Examine Our Picks
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Others Examined
Pillow Dice Facet Dice for $66: This isn’t technically a physique pillow, however it’s particularly designed for facet sleepers (and I find it irresistible), so it’s included on this record. This cuboid pillow is designed for the facet sleeper, and goals to assist with complications and again and shoulder pains by way of its distinctive form and tender, but structured, filling. It has a breathable, soft-and-stretchy quilted facet case that is detachable with a zipper, and the AeroPluff foam core is comfortable, regulating temperature to maintain you sleeping coolly. I can sleep solely on my facet, and one of many issues I frequently have is a sore neck from the hole between my shoulder and my head. This sq., 90-degree-angled pillow completely fills that hole and sits at a manageable head pillow dimension of 24 inches lengthy, 12 inches broad, and 5 inches deep. The breathable cowl and tender density even helped with ear strain.
Leacho Snoogle for $50: Although out of inventory in the mean time, this versatile physique pillow is marketed for pregnant individuals due to its versatility and stomach, hip, and knee help. Attributable to its distinctive form, it may be contorted into many figures. With a detachable cowl fabricated from a polyester/cotton mix and a polyester filling, this pillow is much more breathable than comparable giant physique pillows on the record. Due to its distinctive form for a lot of positions, the pillow isn’t overstuffed, and I discovered that the fill tended to sink to the decrease foot portion of the pillow when sleeping on it. General, this pillow is breathable and intensely customizable in form, though I’d’ve most popular one thing with a little bit extra filling.
White Noise Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow With Hypoallergenic Zippered Protector for $50: I completely love the fill of this 50 x 14-inch pillow—the shredded foam is the proper mixture of construction and softness. If it had been wider, 20 or so inches somewhat than 14 inches, this pillow could be excellent. However as a result of I’m a side-only sleeper, I like to carry the physique pillow and wrap my legs and arms round it. Since it’s so slender, my knees knock collectively on the opposite facet. I could possibly overlook the flaw of its narrowness as a result of the pillow has a super-comfy fill, however I wouldn’t advocate it for larger individuals with longer limbs.
Eli & Elm Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow for $130: In my residence, we name this one “the 7 pillow” as a result of … effectively, take a guess. This lengthy, L/7-shaped pillow is marketed as a being pregnant pillow, however it’s nice for anybody who sleeps on their facet. The brief part matches neatly below your head, whereas the lengthy finish can attain down to suit between your legs. It comes with its personal customized pillow case, which is nice, as a result of it isn’t such as you’ll have a ton of spares on this form in your linen closet. —Eric Ravenscraft
Eli & Elm Facet Sleeper for $116: The Eli & Elm Facet Sleeper pillow is among the firmest pillows proper out of the field of any we have examined. You’ll be able to take away a number of the extra fill if you wish to cut back that firmness, however in the event you’re the kind of one who likes feeling like they’re sleeping on a really tender rock, that is the pillow for you. It is not fairly sufficiently big for a number of individuals to cuddle up with, like our Honeydew choose, however for a single individual, it is an ideal choice. —Eric Ravenscraft
Bearaby Cuddler for $229: Bearaby is greatest recognized for its weighted blankets, eye masks, and stuffed animals, however it makes different sleep merchandise like heated pads, throw blankets, and the physique pillow I examined, the Cuddler. At 75 inches lengthy and eight inches in diameter, with a filling of plant-based Melofoam, an all-natural foam constituted of rubber-tree sap, it is not like another pillow fill I’ve slept on. It is heavier than a stuffed pillow however lighter than reminiscence foam and has a rubbery, bouncy high quality. Its springy fill, skinny physique, and extraordinary size made it match awkwardly on the mattress, however its bouncy high quality and talent to adapt into many shapes might make this a sexy choose for some facet sleepers.
Not Beneficial
{Photograph}: Molly Higgins
Alwyn Dwelling Butcher Fiber Plush Pillow for $56: This 90 x 19-inch pillow disappoints. It’s egregiously lengthy, which might be useful for people who find themselves taller or those that like extra all-around physique help. Nonetheless, it simply doesn’t have sufficient stuffing to fill 90 inches. The batting inside looks like typical fluffy batting present in selfmade pillows, however it bunches all through the pillow in clumps, leaving gaps the place no filling reaches. These gaps typically occur the place your limbs relaxation, thus defeating the aim of getting a physique pillow for help. The pillow is barely about 2 inches deep and didn’t appear to ever spring up after I took it out of the field. I needed to shake and knead the fiber to assist make it extra uniform all through the within of the pillow, however it did little to assist.
As a facet sleeper, you’ll need a pillow that’s lengthy sufficient to supply help between your arms and strain factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of non-public desire, you typically need a physique pillow that strikes the best steadiness, to supply help with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. For those who’re simply in search of a pillow to hug whilst you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is greatest. However in case you have joint or spinal ache, one thing a bit extra agency with extra help is greatest. You’ll additionally wish to take into consideration which pillow form will help which a part of your physique greatest, relying in your wants. I’m a strict facet sleeper, however I toss and switch between either side, so pillows with help on both facet had been examined too. I additionally have a tendency to curve right into a extra fetal place, so I wished one thing that had sufficient width to totally wrap my legs and arms round.
Whereas many head pillows and mattresses favor reminiscence foam, relying on the froth’s denseness, it could possibly really feel too heavy for a facet sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is commonly probably the most plush and malleable however might not present sufficient help. Many have a mix of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which may present construction whereas nonetheless being tender sufficient to sink into. This relies on private desire and want, however fill sort is one thing to pay attention to when in search of the proper side-sleeper physique pillow.
A normal physique pillow that is lengthy sufficient to supply full-length help for the physique is right, giving sufficient room to stretch out or cuddle in varied positions. Physique pillows in U or C shapes can present extra total help and are perfect for pregnant individuals or these with again or leg points, however can typically make the sleeper run scorching due to the entire surrounding materials. However finally, the popular form is basically depending on what elements of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.
I examined (slept with) every of the pillows for at the very least every week whereas sleeping, lounging, and sitting to see how the fill modified and moved over time. I contorted them in lots of shapes, and measured how supported I felt in several positions. I eliminated and added fill if I used to be ready, and eliminated and washed covers to see how they had been affected by cleansing and examined the variations with or with no cowl.
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