t have to pay electricity and rent.
We give each category a score from 1-10 with 10 being the highest. I am using a 10 point must system. The pillow that preformed the best in a category gets a 10 and all other pillows are judged against that standard.
Pillow Comparison Tool
Want to do your own comparison? Just drag and drop the pillowes you want to put side by side, from the table below:
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Why Buy a Pillow Online?
- It will ship directly to you, most of the time for free
- Do you really enjoy having a pillow salesman follow you around and check you out as you try out all of the pillows? The answer is NO
- Wouldn’t you rather take some time to test a pillow rather than just be lead around by the salesman to the highest commission bed he sells? Most online retailers offer a trial period of 100 days or more to test out your new pillow.
- Same quality pillow for a fraction of the cost.
- You have more time to comparison shop from your home.
Thinking about buying the items we have reviewed? Help Non-Biased Reviews out if you do. Just click on any of the seller links above and the seller will contribute a portion of the sale to help support this site. It won’t cost you anything extra and is a simple way to help us fund more items to review. Thank You
