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As much as we love a good old-fashioned fluffy pillow, there’s a reason why memory foam alternatives have become so popular. And it’s for many of the same reasons memory foam has become such a popular material for bedding in general. While a downy or cotton-stuffed pillow looks heavenly at first, there’s no arguing with the fact that memory foam has the upper hand when it comes to support.
What Are the Best Memory Foam Pillows?
In addition to the firm, dense memory foam pillow designed for ergonomic neck support — that is probably the first thing you associate with a foam pillow — you can find memory foam pillows to suit all kinds of personal styles, needs, and sleeping positions.
When shopping for the best memory foam pillows, some things we like to see are high-quality, dense memory foam, cooling gel to prevent overheating, and standard sizing. Here are some other things to keep in mind when picking out the best memory foam pillow for you.
Shredded: Shredded memory foam fill in place of the usual down or cotton stuffing makes a classic sleeping pillow more supportive of your head neck, and lasts longer without deflating, while maintaining the familiar fluffy feel you’re used to sleeping with. And because memory foam is more supportive, it also cradles your head more securely than other fill, reducing the amount of neck twisting you do during the night.
Contoured: Ergonomically-designed memory foam pillows are much firmer than a normal pillow, and contoured to more accurately support your head and neck, keeping your spine in better alignment. Typically, these pillows are shaped like a very smooth wave. The dip in the middle is to cradle your head, and the curved slopes on each side are slightly firmer to bolster your neck.
1. Coop Home Goods Adjustable Loft Pillow
The Coop adjustable pillow was made for anyone who ever wished they could find a pillow that fit their body just right. So, everyone basically.
This pillow allows you to open it up and add or remove the memory foam fill as you like, until you’ve achieved the perfect balance of support and softness. Because we like to keep things eco-friendly over here, we give this pillow extra points for the CertiPUR and Greenguard Gold certifications, which ensures there are no potentially toxic or harmful chemicals in the mix.
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2. WEEKENDER Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Because it is in a single, flat piece, this memory foam pillow offers firmer support than fill, making it a great option for sleepers with chronic neck or back issues. We like that it is ventilated and infused with cooling gel, which keeps you from overheating during the night (no more sweaty sleeps here!) We also like its low profile, which means it can work for stomach sleepers as well as side and back sleepers.
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3. Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow
Another adjustable pillow, the Easy Breather comes overstuffed, and allows you to remove as much of the memory foam fill as needed. Nest Bedding is a trusted brand for eco-friendly and high-quality foam bedding materials, and the adjustable shredded foam pillow is highly-rated for comfort across the board, offering firm support without any chemical smell you find in other foam pillows.
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4. Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Neck Pillow
When it comes to contoured pillows, ergonomically-designed to align with the natural curve of your neck and spine, we like this one from Tempur-Pedic. This firm memory foam pillow comes in a choice of small, medium, and low profile loft, to perfectly suit different size frames. We also appreciate the quality of the Tempur-Pedic foam, which is durable and keeps its shape even after years of use.
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