find the best Choosing the right pillow for your needs can be a painful ordeal. If you use something that's too hard, too soft, or doesn't fit your head, you can wake up the next day with severe pain. There's no need to be afraid. WIRED is here. We've tested nearly a dozen of his pillows and used each one for several weeks, or even longer, to find out how comfortable the pillows are, how well they hold up to repeated use, and what kind of sleep style they're in. I figured out which is best. These are our current favorites, but there are countless pillows out there. This guide will be updated as we perform further testing. All prices below are for the queen size version unless otherwise specified.
If you want to get even better sleep, be sure to check out our guides to the Best Mattress, Best Organic Mattress, Best Sheets, Best Bed Frame, and Best Weighted Blanket.
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What type of pillow do I need?
You might think that a pillow is a pillow. It needs to be soft and fit under your head, right? The head, neck, and back don't match. A good night's sleep depends largely on your pillow. So when choosing a pillow, ask yourself these important questions:
What kind of sleeper are you? Do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? Are you relatively still, or do you toss and turn a lot? Do you usually keep just one pillow under your head, or do you bury yourself in a pillow chrysalis? This is probably because These are the most important things to keep in mind when deciding which pillow is best for you.
What is the pillow made of? Modern pillows are made from a variety of materials. Down and synthetic down are clumps of fluffy fibers that give you a soft, comfortable feel, while memory foam is designed to return to its original shape when compressed by the weight of your head. There are also hybrid pillows that use multiple layers of different materials to customize the feel.
How solid is it? No matter how you sleep, you need a pillow that keeps your spine straight and your head in line with your back. This means you need something that is firm enough to support your head, but soft enough that it doesn't dig into your face or skull.
How noble is that? “Loft” is a term often used to describe how high a pillow keeps your head above the bed. For example, a pillow that is too high can cause your neck to tilt upwards, which can put stress on your neck throughout the night. Most pillows come in a variety of size options, so you can find the right size for you.