Best pillow for 2021 - CNET

Nectar

This pillow has adjustable filling, but only in its outer layer — the “inner” pillow is a sturdy memory foam pillow that maintains its shape and structure. Its exterior is made of quilted foam that you can spot-clean and air-dry. In addition to its “two pillows in one” design and supportive gusset, Nectar’s pillow’s main selling point is its memory foam pillow fill. This comfortable memory foam pillow conforms to your neck, shoulders and head to provide support without caving in, striking a balance that not every memory foam pillow can claim. One downside? The pillow itself isn’t machine-washable.

CNET’s Sharon Profis tested the memory foam pillow for 10 days and, after removing just a handful of pillow filling, found it to be a comfortable option for her side sleep position. The memory foam pillow, she noted, retained its structure and height, maintaining neck support throughout the night.

I tested one as well, and came to the same conclusion. The memory foam in the middle makes for a dense pillow, but the fill layer keeps it from feeling too firm or springy. I was able to sleep soundly on it even before I removed any of the fill. Once I did adjust things down to my liking, the Nectar Pillow finished as my top-scoring, subjective favorite as far as comfort is concerned, and that makes it a pillow that I’d be willing to spend a little extra for. I also appreciated the high-end quilted exterior and the extra-long, oversize design — though you’ll want to have an oversize pillowcase to go with it.

Cosy House Collection

With two layers of supportive foam and an antibacterial, cooling bamboo case, Cosy House’s shredded foam pillow options are made to relieve some of the greatest sleeping woes, namely overheating and uncomfortable pressure points. The relatively firm construction helps the pillow maintain its shape while sleeping, but the shredded memory foam pillow fill in its bottommost layer is removable, which allows you to customize its density.

“This is one heavy pillow and I kept removing the filling until getting it just right,” one reviewer wrote, adding that, when filled to capacity with the shredded memory foam, the pillow may be a little too big and firm for some people’s sleeping position comfort. That was my experience — like with most of the adjustable pillows I tested, I ended up adjusting down for something with a little more give. Once I did, the pillow’s spongy foam felt both soft and supportive.

For others, it was the foam pillow’s breathable and cooling properties that sold them: “The most comfortable pillow I have ever had. Keeps me cool, I sleep so soundly,” one review reads.

“I didn’t sweat as much as I usually do so I would say the cooling/moisture wicking worked,” another noted.

I only noticed a slight cooling effect when I slept on it, but I still appreciated the ultrasoft, machine-washable quilted bamboo cover, which naturally resists allergens and dust mite issues. Between that and the cozy, adjustable fill, this cooling pillow feels like a good value to me at less than $50. You can also add two bamboo pillow cases to your pillow order for an additional $24, and still pay less overall than you will for some of the pillows on this list.

Casper

Casper’s comfortable pillow boasts “adaptive support” for your neck, meaning it’s both cushy and springy, able to “adapt” to various customers’ neck preferences, making it good for neck support to help you get a great night’s sleep. Where the exterior is soft, its firm inner pillow core and gusseted construction helps maintain its structure. It’s basically a pillow zipped up inside of a padded case.

The product of 60 test-runs on various fills, this sleeper pillow is sort of the platonic ideal in terms of density: not too firm and not too fluffy. And reviewers happily attest to its Goldilocks-esque appeal. “You can feel the quality in the weight of it and as soon as I laid down I was in love. Support and comfort that seems to wrap you up in its arms,” one wrote.

Another reviewer wondered “how one pillow can rule them all,” possibly in a nod toward the fact that Casper designed this pillow with the understanding that all people shift in their sleep, whether they identify as a side sleeper or back sleeper. In other words, this comfortable pillow is in the running for overall crowd-pleaser for any sleep position.

In our tests, the supersoft Casper pillow had a good mix of give and support, making it an especially comfortable pillow for anyone who likes a sleep position on their back with their neck well-cradled. Side- and stomach-sleeping were both cozy, too, thanks to the fact that the pillow isn’t too springy in spite of its density. That versatility speaks well for the design — but for all the talk of adaptive support, you can’t open the thing up and adjust the amount of fill inside, which is a disappointment at this price.

Coop Home Goods

Another of the best pillows with adjustable density, Coop’s “Original” pillow is completely customizable and reshapable. Its fill is entirely made up of a shredded blend of microfiber and memory foam pillow, meaning you can empty and refill the whole body of the pillow, allowing you to fluff it and mash it to fit your exact sleeping needs. Plus, the whole thing is machine-washable.

Although Coop states that the Original is probably best suited for side sleeping or those who like a firmer pillow than your average foam pillow, reviewers vouch for its versatility. “I usually sleep on my side but I sometimes sleep on my back. The pillow is great either way,” one wrote.

As for me, a stomach sleeper, the Original was definitely firmer and “poofier” than I like, but it was great for sitting up and getting some work done in bed (and I have back issues, so I’m somewhat picky about these things). And, after removing some of the shredded memory foam, I had no problem sleeping comfortably on it.

Still, another reviewer pointed out that there might be a learning curve with the pillow’s adjustability: “It took a few weeks to get used to the pillow and get it the right height, but I love it! It’s improved my neck health.”

Luckily, with a 100-day return policy, you have time to tweak the fill level to your liking. This pillow also comes with a washable bamboo cover that you can use as a regular pillow case. If you’re interested but still on the fence, Coop offers a quiz for customers to find the best pillow for their preferences.

Purple

Like the same company’s mattress, the Purple Pillow uses a unique, one-piece polymer grid to cradle your head and neck as you sleep. The grid distributes weight well and doesn’t absorb heat like foam can, so fans say that it stays extra-cool and cozy at night.

Purple’s newest pillow is a redesigned model called the Harmony, which sells for a princely $159. Instead of making up the entirety of the interior, the cushy polymer grid is now much thinner, filling just the microfiber outer case and surrounding a thick, spongy latex core. The mostly hollow grid and the moisture-wicking, microfiber case do a great job of improving airflow and keeping things cool by creating some separation between your head and the latex.

The Harmony wasn’t nearly as heavy as I expected it to be after reading reviews of the original, and the feel of that polymer grid was much softer than I had imagined, too. There’s still something of a springy, rubbery quality to the pillow that lifted my neck a little too much for my liking when lying on my back, but I found it to be much better suited for a stomach sleeper, which is my usual preference. In fact, I slept like a rock on it.

I just wish I could have adjusted the thing. A lack of adjustability was a key criticism of the original, so it surprises me that you can’t adjust the Harmony, either — especially at this price. For my money, I’d probably be more inclined to go with the new version of Purple’s original pillow, which adds in removable booster pads for adjustability and costs a lot less at $109.

Parachute Home

Available in comfortable soft, medium and firm densities, this pillow is filled with superfine microfiber that emulates the best qualities of a regular down pillow — just without the allergies. For added allergy protection, you can also buy Parachute’s washable cotton pillow protector. Fluffy, soft and pleasantly warm (due to its downlike filling), this pillow has been praised by side, stomach and back sleepers alike for its lightweight feel and downlike “squishiness.” Like a regular down pillow, Parachute’s pillow can be fluffed into a comfortable shape for each sleeping position.

“Soft and comfortable,” one reviewer wrote. “I cannot believe it’s not down.” One even compared it to sleeping on a cloud (which certainly paints a picture of how soft it is), while another said it quickly and easily fluffs back up after a night’s sleep. If you’ve been considering making the switch from feathers to synthetic fills, Parachute’s soft down alternative may convert you. A stomach sleeper who prefers soft pillows will find the best value here, as you’ll pay a little extra for a medium or firm version of the pillow.

Snowe Home

Snowe’s down alternative offering is also a hypoallergenic pillow that is ultraplush. It’s available in three density options and comes with a washable sateen cover. According to an enthusiastic reviewer, the fill is beyond convincing in how it replicates the feel of regular down pillow: “The alternative down used in these pillows is like magic. Maximum compression but they always puff back up. Auto-fluffing pillows!”

Snowe’s site helpfully notes that the softer version will be more comfortable for stomach sleepers, while side sleepers will often prefer something firmer for a good night’s rest. And if you’re unsure which density to select, go firmer rather than softer. Where many reviewers appreciated the height and density of these bed pillows, others noted that they may be on the thinner side: “Great texture, but could be a little more fully stuffed/firmer. Would prefer to use one, but find myself using two.”

Brooklinen

Not only is this plush pillow vegan, allergen-free and available in a variety of pillow size options and densities, it also has the longest trial period (365 days) of any product on this list. So if you take a while to adjust to a change or just believe that a pillow must be “broken in” to show its true strengths, you have plenty of time to make your final decision. And, if you aren’t a firm pillow fanatic, that extra-long trial period may come in handy.

According to some, there’s a chance that this pillow may be a little too firm: “I went back and forth between plush and the next firmer style. The plush is more than firm enough. If your [sic] on the fence, you would possibly wish to take that into consideration.” Others mentioned that their pillows softened up after a number of weeks of use, whereas self-described side-sleepers mentioned they took to the pillow’s firmness straight away. You should buy a pack of two corresponding pillow instances individually, for $46.

DreamNorth

Bought on Amazon in packs of two with a machine cleanable pillow cowl, DreamNorth’s mushy pillows are simply probably the most cost-effective selection on this checklist. That mentioned, their breathability, down-free fluffiness and supportive gel pillow fiber fill might maintain them from feeling “low cost.” Described as “ultrasoft,” this softer pillow choice might be not the precise selection when you’re on the lookout for one thing notably agency, however their softness could make their potential to retain their form extra spectacular.

“They got here vacuum-sealed and squished flat however as quickly as you are taking it out of the package deal they fluff up like marshmallows and keep that approach. I’ve solely seen some slight, very slight flattening within the 4 months I’ve had them,” one reviewer wrote. Others famous the pillows’ fluffiness however added that they did not should sacrifice any quantity of neck assist for the way mushy they have been, both: “I extremely suggest these pillows if you’re [prone] to waking up with neck aches or complications, as a result of the pillow conforms properly to provide the assist you want whereas being mushy sufficient to make you comfy.”

Luxe Pillow

It is proper there within the title. This $129 pillow stuffed with high-quality, sustainably sourced goose down and waterfowl feathers is undoubtedly luxurious. The place the goose down provides fluff, the waterfowl feathers present assist — and each supplies are hypoallergenic and Accountable Down Normal-certified. This mixture means the pillows are made with any sleeping place in thoughts, which some clients have put to the check. “I like this pillow,” one reviewer wrote. “It helps me sleep in any place, on my again, abdomen or facet.”

Offering that you simply like a down pillow and the squishiness that tends to accompany that number of fill (very similar to what many higher-end motels outfit their beds with), this pillow might very properly well worth the value (the truth that it comes with a washable cotton damask case helps considerably). Or, as one reviewer put it: “Actually, if you’re debating on paying for an costly pillow, simply reply this query: Which is costlier, a chiropractor, masseuse, and a quarterly physician go to for a month-to-month prescription treatment to deal with pressure complications, or this pillow?”