Category Archives: Memory Foam

The Best Pillow For Back Sleepers

The Best Pillow For Back Sleepers

The position that you sleep plays a large part in the type of pillow that you should purchase. Certain sheets and pillow sets are designed for different sleep positions to enhance the quality of your sleep based on what type of support your body needs. For instance, side sleepers (the most common sleep style) require a soft pillow and mattress style that will conform to their body, but stomach sleepers require a hard mattress and pillow that won’t cause strain on their lower back.

If you are a back sleeper, it can be a little bit trickier as the best pillow for back sleepers is something in-between the ideal side sleepers pillow and the ideal front sleepers pillow. To help you make the right purchasing decision, here is what you should look for and the types of pillows that are right for you.

What To Look For In A Pillow If You Sleep On Your Back

Back sleepers need pillows that are relatively thin with medium-low fluff. The purpose of a pillow is to provide support for your neck, and if you are a back sleeper, dosing off on a pillow that is stuffed thick with filling will arch your head too far forward and cause strain on the neck. This type of strain may cause neck and shoulder pain in the morning and might cause you to begin snoring.

If possible, you should look for a pillow whose extra-bulked stuffing is located in the lower 1/3rd of the pillow. This style of pillow will provide support for your arched neck but won’t tilt your head any farther than it needs to be. As a result, your spine will line up comfortably and you will wake up feeling refreshed and energized.

As for the makeup of the pillow such as thread count or whether it is hypoallergenic or not, that comes down to personal preferences. Pillows with lower thread counts are lighter options, but won’t last as long and aren’t as good at repelling dirt and sweat from the stuffing.

Pillow stuffing will determine the weight of the pillow you are sleeping on and how hot that it gets. If you hate sleeping on hot pillows and find yourself flipping your pillow every night to try and find the cold relief, buy something with synthetic fillers. Synthetic fillers are lightweight, air-penetrable and are usually filled with an organic material such as grass, buckwheat husks, or hops; the only problem with this style of pillow is that it will most likely need to be replaced every two years. On the flip side, goose down pillows or wool filled pillows are soft and comfortable, but they retain heat and can get very warm during the night.

What Types Of Pillows Suit Back Sleepers   

So you now have a general idea of what to look for when shopping for a back sleeper pillow, but what types of pillows are really best for you? Here are the three main pillow options available and how they are designed to get you the best nights sleep.

Memory Foam Pillows (Best)

Memory foam pillows are one of the top choices because they come in all different thicknesses to suit any different style of sleep. Even the thinnest memory foam pillows made for back or stomach sleepers will give you enough support to sleep comfortably without your head sinking to the mattress as it would with a cotton filled pillow. These pillows are a little bit more expensive than some alternative options, but they can last for several years, which can easily make up for the cost.

Latex Foam Pillows (Great)

Latex foam pillows are the most expensive option but they have been known to last up to 20-years and are eco-friendly options. Talalay latex comes from a rubber tree and is manufactured through a pressurization that can shape and design the pillow to the specifications of the manufacturer. One of the best qualities of latex foam pillows is that they don’t collect mold, fungus, or bacteria like other pillows; they also do not use chemicals in their production like memory foam so you won’t get the odor or perfume-type smell that other pillows can give off. Latex is also firmer that cotton pillows so that you can get the comfortable yet thin pillow option you are looking for.

Medium-Soft Down Pillows (Okay)

Medium-soft down pillows are still a viable choice if you are looking for something affordable or you want to stick with a brand that you are familiar with; however you will have to wash and replace these pillows more often so that they do not collect mold or dust mites. As stated in the previous section, look for something that is thin and won’t force your neck upward. Just because a pillow doesn’t look thick and cushiony doesn’t mean that it is not going to be comfortable; in fact, you may find that the well-cushioned pillows you have had in the past might have been causing your poor sleep habits in the first place.



The Best Memory Foam Pillows Reviews Guide

Memory Foam Pillows – Sleep Soundly and Comfortably

When most people picture a pillow in their mind, they probably picture a white, fluffy, down-filled object. But recent changes to the technology used to manufacture pillows may force many to change their perception of the ideal, or typical, pillow. Memory foam pillows have been growing in popularity in recent years, as sleepers have enjoyed the many benefits they offer.

Originally developed by NASA, this high-density foam conforms to the shape of anything that puts pressure on it, and temporarily holds the indentation for a brief time after the object’s removal. For example, if you were to press your hand into memory foam and remove it, you would see the shape of your hand in the foam for a moment before the foam bounced back, or recovered. Because of its density, memory foam is also relatively heavy.

Our favorite memory foam pillows of 2015

Here are our 7 favorite memory foam pillows, keep reading beyond the table for more tips on how to pick the pillows that will be right for you.

Memory Foam Pillows Size Machine Washable Hypo-allergenic Cost Rating
Sleep Master 2-Pack Traditional Memory Foam Pillows, Standard

Sleep Master 2-Pack Traditional Memory Foam Pillows, Standard

21″ x 15″ Cover Only Yes *** 4
Sleep Innovations Contour Memory Foam Pillow, Standard Size

Sleep Innovations Contour Memory Foam Pillow, Standard Size

20.8″ x 14.2″ x 4.8″ Yes No *** 4
Sleep Better Iso-Cool Memory Foam Pillow, Gusseted Side Sleeper ,Standard

Sleep Better Iso-Cool Memory Foam Pillow, Gusseted Side Sleeper ,Standard

22 x 16 x 7 inches Cover only Yes *** 4.2
Classic Brands Conforma Memory Foam Pillow, Ventilated Memory Foam, 100-Percent CertipurUS Certified

Classic Brands Conforma Memory Foam Pillow, Ventilated Memory Foam, 100-Percent CertipurUS Certified

27 x 16 x 4.5 inches Cover only Yes *** 4.5
Sleep Innovations Cool Contour Memory Foam Pillow

Sleep Innovations Cool Contour Memory Foam Pillow

20 x 15 x 5 inches Cover only Allergen proof *** 4.2
Sleep Innovations Memory Foam Classic Pillow

Sleep Innovations Memory Foam Classic Pillow

16 x 22 x 5 inches Cover only Yes ** 4
Sleep Master 2-Pack Contour Memory Foam Pillows

Sleep Master 2-Pack Contour Memory Foam Pillows

20 x 15 x 4 inches Cover only Yes ** 4

In pillow form, then, memory foam has a unique ability to provide even support to all parts of the sleeper’s head and neck. This prevents uneven pressure in any area of the neck, preventing soreness that can sometimes happen when uneven support forces the neck into a misaligned position. Because it conforms to the shape of the head and neck, memory foam helps to hold the spine and neck in proper alignment. For this reason, memory foam pillows are often recommended for those who experience neck pain or headaches. The way one’s head sinks into the pillow can also help reduce excess movement during sleep, resulting in more restful sleep. Some memory foam pillows also claim to reduce snoring, since their body-contouring style won’t force the neck and throat into unnatural angles, but still provide appropriate support.

If you’ve decided that you’re interested in memory foam, there are still a number of other decisions to make. Memory foam pillows come in various thicknesses, densities, and shapes. Besides the standard pillow shapes, some memory foam pillows are contoured, with one or more larger bumps intended to provide even more support by following the lines of the head and neck more closely. When considering thickness, think about whether you currently prefer to sleep with one or two pillows, and whether you are often trying to flatten or fluff your current pillow. If you like your head higher, you may want to choose a thicker pillow or one with more resistance to keep your head where you like it to be. You may also want to consider your sleeping position when selecting a memory foam pillow. Side sleepers usually need thicker, denser pillows because their position leaves more space between their heads and the mattress, while stomach sleepers commonly prefer thinner pillows.

Memory Foam Pillow Reviews   

Memory foam pillow reviews tend to be generally positive. Many reviewers declare their memory pillow to be the best one they’ve ever had, claiming they’ve gotten the best sleep of their life while using it.

That said, some common themes in consumer complaints can also be found, though manufacturers have worked hard to address them. Odor is one complaint—some consumers note that an initial odor faded away, while others noted that following the instructions of airing the pillow out before using it helped. Some pillow makers have tried adding pleasant scents to solve the problem. Another issue often cited with memory foam pillows is heat retention. The density of the material could trap heat, leading to the pillow becoming uncomfortably warm. Manufacturers have responded by creating more breathable fabrics, and some offer pillows with “cooling gels.” Finally, the relative firmness of memory foam is just too much for some users. While many sleepers love the extra support that memory foam offers, a minority of those who try them find that they feel too rigid or hard. Of course, each individual needs to find out for themselves whether a memory foam pillow is right for them.

Some memory foam pillow reviews rank the top options for this type of pillow, so let’s take a look at some of the products that came out on top. Good Housekeeping’s reviewers awarded a grade of A+ to the Megaflex Memofoam Comfort Pillow, the Leggett & Platt Brisa Memory Foam Pillow, two different Cannon memory foam pillows, and the Carpenter Thera Gel pillow by Isotonic. Sleep Mentor’s unbiased reviews give top scores to the Sleep Better Iso-Cool, Sleep Innovations Contour, and Dream Supreme Plus. Sleep Like the Dead reports the highest buyer satisfaction rates for Bodipedic Standard Contour, the Italian 6-inch from Overstock.com, and the Classic Memory Foam Pillow from WalMart.

These are just a few of the options available to those looking for a sleeping solution. Whether your search is based on sleeping discomfort, back or neck pain, or just the desire for a better night’s sleep, memory foam pillows offer some unique abilities that may be just what you’re looking for.