Side Sleepers: Side sleepers need a higher, firmer pillow that supports the head and eases pressure on the shoulders. Memory foam pillows fit the bill, especially firmer one-piece memory foam pillows, and can often be further customized according to individual preferences.

Over all, the pillow does feel like a good quality product for the price but the support it offers might not work for everyone. There is also a distinct odour, similar to most memory foam pillows but it will fade if you give it a good airing for a few days. Not Always Effective: Gel only cools to a certain extent and may not be enough to beat high temperatures in warmer climates.

The Best Memory Foam Pillows

In this section, we’ll delve deeper into the pros and cons of memory foam and cover some of the most important aspects to look for when purchasing a memory foam pillow. What to Consider When Purchasing a Memory Foam Pillow

Availability: Memory foam pillows are a popular product that you’re sure to find virtually anywhere pillows are sold. We remove all brand labeling from the pillow before sending it to our Sleep Foundation test lab and keep the pillow brand anonymous to our testers throughout the testing process. In this case, we used a prototype version of the pillow that did not include the logo quilted into the cover. In fact, we'd go further and suggest that you should put two pillowcases on every pillow to give it the protection it needs. A pair of pillowcases can help keep your pillow clean and give it a double layer of protection against sweat, drool, dust mites and bed bugs. The warming nature of memory-based foam makes this one of the more common types to have gel materials paired with. This can come as swirls, beads, or a single piece of material amid shredded foam or a single solid piece. Gel Infused Memory FoamThe pillow is filled with shredded gel-infused memory foam and polyester fibers. The shell is 100% cotton, with a mesh gusset made from polyester. You can adjust the firmness and loft through a simple zippered construction. If you prefer a pillow with higher loft and a firmer feel, you may zip the side of the cover. If you wish to decrease the loft and firmness, simply unzip the side. Not necessarily, no. Memory foam pillows are only better than other types of pillows if they meet your personal needs! We recognize that it’s a bit unconventional to review your own products. That being said, product testing is the core of what we do. Our testing team prides themselves on providing honest, objective assessments of products to provide our readers with the insight they need to find the right match for their needs. If we’re going to develop a product ourselves, we’re going to subject it to all the same tests and evaluations we would use on any other product in the same category. The pillow has a polyester cover and contains a blend of shredded memory foam and polyester fibers. Foam is known for its adaptive and moldable properties, so pressure relief is one of this pillow’s major strengths. The shredded design of the foam allows some airflow through the pillow, making it cooler than solid foam pillows we’ve tested.

Resists Allergens: Gel pillows are almost always made with memory foam or microfiber, both of which are resistant to dust mites and other allergens. Sarah Silverman, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist and holistic sleep wellness consultant who treats patients in New York and Florida. Most gel pillows are somewhat reliant on the ambient temperature, meaning that if your bedroom is very hot, there’s only so much they can do to keep you cool. To enhance the gel’s cooling effects, most gel pillows have a cover made of cotton, Tencel, or another breathable fabric. Some may take it a step further and add a cover with phase change material that’s cool to the touch. Before you shop for a memory foam pillow, it’s important to understand the basics behind how they are constructed and what kind of options exist. Focusing on the following factors can help you see past the marketing hype to choose the best memory foam pillow for you.

The Best Gel Pillows

Down alternative fibers fill the pillow’s outer chamber. These fibers mimic the natural softness of real down without triggering allergy symptoms, using animal-based materials, or retaining too much heat. A shell made of 100% cotton provides additional breathability and softness. You can machine wash the outer chamber, but the memory foam shouldn’t be laundered in any way. How do I look after my memory foam pillows? To maintain a clean pillow and to help keep dead skin cells out you should use a removable pillow cover that is machine washable. Go for a cover that is breathable e.g. cotton, bamboo or linen and always use in addition to a pillowcase.