Thinking about the right pillow isn’t a common thought for most of us who have so many other things to worry about. If you’ve recently had time to complain about morning aches and pains as a result of your sleep, then you might want to reconsider how much value you put into a pillow. In this article, we will discuss the best pillows for back and side sleepers – especially if you are a combination sleeper who switches between sleeping on your side and back throughout the night.
These accessories are incredibly important in aiding us for a healthier sleep cycle as well as promoting full rest and recovery after a long day of work. According to the American Chiropractic Association, your neck is actually one of your body’s most vulnerable spots for causing bodily pain throughout your spine due to needing proper alignment when rested. It is imperative that you give your neck the support it needs in order to reduce upper body pain which can culminate into severe health problems later on in life. We’ll discuss the importance of the benefits of choosing the right pillow and also narrow down which pillow options may be right for you.
To begin with, let’s talk about the importance of pillow height with sleep position and body size. Since the human neck shaped in a way that is curved a bit upward to balance the weight of your head, it is crucial that this position be maintained when in a rested position. When the pillow is adjusted too high, then the neck is bent oddly to the side or forward, which can cause an obstruction in breathing and reduced air circulation throughout the body and even snoring. On the other hand, if the pillow position is too low then the muscles of the neck can have a tendency to feel pressure and discomfort. Pillows usually hover around a height of 4 to 6 inches. One study states that the optimal level of pillow height should be 4 inches in order to allow for greatest comfort as well as least muscle interaction to promote better circulation.
Next, we will talk about sleeping positions that affect the type of pillow that should be used. Back sleepers should use a pillow that provides support from the base of your neck to the top of your head and make sure to align your head and back to reduce twists and stress injury to your neck. Side Sleepers should position the pillow up against your shoulders to reduce shoulder pressure and also should be as level as possible with your mattress in order to promote a healthy alignment of the spine. Back sleepers can rely on pillows that offer contouring in order to nestle your neck comfortably while you rest on your back. Finally, stomach sleepers can utilize a traditional pillow as they lay on the side, but be aware of the thickness of the pillow in order to not cause any shoulder strain.
Here we provide a short list of pillows that promote the healthiest levels of sleep based on your preference. There are pillows out there that are specifically designed for certain sleep positions – however, if you are a combination sleepers (especially if you are a back and side sleeper, you are going to want a pillow that can accommodate both sleep positions properly).
- Best Overall Pillow for Side and Back Sleepers: Dosaze
- Best Cooling Pillow: Tempur-Pedic Cloud Breeze Dual-Cooling
- Best Down Pillow: Parachute Home Down
- Best Down Alternative Pillow: Brooklinen Down Alternative
- Best Value Pillow: Xtreme Comforts
- Best Memory Foam Pillow: Coop Home Goods The Original
- Best Microfiber Pillow: The Casper Pillow
1) Best Overall Pillow for Side and Back Sleepers: Dosaze-$99.99
This pillow is the best of the best – hands down the crème de la crème of all the pillows that we reviewed/tested. It is a bit of a newer product (just released this year), but our testing and the initial third-party reviews and customer reviews we have seen online show that it is the best.
The best part of this pillow is how well it suits back and side sleepers (especially combination back and side sleepers). The innovative ‘contour’ is the ideal height for back sleepers, and aligns your neck and back. In addition, the sides of the pillow are a bit higher, which is ideal for side sleepers. So if you switch positions at night, this pillow is great for you.
It has excellent memory foam – with a proven ‘contour’ design – that allows the neck to rest in its natural curvature, provides incredible support for spine alignment, and is guaranteed to never have you waking up with any shoulder, back, spine, nor neck pain again. It is specially designed to fit both comfort and firmness at every level as well as even provides temperature regulation to prevent any circulation or breathing issues. It comes with a great 60-day satisfaction guarantee in the rare case you do not enjoy the product.
Not to mention this pillow is also very effective when it comes to temperature-regulation for your body if ever it feels too hot or too cold at night. The Dosaze is guaranteed to improve many facets of your sleep including overall quality of sleep, longer time in deep sleep, and also will reduce any stress or body aches that can occur when positioned awkwardly during sleep.
2) Best Cooling Pillow: Tempur-Pedic Cloud Breeze Dual-Cooling-$169.00
The Tempur-Pedic Cloud Breeze Dual-Cooling is a phenomenal option for all those that seem to get burdened with overheating at night. It contains a particular type of single medium-firm slab, which is different than traditional shredded memory foam because it applies a gel layer in order to help with hot sleep at night. Furthermore, this incredible product does feel heavy and dense but does adjust to one’s head and body after some usage. If you’re hesitant about spending the pretty penny, Tempur-Pedic offers a five-year limited warranty to ensure you get good use out of it. There is, however, no return policy, which can be a major drawback for some.
This pillow is a happy medium, so it does work well for both back and side sleepers.
3) Best Down Pillow: Parachute Home Down-$89-129
The Parachute Home pillow offers high-quality material made with European white down and sateen cotton shell. They offer a hassle-free, money back guaranteed trial for 60 days and includes a 3-year warranty. You can also choose the density of the pillow from soft to firm and also the size of the pillow from standard to king-sized. We think this feature makes it great for back and side sleepers.
The pillow is Down Standard certified meaning it has met the ethical standards by utilizing humanely treated ducks and geese. Prices may range depending on the size, but this is a pillow worth spending the bucks for. If you’re looking for a supreme plushy feel with extraordinary breathability feature, then look no further. The Parachute Home is sure to turn heads and make you proud of the selection you made.
4) Best Down Alternative Pillow: Brooklinen Down Alternative-$59.00
For all those who prefer sleeping on the softer side, look no further. The Brooklinen pillow provides an incredibly gentle feel while not compromising any reinforcement for the neck and spine. It is definitely an option for side sleepers who rather have their head and body be treated gently than to feel like they’re sleeping on a rock. This pillow is sure to bring about very comfortable nights as well as a reassurance that you are getting the proper support needed for your body. A slight drawback might be that it might feel too soft for one’s liking and also that it may feel a bit plump for its size. This pillow is a bit on the high side for back sleepers. However, it is a high-quality, relatively inexpensive option for back and side sleepers.
5) Best Value Pillow: Xtreme Comforts-$49.99
Next, we have the Xtreme Comforts pillow. This pillow is composed of memory foam which allows the pillow to never go flat or become pressed throughout its lifespan. It is also adjustable for height, so you can adjust it to fit your sleeping preference to give you either firmer or softer support. The most distinguishing factor this product provides is a bamboo cover that improves oxygen circulation and is also hypoallergenic that is dust-mite resistant; aiding those that may suffer from allergy-related sleep problems. The versatility along with its price point makes this pillow the a pretty good bang for its buck.
The reason this pillow isn’t ranked higher is that there are some pretty scathing negative reviews on Amazon. However, the overall rating and reviews seem good, so it’s kind of a judgment call.
6) Best Memory Foam Pillow: Coop Home Goods The Original-$59.99
This pillow is designed to be any sleeper’s dream. It is custom-built to slash any issues concerning neck pain, headaches, and even spinal discomfort. The design is curved in order to focus on the supporting of your shoulders and side and even if you decide to sleep on your back. The high-quality density of the memory foam is easy to get accustomed and really bolsters this product into the highest tier of pillows. Moreover, it contains more than a half a pound of extra filling incase you wanted to make the pillow feel plumper. Coop Home offers a generous 100-night trial coupled with a 5-year warranty in order to guarantee your satisfaction or your money back.
Our primary concern with this pillow (despite the very positive reviews) is that it isn’t that well suited for combination sleepers – like we stated before, back sleeping requires a specific height and firmness that tends to be different than the height and firmness required for side sleeping. While this pillow is adjustable, it isn’t adjustable to multiple sleeping positions at once.
7) Best Microfiber Pillow: The Casper Pillow-$55.37
The Casper Pillow offers superior support and offers a variety of options for your sleeping needs. This concept brings together a great blend between softness and thickness like no other. It actually features an inner pillow as well as an outer one which can be separated in order to wash them. In addition, the pillow is made with microfiber filling which provides a more soft, plush feel to the pillow. The Casper offers these incredible options and all the while keeps quality and comfort as the essence of their product. Truly great for any sleeper wanting to achieve a phenomenal sleeping experience.
We hope this list has helped you tremendously on your journey to better sleep. Make sure to share the related links to all your friends and family!
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